Jungle Fever

by Diceman

Rating: mature
Tags: Fluttershy, Slice of Life, Sex, Zecora, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Romance
Length: 139915

Zecora x Fluttershy

Fluttershy has a little problem that she needs a trained herbalist to handle but when she asks a certain enigmatic Zebra for help, she gets far more than she bargained for.

Published 2012-07-26 02:54:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-05-07 10:58:06 UTC

Chapter I: Beat the Heat

Chapter I: Beat the Heat

Fluttershy stood outside a large spooky tree-house, kicking her hooves at the ground with great apprehension. The drugstore was out, Lyra and Bonbons shop didn't have a cure and Rainbow Dash is probably riding Soarin like a bull right now. She thought to herself as she stared at the creepy weeping willow tree before her. "Oh, I hope she has something to help me through this, walking through this Forrest is bad enough." A loud "bcaw" from a nearby crow made Fluttershy figuratively jump out of her skin with a squeak in fright, alerting a certain Zebra to her presence.

The door to the willow home opened and Zecora said in a frighteningly demanding tone "Who goes there?" Fluttershy opened her mouth and uttered "it's just me Zecora, Fluttershy" in a meek tone. Zecora smiled at the shy Pegasus, giving a friendly wave.

"Oh my it's dear Fluttershy." Fluttershy looked over the Zebra, something was amiss. Her normally decorative gold rings on her neck were missing, as well as her leg rings and earrings. She also noted that Zecora was not wearing her typical Mohawk today and instead had her mane down.

Fluttershy was wondered if she was interrupting something important as Zecora was swishing her tail back and forth in clear agitation. "Umm..can, we talk Inside, I have a problem of a very...discreet manner." Zecora looked around her tree-house with her eyebrow up, clearly confused at the request.

"This is not a good time for me" Or is it? Zecora watched as the yellow Pegasus shuffled her back legs uncomfortably, her cheeks flushing with blood slightly and slight smell of badly covered up musk coming from her backside. Is she in...estrus? "I can help you with your problems of sin, stop shuffling there and come on in." Zecora opened her door and motioned Fluttershy ahead of her, getting a nice smell from her flank as she passed by. Oh yes shes certainly ready to pop.

As Fluttershy entered Zecora's home, she noticed that some of the masks had been put away and the room was decorated differently from usual. Light green and red vines hung from the ceiling, followed by the walls being lined with a strange green herb. Her cauldron that she kept in the center of the room was replaced with a large bed with satin sheets, fluffy down pillows and silk blankets. "Oh you must have just gotten up, I'm sorry Zecora I didn't mean to wake you."

Zecora smiled "You didn't wake me up child I was preparing a ritual to make my problems mild, before I go wild. Us Zebra do it many times a year so please Fluttershy, tell me your fears." Zecora sat on her haunches at a table on the far side of the room, pouring herself and Fluttershy some tea from a nearby kettle. "Sit, and put some tea in your pit."

"You see I have this ...little problem please don't laugh that I take medicine twice a year for but the local shops are all out of it. I tried asking Lyra for help but she said she doesn't have anything that can help me." Fluttershy crossed her legs tightly her breathing becoming a bit more labored as she continued. "Normally I have Rainbow Dash help me out but shes currently...well...indisposed at the moment and I was wondering if you have any home remedies that I can use."

Zecora gave a coy smile "Well I do not know what I can do to help if you dance around the subject like a frightened welp."

Fluttershy full well knew Zecora was playfully edging her along to a confession and already knew what she was going though but she needed to get help...and fast. She stared at the ground for a moment thinking how to best describe what she was going through. I feel so ashamed to talk about this and what if she makes fun of me or worse yet refuses to help? I..I don't have a mate for this time of year. I don't want a random colt I don't know mounting me. I can't afford a foal right now either. "I...well...you see there's this thing ponies go through a couple times a year..and.."

Zecora placed her hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. "You are going into heat but have no stallions meat, a problem to be sure but this Zebra has a cure. I am going though heat too so the cure I will share with you."

Fluttershy looked taken aback as she raised her head in surprise. "How did you..? I didn't know Zebra's went through estrus too...why are you?" Zecora kissed Fluttershy on the forehead making he wince slightly in surprise.

"Your scent to be fair is strong in the air, we are both in heat but have no stallions to meet."

Fluttershy looked about the room and the realization struck her. "Oh, I see. This stuff is to help you cope with your own estrus?"

"I have no mate so I set up this date and secured a cure within that crate." Zecora pointed to a small wooden crate by the edge of her bed. "Would you like to greet how I beat the heat?"

Fluttershy slowly nodded her head and Zecora grabbed the box and brought it over to the table. I wonder if its some kind of pill or self pleasuring device, maybe I can ask her to use it to get rid of my own heat.

"Do not tarry, you must be wary for this plant hungers for your sex when you least expect." Zecora opened the box and Fluttershy lowered her head slightly to get a good look when suddenly vines snapped around her neck. Something from the box pulled her head in, stuffing her mouth with a large tube like object. Fluttershy staggered back, breaking a few empty pots as the creature started to expand in he mouth, choking her.

Zecora grabbed the end of the creature and pressed down between two petals where its vines came out making it go completely still as she pulled it out of Fluttershy's mouth, shoving the creature back inside its box as Fluttershy coughed, trying to catch her breath. "What...what is that thing, it nearly choked me to death!"

"Dear Fluttershy it is called Hungry Eye."

"Wh..why did it shove itself down my throat, is it suicidal or something?" Fluttershy said pointing at the box.

"It mistook the hole of your mouth for another, further south."

"Oh...oh my. So...this...thing would try and...mount me?"

"In the wild the plant will rape spreading mares in heat agape. Though this one is tame the adults are a dangerous game."

"That sounds awful, why would you keep such a horrible plant here Zecora?"

"This one is small barely the size of a large spoon but the adult on the other hand can put you in the emergency room."

Fluttershy's eyes went wide in horror. "These get bigger? That little one almost choked me to death and you say there's worse?"

Zecora brushed her hair back and took a sip of tea from her cup. "The adult are quite savage and your backside they will ravage. Even if you fight it holds you day and night, feeding from your mare hood until its hearts delight. Some of my family keep them still even though very hungry ones can kill."

"Why would your relatives keep such a terrible thing?"

"I do not know why they keep a plant that can drain you dry. They may enjoy the thrill even if it can kill. The young ones are safe as long as you pace."

"Let me get this straight, the younger ones can cure heat by...having sex with you?" Zecora nodded. Fluttershy shook her head trying to forget about what the adult Hungry Eye plant could do. "So, you don't have any herbal alternatives to this one plant?"

Zecora took another sip of her tea "If you have no mate there is a cure where dragons migrate, though it would be easier to find a date than go to the dragon-lands and tempt fate."

Fluttershy scratched the back of her head. "Even flying the dragon migration grounds are a full day away at least." I don't want that THING in me, even if Zecora says it's safe. "Umm Zecora, I....think I will try and find a alternative to that...hungry plant thing."

Zecora looked at Fluttershy with a hint of disappointment in her face. "Your words I hear but I see only fear. If you find no cure for your lust then see me you must, later tonight if that's alright."

Fluttershy looked into Zecora's worried eyes. I guess I can come back, I just hope I find a alternative before it comes to being plant raped. "Su-sure Zecora, I'll come back later tonight if I haven't found a solution by then." Fluttershy got out of her seat and opened the door. Glancing back she noticed Zecora going though shelf's, picking random herbs from it and sprinkling them among the floor.

I hope I didn't disappoint her.

Chapter II: Out of Time

Chapter II: Out of Time

Fluttershy spent the afternoon bouncing from shop to shop looking for estrus medicine or advice on how to handle it without medicine. Most shop owners told her the best way is to take a anti-pregnancy pill and just find a nice colt to hang out with, some told her she shouldn't be asking perverted questions and others just went beat red and stood silent. The same advice everywhere, what do other ponies think I am, a floozy? Fluttershy caught something out of the corner of her eye, a shop down a alleyway between sugar cube corner and what looked like a old brick storage building.

"I don't remember this being here" Fluttershy said as she walked up to a large paper covered glass door that read "Feeling Kinkie-Keen" in pink lettering. As Fluttershy entered and strolled past the foyer entrance she realized that the store name was a badly disguised metaphor. Oh my , It's that kind of shop. Dildos of all sizes lined the walls, machines of dubious origin were on display and a top row of boxes behind the counter contained some extremely expensive erotic wares, including the new Mare Breaker four thousand.

"Hello, is anypony there?" chimed a cheery voice that Fluttershy recognized immediately as Pinkie Pie's.

Uh oh, gotta hide, I can't let Pinkie see me in a place like this. Fluttershy looked around the room for a suitable hiding spot as the sound of hooves hitting wood on the stairs grew louder and louder. Fluttershy started shuffling her legs nervously, her heart racing as she tried to find something to hide behind. On the far side of the room was a large rod hanging many lengths of yellow and pink anal beads. yays perverted camouflage? Fluttershy thought to herself as she ducked behind them just as the pink earth pony rounded the corner.

"Hmmm I could a swore I heard someone...come in." Pinkie pie noticed something blue over by the yellow and pink anal beads. As she got closer she could smell a musty odor in the air and a small blue butterfly though one of the bead hoops. "Oh hello, Fluttershy." Fluttershy shot up from behind the rack of beads with a surprised look on her face.

"Pi..Pinkie Pie I uhh, didn't know this was a toy shop. I'll be..be leaving now if you don't mind." The shy Pegasus tried to make a B-line for the door but was blocked by Pinkie Pie. "Can..can I leave Pinkie and can you not tell any of my friends I was here please?"

Pinkie walked up and put a hoof over Fluttershy's shoulders, pulling her in for a hug. "I know what time of year it is, Fluttershy. Even if your mind didn't know what this shop is you body knew what it was all along. Let me show you around, maybe we can find something to attract a lucky stallion or relieve some tension." Fluttershy sighed deeply and followed Pinkie around the shop as she pointed out objects one at a time, each more perverted than the last. "This little toy is called the sex slinky, you get in the center and it humps you every stair you fall down. I have had a few returns on them, saying they don't go down stairs very far though. Oh and these" Pinkie Pie pointed out to another rack of anal beads. "There have a funny story to them, rarity has a few lengths of them at her place and she told me her boyfriend tried pulling them out like he was starting a lawnmower."

Fluttershy laughed out loud at the thought of her prissy friend being started up like a common garden tool. Despite her nervousness about hanging around a porn shop, Pinkie always seemed to get a smile out of her. "Pinkie Pie, you are so random."

"Thanks!" She beamed "I think? Anyways what else can we look at." Pinkie Pie headed off behind the counter and started to dig in some boxes. "Oh this might interest you" Pinkie pulled out a ball of leather with a tag on the side that read "Submissive-tron 1000."

"What is that thing?" Fluttershy asked meekly.

"Well it's a BDSM suit, you press this little black button on top and it puts itself on you."

Fluttershy reached out, pressed the little black button on top and pulled back quickly. The little ball of leather melted into a black puddle and slowly moved itself under Fluttershy. "Umm..Pinkie, what's going on?" The substance started to move up Fluttershy's legs covering them in a thin layer of what looked like latex. "Pi..Pinkie, I'm scared, this stuff is really cold and feels creepy."

"Just breathe deep Fluttershy, it won't hurt you. It's just a creepy black suit that's hugging you like its hungry for sex."

"Not helping Pinkie!" Fluttershy shuffled her legs and flapped her wings uncomfortably as the black substance moved up belly and around her back. The substance soon found its way creeping over her flanks and over her already sensitive sex making her jump up a bit. "Cold, cold, cold!" The substance made its way up Fluttershy's neck, stopping just below her mane. "Pinkie, this kinda feels a tad tight and just...weird."

"You will get used to it. Anyways you wanna try out a few commands?" Pinkie Pie asked with exuberance.

"Commands? What do you mean by commands?"

"Here lemme show you one. Suit activate ball gag!" The black latex on Fluttershy's neck moved up around her jaw and came together in a little round ball in her mouth.

"feeffer dis mouuta my mfff"

"Okey dokie loki. Suit remove gall gag!" The suit reacted to Pinkie Pies command and removed the ball from Fluttershy's mouth, resettling with the rest of the suit by her neck.

"That's kinda neat I guess. What else can it do?" Fluttershy asked apprehensively, full well knowing she was going to possibly regret what was coming next.

Pinkie Pie beamed. "Oh I know, how about something to relieve stress?"

"Oh that sounds nice, what do you have in mind?"

"Suit, warm up backside, sensual massage level two!"

"Wait, sensual what..Oh my!" The backside of the suit slowly began to move, rubbing tightly against her flanks in smooth broad strokes, each swipe sending shivers down Fluttershy's spine. "Oh that feels nice Pinkie." The suit moved up and down her flanks moving slowly inward until it was rubbing the outside of her sex. "Oh dear...that feels....Hmmm good." Fluttershy felt her breathing become more ragged and labored as the suit worked her backside. This feels amazing...all the tension down there is just melting away..

Pinkie Pie let the suit do its work for a few moments before shouting the command for it to stop, much to Fluttershy's displeasure. "So Fluttershy, do you like it?"

"Like it? I almost want to give up stallions forever for it." Fluttershy gave a hearty laugh. "It won't solve my whole..estrus problem though and this is probably well out of my price range."

"Hmmm, well its five hundred bits for the suit but I can loan it to ya for a couple weeks if ya like. That's a older model and it has been sitting on the shelf for months now. I would rather at least see it used than go to waste."

"Well five hundred bits is a bit much but I will be glad to take it off your hands for a couple weeks, still doesn't solve my problem though."

"I know a few colts that could help you out of that jam if ya want" Pinkie said energetically.

Fluttershy pondered for a moment if she really wanted a colt or not. "Are they trustworthy Pinkie?"

"Well, no, not really. They do have a guarantee to ride you until you can no longer feel feelings anymore though. They even managed to wear out Applejack last year."

If they wore down AJ there's no telling what they would do to me."I kinda already told Zecora I would go to her as a last alternative if I needed it. I'll have to pass on the colt friends offer, Pinkie."

Pinkie arched her head back with a quizzical expression on her face. "Zecora? Really? Why not Rainbow Dash or even Big Mac if you're that desperate."

"Oh well you see, Rainbow dash is busy with Soarin and Big mac is helping Cheerilee with her estrus at the moment. I kinda didn't want to ask Zecora for help but she was really nice about helping me."

"Why haven't you taken some anti-estrus pills yet?"

"I spent all day looking for some, Ponyville is out, Canterlot is out and even Hoofington is out. My only options before the heat hits me full bore tonight is Zecora or some random stranger colt I don't know. I would much rather it be someone I know than someone that could take advantage of me."

"I would help you out Fluttershy but I have a meeting tonight and tomorrow morning about this seasonal shop I opened up."

"I don't mean to pry but who is the meeting with exactly?"

"The mayor of Ponyville, she wants to restrict this store to adults only, Like foals are idiots and have never seen other animals doing it in the wild. I could kinda almost not really understand city foals and fillies in Manehattan but out here in the country you see that kinda stuff everyday. I mean honestly I'm not going to sell them anything but at least if they got curious about their own bodies I have some brochures I could give out. I mean honestly watching that gory Robomare movie is fine but learning about your own body isn't?"

Pinkie Pie blew a angry raspberry in the direction of a dart board with mayor mare face pinned in the center. "Old fashioned snooty coot."

"Oh, I see. Well Pinkie it was nice of you to loan this to me but I need to be going if I'm going to find a solution."

Pinkie Pie put her hoof to her chin thinking deeply. "Hey! I got a idea, I heard rarity keeps gems that can hold off estrus. You might want to stop by there before Zecora, maybe she has something that can at least hold it off till you find some medicine."

"I'll go ahead and do that. Err...by the way how do I take this thing off? Does it have a manual or something?"

"Lemme get that for you" Pinkie dug around under the counter and popped up with a small yellow handbook, setting it on the counter. "This handbook has all the commands the suit uses, including some kinky ones if you're into that sorta thing" she said with a sly grin on her face.

Fluttershy opened the small handbook and slowly shifted through the pages. Most of the commands were simple like balls gags, leg spreaders but others were far more complex and interesting. "What's this sensitivity setting thing about Pinkie?"

"You might not want to use that, it does exactly what you think it does, make your body more sensitive to touch and penetration. It's strictly for experienced mares only."

Fluttershy read over some of the other suit abilities. "Oh it looks like it can solo play a bit."

""Pfft it can but that functions busted, they fixed it on the two thousand prototype I hear."

"I see" Fluttershy flipped through a few more pages before asking Pinkie pie for a bag. "I would love to hang out more Pinkie but I must get to rarities and see if she has any of those gems you mentioned left." Fluttershy set the manual in the bag Pinkie gave her and tossed it over her right wing. As she opened the door to exit the shop Pinkie cried out her name.

"Fluttershy, be real careful out there. With so many mares in heat this time of year some of the younger colts will have a hard time controlling themselves around with how you smell at the moment."

"Don't worry about me Pinkie, I fly almost everywhere so I'll be sure to keep my distance from any suspicious colts."

As Fluttershy walked out into the dark alley and took flight towards Rarities shop a shadowy figure was busy smelling the air around the alley. "Shes about ready to pop, this is gonna be too easy" the shadowy figure said.

***

Fluttershy spent the next twenty minutes in flight and despite her being fairly far up in the sky she still managed to turn a few stallions heads below, though if it was the increasing strength of her musk or the tight latex suit she couldn't tell. As Carousel Boutique came into view a few colts below were yelling cat calls at her.

"Hey baby I smell you're ready to rumble. Why don't you bring those sexy flanks down to my flat and we can rock till the break of dawn" Said a red colt.

"Hey baby wanna see something swell?" said another.

"Want to come see my disk drive? I promise it isn't 3.5 inches and it ain't floppy" Said a particularly acne covered colt.

This is bad, they can smell me. I must be really close to estrus She thought to herself as she landed outside Rarities shop. As she knocked on the door Rarity popped it open, quickly ushering Fluttershy in. "Quickly Fluttershy, dear before all those nasty colts get whiff of me." Rarity grabbed Fluttershy before she could protest and pulled her into her shop, slamming the door behind her with authority.

"Rarity is something wrong?" Fluttershy asked although smelling the air around her nearly answered her question for her.

"Wrong? Oh nothings wrong just every stallion in Ponyville that thinks they are worth the skin they are born in wants to ride me like bull. Did you see all those stallions outside, it's like a carnival out there. Plenty of mares go into heat around this time of year and all the creeps come of out the woodwork looking for a free ride."

Fluttershy Blushed "Yeah I..I know what you mean, I can smell you're going into heat in a few days too. Have you found yourself a mate or taken any medicine for it yet?"

"I managed to delay it with some special Gems until the drug store resupplies their anti- heat pills. How about you darling? you smell like you only have a hour or two left until it hits."

"Well umm, Pinkie Pie mentioned the special gems you have and I was wondering If I could maybe borrow one?"

"Darling you should have come to me sooner, you're too close to estrus for my gems magic to have any effect. You do have a backup plan I hope."

Fluttershy kicked the ground. "Well yes, Zecora has a plant that can help but its well...kinda scary and I was hoping to find a alternative before nightfall. Maybe me and you could..you know..help each other out, I mean if it's okay with you that is."

Rarity gasped at Fluttershy's request. "I'm...not that kind of mare darling." Rarity stopped herself as she noticed Fluttershy's eyes welling up some tears. "Darling I... I wish I could help you but you are far too gone for the gems to help. I should have gone into heat myself two days ago, If i do anything now I will break the gems spell and I dare say that filthy entourage outside will pounce on the opportunity to get a piece of me while I'm not sane of mind."

Fluttershy wiped her eyes as some tears hit the floor. "I'm just so scared Rarity. I..I don't want some colt I don't know mounting me and Zecora's alternative is scary. In less than a hour I won't be me anymore, I don't like that side of me at all."
Fluttershy was sobbing loudly as Rarity pulled her into a comforting hug.

"Now, now darling, I know it's rough but it's part of being a mare."

"I know but I didn't want to have to resort to Zecora's cure if I could help it."

"What is the cure if I may ask?"

"It's this plant called 'Hungry Eyes' that well...sticks itself up your backside. Zecora said the younger ones are perfectly safe but it's still pretty scary..and weird."

Rarity thought for a moment. " Well...shes certainly old fashioned. Using the plant anti-estrus medicine is derived from instead of the actual pill itself."

"I want to trust her but that thing looked frightening" Fluttershy said as she wiped some tears from her eyes.

Rarity pulled Fluttershy out of the hug and held her cheeks with both forelegs. "Fluttershy, Zecora's one of our friends, she wouldn't do anything to hurt you. I know her cure is scary but you are in perfectly good hooves with her, So go to her and get this heat business taken care of."

"I..I will but, it's still scary." Fluttershy absentmindedly kicked the floor, breathing deeply to try and calm herself down. "I guess she wouldn't do anything to hurt me, maybe I can talk her into you know, the old fashioned way."

Rarity gave Fluttershy another hug. "Atta girl. Are you sure you want to go to Zecora's alone darling? With all these hoodlums about I'm would hate for you to be harassed all the way there or Celestia forbid one of them try and mount you against your will."

Fluttershy broke the hugs. "I should be fine Rarity, all those colts and stallions outside are earth ponies, I can just fly over them."

"Still I don't want to leave you with no protections...aha!" Rarity trotted into the back room and came back with a silver chain inlaid with brilliant opals. "Wear this dear, the opals turn black if someone near you has less than pure thoughts. It's something like a proximity alert and has literally saved my behind from unwelcome suitors more than once."

"Wow Rarity its gorgeous, are you sure I can barrow it?"

Rarity wrapped the necklace around Fluttershy's neck with her magic and secured the pins just behind her pink mane. "What kind of friend would I be if I put a silly necklace over the safety of my friends?"

"Thank you so much Rarity" Fluttershy arced forward and planted a kiss on the fashionistas snout, making her go beat red. "Rarity, I'm off to see Zecora. Wish me luck." Fluttershy opened the door and ignoring the colt hecklers below, took off in the direction of the Everfree Forrest, Rarity yelling behind her.

"Be safe dear, hope it all works out for you."

One of the colts approached her door waving his stallion-hood at Rarity. "Hey baby cakes, it's a carnival out here and we are given free rides all night long."

Rarity puffed out her cheeks angrily. "Not in a thousand years would I let you anywhere near my backside you filthy knave" and Rarity slammed the door angrily, silencing the heckling colts outside.

"So Bronze Hoof, That makes two years in a row you been rejected. Maybe it's high time you picked a easier target?"

"Oh I have Iron tail, I have" He said looking at the yellow Pegasus soaring high above. "I most definitely have...." Bronze Hoof said before running off at top speed toward the Everfree Forrest.

Soon Fluttershy, your body will be all mine...

Chapter III: Philosophy In A Teacup

Chapter III: Philosophy In A Teacup

Chapter III: Philosophy In A Teacup

***five hours earlier***

Zecora finished sprinkling herbs onto her floor for her estrus ritual later in the night and started adjusting the decorative vines in her home while humming a tune to herself. "You gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em..." She sang to herself as she made the bed and finished up preparations for her ritual. "Well that only leaves one more thing before to make right before tonight." Zecora stared at a silver flask on the highest shelf in her herb cabinet with a mixture of awe and regret. They are not going to like what I have to say at the astral springs this year but then again, it's the same every year.

Zecora pulled the silver flask off the top shelf and set it beside her bed. She dug around underneath it and pulled out a old green saddlebag and set the silver flask inside it before heaving it onto her back. Time to get bitched at she thought to herself as she exited her home and stepped into the afternoon sun. "Celestia is slacking again I see, the sun is off at least three degrees." Zecora shook her shoulders to check if her saddlebag were firmly in place before walking down the road to her next destination. I don't even know why I bother with this part every year.

***

An hour later Zecora finally made it to her destination, a wide open hot spring at the far end of the Everfree Forrest. Zecora inhaled deeply, the smell of thick slightly sulfur laced steam in the air and the only other creature around were a pair of colts playing at the far end of the spring. Zecora eyed the pair of colts suspiciously, smelling the air, trying to get a idea of their ages. "Good , neither of them are of breeding age, I can meditate without any interruptions." Zecora set her backpack on the ground and rummaged through the contents, pulling out a towel that she wrapped around her head. next, she pulled out a vial of green spices and dumped them into the hot spring. The water fizzled and bubbled for a moment making the air around the area smell strongly of oregano.

"Ahh, smells just like the springs in my homeland." Zecora lowered herself into the hot pool of water slowly and took a seat with the water gently splashing against her neck. This feels so good. I don't care what Rarity says, that little spa in town has nothing on the real thing. Zecora leaned back letting the hot bubbling water relieve the tension her body had built up from going into estrus. Now if I only didn't have to do the other part... Zecora stared at her saddlebags for a moment, giving a deep sigh before opening up the left side and pulling out the silver flask. "Bottoms up I guess" Zecora popped the cork off the top of the flask, tilting her head back to allow the liquid within to slide down her throat. After finishing off the contents, she set the flask by her saddle bags. "Bweh, you think after all these years I would learn to add some fruit punch to the mix."

The sky started to turn a hazy pink, the ground became like glue and Zecora could smell the wildflowers from the meadows of her homeland. The sensation felt as if someone was tearing her mind from her body and soon she closed her weary eyes, drifting off into a deep sleep.

A few minutes passed Zecora opened her eyes to find herself in a meadow of lavender flowers. Taking a gander around she noticed she could see the ground below her through her legs. The sky was a brilliant sunset Pink and the light shone through her body making small rainbows in the misty air. Spirit form, no matter how many times I have done it, that part always creeps me out. In the Distance was a large oval hot spring with many other Zebra going about their business, chatting among themselves. Although one group was dead silent, giving venomous stares at Zecora as she walked up to the edge of the water.

"Auntie Bahati, grandma Masika and uncle Chakide, how have all of you been?" The three Zebra were silent as Zecora lowered herself into the spring. The all stood there glaring at her until he eldest of them spoke.

"So granddaughter, tonight will be your first estrus ritual of the year. So tell us, do you have a mate for tonight?"

"I may, grandma Maskia."

The rest of Zecora's family raised their eyebrows in unison, as well as a few other Zebra listening in on their conversation nearby. "What madness is this?" Bahati chimed in "Zecora has a mate for once?!"

The eldest Zebra put her hoof up to silence the outburst from some of the other zebra in the pool. " So what is the name of the father of my future great grandchild?"

Zecora looked into the water, hesitant to give a name. Here goes nothing. "Fluttershy, my mates name is Fluttershy."

A mixed outburst of confusion, anger and glee erupted around the spring. A virtual torrent of arguments broke out between tribe members and zebra from other tribes.

"Shes mating with a mare? how disgusting" said a zebra stallion with a spiked mohawk.

"Maybe it's a stallion with a very feminine name? I have heard that Equestria has plenty of them" said another.

"You're being so outdated Jimine, who cares if it's a mare? Not like it effects you any" said a particularly young looking filly.

Grandma Maskia stomped her hoof on the side of the spring, snorting loudly. The rest of the chattering stopped immediately and all eyes were on the elder Zebra. "Zecora, you very well know the consequences for mating with the same gender do you not? As it was written by my ancestors any stallion or mare caught doing such would be put to death, as is the law of the land."

Zecora looked around the spring for any kind of support but found the ones that were making comments if favor of her were oddly silent, too afraid to speak up over the elder Zebra. "What do you have to say for yourself Zecora? Do you still wish to go through with this...abomination of a mating or will you submit to the will of the tribe and change your filthy ways? Because the alternative is we hunt you down and put you to death, as well as your filthy mate."

Zecora thought to herself How dare she call sweet Fluttershy filthy...by my mothers bones I will not have this! Zecora puffed out her chest and her eyes began glowing a deep yellow sending arcs of yellow electricity rippling across the waters surface. "How dare you call my mate filthy you outdated, racist, useless sack of flesh!."

Many of the other Zebra were taken aback, some of them fleeing the spring in fear. "You speak to your elder like you run the tribe, you dare challenge the authority of the elders that have run this tribe for two thousand years?" Grandma Maskia eyes glowed a deep blue, walking up to Zecora, trying to intimidate her. "Twenty scores ago our ancestors set down rules to keep the tribe strong and proud, stand down or I will strike you down" Maskia threatened.

"Well one score and seven years in the past I was born and now I'm here to kick your ass!" Zecora arched her head back and struck Maskia with a thunderous headbutt sending her skipping across the water, landing in a heap in the meadow on the other side. "Get your old wrinkly behind up, I know that wasn't enough to hurt you. One can push or pull in the spirit realm but killing is impossible."

Sure enough Maskia staggered to her feet shaking her head, trying to focus from the powerful hit. "You..you struck a elder tribe member? Seize her! We will torture the homosexual behavior out of her." The other ponies moved to corner Zecora but stopped dead in their tracks when she stared at them with her powerful electric yellow eyes.

"You will do no such thing unless you prefer to end up like her."

"Equine retch! You inherited your cunt mothers disgusting sense of morality!"

"You will not speak of my mother that way, she had the foresight to get out from under your sexist, racist and homophobic leadership and find true happiness in other lands. I not only inherited her sense of adventure but her power as well. If being truly happy means I must couple with another mare then so be it. I said 'I may' have a mate tonight yet you condemn me before anything happens, as if thinking of loving is a crime."

"It matters not, the fact that you even thought it was a good idea is enough to mark you a traitor. If you stand down to the will of the tribe and take two hundred lashings, then I will forgive this transgression. Refuse and the hunters will be sent after you."

"I will not back down, love is where you find it and if your...hatred is so great that you cannot even be happy at the possibility of me being happy outside your narrow world view..then..then I...I cast my membership to this tribe to the winds.

Maskia eyes went blood red and she charged Zecora, smoke puffing from her snout as she closed in on her target. Zecora's eyes glowed brilliant yellow, arcs of electricity forming along her ears. As Maskia got within impact range Zecora shot a brilliant beam of yellow light striking the elder mare square in the chest, sending her rolling, tearing up the meadow in her wake. "You were never fit to run anyone's lives and you are far too old to challenge me, you lost a granddaughter today becuase of your own hate and inability to let go of the past. I hope you are happy with yourself."

Zecora turned her back on the rest of the tribes members, muttered a few words under her breath and faded from sight.

Zecora awoke moments later back inside her own body. The two colts playing across the spring staring down on her with worried expressions. "You okay lady?" a black colt with a scar over his right eye asked.

"I dunno Wind Shadow, she look's like she is crying" said a blue Pegasus colt with a ghost cutie mark.

Zecora looked into the black colts eyes and wiped a tear from her own. "I will be fine young one, I ..just had a nightmare is all." Well if I'm no longer a member of the tribe that means I no longer have to keep up the tradition of rhyming to outsiders. I guess that's something of a consolation prize.

"What about?" asked the blue Pegasus.

Zecora was taken aback, She didn't know how to phrase what happened to her closest friends, let alone a colt too young to understand basic anatomy. "You...you wouldn't understand young one. Now go along and play, I have much to contemplate."

The black colt shrugged and began to walk away but the Blue Pegasus pressed his questions. "Does it have to do with your grandma?"

"How did you know about that?" Zecora said shocked.

"You were kinda mumbling in your sleep lady, OH and my special talent." The young blue Pegasus pointed at his cutie mark, that of a ghost with holding a scepter. "I can detect when someones doing anything supernatural, including the astral projection you did about a hour ago."

Zecora lifted a eyebrow, a young-ling with this much spiritual attunement was rare even in Zebra let alone Pegasi. "Sit down young one, we have much to discuss it seems."

"My name Is Sight Seeker and that's my friend Wind Shadow, whats your name ma'am?"

"I am Zecora."

"Oh I remember you now, your that lady from nightmare night last year" Wind Shadow said.

"Indeed I am, Sit next me we have much to talk about."

Zecora spent the next two hours going over what happened in the astral springs with the two inquisitive colts. Although she had no idea why she bothered telling complete strangers about her problems, it felt good to get it off her chest. The two colts seemed mesmerized by her story and genuinely curious about how Zecora got to the astral plane to begin with.

"So your family doesn't like what you are doing? Sounds like my dad, he wants me to be some kinda superstar flier but I want to study astral anomalies. We constantly butt heads about it."

"My moms like that, she wants me to inherit and run her radish farm when she retires but I want to be a explorer."

"I see we all have similar problems, our families expect things from us but we want something different for ourselves" Zecora said.

"The way I see it, family is important but it's your life to live not theirs. Even if the steps you take are a mistake you will never learn if it is a mistake unless you make that step to begin with."

"Yeah, what Sight Seeker said. You can never learn what makes you happy unless you stumble around in the dark for a while. Sure you can take others advice but if you hesitate to explore other options you will end up regretting what could have been for the rest of your life."

These two are wise beyond their years Zecora thought to herself as she stared into the sunset. Standing up she shook the water from the spring off her striped coat. "It was nice talking to you, but I suggest you two getting home, The Everfree Forrest can be very dangerous at night."

"Don't worry about us Zecora, the Hoofington town limits are only a three minute walk from here."

"Well then I wish you a safe journey." Zecora started packing up her things when something made her hair stand on end...something she had felt before but couldn't put a hoof on. Turning around from packing up her belongings there was only two small puffs of smoke lingering in the air where the colts once stood. Could they have been? No...sure I would have detected if they were. Zecora shook her head and lifted the saddlebags over her back. Heading home she wondered If Fluttershy was waiting for her, or if it would be another lonely estrus. As she made her way down the trail home her thoughts kept wandering back to the two colts at the hot springs.

I best get home and get this ritual over with..and prepare a letter to Celestia seeking sanctuary within Equestria itself.

Chapter IV:In the Jungle, The Mighty Jungle...

Chapter IV: In The Jungle, The Mighty Jungle...

Fluttershy disliked flying at night. Poor visibility, creepy nocturnal creatures and barely anypony was awake to help in case you got into trouble but with her entire backside feeling like it was on fire, she had little choice. Rarity had managed to keep most of the colt hecklers away save for a couple Pegasus suitors she had to shoot down on her way to the Everfree Forrest. Despite all the raging hormones most of the colts in Ponyville were respectful when they were declined, It wasn't respectful colts like Thunderlane she was worried about, It was the ones that let their instincts guide their actions that worried her. As she landed just outside the edge of the Everfree Forrest, he heart sank. The outline was almost dead black with only a small trail illuminated by moonlight.

"Oh...oh my."

She could feel eyes of all shapes and sizes baring down on her and sounds from creatures she had never seen nor ever wanted to. Putting her best hoof forward onto the trail she slowly walked along the moonlight trying to be wary of her surroundings lest their was any predators about. I wish I could just fly over the Forrest to Zecora's but all the trees look the same from above. As she made her way to Zecora's home she noticed the gems in her necklace were flashing black then back to white a warning rarity said she was to heed. Fluttershy looked about the brush, looking for anypony that may have ill intent when she noticed a rustling in the bushes. A mouse dashed out from the bush being chased by a rather fat looking black cat. "Phew" Fluttershy exhaled as she wiped her brow. "I guess this thing feeds off any nearby negative emotions and not just other ponies."

Well this necklace is worthless She thought to herself as she came to a section of the trail heavily cloaked in darkness. Before she took a step into the darkness she noticed that the moonlight was about a hundred yards away or so. I can just run to it really fast? Fluttershy took a few steps back, inhaled deeply and charged, eyes closed into the darkness only to feel her legs get stuck in something sticky mere seconds later.

Fluttershy opened her eyes and looked down at her feet to find that she had run right into a large shallow puddle of sticky tree sap. Fluttershy started to pull and twist her legs to get free when she felt a hot burst of warm air on her neathers. Turning around she caught the glimpse of a pair of bronze eyes fading into the shadow. "Who...who's there" She yelled in a frightened tone. Fluttershy felt a hoof run down her spine and onto her flank. She turned just in time to catch a glimpse of the same pair of bronze eyes.

"I been tracking you for the past couple days...your sweet aroma has been driving me wild" a voice with rattled breathing said from somewhere in the bushes. "I wanted to ask you out on a date but when I found out you were not interested in colts I knew I had to set up a ...different meeting."

"Who..who are you..what do you want with me?" Fluttershy felt something inhale deeply by her sex as if smelling her. Fluttershy caught a glimpse of a slender face and a brown mane, a colt. "Excuse me but...I I'm not interested in colts and you're really starting to frighten me." Fluttershy continued to struggle in the sticky sap when she felt a pair of hooves slip around her neck and something large bump up against her belly. She turned her head to see a fair sized bronzed coated colt mounting her. She let out a scream only to have the colt wrap a cloth gag over her mouth.

The colt pressed his body onto Fluttershy as he leaned over to whisper in her ear. "I didn't want it to come to this but your body is just screaming for release and I'm just the colt to give it to you." The colt pressed his member up against her wet sex, pushing on the black suit she was wearing in a attempt to penetrate her. "I see this suit is protecting you but no matter, your body is only minutes away from full estrus and you can't escape. Soon you will be all mine."

Fluttershy let out another muffled scream as the colt licked down the length of her back along her spine.

The colt grinned and began to rub the tip of his member in between her folds eliciting a combined scream of terror and excitement from Fluttershy. "Don't worry, I'm here to make you feel good."

***

Zecora's ears perked up and started darting around in all directions like a pair of satellite dishes doing the tango. "What was that?" Zecora's right ear managed to pick up a whimper in the distance followed by a deep rattling voice. Zecora flared her nostrils getting a hint of a familiar musk in the air. "Is that Fluttershy's scent!?" Is she in danger!?" Smelling the air again she confirmed that it was indeed Fluttershy but on that scent was unfamiliar musk one she could only identify as fear. Zecora got to her feet and jumped out of a open window,into the foggy night smelling the air to pinpoint her friends position. Her ears perked again as she heard the words "you will be all mine" and a muffled scream following soon after. Smelling the air in a panic Zecora charged off into the brush following her nose to her friend. Hold on dear Fluttershy, I will help you!

***

"Pwl..please no, wlet me gro." Fluttershy yelled through her gag. The bronze colored stallion was licking Fluttershy's wet sex, each stroke making her body twitch, wanting more. "S..srtop, I don't wrant two....ahhh." The colt had found her clitoris and was licking it vigorously through the latex suit. No, I don't want him. I don't want a strange colt inside of me! Fluttershy tried kicking but her legs refused to move. Instead her body slowly started lowering itself to the ground in a submissive position. No body, kick him! She screamed inside her mind.

Please...no. My..my instincts are overpowering my judgement.

Fluttershy struggled to keep her body out of the submissive position but the colts vigorous strokes were quickly pushing her over the edge. " I see you are almost ready. Maybe now I can rip through that sexy latex you are wearing." The colt mounted Fluttershy again this time biting on her mane and pulling back as his member prodded mere inches into her wet sex.

Fluttershy's vision started to blur and her body bucked into the colts warm member, her suit barely holding off the colt from penetrating. "Pwlease strop, I'll do anythring just not twhat." Fluttershy could feel the colts member pulsating as he continued to push on her backside.

"Sorry babe but you asked for this, you been driving me crazy with your scent all day lo..." A thunderous trot interrupted the colt followed by the strangest sound he had ever heard. "Wret , wret, wret" echoed through the night drowning out the sound of Hooves colliding with stone, wood and dirt. "Well whatever it is let's ignore it. I'm sure your body will agree." The colt pressed his member up against Fluttershy when he suddenly stopped. A blur of white, black and lightning yellow was barreling towards his side, ripping up the ground it its wake. "Wret, wret, wret" The sound was now deafening though the night sky. "What is that..." The colt barely managed to blurt out the words as the Blur struck him hard on the side with a sickening sound of ribs snapping.

The colt tumbled head over hooves into the brush and the strange creature with lightning eyes pressed its attack slamming its hooves onto the colts chest, pinning him to the ground. The creature opened its mouth and spoke as if a thousand needles where closing around his neck. "When a mare says No, she means no!" The Striped creature pushed down hard on the colt eliciting a scream of pain from him.

"Mehcora" Fluttershy mumbled through her gag, getting the attention of the Zebra. Shaking her head with steams of tears in her eyes Zecora could make out what she was saying through the gag. "That's enough. Please don't kill him. He will never learn anything and I couldn't live with myself If you did."

Zecora's eyes went back to her normal turquoise and she slowly got off of the young colt before staring him dead in the face, still gritting her teeth in anger. "I ever see your sorry behind trying to take advantage of a mare like that ever again and I will make sure to leave you so broken even the croc's will feel guilty as they eat you." The colt scampered backwards, staggering to his feet as the Zebra bared down on him. "Run, run away and never return!" The colt shook his head in agreement , clearly horrified by the Zebras powerful presence, turned and ran with a half limp in the direction of the Forrest exit.

After Zecora could no longer hear the hoof steps of the colt she turned to Fluttershy and pulled the gag from her mouth. Zecora looked over the Pegasus to make sure she wasn't injured. "Fluttershy, are you Okay?"

"I ...I dunno.... My body feels like it's on fire." Fluttershy's breathing was erratic, rattled and short. Her wings were upright in the erect position, stiff with arousal. Her legs where shaking, drops of liquid falling from her sex onto the sap holding her down and her face was flushed crimson at the cheeks.

"Oh my, it is nearly time. I take it you came this way to partake in my ritual?"

Fluttershy merely nodded as she crossed her legs in a feeble attempt to control herself. Zecora nodded in reply and stuck her head under Fluttershy's belly and with a powerful hoist freed her from the sticky sap and onto her shoulders. "Listen Fluttershy, I need you to hold on as tightly as you can. We need to get you into the safety of my home, no telling what creatures or other ponies will take advantage of you while you are like this."

Fluttershy angled her body to where her legs were draped over Zecora's and clasped her forelegs over the Zebra's neck. Despite feeling that she was holding on too tight it didn't seem to bother Zecora at all. She took off into a powerful gallop and Fluttershy could feel the powerful muscles underneath her forelegs rocking back and forth as if she weighed nothing at all. She never took Zecora for the strong muscular type mainly becuase it didn't show in her body shape but for some reason It turned Fluttershy on. She couldn't pinpoint why though, she didn't normally go for the muscular types but somehow Zecora's felt natural, as if she didn't intentionally bulk up, it was just part of who she was.

As Fluttershy watched the dark shadows of trees pass by in a blur other parts of Zecora's anatomy were becoming much more pronounced in her mind. Her elegant but powerful legs, how her mane smelled of hot springs and lavender and how her her ears darted around in different directions as she listened to her surroundings. Fluttershy wondered if her sudden turn on was becuase of hormones or becuase she genuinely liked Zecora's sporty body and mystic allure, either way she would find out tonight, one way or the other.

"We are here dear Fluttershy" Zecora said as Fluttershy lifted her head to find that they had indeed arrived at Zecora's jungle home. Fluttershy tried to let herself down but Zecora quickly protested "Try not to move around too much, the only reason Estrus has been delayed for you is that you are calm right now." Fluttershy felt she was right, trying to put weight on her own body made the sexual tension and her backside flare up again. "Just sit still Fluttershy, I will make you better soon enough." Zecora took powerful strides into her home and gently slid Fluttershy off of her back and onto her soft fragrant smelling bed in the center of the main room.

Fluttershy looked down at her hooves and noticed that the tree sap was still caked on her on them. "Oh, I'm sorry Zecora I didn't know..." She was unable to finish her sentence as Zecora has already grabbed a rag and was wiping the sap off her hooves and fur.

"Do not fret Fluttershy, I bring in all manner of things into my home without knowing it, besides you are stressed enough without having to worry about tree sap."

Fluttershy couldn't put her hoof on it but Zecora seemed...different some how, like something that was part of her for so long had suddenly disappeared. "Umm Zecora...Something is different in how you speak, I just can't point out where."

Zecora wiped the last of the sap off of Fluttershy's hooves and tossed the rag in the sink behind her. "I have stopped using my tribes rhyming tradition when I speak as I am no longer a member and not constrained by their traditions."

Fluttershy put her hoof over her mouth. Oh..I hope I didn't open any old wounds.

Her motion wasn't lost on Zecora however, and she smiled reassuringly. "Do not fret Fluttershy, It was my own choice. I was fed up with my elders views on who to love or why."

Fluttershy pondered Zecora's words for a moment and although her mind was becoming cloudy from her oncoming estrus something in her mind clicked; Zecora had abandoned her tribe for her...? "Zecora, you didn't do what I think you did right?"

Zecora didn't answer and instead gave a light kiss on Fluttershy's forehead. "I hope that answers your question Fluttershy."

She ...gave up on her family...for me? Tears were running down Fluttershy's cheeks as she stared into Zecora's turquoise eyes. "Zecora..I ...I don't deserve you as a friend or a mate. You gave up your own family and saved me out of the kindness of your heart but..but I don't think I can repay that. I'm not worth going through that much."

Zecora nuzzled the teary Pegasus. "Dear Fluttershy, you are worth all that and more to me. What kind of friend would I be to leave you to that colt or break a promise becuase of some old hags outdated traditions. Even if you do not think yourself worthy of me, I do not feel that way about you. Maybe after tonight you will understand." Zecora pulled Fluttershy into a deep kiss, her powerful lips locking onto Fluttershy's as her eyes went wide with excitement.

This..this feels nice Fluttershy thought to herself as Zecora's powerful tongue slid into her mouth pushing her own around as if it were a rag doll. As Zecora pushed her tongue as far as it would go, wrapping around her own and holding it hostage, Fluttershy found herself nibbling on Zecora's lower lip making the Zebra moan in ecstasy. Zecora slowly broke the kiss gasping greedily for air.

"You're a excellent kisser Fluttershy, but I must ask, what is this strange black suit you are wearing? Is it part of your own estrus ritual?"

Fluttershy looked down at her own body, she had plum forgot she was wearing a suit designed to make mating as pleasurable as possible. "Oh, this thing is a loan from Pinkie Pie. It can do all sorts of neat things, here I will show you." Fluttershy gave a command for the back side of the suit to open and much to Zecora's astonishment it did just that.

"I see, the suit is a magical aid for mating purposes, what else can it do?"

Fluttershy pondered for a moment what other commands she knew but came up mostly blank when she realized she hadn't really gone over much of the suits functions in the instructions in detail. "I think there's was a couple I remember, suit...sensitivity setting to five...I you would be so kind." The latex along the length of the suit rippled and Fluttershy could suddenly feel just how tightly the suit hugged her body. "There, go ahead, test it." Zecora stared quizzically at Fluttershy for a moment before running her tongue up the length of Fluttershy's neck, eliciting minor body convulsions and moaning from the yellow mare.

"I see, it intensifies ones sensitivity to touch, I wonder how much though." Zecora slowly kissed down Fluttershy's belly, each little kiss eliciting a small gasp as she worked her way down. When she reached just above Fluttershy's exposed sex, she had to stop herself from licking it and instead gave a broad lick at Fluttershy's inner thigh making the pink maned mare whine with delight. "Well that answers my question" Zecora said as she lifted her head up from Fluttershy's nethers.

Fluttershy stared into Zecora's eyes as she got off the bed and popped the lid off the crate by the foot of the bed. "Zecora, I...I'm still a bit afraid of that thing, It seemed rough the last time I was here. It may sound cowardly of me but...could you go first?"

Zecora inspected her trapped specimen closely, It leaves had wilted off and it's core was unmoving. "It looks like we will be doing this the old fashioned way. The plant has gone into hibernation."

"Oh, well... I'm up for that but we would have to do this every night for a week at least, are you okay with that?"

Zecora nodded at Fluttershy. "We need only do this for a few nights, the medicine store should be getting a shipment in early next week."

Fluttershy stared down at the bed, almost as if in disappointment. This wasn't lost on Zecora however as she dug around one of the shelf's above the crate pulling out a fairly large strap-on. "If you want to do this every night over the course of your estrus, then that is fine with me as well."

Fluttershy could barely contain her own "Squee!" as she watched the Zebra slowly slip the Strap-on into place. That thing is kinda big...I hope she has some lube or something. Fluttershy thought as Zecora finished getting the top hooked in.

Zecora looked into Fluttershy's eyes as if reading her mind. "I know this is a little big but I promise to take it slow at first." Fluttershy smiled innocently as Zecora walked over to the bed, swaying her hips seductively. As she reached the edge of the bed she noticed that Fluttershy was quivering. "Are you still afraid Fluttershy?"

"Well, ummm...maybe a little."

Zecora got onto the bed from the bottom and snuggled up next to the slightly frightened Pegasus and whispered in her ear. "Don't fret, I will make you my pet I bet." Before Fluttershy could protest she found herself in the strong warm embrace of Zecora's forelegs, her tongue already working its way up her neck slowly.

Oh, shes so forward! Fluttershy felt one of Zecora's legs work its way underneath her wing, rubbing the point where the wing meets the body in a circular fashion. "Oh!...oh my! right there!" Fluttershy moaned in ecstasy as Zecora massaged under her wings, relieving much of the built up stress and tension from earlier in the day. Fluttershy's wings began to slowly flap, eventually settling in a stiff upright position, a sign that Zecora did not fail to miss.

Running her tongue up Fluttershy's neck she soon found herself nose to nose with the shy Pegasus, watching expectantly over her shoulders at her erect wings. "I see your body agrees with my technique but I have yet to make this encounter magnifique." Zecora wrapped her forelegs around Fluttershy's neck, pulling her into a powerful kiss.

"Hmmmnp" Fluttershy wanted to pull back in surprise but Zecora tasted so good, like wildflowers in a warm summer breeze. She tastes...nice She thought as Zecora pushed deeper into the kiss, pushing her tongue back and forth as if it we her personal toy. One of Zecora's forelegs began slowly brushing her mane, gliding through her hair slowly, occasionally twisting her hair in her hoof playfully. Zecora moved away from Fluttershy's mane and began to glide her hoof slowly down the side of her body.

Breaking the kiss, Fluttershy gasped for air. "A little more foreplay, if that's okay with you" she said, panting for air. Zecora nodded in agreement as she licked up and down Fluttershy's throat, caressing her long pink mane all the while. Fluttershy began to run her hoof through Zecora's mane and down her back, pulling the stronger zebra into a tight embrace. Zecora moved her head up to Fluttershy, nuzzling her passionately and whispered in her ear.

"Time I can no longer bide, soon I must ride." Zecora moved her head down Fluttershy's belly, kissing every inch on her way down to her neathers.

Fluttershy moaned in ecstasy as each kiss on her belly sent electric pulses down her body, making her quiver in delight and anticipation as Zecora worked her way down. So good, can't wait... Zecora's tongue found the tip of her clitoris through the latex like suit and the reaction was nearly instantaneous. Fluttershy arced her back, her back legs shooting up and around Zecora's neck, pulling her in tighter.

The sudden tight grip or deafness didn't seem to bother Zecora much as she rolled her tongue around the edges of Fluttershy's sex, occasionally teasing the mare by running her upper lip over her clitoris, making the mare hump her face with gusto.

Can't hold back anymore, I want this, I NEED this!

"Su..suit, open up pl..please" Fluttershy said though her excited gasps. The suits end opened up revealing her pink swollen sex to her mate. "I'm ..I'm ready Zecora, just go gentle at first."

Zecora stared at Fluttershy's exposed sex for a moment as if not knowing how to continue when she suddenly broke the silence with a question. "Shaken or stirred?"

Fluttershy looked down at the Zebra in a mix of arousal and confusion. "I...I never had anyone ask that before. Ummm...shaken I guess?" Fluttershy had no idea what Zecora was talking about but she didn't care, her body needed release, anything would do.

Zecora arced her head back, twisting her head back and forth with disturbing cracks, licking her lips as she zeroed in on her target. "Where tongue and groin meet is where I will eat." Zecora plunged her head into Fluttershy's neathers tongue first, piercing her vagina like a meaty wet sword.

"OH sweet Celestia, yes!" Fluttershy screamed as Zecora rhythmically rocked her body in a side to side motion, eliciting gasps of surprise and pleasure from her. Fluttershy bit down on her foreleg in a vain attempt to stifle her moans of pleasure to little effect, Zecora was apparently not a virgin when it came to filly fooling. So..so good. With each thrust Fluttershy found herself rocking her hips into Zecora's face, slowly at first but becoming more aggressive with each thrust of her tongue.

Zecora slowly moved her forelegs around Fluttershy's waist, caressing her thighs as she moved to hook her forelegs together. She looked up into Fluttershy's eyes and gave a sly wink before hoisting her entire body into the air, upside-down, plunging her tongue along the top of of Fluttershy's sex.

Fluttershy screamed out in ecstasy, her entire body quivering as Zecora hit her sweet spot over and over again with powerful lashes of her tongue.

"Yes, YES! Right there! Hit it like you mean it!" Zecora picked up her pace, Fluttershy clamping her thighs tightly over Zecora's ears, muffling her screams of delight.

Zecora continued to feast on Fluttershy's neathers, lashing her tongue left and right, hitting her g-spot over and over like some kind of perverted sniper until she felt the Pegasus seize up. Her entire body shook violently, her wings flapping hard and juices from her neathers squirting onto her muzzle as she pulled out. She lowered the Pegasus back onto the bed, being mindful of her legs twitching and kicking as she slowly came off her high.

"I...I..came, Zecora" Fluttershy said panting. "But what about you? You must let me help you out too. It would be rude for me to be greedy and not give anything back."

Zecora lowered the panting Pegasus back onto the bed and nuzzled up against her face, pushing on her sex with the strap-on. "Making you cum was no trouble, fore when I stick this in the fun shall be doubled."

"But, it's just rubber isn't it? You would only feel hot air."

Zecora's eyes glowed a brilliant white as she spoke "perasaan untuk merasa." The straps on her false appendage glowed and seemed to meld with her coat, disappearing and leaving the appendage hanging between her legs as if it were a part of her. "You will discover how when I start to plow." Zecora positioned herself to penetrate Fluttershy when she suddenly found herself on her back, Fluttershy positioned above her.

"I think I know what you mean but at least let me do the work for you." Fluttershy lowered her hips onto the now oddly pulsing member and began to grind her lips along the shaft, watching Zecora closely as to gauge her reaction.

"Oh my, dear Fluttershy." Zecora said trying to poorly cover up a moan of pleasure.

"Hmmm I see, you can feel everything as if it were real." Zecora nodded as Fluttershy moved off her body spreading her legs as her face hovered inches above her throbbing magical member. "I wonder how sensitive it is." Fluttershy stuck her tongue out, running it along the base of the shaft, ending in a little kiss on the tip, making the member swell even larger.

"My goodness, I hope I can...fit it all."

Zecora looked down but before her eyes could meet with Fluttershy's she felt half of her member engulfed in heat, wetness and teeth. Zecora arced her head down watching Fluttershy slowly work her way down the shaft, her wings flapping tirelessly to help her along. "Fluttershy, your mouth on my south meat is turning up the heat!"

Zecora watched as Fluttershy inched her way down her member. She could feel her tongue rolling along the bottom of her shaft making her want to buck further into the wetness but controlled herself as to not choke her mate. With one last mighty flap of her wings Fluttershy's lips met the base of her member. Looking up into Zecora's eyes the Yellow Pegasi gave a little wink, angled her wings in reverse and began to slowly pull back. The sound in the room was suddenly as if a dozen ponies finished shakes and where slurping the bottom for the last drop. Zecora grabbed onto the headboard of the bed as to not be lifted off by Fluttershy's powerful beats from her wings.

Fluttershy finally reached the tip of her member and released it from her mouth with a short popping sound. "My, it looks like you barely held on Zecora. I have a idea though." Fluttershy stared at her left hoof for a moment and whispered a command. " Um...suit, a toy attached to my left hoof, as big as hers and studded if you will." The black latex suit rippled across her body forming a large studded dildo attached to her left hoof.

Before Zecora could protest she felt her member engulfed halfway in Fluttershy's mouth, the Yellow Pegasus bobbing rhythmically as she pressed the toy on her left hoof slowly into Zecora's sex. Zecora gasped as the tip of the toy entered her sex, each stud along its impressive girth rubbing along her walls, like a hundred little members massaging her insides. The toy finally bottomed out inside her and Zecora involuntarily lifted her legs into the air, resting them around Fluttershy's neck.

"hmmmp?" Fluttershy looked up at Zecora confused, her mouth still half way down her member.

"Si-sorry,, can't help myself."

Fluttershy gave a little grin and started to bob up and down faster, slowly pulling the toy out as she did. Zecora's body would have none of it however as it tightened around the toy as if to never let it go, clenching down on it to feel every little nub tickle her insides as Fluttershy pulled it out. The tip of the toy rested on her quivering sex, Fluttershy teasing her by rubbing it across her clitoris. "D-don't stop now! Continue to plow!" Fluttershy gave a little giggle and shoved the toy into her with authority. "Wret, Wret, Wret!" Zecora jerked her head back, grabbing onto the headboard of the bed as Fluttershy thrust the large member rapidly into neathers.

The..the fun really has been doubled.

Zecora could feel little nubs intensely rubbing her insides quickly before being pulled out, her walls clenched harder with each full motion and she could barely hold on as each thrust spread her wide. "Fl-Fluttershy, Go slow or I..I will blow." Fluttershy seemed to not hear Zecora or was too caught up in the moment to care. Instead of slowing down she increased her pace significantly. As Zecora watched what used to be her mate became a blur of yellow and pink. Time itself seemed to stand still for a moment. She knew each thrust was more than a couple per second and Fluttershy was fellating her member so fast that she could hardly make out it was her doing it. It took her a few moments to realize her own lighting yellow glow from her eyes was being reflected in a mirror on the far side of the room. Her body had accidentally cast a self time slowing spell in a attempt to savor the moment.

I wonder what will happen if I suddenly cancel this spell?

Zecora muttered a counter-spell under her breath but immediately wished she hadn't. The flood of sensations she was feeling was unbearable. It felt as if a hundred or more thrusts hit her sex all at once and Fluttershy had been sucking her for a hour and not just a couple minutes. Zecora couldn't handle it, too many sensations hitting her at once. She bucked her hips hard into Fluttershy's mouth, deep-throating all the way to the back of her mouth.

Fluttershy's eyes went wide with surprise at Zecora's actions but didn't seem to care. She refused to pull back, letting the Zebra blow two short bursts of cum into her mouth as she swallowed them without hesitation. Seconds later she felt Zecora's nethers clamped tightly on the end of her hoof and the toy itself, her entire body shaking violently.

"Wret, wret, wret!" Zecora screamed, her body kicking and air humping, looking for more. I...never..had a orgasm..that hard before, I don't think I have anything left. Zecora felt as if she was flying through the sky and her neathers seemed to agree, both of them quivering, humping the air and shooting liquids onto the bed and Fluttershy's mouth.

Fluttershy slowly moved her mouth off of Zecora's member, making a loud drawn out slurping noise as she did, which Zecora moaned loudly at. "Fluttershy, please pray-tell how you learned to buck and suck so well?" The yellow Pegasus blushed a deep crimson as she finally removed her mouth from Zecora's member.

"Well, Rainbow Dash is kinda experienced when dealing with other mares and I learned that sucking technique from Applejack. But umm...question, if that thing came inside me would it make me you know, pregnant?"

Zecora pointed at the top shelf at a blue strap-on behind some pots. "For pregnancy to become true I need to plow you with the Blue."

"Oh, well in that case." Fluttershy moved up to Zecora's face, grinding her vaginal lips across the bottom of Zecora's shaft, eliciting a drawn out moan from the Zebra.

"I know you want to ride but I am spent inside." Despite Zecora's proclamation her member went rock hard as Fluttershy teased the shaft with her lips, humping and teasing it to penetrate her.

"A problem to be sure but my body has the cure."

"Wait, since when did you rhyme Fluttershy?"

"I learned from the best. Now I can rhyme on a dime anytime."

Both mares burst into a fit of giggles before Fluttershy continued hip grinding Zecora's shaft. "This is quite big, lemme ease down on it first." Fluttershy eased the tip to Zecora's member to the entrance of her sex pushing it in only a inch or two.

*Gasp*

"My, this thing is bigger than It looks." Fluttershy continued to push on Zecora's member but the feeling of being spread so wide was slowing her down. She could feel the blood coursing through Zecora's shaft, her walls squeezing so tight it as if they wanted to choke the life out of it or make it a permanent addition to her anatomy. Looking down on her mate she noticed a pained expression on her face.

"You push with all your might but you may be too tight!"

It's not as if She hadn't tried loosening up, it was just her body wanted Zecora inside her so much that it wanted to extend the pleasure as long as it could. "Umm...I'll be as loose as a spruce goose."

Zecora raised a eyebrow. "But a spruce goose would be very hard wood and not a very good flier. Or loose for that matter."

"I said I could rhyme on a dime. I never said I was any good at it." Fluttershy had made it halfway down Zecora's Shaft when her body refused to go any further, She hadn't bottomed out but even beating her wings in reverse couldn't get past how tight she was.

"I ..I think I need a little help here, If that's okay with you."

Zecora sat up, hugging Fluttershy around her waist she pulled her down to little avail. "I will try again" Zecora pulled down with all her might. Just a little more and...

*Gasssp*...y..yay!"

Fluttershy's body felt electric, her wings flapped erratically, her breathing ragged. Her entire body quivered after accepting Zecora's full girth. "I...I think I came already." Fluttershy pushed Zecora down on her back again and started to roll her hips in a circular motion getting a neigh of acceptance from Zecora. "But I want more. I want you to cum so hard that neither of us can feel feelings anymore." Fluttershy lifted her hindquarters up until only the tip of Zecora's member was still inside her.
"one, two and..." Fluttershy slammed down her hindquarters with all of her might, thrusting Zecora's member deep inside of her. "Sweet Celestia yes!" both mares shared a drawn out moan before Fluttershy started to roll her hips on Zecora's member again.

"The..the way you hump, m-might make me a two pump chump" Zecora yelled in between Fluttershy's large full hip thrusts.

"I...I don't k-know Z-Zecora, I think you can handle me. Maybe If you set the pace."

"Oh, well I g-guess I shouldn't be a wussy, get up and pound that pussy!"

*Squee* Fluttershy replied as The Zebra rolled her onto her back, thrusting mercilessly. "Oh yes, b-break me Zecora...if that's okay with y-you." She didn't need to ask, Zecora was pounding her sex like a train engine piston, taking full powerful thrusts that sent shock ripples down her flanks. "Y-yes...p-please harder." Each thrust sent a electric shock down her spine as she felt her walls contract hard on the pullout only to be blissfully spread wide again less than a second later. "S-s-suit, Oh yes!" Zecora angled herself and was slamming in and up, right underneath Fluttershy's G-spot.

She slamming me to hard to make a command...maybe a mental one will work? Suit please umm...give Zecora a toy in her as big as she is if you wouldn't mind. The latex around her legs rippled and flowed behind Zecora, forming one very large toy with a smaller semi vertical protrusion on the side. The toy raised up slowly, like a cobra ready to strike and slammed into Zecora's backside, drilling into her hard, the small protrusion plowing into her anal cavity.

Zecora gave a short half neigh before looking behind to see a large double tipped toy inside her. "What, what in my butt!" Zecora cried as the toy slammed into her over and over.

"S-s-stop being a prude, I can tell you love it."

Fluttershy was correct, despite the first thrust being a bit painful her entire backside felt full, complete even, as the twin dildo spun and slammed into her harder and faster with each passing moment. Despite all the amazing sensations she was feeling, she wasn't gonna let Fluttershy get away with being too assertive. "What the hoot, that was my poop shoot, for this travesty I will ravage your majesty." Zecora grabbed Fluttershy around the waist and lifted her upright, using Fluttershy's own weight to help her thrust faster.

Fluttershy screamed in ecstasy, Zecora's member slamming into her faster than she ever dreamed possible. "YES!YES! FUCK ME! BREAK this little mare!" Fluttershy grabbed Zecora around the neck, screaming obscenities and pushing herself as hard as she could into Zecora's member as she thrust even faster.

"I...I am almost done p-pounding your neathers, let us be rounding this up and cum t-together!" Zecora's eyes glowed bright white and somehow her member got even larger as she made one more valiant thrust Into Fluttershy, sending them both into quivering, jerky fits.

"Yes, sweet Celestia..so big..so much...cum inside..so warm." Fluttershy clamped down on Zecora's massive member rocking her hips while she shook violently, looking for Zecora to pump in everything she had.

Zecora on the other hoof was struggling to keep consciousness the extra blood needed to make her member larger and the double orgasm from her hindquarters was quickly draining her stamina. Breath deep girl, you can do this. Despite feeling like just falling over, she pressed on, pumping everything she had into Fluttershy, the mare still mouthing obscenities under her breath as she started to come out of her orgasm. As Zecora pumped the last bits of her cum into Fluttershy they both collapsed, exhausted on the bed, their combined juices making quite the mess on the sheets.

"F-fluttershy" Zecora said panting "That was t-the best sex I have ever had."

Fluttershy went bright crimson. Holding her hoof under Zecora's chin, pulling her close she whispered in Zecora's ear. "And just think, we get to do that every night for six more nights."

The two mares held each other in a warm embrace, slowly drifting off to sleep. One minor problem crept up in the back of Zecora's mind as sleep took its hold over her but she didn't care, she could handle whatever it was in the morning.

Chapter V: 7th Night Dreams

Chapter V: 7th Night Dreams

***Six Nights Later***

"Yes! Pound it! Plow me like Big Mac plows his fields!" Zecora was huddled over Fluttershy, sweating profusely as she rammed into Fluttershy's neathers, the yellow Pegasus bracing herself on the couch. "Hit it like you mean it!" Fluttershy screamed, barely holding onto the couch arm as Zecora's powerful thrusts started to shake her furniture apart."So,So close.,just a little more..." Fluttershy felt her orgasm quickly creep up on her and right before her peek squeezed down her backside holding Zecora inside, Her own quivering and shaking orgasm finishing off Zecora as well. "Oh...so warm, I love that feeling when you finish Zecora."

"You orgasm you bide lets me cum inside but even though you still have fire I'm afraid I must soon retire."

Fluttershy giggled to herself as she slowly pulled off Zecora's member, still holding it tightly inside her to elicit a few more moans of pleasure from the exhausted Zebra. "You have done more than enough. I mean honestly, twenty-one times in just seven days is more than anyone could ever hope for." Fluttershy looked over at the clock which read ten PM exactly. "Oh my, It looks like I'm about a hour late feeding Angel bunny his dinner. Zecora could you help me..." Fluttershy looked over the Zebra who was dead asleep on the couch. "Oh, never mind then. I guess four times today alone was a bit much."

Fluttershy turned her attention to the small hole on the wall on the far side of the room. "You can come out now Angel bunny, momma's no longer doing anything dirty." Two ears poked out from the hole, followed by a pair of terrified black beady eyes. "Come on Angel, It's time for dinner." The rabbit's eyes darted over to the sleeping Zebra on the couch. Slowly he steeped out making hand signals with a finger going into a hole, in and out.

"Oh, no we are done doing that stuff, my estrus will be over tonight and she's already tired out."

The rabbit stepped out and started waving his arms and chattering incessantly, Fluttershy watching his movements, trying to translate everything he was saying.

"What do you mean we buck so much it even makes rabbits blush?"

Angel thrust his hips and mouthed some of the choice words Fluttershy was screaming over the past week, then moved his arm in a whipping fashion.

"Well, yes. I did scream 'eat the whip cream off my pussy! Whip my ass harder!' a couple of days ago."

Angel grabbed is ears and pulled them down to his side chattering angrily.

"Oh you didn't know about the whip cream part, would it help to know there was a cherry on top at least?'

Angel shook his head back and fourth, clamping down on his ears as he chattered angrily.

"What does TMI mean Angel?"

The rabbit rolled his eyes and tapped his foot rapidly on the floor as he chattered again.

"Oh, it means 'too much information'. And no my name is not 'Ms. kinky' thank you very much."

Angel shrugged and opened his mouth, pointing his finger inside.

"Yes I know, I'm a little late with your dinner tonight. How about I make you a fruit salad, with a banana, whip cream and a cherry on top?"

Angel had a look on his face that even a non-animal communicator could understand. His fake retching and shivers of disgust making even the dead asleep Zecora stir.

"Oh well, no banana, whip cream or cherry on top then. Maybe a cucumber?" Fluttershy looked up on top of her fridge. "Oh wait, we used that cucumber for umm...'extracurricular activities' two nights ago."

Angels jaw hit the floor as he mouthed the words that almost looked like "Oh come on!"

***

Zecora's hooves hit the warm grassy ground. Her body feeling lighter than air and her hair flowing in the warm summer-like breeze. "Ahh, always feels good in this dream." Zecora inhaled deeply staring into the half sunrise half moonrise dream sky. On the horizon a small patch of fog was forming, slowly at first but then picking up pace, arcs of blue lightning flowing freely from its sides. I do not remember that being here Zecora thought. The fog Swirled inward, faster and faster, the arcs of lightning focusing themselves on the center.

The cloud of fog glowered red hot and exploded onto the rest of the grassy field, cloaking the entire area with thick fog. "Who goes there?" she asked to no reply. "I asked who goes there, you have much to explain to be intruding in my dreams."

A deep echoing voice came from the clouds of fog. "Zecora of the Wind Runners, I have come to warn you about future*cough cough* wheeze* jeeze, it always sounds so easy and cool to do in the movies." The voice changed from a deep echo to that of a particularly whiny colt. The fog slowly cleared to reveal a smaller than average sized colt wearing wood armor with a bone outline, a pair of green rusted bracers around his forelegs and a helmet entirely to big for his head. A magnifying glass cutie-mark rested on his flank.

"Zippy? Zippy of the Hidden Mists tribe?"

"Yes, long time no see Zecora and the name's captain zippy if you will."

Zecora rushed forward and embraced the colt in a bone crushing hug. "Oh it has been too long, the last time I saw you was just as you entered the boarder patrol. Now look at you." Zecora pointed to a red phoenix badge on the center of Zippy's helmet "You made captain of the boarder patrol."

The colt staggered a bit after Zecora let go, his helmet falling over his eyes as he regained some of his composure. "Blasted thing, asked for size five not eleven" he mumbled under his breath as he readjusted his attire.

"So what brings you to my dreams? It's not like you to be this invasive. Or melodramatic."

"Well Zecora, I bring grim news, Maskia of the Wind Runners has declared you a traitor to her tribe. She has asked for the boarder guards to allow her safe passage into Equestrian lands on a diplomatic mission for your extradition."

"I see. How long do I have before she reaches Equestria?"

"Well I have connections with the port authority and control the paper work for anyone crossing the boarder. With Maskia having caused two wars with neighboring tribes after your mothers passing I can keep her tied up for at least a year and a half, if not more."

Zecora stared at the colt for a moment, as if glaring into his soul. "There is something you're not telling me young one. You can be open here, no one can hurt you."

The colt kicked the grass, staring at the ground. "Zecora, every tribe has already gotten word of how you humiliated Maskia at the astral springs a week or so ago. The big three want your head on a platter over here, while the smaller tribes like mine are behind you one hundred percent but...."

"But what?"

"Despite your mothers influence and all the help she gave us the smaller tribes are not capable of fighting the big three in a civil war. Maskia's economic bullying has dwindled our coffers and the drought this year is completely unnatural. I'm afraid the best we can do it delay her politically."

Zecora gave a heavy sigh. "All this over me. I was better off keeping the situation between me and Fluttershy personal."

"I do have a suggestion. Take your situation to princess Celestia. If you can get permanent citizenship or diplomatic immunity, Maskia won't be able to enter equestrian territory or secure your extradition for punishment."

"Let me guess, the punishment is death right?"

"Far worse I'm afraid. I heard rumors she planned a virtual smorgasbord of tortures for you including" The colt gulped nervously before lowering his voice to a barely audible whisper. "Death by grinder."

"Disgusting, Celestia would never allow a extradition for that form of punishment. I am appalled that the other two main tribes have not forced her to abolish such horrific tortures." Zecora snorted angrily, gritting her teeth. "If I had only stayed in my home land after mother passed, none of this would be happening."

"Well the other two may as well be in Maskia's control. The old leaders of each passed away allowing her to set up puppet leaders in each."

"Hmm, that won't end well."

"If is any condolences she is incapable of using 'The Spear of Sealing' on you."

"That thing still exists? I thought it's usage was abolished centuries ago?"

"I'm afraid not, the original was destroyed but Maskia forged another one. Shes been using it on dissenters and those she deems unclean for the past two years."

"What!? How dare she! Only a monster would use that weapon as punishment!"

Zippy adjusted his helmet again before raising a hoof to calm Zecora down. "We stole it from her, it's currently hidden in a undisclosed location although our shaman have yet to find a way to destroy it."

"I am not surprised. The last one took Celestia nearly week of effort to destroy and even then she was severely weakened by the backlash."

Zippy looked over his shoulder meekly, shuffling his hooves. "I have to go now, I'm due for duty in less than five minutes. If they catch me napping to communicate with you I'll never hear the end of it from my superiors."

Zecora gave the stout captain another hug. "Thank you for your help young one. It lightens my heart to see you are doing so well."

"Good to see you too."

The fog started to swirl around Zippy, lightning crackling off his body until nothing was left of him. Zecora looked into the half-moonrise , half-sunrise sky contemplating her next move. "I guess I will need to set up a formal meeting with princess Celestia, maybe Twilight Sparkle could help set that up."

***

"Zecora? Zecora? Wake up sleepy head." Fluttershy busily rocked Zecora's body back and forth in an attempt to wake her. "C'mon Zecora, your breakfast will get cold."

Zecora slowly awoke to find a pair of excited, vibrant cyan eyes looking over her. "Good morning dear Fluttershy, you appear to be up early today."

Fluttershy arced her head to the side quizzically. "Early? It's almost ten-thirty silly."

Zecora looked over Fluttershy's shoulder at the clock above the kitchen doorway. "Indeed it is. Seems I have slept in a bit."

"Oh, that's fine. You were really exhausted last night let alone all the ...other activities during the last week." Zecora blushed scratching behind her head. "Anyways I made corn grits, oatmeal and pancakes for breakfast. Do you like tea or juice with your breakfast?"

"Juice if you would be so kind."

"Radish, grape or orange?"

"Ora...wait...radish?"

"Oh yes, it gives Pegasus wings such a nice shine to them, back when I was working with photo finish she had me stop drinking it for awhile. She said it made the camera lens flare too much, whatever that means."

"I guess i can try radish juice, if you would be so kind."

Fluttershy hovered off into the kitchen, leaving Zecora with her food and thoughts from the dream she had. Do I tell Fluttershy what is wrong or do I try and solve this without worrying her. Zecora pondered how to go about getting in contact with Celestia when a clank from a mug of juice hitting the table broke her concentration.

"You seem preoccupied Zecora, normally your breakfast would half gone by now, especially after all that rutting yesterday. Is there something wrong with my cooking?"

"Oh no" Zecora grinned. "Your cooking is just fine. I was just umm" C'mon think fast "Thinking of maybe us having dinner this Friday? A movie perhaps?"

"Fluttershy's eyes lit up like the end of the summer sun celebration. "I would very much like that. I mean yeah we kinda did the whole dating thing in reverse but I enjoy your company all the same."

"As do I, dear Fluttershy."

The two mares ate breakfast, Zecora trying the radish juice only to find out that Fluttershy makes it with horse radish.

"*pppfffttt* This is probably the most terrible thing I have ever drank."

"I guess it's a acquired taste, I been drinking it ever since I moved to Ponyville."

Zecora munched on her pancakes in effort to get the terrible burning taste out of her mouth. "Well at least the rest of the food is acceptable. Honestly though Pegasus actually drink that?"

"Oh well, I do but most others don't. Most other Pegasi prefer speed over good looking plumage."

Zecora finished off her pancakes and although she still felt rather ravenous she needed to see Twilight Sparkle as soon as she could. "I am sorry Fluttershy, that I cannot stay longer but I do have errands to do in the town and at my home."

"That's no problem, I need to be getting to work on my morning rounds. I guess I'll see you this coming Friday?"

"If not sooner."

Zecora gave Fluttershy a loving nuzzle and a peck on the cheek, making the Pegasus go a deep shade of crimson. Heading for the door she was stopped by a shout from be hind her.

"Zecora, Stop!"

"Is something wrong?"

"You might want to remove that umm...thing between your legs, you might give other mares in town the wrong impression."

Zecora looked between her legs, The magical member was still attached between them, swishing back and fourth as it lacked a sheath to retract into. "Oh well, that wont do. Thanks for the save."

"No problem. The last thing you need today is to rock out with your cock out in public."

Both mares shared a giggle.

"I guess that would send the wrong message." Zecora's eyes lit up and the false member unstrapped at he back and fell to the floor with a thud. "You have no idea how it feels to have that thing no longer weighing me down." Zecora looked around the room, apparently she had forgotten to bring any saddle bags with her. "Umm Fluttershy, can I leave this here with you for now?"

"It's not problem, carrying this around town in your mouth would be just as awkward." Fluttershy picked up the magical member and set it in her top drawer in her living room hutch. "You can pick it later. Have fun in town." Fluttershy gave Zecora a quick peck on the cheek as she left her home, the Zebra blushing lightly as she closed the door behind her.

Fluttershy turned to head to the kitchen when she was stopped by her companion Angel. "Don't worry I made some radish juice for you too."

The rabbit glared at Fluttershy then at the drawer she put Zecora's magical member in, making had motions all the while.

"No Angel I'm not going to do any funny stuff with Zecora's appendage and no, I am not a called 'Ms. Kinky' , for that you get no breakfast."

The rabbit rolled his eyes and chattered what sounded like a pleading apology.

"Well okay then, I'll still fix your breakfast but in exchange for being lenient I get to talk about all the fun adventures I had over the last week."

Angel pulled his ears down, a look of fresh horror on his face. I will need counseling after this he thought to himself as Fluttershy described to him what a "sixty-nine" was.

***

The town of Ponyville was a bustle with activity. Ponies peddling their wares, chatting as they ate breakfast at sugar-cube corner or in some ponies case, just coming out of a drunken daze.

"But...Carrot..can I call ya Carrot? See I have this idea for amazing wine but I need your *hic* help to make it. Will ya loan me a couple dozen carrots?"

"For the last time Berry Punch no, I will not be swindled into helping you get wasted. Besides I don't think you can make wine out of carrots."

"But...but Carrot, ponypedia said I could."

It felt good to see most of the town back to normal. Zecora could still smell some late bloomers going into estrus but for the most part the town didn't reek of female musk like it did last week. Passing through the town square she could hear familiar voices shouting out their goods. One felt somewhat out of place however.

"Apple fritters, apple pie, apple cupcakes, get em fresh here. Best apples in Equestria and iffin someone told you otherwise they were prolly lyin." A bright orange mare, Applejack, was busy ushering in customers, barely getting any time to yell her advertisement as the bits practically flew her way.

"Apple fondu anyone? Maybe some Apple caviar surprise? Miss would you like a free sample of my Apple fondu?"

"Rarity didn I tells ya ta lay of the fancy smancy stuff while you were paying me back this week?"

"Fine, but don't blame me for trying to bring a little style and finesse into your culinary shack."

"i didn understand a word you said darlin but we have a order of fifty Apple muffins due to the local mail sortin facility. If Derpy doesn't get her monthly order then it's my hide and eventually yours when she loses yer mail. So get bakin.

Rarity looked like she wanted to chew Applejacks face off but changed her demeanor when customers stared at her.

Zecora giggled to herself and trotted off into a nearby alleyway, a shortcut of sorts to the library where Twilight Sparkle lived. Around halfway she noticed a familiar bronze colt sweeping up the alleyway between the shops, he was wearing a orange vest and had bandages all around his midsection where Zecora knew she pinned him a week earlier. The colt turned around, humming to himself as he swept but went dead silent when he spotted Zecora, the broom dropping from his mouth with a loud thud.

"Y-y-you!" The colt said quivering in fear. "You're here to kill me aren't you?"

Zecora sized up the colt. Despite her former encounter with the colt and the feeling that she should have done more to teach him a lesson, something inside said that she shouldn't, that Fluttershy would most definitely disprove of her seeking vengeance.

"Z-zecora was it" The colt spoke up after a short staring contest. "I-I'm really, really sorry about what I did to Fluttershy. It was my second year you know, being active that way. I know that doesn't excuse what I did but please believe me, some of that was hormones. I'm sure you have read that even stallions can't control themselves sometimes so...please forgive me...I don't want to die."

Something inside Zecora felt pity, she knew that this colt tried to rape one of her dear friends but he was somewhat right, he was barely past mating age and even though that didn't completely excuse his behavior, it was also some of his parents blame for not keeping him on the right hormone re-balance medication to avoid him going into "Mad stallion heat" as her people called it.

"Young one, what is your name?"

"Bro...Bronze Hoof ma'am" The colt said nervously.

"I see. I bear you no I'll will but the one you need to apologize to is Fluttershy, not me."

"I..I want to but I am on public service duty until mating season is over."

"Is that what the orange vest is for?"

"I...I turned myself in after my mom took me to the hospital to get these ribs taken care of. Nurse Red heart gave me a blood test and I came back positive for severe hormone imbalance. After the meds she gave me kicked in I felt so guilty for trying to do what I did to Fluttershy, so I turned myself in to the local guards."

"And your punishment was, this?"

"The guards didn't seem surprised, they said this happens to a few colts every year and that they were already notified of my condition by Red Heart. So they gave me a supply of suppressing medication and said hard work for three weeks will keep my mind off all the mares in heat. I know this doesn't seem like a punishment but ya gotta believe me. I am truly sorry."

Zecora walked up to Bronze Hoof, who immediately dropped to the ground out of fear, covering his head. A nagging urge to just give him one more kick in anger crept around in her mind but quickly faded, it was replaced by a sense of pity. Perhaps she thought that she was being too hard on him, everypony makes mistakes and although what he attempted was indeed horrible, he was at least making the effort to learn from them. Zecora lowered her hoof slowly towards the colt.

"Please don't hurt me... I swear I didn't mean it."

She placed her hoof on the colt's shoulder. "I forgive you young one but as I said the one you should seek forgiveness from is Fluttershy."

Bronze Hoof looked up into Zecora's soft turquoise eyes and mumbled while crying. "Y-you're not going to kill me...bu-but I heard Zebra are unforgiving, my friends said you were going to hunt me down. Isn't that why you are in this alley?"

Zecora felt the urge to slap the colt across the face but composed herself. "That may be true of some tribes but living here in Equestria these past few years has shown me that anger and hate breeds nothing more but the same thing. A vicious cycle if you never stop it." Zecora picked the younger colt off the ground, patting him on the shoulder as he dried his tears. "Forgiveness shines in everypony young one, never forget that."

Zecora passed Bronze Hoof in the alley smiling as she headed to the open field on the other side. "Z-zecora, thank you, one day I'll return your kindness."

"I will hold you to that" she replied.

***

The rest of the trip was uneventful, soon Zecora found herself in front of the Ponyville library. Raising her hoof to knock on the door she realized It was operating hours for the library and she could just walk in. Zecora opened the door with her teeth and walked in to find the normally quiet library abuzz with activity. The books instead of normally setting on the shelves were being reshuffled in the air, spike occasionally grabbing one and setting it on the shelf.

"Hey Zecora" the young dragon-ling waved in greeting. " Twilight's in the basement doing science stuff so feel free to grab whatever book ya need, be it floating or not."

A book titled "How to drink radish juice" whizzed by Zecora's face and she had the urge to snatch it out of the air but remembered that she had far more pressing matters to attend to. "Spike, I need to have a talk with Twilight Sparkle. I need the use of her apprentice seal to send a emergency letter to Celestia."

"Oh, it's that important then? I'll go get Twilight from the basement." The dragon-ling hopped down from the footstool he was on and headed towards the back of the library. After a few moments of bickering (Spike you know I can't just use that seal for just any old pony) Twilight Sparkle came from the back of the library, her face covered in black scorch marks, half broken lab goggles hanging from one ear.

"Hello Zecora, Spike tells me you need to send a emergency letter but I can't just send any old letter to her. I must know first how big of a emergency it is beforehoof , protocol and all that."

Zecora looked at Twilight then back to Spike and then back to Twilight. "This is of a sensitive nature to me, to speak of this problem I must have your confidentiality."

Twilight gave Spike a little head jerk towards the basement but the young dragon refused to budge. "C'mon Twilight, I can keep a secret. I'm the one that has to send it with magical fire anyhow."

Twilight stared at the stubborn dragon for a moment before relenting. "Fine, but if I hear one peep about you breaking confidentiality I will have you clean Applejack's stables for a month.

"Whatever, anyways Zecora what did you need to write Celestia about?"

"If you will spike, take a letter. Everything can be explained as I write.

"Dear princess Celestia,

I am Zecora of the Windrunners. I have been staying in your kingdom for some years under your countries common settler laws but am now seeking a way to obtain permanent citizenship to Equestria. It has come to my attention that sometime in the near future you may get a request for my extradition, as I have violated tribal laws forbidding filly fooling."

Twilight Sparkle went beat red. "Oh, I didn't know it was that private."

"Big deal Twilight, more than half the town filly fools anyhow."

"Ahem" Zecora cleared her throat.

"Sorry, please continue."

"Under my old tribal law this is a death sentence."

Twilight put her hooves over her mouth in shock and Spike just stared at Zecora flabbergasted.

"I am aware that under Equestrian law you cannot extradite to any country that has corporal punishment. However this limitation is severely hampered when applied to anyone living in Equestria under common settlers laws. The situation in my homeland is extremely dire and I need a audience with your majesty as soon as possible to go over the details of what this could mean. I hope to hear from you on this matter soon. Your loyal subject, Zecora of the Windrunners."

Spike finished scribbling on the parchment and held the letter up for Twilight to stamp it with her apprentices seal. Twilight stamped her wax seal on the side of the parchment and Spike huffed a small puff of green flame, incinerating the parchment into little green sparkling bits that flew out the window.

"Zecora, will they really seek to execute you?"

"If I get this citizenship business sorted out before my grandmother makes the extradition request then no, even she would not risk war with Equestria to make a assassination attempt on my life."

"Your own grandma wants you *gulp* dead?"

"This I do not know for sure but she at the very least wants to torture me until I bend to her will, something that I would rather avoid if I can."

"Wait torture was completely outlawed in a international treaty of Celestial year two hundred and ten. Both the griffons and the dragons signed it. There shouldn't even be a..."

Zecora raised a hoof and Twilight sat there with her mouth open. "My homeland is divided up by tribes. The main three have never signed any treaties with any other countries and the smaller ones are too small of influence to even bother signing a treaty with. I assure you none of them were present when that treaty between the griffons and dragons was signed."

"So...they are gonna....play bad music, color your hair orange or force you to not take a bath for a week? Those kind of tortures?"

"I think it best I not explain such things in detail my friend. I do not wish to make you sick."

"I've survived Night Mare Moon, dragons, Discord and the queen of changelings. I think I can handle anything you throw at me."

Zecora gave a distraught sigh. "I do hope you are strong of constitution." Spike glanced at Twilight and immediately plugged his ears.

*** five minutes later***

*Hurk* pant*pant* Blllrrrgggg*

"Great, now the library will smell like half digested pancakes the rest of the day."

*Hurtkkkk* plussh fllllttt* Twilight walked back into the main foyer still looking like she was going to lose more of her breakfast. "Seriously Zecora, they stick a hot...up you..and then spread...that's just disgusting."

"I did try and warn you. That as only one of the punishments for filly fooling the others are..."

"No, no, no that's quite alright. I would rather not somehow lose last nights dinner as well."

Zecora made a motion for Spike to unplug his ears and he did just that. "Anyways aside from the big three tribes the smaller ones abolished torture and the death penalty long ago. Defectors from the larger tribes is fairly common and if they make it to the smaller ones boarders they are usually safe."

"And the ones that don't make it?" Twilight asked apprehensively.

"Executed or tortured until life was meaningless to them, then executed."

Twilight Sparkle put her hoof over her mouth again and dry heaved.

"I think it best we get off this subject lest we make Twilight sick again."

Twilight and Spike nodded in agreement.

"Anyways I wish to check out a book. I think it was called 'How to dri..."

A light burp from Spike followed by a swirling vortex of green smoke interrupted Zecora. The vortex of green quickly solidified into a piece of parchment with a blue royal seal. Catching the parchment with her magic, twilight quickly unfurled the letter to read its contents.

"ahem"

"Dear Zecora, I have received your letter sent with Twilight Sparkle seal and have registered you for expedited citizenship with the naturalization bureau. This may take up to two weeks to complete but rest assured we will not extradite anyone citizen or not to a country that still performs torture or death sentences on its citizens."

"Huh they must have updated the code then, or got the order from Celestia herself to change it to include non-citizens."

Twilight continued to read aloud. "Furthermore I have set up a meeting between you and me to further elaborate why you needed such expedited citizenship. I will meet with you at the old castle in the Everfree Forest at midnight tonight. Your wise princess of the night, Luna."

"Wait, Luna?" Twilight flipped the letter over to find a wax seal was not that of the yellow sun but a deep blue crescent moon. "That's odd. normally Luna doesn't handle this kind of thing."

"One princess is as good as the other I guess."

"I suppose so Spike but somethings odd, this response was too prompt. Almost as if she was expecting this."

"I guess I will find out later tonight. Now about that book I saw..."

Chapter VI: Midnight Meetup

Chapter VI: Midnight Meetup

Chapter VI: Midnight Meetup

Zecora took her first nervous steps into the open field before the old castle ruins. This was the only part of the Everfree Forest that she dared not tread. Being a spiritually attuned shaman allowed her to sense the unrest of the spirits darting about the haunted ruins from miles away. Despite being well versed in dealing with things of spiritual nature she avoided dealing with the dark cloud that hung over the old castle. Why did she have to pick this place? The air around the ruins were thick with the smell of ectoplasm, tell tale signs of ghost or phantom activity. No matter where Zecora stood near the ruins, the feeling of dread washed over her in torrents. Zecora looked up at the moon, watching it shift slowly to the right.

"It is almost one AM, Luna is running very late." Zecora heard a loud growling like sound coming from further back in the castle. At first she ignored it, mistaking it for the sounds and whoops of many of the phantom ponies that still haunted this place. however, as the sound grew louder she could start to distinguish a familiar voice under the growl of rage. "Luna?" She said to herself as the growl became a blood curdling scream.

"AHHHH!" Luna's voice echoed across the night sky, loud and clear.

That was most definitely Princess Luna! "Hold on your majesty! I am coming to help!"

Zecora charged into the ruined castle. Galloping as fast as her legs could carry her in the direction of Luna's voice. She stopped half way into main foyer, noticing lights coming from a tower towards the back of the decayed fortress. Looking about the room she noticed a old tarnished silver door slightly vibrating on it's hinges, most likely from Luna's screams.

Zecora made a swift kick to the silver door and much to her surprise it fell forward off its hinges as if it were attached to the wall with hardened pastries instead of steel. Zecora charged up the stairs, the sound of the screaming getting louder and louder until it suddenly stopped.

No! I must help! Please be okay Luna.

Zecora could see the moon-glow bouncing off the walls of the spiral staircase. Just a bit more. As the doorway came into view Zecora stopped cold. A heart stopping, cold voice echoed throughout the fortress, one she thought she had heard before.

"Ha, ha, ha. AHHh ha ha ha ha!"

The voice felt like somepony had dumped ice water over her, the echos feeling like spikes closing around her throat and the cold eliciting shakes of fear out of the already panicked Zebra . Whatever that was, it means business. fighting against her own fear, Zecora slowly walked up to the doorway and into a large open room. On one side stood a large throne that had seen better days, Celestia sitting on said throne glaring at the other side, her hair oddly a flowing pink.

Zecora traced Celestia's eyes to the other side of the room. Her face went pale, standing opposite Celestia was Nightmare Moon. This is bad, very very bad.

"You cancelled the only holiday no, the only day any pony pays attention to my existence and for what? Extra daylight growing time for this years harvest?" Nightmare Moon Sneered, clearly Ignoring Zecora's presence.

Celestia held her ground, her eyes unwavering but full of worry at the same time. "Sister, I am dearly sorry but my hoof was forced. Right as we sealed away discord he turned all our crops into skittles, and ponies cannot live off just candy for the winter. Imagine all the dental bills, let alone all the scurvy. In this case tasting the rainbow is not a good long term solution."

"Nonsense!" Luna yelled, gritting her teeth. "The griffons offered to trade all of our changed crops for their massive grain surplus. It's win-win sister, we can just take that offer and...I won't have to feel so...lonely." The black Alicorns demeanor changed from anger to somber frustration. "I just want someone to look up to me, be my friend... like they do to you."

"Sister I...listen I cannot trade with the griffons when they are at war with the dragons to the south. To do so would get us caught up in another war we cannot possibly afford to be in. I promise you this Luna we will let your night last longer during the winter, even throw a few parties. I promise things will get better, just calm yourself down, you know full well what letting emotions buildup in us can do."

"Sister I...I'm sorry I.."

"NO! YOU FOAL! She's just trying to trick us! Take the kingdom for herself and make eternal day so everyone hates you and loves her!"

Two Shadows where shaking back and forth, fighting for control. One being the Luna Zecora knew and the other being none other than the terrifying Nightmare Moon.

"No, big sister wouldn't do that to me. Shes never been greedy like that...let go. I want control back."

"Foal! Why summon me as your courage if you are just going to back down to empty promises? No, I am taking full control. For our own good."

A dark shade of blackish grey began to creep around Luna, suffocating her, pinning her down as her body was being fought over by Nightmare Moon. Zecora didn't know what to do, her heart raced with fear at what was happening before her. She tried to shout , maybe calm Luna down but she knew full well she was no match for a angry Alicorn. I can't tell if this is happening right now or is a phantom of the past. Zecora studied the two Alicorns closely. No spirit particle bleed, both of them are in full colors and neither of them are transparent. Zecora closed her eyes and then reopened them, a brilliant yellow glow emanating from her eyes, yellow arcs of lightning crackling along the floor as she built up her power to attack.

"Save your energy Zecora, there is nothing you nor I can do."

Zecora looked other her shoulder to find none other than princess Luna behind her. Zecora opened her mouth but was quickly silenced with the wave of Luna's hoof.

"I will answer you questions about this later. For now just sit and watch."

Zecora turned her head back to the confrontation between Celestia and Luna. From the looks of Luna's oil black skin her meaner half had won over. "Celestia, dear sister. You look tired, maybe you should take a vacation and let me handle the problems of Equestria."

"You are no sister of mine. Mother warned us of letting our emotions get out of hoof. I can smell the jealousy that bred your existence from here."

"Come, come now. Is that anyway to talk to your dear..old SISTER!" Nightmare Moon's eyes went bright white, shadow magic building up around her horn. "Taking a vacation wasn't a suggestion, It was for your own health!" Nightmare Moon swung her head forward, unleashing a massive ball of dark magic. Celestia Jumped to the side in a attempt to dodge only to have the ball slam into her, knocking her to the ground with thunderous force.

"Luna, f-fight it. I don't want to hurt you."

"Then relent your throne, it is the less painful option."

"You already stated you will no yield to the day. I cannot allow such jealous self centered behavior ruin our kingdom. Without the light of the sun ponies will starve. Is your loneliness and jealousy worth the deaths of millions?"

"Mere theatrics sister, I will let the sun shine during growing season but any other time of the year will be eternal night. Now where was I..oh yes." Nightmare Moon Stomped her right hoof hard on the ground, sending bolts of black electricity right into Celestia.

"AAAHHHHHH" Celestia screamed in pain as the arcs of lightning cut her sides and singed her immortal wings.

"Dear sister, all you need to do is pass the torch of leadership to me. This is hurting me far more than it is you."

Celestia coughed up some blood on the floor but managed to stagger to her feet, a determined look in her eyes. "You will relinquish control to the real Luna or you will feel my wrath."

"*Snort pfft*ah ah ah ah ah" Nightmare Moon bent over laughing. " Seriously what do you plan to do, bleed on me? You can't be seriously considering fighting me. You were the egghead ruler, I was the one in charge of the entire military. You can't possibly think you can beat someone as well versed in war as me."

"Y-you never fought anything, it was all Luna's doing, not yours. Monster."

A distasteful sneer appeared on Nightmare Moon's face. "We are one in the same."

"Excuse me for not believing my sister capable of spawning such a detestable creature. I give you one last chance to relinquish control back to my sister before I banish you forever."

"This will be good" Nightmare Moon laughed. "I'm the sporting type, I'll even let you get a free shot. So by all means...try." Nightmare moon made a target made of shadow on her chest armor, taunting Celestia to strike her down.

Zecora watched closely as a crown with six gems on varying shapes appeared in front of Celestia's horn. He eyes glowed bright hot white, swirls of rainbow colors surrounding her body, swirling up to her horn.

The expression on Nightmare Moon's face went from haughty to outright fear. "Y-you wouldn't dare use that on me. The backlash alone in your condition could strip you of your immortality, maybe even kill you!"

Celestia hesitated. Shes right. The backlash from a attempt to destroy with the elements would kill me outright. There would be no point in freeing Luna only to have her live a immortal life of regret over my death. A banishment spell on the other hand might separate the two. A bluff will suffice. "Maybe so monster but if freeing my sister costs me my immortal life. Then so be it." Celestia reared up, the rainbow magic swirling around her horn violently and fired a beam of white light straight at Nightmare Moon.

"Impudent foal!"Sister no! Nightmare Moon formed a massive shadow barrier right as the white ball of magic struck her. "Ha! The elements are too week to destroy...me?" instead of breaking through the barrier, Celestia's spell enveloped Nightmare Moon in a bright white radiant light. "You switched to a banishment spell at the last moment...clever girl..." the magic swirled violently, until it was a mere pinprick of light, shooting straight at the moon.

Celestia collapsed onto the floor panting heavily, tears flowing freely from her eyes. "What have I done...L..Luna..I'm..so.sorr...y" the image of Celestia began to fade as she lost consciousness on the throne room floor.

Zecora turned to Princess Luna to find her horn was aglow. "Your majesty, what is it that I just witnessed and why is your horn glowing?"

Luna's horn stopped glowing, wiping a tear from her eye she composed herself to explain. "What you saw was the memory of my banishment to the moon burned into the very fabric of this castles foundation's by the usage of the elements of harmony by a Alicorn. The spell I was using just now was translating the dialogue for your ears. The old dialect everypony used back then is difficult to understand by ponies of this generation."

Zecora looked at where the old rotting throne sat. "How often does this image occur and for how long?"

Luna looked as if she wanted to cry but answered Zecora's question, if only meekly. "It repeats every night starting at midnight and has repeated ever since the night I was banished. My sister could not handle the sorrow of hearing it repeat every night, so she moved back into Canterlot...despite Canterlot being completely made of pie at the time."

Zecora arced her head quizzically. "Ancient architect was very strange back then was it not?"

Luna stiffed a giggle. "No, no, you misunderstand. Discords lingering magic turned much of the city into pie. On a lighter note Celestia did get quite fat after my banishment. Guilt eating and the fact she was surrounded by giant cherries everyday. In any case let us leave this dreadful room, I would much rather not be distracted by it."

Luna walked down the spiral staircase and Zecora followed suit but a lingering question in her mind kept popping up. "Luna, normally Celestia handles diplomatic matters, why the change?" Luna paused on the stairs for a moment and looked back at the Zebra. "We are quite aware of the goings on in your homeland Zecora. The information I share with you tonight must not be shared with anypony."

"I agree. If Maskia is planning what I think she is planning then it best not to put any ponies into panic."

Luna sighed deeply. "I have been spying on her and the other two large tribes for the past few months."

"How?"

Luna's horn glowed deep purple and her body bright hot white. Zecora covered her eyes with her hooves to shield her from the brightness. After a few moments she lowered her hooves to find not Luna but a oddly familiar looking young Zebra filly.

"Ahem" The small Zebra cleared her throat. "You're being so outdated Jimine, who cares if it's a mare? Not like it effects you any."

"Wait, you were at the astral springs when I confronted Maskia?"

In a puff of blue smoke Luna reverted back to her normal self. "Yes Zecora, but I have been listening in on the elders whispers and things are much worse than originally thought."

"How bad?"

Luna used her horn to paint a silver outline of a spear in the air in front of Zecora. "You recognize this spear, yes?

Zecora shuddered in place. She had only ever seen the abomination in front of her in old tribal texts but the silent souls with pained faces coming from the tip was undeniable. "Yes, that is the spear of sealing, the most horrible weapon ever crafted by Zebra kind."

"While the smaller tribes managed to steal and hide the perfected spear from Maskia, two other incomplete spears have been captured and destroyed. One of them here in Equestria. It is the very reason I asked you here tonight."

"Wait how did you know about..." Luna had a smirk on her face.

"I hope you don't mind me intruding on your dreams but I was a flower when zippy told you of what happened. I tried to contact him but being awake makes it quite difficult. I waited for him to maybe nod off, being a border guard and all but he seems very dutiful. commendable but infuriating."

"Guards are trained to stay awake for 50 hours shifts if need be. as for the weapon...my knowledge of that weapon is limited. I do not know how to go about destroying a perfected one princess if that is what you are after."

"I need not know that. My sister has destroyed one of them in the past. I need to know the effects of a pony struck with the spear as my sister is...indisposed at the moment to explain its full powers."

Zecora pawed at the stairs with her hoof. She knew of the stories of those struck by the spear but wasn't sure if they were myth or fact. "I..I only know myths about it."

"That will have to do for now, continue Zecora."

"It is said that those struck by the spear have their flesh burned away in a slow and painful manner, as if a thousand hot pokers suddenly covered their entire body. After it is done charring you, it rips off layers of flesh, slowly absorbing them into the shaft of the weapon. Finally, the weapon strikes your soul, absorbing that into the tip of the spear. I have no idea what happens to the absorbed soul but stories say you can sometimes hear the screams of agony coming from the tip."

Luna started to dry retch a bit. "What kind of depraved pony came up with such a horrific thing?I swear when I get my hooves on this Maskia..." Luna's eyes glowered a hot white, the Alicorn gritting her teeth in rage. Zecora paced back a few steps to leave the angry Alicorn some space.

"I..I'm sorry Zecora, I shouldn't lose my composure so easily."

"I wish not to pry but I must know why. What is the reason you are handling this? You never did answer that question."

Luna puffed her cheeks in indignantly but composed herself.Does she think me not capable of handling such matters? Despite feelings of inadequacy Luna's ears folded back as she lowered her voice. "My sister...she was hit with one of the imperfect spears during an assassination attempt just a few days ago."

Zecora covered her mouth, barely stiffing a gasp of surprise. "Does that mean... Celestia is..?"

Luna shook her head. "No thankfully that is not the case. Though from your information I'm not sure how she survived it. Either it affects Alicorn's differently or the spear itself was too weak to finish the job. She is however in a coma."

"Is she doing okay?"

"That I do not know. The weapon caused a fairly deep cut along her wings and her link with the sun was severed, returning her hair to that of a normal unicorn's and stripping her of her immortality."

"I hope the damage is not permanent."

"I hope not as well. Twilight Sparkle is currently busy finding a way to revive her link with the sun but she did find something useful about the imperfect spear."

"Which was?"

"That the perfected spear is what made all the smaller ones. When I destroyed the last one I could see the magical string attached to it vanish. Twilight theorized that it must have been connected to the original somehow."

Zecora sat on her haunches. Scratching her chin with her hoof she mused for a moment. "Well, the original was made to deal with dragons but I do not remember any stories of imperfect versions of it. It could be they found a way to make smaller versions using the power of the original."

"Is there a chance they could make another perfect spear?"

"Possibly but it takes hundreds of shaman focusing their magic for years at a time to create such a weapon. I think it more likely for Maskia to try and retrieve her original than create another."

"I see. Then why the need for smaller less powerful spears?"

Zecora inhaled deeply, not wanting to speak but knowing that Luna most likely already knew her next few words.

"War"

"War"

Both ponies stared at each other for a few moments before Luna broke the silence. "Onto other problems. I have personally granted you citizenship to Equestria over the objections of the envoys in the senate from allies of your old tribe. I would be very careful Zecora, if they attempted to kill my sister then they will have little problem making an attempt on your life."

"My life is of little consequence. I am far more worried about Fluttershy. Maskia would much rather use her life as a bargaining tool to get me to surrender to her will than kill me outright."

Luna seemed at a loss for words. "There are protections I can put in place, losing the element of kindness would cripple our kingdom. however, the cost is not what I would call fair."

"Please explain."

"I can cast a old spell to make her body un-plottable. Only the other elements and you would be able to even remember who she is. Any other animal or pony that looks at her will have their memory of her erased until I cancel the spell. This is the only way that I can guarantee her safety."

"I will talk with Fluttershy. I will have a answer for you within the week if she want's those protections." Zecora started down the stairs when Luna yelled from behind her.

"Zecora. You need to help her through this if she does go through with the protections. Being that isolated can drive a pony mad. I...I do not wish for such isolation and loneliness to turn her into a monster...as it did with me."

Zecora smiled at Luna. "I will do what I can to help Fluttershy with her decision. Even if she refuses the spell I will defend her with my life if need be."

"Z-zecora...I don't know how to thank you."

Zecora turned to Luna once more, remembering a line from a movie she had seen once. "And you will never have to."

***

Chapter VII: Two Years Down The Road

Chapter VII: Two Years Down The Road...

*Knock knock knock* Lyra rapped hard on Fluttershy's door, harder than normal but she figured all the ponies making chatter inside would make her unheard if she knocked politely. "Coming, excuse me, pardon me."

"Sugar Cube, this is your foal shower, you just let me handle the door okay?" The door opened to reveal a blond haired, stetson hat wearing, orange earth pony. "Well Howdy Lyra, Bonbon. I reckon yer late because the shop held ya up?"

Lyra sighed "Yeah, filling out a order for the Wonderbolts is a freaking nightmare sometimes. I am glad Zecora's always around to help get the herbs we need for our shop, without her we would be terribly behind."

"Speakin of the dad...err...would it be mom to be?" Applejack paused for a second, looking back at Fluttershy and then back at Lyra. "Where is the dad to be anyhow?"

A yell from the crowd in the back that sounded oddly like Rainbow Dash caught their attention. "I saw her in Canterlot this morning, she said she would be in a meeting with Celestia for a few hours."

"That answers that question. Anywho come on in, join the party!" Applejack stepped aside to allow the couple in. The small cottage nearly had every pony from Ponyville inside. Applejack and her family, Rainbow Dash and Soarin, Cadence and Shining Armor. Pinkie Pie, Mr & Ms Cake , as well as the twins. Even Cranky Doodle managed to attend the party. On the far end of the room stood Fluttershy. Her demeanor had changed so much over the last couple years, despite being quite a bit heavy no doubt in part to being pregnant and having odd choice in ear jewelry, she seemed more outgoing then before. Not hesitating to mingle with the townsfolk in the least. Setting her present on the table Lyra looked about the room. Strange stretch marks along the ceiling were obvious signs of magical elongation and it seemed some of the chairs and tables were magically replicated.

"Oh don't worry about those, I assure you they are ninety-nine percent safe." Lyra turned her head to find a Lavender coated, indigo maned unicorn with a pink stripe down her mane. She wore a brilliant star sparkling cape that ended around her neck with a gold seal that bore a half crescent moon and a sun that seemed to move around one another clockwise.

"Twi...Twilight Sparkle? Is that really you?"

"Silly who else do you know with this exact coat and hair combination?"

"I mean look at you with your fancy cape, and whats with the weird emblem in the center?"

Twilight blushed furiously. "Oh, this. It's nothing that special, just a old cape I had lyin around."

"Darling you really must stop being so modest. If I were Arch mage of Equestria I would surely flaunt it. That position commands respect" Rarity said sipping a glass of wine.

Lyra's mouth hung open. "Wow! Arch Mage...err what is an Arch Mage?"

Rarity shook her head and set her glass on the table. "Twilight, you are gonna have to educate everypony here it seems." Twilight grabbed Rarity in a headlock and started to whisper in her ear.

"Rarity, you are embarrassing me. I don't want to show up or show off at Fluttershy's foal shower. It would be rude." Twilight broke the hold and grinned sheepishly at the crowd of onlooking ponies. Fluttershy stepped up out of them her body barely able to fit through the crowd.

"Twilight I wouldn't be bothered. You been keeping us in the dark about this whole Arch mage business for over a year now. I would very much like to hear what you been up to...if that's okay with you that is."

Twilight looked around, the entire crowd of ponies were staring at her, waiting for her to spill the beans on her position. "F...fine. The Arch Mage of Equestria is the only position that can overrule a command by Celestia herself in matters pertaining to magic." Most of the ponies in the room looked dumbfounded, with the exception of Rarity most had broken into whispers or so shocked they completely missed biting into their pie.

Grinning sheepishly at all the ponies staring at her she felt the panicked urge to elaborate. "I mean I can still be overruled by a vote from both sisters or multiple votes in the senate."

Lyra butted in "Still how is it that you have that much power Twilight? I mean I never heard of a pony that has the authority to tell Celestia to shove it. How did you even get that position?"

"Well, The last pony to hold this position was Star Swirl the bearded, he had to beat Celestia in a one on one magic duel. I, on the other hoof had to deal with both Celestia and Luna at the same time." The ponies in the room looked at Twilight quizzically, some of them looked like they didn't believe her but Fluttershy interrupted.

"Oh how wonderful. How did you do it Twilight? Celestia and Luna have thousands of years of practice over you. It just seems so farfetched. No...not like I'm calling you a liar or anything, I'm just curious how you did it."

"We all are" said bonbon nodding.

"I still don't believe her, It's just so strange that a single unicorn, just barely of mare age is able to fend off two of the most powerful beings in Equestria" Rose said haughtily.

"Are you calling the most powerful unicorn in Equestria, the element of magic and my best friend a liar Rose?" Everyone in the crowd stood slack jawed at Fluttershy as she stared down Rose. "Well? Are you calling her a liar?" Fluttershy stared at Rose as if burrowing into her very soul with her stare.

"O..Oh course not Fluttershy...I...I just was curious how she did it, that's all." Rose looked pleadingly at Twilight Sparkle mouthing the word's 'help' under her breath.

Twilight giggled to herself before putting a hoof on Fluttershy's side. "It's okay Fluttershy, no harm, no foul."

Fluttershy turned to Twilight smiling and scratching behind her mane. "I'm sorry about that. Living with Zecora these last fifteen months has been making me a feel a bit more assertive...maybe too assertive at times." Fluttershy turned back around to the terrified Rose. "I'm sorry about that Rose. I just get a bit defensive around my friends."

Rose looked over Fluttershy at Twilight Sparkle, trying desperately to avoid the yellow Pegasuses gaze. "Umm..Twilight could you tell us how you got your position as Arch Mage Please?"

"I would be honored."

***Two hours of semi- amusing techno babble later***

"And that's how I beat Luna and Celestia in a magic duel."

The room was dead silent. Twilight couldn't tell if half of them were afraid of her or were genuinely shocked. The silence persisted for a good minute or two until a certain energetic pink pony broke it. "I can't believe it."

"What part can't you believe Pinkie?"

"I can't believe the author was so lazy to use a scene transition with asterisks so he could avoid writing out how you beat Celestia and Luna in magic duel. I find it incredibly unprofessional and lazy. Hmmp."

"Umm..are we on the same subject Pinkie?"

Just then Applejack walked out of the kitchen carrying a tray of cupcakes diverting Pinkie's attention. "Ohh cupcakes!" The pink party pony bounced energetically over to the tray Applejack was carrying leaving the other ponies dumbfounded by her comments.

"What do you think she meant by that?" Bonbon asked.

"I have no idea nor do I ever want to know. The last pony to try and explore Pinkie's thought process ended up in the Ponyville hospital for two weeks trying to pick up what pieces of sanity he had left. Just toss it up to her being herself. everypony is better for it" Twilight said waving her hoof about matter-of -factly manner.

Bonbon stood up. "I think I'll go ask her about it. I think not knowing would drive me insane."

"Your funeral Bonbon."

"Anyways so how did you beat both Alicorns again? I mean, that's some really weird magic."

"Yes turning all of Luna's offensive magic into moon pies and all of Celestia's into Honey was no easy task."

A shout from the back of the crowd made Twilight's hairs stand on end. Pinkie pie popped up out of the back yelling, a half eaten cupcake in her mouth. "C'mon, you skipped it then teased them with a minor hint of what you were too lazy to write? The only way this fic could get any worse is if Twilight was suddenly a Alicorn doing the monster mash with a human. Sheesh." Pinkie stormed back into the kitchen muttering obscenities under her breath.

"Just ignore her everypony, shes being more Pinkie than usual today. Anyways yes, I did turn their magic into sugary sweets although Celestia didn't seemed bothered about it saying something about getting some new soldiers together for a 'glazing ritual'.

"You mean hazing ritual, right sugarcube?"

Rainbow Dash pushed aside some ponies from the back of the crowd laughing to herself. "No, she means glazing ritual. Ya see last year while we were on a date we watched Celestia spray down some of the younger recruits from the royal guard and well...lets just say our glorious leader is a bit of a cougar if ya get what I mean."

"Ahem. Let's try not to focus on Celestia's ..errr...other activities, this is Fluttershy's foal shower after all."

The front door opened up and a familiar Zebra wearing a black bowler hat and a Silver and bronze earring walked in. "Zecora!" Fluttershy pushed aside a few ponies as she ran up to nuzzled the Zebra as she put her bowler hat on a hat rack by the door.

"My, my, you shouldn't be moving so fast with child my dear."

"I'm sorry, you just have been so busy recently we don't get enough alone time." Fluttershy said rubbing her mane underneath Zecora's chin as if she we a cat. "So how was the meeting? Any news from the front?"

Zecora could barely contain the smile on her face as she cleared her throat to repeat what she had learned at the royal meeting. "Maskia had ordered a full ceasefire. She has called a meeting at the border with Celestia and Luna to discuss her terms of surrender."

The room broke out in a roar of cheers, ponies hugging one another and some of the pegasi doing cartwheels in the air.

"Wait, wait wait..this is kinda bad news" Twilight said. The other ponies stared at her as if she was crazy. "No I mean the fact the war is over is good but the fact that she could demand she keep her leadership role in the surrender terms. She could still hurt others in her lands."

"That is part of what we discussed Arch mage Twilight. We are setting the terms of surrender whether she likes them or not."

Twilight blushed "Please, just call me Twilight."

"As you wish Arch...er I mean Twilight. As I was saying, she can think shes getting off easy all she wants but the truth is we have her last bastion of power surrounded and the backing of every smaller tribe in the region. If she surrenders she will not be tried for war crimes but will be stripped of any power and exiled. If she refuses we simply capture her and she spends the rest of her life in a penal colony."

"Oh, so what happens to the Zebra lands then? Will it just fall into chaos?" Rainbow asked.

"No, General Luna has offered to set up a parliament in that region that must obey the basic rights set fourth by Celestial or Lunar law. There will be no more killing of those Maskia deems 'unclean' in that region anymore." Fluttershy hugged Zecora tightly, tears flowing freely onto her coat.

"I..I'm so happy. No more guard escorting me where I go, no more looking over my back and no more hearing horror stories of Zebra getting tortured." Zecora pulled the crying Pegasus into a strong hug.

"Now, now dear. This is no time for sorrow, it is a time for celebration. Applejack, break out the party cider and umm...some non- alcoholic cider for the mother to be if you will."

"Whoo hooo free booze!" Berry Punch yelled from the back of the crowd.

"Now, dry those tears honey. Let's open up your foal shower gifts." Fluttershy nodded and walked over to the table. Turning to the rest of the ponies in her home she raised her voice.

"Thank you everypony for helping us through these tough times. I propose a toast before I open up all these wonderful gifts on this table." Applejack walked into the living room with two large barrels of cider on her back. Rainbow Dash dead behind her carry a large plate of mugs. Other ponies lined up to fill their mugs while Zecora got non- alcoholic Cider for Fluttershy and herself.

"I want to give a toast to Rainbow Dash and Soarin for all the financial help they have provided during all the time I was cooped up and unable to work." The other ponies took a drink except Rainbow Dash and Soarin.

"Shucks Fluttershy, it's just bits. Those are replaceable, you're not."

"Still the thanks is all the same" Fluttershy replied with a smile.

"The next toast is to Rarity, who made me and Zecora wonderful clothes for our wedding and upcoming newborn." The white coated fashionista stepped forward bowing graciously.

"It was my pleasure dear, we can't have the worlds first Zebrasus ..or would that be a Pegabra, flying around looking like a fashion disaster now could we."

"Umm Rarity, we don't know what it is exactly but I'm sure it would look great in the clothes you made." The other ponies in the room gave Fluttershy odd looks. "Oh we got ultrasounds done, it's just we didn't want to know any details. Just wanted to know if it was developing correctly. It would ruin the surprise if we knew." The ponies took another drink as they nodded in agreement.

"Next a toast to Arch ma-"

"Twilight if you would Fluttershy."

"A toast to Twilight for helping nurse Red Heart during the ultra sounds to make sure my baby was developing right. "The ponies in the room rose their collective mugs and drank deeply from them.

"The next to last toast-"

"Umm Fluttershy, I hate to be a bother but I need to get another barrel from the back. Can ya hold on a sec." Applejack headed the back door and into the garden to get another barrel of cider. A few moments passed and the orange farmer walked into the room setting the barrel down. Ponies lined up to fill their mugs once more as Fluttershy continued.

"The next toast is to Bronze Hoof who took a poison dart to save my...and my unborn foals life. He couldn't make it tonight becuase hes on guard duty at town square." The ponies in the room rose their drinks again.

"Lastly...I want to thank everyone here for the wonderful presents and for watching my back these long months. If it wasn't for the ponies in this town being so vigilant, me or Zecora wouldn't be here today. You all have my eternal thanks." Fluttershy set her mug down and walked into the line of ponies, hugging them one by one.

"Shucks sugarcube, you don have to thank anyone here. We are one big family that looks after one another."

"Still It's good to know I have friends that care enough to help me when I need it most." Fluttershy wiped a tear from her cheek. "I love each and every one of you like a sister or brother."

"Bleh enough with the sappy stuff Flutters, why don't you open your presents?"

"Okay Rainbow."

Fluttershy started opening the presents one by one, until only one large red present in the corner remained. "Oh I wonder who this is from." Fluttershy read aloud the green tag on the far side of the present.

"Dear Fluttershy and Zecora, although we cannot attend your foal shower due to circumstances beyond our control we send our blessings to your newborn foal and our hopes that the love you have found lasts forever.

You close Friends

Princess Luna

Princess Celestia

~~Arch Mage~~ Twilight Sparkle

The Town of Ponyville

ps: Celestia want's pictures of your Foal for the history books. She doesn't think we have any pictures of Zebrasus..or would it be Pegabra in the Canterlot archives."

"See even the Royalty doesn't know what to call it." Rarity said sipping from her wine glass.

"Zecora do you want to help me open this one?"

"Yes, dear."

Zecora grabbed the far right end of the wrapper with her teeth while Fluttershy grabbed onto the far left with her wings. "And a one, and a two" both pulled at the same time only to stagger a bit back when the paper came off nearly effortlessly. Fluttershy's eyes widened with awe at the golden glow coming from where the big red present once stood. Sitting there with tatters of red wrapping paper around it was a large ornate silver and bronze chest. A gold key sitting on top of the chest being carried by what looked like silver versions of Fluttershy and Zecora.

"Twilight, this safe is beautiful but we have nowhere to really put it."

"Open the safe up silly. The big surprise is inside."

Fluttershy picked the key gently off its ornate perch with her teeth and slid it into the keyhole. The top popped open immediately. Fluttershy and Zecora looked inside to find not only a reasonably large pile of bits but many scrolls along the far side of the chest. Zecora picked one up and unfurled it, reading aloud.

"The bearer of this scroll can exchange it for a home expansion of no more than one bedroom and one bathroom from the Flimflam brothers carpentry service."

"Huh I always wondered what happened to those two swindlers" Applejack said.

Bonbon And Lyra smiled at Zecora. "That one if from us, we hope you two have wonderful." Lyra lowered her voice to a barely audible whisper near Zecora "and kinky"

"Life together" The pair finished together.

Fluttershy picked up another scroll, this one with silver lining along the edges. Unfurling the document she read aloud.

"The bearer of this deed shall be granted no less than twenty acres of land around the ever free Forrest."

"That one was from granny smith. The apple family has owned that land for decades but didn't know what to do with it. I reckon Zecora knows what to do with it though."

Zecora smiled as she picked up another scroll. Unfurling it, she read aloud. "The bearer of this scroll shall receive no less than twenty cupcakes."

"Oh, Oh that one is from me!" Pinkie Pie yelled bouncing out of the kitchen, a horrified Bonbon behind her.

"What's wrong Bonbon?" Lyra asked.

"Pinkie said we all don't exist. That we are the product of a perverted author who has written us to all be lesbians so he can put up in steamy situations for his fanfic. She said that these strange monkey things; humans she called them, like masturbate to us doing said steamy things."

"Oh Bonbon, Humans don't exist. If they did we would have evidence of it."

"I saw it Lyra Pinkie held me outside of a black box, there was a bag of Doritos to the right and mountain dew cans everywhere on the left. A statue of Twilight Sparkle sat on top of the strange box above me." Lyra put a hoof around Bonbons shoulder.

"Nah, Pinkie prolly just spiked your cupcake. You're seeing things, that's all."

"I hope you are right Lyra...I hope you are right."

Zecora removed the last scroll from the golden chest and unfurled it. "This scroll represents a full scholarship to the Cloudsdale Flight Academy or Celestia's School for gifted Unicorns." Zecora looked at Rainbow Dash and Soarin, both of which has big grins on their faces. "This must be your doing correct?"

"Yeah it was us. We heard that Zebra's have magic and stuff but we wanted your foal to have options in the future. You know in case it has wings."

Zecora nodded curtly to Rainbow Dash. "There is one thing you must know however. Not all Zebra are born capable of doing magic. It is a rare gift that if usually only passed down from mother to foal, there are only maybe a dozen family lines in my homeland capable of such offspring. I do not know if our young-ling will be magic capable until it is a few years of age at the least."

"Oh, well. If push comes to shove that scroll IS refundable."

Fluttershy giggled to herself. "No, the gift is wonderful dash. Even if our foal can't fly or do magic we are still grateful for your gift." Fluttershy turned to the other ponies in the room. "We are grateful for all these gifts. I couldn't ask for better friends."

Zecora scanned the room, beaming faces everywhere. She couldn't of dreamed of such a turnout or that the love of her life, a shy Pegasus that came to her in heat would be the mother of their foal. She sat there watching the crowd contemplating all that has happened, all the pain and war, all the hate and injustice, all of that was over. All she had to do now was live a happy life with that shy mare that came to her with a problem..sooo many moons ago.

*** Elsewhere***

(Oh c'mon that was perfect ending and now you're cheeseing it up with badly written exp*gagging noises*)

(Enough booze for you for the night sugarcube. You and yer silly imaginary fourth wall.)

"Is the Ceremony prepared?" said a callous voice in the shadows.

"Yes my queen but we do not have enough POW's for the ritual. We may just have to settle on a weaker version."

"THERE WILL BE NO COMPROMISE!" the dark figure slammed her hoof hard into the ground. "Gather up a few soldiers and call them traitors if you need to."

"But my queen that would be traitorous to our..."

A beam of light struck the servant right in the chest, killing him instantly. "You, handmaiden take his seal, you are now top adviser. I suggest you follow my order unless you wish to share his fate."

The panicked mare grabbed the medallion of the sizzling zebras corpse and muttered "yes, your highness" in a squeaky tone as she ran down the halls to carry out the Queens order. "Tomorrow is the day I end this war. Tomorrow is the day I become the most powerful Shaman to ever live.

(mmmrp I am not drunk Mrrpp. I swear that author is using some terrible Disney cliche right now!)

(Sugarcube, have you been getting into derpies meds again?)

(I have no...well maybe just two or three but I swear I'm mmrrrp)

(For petes sake enough with the imaginary humans stuff. Sheesh.)

Chapter VIII:Whispers

Chapter VIII: Whispers

Zecora watched the storm grey skies, her dream, normally bright and cheerful, clouded by a uneasy feeling deep in her heart. As she stared into the darkness she could hear faint whispers in the distance.

(When will we be rescued?)

(What happened to the others?)

(I am so complaining about this in my live journal when I get home.)

(Wait ponies still use live journal?)

Zecora heard the sounds of what she could only imagine were prisoners but she did not know from where they came, any attempt on her part to try a dream communication seemed blocked by a powerful shield, Most likely put up by their captors.

(Where did mommy go? Why isn't daddy moving in the other cage?)

The voice of a young filly, her voice partially croaking with sorrow at the truth she wished to avoid or refused to accept. Her father was dead and her mother most likely shared the same fate. Zecora tried again to reach out but to no avail. Her heart felt heavy, she wanted to comfort the now orphaned filly but just couldn't seem to break through whatever was holding her back.

(I wonder how Zecora is doing. I hope I don't starve to death before the war is over like that poor chap over there. I hope I get to see her again.)

Zecora's ears perked up, she knew that voice. It was the Captain of the border guard, her friend Zippy. Zecora could feel her ears darting around a mile a second trying to see if she could hear her friend again but to little avail. The whispers died down again until she felt something like the coldest part of winter blow from behind her. Something was dreadfully wrong, instead of whispers of what she could only identify as pow's this one had a more sinister meaning. Zecora could hear faith screaming of soldiers, mares and youngling's coming from the edge of the wintery storm. Whatever was happening it was quite clear that they were either panicking or in great pain. Zecora took a few hesitant steps forward until her front hoofs found the chilling ice quickly over taking her dream. As she took her first step onto the ice the blood curdling screams were deafening, dozens...no hundreds of voices all screaming in searing pain.

Zecora backed away covering her ears, tears rolling down her cheeks from the sheer horrible pain. It was as if they all were transferring their feelings across the entirety of the dream realm. Suddenly it stopped, with the exception of a small whine of a young colt.

(It...it hurts..why is...my fur all burned up...what did you do to everyone?)

Zecora listened intently, this colt had survived a terrible ordeal but she could feel his injuries. He was barely alive, holding on by willpower alone.

(*Crunch* ahhh ha...ha..wh...y....*cough* hurk* wh...yyy.............)

Zecora knew what had happened, whoever killed the rest of them just put the colt out of his misery with something metal and blunt. Zecora pushed with all her might to communicate or see what was happening through the colts last few moments of life only to be knocked on her haunches with incredible force. Shaking her head she stood up and stared at the now snowing horizon where the sounds had come from but something was different. Something that looked like another pony...no, the head of another pony was flying towards her. Zecora narrowed her eyes , trying to make out features but couldn't make out who or what it was in the blizzard ahead. The head came closer and closer until it stopped in the distance, arcing its head curiously at Zecora.

Zecora could start to make out broad details, whatever it was, it lacked fur of any kind and seemed to have either deep sunken sockets or very dark eyes. Two small pinpricks of red light appeared on the sides on the strange floating head, moving inwards towards the eyes. Zecora took two steps back, something inside her, something ancient and primal told her to run. The head moved slowly closer until Zecora could make out what it was...a skull, a skull of a pony with flames for eyes.

The creature laughed but made no sound, only a dry hiss coming from its mouth. It opened its mouth, sucking in the cold wintery air. It began to slowly grow in size , its eyes glowing brighter. Zecora tried to take few steps back only to find her front hooves had frozen to the ground. The sky started to rush towards her laughing dryly as it gnashed its teeth. She quickly kicked the ice off her forelegs with her back legs and took off running, she didn't understand why but something told her that this thing is capable of killing through dreams. She looked back to see if she was outrunning it but found its snout was brushing up on her tail. Zecora could feel the malice emanating from this creature and In turn it felt her fear,feeding, growing ever larger.

Zecora cut a sharp left turn and then immediately a sharp right, as if she was being chased by a lion like her ancestors. The skull lunged as she made the sharp right turn, slamming into the ground but quickly righting itself, roaring in anger. Zecora's eyes glowed hot white as she ran and little barriers were sprouting up behind her, barring the monsters path.

I must put distance between me and whatever that thing is.

Zecora managed to get a reasonable distance away. The skull having great difficulty navigating the maze she set up. Zecora closed her eyes and began chattering under her breath, evoking a spell to free her from the dream realm. The skull creature roared and Zecora could hear the sound of barriers shattering in front of her. As she finished her spell she opened her eyes to find she was still in the dream but the monsters jaws were closing around her neck. Zecora tried to roll out of the way but it was too late, the creatures large jaws clamped around her neck, crushing her windpipe.

(Wake up)

The creature put more pressure on her. Zecora could feel her skin tear, the blood flow freely.

(Zecora! Wake up! You're scaring me!)

Zecora felt the teeth crushing her bones.

(I said wake up!*smack*)

***

Zecora shot up out of bed, her head colliding with Fluttershy's as she sat up.

"OW" Said Fluttershy as she rubbed her forehead.

"Ow indeed" Zecora replied rubbing her own head.

"Are you okay Zecora, you sounded like you were having a nightmare. You were kicking about and yelling, It scared me."

Zecora looked around the bed. the sheets were torn and shredded where her back hooves were and the entire bed, including the sheets were drenched in her sweat. Zecora instinctively grabbed at her neck. Despite some tenderness and shortness of breath everything seemed to be intact.

"I am fine but I am not so sure about other elsewhere."

"What do you mean others? It's just you and me here."

Zecora sighed. She didn't want to worry Fluttershy so much now that she was so close to her due date but keeping a secret from your mate has a nasty habit of coming back to bite you in the flanks. "I..I heard the screams of many ponies crying out in anguish only to be suddenly silenced save one."

Fluttershy wore a worried expression on her face but motioned Zecora to continue. " A young-ling survived but I think...no, I know it was killed soon after by a blunt strike. The problem I am having is I do not know where the screams came from, I could not pinpoint a exact location. The other problem was a strange white skull beast in my dream realm."

"Dream beast?" Fluttershy said perplexed.

Zecora explained in detail about the strange pony skull with fire eyes. How it chased her down despite the obstacles she had put in place. How its radiating evil managed to block her from waking herself up and how it almost managed to behead her.

"I...I'm glad smacking your like that woke you up. I... I'm not sure I could bear losing you like that."

Zecora pondered for a moment how exactly she was still alive. She remembered that while some things may injure you spiritually in a dream, maybe even cause lapses in sanity if exposed to them for a extended period of time. The problem was she had never come across anything that could outright kill anypony in their dreams. surely she thought if It was capable of mortally wounding her she would have woken up to a crushed windpipe, blood everywhere and a mate running around in panic to find the first aid kit. The whole situation puzzled her.

Fluttershy preened at her wings nervously before breaking Zecora's train of thought. "You think Maskia may be responsible for all of this?"

Zecora pondered for a moment. "She is certainly capable of such evil but killing off prisoners the day before you negotiate your surrender terms seems counterproductive. I am quite sure she wants to live so she can at least preach her bigotry to whoever will listen. If Luna or Celestia got word she executed POW's in that manner no being on this planet would contain their combined wrath. Celestia wouldn't outright kill her but she would make her life so meaningless that she wished she was dead. Luna on the other hoof..."

"Would hunt her to the ends of the earth. I have heard stories about Luna flying off in rage from Twilight. I heard when they found the pony responsible for the assassination attempt on Celestia was living in the northern Pinewood Forrest, she tore more then half the woods asunder tracking him down. Twilight told me it took half the royal guard to hold Luna back from making that pony nothing more than a greasy spot on the Forrest floor."

"Speaking of Luna, she has been at our front door for some time now. Please princess feel free to enter whenever you like."

Zecora heard the words "Oh, she's good" followed by the front door creaking open and the sound of four hooves steadily making their way to the bedroom. "May I enter Zecora, I have much to discuss with you." Something seemed off in Luna's voice, it seemed more...muted than before.

"You may enter Princess" Zecora said.

The door opened slowly, revealing a visibly distraught Luna. Her hair was matted slightly, she had bags under her eyes and looked as is she just went ten rounds with Iron Will.She had bruises and minor cuts all along her sides and seemed to be trying to desperately stave off a the noticeable shaking in her legs. Fluttershy hoped out of bed and ran up to the shaken Princess followed soon after by Zecora.

"Luna are you okay? Should I get the first aid kit?"

"Nay, Element of kindness. These wounds will heal in less than a days time."

"But what about those cuts, won't they get infected?"

Luna looked down her left side, her eyes glowed a a dim white and the shallow cuts on her side began to smoke. In just a few seconds her wounds started to close themselves although Luna seemed to be winching in pain slightly.

"Do you require anything Luna?"

"Maybe some warm tea. May sit down somewhere?"

Zecora opened a near by closet and tossed some pillows from it on the floor by the edge of her bed. Luna tried to sit down on them but instead just collapsed on top of them. "Oh, my. Are you okay Luna?"

"I will be fine. I am just far more tired than I expected."

"I'll go start up the tea then. Would you like something to eat as well Princess?" Luna's head shot up unexpectedly as the promise of food. The moon goddess absentmindedly licking her lips out of character.

Fluttershy giggled. "I take that as a yes. Would waffles be okay?"

"By all means make whatever you feel like, right now I am in no position to be a picky eater."

Fluttershy gave a bow and headed towards the kitchen, humming a tune to herself. As the sound of Fluttershy's humming faded Luna turned her attention to Zecora whom was busy changing the sweat soaked sheets from her bed with a fresh set. "Zecora I came here tonight becuase I just managed to banish a powerful Anguish phantom. The foul creature had blood caked in its jaws and Its jaw was punctured with one of your many rings you keep around your neck. After I contained it I teleported just outside your home but heard from outside that you were awake and okay."

"I figured you would detect something amiss in the dream realm sooner or later. However, I have never seen such a creature in any dream or nightmare nor have I ever experienced nearly dying in a dream either." Zecora finished fitting the sheet onto her bed and laid down at the base of the bed, leaning over to speak with Luna. "Tell me Luna, was I correct in assuming it can kill through dreams?"

Luna shook her head side to side, much to Zecora's surprise. "Only one anguish phantom has been able to kill anypony in their sleep and it existed long before me or my sister were born. Although this one was fairly close to attaining that level of power."

Zecora rubbed her neck unconsciously. Although she trusted the princesses judgement, the pain from her dream was still fresh in her memory. The gesture did not escape Luna's notice however.

"I understand how you must feel. Anguish phantoms are rare but they can kill you in your dream form, sometimes very painfully but rest assured that if you die in your dream you will merely wake up feeling a tad ill but with no permanent harm done. I need to ask a question of you Zecora, since you are the one to meet this creature first."

A yell from Fluttershy halted Luna's inquiry. "How do you like your eggs Luna?"

Luna raised her voice to near Canterlot royal wee levels as she replied, knocking Zecora clear off her bed. " I prefer my eggs over medium if you would be so kind." A peanut struck Luna in the flanks from behind. As she turned around another one hit her square in the horn, bursting into flame instantly. A very angry looking rabbit was chattering at her and tapping his foot. "Oh, I am sorry for waking you up little one."

The rabbit rolled his eyes and hopped away into the hall, muttering to himself.

"Inside voice if you would, Luna" Fluttershy yelled from the kitchen.

Luna covered her mouth momentarily, finally realizing she used her Canterlot voice instead of a yell. "I'm sorry Zecora, I still have yet to get used to not doing that from time to time." Zecora just managed to get herself back on the bed, shaking her head to get the ringing out of her ears.

Luna continued. "I need to know if you have any idea's how such a creature was formed. I know how they are formed but I did not get a chance to sense from where."

Zecora sighed heavily before answering. "It came from my homelands but I cannot give a exact location. I do know that wherever it was many innocents were slain...including foals."

Luna's eyes glowed a bright hot white as she gritted her teeth in rage, standing up tall, wings quivering with anger. "Was it that coward Maskia that did such a evil thing?" Zecora stumbled back frightened at Luna's sudden outburst, a sign the princess didn't miss. Luna breathed deeply, her eyes going back to normal but still slightly grinding her teeth. "I...I am sorry Zecora, for my outburst. The war with that fiend has lost Equestria many a noble soul, nearly killed my sister and attempted to assassinate many of my closest friends. If it wasn't for my sister stopping me that entire country would be ashes at my feet." Luna huffed angrily for a moment before laying back down on the pillows on the floor. "I know letting my anger control me is wrong but please do not judge me too harshly, this war has wore heavily on my emotions."

"I will not judge you. I too have been angry sometimes about these past two years but you must keep that anger in check, lest you be consumed by it."

"Consumed by what?" Fluttershy walked into the room carrying a large tray of food. Five eggs, three slices of toast, nine waffles, three large slices of french toast and large glass of orange juice.

"We were talking about Luna's anger problems. She has been under great stress lately." Zecora stared at the large plate of food Fluttershy was carrying between her wings on her back. "Dear, that seems like tad much for just Luna."

"Oh? Do you think it's too much Luna?" Fluttershy asked anxiously.

Luna stood up and looked over at the large quantity of food Fluttershy was carrying on her back. "Tis a bit much but I thank you all the same. Maybe we can share?" Luna's horn glowed a light blue and two plates appeared on the floor. Luna lifted the tray off Fluttershy's back and began to divide the food up evenly. "As I was saying before, I managed to contain the anguish phantom in the dream realm."

"Anguish phantom?" Fluttershy asked.

"That horse skull thing that attacked me dear."

"Oh."

"Now that you managed to contain it princess how are you going to get rid of it before it causes any more trouble?"

Luna magicked two cups into existence and set them on the floor, pouring orange juice into them evenly from the massive glass Fluttershy had on her tray. "Anguish phantoms cannot be banished or killed in any traditional sense. The only way to get rid of them is to starve them of their source of food. Anguish."

"So you are just going to ...put it in jail?" Fluttershy asked.

Luna giggled to herself as she finished dividing the food up on the trays. "essentially yes, every night I will add another layer onto the barrier holding it in place. As the phantoms urges for food increase it will ram against the barrier harder, expending much of its energy. In time it will just fade from existence back into whatever realm spawned it." Luna levitated a waffle in front of her mouth and began to nibble on the edge as if nervous.

"What's wrong Luna, are the edges a bit too crispy?"

Luna stared at the yellow Pegasus and back at the waffle. "Oh no Fluttershy, the food is lovely." Luna took a large bite out of the waffle and swallowed heartily. "I am just worried about where this phantom came from. Very few things could create such a powerful foe."

Fluttershy nibbled on the end of her eggs. "I think it's best just to not think about it and just enjoy your meal. if you keep thinking about it when you don't have any leads you could drive yourself crazy like Twilight does."

Luna stared at the yellow Pegasus over her glass glass as she took a sip. She's right. She thought to herself. Maybe she was over-thinking the problem, letting all the recent stress and anger get the better of her. On the other hand she felt a dreadful feeling in her gut. Something horrible had occurred, killing many innocents. It would be wrong for her to enjoy a meal when genocide was happening just outside equestrian borders. Luna ate a few more bites of her food and finished of her juice quickly before standing up and bowing her head at Fluttershy. "I thank you both very much for the food but I'm afraid I will have to cut this midnight snack short for I must convene with my sister."

"Oh, well promise me you will make it for dinner tonight? We are having eggplant spaghetti Alfredo for dinner."

Luna smiled at Fluttershy and nodded her head. "I would very much like that but for now I must wake my sister up and tell her what I have learned."

"Wouldn't it be easier to just wait till dawn before giving her the news?" Zecora asked. "Also I hear Celestia sleeps like a brick."

"Oh, that part is easy. I can wake her up in a jiffy."

"How?" Fluttershy asked.

"Water balloons" Luna replied smiling.

***Elsewhere***

In a grassy field just outside the hot springs Zecora frequented stood two colts. One a black Pegasus with a tornado cutie mark and the other a blue Pegasus with a Ghost cutie mark.

"So double S, I guess you felt that too?" said the black Pegasus.

"Undoubtedly. She has returned the original to its full power. I was hoping she would have the sense to just surrender but it seems she is completely intent on destroying Equestria."

"Do you think the sun and the moon can stop her?"

"Possibly, but if they fail then the only way for that weapon to be shattered is for it to pierce a decedent of the ponies that created it."

"But that would mean..."

"Yes Wind, that means...."

"No. I will not allow that prophecy to occur. too many innocents have already died."

"I understand your pain but the best we can do with what magic we have is to help her make the right decision."

"And if she runs away from her responsibilities like last time?"

"I..I don't want to think about that. Let us hope that doesn't happen."

"For the sake of Equestria I hope you are right double S."

***

"The weapon..i..is ready..my liege" yelped a brown and black stripped handmaiden, shaking nervously as she bowed before a throne made of elephant bones.

"Yes, well done replacement high adviser...err what was your name again?" Maskia stared at the handmaiden for a moment. "Never mind, It doesn't really matter." Maskia stepped down from the throne of bone and strode into the center of the room, her glowing silver armor bouncing off the many mirrored surfaces in the room, making the cowering handmaiden shield her eyes. "Come with me high adviser, you are about to witness history in the making. The reforged Spear of Sealing and my right of ascension awaits."

Chapter IX: Sexy Fun Times With Twixie

Chapter IX: Sexy Fun Times With Twixie

The rays of the sun shined through the halls of Canterlot palace, illuminating the guards as they bowed to each other signifying the morning shift change. All over the palace staff and residents were springing to life, all except two ponies. One, the younger sister of Celestia had just finished setting the moon and was fluffing her pillow for a nice days rest while the other was a pony who's bed chambers were off the side of the Star swirl observatory. The sunlight shone through the space in her lavender curtains onto her face.

"Hnnmm" she rolled over, pulling the blankets over her indigo mane, her horn still exposed. "RRRing RRiing Riing!" The alarm clock on the nightstand by her bed went off, eliciting a swift swing of her hoof in attempt to silence the noise. After a few swings hitting nothing but air her horn glowed light purple as she sat up, bringing the alarm clock to her. "All of my hate, my mortal enemy" she mumbled as she snapped the alarm clock in two with her magic. Getting up out of bed she tossed the alarm clock into a bin on the far side of the room with a clank, sending a few bells and cogs up into the air as it landed. "Well...at least the local clock repairman likes me." She said to herself as she walked up to her nightstand.

Staring into the mirror she noticed her hair was frazzled mess, her coat a bit on the dirty side and bags forming under her eyes. Her head felt like someone was smashing symbols right next to her. "My head is killing me. What happened last night?" She scratched her head absent mindedly for a moment before having a mini-flashback from the night before.

"Oh, c'mon Twilight. You can do a couple jello shots with me, Derpy and Soarin. Eggheads need to have fun too, right?"

"Ugg...Rainbow dash. Talking me into alcohol again." Twilight rubbed her temples, attempting to sooth the pounding sensation in her head. "This isn't working , wheres my spell-book?" Twilight looked about the room until she spotted a gold rimmed, purple hardcover book on top of her dresser. Levitating the book to her she opened it up to the appendix. "Let's see. Fabulous, funtanari, future sight, fracture," Twilight went over each of the entries rubbing her head. "Ahh here we are, hangovers." Twilight glanced over the runes but was slightly puzzled as to there combination. A note at the bottom revealed why.

"May cause sexual arousal, ignore the last six runes unless you want an all day boner like last time - Star swirl." Twilight couldn't help but giggle to herself. Star swirl may have been the most powerful magician of his time, perhaps of all time but his spells were occasionally laced with weird side effects. Especially if he could use them to prank the occasional mare. She remembered the warning from Celestia that he was a hound dog in his earlier years, occasionally tricking mares into going home with him for one night stands. Not like somepony that was virtually a rock star of his time needed such trickery, if her own experiences were any clue to what it must of been to be Star swirl. So many suitors had come and gone, so many pick up lines and cat calls. Something about a mare in power just drove the stallions and occasional mare wild.

Twilight shook her head and focused on the runes in front of her. "Seems easy enough but I wonder why he was using reverse magical property twelve in this particular spell." Twilight mused for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. "I guess he just wanted to obfuscate the true purpose of the spell from rivals when writing it. Oh well, here goes nothing." Twilight's horn lit up and a flash of blue and red light illuminated the room. Opening her eyes she felt a tad light headed but the feeling quickly subsided, leaving her hangover free.

"Ahh, much better. First up a shower and then the magic of caffeine." Twilight walked into the bathroom and pulled out a purple towel. Setting it up on the sink, she turned the shower on and turned the nozzle to just above warm before staring at the shelf's in the corner. "What shampoo to use today?" In the corner was row upon row of exotic shampoo's. Shampoo's from the dragon wastes all the way up to the frozen tundra's of Stalliongrad. Twilight picked up a purple bottle with a yellow tag called "Summer Lavender" hanging off the lid. "I guess I can try something different today" she said as she put the purple bottle back on the shelf. Twilight scanned the labels one by one, muttering to herself as she glanced over each label.

"Velvet Sunshine...no, Appletart..ehh don't want to smell like AJ today. Dragon's sulfur, nah I don't think Celestia would be impressed by me smelling like a volcano. Hmmm Diamond Flurry, no, rarity would have fit if she found out I had access to something that expensive. Aha!" Twilight picked up a light green bottle with a tree on the front. "Stalliongrad pine sounds nice. Not too strong and gives a hint of that fresh cape smell." Twilight set the bottle on the floor by the shower and checked the temperature of the water before hopping in. The water felt great flowing down her back and dripping off her mane. Twilight picked up the shampoo and lightly spread it around her coat. The smell was a tad stronger than she had first thought but not to the point of being annoying. Twilight levitated a rag from a nearby closet and began to scrub all the way down her back and legs while scrubbing her mane and the base of her horn with her front hooves.

As she moved the rag across her flanks she felt a slight warming sensation under her tail. Figuring it was just a side effect of the shampoo she slowly touched the rag onto her neathers only moan loudly as her neathers tightened up at the slightest touch. "Bu-but...Eh hnng... I'm not due for heat for at least another...three months?" Twilight realized what was causing this sudden outburst of hormones. "The spell book...that no good dirty...hnng" Twilight's neathers contorted again, seeking release. I'll have to deal with that in a moment, first get all this shampoo out of my coat. Twilight scrubbed along her body and down the side of her legs. As she rinsed out the front half of her mane and coat the sensations became far more pronounced.

Her breathing felt slightly labored, her tail instinctively fanning her backside and her thighs spreading themselves slightly in a mating position. C'mon Twilight, don't let some jerks perverted spell get the best of you. Twilight rinsed the rest of the shampoo off her body, doing her best to ignore how amazing the water felt as it ran off of her backside or how hot her neathers felt. Turning the nozzle on the shower she stepped out and lit up her horn, her magic fizzled in and out slightly but she managed to get a quick dry spell cast on herself. "There all dry...well, mostly dry." Twilight looked back at her flanks and noticed small droplets falling from her sex onto the bathroom floor. Twilight stepped out of the bathroom and grabbed the spell book written by Star Swirl. If a spell could get her into heat like their there must have been a counter.

Opening the book she set it down on the floor and turned it to the page she got the original spell from. As she read down the page new text began to appear at the bottom where the original warnings about possible side effects were.

"So Arch mage, how does it feel to get tricked into an all day boner?"

Twilight read the words as if completely unsurprised. Sometimes the book would reveal annotations from Star swirl as the pages were intentionally enchanted to think like him when the reader needed help.

"For one I am not a stallion or a colt. Mares do not get boners."

More words appeared in the place of the previous statement in the book. "Oh, a mare Arch Mage? I didn't know. Also not true, Pegasi get wing boners."

Twilight sighed to herself. This page as enchanted with the skill and memories of a much younger Star Swirl, spells she tried to avoid. "Yes, I am a mare. I am Arch Mage Twilight Sparkle. The older Star Swirl in this book knows me well. I order you to provide me the.." Twilight's neathers tightened up again eliciting a barely repressed dry moan from the aroused mare. "I need the counter to this spell. I have important business to attend to this afternoon."

Twilight watched as the previous line dissipated and a hastily written response appeared.

"Don't we all Twilight, don't we all."

Twilight's face contorted in anger. "Fine, I can just ask the older version of you for help."

The text dissipated and another response popped up. "Problems, Twilight?"

"Fine, I'll just ask the older one for help." Twilight turned towards the end of the book to a page that had a cure for dragons wart she had used a week or so ago on Spike. "Ahem, Star Swirl the elder. Do you happen to have a cure for the prank your younger self pulled on page one hundred and twenty-four?" Twilight waited for what seemed like a eternity, the sensations from her neathers getting stronger.

"That was the Hangover cure spell wasn't it? Give me a second."

Twilight watched the bottom of the page expectantly as runes for the counter-spell were written across the bottom of the page. "Hmmm, four elements reverse cross section? Seems a bit contrived and overly complicated for a counter."

More words appeared at the bottom of the page. "Well either that was the counter or the spell to make yourself immune to static electricity, can't remember which."

"Oh well, I guess worse case scenario I avoid static cling for a while."

Words ran across the bottom of the page quickly. "Avoiding shocks from door handles and balloons sticking to you IS a right useful spell to have."

Twilight giggled to herself as her horn lit up flashing a bright yellow over her body. Opening her eyes she still felt her neathers contracting. Although now it seemed as if it was worse. Twilight looked down at the page ready to ask for another spell when the familiar handwriting of the younger Star Swirl appeared.

"So I see my older self is a party pooper and gave you the counter-spell."

"What are you doing on MY page whipper snapper. Get back to making spells on how to make the perfect bourbon already."

"Not until I see the spell you used to cure the arch mage so I can modify my pranks in..the...oh my."

"Whats wrong?" Asked the elder Star Swirl.

"Well, I was going to give Twilight here the real counter After she asked nicely...or she got it on with another mare while she left the book open. You know, whichever comes first."

Twilight stared at the exchange with wonder, she didn't know the different ages of Star Swirl could interact with one another. Despite her body craving to be pounded her attention was completely focused on the squabble on the pages.

"I have to say I am sorry Twilight but my older self just made a horrible mistake."

"Me make a mistake? How dare you...you... twitch face hob knobber!"

"You used a reverse elements cross section counter-spell on a reverse property twelve spell. You do remember what that does don't you?

"errr, lemme check my notes real quick."

"I'll save you the read through old man. Using that spell ensured that any non-lethal effect would continue until certain linear logic conditions were met."

"Which means...umm...that err...she has to get shocked?"

"No It....how old are you on this page?"

"One hundred and seventeen."

Twilight's face felt hot. She realized she had accidentally turned the book too far into Star Swirls end years, when his memory started to get fuzzy from age.

"Oh, I know...oh dear."

"Exactly my point. She needs to have sex with someone to break the original spell."

"Well couldn't she just do a double cast and remove it?"

"She could but the backlash would burn her magic out for a couple days at the least."

Twilight Shouted angrily at the book. "But...but I don't have time for this kind of nonsense. I need my magic for this afternoon in case Celestia needs me."

"Then I guess you best get a quickie then eh arch mage?"

"Please excuse this whippersnappers rude comments. I'm sure there is someway to..." A light knock came at the bedroom door followed by Celestia's voice.

"Twilight can I come in? I need to talk to you about what to do in case things go south this evening."

Twilight could feel her heart skip a few beats. Celestia couldn't see her like this. What would it do to their relationship for her to walk in and see her heated up like a newlywed on her honeymoon. What if this got outside the palace, she could never look her peers in the face again. "Think, think, think. What can i do to cover this up?" She whispered to herself as she hit herself on the head with her hoof.

"Twilight? Are you okay? I'm coming in."

Twilight opened her mouth to stop her but it was too late. Celestia had already stepped through the door and was staring dead at her. "Twilight are you okay? I didn't interrupt anything private did I?"

Words scribbled along the bottom of the spell book rapidly. "Oh, nice. I hope it's that time of year for Celestia, always wanted a picture of her doing the deed."

Twilight ignored the scribbles in the book and stared Celestia right in the eyes. "N..no, everything is hunky dory. What can I do for you?"

Celestia stared at Twilight for a moment, as if she somehow knew somepony was lying. "Well I needed to talk to you about...why is your face so..flushed, Twilight?"

Twilight touched her face with her hoof. There was indeed a rush of blood building up in her cheeks. "Oh, It's nothing. Might be a allergic reaction to my shampoo, nothing serious." Twilight grinned but she knew Celestia could see right through this kind of ploy.

"You should probably see the the royal doctors about that. Now about the..." Celestia pulled her head back smelling the air. "What is that... musty smell? Is that you Twilight?"

Twilight eyes darted back and fourth. "yeah I umm...used mountain musk shampoo this morning."

"But I smell Stalliongrad Pine on you."

"I might have accidentally mixed them" Twilight lied.

Celestia's eyes narrowed. "Twilight are you sure everything is okay? You don't have to feel embarrassed about anything with me. I have lived a long time. I can help you with all kinds of things if you just ask me." Celestia's eyes slowly looked over Twilight's shoulder at the puddle Twilight had left in front of the bathroom door.

"Umm p-princess. I think I..."

Celestia raised a hoof to silence Twilight and gave her a big smile as she lifted her head up. "Let me guess, you used the hangover spell listed right after fracture?"

"How did you..." Twilight said with mouth agape.

Celestia giggled to herself. "Every single arch mage for the past half century or more has fallen for that spell. We even nick named Flare, the previous arch mage 'boner' becuase he was an alcoholic and kept falling for the same spell."

"So your not going to laugh at me and possibly degrade my position?"

Celestia shook her head giggling. "No, nothing like that. You really need to stop panicking so much though. It has a nasty habit of putting strange ideas into your head." Celestia bent down and whispered into Twilight's ear. "If it makes you feel better, I fell for that spell once."

"Really?"

"Yes, I even got the spell stuck on me till I did the dirty deed becuase a certain senile pony gave me the wrong counter-spell. Some kind of anti-static electricity spell."

Twilight picked the book off the floor and showed Celestia the spell she used. "Why yes, that is the one. It locks the spell in place until you...oh my. Twilight did you cast this spell on yourself?"

Twilight didn't answer, she only nodded solemnly.

"I guess it can't be avoided then. I would" Celestia lowered her head and her voice into a seductive tone. "Handle this problem myself."

Twilight felt as if her face couldn't possibly be any redder.

Celestia continued in her seductive voice drawing ever closer to Twilight's right ear. "I would help you out but I have a meeting with the senate in less than a hour about our future restoration projects after Maskia surrenders." Celestia got closer to Twilight, she could feel the Alicorns breath on her neck. "Maybe when I have more time I could show you how I earned the nickname 'Big Sexy'."

Twilight wanted to moan loudly as Celestia breathed heavily on her neck but controlled herself. The thought of going to home base with the most powerful being on the planet somehow turned her on. To top it all off her scientific curiosity about how Alicorns go about mating was making it hard for her to refuse.

"I seem to have piqued your interest, Twilight Sparkle."

"I umm.." Twilight could feel her sex twitching at the mere thought of Celestia going to town on her body. Try as she might her hormones were making her want Celestia even more. think of non- sexy things...that Jelly infatuated pony, Granny Smith, Queen Chrysalis..err maybe not that one since she can be whatever she wants. C'mon girl don't let your hormones get the better of your judgement. "But you're my teacher! it would just feel wrong."

Celestia raised her head, smiling. " I was your teacher Twilight but you are a full grown mare now and mares have needs. I see that my proposal has turned you on but I respect if you are not ready for that kind of thing with me. If I had more time maybe I could talk you into it but duty calls." Celestia seemed disappointed but none the less kept her smile. "We still need to get rid of that problem of yours however. Shall I get a stallion or mare from the local town harem? Or do you have somepony else in mind?"

Twilight shook her head, trying to get the thought of her teacher going down on her out of her mind. "I..err.. lemme think." Twilight thought back to ponies she felt comfortable going all the way with. The only pony she had ever gone all the way with was Spitfire but that was ages ago. "Is..is Spitfire in town by any chance? I feel comfortable with her."

Celestia's head shot back as if in surprise. "Wait, Spitfire as in the Wonder Bolts captain Spitfire?" Celestia raised a eyebrow in genuine interest when Twilight nodded yes. "You...you two went all the way? You a bookworm with the hottest Pegasus in the skies?" Celestia could hardly believe it when Twilight nodded again. Why do all the quiet types get all the fun?

"Your Highness, you didn't answer my question."

"What? Oh yes that. let me check the Scheduling." Celestia's horn glowed a low shade of yellow and a notepad appeared in front of her. "Lemme see Spitfire, Spitfire ahh here." Celestia stared at the notepad for a moment before shaking her head. "I'm sorry Twilight, Spitfire is on patrol near the dragon wastes. Shes four days flight away at the least."

Twilight bowed her head and sighed dejectedly. "I could teleport to her but in my condition..."

"And the fact that the dragon wastes are massive. I'm sorry Twilight but you might have to settle for ..." Celestia smiled and yelled "Aha!" as if she had a sudden epiphany. "I remember a teacher with your exact same problem. She's been on medical leave a couple days but has yet to find herself a cure. She's a bit ...prideful but she has some of your interests. Shall I go fetch her?"

Twilight pondered for a moment. The only teachers she knew was a handful of the special aids for Celestia when she was a young filly. All of which she remembered had the typical Canterlot attitude problem. "Is she from Canterlot by any chance? I'm not exactly a fan of overly posh or snobby ponies."

"No, I believe she was born and raised in Hoofington."

"Hnnnmm that would make her a city pony but quite a bit more rural than Manehattan or Fillydelphia. She may even be like Cherilee in some ways. "Sure, why not. Best case scenario we figure out a solution without side effects., worst case we have sexy rumpus but can talk about science and history after."

"A win-win situation if you ask me, I'll go get her." Celestia left the room humming to herself.

"Hmm I better find something to do to keep my mind off my backside until this teacher arrives." Twilight looked about the room for something to occupy her time. She scanned the room making mental notes of activities she could do and marking them on a piece of paper from her desk. " Hmm crystal gazing, drawing, filling out the backlog of paperwork and... dance dance revolution."

Twilight looked about the room one more time before going over the list again. "Crystal gazing takes too long and I think future prediction is nonsense. Sorry Pinkie but I never use that gift you gave me."

Twilight Stared at her desk. On one side was a handful of papers to go out and on the other a virtual mountain of in papers. Most of the educational guest appearance requests, some fan mail and the occasional banter from a random lunatic against one of her magical theories that didn't know any better. "That's off the list, I want to do something for a hour maybe not two weeks and innumerable paper cuts."

Twilight moved her eyes over to her notepad she had been doodling in over the past year or so. "Not enough time to start a new picture."

Finally Twilight's gaze met the rolled up mat next to a tv. "Kinda want to try that open gundam style whatever song but It's no fun if I don't have Bonbon or Dashie here to demolish in dance off mode." Twilight stared at her reflection in the screen for a moment before realizing what she could do to occupy her time. "Eww, my hair is all frizzled." Twilight stared at her reflection in the tv screen. Hairs on her mane were jutting about and her coat was no better off. "Where did I set my brush?"

Twilight wandered into the bathroom towards the mirror and spotted her purple brush sitting behind the faucet on the sink. "Ahh there you are." Twilight walked up to the mirror and lifted the brush up with her magic. She slowly glided the soft bristles of the brush down the side of her body, the sensation being somewhat more of a turn-on than she expected. Think of something less sexy Twilight, no need to lose your composure. Twilight stared at the brush for a moment and remembered some of the lessons on proper care she got from Celestia soon after she earned her post.

"Now Twilight, I know you like to stay up and study late into the night but It's not good for your health."

"But there's so much to do, so much to learn."

"And not but one mortal life to learn it in. Twilight, your enthusiasm for learning is unmatched in any student I have ever taken on but If you continue to neglect your body's needs like this you will only shorten your lifespan."

"You mean?"

"Yes Twilight, less years to live means less you can learn."

"Oh I see. It's a math equation."

"Something like that. Also I need you to stay in sparkling condition whenever in public or at work. Somepony of your stature needs to make a impression of pride and power wherever you go."

"I ...kinda get it. I mean it's not like I stink or anything."

"No *giggle* but you do have a tendency to get you hair all matted and frizzled when you over-study or get into a panic. Ponies won't respect you unless you respect yourself."

"This Canterlot sociology stuff seems hard. I haven't read that many books on it as of late."

"You will learn it in time my dear. I promise you won't become snooty or anything like that."

"Let's hope not, last thing Equestria needs is another Blue blood."

A knock at the door snapped Twilight out of her daydream, the echos of laughing with Celestia ringing in her ears slightly. "Come in and make yourself comfortable, I will be there in a moment." Twilight quickly brushed down the last few stubborn hairs on her mane and opened the door out of the bathroom, eyes closed to announce herself. "I am arch mage Twilight Sp-"

*Gasp*

The sudden gasp made Twilight open her eyes. Standing at the door with her mouth agape was a Azure blue Unicorn with cornflower blue mane, violet eyes and wearing a purple star studded cape that covered her cutie mark partially.

"Tr-trixie Lulamoon?"

"Twilight Sparkle?"

The two ponies stood there for a moment, both in shock as to what they were seeing.

"I must have the wrong room, there's no way Celestia would appoint a magical failure like yourself Arch mage of Equestria. I must have stumbled into the janitors room by mistake" Trixie finished with a snide jerk of her head.

"Nice to see you too Trixie. When Celestia told me she was sending me a teacher I didn't know it was the one from the daycare center."

"How dare you! I'll have you know I teach 7th rank magic class."

"Pfft maybe while you're dreaming. I'm in charge of all the hiring of educational staff in Celestia's school for gifted youngsters. There's no way someone like you even got onto the list without proper credentials."

"I..I'm a substitute. I was called in from Hoofington after professor Yapes accidentally set himself on fire."

"I somehow doubt that." Twilight levitated a large binder from her work desk and turned it to the page containing schedules for every teacher for the week. "Hmm Yager, Yahord, Ahh Yapes." Twilight looked over the schedule for professor Yapes to find that a substitute number had been magically pasted over the original. "Huh substitute number five twenty-one." Twilight turned to the back of the binder to the substitute's code number appendix."Hmm here it is number five twenty one is... Trixie Lulamoon? But how? I select all the substitutes personally, there's no way you made it onto my listings."

Trixie flung her mane back and grinned at twilight sarcastically. "I was hoof chosen by Luna herself. As was I hoof chosen by Celestia to cure our little problem." Trixie unbuttoned her cape and threw it on the floor by Twilight's bed. "Shall we get to finding a cure or perish the thought, us doing the horizontal monster mash?"

Twilight huffed indignantly. "Not in a thousand years would I let you touch any intimate part of my body. You may have Luna's approval and Celestia's blessing but the books is about as far as I will tolerate you."

Trixie laid down on the rug by the door, a snide grin on her face. "Suit yourself 'Arch mage' but if you don't find a cure in the next hour or so I expect a full apology from you.. among other things."

"Don't count on it. I didn't earn this position though deceit like I know you did." Twilight pulled two books off the shelf above her desk, placing one in front of her and the other in front of Trixie. "Help me find a cure or don't, either way you're not touching this mare."

***

Twilight stared up at the clock on her desk. It had been just a little over a hour and well over fifty spells since Trixie had arrived. Twilight shook her head and continued to read though another spell book, doing her best to ignore Trixie's snide grin. As she turned the page another small convulsion on her backside struck, making her grit her teeth in a attempt to bear it. So far most of the spells she had cast only intensified the heat effect on her body, to the point where fanning her backside with her tail was no longer a effective option. Only five hours till I am due to leave with Celestia. I gotta find a cure in here somewhere. I can't let that haughty unicorn win.

Trixie on the other hand was having a ball. Although Twilight could make out that she too was in heat she managed to keep it under control, only fanning her backside in small bursts. Twilight stared at Trixie for a moment, expecting her to shoot another snide comment her way only get silence and a smile from the arrogant mare. It must be becuase my magic is so much stronger than hers, that must be the reason it's so much harder on me than her. Twilight tilted her head to read the next spell in her book only feel a hot rush to her neathers and blood rushing to her face. Calm down! Close your eyes, breathe deep. It wasn't working. Her body had reached it's limit and it seemed no amount of willpower could stop the inevitable.

Trixie stood up and walked up to Twilight grinning. "I see your body is finally giving out, I figured it would after your started casting like their was no tomorrow."

"Wh-what do you mean? I-I'm fine."

"Preposterous, I can smell you from the other side of the room. Even if you covered that odor up I can still tell you're in heat from your face and body language. You may think of me as some conjurer of cheap tricks but show business teaches you many useful skills, one of them is reading others."

Twilight looked into Trixie's eyes, Lying to her wasn't going to get her anywhere. "I'll...I'll be fine. It will pass." Somewhere deep inside she wanted to swallow her pride and ask her for help but her own pride as a magician was still overpowering her common sense.

"Do you want me to tell you why the heat is far more pronounced in you than me?"

Twilight breathed hard for a moment but managed to mumble a yes.

"You may be thinking that becuase you are more powerful than me that the spell you got conned into casting on yourself is effecting you much more, yes?"

Twilight nodded but kept silent.

"While it leaves a terrible taste in my mouth, the former is true but the latter is a illusion. The reason It's effecting you far more than me is twofold."

"Wh- hnnng...do y-you mean?"

"Casting spells only accelerates the spell causing the heat. I found this out a couple days ago from other students who were victim's of the same prank." Trixie walked past Twilight watching the fluid drip from her aroused sex onto the carpet. "The other reason is related to your lack of physical exercise. Trixie does calisthenics every morning so she always stays fit of mind and body. A bookworm like you is easy prey for spells that cause physical stress."

Twilight hated admitting it but Trixie was right. The busy educational schedule had left little time for proper exercise. Celestia had warned her of such things eventually coming back to bite her but she never expected it would be so soon.

"You lack physical endurance and worst of all..." Trixie gave Twilight a sharp slap on her right flank, exciting a muffled moan from the lavender mare. "You suppress parts of your nature that need training to properly contain. You are practically ready to pop just from the slightest physical contact."

Twilight could feel her body shaking, her backside wanting anything to touch it. She even contemplated telling Trixie to leave so she could relieve herself but she knew she didn't have the focus or power to enforce such a thing.

"Pitiful. I guess I will be leaving now. Oh, and just a hint" Trixie bent down and whispered softly in Twilight's ear. "Self stimulation doesn't work."

Twilight watched Trixie walk slowly towards the doors, swaying her hips seductively as she went. Twilight looked up at the clock and then back at Trixie. It was do or die, Celestia, Luna and Equestria was counting on her to be at the meeting that afternoon in case anything went wrong. She had to swallow her pride. "Tr-trixie?"

The azure mare turned to Twilight, a snide grin on her face. "Yes, Twilight?"

"I-I need your help. I want to...no, I have to make love with you. For Equestria's sake."

Trixie's grin went into a full on, if creepy, smile. "I refuse. I have better things to do with my time unless..." Trixie paused for a moment letting her refusal sink into Twilight. "Unless you beg me and agree to play by my rules."

"Why would I beg you, I could just ask Celestia for somepony from her personal harem." the mere thought of playing by Trixie's rules made Twilight feel ill.

"You could but do you think you could walk out into her day court, in front of the entire senate in your condition and tell her you need a colt or mare friend for a few hours. Knowing full well the senate chamber echos even whispers?"

Twilight pondered how she could go about requesting such a thing. Trixie was right that in her condition walking out into the senate in her condition would end her career. She could send a letter but post is blocked in the senate room unless hoof delivered. She hated to admit it but Trixie was right. She was her only available option although the mere though of making out with her sent shivers down her spine. "I...I accept your terms Trixie."

"I can't hear you Twilight" Trixie replied haughtily.

Twilight closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Oh great and powerful Trixie, please make love to me so you can lift this horrible spell from my body."

"Much better, Trixie will do you this favor but you will play a game with me in the process and call me master the entire time. Is that understood?"

"Y-yes great and powerful..err... Master Trixie."

"Great, now to set the rules."

Trixie's horn lit up and a large purple hole appeared in the floor in front of her. Sticking her hoof into the hole she started pulling out various objects of sexual nature. "Let's see, leg spreaders check, ball gag, leather straps, collar and chain, blindfold." Trixie continued to call out names as she rifled though the strange hole in the floor.

"Trixie...I mean, master Trixie, is that a Barabonds bottomless hole?"

Trixie pulled her head from the hole cursing under her breath. "No, Its the economy Derkkins sub-bottomless hole. Teachers salary and all. Where did I put that?" Trixie rummaged around the bottom of the hole for a few more moments. "Victory! Here it is." Trixie pulled her head out of the hole and set a black box on the bed in front of Twilight sparkle. "Go on open it, I want to see the look on your face."

Twilight lifted the silver hatch off the front of the box and slowly opened it to reveal a set of strangely arousing tools. Inside the box was a false tongue with many bristles on it, almost like a toothbrush. A short crop with leather strings that seemed to curl up randomly. A leather corset with a red linen underlay, a fairly large strap-on with the words "Mare breaker 4000M series (prototype) in silver letters across the side and what appeared to be jar filled with black goop. Twilight stared at the contents and noticed a clock looking object hanging from the lid of the box and underneath it was gold lettering that nearly made her double take. "Ultimate Submission kit prototype? You mean this..."

Trixie grinned. "Yes, it is a just like the regular one you see in stores, except this one has all the safeties except the safe word removed. The clock is a recorder, timer and score keeper all in one. Each mare has one hour to use all of the tools here to get the other one to scream the safe word 'I surrender'."

"And ...that's the rules of the game, seems easy enough."

"Oh but it isn't. You see the winner will receive a DVD containing the hour she managed to break her opponent in glorious detail to do what she wills with."

"I didn't agree to that! You could blackmail me with something like that!"

"Silence slave! Trixie was not done explaining the rules!" Twilight gulped as Trixie paced about the room. "The recording on the DVD creates a magical contract of sorts. The loser has the option to erase the recording if she submits to being at the winners beck and call at night for the next three days." Trixie walked up to Twilight and whispered in her ear. "See I'm the sporting type. If you lose I just humiliate you privately for a few days but if you win you could hold that recording above my head until I submit to you. Just remember this: If I win and you refuse to be my slave I will send this to your..." Trixie moved closer. "Entire." Trixie moved closer, this time breathing heavily on Twilight's neck. "Family."

Twilight's face went pale. The mere thought of that recoding being sent to her parents, brother and extended family made her sick to her stomach. Something like that could ruin her for life, it was almost as if the game was designed to force one into sexual servitude. On the other hoof she could beat Trixie at her own game and make her agree to leave her alone for good. "I...I accept your challenge."

"Good sport, now stand up on the bed facing the headboard."

Twilight did as she was told with some apprehension. All I have to do is hold out for a hour, then I can figure out what to do then. Twilight faced the headboard of her bed, glancing occasionally at Trixie as she wrapped twin leather straps around her front legs.

"Spread your back legs a bit."

Twilight spread her back legs as told but only slightly.

"Apprehensive are we? Good that will make defeating you all the easier." Trixie wrapped two silk straps around Twilight's back legs and pushed the aluminum spread bar into place. "Stage two would be fine starting out." Trixie adjusted the bar to spread Twilight's back legs to six inches. "Perfect, I don't want you swinging from the ceiling screaming my name just yet." Trixie's horn lit up and Twilight felt the tug at her front legs. Slowly they lifted into the air above her head, the ends of the straps sticking to the ceiling firmly.

"This hurts a little Trixie. The straps are a little short."

"This room does have a higher ceiling than the teachers quarters but honestly Twilight that little stretching pain is going to be the least of your worries in a moment."

"What do you mean by that Tri-" Twilight quickly found a ball gag in her mouth and the straps holding it in being wrapped around her horn and tied behind her neck. "Ruht da wrell?"

"Don't want you casting any protective spells now. Don't worry the sensors can detect the safe word through that gag."

Twilight's tried to push magic though her horn only to find it only sending small sparks out the tip.

"See what I mean? You are completely at my mercy but don't worry I'll make sure to break you quickly so we both get back to normal." Trixie pressed a red button on the clock, starting the one hour countdown before walking over to Twilight and whispering in here ear. "By the way, this device also counts orgasms for each pony. In the event neither of us surrenders the pony with the higher score loses."

Twilight's eyes went wide in horror. There's no way I can win, she duped me the arrogant little... Twilight's train of thought was broken by something small and stringy being dragged down her right leg. Twilight turned her head slowly to find a crop with what looked like leather strings on the end being dragged down her right foreleg and down her side. As she watched the strings slowly began to sink into her coat and then with a cold feeling, sunk into her skin. Trixie continued to pull the crop along her body and Twilight could feel the strings just under her skin tickling her muscles. The crop slowly inched towards her backside until she could feel it just under her cutie mark.

"You may...never mind I want this to be a surprise." Trixie pulled on the crop hard, pulling it out but snapping the strings on it.

"Rraaammmppp" Twilight yelped, her backside stung slightly but a feeling of coldness seemed to throb from just underneath her cutie mark. She looked back at what looked like a broken crop only to find the leather straps on the end growing back. "hhrmm?"

Trixie ignored Twilight's questioning glance and began whipping the crop across Twilight's flanks as hard as she could.

"RRhhmmp! Hnnnp! errrhmhmhm!" Each swing stung more than the last.

*Wrik* *Snap* Kish*

Trixie had upper her pace, wailing into Twilight's backside.

"HHRRMMMPPP!" Twilight could barely catch her breath after every hit. She could taste the rubber being peeled off from the gag into her mouth as she bit down on it. Oddly enough though the pain seemed to diminish with each successive swing. Her backside still hurt but instead of a painful way it felt more like it was tightening up, the cold sensation from earlier prevailed most of her backside, numbing the pain. Twilight looked back at her flanks to also find there was no abrasions where the crop had struck.

"A bit more I think" Trixie swung the crop a couple more times with only a slight wince from Twilight. "Seems she's ready. Crop, activate phase two."

The coldness that prevailed through her backside subsided, replaced by a tingling warm feeling that seemed to be moving slowly towards her sex.

"A small demonstration before I finish." Trixie blew a small breeze from her lips onto Twilight's neathers.

Twilight's entire body quivered, her flanks flexed and she could even feel her sex twitch wildly from the sensation.

"My, my Twilight, you're winking at me just from that? I can't wait to see what a direct hit will do."

Twilight turned her head to watch Trixie line up a direct swing to her sex. In panic she shook her head no but it was too late. Trixie took the shot from a downward angle and the strap collided with Twilight's vagina.

"RRRHHHMMMPPP!!!!" The ball gag barely contained her screams, her body shaking violently from the collision. Despite the hit nearly making her climax, Twilight focused her willpower in a effort to keep control over her body.

"Stronger than I thought. The magic in this crop mimics Succubi poison, most mares climax after the first direct hit." Trixie adjusted the spreader bar another inch before taunting Twilight with the straps against her dripping wet sex. "The straps turn into the poison when broken, numbing the pain to give a false sense of security but then whamo. The mare goes from barely any sense of touch at all to intensified sense of touch. Really quite ingenious, don't you agree?" Trixie ran the straps over Twilight's sex, making sure to prod the shaft slightly across her sex.

"mmmhhhnnnn" Twilight could barely contain the moan as Trixie ran the straps across her folds, teasing her.

"Another hit should do it. I'm eight minutes in and nothing on the scoreboard, most mares give up three points by now. You're tougher than I realized." Trixie lifted the crop high into the air and swung down with all her might, snapping the handle with a sickening crack.

"Hrrrmmp...hmmmp, hrrrmmpppnnppp!" The sensation was nearly indescribable. Both pain and pleasure mixed together in a blur of emotion. Twilight couldn't fight it, her body had reached the limits of what it could endure. Her entire body shook violently, she could feel her legs trying to kick wildly in random directions. Her entire backside felt electric, she could feel her muscles contract and expand rapidly, as if begging for more.

"Hmmm I'll have to replace this later." Trixie stared at her work for a moment, watching the fluids from Twilight drip onto the blankets below. "I think that was a okay start, but only a single orgasm from all of that?" Trixie stared at the counter on the floor that indeed read one to zero with Trixie in the lead. "Could of swore you would have given up by now but this lets me test things I rarely get to use." Trixie put the broken half's of the crop back into the case and lifted the corset with red linen underlay out, hovering it above Twilight's back.

"Rmmmn bnot phat gyou knrow."

"Oh, this has nothing to do with weight but first let me get that gag out of your mouth. Not hearing the full screams of your ecstasy is boring." Trixie strapped the corset loosely around Twilight's midsection and undid the small buckle behind her head. The ball fell on top of the pillow but the straps around Twilight's horn remained. Picking up the gag with her magic Trixie examined it before setting it next to the case beside the bed. "You bit hard into that gag, I can see the deep teeth marks all though it. I'm sure that's how you endured the crop so well." Trixie pulled one of the corset strings out over Twilight's left flank and then another over her right.

"I hope this isn't as painful as the last one. I'm willing to try many things but...you are one kinky bitch."

"Silence please. You can go about critiquing my methods after I win" Trixie interjected, cutting Twilight off. "Now which string was it again?" Trixie pulled a small instruction booklet out of the case on the floor.

"I thought you knew how all of these worked" Twilight asked sarcastically.

"I do but some of them you have to be careful with. As much as I love seeing you defeated and humiliated, i would never go as far as seriously injuring you." Trixie turned the page, read a few passages and then stared at the left string of the corset. "I may hate your guts but I must be prudent with you, if you feel any kind of ripping pain yell for me to stop."

" Hmmp. Like you actually care about anyponies health but your own. And what do you mean by ripping pain, what is this thing for?"

"You will find out soon enough but I am dead serious on you telling me to stop. You may have the magical ability of a earth pony janitor and I may hate your guts, It's doesn't mean I'm monstrous enough to seriously harm you."

"Fine. let's get this over with."

"Good girl. Now Close your eyes and focus, the second you feel too tight or any pain, tell me." Trixie grabbed onto the left string on the corset and began to pull until a number appeared above the hold the string was coming from.

Twilight watched over her shoulder as a blue number one appeared just above the left string hole of the corset. she watched as two more blue numbers in sequential order appeared on the string and the corset itself. At the number four the numbers changed from blue to purple. Twilight couldn't seem to make heads or tails of what the numbers meant until the numbers slid past the six mark and into the red seven. Twilight could feel something inside of her, rubbing and contracting but it felt like it was in her midsection.

"Feel anything?" Trixie asked as she pulled the string until the top of the eight was visible.

"Nothing aside from a weird, I dunno, squeezing sensation in my midsection."

Trixie pulled until the number eight was fully visible and the effect on Twilight was apparent. "What does that feel like?"

Twilight could feel her sex tightening up from the inside out, as if somepony was trying to vacuum pack her vaginal tract. "I feel, kinda tight back there. Does this thing do what I think it does?"

Trixie continued to pull slowly on the string until the nine was mostly visible on the string when she heard twilight groan. "There?"

"It doesn't hurt but I can feel both sides rubbing each other. I think that's as far as It goes."

Trixie gave a sly wink and pulled the string till the number nine locked in place, much to Twilight's discomfort.

"Hey, that...well It doesn't hurt but it feels like my entire backside is suddenly made of stone."

Trixie giggled to herself. "By the time I'm done with you it will be as soft as putty. Or was the saying putty in my hooves?" Trixie put both front hooves on Twilight's flanks and casually brushed her tail out of the way. "Let's tests the waters shall we?" Trixie inched ever so closely to Twilight's sex until her breathing started to make Twilight flinch.

"Will you get on with it already, you only have so much time to be dramatic about all this." Twilight could see the cockeyed look she was getting from Trixie over her shoulder.

"Mare breaking is a art and I still have over forty minutes to make you beg for mercy." Trixie brushed her hair out of the way and slowly moved inward until her tongue touched the outside of her folds. She slowly licked left and then right, avoiding penetration but putting just enough pressure to get low moans from Twilight. Should probably test how much room I have, don't want to use Zebranskis hundred tongues if I can't fit it all in. Trixie continued to lick left and right, slowly adding more pressure until she found the point where it was all or nothing. Looking up she noticed Twilight was already panting lightly. "May want to close your mouth for this one."

Trixie wrapped her forelegs around Twilight's back legs to brace herself properly and slowly pushed on the lavender mares sex with her tongue. She pushed harder in harder until she managed to slip her entire tongue into her sex.

"Nyyaaa!" Twilight yelped as Trixie managed to make her way into her innards. I was right! This corset doesn't squeeze the body by contracts the vaginal tract. This isn't good.

Trixie on the other hoof was busy enjoying herself inside Twilight's neathers, her entire tongue buried deep inside her. I can taste magic practically everywhere in here. Maybe she's not a teachers pet after all. Trixie moved her tongue around inside Twilight, rubbing against both sides in a attempt to judge how much room she had to work with. Ignoring the moans of pleasure coming from Twilight, Trixie oriented her tongue horizontally. Maybe two inches horizontally and three-ish vertically, not much room but enough to break her. But first...

Twilight tried to control her breathing as Trixie explored her innards. Trixie may have been a snooty, arrogant and straight up bitch in her eyes but one thing was certain: She was experienced at this particular exercise. Underestimating her would be dangerous and unwise of her in this position. Her body was completely unaccustomed to these kinds of sensations and it showed, each stroke from Trixie was bringing her closer to climax. Maybe if I adjust my body a tad. Twilight examined the straps holding her to the ceiling, pulling down on them to see if they had any give.

"Nyaaa!" She had to hurry, Trixie was getting more aggressive in with her tongue, the last hit just barely glancing a sensitive spot. Twilight pulled hard on the straps but they didn't give more than a inch at most. Gritting her teeth as Trixie glanced another spot she turned her attention to the spreader bar on her back legs. No, less than a inch either way. Not enough to aim her away from anything sensitive.

"Ah,,,he...ahhhh." Trixie found her G-spot and was hitting it voraciously, over and over again. Have to think of a solution quickly! Twilight watched her flanks ripple slightly as Trixie went full bore into her backside. Gotta...get her...off center. maybe if I... Twilight leaned hard to the right and sure enough Trixie lost her place, her tongue slipping out slightly. This didn't stop Trixie however as she recovered and quickly found Twilight's G-spot again. I can't stop her but I can delay her. Twilight leaned hard right again and then immediately leaned left, throwing Trixie off balance and off her backside entirely.

Trixie staggered to her feet wiping her chin. "Trixie knows what you are up to Twilight Sparkle. Trying to keep me from that spot is pointless."

"I don't know what you are talking about Trixie, It's not my fault if you're a klutz." Twilight replied snidely.

"Trash talk all you want. You just made things much worse for yourself by resisting." Trixie's horn lit up and a blue burst of light struck the straps holding Twilight up. Twilight fell face first into her pillow. As she tried to get up the straps wrapped around her forelegs, securing them firmly behind her back. The straps didn't stop there, two extra ones came from the corset itself, holding her legs in place so she couldn't sway her backside.

I can still move my front, I can sway her off that...way? The straps binding her front legs together shot around and under the bed, holding her body firmly in place on the blankets. Twilight tried to move only to have the straps pull down tighter on her body. "I...I can't move." Twilight struggled in her bonds only to have them pull so tight that she couldn't even move them a inch. One last strap shot from the corset, pulling her tail back and lifting her backside high in the air as it attached to the ceiling. This isn't good, my body has no give!

"Much better, now to put another point on that scoreboard." Trixie wrapped her legs around Twilight's back legs and eased her tongue back into her Twilight's neathers. Instead of a slow caressing strokes like before instead she bored into Twilight's backside like a fat filly on cake. So much easier to hit that spot this way and the taste is just fabulous. Trixie quickly found Twilight's G-spot again and pushing most of her body weight onto Twilight as she ate her out.

"Hnnnnggg aahhh!" Twilight's body rocked slightly as Trixie's tongue rhythmically hit her G-spot. Can't move, gotta think. Gotta waste time on that clock. Twilight tried to move her body but to no avail, the straps were only squeezing her body tighter the more she struggled. This...gnah...isn't g-good. Her...oh... body weight is only making it...worse. Twilight gritted her teeth by she knew it was in vain, he mind was sharp but her body unwilling. Think of anything but what you're feeling. Twilight started to run mathematical equations in her head and surely enough the impact of Trixie's tongue action seemed reduced. Good, now one to the eighteenth powERR!!! A sharp pain on her flanks broke her train of thought, looking back she noticed Trixie was spanking her flank just above her cutie mark.

Trixie lifted Twilight's rump straight into the air, slapping her flank's as she ravaged her backside.

"N-no, st-stop naaaha!" Twilight's mind math wasn't working, the pain on her flanks kept breaking her concentration. "Nyaa, ha ha hnnmmm.. no...no more." Her body was giving out, the only thing her mind could comprehend was how good it felt to have Trixie eating her neathers.

This wasn't lost on Trixie, she plunged her tongue like a sword into Twilight's backside, rapidly lashing her G-spot like her tongue was that of a snake. The reaction from the lavender mare was no longer of half hearted resistance but of blissful moaning and screaming.

"YES! Right THERE! So good! M-more! Eat me, Trixie!"

Trixie pushed one more time as hard as she could onto Twilight's backside. The lavender mares body started to shake in fits and Trixie found her muzzle covered completely by a surge of fluids from Twilight's neathers.

"Oh...oooohhh... Celestia ...yeessss." Twilight's legs kicked a few times despite being held tightly in place by her bonds.

Trixie magicked a cloth into existence in front of her and began to clean off her muzzle. Staring triumphantly down at Twilight as she still shook from her high, Trixie couldn't help but have broad grin on her face. " 'Eat me, Trixie' hmm, Twilight Sparkle?"

Twilight's face went beat red. "I- umm." Twilight seemed lost for words, anything she could say would feel like a lie. "It was the heat of the moment, I would never say such a thing with a sane mind." She knew it was a lie the moment she blurted it out but her pride demanded that she defend herself. Even if it meant she was the only pony being fooled. Somewhere deep inside she actually enjoyed the strange S&M thing Trixie seemed so experienced at.

"Say what you like, but my great and powerful ears heard you scream my name in ecstasy. The only pony you are fooling is yourself." Trixie bent down and picked up the next object with her hooves, holding it up for Twilight to examine. "This little gadget is called 'Zebranskis hundred tongues' It was invented by a scholar in sixteen hundred CY that needed something to dominate his lovers. This version is far more potent than the original and like everything in this case does not have a safety built in."

Twilight stared at the object for a moment, It was nothing more than a leather tongue cover riddled with small bristles all over its surface area. Small metallic claps where on the end of each side. Twilight couldn't put her hoof on it but she thought she had read a description of this item on the banned magical sales act at some point. Twilight racked her mind trying to figure out exactly what Trixie was going to use on her when her mind just clicked. "Hey! That's a class one restricted magical item! You can't use that on me, It's dangerous!"

"I know, there have been cases where it drove mares temporarily insane with pleasure. The average time for it to do that is well over thirty minutes and seeing as I only have twenty-five left, it's quite safe." Trixie busied herself adjusting the object in her mouth as Twilight stared at her in fear.

I remember reading horror stories about that thing. it creates a near endless orgasm for as long as it remains inserted. Twilight contemplated just surrendering, despite her curiosity for what a constant orgasm would feel like, it wasn't worth temporary insanity or even the possibility of that affect. "Trixie can I talk you out of using that? I- I promise I won't use it on you come my turn."

Trixie finished adjusting the object into her mouth. "You never get used to fitting those metal clamps on the side in your mouth. As for you request for mercy, denied. Unless of course you want to surrender now."

Twilight knew the tone of voice Trixie was using. There wasn't any way she was going to be able to get out of this short of becoming her pet. Maybe I can endure it. Twilight struggled against her bonds, checking to see what kind of stamina reserves she had left. Feels like I ran a mile, but I still don't feel very tired. She must have been going easy on me until now.

"I see you have made decision. What will it be? Surrender or loss by point's?"

Twilight smiled slyly at Trixie. "Neither. By the time this is over you will be calling me master."

Trixie growled angrily at Twilight. "Such impudence! You will regret those words, Twilight Sparkle!" Trixie grasped Twilight's backside and began to aggressively lick her folds as if she was some kind of lavender lollipop.

Twilight couldn't seem to make sense of this device Trixie was using. The bristles and leather rubbing on her backside wasn't exactly pleasurable, nor were the bristles rigid enough to inflict any kind of pain. The only thing she could possibly draw a comparative feeling with was maybe a soft tooth brush of some kind. As useful as a vaginal toothbrush would seem for hygiene, it didn't exactly do the job as a sex toy. "Seriously Trixie? Are you trying to make my vaginal tract minty fresh or something? Did you raid Colgate's stash for this?"

Trixie went about her business, ignoring the banter from Twilight.

Twilight looked away from Trixie, contemplating whether or not the toy worked. Oh well, at least this way she gets less points. Hopefully she doesn't notice it isn't working until the time runs out. Twilight's line of thought was broken by a rough insertion of the leather tongue into her body. "Hnng." If the feeling outside her body was annoying, the inside almost felt like sandpaper, as if Trixie were trying to polish her insides. No worries, even if she hits my G-spot again the weirdness of it won't do her any good, at least not with sandpaper tongue.

Twilight turned her head to stare at the clock, noting it only had Twenty minutes left. "Are you done back there? Sandpaper inside me isn't exactly comfortable."

Trixie ignored Twilight, continuing to push deeper inside.

Slowly the feeling of sandpaper was being replaced by one that felt like something squirming inside her. At first it felt something akin to a feather duster, kinda tickled but in a light way. However, this was soon replaced by a feeling like there was more than one mares tongue inside her. At first it didn't seem like much, the spare was just randomly lashing about on one side but soon she started to feel more of them appearing inside her. Two, four, seven, thirteen, it was becoming hard to keep track of all of them. On top of their combined efforts starting to take their toll on her stamina, Trixie knocked the spreader bar out, pushing her backside firmly into the bed.

Trixie pulled her tongue out of Twilight's backside, the metal clamps attaching themselves to Twilight's folds. Trixie busied herself with the case on the floor while the magical apparatus continued to work of its own accord.

Twilight winced at the pinching of her folds but the overwhelming sensation coming from inside her quickly drowned it out. Every square inch on her sex was on fire. Dozens upon dozens of small tongues filling every square inch inside her, each with getting better at massaging her insides. "Ah, he, ha, hnnmmm." Twilight couldn't help but moan aloud, every single nerve ending inside her sex was being lashed violently but what seemed to be well over fifty small tongues. Each one seemed to adjust to her body shape as well, punishing her if she tried to adjust her backside to negate the feeling and rewarding her with smooth broad lashes when she stayed still.

Trixie on the other hoof was busy strapping the Mare Breaker four thousand M onto her body, of which Twilight seemed blissfully unaware of. Trixie finished putting on the toy and looked down at the panting, moaning lavender mare below her. Trixie contemplated whether or not the slightly pointed strap-on was overkill or not, the mare below her was already defeated and the counter was steadily rising in her favor. She looks so happy, almost as if she stopped fighting it and just went with the flow. maybe I should...no, I must leave no options unused. I must dominate her, not make love to her.

Trixie maneuvered herself just above Twilight's body. She knew what had to be done but kept having second guesses. She looks so happy, It's apparent I have already won, judging by the score but is absolutely breaking her really worth it? Trixie stood, unnoticed by the drooling and moaning lavender mare below her, the strap-on just barely brushing against her tail. Best get on with it. Trixie leaned over Twilight and nibbled on her ear to grab her attention. The lavender mare turned and stared into Trixie's eyes. Her eyes had a dull, listless look to them, as if she was too absorbed in the pleasure to care about anything else. Only after Trixie rested the Mare breaker between her flanks did Twilight fully grasp what was going to happen.

"Ummmpp, Is that NNhhmm, for me?" Twilight asked, barely holding back her moans.

Trixie was taken aback, this was no longer just angry sex to Twilight but full on love. Keep it together girl. You don't love this mare and she can't stand you. She's your greatest rival and needs to be broken. Despite her attempts to harden her resolve, Twilight's stare of blissful lust kept her from pulling the "other" corset string. Why am I hesitating?

Twilight stared at Trixie expectantly. "What are you waiting for?"

What was she waiting for, Trixie thought to herself. She only had maybe thirteen minutes on the clock at most. Trixie bent down over Twilight and whispered in her ear. "Twilight, prepare your anus." Trixie bit down on Twilight's mane for leverage and slowly pushed her hips into Twilight's anus.

Twilight panted and winched in pain as the toy slowly filled her rectal cavity up. "Trixie, this hurts a bit. I don't think it will fit."

Trixie could see why Twilight would complain. Indeed, Twilight's backside was very tight. "It will fit darling, I just have to activate the lubrication system." Trixie muttered a few words under her breath and the toy below began to secrete a clear substance and spin slowly, like a drill.

Trixie felt her hips collide softly with Twilight's backside, she had managed to take the entire length inside her. She slowly lifted the toy out a couple inches before slowly pushing it in again.

At first, Twilight seemed overloaded with sensation's. The the slow humps from Trixie only managed to get wide mouthed dry moans from her. Each thrust looked as if it was taking a heavy toll on Twilight's body. Trixie pulled out slowly, then pushed back in again.

"Unpf" Twilight squealed.

Trixie thrust again.

"Hnnmmp!" Twilight seemed to take that thrust in stride. "O-one more time, I think I can handle it."

Trixie pushed in one more time.

"T-hat's good, but can you pick up the pace a little."

Trixie obliged, rhythmically thrusting in and out, the sound of colliding flanks and moaning echoing around the room. Trixie continued to pound harder and much to her surprise Twilight was taking it in stride. I don't get it. She should be screaming for mercy by now. Trixie increased her pace again but as she looked at the clock, the score was going up slower than before. Only eight minutes left. I have to think of something. Trixie stared at Twilight and then back at the case, she had exhausted all options save one; the black jar of goop. No, not enough time left for that, If time goes over and it's still active then I would be in deep water. Trixie suddenly caught something out of the corner of her eye, a spark had flown off the top of Twilight's horn.

"Bingo." Trixie removed the straps covering Twilight's horn and ran her tongue up the back of it.

"N-not there, too much!" Twilight yelped.

Jackpot Trixie thought as she began to deep-throat Twilight's horn.

"Not there, it's too dangerous."

Trixie ignored Twilight's warning, continuing to roll her tongue around the circumference of Twilight's horn.

I have her right where I want her Thought Trixie.

I have her right where I want her Twilight grinned as she started to pump magic through her liberated horn.

Trixie felt a tingling sensation in her mouth. I had something of a electric minty taste to it. I horngasm already? She must be sensitive here. Trixie continued to bob vigorously on Twilight's horn, sucking in the magic as she went. Every bit is laced with magic, it's like her backside but much stronger.

A sly grin appeared on Twilight's face. Just a little bit more and...

A sudden surge of magical energy flowed from Twilight's horn into Trixie's mouth. Before she could pull away she managed to swallow a sizable amount of Twilight's power, nearly choking her.

*Cough*

*Cough*

Trixie pulled away, hacking and gasping for air, fibers of magical energy dissipating from her lips. "My oh my, Twilight Sparkle. Such a strong horngasm from such a small unicorn, I think you may have even scorched some teeth there."
Trixie looked at the clock, only five minutes remained. "Sorry about this discomfort but I like a clean win." Trixie's horn lit up and enveloped her body in a faint blue glow. Trixie removed the mare breaker from Twilight's backside, as well as the leather tongue from her neathers.

Twilight looked back, a bemused smile on her face. "Getting desperate Trixie?"

"Oh, I'm not done with you. You will submit. You will be my personal plaything." The device strapped to Trixie's waist began to grow in size, sprouting studs all along the length. "Me and my 'little' friend here will make you regret that attitude." Trixie grabbed Twilight by her front legs and rolled her over, spreading her legs wide into the air. "No mare I have ever met managed to go more than a ninety second with this thing. I hope you are prepared to lose." Trixie plunged her titanic strap-on like a spear into Twilight's vagina, eliciting a yelp from the bound mare.

Only a yelp? Trixie began thrusting as hard and fast as she possibly could into Twilight Sparkle, her thrusts like that of train piston.

Twilight just laid there blushing. Only little moans came from her, despite being pounded so hard that her queen size bed was shaking.

"How..*pant*.. can..*pant*...you not...*pant* be..screaming." Trixie activated the spinning mechanism in the strap-on only to get a minor increase of breathing from Twilight. "But..but....how?" Trixie couldn't figure it out, she was ramming Twilight with everything she had yet she almost looked bored.

"Game, set and match,Trixie." Twilight beamed.

*Bzzzzztt* the alarm went off on the clock. The scoreboard blinking seventeen in Trixie's favor.

"I at least have sizable lead." Trixie pulled herself out of Twilight just as her bonds started to loosen. With any luck she will be too worn out to do anything. Twilight lifted Trixie off the bed and began to remove the straps and corset from her body.

"That was ...educational but aside from the whole crop thing, really easy to counter." Twilight hopped off the bed, pulling the blanket and sheets of with her magic. "Allow me to get fresh sheets before I get my turn." Twilight tossed the soaked blankets and linen into a basket and pulled a fresh sheet from the closet on the other side of the room. "The maid ponies would have a hissy fit if the bed itself got soaked. 'Mare in heat' smell is rather hard to get rid of." Twilight spread the sheet over the bed, making sure to tuck each end in tightly before giving a nodding gesture for Trixie to hop up.

Trixie removed the strap-on and begrudgingly jumped on the bed. "So, now that you know what most of those tools do can I expect you to try and replicate the results?"

"You'll see. I plan to be done with you in less than ten minutes."

"Preposterous! There's no way a pony like you with no experience could break the great and powerful Trixie in ten hours let alone ten minutes."

"Believe what you want." Twilight fired up her horn and the straps began to wrap tightly around Trixie's forelegs and horn, binding her legs beneath her.

Trixie's face hit the soft down pillow below, her rear in the air as the straps squeezed her forelegs tightly against her belly. " Seems to me you're just going to copycat everything I did to you. Well it won't work, I have used every one of those objects in that case on myself..."

"Except the one in the black jar and all of them at once?"

"But how did you?"

"Licking another unicorns horn, especially one well versed in magic is a bad idea." Twilight winked at Trixie but only managed to get a disgusted glare in return. "Don't be such a party pooper. It's only fair that I get to have fun while I break you in." Twilight positioned herself just behind Trixie, her horn aimed at her sex. "You were right to an extent Trixie. I will be copying." Twilight Thrust her horn in between Trixie folds with authority, eliciting a squeal of surprise from her.

"I..I didn't do that to you!"

Twilight ignored Trixie's protests and started to move magic through her horn. "let's see, isolate that hormone, increase neuron sensitivity and connect the spell to the power she swallowed."

"What are you doing back there? If you are going to horn fuck me at least have the courtesy to be good at it. At the very least I want to cum once."

Twilight pushed in deeper while turning her head. "Set the delay for one minute and the timescale to one-sixth annnnd done." Twilight pulled her horn out of Trixie's back end, much to the displeasure of Trixie.

"What? Got cold hooves already or is your plan to leave Trixie hanging?"

"Trixie, have you ever heard the saying 'karma's a bitch' by chance?"

"Trixie does not believe in that non-sense."

"How to explain what is about to happen to you. hnmmmmm." Twilight scratched the back of her mane. "Trixie, do you know what oxytocin is?"

"I am not familiar with it, no."

"Well it's a hormone that gives the pleasurable feeling in the aftermath of a climax as well as making sure multiple climaxes do not happen back to back. A 'rest period timer' if you will."

"Spare Trixie the details. What does that have to do with this?"

"Oh, I shut part of that hormone off in your body for the next nine minutes. The exact opposite of what I did to my own body once you put that toy around you waist."

"So what you are saying is..." Trixie's train of through was interrupted by a something running down her flank and then snapping off painfully. "What as that?" Another sharp pain, this time on the other side, quickly replaced by a cold feeling under her skin. "That felts like the crop but it's broken and you're not using it!?"

"Oh I see the spell worked."

"Guhk!" Trixie felt a flurry of lashes on her backside in a near identical pattern to what she did to Twilight just a hour ago. "What Nyyyaaa...did you...do...to Trixie?"

"Oh, not much. Just the emotional re-verb spell and turning off the inter orgasm timer from your oxytocin."

"Trixie could barely make out what Twilight was saying. A tightened feeling in her sex followed by what felt like a hundred squirming tongues inside made her ears ring. "Guh! Where did You learn such a spell? It's Nnhhhyyyaaaa not in any book I've ever r-read."

"I should hope not, It's in the restricted archives a that only me and the royal family have access to." Twilight absent minded scratched behind her ear, enjoying how quickly the score for Trixie was climbing. "To put it in a way you can understand, everything you did to me has been compressed into a ten minute time frame. You will experience everything that you did to me plus whatever I can think of every ten minutes for the next hour. Since your body no longer has a orgasm 'in between' timer...well.."

"Guh, what! This is cheating I, AHHHHNNNNGG" Trixie felt a large object enter her anus followed by a even larger studded object plowing her sex. "Tw-twilight t-turn this off!" Trixie could hardly catch her breath between each thrust.

Twilight bent down to examine the black jar of goop. Picking it up she noticed a warning on the back label. "Five minutes, maximum eh. I wonder why?" Twilight touched the top of the jar with her horn, her magic probing the goops true nature.

"Gnnn... don't you...d-dare ha ha, open that." Trixie entire body felt like putty, the constant orgasms with no reprieve was quickly draining her of any resolve she had left. Staring at the clock she realized the horrible truth; it had only been five minutes and already she had four points on the board. I can't let her beat me like this. Trixie squeezed her backside as hard as she could and strangely it relieved her. Well, it's something. I can still feel everything but it's muffled as long as I can keep it this way.

Twilight sat up, holding the jar in her hooves. "So, can I ask you how you got a hold of yet another restricted sexual aid? Cthulhu's arms is not exactly what I would call an easy find." Twilight slowly began to unscrew the lid, reading the instructions as she did. "So, I wonder If you will give up when I use this on you" she said with a devious grin on her face.

"Don't d-do it!"

"I know what a Cthulhu's arms is capable of. You don't want to feel the beast fill every orifice of your body? Ramming both holes with exceptional size. Pounding you so hard that you can't even catch your breath. Don't you want it?" Twilight walked toward Trixie, slowly unscrewing the lid with her magic as it floated alongside her. "I hear the orgasm they produce is to die for..."

Trixie's heart was racing, cold sweat dropping down her face. It was true that it gave a orgasm no other creature could ever get but being used by an amateur was risky business. If Twilight failed to contain the beast back in the jar after five minutes, it could very well kill her. "Tw-twilight, I implore you not to try and use that thing. Only Trixie knows it's weak points to keep it under control."

Twilight walked toward Trixie, swaying her hips seductively. "You planned on using this on me, so I plan to return the favor." Twilight opened the top of the lid.

Trixie closed her eyes, she could imagine what was next. Large tentacles sprouting from every direction. Sucking her horn, ravaging her backside and nearly choking her as they went down her throat. I never used that , never. So why would Twilight be so heartless. Trixie braced herself for impact, an impact that oddly never came. Trixie opened her eyes and looked at the jar, a sign in gold read "just kidding" popped out of the opening on a spring. looking back she noticed Twilight opening a portal, the black jar floating by her side.

"Tr-trixie thought you were going to use that on her. Why did you change your mind? Victory would have certainly been yours if you had."

"Some victories are not worth the costs Trixie. If I let this thing loose on you there was a possibility of it killing you. Even if I was at full power or knew the counter-spell to this thing, it still wouldn't be worth that kind of risk." Twilight tossed the jar into the portal and walked over to Trixie, the portal closing with a snap behind her.

"Wh-what did you just do?"

Twilight nuzzled Trixie, much to her surprise. "I sent it back to its home dimension, where it can do no harm." Twilight stepped back and shocked Trixie on her backside with her horn.

"Ow, what did you..." Trixie didn't need to finish the sentence. All the sensation's she was previously failing to control from her backside faded. Trixie found that she could move her front legs freely again, as the spell disengaged her bonds as well."But why, certainly you would lose." Trixie glanced at the clock again. Eleven points in Twilight's favor, six short of a tie and seven short of a clear winner. "Trixie does not understand, you had me..."

Twilight dove on top of Trixie, knocking her onto her back on the bed. Before Trixie could object she found Twilight's tongue playing hockey with her own, her sex grinding up against her own. Trixie pushed Twilight away, gasping for air. " Trixie does not understand."

"I was monitoring your vitals as the spell took it's toll, you may be able to dish it out but your body, or anyponies body cannot take that level of stimulation for long periods of time." Twilight grinded her sex up against Trixie's getting a minor moan of approval from her. "It was too dangerous to keep it up any longer so I opted to beat you the old fashioned way." Twilight nibbled passionately on Trixie ear, whispering as she did. "Even if I lose, this way we both still win." Twilight ran her tongue up and down Trixie's neck, occasionally pecking the confused mare.

I don't get it. She could have won this contest with ease but chose mercy instead. Trixie didn't have a description for the emotions she was feeling. Was it guilt she was feeling? All the tortures she put on Twilight's body and yet she still wanted to play fair. Could the feeling she had be...respect, even love? She tried to consolidate her emotions but one thing was clear, she could have easily lost, she had to do the right thing.

"Twilight?"

"Yes?"

"I- I surrender."

The clock above buzzed and a recording of the sexual events popped out the side.

"I guess this means Trixie will be at your beck and call for the next few nights."

Twilight smiled and shot a burst of energy from her horn at the recording, shattering it into small purple and blue sparks. "No, you choose if you want to do that or not."

Trixie finally figured out what that emotion she was feeling; it was love. All her grandstanding, her mockery, her arrogance seemed pointless now. She had tried to break twilight only to receive a kindness she knew she didn't deserve. Maybe letting twilight win could help her change her ways. "Twilight?"

"Yes?"

"Could you...finish me off? It's been so long since I had any you know, soft like sex."

Twilight giggled. "Sure, we got plenty of time. I know just the spell too."

Trixie watched as Twilight's horn glowed a bright purple. Trixie felt something thick and pulsating moving up her midsection. when she looked down she noticed that Twilight had grown herself an averaged sized member.

"It's a modified futanari spell I learned from Lyra Heartstrings. It's powered by magic so there is no worry of any 'accidents'. "
Twilight ran her tongue up Trixie's neck, pecking it occasionally. "It's not too big is it?"

"What do you take Trixie for? A virgin?" Trixie stroked the side of Twilight's member with her hoof, teasing the tip. "It's not the size, it's how you use it." Trixie lifted her back legs up and wrapped them around Twilight's waist. "Go easy at first. I always wondered what it felt like to take it slow."

Twilight lifted her flanks into the air and began to massage Trixie's folds with her member, slowly gliding it along the entire length of her girth.

Trixie's face was flushed with blood, the sensation of another rubbing her slowly had been something she hadn't experienced in a long time. She wondered if just outer play like this felt so good, then what would penetration feel like? "Hnmmm." Trixie moaned as Twilight ran her girth across her sex, rubbing up against her clitoris. "P-prod me, Twilight."

Twilight smiled and pressed her member up against Trixie's sex, gently spreading her folds apart.

"Hmmnmmm." Trixie felt pressure on her sex but not of the rough forceful kind she was used to but more like a gentle firm pressure from somepony being very careful not to be harsh. "This feels...so alien to me Twilight. It's almost as if I'm making love for the first time." Maybe I am making love for the first time. looking back Trixie used to treat sex as just a game. A game of winners and losers, of the dominated and the submissive. This on the other hoof felt warm, like there was no competition, just ponies doing what was natural. "Can you put it in? Slowly?"

*gasp*

Trixie body felt electric. Twilight's magical member was rubbing against her walls, gently gliding along as if there was no resistance at all. "Twi- Twilight, that feels amazing. Have you done this before?"

"Yes, I used to have wild flings with Spitfire of the Wonderbolts. She was never all that serious but she enjoyed this trick all the same." Twilight pushed slowly until she felt her tip bottom out. Looking down at her girth she tried to make out measurements. hmm about eighty percent in, which means Trixie is about nine point six inches deep. That means technically her most sensitive spot is about five point eight inches in, there should be a bundle of nerves right there. Twilight pulled her member out about halfway and slid it into Trixie again, angling her member upward.

*Gasp*

"R-right there Twilight." Trixie almost wanted to buck into Twilight as hard as she could. The end of her member rubbed against a very sensitive spot deep inside her, one no pony has touched in a long time. "M-more, please."

Twilight began to systematically calculate in her mind exactly what speed she needed and the angle to keep Trixie happy. ninety degree's is too blunt but three degrees in either direction from horizontal seemed to work out.

Trixie knew that look on Twilight's face, she was trying to break down her experiences into math again. "Twilight?"

"Yes?"

"Stop with the math and just fuck me already?"

Twilight smiled and began to systematically and accurately thrust into Trixie, each thrust ending in a firm impact on her sweet spot.

"Oh, Hnnmm , uh , uh, s-so good." Trixie couldn't imagine it would feel this good. Twilight was barely putting any force into her thrust but still making her melt like butter. "Yes, there. A little faster."

Twilight moved her body closer to Trixie, adjusting her angle and getting leverage from the lower center of gravity. Twilight picked up her pace, each thrust still accurately hitting the five point eight inch mark inside Trixie.

"Nyaa, uh, hmmm." Trixie moaned loudly, fluids from her sex flowing freely onto the sheets, lubricating her; making Twilight's thrusts faster.

"More! Faster!" Trixie shouted.

Twilight thrust as fast as her hips would allow, enough to make Trixie scream her name in ecstasy.

"Hmmmmpp! So much f-feeling, so g-good." Trixie could feel her mind slip away from sane to lustful. She felt mere moments from climax and could tell from Twilight's body that she was close as well. The blood flushed in her face, the pulsating of her member as it entered and exited her body, the beads of sweat as she pulled from whatever stamina reserves she had left. All just to please her. "C-cum with m-me,Twilight! F-fill me with your love!"

Twilight's back legs ached from all the effort but she pushed on with everything she had left. She lowered herself onto Trixie's body, pushing with everything she had left.

"Y-yes! All of my yes!" Trixie's mind drew a blank, she could hear nothing, sense nothing but pure uncut bliss. Her entire body shook violently, her legs kicking and twitching. Her hips air humping hard into the girth filling her body. "uh, uh,,uhmmmmm."

Twilight sensed Trixie climax and with one more mighty push bottomed out inside Trixie, blowing everything she had in the magical appendage into Trixie's body. " C-cumming! Hnnngggg! ah, ah, ahhhhhh!" The blast of semen quickly filled Trixie and dripped out onto the bed, Twilight's member still inside her as it did.

Both mares lay there for what felt like a eternity. Both of them panting hard, Twilight's member still firing off random strands of semen into Trixie.

Trixie couldn't believe it. She had found a mare that made her orgasm so hard that she could barely move. A mare that blew everything she had into her, the warm feeling of their love juices mixing inside her was something she never experienced before. The warm sensation was indescribable, as if all the stallions and mares before never happened. "Twilight?"

"Yes, Trixie?" Twilight said wearily.

"I...I thank you. You allowed me to rediscover a part of myself that I had thought long gone. That was the first time in my life that somepony gave their all to love me and not to beat me in competition, for that I am truly grateful."

"G-glad I could help but can I ask you a favor?"

"Anything."

"Could you help me get out of you? And maybe help me get cleaned up for the meeting with Maskia this afternoon? My body aches all over and I can barely move."

Trixie giggled as she pulled herself from under Twilight. The mare's member still twitching from the sensation of grinding against her soft innards. Pulling her up to her feet she walked Twilight over to the bathroom. "You just stand still while I get all this love juice off of you." Trixie grabbed the damp towel from above the shower door and began to wipe Twilight's body down but to little effect. " I think we both need a shower. You first?"

Before Twilight could answer she felt her member get rock hard again and odd idea entered her mind. "Both at the same time okay with you Trixie?"

Trixie examined Twilight and almost wanted to jump for joy when she noticed the mare was rock hard again. "Certainly, I think I can go one more- I mean it's mathematically efficient that way right?"

"Yeah, sure. Math and stuff."

Trixie hopped into the shower first only to receive a sharp smack on the flank from Twilight.

"It- I saw a little dirt on your backside. My OCD kicked in."

Trixie smiled and presented her sex to twilight, the water running down her flanks washing the semen from her coat as she bent over. " I always have trouble scrubbing back there, maybe you can 'help' me out?"

Twilight's face had a broad grin on it. "Sure, I know just what to 'scrub' it with." Twilight hopped into the shower, closing the door behind her. Faint giggling soon became rampant moaning as each mare explored each others bodies. In the other room, the faint scribbling of notes was the only sound in the bedroom.

"So older me, you wanna trade pictures? I got a good shot of the Arch Mage getting it in the butt-hole I can trade you."

"What kind of pervert do you-" The younger Star Swirl put the photo in question under the elders nose. "Deal. I guess a shot of Princess Celestia going to town on Carrot Top is a adequate trade?"

"Damn right it is. Been trying to get pic's of her for years."

***Two Hours Later***

"Well Trixie, I best get going. I'll inform the guards that you're to be supplied with whatever you need in my absence. If all goes well I guess I will see you at dinner tonight."

"Do be careful out there. You never know what Maskia could be up to."

"Always. Ill see you tonight then. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Twilight."

Trixie sat there in the room as Twilight closed the door behind her. A feeling of true satisfaction and of love where finally hers. All the years of chasing dreams, of defeating opponents and climbing the tallest mountains no longer mattered to her. What her soul wanted was always within reach, she was just to blinded by her pride to see it.

"I love you, Twilight Sparkle."

Chapter X:Deception

Chapter X:Deception

Twilight hurried down the stairs to the balcony. When she arrived she spotted Celestia and Luna having a bit of a disagreement in front of the chariot that was to carry all of them.

"Sister I need to stay here, I have a bad feeling about what Zecora saw last night. Equestria will need a protector if this turns out to be a trap." Luna said with her chest puffed out pridefully.

"I know you are worried Luna, but Maskia would have to break through a line of our finest with nothing more than a scout battalion. Then she would need a way to get across the ocean To Equestria and THEN deal with the 7th legion. Having you here would be outright overkill."

"And me going with you when you have the arch mage with you already isn't?" Luna nodded at Twilight Sparkle, whom was standing at the entrance to the balcony.

"But Luna I..."

"Sister I know, you nearly died that night but you bringing me with you will put Equestrian citizens in danger if she manages to reach our shores. You have the second best military unit in the country and a Arch mage that has made you immune to those spear copies."

Celestia sighed and pawed at the ground with her hooves. "I know, I'm just being a bit cowardice. I have never experienced near death before."

Luna dove in, hugging Celestia. " And you never will as long as any other pony has a say in it. Besides I am terrible with negotiations."

"Why's that?"

"Because if I got the chance I would roast her behind on the spot. No one tries to assassinate my sister and lives to tell the tale."

Twilight stepped forward. "Then it's for the best. These negotiations will be sensitive enough as is with just us there princess. I don't think either of us could stop Luna if she flies off the handle."

Celestia stared at Twilight for a moment. "I guess I am overruled on this decision. However, Luna I want you to keep a teleport lock on Twilight at all times. If things get dicey I want you and the 7th legion there as soon as possible."

"Agreed." Luna nuzzled Celestia warmly. "I wish you both luck, come home safe."

"Umm...Luna?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, Arch mage?"

"I heard about the whole dream thing with Zecora, do you think it has any merit, I can't find anything in the Canterlot archives about Anguish Phantoms."

Luna stared at Celestia for a moment. "She does not know about the C.L.-eleven archives yet?"

Celestia averted Luna's perceiving gaze. "No, no she hasn't. You didn't know? Only four year or more Arch Mages can read about the horrors of Equestria in that place."

"Four years? Why so much?" Luna asked indignantly.

"We had an incident with an arch mage five hundred years ago. He nearly made roast pony out of half the country side messing with a spell he had no business reading. Since then I and the senate have devised a masters test after the Arch mages fourth year in service to see if they are ready for that level of magic."

"Can you not trust Twilight?"

Celestia raised a hoof to silence Luna. "We will talk about it later. The spell to open it to her in case of dire emergency is already planted in her. She will know what to do if 'That' occurs." Celestia looked at the puzzled Twilight for a moment I hope it never comes to that, a burden of that magnitude on one so young.... "Twilight, come. We must board the chariots, the 3rd legion will be following us on the battle blimps."

Twilight followed behind Celestia as she hopped up on the shy chariot. "So what was implanted in me?"

Celestia ignored Twilight and yelled for the two Pegasi strapped up from to take off. "Sulfare, Betegese, onward."

Twilight held on tight to the front railings as the two Pegasus took off with vigor. "These ponies don't mess around!?"

Celestia turned to Twilight smiling. "no, no they don't. The 3rd legion is the second the most powerful military force in the world next to the 7th legion. Like the 7th legion they have never lost a battle. They are some of the best trained soldiers in the world."

"Wow, I thought I knew everything about the military. I guess not." Twilight spaced out for a moment. "Hey, you wouldn't happen to be trying to change the subject from before would you?"

Celestia's horn glowed a muted yellow, a yellow bubble forming around the outside of the chariot. "Sorry about that Twilight. I needed to make sure no one overhears what I'm about to tell you. It's somewhat a state secret, even to my most trusted generals."

"Is this about the whole implantation thing?"

"Yes, or more specifically how and why. Remember the spell I used on you when you became Arch Mage? The one that allowed you entry into the forbidden archives?"

Twilight shuddered at the thought. The spell cast on her had made her nearly bedridden for a week. "Yes. How can I forget feeling like I have the flu for a week."

Celestia cleared her throat. "Well, yes. That sometimes happens sometimes. The last Arch Mage was allergic to bread and bread by-products for a month after I cast it on him. He was so angry that he couldn't drink beer." Celestia giggled to herself until she noticed the Quizzical look on Twilight's face. "Ahem, anyways that spell also safe guards Equestria's future in case something happens to me and Luna."

"But if something happens to you or Luna couldn't Cadence take over? I mean she is royalty."

"Cadence may be my niece Twilight but she isn't anywhere near as powerful as Luna or myself" Celestia replied solemnly.

"Why not? She's an Alicorn-"

"In form only. Have you ever wondered why my and my sisters mane billows with magic like this?" Celestia pointed to her mane, the multiple colors shining brightly in the sunlight.

"I tried looking that up once. There wasn't a single book on Alicorn biology anywhere so I just assume it was something that Alicorns just gained as they aged. I figured Cadence just wasn't old enough to have one yet."

Celestia shook her head. "Couldn't be further from the truth, Twilight. When a Alicorn reaches filly age she is set with a dilemma that will judge the course of the rest of her life."

"' 'Her?' Are there no male Alicorns?"

"None that I know of, though it may be a possibility in the future. Anyways, sometime shortly after she reaches filly age she has a dream of sorts. In this dream she has the option over the next few months to forge a contract with a celestial body. In my case it was the sun and in Luna's case, the moon."

"So you make a contract with a inanimate object?"

"Close, both the Sun and the Moon have guardian spirits of a kind. This Contract of sorts grants the wielder unimaginable magical power when they reach adulthood as well as functional immortality for as long as that celestial object exists."

"Then what happened to Cadence?" Twilight asked.

"She...refused her contract. The spirit of the planet Venus granted her the power of love but she refused to have any part in the immortality section of the contract."

"Why?"

"Cadence had many friends and she realized a grim truth, limited immortality would mean she couldn't grow old and would be forced to watch each and everypony she loves pass away. She already was falling for your brother back then, she couldn't bring herself to love him and you only to watch both of you perish. The thought of being eternally lonely scared her, so she refused that power."

"I see. I guess I could understand that sentiment, although I try not to think about it. I hopefully have many more years before that becomes a problem."

"Glad to hear that. Mortality kind of gives your life urgency, to live in the here and now and exist as if every day could be your last."

Twilight stared at Celestia for a moment. "You don't have to get all philosophical about it. Anyways what does all this have to do with that spell you cast on me?"

"Twilight, I must have your promise you won't panic. You can hate me all you want but please don't panic."

"I promise?" Twilight couldn't understand why Celestia would say such a thing. How could she hate the one pony that helped her become what she is today. Whatever this secret was it was a dozy.

Celestia exhaled sharply, as if trying to find the courage to speak. "In the event that me and Luna perish your body will undergo a strange transformation over the next month or so. You will become a Alicorn like us."

Twilight could almost feel her jaw metaphorically hit the chariot floor, break through and land on the ground far below. How could Celestia keep something like this from her? And why give her something like this without telling her? So many questions were swimming in her head that she felt airsick. "I..how...why. I..." Words Twilight!" " Twilight breathed deeply. "So...I become an Alicorn without my consent?"

"Twilight I..."

"No, no, lets curse Twilight with possible immortality. She's cool with watching everyone she loves die while she drags on nearly immortal. She's cool with that right?" Twilight had the sudden urge to kick Celestia right in her face. I save her life, save her sister, defeat discord and this is how she repays me? With a dagger in my back?

"Twilight Sparkle!"

Twilight had a sudden urge to cower before Celestia as she did all those years before but no, this time she would not cower, she was just as powerful magically as Celestia. There was no reason to fear her. Wait, wait, wait. What am I thinking,? Calm down girl. There's no need to get too angry...yet.

"Lemme explain. The Alicorn form you take only grants physical immortality and not age immortality."

"Huh? But you said..."

"You are too far past the age to make any kind of celestial contract Twilight. You will still age and eventually die a mortal death."

"So why cast it on me to begin with?"

"Making you physically immortal is a stopgap measure. There are ponies in the senate that would jump at the opportunity for power. And with me and Luna gone they could plunge this country into civil war over petty differences."

"You mean like how the Earth ponies, Pegasus and Unicorns nearly did before you existed?"

"Worse. With our deaths the seal on the Tartarus gate will weaken. Without a Alicorn replacement to power the seal the worst evils of Equestria will be set lose within a couple years. To make matters worse all the chaos sewn by a civil war would undoubtedly free Discord, although he would probably be a blessing by that point."

"Isn't Discord evil? Why would he be a blessing?"

"No, not exactly. He has never intentionally hurt nor has he ever killed anypony. He's just uncontrollable, unpredictable. He could one day become so unstable in his chaos that he does become a force for evil. That's why me and Luna locked him away."

Twilight scratched her head. "Back to what we were talking about. So I become a kind of stop gap measure but I'm still me. Does this affect any other part of my biology that I need to know about?"

Celestia thought for a moment. "There is the very slim possibility that your offspring may end up as Alicorns. In the event me and Luna pass on, the spirits of the sun and the moon may choose another possible candidate. It may choose your unborn foal as its candidate as it is far easier to choose an existing Alicorn than to create a new one magically."

"Even if it does choose her or him, my possible future foals will have choice in the matter right?"

"Of course they will Twilight. Just like me, Luna and Cadence he or she will have the option when they reach filly age. "

Each pony sat staring at one another for a long time, until Celestia broke the silence. "So."

"So" replied Twilight.

"Trixie Lulamoon."

"What about her?"

"I had no idea you were into BDSM, anal and transgender stuff. I didn't figure you were THAT kinky."

Twilight's face went so red you could possibly grill vegetables on it. "How... I mean, none of that happened." twilight bore a grin of innocence as if she was actually fooling Celestia.

Celestia chuckled. "The maids heard strange noises coming from your room and one of them decided to take a peak. I must say you take it in the rump like champ from what I heard."

"It's not what you think, it...it was a contest, I swear."

"Twilight, you don't have to feel embarrassed around me. I took one in the back end a few times in my lifetime and you can learn a lot from Luna, shes a master at the whole bondage thing."

Twilight's face contorted in disgust. "I could have gone my entire life without hearing that. Don't you Alicorns have concept of TMI?"

Celestia arched her head a bit. "TMI? Too much in?"

Twilight shuddered for a moment. "No, also eww. It means Too much information."

"Oh, well In case you want to know there is such a thing as too much cock insi----"

"La la la la!" Twilight covered her ears in a attempt to drown out all the gross things coming from Celestia's mouth.

"Your adorable when you are embarrassed, Twilight." Celestia pulled Twilight into a hug, much to her dismay. "Anyways, sex life aside." Twilight looked like she was ready to plug her ears again. "Oh, come off it. It's not like I'm going to tell you about the time I had a seven-some."

Twilight's eyes went wide in horror. How is that even mechanically possible?

"Well in case you're wondering that's two in the back, two in the mouth one in each ear..."

"What!? I don't even...just...ewww."

"So I can hear them coming, Twilight." Celestia said laughing out loud.

Twilight felt ill. She wanted to just hurl her lunch right over the side of the chariot when she noticed the ponies pulling the chariot laughing between each other. Reading their lips she could make our what the one on the right was saying.

"Look's like Celestia is telling another pony about that whole seven-some thing again."

"Always a good joke but I wish she wouldn't tell it while we are flying." The one on the left replied.

Twilight stared up at Celestia. "You can stop trolling now, I know that actually didn't happen."

Celestia looked down on Twilight. "Yeah I guess not although every time I tell that story I get someone airsick. Everyone tries to be so prudent around me that they forget to live or laugh."

"Yeah but seriously, seven at once is just a bit much."

Celestia lowered the bubble around the Chariot. "That's nothing. You should have seen me when I took BonBon's special candy."

"Wait, the one that causes severe heat for six hours? The one where you HAVE to do the deed?"

"The very same. Let just say It had a very different effect on me that it did on other ponies..."

One of the guards pulling the chariot spoke up. "I remember that night. You went nuts on the 4th legion. I think you nearly had sex with every single stallion and mare in that division."

Celestia has frown on her face, her lapse in concentration apparently broke her sound barrier. "Lieutenant, I thought I had instructed the military to not speak of that night."

"S-sorry you majesty, slip of the tongue. It won't happen again."

Celestia licked her lips. "Choose your punishment, glazing ritual or demotion?"

"You act like the glazing ritual is a bad thing, your highness. I'll take the glazing ritual."

Celestia cracked a smile. "Good, I always wanted to try it will hot sauce."

Twilight could practically see the sweat rolling down the guard face when Celestia mentioned 'hot sauce'. "I had no idea you were this perverted Celestia. I mean that would have to really burn..."

Celestia winked at Twilight. "It will be that time of year in a month or so. I need my practice. Besides, your one to talk misses BDSM."

Twilight's face went beat red. " I guess that makes us even then?"

"Sure" Celestia replied. The two sat for some time staring at the clouds pass by when Twilight noticed Celestia staring off into the sky. A somber look covered her face and she almost looked as if she wanted to cry, like she needed to get something off her chest.

"You know Twilight, the night I nearly died..."

"Celestia..."

"No, I have to get this off my mind." Celestia wiped a tear from her eye. "I was never more afraid that night for you, Luna and everypony in Equestria, I...felt so helpless. That everything I had worked over the last millennium to build. That I was going to be torn from my sister again. That I was never going to see you again..."

Twilight nuzzled up against Celestia's chest. "I don't plan to understand what being immortal is like princess but I understand the sentiment just as well. Death is a scary thing to contemplate, even more-so for somepony that never expected to die in the first place." Twilight grabbed Celestia's face with her hooves. "I was afraid that night too, when Luna came crashing into my library and told me there was a very real chance you were going to die. I couldn't believe it myself, the one pony that had been a mentor, a mother figure and a dear friend to me might die that night, shook me to my core."

Celestia sniffled to try and hold back her tears, trying to keep her composure. "You may still lose me. If Luna's hunch about what Maskia was up to proves accurate then...I'm afraid I'll freeze up when we face her. That my hesitation to strike her down could lose me everything I hold dear to my heart."

Twilight let Celestia's words sink in. Celestia was afraid for the first time in her life but not about her own safety but about her own ability to make others safe, that her failure would spell instant doom for everypony else. "Celestia, you silly filly..."
Twilight pulled Celestia into a powerful hug. " You don't have to bear that weight alone. You have me and Luna to share that load with you. Whatever happens we will get through this alive. I mean honestly, I'm nearly as powerful as you magically and Luna can headbutt a mountain in half when she's angry. Between the three of us no crazy megalomaniac Zebra is gonna keep us down."

"Twilight, Thank you."

"Psst Sulfare, I think they need to get a friggin room already."

The other guard pulling the chariot shot the other a dirty glare. "Keep it down, or she will invite us to it. I am not in the mood for hot sauce on the groin, thank you very much."

"What are you two whispering about over there?" Celestia asked.

"Nothing!" both replied together.

***Elsewhere***

"Go fish" said one tower guard to another.

"Seriously dale? No kings? I think you are holding out on me."

"Well if someone hadn't killed off all the hooch we could be playing battle-shots right now, Vinegar."

"I swear I didn't do it dale. It was that camel trader down there. He has a frigging endless thirst!"

"Yeah and I'm Princess Celestia's coltfriend."

"Speakin of which isn't a peace treaty to be signed today? Shouldn't we be home, you know, getting wasted there and not being deployed at the bottom edge of a continent in the middle of nowhere?" Vinegar pointed to the vast open desert just out his viewing window. "We can see an enemy army coming for miles AND have enough energy shells to level a small country."

"If you wanted action you should have signed up for the 9th battalion or Spitfire's Hell Hawks. Everypony in the military knows 2and division grenadiers always get the boring blockade and defense jobs. With the 3rd legion out there we don't even get as much as a scout buzzing this outpost."

Vinegar sat back down on his haunches with a sigh. "Yeah I know. Those guys are crazy though, I heard in just the first three months they managed to defeat Maskia desert thunder battalion with only one loss."

"Isn't that the enemy special forces that wiped out the 5th division steel wolves?" Dale asked.

"Would a never happened if Blue Blood didn't screw up the supply distribution. Why Celestia made that guy chief supply officer I will never know."

"Most likely becuase it was the only job he couldn't possibly screw up. Too bad he ended up sending that orphanage all those weapons and the 5th division ended up fighting with rulers, calculators and literally throwing the book at the enemy."

Vinegar scratched his head. "I wonder what the look on the orphanage operators face would have been when she opened one of those boxes and found artillery shells instead of books."

"She probably had a heart attack. Nothing is more lethal and live explosives around overly curious fillies and colts."

"Dale, for the orphans or the staff?"

"The staff of course. Kids nowadays see Robomare before they are seven. I'd be surprised if they DIDN'T know how those explosives worked."

Vinegar looked at his hand as he drew a card from the pile and set his kings down. "Your call Dale."

"Hmmm. Ya have any sixes?"

"Go fish."

"Bullocks."

Suddenly a silver glare appeared just over the horizon."Hey what's that?" Vinegar stood up by the window and looked through his binoculars. "What in tarnation is that?" Vinegar did the tiniest of double-takes with his binoculars before handing them to Dale. "Take a lookit this Dale, ya think it's an enemy scout?"

Dale picked up the Binoculars and peered through them. On the edge of the horizon was something very shiny, almost metallic. "Look's like we may have company, but they are hours away on hoof at the least. Doesn't help none that their Silver armor may as well scream 'shoot me' ."

"Should I raise the alarm Dale, get the big shells ready?"

"Nah, by the time he gets here I reckon the peace treaty will be signed and forwarded to all troops anyhow. Hes probably just lost his squadron and wandered off in the wrong direction. Seems kinda silly to blow one warrior to smithereens when we outnumber him by a thousand to one."

"Yellow alert then?"

"May as well, but tell the captain it's probably a lost soldier. No real threat."

Vinegar leaned over the back railing of the watch tower. "Hey cap'n! We have us what looks like a single legionnaire due west about fifty miles! What ya reckon we do with em, sir!"

The captain took a swing from his hip flask and set it back into his pockets. "Leave em be unless they decided they wanna tussle. If they come within a few miles I want him captured, disarmed and set free. The war will be over in a couple hours anyhow, no point in keepin POW's then." The gruff captain lifted his right foreleg to his face to check the time. "Lunch will be soon, why don't one of you two come on down out dat der tower. Rotate halfway though lunch and get ready to pack up after."

"All you Dale. I can stay up here and keep watch."

"Thanks. I'll make sure to save ya some celery surprise this time." Dale climbed down the ladder on the tower just as Vinegar leaned over to shout at the commanding officer. "Cap'n should I call you in case our visitor causes an emergency?"

The captain almost wanted to laugh out loud but controlled himself. "Call me when it becomes a catastrophe" he said laughing his way to the mess hall.

Vinegar sat back down in his chair and picked up a copy of "Wet Mares'" magazine from underneath the table. "Hmm a workpony named Applejack is the centerfold eh?" Vinegar kicked his legs onto the table and sat back, occasionally glancing at the silver glare just over the horizon. "Poor dope, no idea he's lost."

***Elsewhere***

"Princess, ETA till we land at the meeting rendezvous is five minutes." Said one of the guards pulling the chariot.

"Thank you lieutenant." Celestia gave a nod to the guard pulling the chariot and then turned her attention to Twilight. "i want to go over this one more time before we land."

Twilight wore a look on her face of mixed boredom and agitation. "We been over this like, six times already Princess. I think I got it by now."

Celestia stared into Twilight, a look of disapproval on her face. "Twilight I'm dead serious about this, we cannot mess this up."

"Fine, fine." Twilight put her foreleg over her chest and began to count down in a calm but clear voice. "Step one, create a magical table." Twilight created a miniature table on the chariot floor with her magic. "Step two, a pony from each nation checks the Table for any kind of traps." Two miniature pony figurines appeared on the chariot floor and marched toward the center table. "Step three, after the table has been inspected each leader walks up to the table." Another pair of pony figurines, one that looked like Twilight Sparkle and the other a Zebra in silver armor walked up to the table. "Lastly the surrendering party states clearly their surrender terms. If the conquering party does not agree they may then state their own terms for the other to accept, decline or counterclaim. Each party continues this until an agreement is settled.

"Good Twilight, and if a agreement cannot be reached?"

"We assault fort Zidalf the next morning with the full force of the 3rd and 7th legions." Twilight sighed "I really hope it doesn't come to that though. I would much rather not have anymore bloodshed than we already have."

"You and me both Twilight, you and me both."

"Princess, fort Zidalf has come into view. We will begin our decent as soon as the battle blimp behind us catches up."

"That's a negative lieutenant, take us in for a landing" Celestia said pointing at an open grassy plain below. "We will set up camp there. I want this to be done and over with as soon as possible so relief efforts can begin."

"Your highness, I have orders from Luna to wait on the battle blimps before landing. That you must be escorted by the legion at all times. I have reservations about ignoring her orders."

Celestia shook her head. "I can handle myself. I will take responsibility for anything Luna might do later." Still looking after her big sister. She has grown so much in these last couple of years.

"Take us down lieutenant. If anything happens me and Twilight are quite capable." The two guards pulling the chariot hesitated for a moment and began to descend slowly, in circles.

"Celestia, why are they going down in a circle, It would be faster to go directly down."

Celestia lowered her voice to a whisper. "Yes I know but they're conflicted, they are following my orders and Luna's at the same time. This circle landing pattern is to buy time for the battle blimps to catch up. I guess we can just ride it out, I don't see Maskia's honor guard below." The Chariot slowly descended and at about a hundred yards from the ground the six battle blimps containing the 3rd legion arrived.

The chariot landed on the soft grassy ground with a minor thud. "Not my best landing your highness. I was getting a tad dizzy from the circle decent, my apologies." Celestia and Twilight stepped off the chariot and onto the soft grass as the battle blimps began to land a hundred or so yards away.

Twilight turned her attention to the small fort dead north. Something felt off, there was only a single gate guard at his post and Maskia was nowhere in sight. "Celestia, something feels odd. Shouldn't there be a entire contingent posted here?"

"Already on it Twilight. Betagese! Sulfare!"

The two ponies unhitched themselves from the chariot and rushed towards the princess, stopping at attention to salute.

"Yes, Your highness!" they both said in unison.

"I want both of you to scout the area. The enemy fortress is missing its troops and I want to know where they are."

"With all due haste, your highness!" They both said automatically.

"Twilight, while those two ascertain the enemies whereabouts I want you to proceed as if nothing is wrong."

"Okay, but if they report a possible ambush or don't report back at all?"

"Then we order a full retreat and land at the 3rd division battlefront." Celestia pointed to a barely visible watch tower on the horizon. "That should be the forward base camp, it's only a few miles away at worst. If we need to retreat then that's where we will go. Until then set up the table, I'll prepare the peace treaty and the treaty for Maskia to release all tribal lands to Equestrian rule."

Twilight shot a beam from her horn, magicking a large conference table a few yards away. A few more puffs and a pitcher of juice and a plate of cookies for there side appeared. "There, all done."

"Twilight, why the cookies and juice?"

"Because this country's weather is usually hot. Keeping hydrated in a near desert environment is important you know." Twilight levitated a cookie from the plate on the table. "Besides I had these teleported from sugar cube corner. It would be rude not to eat them."

The two patrolling Pegasus landed on the ground behind Celestia and Twilight, panting hard. "Your highness, no enemies spotted in a ten miles radius. Nothing around but grass a couple grazing sheep."

The gate of the fort opened and four nervous looking zebra wearing red collars walked out carrying a large gold and silver litter on their shoulders. The seat section seemed covered in a veil of black silk, blocking their view of Maskia.

"Okay then. Sulfare, inspect the table for traps with the-"

The four Zebra's carried the chair up to the table and set it down before backing off nervously, glancing at the guard at the gate. The veil of silk lifted to reveal a Zebra obfuscated by thick silk garments and a veil over her face. "C-come Twilight Sparkle, state your terms for our surrender."

Twilight looked at Celestia and lowered her voice. "Okay this isn't what's supposed to happen. The format is all wrong and Maskia sounds like a nervous wreck. You'd think that somepony that has ruling experience would know basic treaty format."

Celestia horn glowed yellow for a moment.

Twilight felt something enter her mind, like warm breeze if her head was open to the wind. "Do not be alarmed Twilight. I have established this telepathic link to speak to you without anypony overhearing us."

Twilight stared at Celestia. "Can I- never mind I can talk back. I hear you loud and clear."

"I have feeling Maskia is going to try and pull something so I want to listen in using your mind. This is completely wrong, she should be well versed in this kind of thing yet is shaking like a nervous foal over there." Celestia's eyes met Maskia's. She could practically see the beads of sweat rolling down her face under the veil. "Her garments are wrong as well. Leaders typically show pride and power, even when surrendering. Not this thick black silk setup she's using in the hot sun."

Twilight nodded and walked up to the table. "Let's get down to business shall we?"

Maskia didn't respond but started to twitch her tail in a fashion that Twilight recognized. Tail signals? Twilight watched the tail movements intently, working out the signs in her mind.

"What is she saying Twilight?" The sound of Celestia's voice echoed in her mind.

"Give me a second, it's been awhile since I studied sign language."

Twilight slowly made out the tail signs they spelled out "I need a quill and paper, please. It's a emergency!" Twilight reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a quill, ink and paper for Maskia and slid them across the table.

Maskia started to scribble out something on the paper, clearly in a near panic to write whatever she was thinking down. Maskia slid the paper back to Twilight, her hooves shaking nervously as she did.

Twilight read the paper on the table. "Twilight Sparkle, I implore you to keep calm. I am not Maskia, I am but a simple handmaiden. The zebra with me wearing those red collars are forced to play along with me. The collars they wear are actually magical explosives and the guard by the gate has the trigger in his saddle bags."

Twilight stared at the Zebra's staring nervously over their shoulders at the guard by the gate. "Maskia is not here. She forced me to go in her place. My daughter is asleep behind the chair with a collar around her neck. The guard has orders to trigger the explosives in the event we do not come to a compromise or I do not act admirably in her place. Please, help us!"

"Princess are you-

I read your thoughts as you read the paper Twilight. We will proceed with caution, it could still be a trap.

What about the filly with the explosive collar on? Shouldn't we do something now?

Twilight, Maskia followers are know to be fanatical at times. Imagine for a moment you managed to disable that guard over there and moved to remove the collar from the fillies neck. Instead of getting a hug of thanks from the filly , it hugs you, chants an activation word and blows you to smithereens. A hug of death.

Twilight almost wanted to gasp out of surprised but held herself firm as to not draw attention to herself. Even if that filly is compromised mentally, it's still a filly, still an innocent.

Very well Twilight. I will creep a spell along the ground, if should be able to hold that guards movements for a solid thirty seconds at most, less if he's a shaman of any kind. You need be quick about removing those collars, see if you can get any more information on how to safely remove them.

Twilight pulled the paper to herself and began to quickly jot down a question about how to safely remove the collars. She slid the paper back to the handmaiden saying "that's agreeable but a few more things" as to not arouse suspicion.

The handmaiden quickly jotted down what she knew and slid the paper back saying "Very well how about this too?"

Twilight read the paper trying her hardest not to seem too silent. "The collars the other four are wearing are ten second delays but the collar my daughter is wearing is instant and cannot be removed unless you have key or powerful magic. I am sorry, this is all I know about them."

That is troubling Twilight but I do have a plan.

I hope it's a good one. judging by what she wrote there were probably used on pow's as a kind of chain gang safeguard. If one tried to rebel or escape they would trigger all of them at once. Ingenious, if a bit cruel and needless to say horrible.

Exactly what I thought. Using equine altruism against itself to control the whole without any chance of rebellion. It disgusts me to my very core. Celestia had to turn her face away from the table, spitting on the ground, grinding her teeth in anger.

That has to be a terrible way to live or die. knowing that at any second one of your own could try and make a run for it or start a fight, killing everyone. Or if you managed to get your collar off and escape, the guilt of knowing your actions killed everyone you knew in that camp would eat you alive. When I get my hooves on Maskia I swear...

Princess, control yourself!

Celestia hadn't noticed her eyes were blazing hot like the sun, her mane staring to flow like orange wildfire at the tips. I...I'm sorry Twilight, I will begin channeling the spell. Celestia took long deeps breaths. Her mane and eyes began to turn back to their normal hue. Twilight, tell her we will help her but I want you to have a shield spell ready to cast on yourself in case things go south. Celestia laid down in the grass and began to channel the magic from her horn though her feet.

Twilight went to work writing out a response to the handmaiden, jotting down non-specifics on what to do but most of all telling her to keep calm. "Almost done I think" she said sliding the paper back to the Maskia stand in.

The handmaiden read the paper, her eyes still making sideways glances at the back of the litter as she read.

Twilight heard a light buzzing sound, it seemed to be coming from the guard at the gate.

*BBZt* "Come in gate guard, do you read?"

The gate guard turned his back to Twilight, Holding his ear. "Loud and clear empress."

"Are those foals acting as planned?"

"Yes, your majesty. They are planning to rush me and deactivate the explosives at any moment."

"So predictable. The child in the back is rigged with the super high explosive collar?"

"Yes, your majesty."

"Bttzt* "Good, the second the arch mage or Celestia get anywhere near her, detonate it. I would rather not have to deal with all three of them if possible. I have located the outpost and will make a run at destroying their communications array as soon as possible. Once It is down signal the rest to attack the 3rd legion front. I want them distracted as long as possible."

"Yes your - huh?" The guard watched as a dancing yellow light raced towards him and struck him dead in the chest, paralyzing him.

"Get those collars off and get behind my shield! I'll get the-" before Twilight could move, Celestia was behind the cart trying to remove the explosive collar from the unconscious filly. The four Zebra and the handmaiden jumped behind the shield although the fillies mother with some hesitation.

"What about my little girl!?"

"You will be no good dead to her. Trust Celestia she's more than capable of handling this."

"Stand back Twilight!" Celestia probed the collars function to find it was much worse than she had imagined. "Twilight double, no, quadruple the shield now! 3rd legion I want you back three hundred yards minimum." The 3rd legion did as ordered as Celestia tried desperately to find a way to remove the collar without triggering the explosive inside. This isn't good, a charge like that is equal to a six or more tons of TNT easily. This wasn't meant to just kill the foal it was meant to kill everypony regardless.

"Twilight, extreme cold can slow a fuse correct?"

"Not by much. Judging from the collars on the ground it will give you maybe eight seconds, tops."

The guard by the gate started to slowly move his front hooves toward his back.

No time, I'll have to take the blast myself. I just hope I can get far enough away to save this filly. Celestia pointed her horn at the explosive collar and covered it in a thick layer of ice. She then cast a teleport spell on the collar and wrapped it firmly around her thigh. She then cast a teleport spell on the filly, placing her behind Twilight's shield before spreading her majestic wings and taking off into the sky with everything she had. Celestia climbed one thousand feet, three thousand feet, eight thousand feet. Have to make sure they are well enough out of the shock wave.

The spell on the guard far below faded and he pulled out a remote control with a red button covered in glass. He flipped off the top layer laughing to himself. "Dumb bitch! Just what the empress wanted!" He pressed the button and the collars on the ground exploded shattering two layers of Twilight's shield but leaving her and the Zebras unharmed.

High above the clouds Celestia looked back at her right leg, the collar started to beep and glow red, signaling her to brace herself. This is going to sting. The collar gave off one more beep before exploding.

On the ground every-ponies eyes were on the sky. The explosion was so massive that the litter toppled over, despite Celestia being more than ten thousand feet above them. Twilight could see large puffs of smoke coming from the explosive epicenter, she only hoped Celestia had managed to survive it.

The guard at the gate was smiling. "Even if she is immortal, a ten ton explosion is more than enough to cripple her."

Twilight wanted to run over and break the gate guards face when she noticed something spiraling to the ground. "Celestia!" Twilight ran as fast as her legs could carry her, trying to cast a slow-fall spell on the falling princess. "C'mon, work darn you." The left over magical energy from the explosion was interfering with her concentration. The princess was only a couple hundred feet above the ground when Twilight finally managed to tag her with the slow fall spell. "Shit, shit, shit!"

Celestia hit the ground with a thud and managed to bounce a couple of times before her body settled in a heap.

"Celestia! Celestia!" Twilight's heart was racing. She wasn't sure if Celestia could survive such and explosion, let alone the fall afterwards. Just as Twilight managed to get within range of Celestia she heard a battle-horn come from behind her. Twilight wanted to look back but her duty was to the princess, anything else the 3rd legion could deal with. Twilight bent down to inspect Celestia, her leg was terribly bruised and bleeding slightly, her hair around her midsection was singed and her wings seemed crispy around the edges. "Celestia! are you alright. please say something." The more guards from the 3rd legion ran up to the princess doing their best to assist Twilight.

Twilight put her ear to Celestia's chest. She was breathing and her heart was beating but her eyes were closed and her body unresponsive. "What to do, what to do!" Twilight checked the princesses pulse on her neck, still strong. "Medical doctrine page twelve, check for broken bones and concussions!" Twilight shined a light from her horn onto princess Celestia, checking her body for damage. "Lemme see, two fractured ribs, one broken rib, some small first degree burns on the leg." Twilight continued to peer into Celestia's body, cataloging all her injuries. "Leg is cleanly broken at the thigh. Two cavities and a some shrapnel less than a quarter inch imbedded in her belly."

Unbeknownst to Twilight the grass in the fields behind her began to move. Zebra in green armor wearing large grass canopy's on their backs began to rise out of the ground. The guard at the gate was brandishing a rather large silver spear, clearly aiming at the back of Twilight Sparkles head.

"Two with one stone." As the guard pulled his front leg back to chuck the weapon at the busy Unicorn. He felt sharp pain in his groin, so much pain that he dropped the spear immediately and fell to the ground,whining in pain. Standing behind him was the mother of the filly her tried to detonate earlier, her back legs placed firmly in his ball-sack. "Yo-you!"

The Zebra didn't reply, her face was contorted with rage as she kicked him in the groin again, and again as hard as she could.

"You tired to kill my only love in joy in this world!" The angry mare kicked and stomped on the guards chest and face repeatedly. "You will never do this to anypony else!" The other four Zebra rushed over to pull the enraged mother off the guard.

"He can't hurt anypony anymore Daisy. Let us handle him, your daughter needs you." Daisy on the other hoof was easily overpowering the four larger stallion Zebra and continued to pummel the guard. Only after she heard a faint 'mama' from her daughter did she relent.

"Sunflower!?" Daisy ran over to her daughter and embraced her in a warm hug. "Oh my little girl, I was so worried about you!"

"Mama, is that..blood on your hooves? Were you kicking that guy over there?" Sunflower pointed to the unmoving, bloody mess that was the former gate guard of fort Zidalf.

It struck Daisy that her daughter had seen the entire thing. That in her rage she committed a war-crime out of anger, right in front of her daughter. "Mommy...is sorry for that. I lost my temper becuase that mean stallion tried to take you away from me."

Daisy looked over to the other four Zebra, all of which were shaking their heads. One of them signaling Daisy by running his hoof across his neck and pointing at the crumpled mess of a body below him.

"Mommy, is that mean stallion...dead?"

Daisy had no idea how to go about explaining this to her daughter. However she looked back to find Maskia army less than a mile away from them, quickly closing on their positions. "We can talk later honey, more bad ponies are coming this way to hurt us." Daisy Picked up the filly and set her gently on her back. "Hold on honey, we are going to make run for it." Daisy galloped toward Twilight Sparkle, stopping just as she started to levitate Celestia's body away from the battlefield.

"Twilight, I request sanctuary behind your lines. I have no love for Maskia's tactics and I can help with information if need be."

Twilight stared at Daisy for a moment and then back to Celestia. "Sure, follow me. We have medical bay and civilian shelter in the battle blimp. Your four compatriots can follow us as well."

Daisy turned back to signal the four stallions that carried her earlier only to find them arming themselves with armor and weapons from the other side of the fortress gate. "Twilight, I think they mean to fight Maskia's army." One of the stallions pointed at the approaching army and ran his hoof across his neck.

"Whatever, I need to get you and the princess to safety. I will not have civilians killed on my watch." Twilight headed for the 3rd legion line that was forming close to the fort. "Who is the commanding officer of this battalion?"

A grey coated, blond maned mare stepped forward, her gold armor nearly covered on the front with decorations of all kinds. "Sky admiral Derpy reporting ma'am!" The mare saluted Twilight Sparkle and Twilight returned the favor.

"Derpy? How...you know what, never mind. That question is best left to aged sages. "I need full coverage on blimp number four. I need to evacuate Celestia and this civilian to safety. I need any advanced medical staff you can spare."

Derpy nodded and signaled two ponies over to her. "Blue Moon, Silver hoof, I need you both to escort Twilight Sparkle to blimp number four. Notify squadron five that they are to protect the blimp at all costs."

"Yes, Admiral!" said Blue Moon.

"At once!" Said Silver Hoof.

"Twilight, shall I send air dispatch for the 7th legion to assist?" Derpy asked saluting.

"No, we have no clue to Maskia's whereabouts. If she attempts an assault on the capital or an assassination attempt on Luna I want as many soldiers on alert as possible."

"Agreed. I will send orders to the 2and division grenadiers to join us. They are only a couple hours from us." Derpy drew a sword from her holster. "Communications officer! I want the commanding officer of the 2and division grenadiers on the line as soon as possible."

"Yes ma'am!"

"Squad Six raise the derp cannons!" Large steel cylinders rose into the air. "I want a beta spread of concussion grenade-lets over that field. Disarm those that surrender or are incapacitated, kill them only as a last resort. I rather not deprive children of their families tonight if I can help it." Derpy raised her sword over her head. "Ready! Aim! DERP!"
A salvo of red colored grenades filled the air, landing in a triangle spread in the opposing army. Seconds later tiny red explosions riddled the enemies ranks. "Hold the second wave!" The smoke slowly cleared to find that only a handful had succumbed to the explosives effects. Most of the Zebra on the other side of the field eyes were glowing a deep blue.

"Shaman special forces" Derpy raised her sword again. "Let's show these dogs what the 3rd legion is capable of, Charge!" Derpy took to the skies first, weaving and tumbling about as she flew, her legion backing her up. "Form up!" The legion formed into a large triangle. "Power tumble!" Each legionnaire curled up into their armor and dived wings out into the crowds of enemies, knocking them over as if they were a large steel bowling balls.

Derpy sprang out of her ball just as a enemy shaman took a swing at her with his spear. Derpy kicked the edge of the spear and delivered a vicious headbutt to the Zebra then immediately turned around and kicked two more Zebra square in the face. "Are any of you cupcakes actually any good?"

Derpy continued her rampage through the ranks while the 3rd legion lagged behind but overall were routing the Zebra forces. Suddenly a ray of blue light struck Derpy in her right wing bruising her and singeing her feathers. As she turned around to see what struck her another ray hit her square in her chest armor, knocking her over but leaving her unharmed. "Who shot that? Show yourself so I can make sure to give you a face only a mother could love." A large half minotaur half Zebra creature stepped from the crowd. Wielding a large war axe, clad head to toe in black armor and his eyes glowing lightning blue.

"Finally, a challenge!" Derpy got back up to her feet and drew a war-mace shaped like a muffin on the end. "Let's see how you hold up to the power of muffin..."

***South of the battle, 2and division grenadier's camp***

"Get that communications array back up, we need to respond to the 3rd legion that we are under att-" A silver spear pieced the heart of the base captain. Looking up he could make out the vicious grin of Maskia, her silver armor almost blinding him as it reflected the sunlight.

"You're lucky I don't have time to kill this entire regiment but I do have enough time to take few souls to power my armor."

The captain could feel his skin burning, his muscles dislodging themselves from his body, even his very spirit lurching into a bottomless black abyss. "Arrrgg!" With a loud scream, the captains body tore itself apart and was sucked into the tip of the spear, turning it crimson red for a brief moment.

"How to best use his remaining spiritual power?" Maskia swung the spear in a crescent arc, sending a wave of red energy right into the barracks, cutting them clean in half. "Hmm a bit more power I think." Three more legionaries charged the old Zebra. "Brave, but pointless." Maskia swung her spear, disarming the first soldier and tripping him with the opposite end, sending him tumbling into a stack of supplies. The second soldier misjudged his weapons distance, getting a glancing cut across his shoulder.

The second one fell to the ground, his body leaking magical energy into the spear. "Not a soul but I'll take what I can get."

"Dale, no!" the third solider, Vinegar, managed to hook his sickle underneath Maskia spear and send it flying into a nearby crate. "I got you know monster!" Vinegar swung his sickle across Maskia's chest. Managing to get a small flesh wound but shattering the weapon against the edge of her breastplate.

"I bleed?" Maskia looked down at her small cut which was just barely bleeding. "Let me show you my affection for your combat prowess." Maskia lurched forward and grabbed Vinegar in a bear hug.

Vinegar swung his front hooves landing clean hits on Maskia to no effect.

"Is that how you hug an old lady?"

It suddenly felt as if his body was being crushed in a vice. The air forcefully pushed its way from his lungs as if a large constrictor snake was holding him. Every time he tried to inhale Maskia would squeeze harder, pushing all the air out and causing him a great deal of pain.

"What's wrong dear? Don't like grandma figures giving you hugs?"

Maskia bared down harder on Vinegar, bending his armor as she closed her front hooves tighter and tighter around his ribcage.

Vinegar couldn't think, he couldn't breathe. All he could feel or hear was his ribs creaking and breaking. His body going into convulsions as it begged for oxygen. A few seconds more and all he could see was darkness, the sweat embrace of unconsciousness and ultimately, death.

"Poor thing got loved to death, may as well end his suffering." Maskia prepared to give the killing squeeze when she caught a round orange object out the corner of her eye, striking her side and exploding. A cloud of red energy and smoke filled the air near her and she reflexively dropped her prey.

Vinegar dropped to the ground gasping for air as Maskia rounded about to see who had hit her. Dale was standing on top of some supplies chucking concussion grenades at her. "Miserable wretch!" Maskia tore her spear from the boxes only to have another explosive hit her square on her back armor. "Annoying pests! I will slaughter you all like the pigs you...." the smoke from the explosion cleared and Maskia was staring down at least a dozen 2and division grenadiers pointing rocket launchers at her.

"Smoke 'er boys!"

Maskia jumped into the air as two rockets hit the ground where she was, blasting back Vinegar but leaving him relatively unharmed.

"Second volley!"

Nine more rockets filled the air, two of them finding new homes in Maskia's midsection.

"Confirmed hit sarge!" The smoke cleared quickly to reveal that Maskia had shielded herself from the explosions, but only just.

I can't be wasting precious power on target practice. Maskia stared at the bodies of dozens of Pegasus she had killed. with the radio station down and their Pegasus contingent down I have hours before the mainland is notified.

"Reload, lite er up!" Three more rockets streamed by Maskia just barely glancing her shield.

Best get moving. The armor on Maskia's back opened up in the shape of steel wings. As they spread blue flames spurted out the back and in seconds Maskia was flying away at supersonic speeds. First, force Zecora into giving her my blessing. Second find and kill Luna.

"Vinegar!" Dale hopped down off the supplies and ran to his friend still gasping for air on the ground. "Everyone, on medical duty except the engineering squads. I want a death toll and somepony get this radio tower back up, we need to warn the mainland!" Dale pulled a first aid kit out of the nearby wreckage and strapped a oxygen mask to Vinegar. "Hold on buddy, please hold on."

"Boy, why you tellin us what to do, yer only a ensign." The Sargent that led the rocket attack on Maskia was puffing out his chest on top of some crates. "I be having the next highest rank, I reckon we chase after her."

"With what? a buckin glider? This is no time to be pulling rank and chasing after things we can do nuffin too. Now if you excuse me I have lives to save." The other ponies nodded their heads in agreement each sorting through the debris for medical kits.

"You do be knowin this will get ya a court martial for pullin above yer rank, right ensign?"

"To put it nicely sarge, get bucked." Dale picked up his friend and carried him toward the medical tent when the sergeant blocked his path.

"Sonny boy, you put that corpse down. We Will be chasin after the enemy leader."

Dale didn't know what to do, he was in no condition to be fighting someone larger than him; let alone wounded himself. "Stand down Sargent. protocol calls for injured first and you know it."

"Or yer gonna what, bleed on me?"

The pompous Sargent took two intimidating steps forward only to collapse on the spot after a slight buzzing sound filled the air. Behind the Sargent was a red headed mare with a cross on her flank lined with Apples on either side, in her right hoof was a medical stun-gun. "Overruled, in the event of a catastrophe and no other commanding officer is present than the medical team can take control." The mare's eyes met the eyes of the barely breathing Vinegar and then Dale's. "Bring him in ensign, I'll do what I can."

Dale walked inside the tent to find many soldiers still being brought in. Some of them DOA and other just hanging on by a thread. "Set him on that bed over there."

Dale walked over and set Vinegar gently on bed, taking care not to jostle him too much. The doctor pulled out a strange blue instrument and shined a blue light over Vinegar's body.

"Collapsed ribcage, compressed vertebrae and at least two slipped disks. Help me move the iron lung above him, it will keep him alive as I operate." Dale helped pushed the iron lung over the bed, gritting his teeth to bear the pain in his shoulder.

"You seem to be injured as well."

"It tain't nothin, only a flesh wound." The nurse didn't believe him however as she began to scan his wound with the strange blue light. "What are ya doin? I'll be fine, please heal Vinegar first." The nurse smiled but continued to scan Dale's wound. "I don't get it, it's just a flesh wound."

"No, this wound is pretty bad actually."

"What do ya mean?"

"Your body is experiencing soul leak. If i do not get this patched up you will die within a few hours."

"But Vinegar-"

The nurse put her hoof over Dale's mouth to hush him. "Vinegar's wounds are lethal yes, but in that iron lung he is in not immediate danger of death. He has no internal bleeding and should be fine as I operate on him. You case is special."

"In what way?"

"This base is only staffed with C, B and one dead A class doctor. You need a S class unicorn doctor to seal this up, of which we have none."

"Can't ya do anything?"

"I can slow it down and heal the cut but you must find a S class doctor. Soon."

The doctor walked over to her med-kit and pulled out a syringe filled with a green gel. "This may smart a bit." The doctor poked Dale just above the cut and then injected the gel.

The sensation of being cut was nowhere near as bad as the healing process. It felt like someone was cauterizing the wound instead of closing it. "You was'n kiddin when you said this hurts."

"You will get over it. As for the other part, I suggest you start running as fast as you can to the 3rd legion forward camp."

"But I'm only class two scout? I'm not even the fastest here."

The doctor pointed to a row full of beds containing mostly stallions and mares from the 4th squadron scout brigade. "When she attacked she hit the scout barracks and radio station first. You are the only one healthy enough left to make it there."

"I-I guess I can run that, but It will till take awhile."

"I would order some extra's to go with you but sad to say, most of the earth ponies here are not fast runners."

"Yeah well, lack of action does that."

The doctor pulled a satchel out from the cabinet and popped it open on the counter. "Let's see, medicine, flare gun, water." the doctor pulled a magazine out with the title "Wet mare" on the cover. "You won't be needing this." The magazine landed on the table and opened up to the Spitfire centerfold. The doctor reached in the cabinet again and pulled out a red badge with the 2and legion insignia on it.

"Show this badge to anyone that tries to block your progress, it signifies medical overrule and will get you to some one in charge quickly." The doctor dropped the badge into the satchel and tossed it around Dale's neck. "If you feel any pain in that shoulder stop and rest, we don't need your soul leak being accelerated."

"Agreed, I will take this to the 3rd legion front at once!" Dale turned and headed for the tent exit when the doctor caught his attention with a whistle.

"I will send some slower scouts behind you as soon as I can, in case you fail."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence there doc" Dale replied sarcastically.

"Well then, don't fail and that won't be a issue will it?"

I'll show her failure. Dale ignored the doctor and headed out the tent to the 2and legion gate. Keep calm, only all of Equestria is counting on you. No sweat right?" Dale wiped his brow and took off out the gate like lightning. "I hope I can get there in time."

"Males, so predictable. Insult their pride and they are back on their feet like nothing can stop them." The doctor giggled to herself before returned to her duties.

***Meanwhile at the 3rd legion front, battle blimp four medical bay***

Celestia slowly opened her eyes to find a panicked Twilight pulling bits of metal out of her. "Twilight?"

"Omigosh shes awake!" Twilight moved into direct eye contact distance with Celestia. "Celestia I need you to follow the light on my horn with your eyes." A red light appeared at the tip of Twilight's horn. "Follow it as closely as you can." Twilight swayed her head back and forth.

Celestia followed the light but found her head to be pounding, like she was binge drinking the night before. "Twilight, how long have I been unconscious?"

"Thirty minutes at most. I want you to do the alphabet in reverse by ten letters."

"Err...Z,Y,X,W umm V, U, T, S, R and Q?"

"Good now what's the square root of seventeen?"

"Ummm...get bucked?"

"Okay square root of twenty-five, sheesh."

"Five, I think. What's with all the odd questions?"

"I need to gauge how bad your concussion is, my last four scans on your body didn't show any kind of permanent brain damage. Although you may feel a bit hung over for a few hours."

Celestia shot up, her eyes wide open. "The fort! Is the filly okay! Where is the Sky Admiral!" Celestia felt two hooves on her chest push her slowly back down on her back.

"Calm down, you're in no condition to be doing that. The battle is already over and you managed to save the filly and her mother."

"Oh, that's a relief. Casualty report?"

"We have eighteen injured and the Sky Admiral had to get her wing regrown. Thankfully enemy deaths are nothing but we have injuries in the hundreds. Most of the Zebra don't even remember what there were doing there. Brain scans of most of them turned up positive for magical suggestion." Twilight picked another piece of shrapnel out of Celestia's belly. "We have yet to inspect the inside of the fort, Derpy is interrogating pows for intel bout what we may find in there."

"Twilight, I want you to go back to Equestria. I'll handle the investigation here."

"No can do Princess. Protocol dictates that I must stay with you when you're vulnerable."

"But, but Luna.."

"Can handle herself. She has the entire 7th legion as well as five other legions at her disposal including her Shadow Knights. If Maskia's intent was to get to Equestrian soil then she is in for one heck of a surprise; try moving your right leg."

Celestia did what she was told and moved her leg, to some minor pain. "It feels a bit stiff and the hair feels thinner around that area."

"The bone back there was broken clean but as I started to mend it with my magic your body took over and finished the job for me. Most of your burns have started to heal as well. I had to practically force your shrapnel wounds open with magic so they didn't close up with the metal still in them." Twilight pulled another small fragment of metal from Celestia's belly. "Speaking of which I think that's all of it." Twilight ran her horn across Celestia's belly again closing stopping and closing the wounds after inspecting them for debris.

"Twilight, I don't mean to pry but, when did you become a doctor?"

Twilight blushed crimson. "I managed to get my B grade certification done three weeks ago. I felt helpless ever since you were nearly killed so I been studying anatomy and working my way up the grades ever since."

"It's a good skill to have."

"It is neat isn't it? Okay could you roll over and sit up please."

Celestia rolled over but couldn't manage to sit up, it hurt to put any pressure on her back right leg and the numbness in her wings only complicated matters. "I think I will have to lay down for a while longer Twilight. I can't seem to stand up on this leg yet." Celestia tried putting weight on her back legs only for them to protest with a shot of pain up her back. "Nope, not going anywhere soon."

"Huh? lemme check something" Twilight scanned Celestia's back leg with her horn. "There shouldn't be any...oh."

"What Twilight?"

"You have a sprain back here but... I didn't realize Alicorns had a second subset of muscles, I'm sorry I missed that. I better scan your whole body and make sure I didn't miss anything."

"No worries Twilight, I doubt there are many books in the Canterlot archives about Alicorn biology."

"Hmmm, that's fine, okay I can heal that up then." Twilight seemed to be completely caught up in her work to notice Celestia's banter. "Okay, try standing now."

Celestia put weight on her back legs and with some minor stiffness she was standing tall again. "Much better Twilight, what would I do without you."

Twilight beamed at Celestia. "Okay, next up I need you to hold still while I preen your burned feathers."

Celestia spread her wings and examined the feathers. Most of them were singed on the ends but still functional. "No time for that Twilight, we can postpone the wing manicure, I want to know what's in that fort and where Maskia is."

"Are you sure? My calculations put the drag from torched ends at four percent."

Celestia giggled. "I'm sure I can handle a loss of four percent while WALKING, Twilight."

"Good point."

"Shall we?"

Celestia walked up the stairs from the medical bay to the deck of battle blimp number four. Sitting on the deck in a chair across from Sky Admiral Derpy was a large Zebratuar giving Derpy information.

"Iron snout doesn't know what came over himself. Iron Snout came upon this fort a couple days ago trying to sell custom doormats." Iron Snout held upa doormat with what looked liek a picture of Fluttershy on it. "The lady leader welcomed me in and then stared at me funny. Next thing I know Iron Snout was on the ground getting his face kicked in by angry cross eyed Pegasus."

"Well, that was then and this is now. Iron Snout is better now. Can you tell me about anything weird inside the fort?"

Iron Snout scratched his chin absentmindedly. "As iron will was being brought to talk with the big boss lady there was this big silver door with all kinds of heavy barricades and gizmos attached to it. There was a little window at Iron Snouts height, something was glowing in there but Iron snout didn't really pay attention, Iron Snout was too focused on making money."

"Any other comments before I send you to the refugee camp?" Derpy asked.

"Yes, Iron Snout is very sorry about chopping off pretty Pegasuses wing."

Derpy unfolded her left wing, aside from half the wing being devoid of feathers it looked fine. "I will be fine. We can share a muffin over it after the refugees have been sorted out."

"Iron Snout would like that." The Zebrasus got out of his chair and was escorted to some tents on the horizon by a couple 3rd legion troops.

"Sky Admiral, report."

Derpy shot a glance at Celestia and immediately stood at attention, her helmet falling over her eyes. "Yes, your majesty. I apologize for not noticing you and am glad you are okay."

"At ease. I want a full report on the aftermath of the battle."

Derpy cleared her throat and put her front hooves firmly on the ground. " We have begun to treat injuries on both sides and although some of them are severe, the doctors report those few are stable. We have already set up a forward command post and a pow camp. We are currently filtering though which Zebra were mind controlled and which are the true perpetrators of this ambush."

"Have you found any of the perpetrators of the ambush?"

"A dozen so far but even they seem to have trace amounts of weird magic about them."

"How so?"

"Advanced mind wipe, your majesty. Aside from the nonsense put into their heads by Maskia all of them cannot recall what they did before the war."

Celestia paced about the deck of the ship, a distraught look on her face. "She was so desperate for numbers that she either black mailed them, mind controlled them or wiped out their past altogether." Twilight nudged Celestia, grabbing her attention.

"We need more information. We need to explore that fort."

"Agreed, Arch mage. Derpy I want you to join me and Twilight in exploring the fort interior for clues." Derpy gave a salute and ran up to Celestia's side.

"I want you both behind me at all times, no telling what traps lay in that place." Twilight and Derpy both nodded in agreement, although Twilight with some hesitation.

"I want to know what she was doing in that fort."

And what kind of monster we are truly dealing with.

Chapter XI: Investigations and Confrontations

Chapter XI: Investigations and Confrontations

*Whir whir whir* The sound of dishes being scrubbed clean reverberated around the kitchen, shaking the already clean ones as Zecora scrubbed. The sound of clanking utensils that they never used, the sound of a brand new water pump and filter system that they installed just recently, and best of all the sounds of a pregnant, stubborn yellow mare humming a tune to herself as she helped out around the house.

"You know dear, I can handle all the chores myself. I took a week from work in case the day comes early." Zecora said as she put away a few dishes to dry.

"And do what exactly? Knit? I may be pregnant but that's no reason I can't help a little." Fluttershy replied curtly.

Zecora stacked a few more bowls on the strainer before pulling her apron off and throwing it over a chair. "I see that you still refuse to follow nurse Redheart’s orders."

"I am well within my boundaries for physical activity thank you very much." Fluttershy replied curtly as she lifted a few plates up and hoof dried them before putting them away in the cabinet. "Besides I am not even due for at least another two days."

Zecora nuzzled Fluttershy, smiling. "The nurse said a five day span in either direction from the due date. Somepony seems to have selective hearing."

Fluttershy giggled as she nuzzled Zecora back. "It's not selective hearing, it's something I learned from a special somepony; stubbornness." Fluttershy pulled away and stared out the window. "The petunias need weeding."

"I see that. How about we both weed the garden, if I can't talk you into taking it easy, I may as well have your help where I can keep an eye on you."

"I guess I can make that compromise, but don't expect me to be a slacker."

"Knowing you, you will try and do all the work regardless of my help." Zecora opened the side door to the kitchen, holding it open for Fluttershy.

Fluttershy walked out the door humming to herself, stopping to turn her head at Zecora. "You can blame Applejack for the work ethic but the stubbornness is all you hun." Fluttershy skipped off to the petunia patch, pulling weeds out with her teeth.

Zecora closed the door behind her shaking her head.Crazy Mare,no wonder I love you so much. Zecora walked over to Fluttershy who had oddly stopped picking weeds. "Is...something wrong dear?"

Fluttershy tuned to Zecora, beads of sweat running down her face. " Hun...I think it's..." large streams of fluid began to run down Fluttershy's back legs. "Time, yes. It's time."

"I want you to breathe deep dear, don't panic. Stay right there while I go fetch the cart." Zecora ran to the back of the house towards the shed, leaving Fluttershy to go about the breathing exercises she practiced at the hospital.

Fluttershy flicked her mane in the sunlight trying to keep her cool as she breathed deeply. She could feel her foal kicking about, her body going into birth mode as her body experienced the first wave of contractions. She figured the sensation would be weird like the doctor said but she didn't expect it to be so fast. Her backside was making long thorough contractions, inching her foal down the vaginal tract. "Oh, my."

Zecora rounded around the edge of the house pulling a cart with her teeth instead of the harness. She quickly pulled up next to Fluttershy and tilted the back up for easy entrance. "Get on dear, we need to get you to the hospital as soon as possible."

Fluttershy looked into the back of the cart, three haystacks padded each side and the center was padded with a old mattress topped with a blanket. Fluttershy slowly lifted herself into the back of the cart, Zecora standing behind her in case she fell. Fluttershy took her first few steps onto the cart, the bed was a bit dusty and well used but otherwise comfortable under her hooves. The hay bales seemed to be strapped to the sides of the cart with rope, almost as if Zecora planned to use this.

"Remember what the doctors said. Lay down in a comfortable position and concentrate on your breathing."

Fluttershy laid down, tucking her hooves underneath her chest. "We need to get there quick, it really wants out."

Zecora ran to the front of the cart and strapped herself into the harness. "Don't worry. The hospital is less than a five minute trot from here, three if I gallop."

"A trot will do just fine. I don't think I can handle all the shaking if you galloped."

Zecora rounded about and trotted briskly out the gate, her mate in tow. "Focus on your breathing, I’ll get us to the hospital." Zecora opened the front gate and headed down the short trail to the Ponyville general hospital. As she trotted along she could hear something of a faint whine. She turned her head to see if it was Fluttershy but she was busy breathing still. "Do you hear that Fluttershy?"

"I can, i think it's coming from the-"

*snap*

The cart suddenly lurched to the left, bolts flying into the air and the wheel rolling off downhill. Zecora pulled the harness off as fast as she could, darting to the back of the cart to check on Fluttershy. "Are you alright!?"

Fluttershy was shaken but unharmed. "I'm fine but I think the cart is ...oh, how does Dashie say it, 'boned'. "

Zecora walked around to the left side of the cart, looking for any clues as to why it broke. The wheel well seemed to be undamaged, the metal screws used in the steel wheel bracing were laying around the cart, sheared off from the impact. Zecora moved to the back of the cart. As she looked under the cart she noticed the axle seemed to be split down the middle and something was moving underneath the wood. Zecora reached underneath with her hoof only to get a sharp sting on it moment later. She pulled her hoof out to find a few soldier termites, busily biting and squirting her hoof with acid. Shaking her hoof to rid herself of the insects Zecora took a closer look under the cart. It seemed like an entire colony had made it's home on the underside of the cart as bits and parts from the wood were flaking off.

"Can we fix it?"

"Afraid not hun, termites have made their home here."

"I guess I can walk, no need to evict them."

Always looking out for everypony or everything other than yourself. "Not if I have anything to say about it, I can still carry you on my back."

"Zecora, I can still walk -"

"I'll have nothing of it. You need to look out for yourself. I will not have my own mate walk her way to the hospital while in labor."

"Eeyup."

Fluttershy and Zecora turned their heads to find Big Mac sitting at the crossroads ahead of them. Behind him was a large cart full of hay bales with very little space for a mare in labor.

"Big Mac, I need your assistance if you will. Could you spare to lose a few hay bal-"

Before Zecora could finish Big Mac removed most of the bales of hay from the cart by tipping it over. Big Mac then pointed at Fluttershy and swung his head to motion her onto the cart.

Fluttershy nodded in response and slowly go herself off the cart with Zecora's help. Zecora walked close by Fluttershy, letting the mare lean on her as they slowly boarded the mostly clear cart. Fluttershy laid down by the back as Zecora walked forward to help Big Mac pull the cart only to get a hoof on her chest to stop her.

"You do not need me to help pull the cart?"

"Nnnope."

"So, I guess I'll just hop in and keep Fluttershy comfortable then?"

"Eeyup!"

Zecora hopped up in the cart and laid down next to Fluttershy. "Thank you so much for this Big Mac, we owe you big time."

"No problem. Glad to be of assistance ladies." Big Mac started slowly down the road, taking heed to not jostle his precious cargo too much.

In the cart Zecora was busy keeping Fluttershy's breathing exercises going. I hope we get there soon. Fluttershy’s body wants that foal out like lightning.

***Elsewhere***

Celestia prodded the front gate of Fort Zidalf with her horn, checking the interior as far as she could sense for traps. Oddly, instead of a sense of intent to harm from possible ambushes, all she could seem to detect were bursts of sadness followed by silence.

"Celestia I don't think they trapped the building. Even if they did they would have known that it would be fruitless with you here." Twilight said.

"I’m not so sure Twilight. She must have expected me to survive that explosion.”

Derpy walked up to Celestia and saluted her. “Preliminary scans show that the explosive fragments are from a rare element that takes years to stabilize for explosive use. Even technologically advanced countries only stabilize a few grams a year."

"I see, good work as usual Sky Admiral." Derpy's investigation skills didn't instill much confidence in her. Not because she was incompetent but because this fort reeked of foul magic and death, far more than she had ever expected. Dangerous explosives were most likely only the beginning of the dangers they would soon face.

"I think the first step is figuring out this combination on the door, traps inside won't matter if we can’t actually get in." Twilight said while examining the door. “We could just blast it open or use a knock spell but it may be magically warded.”

"Hmmm." Celestia moved her horn to the strange three handled, steampunk-looking door and began to probe its inner workings. The inside was mostly steel with cogs and gears at very strange angles, almost as if they didn't actually work and were there to confuse unicorns. Celestia felt her way through the maze until she found something that felt like the mechanism, right behind the handles. "Is that it?" Celestia pushed her magic up against the handles but found that instead of moving, her magic was being siphoned off or reflected around, breaking her focus. "Odd, I don't recall too many materials being able to block magic so well."

"Let me try, Princess." Celestia stepped aside to allow Twilight room to focus. "This shouldn't be too hard." Twilight closed her eyes, her magic penetrating the door. "Hmmm." Twilight felt her consciousness run into the same dead ends Celestia found but it didn't deter her. "Interesting." Twilight felt her magic bump into a element she had never sensed before, her magic slowly being siphoned off as she pushed against it. "I see what you mean Princess. It almost feels like elementium but it's far too smooth and potent."

"I figured elementium as well but that metal is extremely rare in most places except for the Crystal Empire or the pits of the Dragon Wastes."

"P-princess?" The group looked behind them to find the handmaiden from earlier behind them, her daughter Sunflower sound asleep on her back in a basket. "I was just cleared to leave for my home village, Tuscan just a few minutes ago but, well..." Daisy walked up and wrapped her front hooves around Celestia's neck, crying, much to Celestia's surprise. "I'm so sorry for what happened to you but at the same time grateful for the risk you took to save my daughter."

Celestia put her front hoof over the back of the maiden. "Don't mention it, I can't stand the innocent being in the line of fire like that and least of all children." Daisy let go of her grip and stared at Celestia for a moment. "Do you need help getting into the fort?"

"Yes actually, we haven't been able to figure out the combination for thi-"

Daisy turned her back to the door and gave it a swift kick to the bottom right section of the door. Two clicks later the door slowly opened up, the smell of musty death hung about the entrance.

"How did you? With brute force?" Twilight sat on her haunches, stunned.

"The lock is not actually a lock at all. It's just there to mess with over-analyzing unicorns, the real latch is on the inside bottom right hinge where the steel is thinnest."

Sky Admiral Derpy stepped up to Daisy smiling. "Good work but are there any traps inside we need to know about?"

Daisy put her hoof to her chin. "There are a few prisoners in the dungeon and probably the bulk of them in the audience chambers. Though how to get into said chambers I do not know, the door was always sealed when I was in that horrible place."

"Thank you for your assistance, we will take it from here." Celestia nodded to Daisy and she returned the gesture as they both went their separate paths. Daisy headed to the edge of the camp, waving goodbye as Celestia , Derpy and Twilight vanished inside the old fort.

"Princess, why didn't you ask her to join us? She probably knows more about the layout of this fort than anypony else."

"Because I feel a grim sense of danger about this place, I rather not put her or her filly in danger again." Celestia walked down the corridor, her horn lighting the way. The group finally came upon a very large silver door on the right side of the main hall. "Do you feel that Twilight?"

"How could I not, it's so strong coming from there."

"Feel what?" Derpy asked.

The two magically adept ponies stared at one another and then looked at Derpy.

"The magic normally associated with making 'Spear of Sealing' copies, lots of it too." Twilight pointed at the silver door. "I think the door is made of the same thing although alloyed with something."

Celestia set her horn close to the door and it began to siphon off small chunks of light from her horn, almost as if consuming the magic. "I figured as much, it's alloyed with Elementium. Which means..."

"We can't cut it open with magic, at least without spending weeks to do so." Twilight's horn lit up and fired a cutting beam into the door to not so much as a scorch mark. "I guess this means we have to open it the old fashioned way."

"Maybe there is a key or clue about how to get in somewhere in this fort" Derpy suggested, scratching her leg.

"The Sky Admiral is right, As much as I hate to say this we need to split up. Derpy, I want you to try and figure a way through this door." Derpy gave a little salute in response. "Twilight I need you to check the service quarters for clues, possibly the barracks as well."

"On it Princess!"

"I'll check the armory, dungeon, throne room and Maskia’s quarters. After I finish with that we will meet back here to find out whatever is behind this door." Celestia lowered her horn to the floor and magicked three blue emblems into existence. "Each of you take one of these, if you get in trouble we can teleport instantly to your side by pressing the center of the emblem."

Each pony took one of the emblems and attached them somewhere on their apparel. Derpy on the top of her helmet, Twilight on the latch of her cape and Celestia around her neck attached to her royal adornments. "Remember, safety first. No getting into things you can't handle, no information here is worth dying for."

The group gave nods at one another and split up, Derpy going to work on how to open the magic-proof door while Celestia and Twilight went about finding clues in the fortress.

Twilight headed down the left fork in the corridor, the torches lining the walls just barely lighting the way with the last embers they had left. She quickly came to a dead end with three doors. "Which one first?" none of the doors seemed to have any identifying marks on them and the place where a metal plate used to hang only had screws sticking out of the stone. "I guess right to left works."

Twilight slowly creaked open the right door and peered inside. Rows upon rows of tables lined the walls, stools and chairs leaning up against them. "The mess hall?" Twilight walked inside, her curiosity overpowering her orders from Celestia. "I wonder what these ponies ate." On the far end of the room was a pair of doors, one with a picture silhouette of a stallion on the door and the other of a mare. "Restrooms over there." Twilight's eyes settled on the center of the far wall. A steel shutter where they served the food was over the window and a swing door was shut. "And that would be the kitchen."

Twilight walked up and slowly opened the door. Sitting on a stove was a large pot and the shelves above were lined with various cookware. A small hallway led to a room towards the back that from a distance looked very bare. Twilight walked into the kitchen checking the various foreign cutlery, stopping to peer into the pot. "Huh, not exactly high living." The pot was only half way filled with water, some mushroom bits floating on the top and some cooked rice settled on the bottom with what looked like some kind of over cooked red peppers.

Twilight lowered herself down from the stove and headed into the back store room. Rows and rows of empty shelves with only a few bags of rice spread sparsely among the shelves. "This isn't enough for a small family, let alone an entire army." Twilight looked about the shelves, finding some cans of tomatoes, mushrooms, and potatoes. In the back of a room was a table that she couldn't get a good look at through the shelves, something red was on it. "Hmmm." Twilight moved through the corridors of shelves towards the back table. when she finally reached it she had to cover her mouth to avoid losing her lunch on the floor. "Gross!"

A butcher's knife was stabbed into the table next to the corpses of a handful of rats and field mice, most of them with their innards cleanly cut out from their ribs. "How can anypony eat that? I mean you have to be really desperate to eat meat. Gross." Twilight examined a sink behind the butcher table, the drain looked as if it been stained red for a very long time. "Poor things, they didn't deserve this." Twilight set her horn onto the table and set the corpses lying on it ablaze. " Ashes to ashes, may your spirits be at rest." The flames quickly died down, leaving only piles of pale ash in their wake. Twilight shook her head somberly and exited the kitchen.

She made her way back into the hallway to decide where she should explore next. "I guess the center is as good as any option." Twilight pushed open the door which squeaked loudly and unnervingly on its hinges. The dimly lit room revealed lines and lines of bunk beds on either side of the room, a double wooden chest on the ends of each bed. "Huh, the barracks I suppose?" Twilight walked into the room scanning for anything out of place. All the beds were made neatly, with the kind of military efficiency Twilight would expect from a military base. All except one, a bed in the far corner seemed matted and disorganized, as if the pony sleeping there was either new or didn't have much respect for pointless bed making rituals.

Something else caught Twilight's attention next to the unkempt bed. Sitting on an end table by the wall was a open journal. "That's a good a place to start as any." Twilight lit a light at the end of her horn and began to read the entries.

"War journal, day eighty-seven. We managed to corner the fifth division steel wolves in a mountain pass yesterday. The battle was...strange to say the least. Most of the ponies seemed to be armed with only school supplies and while being hit with a book and getting paper cuts is annoying, it hardly constitutes as a viable weapon. They however fought to the very last pony. I can respect that, I only hope they are at peace knowing they tried their best."

Twilight turned the page to a few entries later.

"War journal day one hundred and seventeen. The 3rd and 7th legions as well as the 2nd legion grenadiers arrived at the very northern shore of Hems-Lit some twelve hundred miles north of Zidalf. The grenadiers managed to flank us and set up an artillery base a couple hours south of here but to little strategic effect. I am worried about this fort being struck by artillery attacks but my commanding officers told me not to worry, that we could see any strike coming for miles from the desert they set camp at."

Twilight turned the page again.

"War journal supplemental. We have incurred many losses in the battle against the 7th and 3rd legions yesterday. Our armored battalion from Tuscan has arrived to relieve us but the outlook is grim, these ponies from Equestria fight like demons."

Twilight flipped through the pages, finding mostly personal reports on various battles throughout the war but one toward the back stuck out.

"War journal day seven-hundred. Maskia keeps telling us victory is at hand but I am too depressed to believe her. The cupboards are bare, the men having to melt down whatever they can for weapons and arrowheads and we haven't heard from the council in awhile. Worse yet Maskia keeps bringing in these mind slave ponies in against their will saying "It's for the greater good" but I just can see past how wrong it is. I thought were we fighting against Equestrian slavery not being hypocrites and doing it ourselves. I hope this war is over soon, maybe Equestrian rule won't be so bad, at least I hope they properly feed us."

Twilight felt taken aback by the mysterious soldiers words. "Slavery? Since when...?" Twilight looked about the room and noticed there were posters above most of the beds. Some of them depicting Celestia in a brown coat whipping Zebra as they pulled large stone statues in her image. "Propaganda? They really believed we were the bad guys didn’t they?" Twilight turned her attention back to the journal and continued to read.

"War journal day seven hundred and ten. Maskia has announced that we will surrender, but adjudicate that lands remain under her and council control. This would be a relief if my comrades were not coming up missing. Each night one more goes to the audience chamber and is never seen again. Maskia says she is slowly decommissioning all troops and the mind slaves will be freed at the war’s end. I don't know if that is true but one thing is certain, she has become far more unhinged recently than I ever expected. I fear for my life and the life of my comrades."

Twilight turned the page.

"War journal, day before the surrender meeting. We have been called into the main audience chamber, but I will not go. I have a bad feeling she’s doing forbidden magic in that room. I'm going to make a run for home as soon as the mind slaves are distracted. I want nothing more of this horrible place or war, I only want to go home. If by some chance I don't make it my military tag is nine eight nine, tell my mother Pumpkin Seed in Tuscan that her son loves her." The next page has a hoof print all the way down it, ripping the page at the bottom.

"Hmmm, that room with the silver door must be the audience chamber. What were they doing in there?" Twilight picked up the journal and set it in her saddlebag, at the very least she could get this to his mother. "I guess that just leaves door number three left." Twilight made it back into the hallway and slowly opened up the last door. "Bweh?"

On the left side of the room were cushions shaped like hearts, with shelves above containing items of dubious nature. The right side had many makeshift cabana rooms. Twilight's surprise was quickly replaced with curiosity, judging from how the rooms on the right were set up and the cleaning supplies in a far closet this looked like a handmaidens quarters but the presence of the pillows on the other side reminded her of a trashy brothel. "Weird." Twilight walked along the room looking for clues as to the rooms use when she noticed a poster on the wall next to a particularly 'well used' pillow.

"Hmmm, rules of the fortress brothel? Why would they need a brothel?"

"Maskia has decreed that even though she despises the idea of a brothel she does understand that stallions have possible control issues during the mating season. Therefore this room will be used for transactions of 'sinful' nature. The rules below are as follows.

Stallions are to pay one hundred bits up front and use protection.

Mares that are willing to breed for money will wear a red ribbon around their neck.

In the event a mare is accidentally impregnated she must carry the foal to term. Attempts to abort will be severely punished. The mare will be compensated with life funds from the treasury to help raise the foal. No use of contraceptive spells is permitted.

A sin tax is in place for stallions that use this service outside of heat season, in the amount of a one weeks wages.

Filly fooling or colt cuddling is punishable by death.

I further decree that any stallion partaking of this will receive ten lashings for each time he uses this service after the war unless he weds the first mare he mated with. I do not like having this system in place but necessity during heat season requires it."

Twilight scratched her head. "Oookay then, intriguing but still seriously backwards." Twilight started slowly opening the doors to the cabana rooms, each one apparently hadn't been lived in for a while. "Well, only two more to go." Twilight opened the next door to find a burst of color she didn't expect to see in such a dreary place. The wall was covered with drawings of the sunflowers and two ponies labeled 'Daisy & Sunflower'. "So adorable, I'll get a few of these off the walls and have them sent to her." Twilight slowly lifted the drawings off the wall and placed them in her saddlebags. Twilight looked about the room for more information but found nothing of any real value. "I guess that just leaves one more room before I report back to Celestia."

Twilight approached the last door and slowly pushed on the door. "Huh seems like there's something heavy blocking the other side." Twilight pushed on the door with both hooves. "Just a little bit more." The door opened and Twilight was struck in the face hard by a pair of back legs. Tumbling back she flipped her body upright and lit her horn ablaze, ready for a fight when she realized what she was staring at. A young mare, maybe in her early twenties, was hanging in the doorway with a noose around her neck. "Suicide?" Twilight squeezed by the mare and followed the noose to the ceiling where it was tied to a light fixture above the room.

"Poor thing, Let's cut you down from there." Twilight shot a beam of light at the rope, cutting it and allowing the mare to fall to the floor. Twilight shook her head "If only we gotten here sooner, we could have avoided all this heartbreak. I wonder why she did herself in anyway, was she that brainwashed into thinking we were going to make them slaves?" Twilight looked about the room, on a counter by the bed was very large bag of bits holding down a note. Twilight carefully moved the bag onto the bed and began to read the note.

"To the eventual Equestrian ponies that will find this and my body:

My name is Veria Whisperwind, I have worked as a concubine of sorts in this fortress for the last year. The reason I am hanging from this rope is because my only love in this life, my son, was cruelly taken away from me last night. One of the handmaidens was rounding up other maidens and soldiers for some kind of meeting. I had heard that those that go into the hall were decommissioned of their duties and sent home. That couldn't have been further from the truth. My son had somehow been rounded up in the crowds as well and when I went looking for him I had found out from Daisy that she saw him headed into the meeting hall with a soldier. I didn't think much of it so I went to the hall and what I found will haunt me for the rest of my life and possibly the afterlife.

Strewn about the floor were over a hundred piles of bone ridden ash. In the far corner was my son, Malak Whisperwind, his body charred and unmoving, a mace sticking out of his skull. I..."

Twilight could barely read the next part as it was so runny from tear marks.

"I shook him but he didn't move, Maskia managed to sneak up behind me and had the audacity to tell me my son's sacrifice was well worth defeating Equestria. That cold ...monster killed my son somehow. I charged her in my anger and grief only to be hit with something hard and woke up here, in my room with one of Maskia's mind slaves guarding my door. I tried to break out.."

Twilight looked at the door, there were some deep kick marks in it.

"But was unable to budge it. I hope whoever finds this letter delivers it to Celestia or Luna, that monster must be stopped. I hope that life will be better on the other side, it's bad enough I was a failure in this life, unable to save or avenge my own child, with any luck I will not be a disappointment in the next.

hoping for the best,

Veria Whisperwind.

ps: Feel free to use the bits I have made to help those in need from this war. It is the least I can do to atone for serving that vile creature.”

Twilight wiped her eyes, her tears staining the already heavily stained letter. All this sadness, heartbreak and tragedy was overwhelming. This poor mare on the ground had her son violently ripped from her and had to suffer the indignity of his killer standing proudly above his corpse claiming his death as for the greater good. Twilight turned her attention to the corpse on the floor beside her. "Don't worry Veria, she will pay for all the suffering she has caused, I promise."

***Elsewhere in the fort***

Celestia made her way through the corridors and into a wide open room. Lining each side were racks of armor and weapons of various design including spears, hammers and warbows. Upon closer inspection it seemed most of the metals were of low quality, mostly aluminum or zinc instead of steel. "Why so low quality?" on the other side of the room were a pair of cold furnaces, large amounts of slag overflowing in the refuse piles adjacent to them. "I don't get it, all that Elementium in that door yet all their weapons are of low construction value."

Celestia foraged through the weapons until she came across a bill of sale stuck to the bottom of a helmet made of slag. Slowly removing the bill from the helmet, Celestia began to read its contents. "Two tons of Elementium, six soul shards and a Spirellium altar. Total sale of one billion-" Celestia did the tiniest of double-takes. "One point four billion bits!? That's almost our militares entire budget!" Celestia closed her gaping mouth with her hoof and set the bill down. Looking about the room she couldn't find a single weapon that would pass Equestrian quality inspections. "I wonder if she blew her entire military budget on just this bill?"

Celestia opened on of the doors next to the furnaces to find stairs leading down. "Dungeons I suppose?" Celestia made her way down the spiral stairs until the pitch darkness forced her to light her horn up, which she immediately wished she didn't. On the dungeon floor were dried husks of creatures she could have sworn she seen before. Upon closer inspection she realized just where she had seen such creatures before. "Changelings? But what are changelings doing here?"

"Uuuhhhhh."

Celestia's ears shot up, somepony else was down here with her. "Hello?" no response. Celestia moved down the stairs slowly until her hooves found the dungeon floor.

"Hello?" Celestia's voiced echoed down the hallway.

"Unnnhhh."

"Hold on, I'm coming!" Celestia ran down the hall, her horn illuminating cells filled with corpses. So many dead changelings, but it makes no sense. Why are they here? Celestia ran for what felt like forever until she came to a large rusted iron door.

"Come to make me beg have you?"

I know I have heard that voice before. Celestia peered into the barred window on the iron door. Something inside was a green in color but she couldn't make out who or what it was in all the darkness.

"I am not allied with your captors, I am here to free you. Hold on a second." Celestia checked the walls for some kind of key but all of there were barren, nothing but long burned out torches lined the halls. "Stand back, I'm gonna have to do this the hard way." Celestia bent her head down, pointing her horn at the lock. With a flash of white light the lock began to melt, bolt and all. "That should be enough." Celestia lifted her head and kicked the door, flinging some of the molten iron into her which bounced off her body harmlessly. Celestia lit up her horn moved toward the far wall slowly illuminating the trapped prisoner.

Tied to the walls with chains was a gangly black changeling. It had holes in its legs, green tattered wings, harlequin eyes, a green band around its midsection and a mane that reminded Celestia of flows in the Equestrian sewers.

"Oh of all ponies to be rescued by, it just had to be You."

Celestia knew that voice, the cold after-tone with a hit of haughty and the strange half-double voice. “It couldn't be!?” Celestia moved the light of her horn up to the tied changelings head and sure enough the stump from what used to be a horn remained. "Chrysalis!"

"I see you haven't forgotten me, princess. Tell me, how is the horn doing?"

Celestia absentmindedly rubbed the tip of her horn, remembering the nasty burn Chrysalis had left her after she beat her in magical combat. "Much better than yours scoundrel, at least mine isn't a stump."

"So, I guess you are wondering why I am down here?"

Celestia thought for a moment, why is the changeling queen in the pits of a Zebra fortress? They couldn't have been attacked, Maskia's armies never made it to Equestrian shores in large enough numbers to take on the might of the Equestrian legions let alone the vast changeling swarms.

"I am, but before I free you I want information."

Chrysalis sighed and rolled her eyes. "You want to know the specifics of the circumstances as to why I am here. If I attacked Maskia or if she attacked us?"

"Exactly."

"Well, I won't say anything until you at least cut me down. I have no love for you or Equestria but you can at least do me that humane service."

Celestia hesitated for a moment, something about helping out a sworn foe disgusted her. Not that it wasn’t right, she was no threat to her and she had probably been down here for a long time. It was the notion of helping something that nearly enslaved all pony kind to her twisted will that disgusted her. "Fine but any funny stuff and I will barbecue your chitin hide." Celestia fired small shots into the chains, snapping the spring locks in the cuffs holding her to the wall.

Chrysalis despite her mouth collapsed on the floor with an audible thud. "Give me a moment if you will." Chrysalis tried to put weight on her legs but collapsed again the second she managed to get so much a inch off the floor. "Well, this is embarrassing, the queen of changelings unable to walk."

"How long have you been down here? You look like hell...well, more hell than usual."

Chrysalis laid on her side, breathing deeply. "You have no idea how hard it is to breathe chained standing up like that. To answer your question, at least eighteen months."

Celestia stepped back. "Eighteen months?!? No wonder you're a wreck." Now that Chrysalis was on the floor, her features were a bit more apparent in the light, she had lost a considerable amount of weight, her chitin was flaking and cracking at spots and her wings have all but rotted off. As much as Celestia hated Chrysalis, she still felt sorry for the condition she was in.

Celestia's staring did not escape the queen of changelings however. "Save the sympathies for somepony else. I am just glad to be soon taken away to a Equestrian dungeon where I can at least be fed."

The thought had crossed Celestia's mind. She could just lock away one of Equestria's most powerful enemies at least until she was rehabilitated or even seal her behind the Tartarus gate if changing her was out of the question. The thought was appealing if not for Chrysalis's poor condition, she had already been through hell and in fairness she didn't have the heart to lock her up again. "No, the punishment you have sustained in this foul place is more than anypony deserves, even you."

Chrysalis tried to stand on her legs again but found herself chipping a portion of chitin on her leg instead. "Arrrgg!!"

"Are you alright?"

"F-fine. I just need time to recover." Chrysalis lifted up her hoof and licked the green blood flowing from the chipped chitin.

"We have doctors you know, that's hardly hygienic."

"How little you understand our biology then, Changeling saliva has a sealing agent when applied to our bodies." Chrysalis licked the wound until a thin but black lining of chitin covered it. "Are you not going to interrogate me?"

"I was but..."

An angry glare came across Chrysalis's face. "Don't you dare pity me. It was my own stupidity that got me into this situation."

"I can't help but pity you but I'll try to not show it." Celestia knew she was lying, her heart felt heavy to see even her enemies this broken. "What are you doing here?"

"We were offered a heavy sum of bits to deliver rare metals to this fort's commander, Maskia."

Celestia remembered the bill of sale she saw upstairs. "Elementium, Spirellium and soul shards?"

"Yes. We had only been paid half of our bill when we delivered them almost two years ago. I came here personally to settle a debt with Maskia. When she refused paying me and my swarm for the toil we went through we got into an argument."

"You were selling-"

"Don't get the wrong Idea, I wanted nothing to do with Maskia's backwards philosophy, we just wanted the income for our...own future endeavors."

"Another shot at Canterlot." Celestia growled.

"Maybe, although we could just buy the love with that much money, I hadn't decided. Either way if she won she would have only just. We would have moved in and taken control while they were still exhausted from fighting your legions. Either way you look at it it's win-win situation for my children."

Celestia had the sudden urge to kick Chrysalis but realized with Chrysalis still in terrible shape something like that could kill her.

"Oh don't get all huffy with me Celestia, if the roles were reversed you would have done the same if Maskia targeted our lands first. Anyways she called us 'worthless hermaphrodite heathens' and 'abominations of nature fit only to squash like the bugs we are'."

Celestia scratched her mane with her hoof. "Why would she...it makes no sense."

"In case you missed the biology lesson Celestia, all changelings are born female but we are capable of changing our sex at any time. Maskia didn't like this idea and it's one of the reasons we never allied. She couldn't get past her distorted 'purist' world view to realize she actually needed allies."

"So what happened?"

Chrysalis pointed to a deep scar on her midsection and then to the stump where her horn used to be. "She stabbed me with a tip of a spear made from some kind of silver and managed to lop my horn off while I writhed in blinding pain." Chrysalis seemed visibly shaken recalling what happened to her. "I have never felt such horrible pain, it felt as if my very essence was being drained from me."

"She hit you with a replica spear of sealing. I know exactly what that feels like." Celestia moved a small patch of her coat on her side with her magic, revealing a small puncture scar. "It kills those it hits by draining away all their flesh and eventually sealing their soul inside the spear itself."

"Never heard of such a thing" Chrysalis replied inquisitively.

"It was originally developed to deal with predatory dragons in this region but has since been used to commit horrific atrocities. The original was sealed away by the lesser tribes to prevent it from being abused."

"If this spear kills in a single blow then why are you or me for that matter still alive?"

"For beings of considerable magic power such as myself, Luna and you it only strips you of your immortality on a temporary basis, although being hit a second time would be lethal."

Chrysalis shaked her head dejectedly. "But I am not immortal, yes I go through reincarnations using soul shards but I am mortal in every other sense. I should have died...I almost wished I had died." Chrysalis pointed to the chitin husks of some of her children. "Watching waves of my own children rush to their mothers rescue only to be captured, slaughtered and tortured wholesale for her amusement. Chrysalis turned her head, trying to hide her tears. "Whenever she used those silver spears on them the only thing that would remain is their chitin husks."

Celestia looked about the chambers and hall leading up to Chrysalis's cell, only the husks of changelings were strewn about, no other ponies. "I don't see the bodies of any other prisoners down here."

"That's because she kept them all upstairs. I could have healed myself and broken out if I had any kind of love from another being to feed from, even ambient love would have sufficed. She was smarter than that though, she starved me slowly. Whenever I would absorb any amount of ambient love in the air from her makeshift harem upstairs she would order one of my children gutted in front of me."

Celestia couldn't help but wipe a tear from her eyes. As much as Chrysalis's pride would berate her she still felt sympathy for her situation. "I-I don't know how you could take that much heartbreak."

Chrysalis was silent, she mouthed under her breath as if she almost wanted to say thank you. "I wholeheartedly wanted to die. At least then my soul could find a soul shard to regenerate in. Instead I was chained down here unable to end my own suffering while she bathed in the blood of my children."

Celestia nodded her head. "I don't think I could live like that either. I do however have a theory why being struck with that spear didn't kill you outright. Did they hit you any time after the first?"

"Yes...there was one guard that typically stood at the gate that would come down here to stab me with one. It hurt so much but he could never manage to kill me with it."

Celestia walked over to one of the remains of Chrysalis's children and turned the body over. The chitin husk, aside from the stab wound was still in pristine condition. When Celestia lowered her horn to the wound the inside was clean as a whistle, as if their entire being was sucked out from just the hole itself. " I think my hunch was right. Something about your hard body and powerful magical stature saved your flesh and soul from being absorbed. Did the spear that guard used ever actually penetrate you?"

Chrysalis shook her head no. "On the contrary, over time the pain was less and less, it still hurt like hell but it went from setting me on fire kind of pain to just a hot poker kind."

Celestia cracked a smile. "You may not be immortal but you are one tough cookie."

"Spare me the compliments. Anyways you have all the information I can give. I'll await here for my swarm to retrieve me or you can just lock me up again, either choice is better than this shit hole."

Celestia stared at the broken queen for a moment. I am going to regret this, I just know it. Celestia lowered her horn at Chrysalis and began to charge up a yellow glow.

Chrysalis shook her head and closed her eyes. "So, an execution is it? Got all the info you need and now just going to wipe me out?" Chrysalis opened her eyes. "Do it. Worst case scenario I come back as a mere child." A burst of yellow light struck Chrysalis, enveloping her body. "I knew it, you're not perfect. You just up that peaceful fasad to-" Chrysalis looked up to see her horn growing back. "Wha.." She looked down to she the many fractures and scorches in her body disappearing, leaving her chitin shiny and unblemished. Her wings which moments earlier were nothing more than rotting stumps flared out in all their emerald glory.

"I don't- But I'm your-"

Celestia was breathing heavy, a few beads of sweat rolling down her face. "Your enemy? Maybe so, but to leave you here in your condition would make me no better than Maskia. I guess you can say the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

Chrysalis flexed her wings and looked over every square inch of her body. "Why must you always play the saint, Celestia?"

"I'm not a saint, I'm just normal I guess."

Chrysalis stared at Celestia with a distasteful sneer on her face. "One of these days Celestia, that soft heart of yours is going to get you killed but-" Chrysalis looked over her body once more, she no longer felt hungry and everything was as pristine as the day she arrived here. "T-thaa...this is tougher than I thought. That T word that means appreciation."

"Thanks or Thank you?" Celestia replied with a snide grin on her face.

"Yes, that word. You have helped me recover but know this: It changes nothing between us."

*Pant*pant* "Good to see you in such high spirits. I want to stick around and play insult hockey with you but I have a throne room and a dictators chambers to inspect. I'll contact Derpy and have her escort you out, you should be able to fly home with the healing I gave you." Celestia reached to press her communication badge when Chrysalis put her hoof up to stop her.

"I- I wish to explore this this fortress with you. I have score to settle with Maskia and any information into her psyche would do the swarm well when hunting her down. Although it disgusts me to my core to be around you, you are still the lesser of my enemies at the moment."

Celestia smiled. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend?"

"I guess you were right then. Shall we?"

Celestia turned her back to lead the way out but something inside her said she shouldn't have.

"I won't attack you Celestia. There would be no point to it, I cannot kill you and I am free to leave of my own will whenever I please. As much as it would delight me to knock you down a peg, I am honor bound by the mercy you have shown me. Please, lead the way."

Celestia thought for a moment. I guess I can trust her, even if she somehow defeated me she would still have to fight off Twilight, Derpy and the entire might of the 3rd legion. "Fine, follow me. " Celestia took point going through the hall, Chrysalis close behind her. "I suggest you-"

Chrysalis had stopped, her head bowed somberly over a pile of broken changeling husks in an adjacent chamber to the hall. "If only I had been stronger, if only I knew exactly how unstable Maskia truly was." Chrysalis nudged one of the chitin skulls on the ground, a single tear dripping from her eye. "In my greed to find us an indefinite supply of food I made a deal that got many of you killed. If only I had known."

"Chrysalis?"

"Celestia, have you ever lost somepony close to you?"

Celestia knew where this conversation was going, she could see the tears in Chrysalis's somber face. "Yes, I have known many ponies through the ages."

"Were any of them close to you on a... biological level?"

"My parents and a few extant relatives that were not born Alicorns many, many centuries ago."

"Have you ever had children?"

"No, I decided long ago that I couldn't handle the heartbreak of outliving my own posterity. Why?"

Chrysalis picked up one her children's heads. "I have gone through many a rebirth cycle. Each time a bit of my memories from my past life remained. I have outlived so many of my own children that I can't even remember how many." Chrysalis touched her head to the skull of one of her former children. "It never get's any easier though. I see why the last queen decided to move on instead of regenerate all those centuries ago."

"Chrysalis I-"

"No, I don't need sympathy from you, only understanding. I was born just as the last queen perished, meaning I was not marked with a hive job. I became the new queen by default, without my consent or my wishes being taken into consideration. My future was set in stone before I could even read and the transformation from a tiny worker to monarch was a very...painful experience."

Celestia remained silent as Chrysalis set the skull back on the ground and bowed her head.

"Kzvk kia mor tellatharia."

"What does that mean?"

Chrysalis raised her head, wiping a tear from her eye. "It means 'may you find fields of love and your true purpose in the next life'. "

"I understand. I'm sorry for the loss of your-"

"No!, No sympathy from those that have always had whatever they wanted. I will not hear it!"

Celestia huffed angrily at Chrysalis. "No you will hear it and listen well. I get that drones have dreams, that they just want a life where they are loved and can pursue whatever they want but are bound by the ancient will of the swarm. I have reports from my scouts telling me of the conditions your kind lives in. I can't help to feel sorry for you, okay?" Celestia breathed deep. "I understand your jealousy and why you wanted Equestria so badly, but did you ever think to ask for help instead of using force or deception?"

"Pfft, you wouldn't understand what it is to be a single mind among thousands. There is no time for bartering when your children are starving. How difficult it is to be loved when you look like we do, our disguises don't last indefinitely you know." Chrysalis flicked her hair back with her hoof. "I tire of this discussion, can we move along? I want Maskia's roasted hide on my plate before the end of the day."

Celestia huffed indignantly. Bucking changing the subject, giant pain in the flank. Celestia wanted to call Chrysalis out on her red herring tactics but thought better of it. She had much larger fish to fry than an accusation dodging changeling. "Fine, we can butt philosophy heads over tea later, for now let just get out of this dreary place." Chrysalis rolled her eyes but kept quiet as she followed Celestia up the dungeon stairs and back into the armory.

Chrysalis walked about the room while Celestia watched. "So, they were so desperate that they were making arrow heads out of zinc and slag? No, this isn't zinc." Chrysalis shot a beam of light from her horn, shattering one of the helmets on the table. "This is...sandstone slag?"

Celestia poked one of the shards with her hoof. "I'm not a mineralogist, I thought these were all zinc myself."

Chrysalis smashed one of the shards under her hoof and examined it closely. "Interesting. It looks like they used sandstone to make glass and covered it in the slag but added zinc, copper and what looks like Elementium dust to the mix." Chrysalis blew the shards off her hooves. "I could almost call this ingenious if it wasn't for the fact that Elementium doesn't bond well with glass."

"I...didn't know that. My exposure to the element is a bit scarce."

"One of the benefits of living where we do, you learn much about metals." Chrysalis fired a shot into the air from her horn and it materialized as a changeling minion working at a hatchery. "Before each of my children is born they are marked as warriors, caretakers or workers. The mark is magical and determines what kind of mineral sub composition their chitin armor is made from." The image swirled depicting a unhatched egg. "A egg marked as a warrior has Elementium fragments, iron, and obsidian laid next to the shell. Over a course of the changelings incubation they will absorb these elements and make them their own." The image swirled to a hatch-ling emerging from its egg. "This process isn't perfect, we found that sometimes sand impurities get into other metals and ends up creating a changeling that changes once but can never change again."

Chrysalis pointed at the image and it turned into a pony but couldn't seem to change back. "Long ago, before my time we would execute these abominations." Chrysalis horn lit up and the image disappeared.

"So why don't you do this and just mix in with pony society?"

"Because we tracked this malfunction to only happen when an over abundance of love if fed into the eggs. Some of these deformed changelings are living in Equestria right now but have since cut ties with the hive. If we had enough love we could all possibly do the same."

"Then why didn't you just-"

"Ask?" Chrysalis cut Celestia off.

"That, yes."

"Because such sentiments were alien to us. Where we lived you only took, the concept of give and take does not exist in our society. Imagine trying to give a command to fly to a fish when it has no comprehension of what flying entails."

"Unless it is a flying fish." Celestia said sarcastically.

"Yes, well, that kind of change takes time, time the swarm didn't have before it starved to death."

Ignoring the hint of sarcasm on Chrysalis's voice Celestia found a wrought iron door in the back of the room. "I think I found the way to the throne room." Celestia slowly opened the door to reveal a large throne and many chairs to the side in council format. On the far side of the room was a table with little pewter figurines standing around to signify troop positions. "It looks like a war room combined with a throne room."

"This fort isn't very big. It was originally meant as an outpost but your legions quickly took the other ones on the shore and back attacked the capital."

"And you know this how Chrissy?"

Chrysalis puffed her cheeks in anger. "Do not call me that insufferable nickname. Babies changelings can get away with it but you sure as hell won't." Chrysalis covered her mouth quickly, as if she had said too much.

Celestia giggled "If it makes you feel any better Luna still calls me Tia from time to time." Celestia turned her attention away from the blushing changeling queen to investigate the table with the pewter figures. "It seems like they were expecting allies to flank the 3rd legion at some point, any idea who they were?"

Chrysalis adverted Celestia's gaze for a moment. "Yes, yes I do. Originally some of my troops were to assist her directly but because of Maskia lack of sanity she instead ended up with my forces beset on her."

Celestia shrugged and tried to pick up one of the pewter figurines.

"Stop, it's..." Chrysalis yelled.

Celestia felt numbness in her hoof followed by a large jolt of pain that sent her tumbling across the room.

"Trapped..." Chrysalis pointed to a large pair of cables running to hole in the wall on the opposite side of the table. "Are you okay? That was quite a shock."

Celestia staggered to her feet muttering "I'm fine" under her breath. She knew this wasn't true however, Healing Chrysalis and the explosion earlier had significantly drained her magic reserves. While the shock didn't kill her it was still far more painful than if she was at her peak. Need to be a bit more careful, I’d rather not get into a situation where my immortality could fail me. Celestia stared at chrysalis for a moment. Least of all with her around.

"What? Is there something in my teeth?"

Celestia nodded toward a gold door at the other end of the room. "Think that's her quarters?"

"Either that or the most decorative broom closet in the world." Chrysalis responded sarcastically.

Celestia moved toward the door, reaching for the handle when she spotted a thin silky wire running horizontally along the door. "It's booby trapped." Celestia followed the lines to a small slightly off-color box shape in the door. "Chrysalis, stand back." Celestia lowered her horn and began to layer barriers on on top another in front of her.

"Explosives maybe?"

"Could be. I'd rather not take the chance though." Celestia reached a hoof through the barriers and tripped the wire. A ticking sound came from the discolored box shape on the door. "Yeah a bomb, though why bother putting it on a timer?" Both sat, waiting apprehensively behind the barriers. Celestia turned her head to Chrysalis "You think this is enough..."

Chrysalis paid Celestia no heed, she was absentmindedly staring at the floor.

"What's wr-"

A buzzing sound made Celestia whirl her head back to the door. A compartment opened up shooting a message out on a spring.

'You are too slow, death awaits below'

"What does it me-" The floor gave way and Celestia felt the tips of her wings rubbing against the walls of a very thin shaft. She tried to right herself but the shaft was too narrow, below she could feel something incredibly hot. Celestia looked down but suddenly wished she hadn't. A pool of molten steel awaited her at the bottom of the pit, a survivable trap but excruciatingly painful to escape. Celestia spread her legs and front hooves out to try and slow her descent and just as she closed her eyes to brace for impact with the steel she felt light as a feather. A green Aura was wrapped around her body, slowly pulling her back up the shaft into the room she was in previously.

"Do you know how bucking heavy you are?" Chrysalis said grinding her teeth. Celestia managed to throw her hooves over the side of the pit just as Chrysalis started to stagger from the strain. "You *pant* pant* really need to lay off the midnight cake."

"Well" Celestia pulled herself out of the shaft. "I can’t help it! Luna got me hooked on moon pies, they are so delicious." Chrysalis rolled her eyes as Celestia stared into the pit, blushing. "Thanks all the same."

"Ick Moon Pies, I’m much more into wheat thins. Good snack food that keeps my amazing feminine body in perfect shape."

Celestia covered her mouth to stifle a laugh as Chrysalis ran her hoof though her hair.

"Oh don't look at me that way. Solid food is in short supply, we can’t really afford expensive, high sugar treats."

Celestia managed push the humorous image of Chrysalis flaunting her ugly flank in the mirror out of her head and focus on the door in front of her. "You know what? I have a better idea than opening doors by hoof." Celestia lowered her horn and fired a beam of red light at the door, melting it on contact. "Shall we?" Celestia walked into the room with Chrysalis close behind. The room was stunning, marble floors, redwood walls, solid gold bedposts and a magic silver mirror.

"She sure knows how to live, doesn't she?" Chrysalis said picking up a globe filled with liquid gold.

"I'll say, this room makes mine look like I sleep at a motel six." Celestia gazed into the silver mirror only to have it melt away into a cup on the counter. "Look around, I want to get my hooves on her journal if at all possible." Celestia and Chrysalis scoured the room, opening up drawer after drawer, only to find random news snippets and the occasional snack hiding spot. "I wonder where it could be..."

Chrysalis hopped on the bed and lifted up a pillow only to head a clicking sound and the sound of grinding metal coming for her. A mattress of spikes fell toward her at blinding speed. Just at the spike were inches from her back a yellow aura held them at bay.

Celestia had managed to catch the mattress of spikes with her magic but was straining against gravity to keep them up. "Roll...out...of..the way, unless you want more holes to match...those legs." Chrysalis quickly rolled off the bed and soon after Celestia let the spikes drop, crushing the bed below into shredded linen and splinters. "Pant* Pant* that thing was heavy... and it felt like it was draining my magic just to hold it."

Chrysalis scraped the side of the metal mattress with her hoof and sure enough small flakes of Elementium mixed with paint fell to the floor. "Ingenious. I didn't think it could properly bond with such materials." Examining the trap further revealed that there was a thick coating of glue and resin under the paint. "It didn't. They forced it into place, still quite lethal though."

Celestia stared at the object for a moment and noticed a box sitting on the very back of the trap. it was a small, ruby encrusted ornate gold box. Celestia pointed to the box with her hoof. "You think that might be?"

"Only one way to find out." Chrysalis levitated the box to her and tried to forcibly open it with magic only to have her magic sapped in the attempt. "Hmm... Elementium powder. I guess we do this the hard way." Chrysalis stuck the box in a crescent shaped hole in her leg and began to put weight on it. Slowly the box began to give under the sharp point in her leg, opening up as if she was opening a can of tuna.

"I always thought those were just air holes to make you lighter."

Chrysalis removed the box from her leg, a clean cut running down its length. "They are but I have used them to open cans of beans before. You would be surprised how fickle magic can be when you're drowsy and want a midnight snack." Chrysalis parted the top two half's of what used to be the lid of the box to revealed a small journal.

Celestia levitated the box onto the bed floor. "I know this is probably a trap, she wanted me to find this. There is no other reason to store it in such a lethal, hard to reach place."

"Agreed but the past entries may shed some light on some of her tactics or motivations. I do so love to delve into others minds, see what makes them tick."

"Changeling fetish?" Celestia asked.

"You could call it that." Chrysalis opened the journal to the first page and began to read aloud.

"The council of the three has granted permission to attempt assassinations on the leaders of Equestria before we try our hooves at full on war. I have managed to 'persuade' a few of the smaller tribes into joining as well, although their loyalty isn't as guaranteed as the main three, they are nonetheless excellent cannon fodder."

Chrysalis turned the pages past a few economic reports to a interesting note. "The assassination attempt on the elder sister failed. Although her immortality was stripped of her we lacked the positioning to land a fatal blow. I have conscripted more assassins to make attempts on the lives of Luna and the elements of harmony. Worst case scenario we can at least eliminate one of the elements so the others cannot use their full power on us."

Chrysalis smiled at Celestia. " I see, that scar you have is where they almost did you in."

"Not my proudest moment, I have never experienced near death, you have no clue how terrifying it is."

"I guess for somepony that doesn't go through regeneration cycles it is." Chrysalis turned a few more pages into the journal.

"The elder council has agreed to declare full on war and have named me the high commander. With replica spears of sealing and the might of the shaman special forces Equestria will fall. I will enjoy torturing Celestia, her vile impure laws have disgraced herself and her kind. we will wipe out the impure ones and claim Equestria in the name of righteousness."

Celestia rolled her eyes. "Righteousness eh? Is that what they call bigotry nowadays?"

Chrysalis just shrugged and turned the page.

"Celestia's Arch mage has found a way to neutralize our replica spears and restored Celestia to full power. Our forces are currently engaged in naval warfare with Equestria but our Destroyers are nothing to the amount of battle blimps they have. We will bunker down and let them waste lives and resources on our beachhead, then we will take our their navy. in the meantime our scouts have located the original Spear of Sealing at a remote border outpost run by one of the lesser tribes. I leave tomorrow to find out if this is true."

Celestia put a hoof over her mouth as she gasped.

"What's wrong?"

"The original Spear of Sealing is a dreadful weapon. I know little about it but I heard from Zecora that it was shattered into many pieces and would be difficult to put back together."

"Then why all the worry?"

"Because if she managed to pull it off then she would be capable of killing me, you or Luna."

Chrysalis thought hard for a moment before continuing to read from another page.

"The lead turned out to be legitimate. We have all three parts of the spear in our possession and my shaman are busy trying to find a way to restore it. I have contacted the council and requested additional funding in efforts to restore our ultimate weapon. I await the good news from the council."

"Interesting." Chrysalis turned the page.

"The council has granted permission for additional funds to get the weapon operational. My head shaman have advised me that we will need some very rare materials only found in the most inhospitable regions of Equestria. I loath to be forced to make deals with those hermaphrodite, insect things but getting the materials is impossible anywhere else."

Chrysalis spit on the floor in anger. "Stuck up noble. We are not hermaphrodites, it's like she has never picked up a dictionary ." Chrysalis turned the page a few times and read aloud.

"The changelings have delivered the materials needed for the spear reforging. The council on the other hand has notified me that I'm going terribly over budget on this project and need to talk the queen down to about half of what is owed. The council also wants me to negotiate her army to assist us in our war efforts but I refuse to allow such abominations among our ranks. If she refuses to take her pay and leave I will be forced to subdue her."

"Seems like she was planning to capture you from the beginning."

"Well, try to cheat me and my children out of just pay and then capture me."

Chrysalis turned the page to the next entry.

"I was forced to put that disgusting bug queen in her place but I have received orders from the council to release her. Fat chance, I have future plans for that foul insect. We can bait her children into attacking us and kill them for their hard husks. We should be able to refine the Elementium out of them, something we still need a little bit of to finish preparations for the reforging."

Chrysalis gritted her teeth angrily, "I can’t read any more,I might just torch this journal if I do. Would you mind reading the rest of this garbage?"

Celestia levitated the journal over to her and set it on the floor.

"My refusal to release the foul bug queen has cost us dearly. We had to pull the shaman special forces away from the 3rd and 2nd legions to stop their advance to the west. Sadly most of them were wiped out from within by sabotage. The council has expressed their displeasure with my decision to keep her locked away and have set a date to publicly discharge my command tomorrow morning in front of the entire standing army of fort Zidalf. I will not let this come to pass, we are too close to absolute victory. I am too close to becoming a god to let them take this from me."

"Wait, wait ,wait. This weapon makes you?"

"That's the problem. Zecora mentioned it was originally used to kill predatory dragons but nothing in the texts she has read led her to believe it could grant anything close to goddess like powers." Celestia replied.

"Didn't a replica manage to nearly kill you?"

Celestia averted her gaze from Chrysalis. "Yes, perhaps she means with it she can kill godlike creatures but she could do that with any amount of different weapons. Basilisk eyes, dragon claws, large quantities of magic. Even large amounts of arrows will eventually wear us down. "

"We can take large amounts of punishment but there are limits to what we can endure. Maybe there is some truth in Maskia's words. What worries me more is she thinks that kind of power is attainable, we may be long lived but we are far from invulnerable."

Celestia sighed. "I dread what would happen is someone of a mortal life suddenly had near immortal powers. Me and Luna could stop her but killing her would be another thing entirely." Celestia stared at the journal "I guess I should continue." Celestia turned the page to a blood stained page in the journal.

"I...wish I could have seen eyes to eye but the council forced my hoof. They tried to take away my commanding position and call a cease fire with Equestria. I will not have it! The ritual is in a few days, I have come too far to have mortals stop me. I regretted killing them, the elders, most of whom I had known since I was a foal but the glorious future of my empire relies on that weapon being completed."

Celestia turned the page but found a entry ripped out and another one written in it's place.

"The forging attempt in the main audience chamber was a failure. To any allies who read this you can meet me at the rendezvous, we can lay low for a few years. With any luck Chrysalis will get into a fight with Celestia and we will be rid of two impure monsters. If not my traps should be enough to hopefully kill her. I pray that we will one day rise again to take down Equestria...it may not be in my lifetime but the impure, sinful ways of Equestria will be purged."

Chrysalis snorted as she laughed, rolling hysterically on the floor.

"Something funny?" Celestia asked.

Chrysalis managed to catch her breath and roll back onto her hooves, still giggling uncontrollably. "She seriously thought I was able to fight you in my condition? Even if I suddenly had the opportunity to strike you down it's not like I had the power to. I mean honestly what was I going to do, bleed on you?" Chrysalis stood up flicking her hair. "Besides, I am not one to pick fights I have no possibility of winning. Attacking you would have been suicide. I much rather get my hooves around Maskia than deal with the entire Equestrian army."

Celestia turned the last few pages to no effect. That was the last entry in the journal. "Something bothers me. She wanted us to find this, otherwise she would have burned it."

"I agree, this reeks of double baiting. Our answers lie in that audience chamber she mentioned but it is more than likely trapped. An attempt to drain you even further."

"I figured the same but...it's just..."

Chrysalis had a snide grin on her face. "Curiosity killed the cat Celestia. Are you sure risking your life is worth whatever is in that chamber?"

"I must know. If she actually succeeded in reforging that weapon it's my duty to notify Luna and all surrounding kingdoms that a lunatic is on the loose wielding great power."

"I feel the same way. I have hungry hatch-lings to look over you know. Shall we?"

***Elsewhere***

*Beep*Beep*Bee*Bloop* Maskia touched her hoof onto a bracelet on her arm to silence the beeping. "Good, they should be triggering the last trap soon. I would rather not have to fight off both sisters at once if I can help it." The twin valves on Maskia armor opened up further, increasing her speed drastically. "Should make landfall in a few minutes or so but which element should I target first?" Maskia seemed lost in thought for a moment. "I guess it doesn't really matter, if I kill one the elements the whole cannot be used on me. I guess the pink one or the imbecile farmer would be the two easiest targets. With them out of the way it would only leave Luna and a magically drained Celestia to deal with."

Maskia tapped her hoof on her head. "I have an idea..."

***Back at the fortress***

"Hnnmmm" Derpy stared at the door, puzzled about how to go about opening it. "I tried asking nicely, every password I know, hitting it with my mace and even trying to bribe it to open. Honestly what door could possibly refuse muffins?" Derpy kicked the bottom of the door with her hoof in frustration. "Stupid magic door." Derpy noticed something odd about her kick, the door seemed to move ever so slightly forward but then rebound back into place. Derpy kicked the door and it did it again, something was loose either in the framework of the door or in the door itself. "Huh?" Derpy scanned the door for structural weaknesses when her eyes fell upon one of the hinges.

"What do we have here?" Something was off about this hinge and a quick glance at the one by the top of the door revealed why; both the linchpins and the bold holding the door to the archway were rusted steel and not Elementium like the rest of the door. "Seems like someone overlooked the most important part." Derpy closely examined the bottom hinge. Not only was the bolts and linchpin terribly rusted but the bricks they were anchored to were cracked from the weight of the door and the expanding metal drilled into them.

"Derpy?"

Derpy shot up in surprise, tumbling over as she frantically grabbed for her mace.

"Calm down hotshot it's just me, Twilight."

Derpy lifted her helmet up to lay eyes On the Arch mage standing at the end of the corridor. "Hello Arch mage Twilight Sparkle, How did your search go?"

"Fruitful but creepy. Some poor pony hung herself out of guilt in the service quarters and a journal I found from a soldier mentioned they were probably doing horrible things in that room you been trying to get into."

Derpy stared at the door and then at Twilight. "I guess that's why it's locked up with this special door."

"Have you figured a way in yet?"

"Yep, though I'm not sure If I can get it open that way without causing it to cave in." Derpy pointed to structural cracks along the hinges leading all the way up. "If I smack the bolts with my mace they will snap but if I do the entire doorway or even the wall might cave in."

"I Agree, we can't have that."

"Celesti-" Twilight's exuberance was cut short by a the menacing figure standing behind the princess. "Princess, behind you!" Twilight horn lit up and fired a bolt right at the figure behind Celestia only to be pulled and eventually sucked into the Elementium door. "That imposter from my brothers wedding is behind you!"

Derpy pulled her muffin shaped mace from her holster and charged at Chrysalis yelling. "For Equestria!"

"Stand down Sky Admiral Derpy!" Celestia shouted. Derpy stopped in mid air, a furious growl on her face.

"But your majesty-"

"But nothing, she was a prisoner here. I have taken her under my wing and granted her asylum as long as she is within our grounds. You are not to attack her unless she decides to be hostile first, understood?"

Derpy lowered her mace and shook her head begrudgingly. "As you command, your majesty."

Twilight Sparkle on the other hoof did not lower her horn but kept her magic in check.

"Twilight I said-"

"Let me handle this Celestia." Chrysalis interjected. Chrysalis slowly walked up to Twilight sparkle, her wings erect in case she needed to dodge. "Long time no see, Twilight Sparkle."

"Not nearly enough time." Twilight replied curtly.

"Why all the hostility? Last time we met you shook that nice behind at me in greeting."

"Gross, I would never do such a-"

Chrysalis started to dance in place while singing. "Sunshine, sunshine ladybugs awake! clap your hooves and do a little shake!" Chrysalis shook her flanks in Twilight's face.

"I never did-" Twilight thought back to when she saw Cadence at the wedding, she had shaken her behind at Chrysalis in that manner before. Twilight's face went beet red as she covered her face with her hooves. "Oh no I did do that didn't I?"

"Don't worry, If it's any consolation you do have very nice flank. I mean your brother was good in bed and all but I always wonder how you would fare."

"Gross, gross, gross!" Twilight shook her head back and forth covering her ears.

"Enough Chrysalis. I would rather not have to buy Twilight a years supply of mind-soap if I can help it."

"You're no fun Celestia. I was only trying to loosen her up a bit."

Twilight slowly lowered her hooves from her ears and opened her eyes only to catch a sly wink from the changeling queen right at her. "Ahem, anyways me and Derpy were about to try and force open this door but the doorway bricks and mortar are rotten and cracking. I'm not sure how to go about opening the door without causing it to collapse."

Chrysalis walked by Twilight examining the door. "Elementium...the entire way through."

"The bolts holding it on are rusty steel though." Derpy added.

Chrysalis examined the bolts closely. "Well, cutting is out of the question. The hinges are made of Elementium and would break apart any kind of magical beam long before we could cut through the steel. I may have another way though." Chrysalis walked down the hall a ways and lined herself next to the wall directly at the hinges. "Twilight, Derpy was it? I suggest you move away from the door." Twilight and Derpy moved up to Celestia's sides. "Here goes nothing!" Swirls of green began to circulate around Chrysalis's horn. Many strands of green magic rotated around her horn faster and faster until nothing but a bright green, nearly as bright as the sun itself filled the hall.

Twilight and Derpy covered their eyes but Celestia couldn't look away. The door began to buckle, the entirety of it's weight being somehow drawn to the magic Chrysalis was putting off. The door pushed hard towards Chrysalis, cutting through the hinge linchpin as if it were made of butter. With a metallic ping the door fell to the floor and began to move slowly along the floor toward Chrysalis.

"Enough, the doors on the floor!" Celestia shouted.

Chrysalis let her concentration go and with a loud zap the green glow dissipated.

Twilight and Derpy uncovered their eyes to find the door laying on the floor with ripples down the center from it buckling in on itself. Down the hall they noticed Chrysalis panting heavily, sweat rolling down her face and her legs shaking to keep her body upright.

"Are you okay-" before Twilight could finish her sentence a foul odor assaulted her nostrils, nearly bringing tears to her eyes. "What is that odor? it smells like something died in-"

"That's because something did, Twilight." Celestia fired a slow hovering ball of light into the next room illuminating piles upon piles of ash and charred patches of fur. "Try not to breathe in the ash. Actually..." Celestia nodded at Twilight and Twilight nodded back. Twilight's horn lit up and four white mouth masks appeared on the floor. "I want everypony wearing one of these."

Chrysalis walked up to the group, still panting and stared at the masks. "I have no need for these, where we are from ash isn't so much a problem."

Celestia rolled her eyes and put the mask over her mouth, strapping the elastic bands behind her ears. "Stay behind me, if there's a trap in here it's much better for me to be hit by it than any of you." The others nodded in agreement although Chrysalis with some hesitation. The group walked into the circular room with Celestia on point her horn illuminating the room. Along the walls Celestia could make out something shiny and in the center of the room was large, pearl while pillar.

"Twilight, can you set up a magical torch circle around the walls of this room?"

"I'll try." Twilight Pushed magic though her horn and with some effort managed to get six yellow torches lighting the room.

"You okay Arch mage?" Derpy asked.

"Something about this room is weird, it's really hard to do any magic more advanced than a lighting spell."

"And that's the reason why!" Chrysalis pointed to large purple gems lining the room, six in total. "Soul shards. The ones we delivered no doubt."

Twilight walked up to one of the shards and examined it. "I have read about these but sadly the Canterlot archives have little information about them."

"And rightfully so. Used incorrectly these are capable of killing the user. Twilight, I take it when you cast your spell you felt your body being pushed toward that pillar?" Chrysalis asked pointed at the pearl white pillar in the center of the room.

"Kind of, When I cast the spell it felt like parts of me were bending on the inside."

*whhheezzz*

The entire group nearly jumped out of their skins at the sudden noise that echoed about the room.

"What was that?" Derpy said keeping her hoof on her mace as she looked around frantically.

*Cough*cough*wheeze*

Out of the corner of her eyes Twilight spotted a pile of ash moving north of the pillar. Upon closer inspection she noticed white and brown splotches of color amidst the ash. "Look!"

The rest of the ponies followed Twilight's outstretched hoof to the pile she spotted.

*cough*cough*

"Wait, that sounded...young." Twilight cautiously moved over to the wheezing noise and looped over a short pile of ash. “Celestia! Over here!”

Celestia rushed over to Twilight’s side ready to fight when she stopped dead in her tracks. “It’s...still alive?”

Twilight bent over scanning the young Zebra colt’s body with her horn. “Barely, hes got compound fractures all over, 3rd degree burns over half his body and arteries that are only sealed off by his back legs being cauterized.”

Chrysalis moved behind Celestia, worry in her eyes as she stared at the barely breathing colt. “C-can we save him?”

Twilight and Derpy looked taken aback, apparently not expecting the normally cold Chrysalis to show concern. Celestia wasn’t fooled however, Chrysalis may have been cold and to an extent, evil but she was still a mother at heart.

“I’m afraid not. He only has maybe a hour or so at most. He has severe swelling in the brain, critical lung damage and is in shock. Even if we got him to the medical squad all they could do is ease his suffering.” Twilight stepped up to the young colt and lit up her horn. “We have two options, I can teleport him and me to the medical squad or...” Twilight swallowed “we can put him out of his misery but...I- I don’t think I could do it.”

Celestia stepped up beside Twilight and lowered herself toward the colt. “Twilight, I need you to stand back.” Celestia knew what had to be done. “I will perform a full restoration.” Celestia’s horn fired up with bright rainbow light, slowly fading into white as she charged her spell.

Chrysalises eyes darted about the room. Unnoticed by the other ponies small sparks started to fall of the soul shards lined about the room. Wait a moment, this configuration... Chrysalis quickly examined the facings on the soul shards. Each one was pointed not at the altar in the center but at the top most part of the other on the opposite wall. “Celestia stop! it’s a...”

Celestia fired a bolt of white light into the colt. The colt slowly lifted into the air, his burns disappearing , fur growing back over his body and his breathing returning to normal, almost as if he was in perfect health again. The same could not be said for Celestia however, her mane and tail were fading in from their usual bright, vibrant rainbow colors to a very faded light pink. Not just regular light pink, pink made of hair instead of magic.

“Just..a little bit more...” Celestia pushed whatever magic she had left in her into the colt, sealing up the last of his wounds as she collapsed on the floor, panting heavily.

“Celestia!”

“Your highness!”

Twilight and derpy ran to celestia’s side only to hear a loud clang behind them. The Elementium plated door had squeezed itself back into place, no doubt attracted by the vast amount of magical power celestia had just let off.

“Celestia, you foal! This entire room is setup to drain souls!” Chrysalis shouted, pointing at the now vibrant purple shards. “This setup is a reversal of a rebirth spell, the way these shards are set up is to burn the flesh away and funnel the souls together in the center altar.”

Cracks of lightning began to fire from the soul shards, striking the center altar.

“Is there any way too...” Twilight tried to finish her sentence but her thoughts had been drowned out. Pain, like none she had ever felt before was running its way over her entire body like a wave, followed by immense heat like someone had set her on fire with oil. “What...was that...” Twilight cried through gritted teeth. Another wave hit her and she screamed out in agony, her flesh feeling as if she was being cooked alive.

“Derpy no feel good...” Derpy collapsed on the ground , her wings starting to show singe marks on the tips.

Chrysalis looked at the elementium door, she could still knock it down with brute force but wouldn’t have nearly enough time or power to move the rest of the group out of the room before the ceremony finished. Chrysalis did the smallest of double takes at the door and then back to the young colt, who was still somewhat protected by the remnants of celestia’s power, although not for long.

“I guess that leaves option number two...”

***Elsewhere***

“I can’t believe the security here is so...lax.” Maskia stood on a ridge overlooking Ponyville, home of her granddaughter and the targets she needed to eliminate to secure her rule. “So odd, no guards, no scout forces nor navy at the coast, it’s almost as if I was baited he-” Maskia felt a dreadful power wash over her. Something dark and powerful, like the weight of an entire ocean of power bearing down on her back. Maskia looked on the ground and saw a shadow of wings and a unicorn horn in front of her. She slowly turned her head to confront Luna when she was struck with a thunderous headbutt to the face, making her stagger back.

“I was hoping you would try something so brazen so I could have the pleasure of wiping your presence from the earth.” Luna spread her wings, arcs of black lightning arced along the ground as the entire countryside quaked with her power.

“I am the princess of the night.” She yelled in her royal wee, which shook leaves off trees for miles around.

“Not even death will save you from me.”

Chapter XII: Wrath Of The Moon Goddess

Chapter XII: Wrath Of The Moon Goddess

Applejack put her hooves over her ears in a attempt to stifle the blaring sound of Ponyville's emergency evacuation system. "What in tarnation is goin on?" Applejack removed her front hooves from her ears and ran up a nearby hill to get a good view of the town below. On a cliff overlooking Ponyville was a orb of solid black, radiating lightning as if it was an overactive storm-cloud. "I guess that counts as a emergency, I wonder what it is?" Applejack took two steps off the hill towards the black ball, her curiosity easily overpowering her sense of fear when a voice in her head stopped her cold.

To all citizens of Ponyville, hear now the words of thine Princess of the night.

Applejack recognized the voice immediately as that of Princess Luna, however it seemed deeper, more agitated than usual, even angry.

All non-combatant citizens are to evacuate in a orderly fashion behind the barrier put up by the 7th legion to the north of town.

Applejack turned her attention to the north part of town and just as she turned her head a large purple barrier sprung up, blocking her view of Canterlot on the cliff-side. "That was quick, dem 7th legion folks don't play around."

To those that are members of the elements of harmony, I have set up a teleportation behind the barrier to lead you to safety. We cannot afford to lose you if I fail in combat. I pray that I can stop this monster before any more innocents are harmed.

"Wait, what?" Applejack didn't have time to think about what Luna announced when a very small vibration in the air sent chills down her spine. The black ball grew in size, pushing the sun out of the sky and putting a full, blood red moon in its place. "Oh horsefeathers, she means business." Applejack galloped down the hill and into the barn, quickly pulling herself into a harness and tying it to a cart. Applejack galloped into the front yard of her home, the cart in tow and yelled at the top of her lungs. "Granny, Apple Bloom,Winona, Big Mac!?"

Granny Smith opened the front door and trotted out to the cart, quickly followed by Apple Bloom and Winona. "All this hababaloo is ruining a perfectly good nap."

"Woof!" Winona barked in agreement.

"Complain later granny, we need to be gettin outta ere in a jiffy."

"Sis, what about mah friends?" Apple Bloom said with wide eyes and a curled lip.

"We can swing by their places on the way out, maybe give em a lift if needed but right now I need you both to stop stallin and get on the buckin cart. Wheres Big Mac?"

"He went to town earlier deliverin hay bails to the local restaurants. He should a been back by now though" Granny Smith said with concern in her voice.

"He's a big pony, he can handle himself." Applejack nodded her head to the side, ushering Granny Smith, Apple Bloom and Winona up onto the cart. All three nodded at one another and hopped onto the cart, closing the tailgate behind them. "Hold onter yer mane, I'm gonna go full speed ahead, yee haw!" Applejack rose into the air onto her hind legs, her front lags kicking the air and took off out the front gate the second her front legs hit the ground.

"Could ya maybe slow down a tiny bit? These carts don't have no shocks ya know" Granny Smith complained, her teeth chattering.

"I think this is fun, can ya go faster, big sis?"

"Bark, Bark!"

"Speak fer yerself, youngin."

As much as she wanted to slow down, getting her family to safety took priority over the comfort of her passengers.

"I wonder what all the hub-flub from princess Luna was about. What does she mean by monster?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Timber wolves? A Hydra maybe?" granny Smith asked.

"hrrmm hrrmm" Winona whimpered.

"I dunno you two. I reckon having Luna deal with Timber wolves would be overkill and Hydras can be taken care of by the local guards if needed, no whatever has gotten Luna that riled up has to be something we couldn't handle alone." Applejack came up to a fork in the road but It looked like somepony had broken down. "Hold up yall, looks like we have folks that need help." But as Applejack got closer she realized that the cart was empty and a large stack of hay bails were sitting next to it. Applejack pulled up next to the broken cart which seemed to have popped off a wheel that sat some distance away from it.

"Looks like they popped a wheel and just hoofed it to town."

"Errrr?" Winona busied herself smelling the air and hopped out the cart, smelling the ground around the cart.

"Ruff!"

"What is it girl? Somethin wrong?"

Winona walked along side of broken cart, smacking the wood sides with her tail. The wood started to flake off, showing a vast network of tunnels filled with busy termites chewing away at the wood. "Grrr ruff!"

"I see em girl, don't have to tell me twice about those varmints." Applejack pulled the cart a few yards away, as to not invite the termites making a meal out of the broken cart to dessert on hers. "You comin girl?"

Winona busied herself smelling a small dried up puddle on the ground near the cart. "Bark! Bark!"

"I think she found sumthin else Sis. What is it Winona?" Apple bloom asked.

Winona began to look to each side of her apprehensively, barked and jumped away from her own shadow. She then stood up on her back legs and began to move her front legs in a circle while trying to imitate chanting under her breath.

"Umm...Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom said ,shrugging her shoulders.

Winona shot Apple Bloom an unmistakable glare that read "seriously?"

"I thinkin she means Zecora." Applejack pulled herself out of the harness and tossed it over the side of the cart. "Imma investigate." Applejack walked up to the dried puddle on the ground and the smell assaulting her nostrils was unmistakable. living on a farm she has helped many an animal be born and the smell was very easy to distinguish. "Somepony is goin into labor!" Applejack walked behind the cart where the smell was much stronger. In the back of the cart was a mattress, some hay bails and a few strands of bright pink hair. Applejack moved the hair follicles onto the ground with her teeth and pointed at Winona. "Smell this girl, if it's Fluttershy, bark once."

Winona didn't bother to even smell the hair before she barked in confirmation.

"This isn't good. Winona, I want you up front by me. If ya smell which way they went bark a couple times." Applejack slipped back into her harness and set off toward the far end of town, Winona running along side her.

I hope she's okay.

***

Bzzzt*Bzzzt* Bzzzt "All medical personnel, please move all possible patients to evacuation tunnel B, I repeat all movable patients to evacuation tunnel B. This is not a drill." The hospital announcement system blared with warnings and echoed with the sound of hooves clacking down the halls towards the basement.

"What in Celestia's yellow sun is going on Red-Heart?"

The nurse busied herself strapping the nearly panicking Fluttershy to her bed. "An evacuation order has been declared. Unmovable patients are to be relocated to the underground bunker for continued treatment. You heard Luna's orders."

"Yes, but we should be getting to the other side of that barrier" Zecora protested.

"Tunnel A collapsed last month. That was the disabled ponies tunnel. I can't move Fluttershy on this bed through the other tunnel. You are free to go but she must remain here."

*Pant*pant* Don't leave me hun , I'm scared" Fluttershy pleaded.

"I wouldn't dream of it, my love. I will go where ever you go."

"Eeeyup."

The deep voice of Big Mac nearly made nurse Red Heart jump out of her skin. "Is he still here? For such a big stallion he sure is stealthy." Red Heart fastened the last strap around the bed and started to slowly push it into the hall. "I could use some help if you would." Big Mac bumped his large head up against the back railing of the bed, pushing the bed out into the hall with ease.

"Big Mac, you should go, You need to get to the other side of that barrier. I'm sure your sisters and grand mother await you."

"Nnnooope."

"But-" Fluttershy and Zecora protested.

"But nothin. I said I would help you and that's what I'm gonna do. Apple's don't quit until the jobs done."

"I could use Big mac's help downstairs. We are short doctors becuase of the evacuation and the war so anypony with medical experience is a plus. I'm sure owning a farm he's helped on at least some deliveries."

"Sheep mostly, ma'am" Big Mac replied.

"Good enough for me. The elevator down is the last door on the right at the end of this hall." Red Heart and Big Mac pushed the bed down the hall, Zecora trying to keep Fluttershy calm the best she could.

"Everything will be fine, just concentrate on your breathing."

"I'll try" Fluttershy cried. She was putting on her best brave face but everyone know this must be terrifying for her, that every part of her body wanted to up and flee the danger as fast as she possibly could. The bed finally reached the emergency elevator. Nurse Red Heart pushed Fluttershy into the car along with Big Mac but found there was no room left for Zecora.

"Not enough room, the car will come back up after it lets us off. In the mean time I'll give Fluttershy a calming sedative when we reach the bunker, Pegasus have really strong fight or flight mechanism when giving birth." Zecora nodded in agreement as the elevator door closed.

Zecora of the Wind Runners! Why have you not fled the town!

Luna's voice reverberated angrily in her mind. Fluttershy is in labor, I cannot leave her in her time of need.

A few moments passed with only a ding from the elevator breaking the silence. I...see. Pray that I can stop her here or at least delay her. The second that foal is born I want you and the element of kindness behind that barrier. No telling what Maskia will do if she finds you or your mate.

Zecora hadn't thought about that, but would Maskia go as far as killing a unborn foal, her own great granddaughter to get her to do as she wished? Luna...I am sorry, I did not realized it was Maskia you were fighting.

No reply. Zecora shook her head and stepped into the elevator. "I hope for everyone's sake that Luna can stop her."

***Meanwhile***

Twilight collapsed on the cold floor as the heat inside her body became unbearable. The ash around the room swirled into little ember ridden tornadoes, choking everyone in the room except one. Queen chrysalis stood tall as the embers bounced off her chitin body, the ash not so much as even bothering her. Twilight tried to move, maybe cast a barrier spell but the combination of searing pain, shortness of breath and the crystals in the walls around the room diffusing her magic was too much. Is...this it? Will I die, burned to death in this dreary place? Twilight looked around the room, Derpy was already out cold from exhaustion, great dents from her mace riddled the elementium door but wasn't enough to allow escape. Celestia laid on the floor exhausted, barely moving herself enough to shield the young Zebra colt with her body.

No...escape...for any of us...

Twilight began to slowly drift out of consciousness when she heard the cold voice of Chrysalis , almost as if whispering in her ear. "You will not die today Twilight Sparkle, not if I have anything to say about it." Twilight opened her eyes, the blurry black figure of Chrysalis stepped onto the large pillar in the center of the room. Green magic swirled around her body as she quickly shattered two of the crystals in the walls in the room. "Twilight, If I don't survive this, tell my children I love them." The counterclockwise heat in the room dissipated and began to swirl clockwise but this time with a soothing green light pervaded the entire room. The light swirled faster and faster until all the light struck Chrysalis , locking her inside a green orb of light.

"Ch- Chrysalis?" Twilight managed pull herself upright despite her burns. "I...don't..but why?" The light on top of the alter-like structure slowly swirled tighter and tighter until only a small light remained, which was quickly sucked up by something green and slimy on top of the pillar. Twilight dragged her scorched body over to the pillar and leaned against it, she pushed herself up to inspect the object. It was oval in shape, with small black spikes on the outside and a clear green shell. What shocked Twilight most was something was moving inside. Twilight moved closer to find a faint outline of a changeling, one that looked oddly like Queen Chrysalis. "An...egg? Twilight wanted to study the egg closer but her body was refusing to cooperate. She fell hard to the floor, her body exhausted and in severe pain, unable to move. Twilight could hear the yells from the hall, soldiers most likely. Twilight tried to keep her eyes open but she felt so weary...the last images she saw was of a fuzzy face lifting her up as she drifted off into unconsciousness. I...hope death isn't painful...

***

Twilight felt her hooves hit the soft ground, the grass tickling her hooves and the warm pollen ridden breeze blowing through her mane. She slowly opened her eyes to find that she was in a breezy summer meadow. Large sunflowers blooming, dandelions speckled along the ground for miles on end and the sun shining down on her back. If this is what dying feels like...it isn't so bad.

"Beautiful isn't it?"

Twilight's ear perked up, she knew that voice anywhere but when she turned her head in the direction of her teacher and mentor all she could do was stare. It was Celestia, although a very weary Celestia. Her eyes were droopy, her mane was a muted pink and she looked as if she just ran the running of the leaves a dozen times over. "Princess!" Twilight galloped toward her mentor only to stop briefly when she realized what princess Celestia's presence must have meant. "Wait, if you are here does that mean...we both died?"

"Actually Twilight we are close to death but still very much alive. Although I have only been here once myself I figured out where I was rather quick."

Twilight looked around, confused. If she wasn't dead then where was she? "Princess, If I'm not dead then where exactly are we?"

"An informed question but rather difficult to explain. Have you ever heard of the saying "between life and death" ; purgatory even."

Twilight rubbed her hoof on her chin. She had read few books on possible after life's but found them lacking in the evidence department. "Yes but I remember purgatory being described as a vast empty void of white and not a massive field of flowers with..." on the horizon Twilight could see a black storm cloud that she hadn't noticed before. Squinting her eyes she could make out the smallest of piers that stuck out over a vast ocean.

"I see you noticed the pier. Now look along the grass to where it stops."

Twilight followed the grassy field as far as she could but noticed a trend. The closer to the pier the grass got the more dead grass, charcoal and obsidian sand there was. "I'll need to get a closer..."

"No!" Twilight fell on her haunches from the powerful bellow from Celestia. She may have looked withered but she still had some bark in her voice.

"Whatever you do Twilight do not go anywhere near that pier. If this place signifies the place between death then what would a loading dock full of dead things around it represent?"

Twilight blushed crimson. How could she have not seen what that pier meant? What was worse is she still had feeling inside her to run towards the pier as fast as she could. "So if I cross a certain line toward that pier, then I am officially dead."

"Exactly, watch closely."

A downtrodden mare approached the pier crying. Her head darting around looking for somepony as she approached.

"Wait, I recognize her." Twilight squinted her eyes and sure enough it was the same pony she had cut down after she had hung herself, Veria Whisperwind. "Celestia, we have to stop her. Her son is alive and well, there's no point in her..." before Twilight could finish her sentence a massive black barge decorated with bones and skulls and all sorts of "Nightmare Night" like adornments sailed into view. A gate lined with red carpet lowered onto the pier as the barge dropped it's anchor which looked like it was made of pure obsidian. Standing on the end of the path leading to the barge was a pony cloaked in a black shroud, Its features very skeletal from what she could make out.

Veria bowed her head somberly as she approached the barge and the pony in black.

"Princess I..."

"Don't you even think it, Twilight Sparkle!" Celestia yelled. "Do you have any idea who that is?"

Twilight on the other hoof didn't back down. "I know exactly who it is, all the more reason to for me to help." Before Celestia could reply Twilight took in a deep breath and yelled as loud as she could. "Veria Whisperwind!"

Veria's ears shot up and she stared at directly at Twilight, a "who are you" look on her face.

"You son is alive and well! Don't board that boa-" Twilight couldn't move as a black patch of shadow raced towards her, killing all the grass in front of the pier and all of it up until directly in front of her. A cold bone hoof ran along Twilight's neck and when she blinked she saw the face of death itself. Under the cowl it was wearing was a completely bone face, with sunken eyes, rotted teeth and two pits of fire set deep in its empty eyes. Twilight looked on the ground, her body felt very cold and it seemed only her back hooves were still on any living vegetation.

"Twilight Sparkle..." death said as his very breath reeked of death. "Let me show you what I do to those that interfere...."

***Meanwhile in the ER, airship #4***

"I need 25cc's of hydro-cortisone, stat!" one of the doctors tossed a needle from across the room and was caught by the others magic. "Her heart rhythm is out of pace, she's having trouble breathing too." The doctor uncapped the syringe and injected it into Twilight's neck, stabilizing her rapid breathing.

*beedeep deedeep* beep beep bleeeeeep. beep beep*

"Defibrillator, now!"

One of the other doctors quickly rolled a cart over to Twilight's body. The doctor tossed the syringe aside and picked up rubber handled metal pads connected to a fairly large generator. The pony picked up both paddled and rubbed them together briefly. "Clear!" The other ponies backed off as the two metal pads touched Twilight's upper ribcage and her body jumped up when the paddles contacted her body.

*Beeeeeeeeppp bip beep beep beep beep*

The doctor wiped her brow and set the paddles back down into their sockets. " I want the entire medical squad on her now, all life support and chemical balance spells we can muster."

"But what about the princess?" One of the doctors asked.

"She's stable, all she needs is rest to come out of her coma. Right now I'm more concerned with saving the arch mages life. After that we can figure out where this egg...thing came from." The angry mare looked about the room. "I said the entire medical squad. NOW!" The other doctors scrambled out into the camp to round up as many doctors as they could, leaving the angry pink mare with her wings fluffed out in frustration. "Don't worry Twilight, I won't let you die." The pony lowered her horn and began to pump magic into Twilight's body. "If only I was powerful enough to perform a full restoration..."

***

Death took a step back, allowing some of the living vegetation from under Twilight to grow back. "Take that as a warning to those that interfere with the cycle of life and death. Another move like that and I will make sure you die along with that other mare."

Twilight gulped, her entire body was shaking with fear but she had to do something. "So...you're death are you?"

"Well I ain't exactly the grand pope of cheese with this getup now am I?" Death laughed sarcastically.

"I'm going to get right to the point. Is there anyway to save that mares life?" Twilight pointed a hoof at Veria who seemed even more confused than before.

"No, death is a end, an absolute. She died nearly a day ago, by her own hoof even."

"There must be a set of rules about how death works or how you judge those in this realm to be dead."

Death stepped backward, somewhat taken aback. "There is." Death replied angrily. "But there is a cost in summoning that book, the requester must surrender one years worth of life force to me."

"Then I shall grant request this book in her place for her." Celestia managed to walk up behind death without him noticing.

"Ahh Celestia, Tsk tsk. Do you take me for a foal? I'm not dumb enough to take a year from a creature in which years are meaningless." Death stared at Celestia snidely. "You are very lucky I am bound by the rules of death, how I so wanted to take you on an eternal boat ride the last time you were here." Death licked his lips with what looked like a tongue made of fire. "With any luck I still can... eventually."

"My time will come eventually but it will be on my own terms" Celestia replied angrily.

"Not if you keep stressing yourself the way you have. Your contract with the sun only goes so far."

"Ahem?" Twilight cleared her throat, catching the attention of Death. "I will grant you a year of my life but If I find a way to save that pony then you must return it and any other associated costs to me."

"Very well worded, almost lawyer like. Very well." Death ran his bony hoof over Twilight's face, making her collapse on the ground screaming.

Twilight could see, just for a moment her own demise. A large black covered book causing her great pain every time she turned a page. Her own body already felt as if she was dunked in molten steel but it was nothing compared to what she knew she was about to endure.

"What did you do to her?!" Celestia's horn flared up.

"Don't even try it Celestia or I will kill you both on the spot. Besides how can you possibly think you can kill Death itself hnnmm?" Celestia lifted her horn up from the charging position and backed away. "Good girl, no pony interferes with the contracts of death." Death waved his hand and a large book appeared on the ground in front of Twilight. "Go ahead, learn the secrets of Death but remember, those secrets have a price."

Twilight turned the first page after the hardcover only to immediately feel immense pain on her body. A small flake of light escaped from her horn and landed on Death's bony hoof.

"The cost is one year of life for every page you turn. By my calculations that gives you just over fifty, maybe sixty page turns at most."

"But according to the appendix" Twilight turned the page and felt more pain and another flake of light leave her body. "The...appendix says the book is over five thousand pages long, the appendix alone is over a hundred pages."

"That sounds like a personal problem to me. I guess that means you wont even get past the appendix before all your life force belongs to me." Death had a wide grin over his rotted teeth, he was clearly enjoying this game too much.

I need to think of a way to turn the pages without accidentally killing myself, but how.... Twilight turned the page again, but this time she accidentally turned it over twenty pages at once and immediately wished she hadn't. The pain was unbearable, Twilight rolled on the ground screaming as a vast vortex of light escaped from her mouth and began to float in a ball above Death. The pain was as if her entire insides were being crushed and then pulled out of her body.

"Tsk Tsk, any pages skipped count as a year as well."

Twilight laid on the ground, breathing hard until the pain subsided. There has to be a trick to this...

***

Doctors around the table seemed completely baffled. "I don't understand, why is her body aging?" Twilight's once well kept lavender coat and indigo mane started to fade in brightness and strands of grey ran the length of her mane. "Princess, we just don't know, this has never happened before." The doctors looked at one another and then at Cadence. "We are sorry but there is nothing we can do short of a very temporary time reversal spell, but in her condition it could kill her."

Cadence didn't reply but held Twilight's body in a warm embrace, much to the dismay of the other doctors in the room. Tears rolled down her eyes and into Twilight's partially grey mane. "Please Twilight, please live...for me."

***

"Such a pity Celestia didn't request to see my book first, her immortality would make the life draining spell on this book moot point." Death twirled the ball on his hoof, the life force he had already stolen from Twilight radiating brightly. "Go on, you may even make it past the appendix if you're lucky."

All the yelling and screaming had attracted the attention of Veria Whisperwind. With death leaving a vast trail she was able to walk nearly right up to the group. "Can I ask what's going on? Isn't that boat supposed to take me to the afterlife?"

"I'm trying to s-" Twilight stopped cold as death sent her a glare that meant business.

"None of your concern. Go back and wait by the barge, I will be there as soon as Twilight here is done dying."

Veria looked at Twilight and then at Celestia. "Wait, Equestrian Arch Mage Twilight Sparkle?" While Death turned his attention to Veria, Twilight quickly nodded her head and sent a message via tail signals, hoping Veria would get the idea.

"I said get your dead flank by my barge, I will be taking you to the other side shortly" Death said threateningly.

Veria on the other hoof was not impressed. Showing courage Twilight never thought possible in the face of death itself she puffed her chest out and pushed her face right up into deaths cowl. "Or your going to what? Kill me?"

Twilight took advantage of Veria's boldness and sent her another set of tail signals of which she replied by quipping her lip in a semi-snarl as to not give any information to Death by accident.

"You know Veria, I could just leave you here in purgatory as punishment, maybe a hundred years of loneliness would straighten up that attitude." Death turned his attention To Twilight. "Are you done dying yet, I'm on a schedule you know."

Veria took advantage of Deaths gullibility and sent Twilight a set of tail signs that read "I wonder, can you turn pages with wind and it not affect you?"

Twilight thought for a moment. If touching the pages signified who the target for the spell was then what if there was nothing touching the pages at all? But how to figure out if it would work. "Death, I think Veria is trying to get your attention."

"Hmm?" Death turned to his side and Twilight quickly removed her hooves from the sides of the book but before she could test to see if blowing the pages still counted against her a gust of wind hit the pages from Celestia's powerful wings, blowing the book to well past the appendix. Twilight closed her eyes for the impending pain. How could Celestia be so reckless?" Twilight gritted her teeth but oddly, no pain at all. Twilight opened one eye to see Veria arguing with death, apparently he didn't feel the breeze.

"What do you mean my cloak shows I have no class? And what is this "Hot Topic" you said I picked it up at."

Twilight read down one of the pages and something struck her as odd. One of the rules on the page said Death could not kill any pony in the grass freely but was also restricted from helping them not die as a result. Twilight blew to the next page but accidentally whistled while doing so, catching deaths attention.

"Not dead I se-" Death stared at the book and then at Twilight. "How did you make it past the appendix? Let alone two hundred pages in?"

"Dumb luck I guess?" Twilight replied apprehensively.

"No, I smell a cheat, you die now." Death raised his hoof only to have Twilight back away yelling "rule twenty-six! Rule twenty-six!"

Death stomped his hoof on the ground accidentally turning the page with the impact he made. "Clever mare. Well now that you know about that rule It means I cannot kill you outright. It doesn't prevent me from tricking you into killing yourself however."

"Wait you would have killed me if I didn't know the rule?"

"You could report me to the higher ups. Death answers to no pony unless the pony knows death is dealing wrong."

Veria on the other hoof was busy reading the page he just turned and sending what she read back to Twilight with tail signals. Rule twenty eight mentions you can challenge death to a contest. If you win you can have any wish within his power granted.

Twilight grinned at Death. "I invoke rule number twenty eight and challenge you to a contest of skill."

Death gritted his teeth in anger and the book below him vanished , sending Twilight's life force back into her body. "Just had to do this the hard way didn't you? I'll have you know living for eons at a time leaves plenty of room for learning any kind of skill. Choose wisely."

Twilight sat on her haunches, scratching her chin when she remembered something. He didn't feel those gusts of wind earlier, he doesn't have a sense of feeling maybe? Twilight stared at death features for a moment. No skin, hair or pupils. Just rotted jutting teeth...wait...rotted teeth?

Death adverted Twilight's gaze in a attempt to act unconcerned but it was far too late. If he has no sense of touch then this will be too easy. "Death?"

"Have you decided on a challenge? Will it be magical arts?" Death rose into the air, a great ball of fire with many orbiting balls of flame in the air above him. "A dancing contest perhaps?" The ball of fire dissipated as death pirouetted in the air in a perfect seven-twenty degree spin. "Or maybe a game of monopoly?" A board game appeared below death as he sorted out property cards and gave him two blue ones off the bat. "If we play this we play by Deaths rules, I get the dark blue properties off the bat."

"None of those death, What I propose is so simple that even a foal could do it."

"Oh, trying to beat me with something simple eh? I'll have you know there is no skill I am not a master of!" Death reared up on his hind legs, lightning striking around him in a show of power. "Do your worst, Twilight Sparkle!"

"I challenge you to whistle the song "Old Mcdonald had a farm."

Deaths posture suddenly looked deflated. "Wait, repeat that again?"

"Whistle a tune death, even a foal can do it. I'm sure Death itself can do it."

Death sat on his haunches with a defeated look on his face. "Can I talk you into maybe a game of twister perhaps? I promise not to dismember myself" he pleaded.

"Nope, start whistling or I win by default" Twilight said haughtily while blowing grass off her hooves.

Death gnashed his teeth but nodded "are you sure you don't want to do anything else? I would hate for you to lose so handily." Death finished proposing his alternative only to get angry glares from all sides. "Fine." Death inhaled but remembered that he didn't have lungs. "Give me a moment, I haven't taken in air in a very long time, I'll have to magically push the air though if you don't mind." Death formed a ball of air in his hoof and shoved it under is neck and into his skull.

*Shhhrrrrrrccckkkkk*

Everypony nearby immediately put their hooves over their ears in a attempt to drown out the horrible sound.

"It sounds like a train wreck landing on a chalk board!" Twilight yelled.

Death continued to try and whistle the tune of "Old Mcdonald" but more to the pitch machinery cutting steel or a saw blade cutting wood than anything remotely resembling a song. The tune went on for a grueling minute or two before death finally finished with a loud shriek that sounded closer to to a violin snapping than actual song. Death took a bow as the other ponies removed their hooves from their ears just in time to watch a few of Deaths rotten teeth fall out, no doubt a victim of the horrible vibrations he called "song".

"Top that I dare you!"

Twilight merely smirked and gave a wink to Celestia and Veria as they all began to whistle the tune of 'Old Mcdonald' a bit off key but still unfathomably better than Deaths torturous 'music'. When the song finished that all stared at death as he sat on his haunches, poking at the ground in defeat.

"So...I guess this means I lose right? That I must grant Veria here a second chance at life?"

"Exactly, and make sure she isn't brain damaged from lack of oxygen or anything like that" Twilight added.

"That request would require another challenge I'm af-" Death stopped his sentence short as Celestia stepped up and poked him in the side.

"Then I challenge you to a whistling contest as well to grant that request." She said with a triumphant look on her face.

"No, that's fine I'll grant both of them. I can't afford to lose more teeth." Death picked up a couple of teeth that fell on the ground and tried to shove them back into socket with little success. "One more thing before I grant these requests; how is it you knew I lacked the ability to whistle?"

Twilight smiled. "I noticed you couldn't feel wind and lacked both lips and an air capacitor, also known as lungs to properly form a tune. The lack of feeling ensured that even if you had all of the above you couldn't adjust to get the tune right anyways."

Death stood there for a moment , cursing to himself under his breath. "Very well then." With a wave of his hoof a green and golden light surrounded Veria, her once near grey coat bursting to life in all its white and black glory. The ground around Veria also grew wildflowers around her, surrounding her in a small patch of life among all the death and decay. "You have your life back and as an added bonus I am sending you all back to the living world post haste."

"Well that is awfully nice of him" Veria said as she walked over and gave Twilight a big hug. "Not nearly as nice as Twilight though, risking your life for a stranger."

"Oh, don't mention it. This isn't the first time I have risked life and limb and certainly won't be the last" Twilight broke the hug as she heard a very distinct 'ahem' from Death.

"Are we done yet, I would rather not have to tolerate your company any longer."

"Anytime you're ready." Twilight said with a grin on her face.

Death began to move his arms in the air, encircling each pony in a flurry of green and gold magic. "One more thing before I send you all back."

"And what is that?" Asked Veria.

"Tell Luna I'll be seeing her soon" Death said as he finished the spell.

"Wait, what?" All three ponies said in unison as they disappeared back into the living world, the last thing they heard was Deaths roaring laughter as they vanished from purgatory.

"Ahhh that one never gets old." Death said to himself while rubbing his chin triumphantly. "It doesn't matter if they beat me, once Maskia destroys their bodies I will be the last pony laughing." Death looked around the bright but empty field of flowers. "Well, back to playing chess with myself." Death floated back to his barge cursing about being bored under his breath.

***

Twilight's eyes shot open but the pain made her nearly wish she had died, despite all the bandages her body still ached and stung all over. Something was holding her a bit too tightly and as her eyes came into focus she noticed a familiar pink coat and a few stray pink feathers that seemed too big for a normal Pegasus. Twilight looked up into the face of none other than Princess Cadence, her tears still dripping into her mane. "Cadence?" Twilight said in barely audible voice.

"T-twilight?!" Cadence opened her eyes and stared into Twilight's still glazed over eyes. "You're alive!" Cadence hugged Twilight as hard as she could, much to Twilight's dismay.

"Ow, Cadence. If you keep hugging me like this I might still die." Twilight managed to meekly push herself away from Cadence, trying to catch her breath. It dawned on Twilight that she had no idea how long she had been out, or if Veria and Celestia made it back safely. "Is that colt you found with us alright? Did you find a pony with a noose around her neck in the fortress? What about that egg in the room you found me?" Twilight was nearly hyperventilating with all the questions she was asking Cadence.

"Calm down Twilight. The colt is safe, we haven't done anything with the egg yet, although my lieutenant tells me it's a changeling egg. The dead mare we found in the service quarters was taken to the morgue aboard ship thirteen..."

"Wait, the morgue? In a body bag!? We have to go to her immediately!" Twilight shot too her hooves only to collapse in severe pain.

"You lay still Twilight, you have second degree burns over more than half your body. It will take a few days for the salve we put into your bandages to heal them. Why such a rush to see a dead mare?" Cadence asked with a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"That mare isn't dead, or at least she was but now isn't, I need to get to her immediately."

"But Twilight, the doctors said..."

"The doctors are wrong! At least they are now, please Cadence, teleport me to her!"

Cadence stood up slowly, her horn glowing brightly. "I still think you are a bit delirious from your brush with death but if taking you there will alleviate your worries than so be it." Cadence enveloped Twilight and herself in a vibrant pink aura and with a popping sound they arrived in the cold storage of the morgue.

"I forgot how cold this place was." Cadence said shivering to herself.

Twilight wasn't doing much better, the floor was far colder than the air above it. "Oh sorry Twilight, I'll carry you." Cadence lifted Twilight off the cold ground and set her just behind her wings on her back. "Let's see which one..."

Cadence was cut off by what sounded like banging of metal and muffled screaming. "Twilight, I apologize for my rudeness earlier, somepony IS alive down here." Cadence walked along the metal tubes where the bodies of fallen soldiers were kept listening for where the sounds were coming from.

"Cadence, just use the life vision spell." Twilight suggested.

"Good idea." Cadence's horn glowed momentarily and her eyes were replaced with a white glow. Cadence glanced over the entirety of the metal cross section were they kept the bodies and noticed a small glimmer of heat coming from a section on the far end. "I think you were right but we haven't much time!" Cadence charged over to the cylinder with the life heat coming from it and pulled it open. Cadence then quickly unzipped the body bag only to have a Zebra mare shoot right up at her gasping for air.

"Why....*cough* am I in a cold tube inside of some kind of rubber bag?" Veria yelled while trying to catch her breath.

"I'm sorry but our doctors mistakenly pronounced you dead and you were moved he-"

"Twilight!"

"Veria!"

Veria hopped out of the body bag and lunged into Twilight, hugging her; much to the mares displeasure. "Ow, ow ow. I'm happy for you too Veria, but I'm sore all over."

Veria broke the hug while apologizing. "Sorry Twilight, I couldn't help myself. I just had the urge to hug the mare that brought me back from the dead."

"Twilight!" Cadence said with disapproval in her voice. "You haven't been studying forbidden necromancy spells have you?"

"No, no. Nothing like that you see I- ah hachoo." Twilight shook her head after sneezing. "Can I explain back at the medical ship? This place is making my hairs...well, the ones I still have left, stand on end."

Cadence nodded and with a flash of pink light and pop they were back in the medical bay, although Veria stumbling a bit more than normal. "Sorry, was that your first time using teleportation?"

"Y-yeah, I feel a bit queasy."

"It will pass. Now Twilight could you explain to me how you brought the dead back to life without using highly illegal necromancy?" Cadence levitated Twilight over to a bed and pulled a cover over her back, she did the same with Veria , despite her protest that she felt perfectly fine.

"Cadence, I-"

"Won't need to explain anything." princess Celestia walked into the room slowly, a energetic young Zebra colt bouncing around behind her.

"Mommy!" The colt yelled as he jumped into the bed with Veria.

"Malak!" Veria replied as she hugged and kissed her son all over his face, despite him struggling.

"Mom, yer embarrassing me and getting me all salty." Malak tried to push away from Veria only to have her hug tighter , tears soaking his short cut mane.

"Twilight, your report to Cadence will have to wait. A 2nd division grenadier arrived just a couple minutes ago. He reports heavy death tolls and casualties from an attack from Maskia. She was on her way to Equestria a while ago but I'm sure you already know where she is."

"No I do-" Twilight remembered what death had said before she was sent back to the living world. "No she couldn't have-" Twilight pointed her horn towards Equestria and felt something dark and heavy. A terrifying power her magic was too weak to comprehend the very first time she encountered it. "Is...that?"

"Yes, that's Luna. She must have found Maskia, only she can put off waves of shadow magic that powerful" Celestia said somberly.

"But..." Twilight felt out how the magic was flowing with her horn. "It feels so alien, Luna is there but something else, darker, deeper than the darkest night." Twilight looked up at Celestia with a tear in her eye. "She...she.."

"Is unleashing the full might of the nightmare."

The rest of the room went silent, except for Cadence. "Well why are we sitting here, we need to mobilize the fleet immediately. You, me and Twilight can teleport on her to assist."

Celestia nodded her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. "There's too much magical interference for a teleport. And as spent as Twilight and I are, we would only get in her way. In her rage she just might strike one of us down unintentionally." Celestia shook her head I hope you can handle that kind of power little sister, the last time you used it in anger you nearly destroyed both of us.

"Then why do we just sit here why my aunt fight's alone?" Cadence got up stomping in anger, huffing as she spoke. "No, I will not stand for this. I nearly lost my little sister" Cadence sent a glance toward Twilight. "I'm not about to let that monster try and take my aunt too."

Cadence ran outside the medical bay and beckoned one of the soldiers to her. "Sargent, how much time would it take to get every ship mobilized and back to Equestria at full speed?"

Celestia called after Cadence. "You don't have the authority to order a full fleet operation like that."

Cadence poked her head though the doorway glaring angrily. "You may think we have no ability to help but I know of a couple ways we can still help." Cadence pointed to Twilight Sparkle with her hoof. "We still have the elements of harmony on our side."

"But, Cadence..."

"But nothing auntie Celestia. If you don't order the move I am forcefully removing you from duty, as per my professional doctors override."

The Sargent stepped forward. "Your umm...Highness's?" The solider didn't know how to phrase his response correctly. "It will take forty minutes at full speed for all airships to arrive in Equestria. With the proper power output and wind direction we can make it in twenty-five."

Cadence stared at Celestia. "Well, what will it be?"

Celestia looked about the room, everypony's eyes were on her. I guess it's time I face my fears... "Sargent?"

"Yes Ma'am!"

"Mobilize the fleet, I want this entire fleet back to Equestrian shores ASAP. I want two detachments, one to help with the refugee's and the other to deal with the casualties at the 2and division grenadiers camp and Cadence...."

Cadence looked up at Celestia expectantly. " I want you to help heal Twilight's wounds. She will need all the strength she can muster if she is to use the element of magic. Also I want that egg we found at the back of the fleet, properly incubated.

"But your highness, it's a changeling egg?"

"That egg contains Chrysalis, she is the reason Twilight and I are still alive. I have duty to make sure she is protected."

Cadence shot a quizzical stare at Celestia. "Even in times of war you are still willing to help even a mortal enemy?"

"I have to stay true to who I am Cadence. Even if it ultimately spells my own doom."

The room fell silent for a brief moment. "Enough staring, we have a country to save!"

***

Maskia watched as the ball of shadow slowly began to reveal Luna's true form. Her coat, once a night dark blue was now oil black, her body skinnier and her wings far more pronounced than before. Covering her body was a collection of dark blue armored plates, one of them covering over her now sharper horn. As she stared at what once once Luna she felt something she hadn't in a long time. Fear - she could nearly feel her body shaking under her silver armor. The battle hadn't even begun and all she could feel was anticipation and fear, like Luna's mere presence alone was causing it. "Are you quite done with the theatrics already? I thought it was the villains job to be melodramatic about these kinds of things."

"Watch your tongue, wretch!" The voice coming from Luna was not her own, if was far more chilling and absolute than before. "You will have plenty of time to complain after I tear you still beating heart from your chest!" Luna put both front hooves together, a beam of light from the very moon itself struck her clasped hooves. She slowly began to move them apart, a white hot beam of light between both hooves as she spread them apart. Her forelegs reached the full distance apart and her left hoof grasped on one end of the bar of light, the other curing down in a crescent motion, the light much wider and thinner than the bar itself. The light began to dissipate, revealing a long, obsidian shaft with a black double crescent handle and guard at one side and a very large crescent blade on the other that seemed to be on fire with flames made from pure night itself.

"A scythe? Seriously? Could you possibly pick a more clumsy and cliche weapon? What, do you miss nightmare night so much that you must carry a reminder of the only time of the year you're important?"

With a flash of black Maskia barely had enough time to block Luna's first swing. The scythe came down a second time and she blocked again, this time Luna had managed to graze her on the nose, singing the hair around her muzzle. The sheer weight Luna was putting into her swings was mind boggling, her muscles already felt like bucking under the weight and the decorative steel on her hoof-plates around her forelegs was already peeling away.

"A clumsy weapon a scythe may be, using it as a cutting weapon is foolish at best." Luna took another swung at Maskia, which she blocked only to have her back hooves sink a few inches into the dirt from the impact. "Only foal's use it as a slashing weapon! I use it to crush my enemies!" Luna swung the scythe like bat which Maskia parried but still sent her tumbling down the hillside from the force.

Maskia managed to right herself as she slid down the hill only to find a pair of Luna back hooves firmly striking her in the side. Despite her armor she could still feel her bones creaking from the impact. Maskia tumbled to her side, reeling from the impact only to just barely block a swing from Luna at her throat.

"Did you expect me to be a pushover like my sister? Did you really think coming into the heart of Equestria which seats one of the most powerful beings on this world was smart?" Luna slammed her scythe into Maskia's breastplate sending her crashing though a nearby empty house and out the other side with many splinters cutting up her back legs in the process. Luna leaped onto the roof of the house. "Had enough yet? Ready to beg for your life?"

Maskia staggered to her feet, using her spear as a crutch. My spies never reported her having anywhere near this kind of power. I have no choice but to use the power I have stored. Maskia pointed her spear at Luna threateningly. "Oh I am far from done with you." Maskia began to chant under her breath, her eyes glowing a bright white when suddenly felt a sharp pain in her side, breaking her concentration. Maskia tumbled to the side but kept on chanting as Luna charged her again just barely missing a swing that would have decapitated her.

"No need to release the power you have in that weapon. There will be no deus ex machina non-sense going on while I kill you." Luna swept both her back legs under Maskia, tripping her and then immediately knocking her into the air. Luna then leaped up from under Maskia and grabbed her by the waist, coming down hard with both back legs in Maskia's back.

"Ghhhaaaa!" Maskia screamed out in pain, rolling off to the side , just barely able to keep her weapon in her possession. She barely had a moment to catch her breath when the business end of Luna scythe collided with the shaft of her spear, pinning her against a brick wall.

"Ever heard the saying that one eventually drowns in their misdeeds?" Luna pushed the shaft of Maskia's spear into her neck, slowly suffocating her. "Well, this isn't exactly drowning but I'm sure you get the idea." Luna pushed harder on her scythe, hard enough to start cracking the brick wall behind Maskia.

No choice...must release power the...other way. The end of the spear exploded in a burst of light flowing into Maskia's body, allowing her to slowly push Luna off of her. "I will not die here swine, I have a destiny to fulfill." Maskia pushed hard on her spear shaft, hard enough to break the wall behind her.

Luna leaped back as a cascade of bricks fell on Maskia, burying her. "That was what, three tons of brick at least? Not a classy Victory but I'll take it all the same." Luna put her scythe over her shoulder only to have brick fragments strike her face as Maskia exploded from the pile of debris.

"En-guard wretch!" Maskia leaped into the air with what looked more like a trident than a spear. Luna spread her wings and met Maskia in the air, the ends of their weapons colliding and pushing each one back down onto the earth. Maskia immediately charged and collided with Luna knocking up a large cloud of dust. Luna replied by doing the same. They went back and fourth until nothing but a pillar of dust and dirt was in the air around them.

Luna leaped to her side to clear herself of the pillar of dust only to have Maskia collide with her just as she breached the edge. Both combatants swung their weapons with expert precision until Luna found the upper-hoof, landing a large gliding strike on the Side of Maskia's armor. Maskia immediately countered with a punch to Luna's face and lunge pinning Luna up against a house which collapsed on top of her.

Luna broke free from the collapsed debris and grabbed Maskia around the waist as she missed a thrust. She hoisted Maskia up above her shoulders and suplexed her onto the remnants of the house's porch face first. Maskia kicked Luna In the back and rolled forward grabbing her spear and turning to parry Luna's follow up attack, Launching Luna into the air from the force of the attack.

Luna spread her wings, recovering quickly as she spun her weapon around, creating a vortex of shadows in the sky. Luna threw her scythe at Maskia, the end of it engulfed in a massive fireball of shadow. Maskia stabbed her trident into the ground and put her shoulders out toward the fireball of shadow.

Is she out of here psychotic little mind? Luna thought as the scythe collided with her back plate. A white flash of light illuminated where Maskia was standing. So much so that Luna had to briefly shield her eyes. When the light finally disappeared Maskia was standing on the shaft of her scythe smiling.

Maskia picked her trident out of the ground and examined the scythe, a semi invisible strand of magic linked the weapon to Luna's right hoof. Maskia put one leg on the shaft and her right foreleg over the strand of magic and tugged as hard as she could. Luna lurched forward, her body in an uncontrollable dive headed right for Maskia's trident. "Impaled night pigeon, coming right up!"

Luna had little time to react, she outstretched her left hoof and began to form a second scythe. However the magic didn't have time to harden the weapon and it buckled, shattering upon impact with Maskia's trident. The trident was deflected but the shattered weapon sent pieces of malformed scythe shrapnel into Luna's left wing; cutting her shallowly. Luna Tucked and rolled as she landed, pulling her weapon back into her possession as she righted herself.

Maskia didn't escape the collision unharmed either, a small blade had cut her just above her right eye. Maskia turned to Luna, blinking the blood out of her eyes and spread her metallic wings wide, charging Luna. Luna' raised her scythe to block but both ponies were slightly off, the weapons slid down each others shafts, shallowly puncturing Luna in the ribs and cutting Maskia across her back leg.

"Arrrggg!" Luna staggered back in blistering pain, as if somepony had dumped boiling oil all over her body. She could feel her entire essence lurching and twisting, doing everything it can to flow into Maskia's trident. Luna gritted her teeth and regained control of her escaping power just in time to block a thrust from Maskia stopping her just barely above the her neck.

"Stings doesn't it? Like your entire body is being drained from the inside out."

Luna parried Maskia's thrust away from her and swung around, slugging her across the face with the shaft. "So you got one hit in on me, tis nothing!" Luna pressed her advantage by deflecting Maskia's next thrust with the shaft and landing a clean hit on Maskia's side with the blade, peeling off a large chunk of elementium plate in the process.

Maskia winched in pain for a moment, the flames from Luna's scythe burning a chunk of hair from her side. Maskia tumbled to the side to avoid another armor peeling attempt from Luna. Maskia spun around, swiping Luna off her feet with the handle and kicking her in the chest, sending her tumbling though a house. I have to keep delaying her, it's almost to full power. Luna leaped from the debris , front flipping, her blade spinning like a lawnmower of death. Maskia thrust her trident into the air, colliding with the very tip of Luna's scythe as she came out of her front flip.

It felt like those few seconds were an eternity to Luna, the sparks flying, the heavy breathing from both ponies from the strain and something...off. A grinding and cracking sound from her weapon, as if screaming in pain. Luna, took a closer look and found out why; the tip of her weapon was bucking from the stress. Luna couldn't react in time as the tip of her scythe snapped off and she soon found Maskia's trident puncturing her breastplate.

Maskia watched in glee as Luna's scythe gave way, allowing her to break through her defenses but falling just short of stabbing flesh. Maskia figured a way to give her leverage and immediately arced her trident into the air, slamming Luna to the ground, pushing her trident further into her breastplate.

Luna struggled to get a hit in. But found her weapon pined to the ground by Maskia's leg , the tyrant just above her pushing the trident into her.

"I'm going to open you up like can of beans and drain that wonderfully powerful soul for myself!" Maskia pushed harder, ignoring the pain from the multiple kicks in her midsection from Luna. Luna attempted to grab the end of the trident with her hooves only to have the burning sensation make her release it. Maskia pushed harder and with a sound of bucking metal, all three tips of Maskia's trident sunk into her flesh.

***

Everyponies ears behind the 7th legion shield perked up. The screams of torment coming from town were unmistakably Luna's. Pinkie pie galloped up to one of the guards-ponies holding the shield up and tugged on his armor. "We have to do something!? Luna could be hurt or..or even worse, doubly hurt..and with no Pie to make her feel better."

The guard gritted his teeth as if every word he was about to say disgusted him to his very core. "I want to help, everypony does but we haven't finished evacuating all the civilians yet. Luna entrusted us to that task above all else, even her own safety."

Pinkie pie walked away, worried and defeated when she heard something akin to a slapping sound coming from behind her. Rarity had put a fore-hoof right across a guards face. "And if Luna dies, no pony will be safe." The guard moved to restrain her when he was blocked by a tenacious orange coated, bland maned, stetson hate wearing Earth pony.

"Back the buck off hotshot!" Applejack pushed the guard back head first. "I know she's after us but running taint gonna do no good iffin Luna dies in there. We all know that. Worse yet, my best friend Fluttershy is in the hospital bunker this very moment with my brother, don't you think she will go after the most vulnerable of us?"

The guard stuttered but left his mouth hanging open dryly as he spoke. "You're right, the element of kindness is unaccounted for."

"Darn toot'in I'm right. Even if it means getting caught up in that brawl down there we need to get her out." The guard nodded and ran to talk with his superiors, sending back frightened glares at Applejack.

"Oh, Applejack you are so very brave, standing up to that ruffian like that. What's your secret?" Rarity asked nearly swooning over the earth pony.

"I'm only brave cause I need to be sugarcube. I'm just as scared as any pony here." The others looked at Applejack as if she just lied to them. "But...I would rather die standing on my own four hooves, facing my fears than die with my tail between mah legs."

"Oh can we sing about facing our fe-" rarity put her hoof Right into Pinkies mouth.

"No time for giggling at the ghosties, Pinkie." Rarity said curtly.

One of the guard ponies ran up to the group. "I have orders to take a detachment of ponies into the medical evacuation tunnel to extract Fluttershy."

"Good, I'm going with you."

"But Luna's order's..."

"I said I'm goin." Applejack attempted to walk up on the guard pony, trying to intimidate him only to receive a quick shot to the gut, knocking her out cold.

"You ruffian!" Rarity said.

"Meany mean pants! Pinkie Pie stared at the solider for a moment. "Well, meany no pants!" said Pinkie Pie.

"No one hits my friend and gets away with it, jerkface." Rainbow Dash flushed her wings threateningly.

"Enough!" One of the guards yelled over all the arguing and stepped toward the group, his war decorations gleaming in the sun. "I know you want to save Fluttershy but I promised Twilee I would not endanger any of you. I will go though that tunnel with a detachment and personally escort her back here. "

The other ponies stared at each other for a moment before Pinkie Pie popped the question on every ponies mind. "Who are you and why are you calling Twilight by her nickname?" The decorated solider laughed to himself and slowly removed his helmet.

"Shining armor?!?" The three said in surprised.

"Yeah, sorry about that. Voice changed a bit from being sick, now nobody recognizes me unless my cutie mark is shown or I remove my helmet. Anyways, you three stay here." Shining armor walked up to the solider who had the unconscious Applejack over his back. "As for you...I am very disappointed in you solider. No solider should ever hurt a civilian, let alone a lady."

"But, but, she was being completely irrational!" the solider whined.

"No excuses! I will reprimand you later, for now I want her and the other three near that teleport pad to the bunker in Canterlot. If this shield fails I want them out of here in an instant, do I make myself clear?"

"C-crystal, sir."

Shining armor turned his attention to three stallions and a mare who were busy keeping the shield up. "You four, I want you in full war gear and at the hospital emergency tunnel in three minutes!" Shining turned his attention to Rarity and the others. "I promise, I'll protect whoever is left at that hospital with my life. I know you want to charge in and do it yourself but at times like this you need to trust the professionals." Shining armor gestured for the solider put Applejack down and follow him, which he did without hesitation. The pair walked off, shining berating the younger solider as they headed toward the hospital emergency tunnel.

"So...what do we do now?" Rainbow Dash asked shrugging.

"Oh that's easy, we do what proper mares always do." Rarity said as she ran a hoof though her hair.

"Oh,Oh! is it food related?" Pinkie Pie received the typical round of awkward stares.

"No darling, we go ahead and rescue Fluttershy ourselves."

***

Luna writhed on the ground in pain, screaming as Maskia twisted the trident that was now firmly buried in her flesh. Her entire being burned, twisting and lurching, she could feel her power draining into the trident in horrendously painful bursts. Worse yet was the maniacal laughter coming from Maskia as she pressed weapon deeper.

"What's wrong princess? Not so godly now are we?" Maskia pushed the weapon harder but found something was stopping it from impaling Luna. "I see that tough immortal hide of yours prevents me from going further. No matter, I can drain your power and soul this way." Maskia twisted the trident again.

"Arrhhhhgggg!" Screamed out in agony when something in the back of her mind whispered to her. Nightmare, let me take over from here.

I cannot trust our very existence to you! You may be talented in combat but you lack the power to crush your opponents.

That's exactly the problem. Look at her weapon and armor.

She gritted her teeth to bear the pain and watched how Maskia weapon and armor interacted with her body. Little flakes of magic from the air around her were flowing into the weapon on top of copious amounts of her own power. I...I think I understand. She's been using my own power against us.

Exactly. That's how she managed to break our weapon as well. Maskia pulled her weapon out of Luna's chest and went for her jugular with the tip.

Use the power you have left! hit her with magic on the underside, it's not elementium! Luna's eyes glowered hot white, her horn churning with power and she leaned forward and struck Maskia in the underbelly with nearly everything she had left. Maskia tumbled back, dropping her trident and clenching her midsection.

Give me control, you're exhausted and fighting with raw power isn't going to win us this battle.

Luna's coat began to fade from the oily black complexion back into a deep night blue, her horn shrunk in size; no longer pointed and long but stout in it's shape. Her wings became much smaller and her body overall decreased in size, parts of her armor falling off as the last vestiges of Nightmare's powers seeped back into the depths of Luna's psyche. Luna stood up, pulling her punctured breastplate off and began to close the wound while Maskia did the same with the plates that were covering her belly.

Maskia was having less luck however, the plates were so heated that they left a sizable patch of 3rd degree burns on her midsection, tiny ember fragments were making the wound difficult to heal. "When I get up I swear I will rip the flesh from your hide and eat it!"

Luna jerked her right hoof, returned her damaged scythe to her. She examined the tip closely while forming a matching scythe in her other hoof. Seems that I was correct, her strikes have been draining the magic, structural and all away from me; starting at the tip.

How do we keep her from breaking our weapon again? Luna's other side asked.

By not swinging it around like a hammer for starters. The structural magic I can compensate for but stressing the blades with such impacts isn't wise.

Do whatever is needed, just don't get us killed.

Maskia staggered to her feet, breathing hard, clearly still in pain from the burns. "Everything you have done to me will be repaid tenfold! I swear it!" Maskia's eyes glowed white, attracting her trident into her waiting hoof. Maskia's metallic wings spread wide, blue and white flames spewing from them as she charged forward like a rocket. Maskia thrust her spear at Luna only to find the princess of the knight standing on top of the shaft.

"Extra point." Luna flipped backwards, landing both her back legs squarely in Maskia's jaw. The zebra spun out of control, slamming into a nearby cottage. "Yaaaahhhhh!" A flash of white illuminated the night sky as the building Maskia landed in blew to pieces, the angry zebra rising from its burnt remains. Maskia growled a few words under her breath, her eyes glowing bright white as she stood in the flames. "Why won't you die?"

Luna charged forward, parrying a thrust by Maskia and landing a small superficial cut across her shoulder. Maskia swung wide which was immediately blocked and pinned to the ground. Luna countered by sliding by Maskia, landing another shallow cut along her side. Maskia dislodged her weapon just in time to block a swing at her spine but getting another cut across the leg in the process. Maskia jumped backward to give herself some breathing room only to have Luna come at her with a flurry of blows.

What is she playing at? These strikes have barely any force behind them. Maskia received another shallow cut across her muzzle, drawing a little blood. Is she attempting to bleed me out? Maskia blocked another strike aimed at her throat and just barely managed to block the off-hoof swing aimed at her shoulder.

Luna flipped over Maskia blocking her thrust and landing a minor flesh wound on her already burned midsection. "Arrrgg!" Maskia jumped back clutching her midsection, adding two more minor cuts along her side during her retreat.

"Are you ready to surrender?" Luna asked.

What are you doing you foal, kill her now and be done with it!

Luna ignored the protest of her other side and rephrased the question. "Surrender now or I will make sure your death is a long, painful one."

Maskia didn't respond, she just glared are Luna, gritting her teeth in pain and rage. She's too fast and with two blades it's nearly impossible to block them both with my heavier weapon. My only other option is...

"I see you are contemplating whether or not to surrender. Let me show you what you face if you refuse." Luna's horn glowed a muted black and two more scythes appeared to each side of her, suspended by her magic. "If just two were giving you trouble, I would imagine four will cut you to ribbons. So what say you?"

I have come too far to be stopped here! "Blow your pity out your ass for all I care, when this is over I will hang your broken corpse from the tallest tower." Maskia lowered her trident, ready to fight once more.

"Have it your way then." Luna charged forward, parrying a swing from Maskia and landing a twin pair of cuts along her chest. Maskia swung again, shattering the end of one of the weapons but being blocked by the other scythe behind it. Before she could react the other two lashed her back, one of them unhinging her shoulder armor in the process. Maskia ignored the pain and kept up her assault, shattering another scythe just as Luna summoned another one, grazing Luna across the cheek.

What is she made of? She should have gone into shock from blood loss already. Luna parried and landed three scythes on Maskia's chest, shattering her breastplate and drawing copious amounts of blood. Luna followed up with another parry and a quick turn, kicking Maskia though the town hall building.

"You need to stop, you will bleed to death within the hour if you do not" Luna pointed one of her scythes threateningly. "I never wished to kill anypony but as the saying goes...." Luna leaped forward before Maskia could get her bearing and came down on all sides with her scythes. One of the found new home a few inches into Maskia Lung, another just under her kidney, one holding her up by her neck with the blunt side and the last firmly embedded in her torched midsection. "There is a first time for everything."

Luna swung the struggling mare around and flung her; weapon and all though another building. The insurance company is going to kill me if I keep this up. Luna approached the shattered building she casually tossed Maskia though and watched as she slowly crawled out of the debris. "Surrender now and I may yet spare your life."

What are you doing foal, kill her now! End her tyranny!

Luna ignored her other sides advice. Despite all the evil Maskia had done Luna wasn't exactly ready to end her life if she could help it.

"T-take your mercy and choke on it!" Maskia said as she coughed up some blood.

Not the answer Luna had hoped for, she could just have her locked away but without breaking her spirit to fight she could one day escape and start another pointless war. "Very well then, I will make your death swift." Luna levitated her blades into something of a oval hole of death and slid them slowly around Maskia's neck. "Any last words?"

Maskia laid silent, only her own rage was keeping her alive though all the blood loss at this point. Luna shook her head somberly. As she prepared herself to pull the blades to execute Maskia she hesitated. Everything in her being was screaming that this was wrong.

Do It! Killing her now is doing us and her a favor.

Luna wanted to listen to Nightmare but she just couldn't find it in her heart to pull those blades.

While Luna was busy with her internal conflict Maskia uttered a few words under her breath. Luna pulled the blades from Maskia's neck so she could speak.

"What was that?" Luna asked.

"T-those who hesitate...are lost." A bright white hot light appeared behind Maskia, her trident was floating in the air above her broken body. "Engele dood..."

A beam of purple and red light fired from the end of the trident. Luna just barely managing a defense with her scythes taking the brunt of the hit. Luna pushed hard on the beam but she realized quickly that she was in a losing battle. Her weapons began to creak and bend at the edges, sparks flew off the tips as once powerful magical steel was becoming molten. No good, I can't funnel enough power into them to stop it all. Luna focused the rest of her magic through her horn and threw her weapons aside, allowing the blast to hit her head on.

The blast slammed into Luna, sending her hurtling though many homes in Ponyville. As her body slammed though building after building she could feel one of her wings sheering off entirely. Some..thing is different about this attack... While the impact and the heat from the magic hurt it wasn't anywhere near as painful as she thought it would be. It wasn't until she saw her hair blow in front of her face did she realize this attack wasn't one that destroys or cuts flesh. Why is my mane...like a normal ponies and not...

She's stripping us of our immortality you impudent foal!

Luna headed the shouting from her other side and angled herself to roll of the event horizon of the blast. Her body slammed hard into a dirt road just outside of Ponyville. She could feel both of her back legs breaking with a sickening crack and her entire left side of her body sheering a cross the ground at high speed, tearing off fur and leaving nasty abrasions all over her side. "Guh!" Luna finally slowed to a halt , her back leaning up against a barn painted with carrots on the side. her head felt heavy and her vision blurry as if wanting to slip into unconsciousness. "At...least Maskia is disabled as well...."

"Who is disabled?"

Luna lifted her head, her eyes going wide in horror as Maskia limped toward her from a nearby hill. "Who is disabled? It surely isn't this old Zebra." Maskia was talking big but most of her coat was covered in a grotesque mixture of blood and dirt. Her armor sticking out at random angles, most of it completely unserviceable for protection any longer.

"But...you are, lung shot. You couldn't even move earlier."

"I have survived much worse." Maskia continued to limp toward Luna, brandishing her trident which now had only one tip left on it unbroken. "I have survived impalement, dragons fire and multiple spears to the side, this is nothing." Maskia got within stabbing range of Luna but just stood over her gloating triumphantly. "Your hesitation allowed me to heal some of the more lethal wounds."

Luna didn't know what to do, she couldn't move her body and most if not all of her magic reserves were entirely exhausted. Am...I going to die here?

***

"Can you feel that?" Celestia asked anxiously.

"Yes, auntie Luna is fading fast." Cadence replied.

"The interference is too strong by her still but I can just get myself to shore. Will you follow me?"

"Without hesitation, we can fly the rest of the way."

Both Alicorn lit up their horns and with a bright burst of yellow and pink light were gone from the deck of the airship.

***

Luna felt the tip of a spear just barely puncture her skin above the shoulder but unlike before the burning and draining sensation was very much muted. "W-what's wrong fiend, not strong enough to finish what you started?"

Maskia wouldn't admit it but her powers were nearly gone. Luna's immortal hide will make killing her with a weakened spear difficult. "I can always just bleed you out with flesh wounds you know." Maskia lifted the spear out and slashed it across Luna's cheek. "Rampant stabbing isn't my favorite way to kill but I'll take what I can get." Maskia slashed across Luna's chest but barely managed to trim her coat.

"You best hurry and finish trimming my hair before my big sis gets here."

Maskia's ears shot up, she could feel the bottomless pit of power from Celestia not to far from her position. I haven't much time, I need to find Zecora and force her to remove the seal! Maskia looked down on the defeated Alicorn. "As much as I would love to kill you myself, something else will have to do." Maskia's eyes glowed hot red and a spear of light surrounded Luna where she laid. "Now for the second part." Maskia grabbed the bottom part of her spear and peeled away a small fragment, which immediately morphed into a replica spear of sealing. Maskia then stabbed the spear onto the top of the sphere like a lightning rod. "Enjoy the slow death, I have a country to conquer once I get my hooves on Zecora" Maskia ran off out of sight, leaving Luna for dead.

Luna couldn't make out exactly what the sphere was for. She didn't have the power to spell sense it's true purpose. "Maybe If I..." Luna reached out to touched the sides only to find them slowly closing in on her. "Is she trying to crush me or suffocate me?" Within seconds the walls of the sphere we bound tightly on her skin, the spear above pulsing with magic. This isn't too bad, I can still break free from this. As Luna Moved her forelegs to break herself out a bolt of lightning from the tip of the floating spear struck her in the back. "Arrrgghhhh!?!!" The pain was back like before, except now it was all over her body, slowly draining away at her essence. "This...must break...." The spear went into overdrive, slamming her body into the ground with power, leaving her writhing in agonizing pain as the electricity flowed through her body. "So-somepony..help...me.." The night filled with the agonizing screams of Princess Luna, her body twisting and writing in pain. Moments later the night was silent...

***

"Sister! No!" Celestia fired up her horn and teleported in mid flight, Cadence close behind.

Celestia and Cadence arrived to witness a motionless Luna encased in a ball of light, a replica spear of sealing firing cracks of lighting into her still body. Celestia rushed up and kicked the spear off the top of the trap, breaking the barrier around her body.

"Cadence!"

Princess Cadence galloped to Luna's side, magicking some of her medical supplies into existence next to her. Cadence quickly put on her stethoscope and ran it over Luna's body. " No, no, no,no,no!" Cadence checked again but the truth sunk in harder the second time. There was no heartbeat, no breathing, and not a hint of magical power left in her body. Cadence lifted her stethoscope off off of Luna's body and used her hoof to close Luna's eyes. She turned to the teary eyed Celestia, trying her best to hold her own tears back. "I'm...I'm sorry auntie , there is nothing we can do for her."

Celestia lunged at her sisters corpse, hugging her tightly as she cried out. "No! You can't leave me like this! A thousand years without you was bad enough...but this...this." Tears rolled down Celestia's eyes and into Luna's mouth. The mare was unresponsive, her body was limp in Celestia's forelegs, her body becoming cold.

Cadence just shook her head when something caught her eye. The replica spear Celestia had knocked away was leaking blue magic out of the back side of it. As she approached she immediately recognized what it was, the remnants of Luna's power. Cadence quickly picked up the spear in her teeth on a hunch and ran over to Luna, knocking Celestia off her sister.

"Why did you?" Celestia stopped and looked down at the spear. A glimmer of hope in her eyes as she say small puffs of deepest night escape from the cracked shaft. Cadence laid the spear next to Luna's body, the magical essence slowly leaking into her body as they both waiting with baited breath.

"Will it be enough? Will it work?"

Both Alicorns stared at the lifeless body of the once princess of the night. Nothing, not even a twitch. Cadence bowed her head somberly. "I'm sorry auntie, it seems too much of her power leaked into the air." Cadence turned and walked away and Celestia sat crying over the corpse of her sister. "I'll prepare the funeral arrangements."

*Cough*

Celestia's eyes opened. "Was that you Cadence?"

"No."

Cadence and Celestia stared at Luna's body, her chest going up and down. "Out of the way Auntie, I have a job to do!" Cadence pushed Celestia out of the way and began to listen to Luna's chest cavity with her stethoscope. "Yes, good and...not so good." Cadence pulled her stethoscope off and pulled out an oxygen mask, strapping it tightly to Luna's muzzle.

"Celestia, she has class three burns in her lungs and multiple fractures. I need you to get me and iron lung from the nearby base camp."

"The hospital is closer-"

"And probably in ruins like most of Ponyville, no arguments. Iron Lung. NOW!"

Celestia took to the skies like a bat out of hell while Cadence immediately began to funnel magic into Luna's body. Luna's eyes began to open slowly, her breaths becoming more ragged as she tried to speak. "Cadence?"

"Hush auntie. You need not be talking with such injuries." Cadence busied herself with cleaning some of Luna's more lethal wounds. "I saw...a field of flowers, but...I as standing on a shore line in pitch black obsidian sand. There...was a pony there with a sunken bony face, laughing hysterically as he pushed me onto some kind of barge."

"I think you were delirious in death auntie, the brain sends many signals during death, some of them self comforting."

"But...it felt so real. It was laughing about how he finally bested an immortal, how he got revenge on my sister for cheating him."

Cadence paid no mind to Luna's story, instead she worked frantically; closing as many open wounds as she could.

"But then some grass grew beneath my hooves just before it pushed me onto the barge. He called me a double dealing...death cheating whore and tried to push me onto the barge but...his hooves broke when they touched my skin. I don't exactly know what to make of it...was I...dead?"

Cadence finished wrapping Luna's back leg into a splint. "It doesn't matter where you were or if you died. The fact of the matter is you are here and alive, so just focus on staying that way." Cadence replied anxiously.

"But..."

"Luna what was the last rule in the medical handbook? Do you remember?"

Luna stressed her mind, thinking back to the handful of medical training classes she ever bother to take. "Was...that the medical override rule?"

"Yes. No disrespect auntie Luna, but you need to shut that pie hole of yours. You can talk once we get you into the iron lung, and speak of the devil..."

Celestia was high in the sky a entire brigade of soldiers from the 7th legion by her side, carrying a large steel tube. "How is she holding up?" Celestia yelled.

"She's awake but I have ordered her to cease talking."

Celestia landed with the rest of the brigade, which immediately broke out the stretcher, slowly levitating the incapacitated princess onto it. "S-sis" Luna said softly, barely able to keep her eyes open as they administered anesthesia.

"I'm not mad at you Luna. Just quiet down like Cadence said, we will handle Maskia. I already have the guards in the city looking for her."

"No...after...Zecora..."

Celestia could barely make out what Luna was saying. "Zecora? Where is Zecora?" Luna moved her lips but no sound came from them. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she closed them, the anesthesia taking effect.

"Cadence! Wake her, I need to know where Zecora is!" Celestia said as she shook Cadence by the shoulders.

"I'm sorry auntie. Once that healing anesthesia takes hold the pony afflicted is sound asleep for at least a day."

"Does anypony know where Zecora is?" One of the younger stallions, a lieutenant stepped up.

"She's at the Ponyville hospital, your highness."

Chapter XIII: New Life

Chapter 13: New Life

Maskia staggered, her shoulder landing on the side of a ruined home as she tried to catch her breath. I am lucky that battle ended like it did. If Luna had any more power I would be done for... She thought as she leaned heavily on the dilapidated structure. Maskia struggled to pull herself off the home only to have her midsection boil with pain as she drew in breath. "Got..to find her" Maskia stumbled forward, tripping over some bricks in the road and landing face first in the dirt. Her wounds were far more severe than she had once thought. Even with all the healing spells she used on herself, she was still in terrible shape. Making a mental catalog of her injuries, her rib cage was nearly crushed, she noticed multiple hernias from healing too quickly, at least one hemorrhaged kidney and minor amounts of blood leaking into her body from the earlier lung wound.

*Bzzzrrtt*

"Co-come in general. Do you read?"

Maskia lifted her front leg up to her mouth, a small bent microphone protruded from her bracer.

"I copy. What is the situation...."

"Pardon my frank ma'am but I see the entirety of the Equestrian air armada closing on the shoreline. I suggest you do whatever you came to do and get out of Equestria ASAP."

"Do you not think me capable of killing even thousands of soldiers?" Maskia said angrily into the mic.

"No ma'am! I didn't mean it like that." The solider on the other side replied sheepishly.

Maskia opened her mouth again to berate the solider but realized that she was only blowing hot air in her condition. She knew she couldn't even take a trainee in her feeble condition, let alone a full trained legionnaire. "Never-mind that, how much time do I have before the legion arrives?"

"Ma'am, we have a fix on Celestia's position. One of our spies just reported her above Ponyville. She was flying alongside some large steel cylinder."

Maskia turned her attention to the south. She sensed a deep power, a power deeper than the bottoms of the ocean. "Drat!" she said kicking the dirt. Something else was there, a powerful being but not quite as powerful as Celestia and one more being....one that felt ominously like Princess Luna. "Perfect, I didn't kill the younger one and now I have Celestia to deal with..." Maskia stared at her damaged spear, cutting off her microphone in the process.

Oh great spear...If you grant me enough power to heal myself, I will promise to feed you the souls of a hundred innocent children!

Her spear flickered briefly before enveloping her in a shroud of blue light, healing most of her wounds but leaving terrible scars in their place. Maskia floated to the ground, most of the pain in her body was gone except for a broken rib or two. "This will have to do." Maskia checked her power reserved and oddly she had enough for a few spells, although none of them remotely lethal. "Now, where could she be hiding?" Maskia pulled a small crystal shard on a string from around her neck and set it on the ground.

Maskia's eyes glowed white for a moment and the crystal hovered in the air momentarily before speeding off in the direction of her quarry, leaving a green trail for Maskia to follow. "Foalish granddaughter, you had the opportunity to go where I cannot reach you and yet here you are, hiding in town." Maskia licked her lips, savoring the moment of victory and how good being unstoppable would feel. "I can't wait to know what being immortal is like..."

***

"This isn't good" said nurse Red Heart as she examined the ultrasound results. "She should of gave birth a hour ago but something is wrong." Fluttershy lay motionless on the bed, her pain medication leaving her barely aware of her own surroundings.

Zecora looked slightly panicked, her breathing fast and short as she nuzzled her mate in concern. "What is exactly wrong with her?"

Nurse Red Heart shook her head. "Nothing too serious but It does complicate things. Here lemme show you what I mean." Red Heart turned on a light in the back of the room and hung a black and white plastic photo onto it. "This is the inside of Fluttershy's uterus, and the thing in the center is your unborn daughter."

Zecora examined the picture for a moment, noting that for some reason there were giant white splotches spread out from the foal's back. "What are those white splotches?"

"Wings, very powerful, near adult like wings. More to the point we are detecting some latent magical ability as well, very unusual; even for unicorn foals."

"What does it mean exactly, shouldn't she have been pushed out already?" Zecora asked while pointing at the picture.

Nurse Red Heart sighed as she took the picture down from the light source. "We warned you when you were conceiving that this was the first time we have dealt with a Zebra hybrid of any kind. The reason the wings are showing up as bright white is because they are finishing up being formed. All that white is magic, finishing off what it started."

Zecora looked nervously at Fluttershy. "Will they both be okay is what I'm asking."

"The wings will finish forming regardless of whether she is born or not. The problem is that Fluttershy cannot have any pain medication when the foal starts to move out. The wings are going to make it a tight fit and we need to know if she feels any amount of pain after the foals back legs come out. If so, I need to perform an emergency caesarian."

Red Heart stared at Fluttershy for a moment. "The other option is to break her hips but I want to avoid that if possible."

Zecora!

Zecora's ears perked up as she looked around to see who called her name.

Zecora, this is Celestia. You need to get yourself and Fluttershy out of the hospital with the utmost haste.

Why? The fighting has died down, surely Maskia's corpse lay at Luna's feet by now. Zecora replied with her thoughts.

No, Maskia won her bout with Luna and I'm told she is possibly headed your way. There is no telling what kind of power she wields if she was capable of beating my sister in single combat.

Celestia's words took a moment or two to sink into Zecora. Zecora turned to Red Heart who was already well aware of the situation.

"I'm sorry Zecora, there is no way to move her safely through the emergency exit tunnel."

It pains me to say this but Zecora, but you need to flee without Fluttershy. Something about her weapon needs your blessing to bring out it's full potential. We can possibly afford to lose the element of kindness but not have a demigod running about the countryside committing genocide.

Zecora gritted her teeth in anger and began to yell instead of think her response. "How dare you tell me to leave the mare I love because you failed at doing your jobs!" Zecora's eyes glowed a vivid, hot green. Her teeth grinding in rage at the mere thought of leaving her beloved and unborn child to die.

"Ze-zecora..." Fluttershy said meekly as she rolled her head to look at her. "Don't be so hard on her. She has to think of every ponies safety, not just ours."

Zecora huffed a few times and slowly began to calm herself down. "Celestia, I have followed your orders and lead during these trying times but this order I refuse to carry out. I would rather die fighting than leave the ones I love to that maniacs mercy. If Maskia finds me I will deal with her then. I may not be a warrior but I am the strongest shaman in my families blood line."

I... understand. I will send what soldiers I can to the hospital and will arrive there shortly after I have sustained Luna's life force. Stay in that bunker, try and be silent. Destroy the lift back up if you have to.

The room went dead silent, the only sounds were of Fluttershy's labored breathing and the occasional ground kick from Big Mac.

"I am going to the top floor and breaking the elevator on my way out."

The room erupted in a flurry of protests.

"You heard what the princess said, iffin ya go up there she will find ya." Big mac protested.

"I agree and as your doctor I must try to talk you out of suicidal actions." Nurse Red Heart added. "Besides weren't you going to ignore Celestia's orders?

"N-no, If Zecora has to go then she means she has to go." Fluttershy said softly, much to the surprise of the other two.

"What do you mean Fluttershy? Going out there to fight that maniac is suicide." Nurse Red Heart said with a disapproving voice.

"Eeeyup."

"Zecora may be hot headed at times but she's never reckless. Hun...care to explain to these two why you must go?"

"Maskia can scry the positions of family members as well as creatures of considerable power. I am both to her location crystal. I may as well hang a neon sign outside the hospital for all the good hiding will do." Zecora walked up and nuzzled Fluttershy, the mare returning her gesture affectionately. "As much as I hate to admit it, Celestia was dead on in her assertion, me being here endangers everypony."

"Promise me you will be safe. I know that a fight might be inevitable but I don't want to be a single mother if I can help it."

Zecora had an idea. "If she can track me, I can track her. I'm not one for cat and mouse but..." Zecora pulled one of her gold leg-rings off and set if on the ground. "Family is vile, let me avoid their bile. Lead me away so I can hide for awhile." Zecora's eyes glowed green and the ring floated into the air. In the center was a matrix of blue lines and circles, with a yellow dot in the middle. On the far edge is a red dot followed by a close by green dot. The ring floated in front of Zecora as she scratched her chin, examining closely.

"Maskia is close to the edge of town. That isn't good, there is nothing but open fields between this hospital and Ponyville. I will have to move quickly if I am to outrun her." Zecora hugged Fluttershy one more time before making her way out to the hall, where she pressed the button to wait on the elevator up. As Zecora waited she noticed that Maskia stopped moving, someone or something was keeping her at bay. "She is either waiting for me, or the guards arrived...I hope it's the latter."

***

"Drat!" Maskia shouted under her breath as she dodged behind a stump to avoid being spotted by a nearby unicorn guard. "This Is Celestia's doing, I just know it." Maskia's crystal shard was wrapped around her neck but glowing and pointing toward the nearby hospital. She is in there but there are at least a dozen or so guards blocking my path... Maskia hoof counted what she had to deal with, at least six unicorns, two earth ponies and four Pegasi were patrolling around the perimeter of the structure.

"How to best deal with them..." The two earth ponies were guarding the front door while the unicorns were lighting up the brush around the building as well as some of the closer homes. The Pegasi above made getting through the gaps in the defenses near impossible without being spotted. "I can use a cloaking spell but the light from the unicorns would give me away if any of them got near me." Maskia remembered quite well the limitations of the cloaking spell, good eyes can see the distortion field it makes as you move and any light that passes in a beam through it focuses into a lens, giving the caster away. "Maybe..." Maskia closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. Moments later an exact replica of herself started to split from her body, landing in a heap on the ground beside her.

"Get up you lazy bum, you have work to do!" Maskia whispered. The copy slowly stood up, her eyes pale and pupil-less, as if she was blind. Maskia examined the copy closely, she wasn't exactly like her, far more black stripes than white and lacking her battle scars. "Not enough to fool them, but maybe a few more additions." Maskia looked around, nearby was a line of clothes hanging up, a red cloak among them. "That will have to do." Maskia closed her eyes and levitated the cloak over to her, strapping it around the copies shoulders. "Now to complete the set." Maskia pulled at the bottom of her spear, creating a replica spear and a strap that she hung around the copies backside.

Maskia looked over the stump, watching the route the Pegasus were taking around the hospital. Noting their trajectory and speed, they would come around full circle again in just twenty seconds. "Listen carefully other me, I'm going to point you in a random direction, even though you can't see I want you to run as fast as you can, is that understood?"

"Yes, master." The copy replied in a robotic voice.

A pair of Pegasi flew overhead. "And...go!" The copy of Maskia took off running though the open field and into a bush, tripping over it. "Get up you foal and keep going!" The copy got back on her hooves and ran right by a unicorn guard, tripping him up as he turned to see what was making all the noise.

"Intruder spotted, It's Maskia. Get her!" The Pegasus dived in from the sky in formation, each missing a tackle on the copy.
"You two earth ponies stand guard, I'll notify reinforcements of her position." The two guards saluted in unison as the unicorn guard ran off right toward where the real Maskia was hiding.

"Uh-oh." Maskia ducked behind the stump as the sound from the guards gallop got ever closer. He will find me if he runs though the bush in front of this stump, being this coloration doesn't exactly help me blend...in?" Maskia had an idea, something she should have thought of before. "I Hope their minds are not warded against hypnosis..." The guard got closer, Maskia felt his front hooves collide with the remains of the roots as he broke through the bush in front of the stump concealing her.

Only one way to find out. Maskia popped out from behind the stump, her eyes a swirling blue as she stared into the eyes of unicorn guard. "Time you must bide as my magic seeps though your hide. Soon you will see the truth is only me and everything else is a travesty." The guard staggered back, his eyes completely focused on Maskia's.

Maskia on the other hoof was breathing harder than she would have liked, the stallions mind was rigid, full of tough barriers from all the years of military training. "Through the sands of time you will follow my rhyme, leaving all your worries and cares behind. Soon you will find I will bind you mind with the terrible power that is my rhyme."

The stallion staggered his head following the rhythm of Maskia's eyes. Only one more barrier to break. "I must sway, there is no other way for now I must say, Obey! Obey!" The stallion staggered again, resisting with all of his might. It's not enough...wait. Maskia cast a spell on herself and the next few words from her mouth sounded oddly like princess Celestia's. "Please, obey."

The guard sat down on his haunches, a dumbfounded look on his face. "Yes your highness, I am yours to command." Maskia collapsed on the ground, sweating profusely from the strain of mentally dominating a single guard. "Guard, lower your horn, please. "Maskia said with the sweetest of voices.

"As you wish." The guard lowered his horn and Maskia touched the tip of her spear to it, draining away magic from the solider and into her self.

"Best leave him enough to do basic spells." Maskia pulled the spear tip away from the guards horn just as he began to pant heavily.

"My liege, I feel tired but I am ready to do your will." The guard said wearily.

"Good, I want you to run up to the guards and tell them I ordered you back to help chase down the criminal Maskia.Tell them that we I will send a brigade to help post haste." The guard saluted to Maskia and jumped out of the bushes, running up to his earth pony comrades guarding the door to the hospital. Maskia peeked over the stump, hear ears at attention as she watched and listened.

"Celestia has ordered all troops after the war criminal Maskia. Follow me!"

"Wait, how did you get back here so fast? You were barely gone a minute or two." One of the earth ponies inquired.

"I didn't think unicorns could run that fast" the other added.

"I...uh..."

Maskia slapped her face with her hoof. "You teleported you twit!"

"I teleported!"

The two earth ponies eyed the hypnotized unicorn suspiciously. "Class D unicorn soldiers are not trained in teleportation."

Either they are giving me a hard time or they can somehow see though the ruse.

"I been practicing for my rank exam, it's why I was well off my mark and had to run the rest of the way. Can we just go after the criminal already?"

The two earth ponies looked at each other. "Just making sure you ain't no illusion Iron Chin, we heard all about your test preparations. Just making sure it was you."

The two guards moved up to Iron Chin, patting him on the back. "You should stay here, maybe nick some food from the hospital kitchen. You look terrible." The two guards galloped off into the field in the direction the fake Maskia ran, leaving the dumbfounded real Maskia undiscovered in the bushes.

"I can't believe that actually worked..." Maskia slowly walked out from behind the stump when she noticed something in the woods behind the hospital. A shadow of some kind being followed by a floating golden ring. Maskia's crystal shot up and pointed at the hospital but then changed direction and pointed at the shadow in the Forrest. "Is it confused? No matter, I already know my target." Maskia galloped up the hypnotized guard and barked an order in the nicest voice she could muster. "If your comrades return, attack them. I just found out they are trying to overthrow Equestria!"

The guard saluted at Maskia as she followed her crystal into the woods, it occasionally getting confused and pointing backwards at the hospital. "I need to find a way to cut her off, she's headed toward that barrier they put up to the north of the town..."

***

"Ow, ow,ow! Whose hoof is that?"

*Mhhmmhm pfft* I dunno Dashie but your feathers taste weird."

"Who touched me there! I will find you, you barbaric cur!"

"Oh settle down Rarity, it's not like my nose hasn't been there before."

"Maybe we should turn on a light down here, I can't even see myself think."

"Okie dokie loki!" Pinkie Pie grabbed onto a tail with her teeth. Tasting the foul aftertaste of expensive shampoo she pulled on the tail lightly.

"Ow!" Rarities horn illuminated the small passage, the other ponies untangling themselves from the pileup near the entrance. "Oh, I see. Turning a lady on like a lamp, cute." Rarity said haughtily.

"Well seein as you have the light, I guess that means you are on point Rarity." Applejack said.

"As if, I don't have the agility to dodge things in case we get into trouble." Rarity floated a ball of light over to Pinkie Pie and it landed on top of her puffy hairdo. "Be a darling and lead the way if you would Pinkie?"

Pinkie stared at the light on top of her head for a brief moment before realizing what Rarity had done. "Rarity, you're the element of generosity, right?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you giving me the most dangerous job of leading the group into an evacuation tunnel that could be crawling with all kinds of spooky things? That seems more like.."

"Pinkie, darling..." Rarity interrupted shifting here eyes onto Applejack then back to Pinkie nervously.

"Ohhh...I'll leave you two alone then. C'mon Dashie let's allow these two some breathing room."

"But I wanna listen in" Rainbow Dash protested as she followed behind Pinkie.

Rarity waited until the light Pinkie was carrying started to fade in the distance before turning her attention to Applejack. "Are you out of your mind? That experience was supposed to stay a secret."

"What do ya mean?"

"You nearly revealed you had your face buried in my lady parts to all our friends. That me and you..well, went all the way, did the horizontal monster mash, the Appleloosa tango." Rarity finished, blushing.

"And you think they would care? I mean the only one of us that is shy and reserved about those kinds of things is Twilight. Shucks even Fluttershy is all open mouthed and cavalier about her experiences." Applejack said confidently.

"Still, if word got out that I well...like that kind of thing, my business could be ruined. Especially with how quickly rumors spread around Canterlot."

"And it's not like I don't know already, silly nilly."

Rarity went stiff. "Who is there!?!"

"It's me silly" Pinkie Pie walked into the sputtering glow of Rarity's light.

"How inconsiderate you are to be listening in on private discussions and how could you have possibly known about ...well what I have yet to reveal."

Pinkie giggled to herself. "You bought five class a bondage shipments from a store called "bound together" in Canterlot right?"

"Have you been going though my mail Pinkie?" Rarity accused.

"Nope, 'bound together' is run by my cousin Flakie Pie, she wanted to avoid shipping so she sub-contracted the shipment to my store." Pinkie said smiling.

Rarity didn't seem too chipper on the idea of Pinkie Pie handling such sensitive information. "You...didn't tell anypony about this did you? I mean, all business transactions in that store are private right?"

"Oh, well no. Only I know and possibly Rainbow Dash since she was the one delivering packages that day for me."

Rarity went pale in the face, which was difficult to discern from her already white/blue coat. "Great, I have the top two motor mouths in town with knowledge of my secret. I'm ruined! Ruined I say!" Rarity teleported a pillow in front of her and dived into it, crying. "This is just the worst ...possible...thing."

Rainbow Dash suddenly walked into the conversation carrying the other light from earlier. "What's the holdup, we got a friend to rescue."

"Rarity is being a drama llama over nothin." Applejack said pointing at the sobbing white unicorn in the pillow.

Rarity raised her head out of the pillow, huffing indignantly. "It is not nothing that the two loudest loudmouths in Ponyville know my secret and that the mare I trusted most betrayed my trust right in front of me."

"Rarity...sweetie-pie, you told all of Ponyville already." Applejack said, bending her hat over her eyes.

"Preposterous! I would never say such a thing."

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie were giggling together. "Rarity, walk with us, you're about to discover something about yourself that you didn't know." Rainbow Dash pointed down the tunnel, Rarity begrudgingly following her.

"I still don't know what you meant back there Rainbow." Rarity complained.

"Do you remember Zecora's and Fluttershy's wedding?"

"Bits and pieces, my dear. I was a little bit tipsy that night."

"Tipsy? You drank six bottles of whine, ya killed an entire keg of cider on yer own ta boot." Applejack said.

"Was it six? Well, one does not let good Apple Chardonnay go to waste. Besides I was probably out like a light after that many."

Pinkie bounced up along side Rarity. "Have you ever heard the expression 'drunk body, sober thoughts' by chance?"

Rarity shook her head.

"Well, while me and Dashie knew of your bondage fetish from the earlier delivery, you ...kind of said some things while plastered to the entire town."

Rarity stopped, her mane in disarray. "What kind of things?" Rarity asked sheepishly.

Rainbow Dash smiled as Pinkie nodded at her for confirmation. "Ahem 'Applejack whipped me so good I could have sworn I came a dozen times over. Then she used that strap out and pounded the life out of me for hours on end. By the time it was all over I was a heaping, unladylike, drooling mess on the floor' "Rainbow dash coughed for a moment, hacking a little harder at the difficulty of imitating Rarity's voice.

"Wait, so you mean the entire town knows?" Rarity said, blushing.

"What she means sugarcube is no pony cares." Applejack said as walked alongside rarity, embracing her in a warm hug.

"She's right you know" said a deep voice from behind them. "Also didn't I order you mares to evacuate?"

Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash turned their heads slowly, watching a light blue light slowly approached them from behind. As the light flickered Shining Armor came into the light Rarity was putting off.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourselves?" Shining barked.

"That you can shove your military rank where Celestia's sun doesn't hrrmmp" Rainbow Dash was interrupted by a hoof in the mouth from Applejack.

"What she means is we can't let our friends be out there alone and were going whether ya'll be liking it or not." Applejack said, keeping her hoof in Rainbow Dash's mouth.

A few more equestrian soldiers came up behind Shining armor. "Shall we remove these civilians to a safe location commander?"

Shining armor stood there staring at each of the elements of harmony. "No, they can tag along IF they stay behind us and obey any order to escape, Is that understood?" The other ponies nodded in agreement, sans Rainbow Dash who crossed her forelegs defiantly, Applejack's hoof still firmly in her mouth.

"Droo roo rhind Ahh Jay" Rainbow Dash said as she tried to removed Applejack's hoof from her mouth.

Applejack removed her hoof from Rainbow Dash's mouth and whispered in her ear. "We don't have to like it sugarcube but dem guards mean business. If we get the chance to get Fluttershy, Zecora and my brother out of there faster than they can, then we will okay?"

"What are you two whispering about?" Shining armor demanded as he walked up on the pair.

"Nothing concerning you. It's rude to listen in on ladies to begin with." Rarity aggressively stepped in front of Applejack and Rainbow Dash, making Shining Armor pull at his collar in embarrassment. "Now if you Don't mind I would have you escort us to the hospital."

"Y-you heard the lady, in formation!" The solider ponies formed a double pair line in front of the others and marched forward.

"How did you get him off our case Rarity?" Rainbow asked.

"Yeah, how did you get Mr. solider to blush like that?" Pinkie added.

"Darlings, I'm a lady and he is a married stallion. You all know the saying, in a relationship the mare is always right. I must thank Cadence for training him so well these last few years." Rarity walked pridefully behind the other soldiers as Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash stared at one another.

"Don't even look at me you two, Rarity will be Rarity. C'mon let's catch up with them." The three followed Applejack into the darkness, Rarity's horn guiding them to her as they galloped to catch up.

"Rarity, about earlier. I'm sorry I kinda revealed too much info but, you know, the rest of the town already knows." Applejack said, taking her stetson off apologetically.

Rarity sighed. "No, If the whole town already knows then I already ruined my chances in Canterlot."

"I wouldn't say that." Pinkie Pie said cheerfully as she bounced ahead. "Merely from a philosophy standpoint this war has swayed the hearts and minds of those that have been perpetrators of discrimination based on things such as economic standing, sexual preference or social status. What used to be an overwhelming mass of snobbery from the upper echelons of Canterlot society has been replaced with feelings of companionship, fair play and understanding. If the war were to continue I can foresee the entire social structure breaking down entirely until it becomes nothing more than ponies helping ponies. A veritable bubble of respect and understanding for all."

The entire entourage of ponies stopped and stared back at Pinkie Pie.

"Pinkie, that was the most amazing thing I have ever heard you say. Have you been taking classes from Twilight? I mean, that was brilliant, worthy of a prize even." Rarity said, nearly swooning in delight.

"Whose brilliant? Is that a kind of cake? I like cake and cotton candy and smores and..."

"And that is the end of that." Rainbow Dash said while giggling to herself.

"Ladies, we have a problem." Shining armor pointed to a cave in further-ahead of the group. "Lieutenant. See if we can dig around or teleport through it." A gray maned unicorn began to probe the fallen debris when Pinkie Pie intervened.

"This situation shall not be remedied by an amateur." Pinkie pushed the gray maned unicorn aside and began to inspect the debris.

"Ms. Diane Pie, what do you think you are doing pulling rank on my soldiers when you don't even have a rank." Shining Armor said while huffing.

"Is any of your group an accomplished geologist? Or worked with stone before?"

"Well, no but Sea Wave, the mare you pushed aside was a miner once."

The mare in question beamed proudly only to have her ego quickly deflated by a determined Pinkie Pie. "Not so much as even an associates degree among you? Disgraceful!"

"Hey now, I will not be talked down like that, especially by some random, no name, baker civilian." Sea Wave said as she pushed her nose up against the calm and collected Pinkie.

"I'll have you know I worked on a rock farm and have two masters degrees in mineralogy and geology from the university of Fillydelphia. Allow me to show you exactly what will happen if you try and teleport though that geological strata." Pinkie Pie walked up and licked one of the rocks, much to the amusement (or in rarities case, disgust) of her friends.

"Hmmm" Pinkie Said as she tasted the dirt and stared at the pile in front of her. "Iron, iron ferrite, lead, quartz fragments and something...nastier." Pinkie swirled the dirt around in her mouth again before spitting it out. Yep, just as I thought, uranium two thirty-five and two thirty-eight. Heavily depleted but enough to cause problems."

The soldiers stared at Pinkie pie dumbfounded, not exactly keen on what to make of her assertions. "What does that mean exactly?"

Pinkie pie grabbed one of the small loose rocks from the edge of the pile of debris and set it on the ground between her and Shining Armor. "I want you to try and teleport to me, over this rock."

Shining armor stepped forward, not knowing what to make of Pinkie Pies simplistic challenge. "I can do that in my sleep!" Shining armor stood tall, his horn glowing brightly as he disappeared with a pop only to miss his mark entirely and end up with his horn stuck on the ground. "Whoa...so dizzy, what happened?" Shining armor pulled his horn out of the ground only to find burns on the tip of it.

"The uranium is messing with the distance calculations of your spell. The radio activity on top of the large quantity of iron ferrite and quarts can misplace your teleport, prevent the teleport or even splinch you if you try to go through it."

The other ponies face were that of fear and disgust. "Captain, as much as my wife says I need to work on my skills I would much rather not go home as half of a stallion."

"Then we dig a hole though it!" Shining Armor bent over, aiming his horn at the pile of rocks when Pinkie Pie put her hoof on his horn.

"No can do, Shiny. Look closely." Pinkie Pie pointed to several small cracks running the length of the tunnel ceiling. "Does anyone have a jawbreaker, or something round?"

Sea Wave rummaged through her backpack and pulled out a ration pack. "I think I have a potato in this one." Sea Wave pulled back the seal on the container and pulled out a small potato. "Here, I want it back though, we don't get baked potatoes in our ration packs too often." Pinkie grabbed the potato and walked some distance away and set it on the ground.

Seconds later the potato began to roll toward the pile of debris, slowly at first but quickly picking up speed until it bumped into the pile. "Theory confirmed I guess. Shiny, we can't dig though this either."

"And why is that?" Shining armor said with some irritation in his voice.

"Oh not much, just the entire tunnel will collapse on us." Pinkie pointed to the cracks along the ceiling, "The entire tunnel is buckling at the center. Some pony was either lazy, careless or stupid enough not to remove the uranium above. It's been heating up rainwater above this tunnel, causing massive stress on the entire structure." Pinkie Pie finished by pointing out small streams of warm water running along the edges of the cracks.

"Can we dig around it? Or maybe melt a tunnel through it?" Shining armor asked.

"I'll need time to conduct a geological survey of the area." Pinkie Pie replied.

"Time that we don't have. I have a terrible feeling you gals..." Applejack was shaking at the knees. "Somethin really bad is about to happen, I can just feel it."

***

Zecora dodged behind a tree, her makeshift radar showing Maskia quickly closing in on her location. "Hush you before I turn you into scrap metal." The device kept moving around the air, flashing bright red and making quite a bit of noise. "Sit!" Maskia shot a glare at the device, which calmed down and set itself in the bush beside her. "Good, now to find a way to ambush her..."

"Ambush who now?" said a familiar voice from behind her.

Zecora rolled out of the bush, kicking dirt into Maskia's eyes and galloping into the nearby woods. "How did she sneak up on me?"

"What you should be asking yourself is how I managed to sneak up on you twice."

Zecora turned her head only to receive a head butt in her side, knocking her into a nearby tree. Zecora's eyes flared up into a hot yellow and fired a beam of electric yellow; striking Maskia in the remains of her chest-plate and throwing her some distance away.

Even with proper shielding against shaman spells her attacks still smart. Maskia rolled back onto her feet and put up a barrier just in time to block another beam of light from Zecora. As the light from the beam faded Maskia lost sight of Zecora. Looking at her crystal around her neck didn't help matters, it was going crazy, spinning in place as if Zecora was everywhere at once. I don't have time for this nonsense.

"Zecora, you come out and speak with me mare to mare or I order the guard I have mind controlled to kill your companions in the hospital."

Zecora slowly walked out of the bushes, her eyes aglow, ready to fight if need be. "And If I kill you before you make that order then the guard hypnosis will break. I know you barely made it out of the fight with Luna alive, the deep scars on your body are a testament to that."

"I have come to make a deal, I already know I am in no condition to fight you head on. In terms of power you are the foremost, just like my daughter was." Maskia stabbed the Spear Of Sealing into the ground. "Only the foremost shaman in the family can release the seal on this weapon. Cooperate and I will leave you, your friends and this pitiful backwoods village alone."

"You must have hit your head hard during your fight with Luna if you think I would ever allow you to unlock the full power of that dreadful weapon. If I stop you here and now, then no pony will ever suffer at by your hoof again." Zecora pawed at the ground with her hoof, kicking grass and dirt behind her as her eyes flared up into a bright yellow glow. "En garde!"

Zecora charged forward, her front hoofs kicking the Spear Of Sealing out of Maskia's grasp and then following up with a shot from her eyes into Maskia's exposed chest. Zecora leaped forward after Maskia staggered back and landed a head butt on Maskia, followed up by a quick turn around and kick to the chest. Why isn't she fighting back? Zecora pushed the advantage further and fired another volley of beams into Maskia, all of which connected but seemed to do no visible damage.

I do not understand, she should be at least injured by now... Zecora thought as she hit Maskia in the chest with another shot. Why isn't she going down? Zecora kicked Maskia away from her on a failed charge only to have something tackle her to the ground. Opening her eyes after the impact Zecora saw not one, but at least three Maskia copies piled up on her. The phantom spell, but how so many? Zecora flung the copies off of herself with a mighty blast of power only to have chains of pure light wrap around her neck and back legs.

Zecora managed to kick off one of the chains only to have three more wrap around her legs, torso and neck.

"Enough, that should hold her." Maskia walked from in between a couple of her copies and ran a hoof up Zecora's neck. Are you ready to help me or do I have to beat the obedience out of you?" Maskia swiftly pulled her hoof away, leaving a small cut across Zecora's chin.

"How did you manage all of this?" Zecora said as she kicked and bit at one of the chains.

"I remember a couple years ago a certain disobedient granddaughter of mine making a foal out of me in front of the entire tribe at the astral springs." Maskia walked along side Zecora, forming a long whip like object on her hoof as she did. "It took many months for the other shaman under my command to come up with a way to absorb spells from other shaman but it was worth it in the end." Maskia walked in front of Zecora, brandishing a rather horrific looking spiked whip made of light. "You either grant me my request and take the generous deal I offered you or I beat you until life becomes so meaningless that you will beg me to kill you." Maskia cracked the whip on Zecora's flank, eliciting a scream of agony from the mare.

"What will it be, granddaughter? My offer or torture?"

Zecora panted heavily, the whip felt as if it ripped up all of her flesh and then set it back down on her body, but on fire. Zecora lifted her restrained hoof, motioning Maskia forward.

Maskia leaned forward, her ear up to Zecora's face.

"Blow it out your wrinkly old ass." Zecora said with a grin on her face.

"Impudent little!" Maskia lashed Zecora's body with all of her might, the screams of agony echoing throughout the night sky. "I will make you beg for death!"

Zecora could feel nothing but pain, her body convoluted and shook with each agonizing impact. Maskia wrapped the entirely of the whip around her body and pulled. The feeling of every inch of her body being ripped from her was too much and with a scream she blacked out and lay still on the grass.

"Stupid arrogant wret-" Maskia lifted her hoof to take another swing when she felt something in the air. "Celestia is out and about. Do you others sense that?" Maskia's copies all nodded their heads.

"Master, she is attempting to triangulate our position. I estimate we have maybe twenty minutes at the most before she finds us." One of Maskia's copies said in a robotic voice.

"Very well, wake Zecora. I will get what I want the hard way." The copies picked the unconscious mare off the ground and unceremoniously shook her awake.

Zecora slowly opened her eyes, her body feeling tender and her eyelids heavy. "Didn't I tell you to blow it out your ass? You have my answer, I will not help you destroy the lives of others. Even if it means my end." Zecora felt a sharp pain on her muzzle, Maskia had slapped her hard across the face.

"No, I have decided to make you my slave. The seal only needs your unique energy signature to break it." Maskia lifted Zecora's head to meet up with her eyes. "Now stare into my eyes, know that the sooner you help me the sooner you can help yourself."

Zecora struggled in her restraints and managed to bite Maskia on the nose, drawing a little blood.

Maskia stepped back, rubbing her snore snout. "Fine. Copies, get the whips out. We whip her until she can no longer resist my gaze." The copies began striking Zecora with the same ferocity as the real thing, Zecora's body jerked and quaked in pain as she did everything she could to brace herself.

They...will, have to kill me before I help ....her. My...only regret...is I will...never see you again....my love.

Zecora blacked out again in the midst of a flurry of pain and regret.

***

"C'mon Fluttershy, push, she's about half way." Nurse Red heart said while looking under medical sheets.

"W-wouldn't this be easier if I was standing up instead of on my back?" Fluttershy said as she strained to push the foal out.

"Maybe if you were some kind of cave-pony or wanted your foal to fall on its head then sure." Red Heart replied sarcastically. "Big Mac, I need a towel and my medical scissors."

Big Mac nodded and rummaged around the medical cabinet, pulling out a towel and handing it to Red Heart. "Scissors too if you don't mind."

Big Mac peered into the cabinet but shook his head as he closed it. "Nnnnope."

"Check the emergency cabinet in the hall and bring me some germ spray while you're at it. This emergency delivery room is filthy." Big Mac did what he was told and ran out into the hall.

"Okay, Fluttershy, breathe deeply and push at the end of each breath."

Fluttershy breathed in and with a couple more pushes she could feel the back hooves of her foal finally slip out the back end of her body.

"Just a bit more." Slowly the foal started to come out of Fluttershy's body. First the back-end and then the midsection, mysteriously the wings were folded in. "That's odd, it tucked its wings in, just like a newborn Pegasus instinctively do. I didn't expect that, not from a dominantly Zebra foal."

With one last mighty push the head of the foal finally slid out the end just as Big Mac arrived with the surgical supplies. "Scissors please." As Red Heart fiddled with removing the umbilical cord, Big Mac busied himself with cleaning off the foal and the afterbirth.

Red Heart cleaned up the foal and slowly wrapped him in a towel. As she handed the foal over to the nearly dead tired Fluttershy, the foal slowly opened her eyes.

"Wret, wret, wret" the foal made her first sounds as she nuzzled up against her mother, licking at her moms muzzle affectionately.

"Oh, she has my eyes and nose." Fluttershy held her newborn tightly, examining her every attribute in detail. "I can feel her wings under the towel, they feel really strong, bigger than even adult Pegasi wings." Fluttershy's eyes wandered over her daughters mane. Instead of typical white and black stripes the mane was black and pink, although the rest of the foals body was dominantly Zebra in structure. "Look, she has some of my hair color too."

"Iffin ya don't mind me sayin Fluttershy, she almost looks like some kinda city punk rocker."

Fluttershy giggled as she ran a hoof though her daughters bright mane.

Red Heart turned to Fluttershy as she was cleaning up the area. "I found that really odd, nothing like that was in the last ultrasound we performed. I guess hybrids are still a medical mystery in some ways." Fluttershy absentmindedly caressed her newborn when she felt something off when she adjusted her in her forelegs.

"Red Heart, I feel something warm by her bottom. Is it supposed to be like that?"

Red heart shot up from cleaning her tools with a surprised expression on her face. "No, it's not. I'll need to inspect her though. Pre- cutie mark infant infections are rare but do occur." Red Heart Approached the infant and put a hoof up to her flank, the sensation was almost tingling, almost as if unicorn magic was involved somehow. "I'll have to move the towel." Red Heart slowly peeled back the towel to reveal something glowing on the foals backside, around where her cutie-mark would appear.

"Wheres that glow coming from?" Fluttershy said apprehensively, trying to get a better view of what was going on.

The glow slowly began to fade and in its place a cutie-mark in the shape of a swirl and lines on the outside appeared. "I...I think it's a cutie mark but...I have never heard of a cutie-mark on a newborn before." Red Heart set the towel back over the cutie mark with care and trotted over to her medical kit, pulling out a book on Zebra biology lent to her from Zecora. "Lemme see here." Red Heart flipped though the pages until she managed to find the section on Zebra cutie marks.

"Anything yet?" Fluttershy said while eyeing her foal nervously.

"Nothing, wait." nurse Red Heart did the smallest of double takes. "For information on foal cutie-marks please turn to page two hundred and forty." Red Heart turned the recommended page and began to read aloud.

"In very rare circumstances a foal with a cutie-mark is born. This oddity is indicative of a strong natural talent for shamanism and is nearly a one hundred percent chance that the foal in question will have natural magical powers. This has only been known to occur with any frequency in the Dredgar, Bluehoof, Zeideir, Bental council families of the major three ruling tribes. It is noted that exceptions such as the Windrunner and Galv Tribe's have produced exceptional shaman in the past and present. This affliction is known as 'pre-destiny' syndrome. "

Red Heart looked over the book at Fluttershy. "Isn't Zecora's surname 'of the Wind Runners?' "

"She mentioned our child may inherit her tribes shamanism powers but I never heard mention of being born that way. Her grandmother and herself had to train hard to bring out those talents." Fluttershy ran her hoof though her foals mane. "Don't you worry, you can be whatever you want to be when you grow up, mommy won't let no silly pre-destiny syndrome get in the way of that."

"There's more written here." Red Heart slowly followed the lines of print before reaching an interesting segment; a list of all the known foals born with the affliction. "Hmmm, there's only one instance of this happening in the Wind Runner tribe and it was a mare by the name of 'Imani' daughter of...Maskia."

"Zecora's mom?" Fluttershy said, surprised. "She never mentioned that to me about her."

"As predicting the emergence of this affliction is difficult before birth the sages have listed a set of criteria that both parents must meet before this can occur-"

Red Heart, are you there? Has Fluttershy finished delivery yet? Is she okay to move though the emergency tunnel?

"Yes, she gave birth to a healthy foal but she-"

No buts, I have received word that Shining Armor is on an intercept course in the tunnel. Maskia has been spotted in the area near the hospital but Celestia has yet to triangulate her position.

Fluttershy gasped as she put a hoof over her mouth. "But, but... Zecora is out there somewhere."

We haven't been able to contact her, something is interfering with our communications.I don't like to be the bearer of bad news but there is a very real chance she was either captured or died fighting. I'm truly sorry, Fluttershy.

Tears welled up in Fluttershy's eyes as she whimpered. "No, she wouldn't die. She's not a reckless pony, she would never..."

"Fluttershy, I'm sure she is okay but if Maskia finds you in here you won't be. It will still be a little bit before your foal can walk on her own. In the meantime We need to get you in a carrying harness." Red Heart removed a foal harness from a nearby wall and handed it off to Big Mac. "Can you walk yet?"

"I think so, my bag legs are a bit sore still but I'll manage." Fluttershy replied.

"Good. We're out of wheelchairs. Big Mac, if you would." Big Mac held the foal as Fluttershy got into her harness.

"A'rent we the cutest little thing, eyyup you are."

"Wret, wret" The foal replied affectionately, her eyes just barely open.

"Okay Big Mac, Now slowly lower the foal into the pouch on the harness." Red Heart said as she pointed to the under-sling pouch Fluttershy had just finished putting on.

Big Mac nodded and slowly lowered the foal into the pouch, being careful of her abnormally sized wings as he positioned her.

"Wret, wret, wret" the foal said affectionately as she nuzzled up against her mothers face above.

The group made their way into the emergency corridor and into a large waiting room filled with medical supplies, emergency rations and a generator with copious amounts of nearby fuel. Red Heart opened up a large steel door at one end of the room and flipped a nearby switch. Nothing happened. Red Heart stood there flipping the switch a couple times before finally taking the metal case off the nearby breaker box. As she peered into the box, the problem became obvious. Various wires were burnt to a crisp and the antiquated metal fuses were snapped in half.

"Great, the entire circuit is toast."

"Can ya fix it?" Big Mac asked.

"Dammit Mac, I'm a doctor, not an electrician!" Red Heart paused for a second, her hoof scratching her mane absentmindedly. "Where have I heard that line before?"

"Are there any other lights around?" Fluttershy asked while looking though some of the supplies.

"There should be a couple emergency lanterns in the far cabinet." Red Heart said while pointing at a steel cabinet on the far end of the room.

Big Mac walked up to the steel cabinet and after a few moments of rummaging around pulled his head out of the cabinet, a freshly lit lantern hanging from a rope in his mouth.

"Good, Mac you're on point. This tunnel comes up in an open field north of town, there should be a military detachment guarding it."

Fluttershy stared at Red Heart with tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong Fluttershy?" Asked Red Heart.

"Can you carry my foal to safety. I want to go looking for Zecora."

Red Heart and Big Mac stared at Fluttershy as if she had lost her marbles entirely.

"Fluttershy...I understand your dilemma. I had a special somepony as well but...he died during the war. A victim of supply problem and ambush by Maskia's forces. I know how much it hurts to think of the possibility of your mate being hurt or worse but..." Red Heart paused to wipe a tear from her face. "But that daughter of yours needs you more than ever. If Zecora has fallen then she died protecting those she loved, you and your daughter must survive. It is what she would have wanted."

Fluttershy kicked the ground. Deep inside she knew what needed to be done, but every part of her felt helpless, as if yearning to do something to help.

"Wret?"

Fluttershy looked down at her foal. The young Zebra didn't yet know how to speak but could somehow understand her mother being in emotional distress. "Don't worry." Fluttershy said before licking the foals mane like a cat would her kittens. "Everything will be fine." Fluttershy nodded at Big Mac to proceed and with a brief nod back Big Mac pushed forward with the lantern still in his mouth, the other ponies close behind.

***

Beads of sweat rolled down her face, her teeth gritting in rage as she pushed with all of her might to break into her targets mind. Just as she thought she managed to get a wedge in she was pushed back as if trying to take down a brick wall with a stick.

"Guh" Maskia said as she collapsed, sweating on the ground. "Even when knocking on deaths door you still resist me." Maskia stood up, panting heavily. "How much time do I have before my location is known?"

"Less than eight minutes." One of the copies replied stoically.

"Beat her again, I want a hole in her mental defenses, beat her within an inch of her life if you need to."

One of the copies stepped forward to lash Zecora with a whip of light when another one stopped her.

"I believe we are going about this the wrong way. We can all try to break into her mind at once."

Maskia rubbed her scarred chin. "Yes, that could work." Maskia had the two copies pull on Zecora's chains tightly, pulling the injured mare to her feet. Four other copies joined Maskia at her side, eyes glowing along with their masters as they stared Zecora down.

Zecora immediately went into defensive mode in her mind, drawing vast mazes, riddles and locks along the way to her inner most thoughts. Even if Maskia could break though the maze and riddles, her copies were nowhere near as clever. This would still leave her alone to make it through the final door, a task she failed at multiple times before. I only have to hold out until Celestia can locate me. I just wish I was able to get a message to her. To be certain Zecora had tried to get a mental message via shaman telepathy to anypony but kept finding her messages breaking apart on something nearby before reaching their intended target.

Zecora braced herself as she felt five separate entities enter her mind, each setting off in a different direction as they entered her maze defense. Immediately one of the copies failed a riddle at the crossing of the sphinx and was forcefully ejected from her mind. Another one got lost and ended up in the pit of snakes, removing herself from Zecora's mind, lest she be destroyed. A couple minutes passed and only Maskia remained, the other two copies falling into pits or nearly being incinerated by the pillars of truth.

Zecora laughed to herself, possibly echoing though her mind at the lone Maskia, standing at the giant doors to the center of her mind, Alone.

"Not so high and mighty now are we Maskia? In a few minutes Celestia will find us and give you what you deserve."

Maskia set a small object on the ground. "What I deserve is to rule this land with an iron hoof. What I deserve is order and a purge of all things impure from this world. I give you one more chance to open your mind to me willfully. If you do I will promise to make your death after you bless my weapon as swift as possible."

"How did you ever sway anypony will such terrible one sided deals?" Zecora thought. "Honestly, being a politician is about give and take but the only thing you ever give is lies. I wonder how you ever swayed the council into cleaning the outhouse, let alone a full scale war."

Maskia grinned maniacally. "Have it your way, when I am done getting what I will sentence you and your companions to death by living dismemberment. I will enjoy their hours of agonizing pain." Maskia bent down and pressed the glowing object.

Zecora felt the same four intruders from before enter her mind again but this time they all glided over her maze defenses and landed next to Maskia.

"How-"

"A beacon of sorts. Now to break down the last defense." Zecora felt the first strike of magic collide in her mind. The annoying pinprick of Maskia's earlier attempts was quickly replaced with what she could only assume was a torrent of battering rams. Every agonizing second took more and more of her willpower to keep them out. She even managed to injure one of the copies but the strikes kept coming. Each one reverberating in her mind much louder than the next. Each strike fracturing her psyche.

"Just a bit more girls." With one more mighty strike Zecora could feel her defenses shatter. The mind control magic quickly flooded in to her mind like a dam breaking. After a few brief moments all Zecora could see or feel was a vast dark, murky emptiness. The only things she could feel or hear was a few stray commands from outside her body.

Maskia slowly moved her head away from Zecora. The mare was standing attentively, her eyes were listless and her ears dropping.

"Master, how may I serve you?"

Maskia had a grin on her face so broad that if she smiled any harder it would dislocate her jaw. "Remove the chains, she will need full movement of her body to work. Mind slave, I want you to give me your magical blessing onto this weapon." Maskia stabbed the Spear Of Sealing into the ground in front of Zecora.

Zecora looked over the spear for a moment and then closed her eyes and began to chant. The spear rose into the air and began to hum, sparks flew from the ends and shaft of the weapon as it was slowly engulfed in bright light.

"Yes! Yes!" Maskia said with a grin on her face.

*tink*...*tink*tink*tink*

Maskia looked down at the crystal shard tied around her neck. The object was pointing to the ground behind her but when she turned away there was nothing to be found. "Bah, piece of junk. Still going off from whatever trick Zecora planted earlier."

The spear began to spin like a drill and as the light from Zecora's body made contact with the blade it suddenly stopped and fell to the ground with a thud.

"What? Was that it?" Maskia leaned over to pick the spear off the ground when a surge of power flowed through her body only to quickly disappear almost as quickly as it came. "I don't get it, I should be a god by now."

*Tink* Tink*

"Blasted thing, why does it..." Maskia stared at the ground where the shard was pointing. "No, it couldn't be..." Maskia muttered some words under her breath, her eyes glowing blue -white as she stared at the ground. "A tunnel It would seem." Maskia scanned the tunnel to find outlines of inhabitants. "A cave in on one side. A battalion of royal army soldiers...and four elements of harmony." Maskia panned along the ground to the other side. "A nurse, a stallion, a Pegasus...and something I can't quite make out."

Maskia motioned for her copies to line up along the tunnel. "On my mark I want the roof peeled off, something is down there. Something I can't get a good look at."

When the copies finished lining up Maskia took a deep breath. "Now!" The ground churned and buckled, the grass setting on fire from the stress and nearby trees uprooting from the telekinetic force being exerted.

Below, the targets of Maskia's landscaping technique were panicking.

"Oh no, the tunnel. We'll be crushed alive!" Nurse Red Heart said as Big Mac covered her and Fluttershy with his body.

On the other side of the blocked tunnel, ponies were hard at work digging and alternate route though the shaking was keeping them on edge.

"Pinke! Why is the tunnel destabilizing!?"

Pinkie was hard at work examining the stress on the rocks toward the top of the cave in. "I don't understand, from the angle the rocks are not falling down, but shifting up."

"Plate tectonics maybe?" Rarity said.

"No, the closes plate collision is hundred upon hundreds of miles south, in the dragon wastes. This is something entirely different."

Up above Maskia's efforts were beginning to show fruition, the top of the tunnel was slowly being peeled back like a giant can of sardines until the ball it was making sheered off and was tossed some distance away. The smoke slowly cleared and Maskia peered into the newly made ditch in the ground. She could make out a large red and blond stallion covering two mares with his body.

"Wret!" the foal was squirming and frightened.

"What was that...did my ears deceive me?"

"Wret, Wret!"

"Calm down, everything is fine." Fluttershy whispered.

"No, not everything is fine!" Maskia yelled angrily.

Fluttershy looked up as saw a pair of glowing blue eyes, as the smoke cleared she saw a group of Zebra above her and a particularly menacing looking one in shattered silver armor glaring down at her. Maskia turned around and back-hoofed Zecora hard in the face.

"You miserable wretch! You had an abomination of a foal and what's worse is she is a foremost! Maskia gritted her teeth in anger. "Your blessing is worthless to me! The child must die! I must have your position restored. I will fulfill my destiny!"

Maskia turned around only to fire a pair of red legs connecting with her face, sending her tumbling head over hooves into a nearby tree. Big Mac stood in front of her, huffing angrily. "No pony will lay a hoof on an innocent foal, not while this farm pony still draws breath."

Below the surface the squadron led by Shining Armor dug furiously to reach the other side around the contaminated cave in. "I want triple time on that tunnel! Get the other elements back behind the shield. Move those flanks!" The other elements of Harmony protested as they were urged backwards by a couple of the soldiers.

"Seize him!" the copies all tackled Big mac at once while Maskia grabbed her spear and headed for the ditch that Fluttershy was trying to climb.

"I can't do it! I can't fly out, the foals too heavy!"

Nurse Red Heart keeled down, allowing Fluttershy to climb up her back and out of the ditch. "Get out of here, it's your foal she wants!"

"What about you and Mac!" Fluttershy said as she reached a hoof down into the ditch.

"We can handle ourselves. Just Go!"

Fluttershy turned around. Only to find Maskia blocking her path. "Going somewhere?" Maskia slowly walked up to Fluttershy, her tail swishing back and fourth angrily.

Fluttershy was frozen in fear, running seemed pointless, her own daughter would slow her down. There was only one way. She either had to beg or fight. "Please, don't do this, it's your own great granddaughter. She's your family."

"Be that as it may, she is an abomination. Born from the sinful mating of a mutt Pegasus mare and my granddaughter. Hybrids are strictly forbidden within the Wind Runners and normally we would just socially ostracize the outcast but this... creature was born of sin. Lay the foal down and I will spare your life."

"You got me bent if you think I would ever abandon my own foal!" Fluttershy's wings puffed up. "I would rather go down fighting!"

I'll bait her into a lunge and then run as fast as I can toward town. I really wish more time had passed, just another hour and my daughter could fly away...

"Wret?" The foal looked up into her mothers eyes, as if trying to contemplate what was going on.

"So be it! A two for one is fine with me!" Maskia charged at Fluttershy. The yellow Pegasus tried to dodge but was too inexperienced in combat to properly read Maskia's movements. Maskia thrust with her spear directly at Fluttershy's face.

Fluttershy tried to dodge but something got in her way. A blur of black and white ran in front of her, its body colliding with the tip of Maskia's spear. Fluttershy looked up, tears falling from her eyes at what she knew what she was going to find.

"YOU!"

"Yes, me." Zecora said stoutly.

The spear began to shake violently, sparks flew off the shaft and the entire weapon hummed. With a flash of light, Zecora felt her entire essence being pulled into the weapon, the only thing she saw as her body was sucked into the weapon was her crying mate...and for some reason copious amounts of grey.

Even If I die...I die knowing I at least ...tried.

Chapter XIV: The Void

Chapter XIV: The Void

Where...am I? Zecora thought as she opened her eyes. Is this...death or ...inside the spear? There seemed to be absolute darkness, a void of nothing. Zecora flipped her body upright but found that doing so seemed pointless, without gravity down and up were meaningless. As Zecora floated there in an absolute void, she began to feel light headed. There was no way to orient herself up or down, no light and no sound, just an open black void of infinite emptiness.

I guess this isn't a bad way to go, certainly boring though. Zecora floated there for quite some time, contemplating what she had done, what she could have done and if her mate and daughter got away safely. She most likely won't kill my daughter at least. Now that I'm gone she is the only one that can give her blessing when she gets older. Zecora wanted to believe her family and friends were safe but she kept having a guilty feeling that Maskia would just kill them in blind rage anyhow.

I guess I'm the only pony who is being fooled here. If only I had been faster, stronger, had a stronger willpower then her. Then none of this would have happened. Zecora's mind raced with different ways she could have changed the outcome, how she could have saved the lives of so many loved ones. If I never even pursued a relationship with Fluttershy...no, That would have done nothing. Maskia still would have started the war. Zecora couldn't seem to shake the feelings of regret. No matter how she replayed the events in her mind it all came back down to her making mistakes.

There you go again, blaming yourself for things that are completely out of your control.

It took Zecora a moment or two before she realized that the last thought was not her own. It did feel strangely familiar though, in a warm, fuzzy kind of way.

"Who's there?" she mouthed but no sound came out. Oh, that's weird, I can breathe but can make no sound? Zecora felt her body bump up against something in the emptiness. Lacking any light in the void she focused her eyes and managed to get some blue light to reflect off what bumped into her from one of her spells. She immediately wished she hadn't.

Floating lifelessly mere meters from her were dozens of perfectly preserved but very dead ponies. Examining the bodies she noted that she couldn't detect a hint of magical power in them, they were not rotted out or anything, closer to being suspended in time. Each body seemed to be drained of color, although a few of them still had some color left in their bodies. Suddenly a beam of red light struck one of the more vibrant ponies and began to suck the color from its body. Zecora watched closely as the body began to slowly turn grey, the last vestiges of color in the mane being sucked up by the strange light.

As the red light retreated from the body, Zecora watched it fall into a fairly distant red dot. What is that?

It's...something I will explain later.

the voice from before reverberated in Zecora's mind again. She knew where it was from deep inside but couldn't quite put her hoof on it.

I suggest you prepare yourself for a bumpy landing, young one. Sight Seeker has a lock on your body but we have never pulled a mortal body down before.

Before Zecora could respond, she felt something grab a hold of her body around her midsection. She noticed she was being pulled away from all the corpses and closer to the red light below. Zecora watched at the red light got brighter and brighter until she had to shield her eyes from the light. Zecora peeked and saw that she had flown though the light and was falling away from it. All the darkness dissipated below the red light and was being replaced by a vast open blue void with twinkles of light in the distance. Below she noticed platforms, vast platforms made of solid silver.

Zecora, you may want to tuck and roll.

The voice came a bit to late as Zecora slammed into one of the silver platforms, hard.

***

The still air around Ponyville did little to alleviate the tension Twilight felt deep in her stomach. The vast destruction was already unsettling enough, homes destroyed, the quills & sofa store on fire and the splintered remains of Sugar Cube Corner spoke volumes to the battle that had been fought in this very town. Something about the towns eerie silence of the did manage convey is just how dangerous it was for Twilight to be out of the infirmary, Maskia or her minions would jump at the opportunity to off someone of her position. Despite complaints from Cadence's lieutenant medical officer, Twilight decided to help out the princesses, her sense of duty easily overpowering her common sense, even in her injured condition.

Twilight limped around town, trying to get a fix on Maskia's location to send back to Celestia when she felt something odd. A strange dizzying feeling that she experienced once before but on a much, much larger scale. "I wonder where it's coming from?" Twilight walked through the shattered remains of the once proud town, following her horn, trying to find the location of the disturbance. As she walked out of town she stepped on something that felt rather squishy and oddly feathery. As she looked down she saw what looked like the crumpled remains of a night blue wing.

"Wait, Pegasus don't molt entire wings do they?" Thinking back to her days in the library she realized, that no, pegasi do not molt in this manner, although she did note that some breeds of dragons do. Twilight examined the wing with her horn, she noticed that there was a magical tinge to it. It felt oddly like princess Luna's. "Oh... this must be the wing she lost when she was emergency transported to the infirmary." Twilight stared at the wing for a moment, contemplating whether or not to teleport the whole thing to the doctors at the infirmary.

"No, its probably to far gone. I would never hear the end of it if I sent them a infected feathery stump." Twilight lowered her horn and set the wing ablaze. "Anyways, where was I.." Twilight felt a tingling sensation in her horn. It seemed to be coming from the direction of the Ponyville general hospital.

Twilight. the voice of Princess Celestia rang inside Twilight's mind.

I know you are injured but I need you by my side, there's has been...how do I explain it. A 'temporal' accident.

"Is that what I'm sensing near the Ponyville hospital? Doctor Walwick hasn't been messing with croniton treatments again has he?"

How did you...you know what, I won't tell Cadence. It's bad enough I'm overruling her medical authority. Get here as quickly as you can. We are about a quarter mile behind the hospital, in the wood's.

"Be right there, your majesty." Twilight's horn flared up as she prepared to teleport to Celestia's specified location.

Oh, and Twilight...

Twilight just finished her teleportation spell as Celestia contacted her, breaking her concentration and ending her face first into a tree stump. Twilight rubbed her nose, trying to soothe the pain as she listened for Celestia.

Don't bother trying to teleport here, it's far too risky to enter whatever this disturbance is.

"Now she tells me. " Twilight grumbled as she shook some leaves out of her mane. " Well, at least no pony was around to see that disaster." Twilight looked around town, she almost wanted somepony to laugh at her, at least then the town she once called home would be somewhat normal. Despite her reservations about walking alone, Twilight continued to the edge of town where the hospital was located, her horn tingling with that same familiar sensation as before.

As Twilight walked up to the hospital she noticed a guard that seemed a bit delirious. He was rolling around in the grass, yelling "I'm sorry Celestia, I lost contact with you, please respond!" The royal guards pony seemed to be clutching his ears in agony.

As Twilight approached the guard slowly stood at attention. His eyes dreary and his ears twitching in what Twilight could only discern as pain.

"Arch M-mage!" The pony said exasperated. "Celestia has ordered me to attack those other ponies when they come back, they are trying to overthrow her throne!"

Twilight was feeling something odd coming from this particular pony. It almost felt as if this pony before her had recently come in contact with shamanistic magic. Which could only mean two things; either Zecora was nearby or Maskia.

"Solider, have you seen the war criminal Maskia around?"

The solider fiddled with his hooves for a moment before replying, he looked as if he was listening for something else. "Y-yes ma'am the traitors Celestia warned me about chased her off a hour or so ago."

Twilight couldn't seem to put a hoof on it but something didn't seem to match up. The shamanistic magic vibes she was getting from this pony were quite different from Zecora's. While Zecora's magic as often calm and peaceful this magic felt electric and malevolent.

He might have had his mind addled or his memories modified, but how to get him to drop his guard so I can inspect him?

Twilight noted that this guard had a standard issue longsword on his back leg, although this one looked slightly rusted and dull from disuse it was still very dangerous to sedate an addled pony while it was armed.

"Solider! Attention!"

The solider put his hoof up to his face in salute, standing completely still for inspection. "What is your command arch mage?"

"Remove your pant-..s" Twilight didn't manage to stop herself, immediately face-hoofing at how she worded her command.

"Um, ma'am. I don't think this is the time or place for that kind of ...thing. I mean I can gladly help you out la-"

"No, no. I meant unsheathe your sword, I am mandating a medical checkup."

The stallion looked as if he saw a ghost. "But...Ms. Sparkle, I-I can't just get hard immediately like that. I need music, dancing, romance, maybe you being in lingerie."

Twilight sighed disgustedly. "I mean...you know what. Just remove your weapon holster and throw it in the bushes over there."

Stallions, what do they know. Besides I look way better in latex or leather than lingerie. Twilight shook her head and focused on the task at hoof as the stallion tossed his weapon holster some distance away.

"Okay then, I need you to sit down while I probe you with my....err" Twilight noticed the terrified look on the stallions face. "As I um...scan you with my horn. Don't worry it's not invasive in any way."

"I should hope not, I'm not that kind of pony." The stallion replied nervously.

Twilight slowly panned over the stallions body until she found something odd. A magic repeating device imbedded somewhere in the stallions mind. Twilight kept scanning until she found the device, a magical suggestion orb; similar to the unicorn suggestion spell, embedded in the stallions subconscious.

"Solider, you seem to be infected with...ummm" I have to lie to him, if Maskia is controlling him then me telling him could trigger a reaction. "Heppalitis, a liver infection."

"I never heard of that before, how did you know I was infected?" the stallion said while shuffling uncomfortably.

Twilight moved behind the stallion and hit him in the back of the head with a sleep spell.

"So...sleepy..." The stallions eyes drooped and he fell over, sound asleep.

"Sorry, but I can't risk brain damage with an operation this delicate." Twilight slowly pushed her magic into the stallions mind, slowly severing the connections the orb made with his mind. When the orbs last connection was severed she tried to slowly move it out of his head only to find that unlike the unicorn suggestion spell, this one actually had mass to it and would not phase though solid objects.

"Well then, I guess I have to be careful about this." Twilight searched for a way to move the spell out of the stallions skull. She quickly found that making a incision though the ponies skull and into the nose to be sneezed out would be the best approach. Twilight pushed her magic up against the skull and after she deadened the nerves slowly made a incision around the top of the nose bone and slid the orb though; closing the gap behind it as she went.

Twilight wiped her brow. The monumental effort of brain surgery and not to nick things she should was draining heavily on her magical resources. Resources that were already strained from healing her body. "Maybe if.."

Twilight looked around until she noticed a destroyed pantry in the distance. Twilight teleported the pantry to herself and rummaged through the remains, pulling out a pepper shaker. "One more check." Twilight rechecked the incision she made earlier and double sealed the wound, putting a barrier over it as well.

"Last thing I need is this guy sneezing his brains out." Twilight moved the shaker up to the stallions nose and sprinkled pepper onto his snout.

"Ah,ah...choo!" A little ball of light, no larger than a marble fired out of the stallions nose and implanted itself into the side of a tree trunk. The stallion rubbed his front leg over his face and rolled over, snoring loudly.

Twilight picked up the ball and rubbed it on the grass to remove the brain fluids and snot that was all over it. She pulled the orb close to inspect it. Something about the magic was off, it felt like a suggestion spell but had some slight difference that she could not put her hoof on. Against her better judgement she touched the orb to her horn and suddenly it all became clear.

"This isn't a just some kind of suggestion orb, it's a dominance orb!" Twilight had read of unicorns with less than virtuous intentions dominating other ponies to do their will but the spell was removed from circulation nearly a dozen centuries ago. Only a few copies of such spells still remained, only the princesses and herself had access to them.

Thinking back she remembered many Zebra were mentally dominated, some of them not remembering anything from the time of domination. "This is weird, Zebra show if they are dominated rather easily but I barely detected this one in a ponies body. Something about our biology covers it up. If it wasn't for this one acting weird I would have never guessed anything as wrong."

Twilight watched the stallion rolled over, mumbling in his sleep about Twilight being in lingerie.

"Bweh...stallions." Sexually repressed soldiers aside the chilling matter at hoof was how many other ponies were victims of this kind of domination. how many of Equestrias military was compromised, working with the enemy without memory of it.
"Celestia can wait a couple minutes." Twilight magicked a quill, ink and a piece of parchment in front of her.

"By order of the Arch Mage of Equestria. It has come to my attention that the war criminal Maskia and her cohorts may have been placing domination magic orbs into the sub-conscious of our citizens. All military personnel...no, All ponies are to report to doctors immediately to be scanned with a class S or higher mental probe. This is not negotiable, such ponies could still be a danger, even after the war."

Twilight rolled up the parchment and fired a spell into it, making dozens of copies. "Now to send these to all the doctors...but there's so many of them." Twilight looked at the pile in front of her, there was at least three dozen duplicate letters. "I'll just have the medical team at the air armada sort it out for now." Twilight pointed her horn at the pile and with a burst of yellow flame, all of the scrolls teleported to the medical ship of the Royal Equestrian Air Armada.

Twilight, what is taking so long?

"I'm sorry Princess, I had to help a soldier in need. I think I may have found out how Maskia has been spying on us. How she managed to set us up so much."

We can deal with that later. I need you here ASAP. Cadence is here and I'm trying to get her away so I don't get my head bit off when you arrive.

"Uh-oh" Twilight almost wanted to just head back to the medical ship that instant. An angry Cadence is not somepony to take lightly. "I'll be there as soon as I can...just keep cadence off my back if you could." Twilight took two steps toward the hospital when she turned around, almost forgetting the stallion that slept in the middle of the grassy field.

"Yeah Twilight...eat it like an ice cream cone" the stallion said in his sleep.

Twilight rolled her eyes."I guess I better get him somewhere safe." Twilight lowered her horn onto the stallions side and with a flash of light the stallion disappeared.

"With any luck the medical squad will do a full checkup on him."

Twilight continued past the hospital and into the woods behind it, following the tingling sensation in her horn. "I just know I felt this kind of magic before...but where?" Twilight noticed something in the distance. A pearl white coat and long flowing rainbow hair.

"Celestia!" Twilight ran up to the princess only to stop cold. In a clearing in front of the princess was something she had never seen before. The entire clearing was different shades of grey, as if someone was projecting a very old movie. Inside the grey scale area was a scene which Twilight could only describe as a cheesy action scene. Upon closer inspection she realized it was far more than that.

On one side of the clearing Applejack's brother, Big Macintosh was using some kind of wrestling technique on three zebra that looked sort of like Maskia.

"It's called a triple whammy, Twilight." Celestia said as she watched Twilight's eyes wander over the scene. " It's a double power-bomb and pile-driver all in one. My sister Luna told me about it when she was watching 'Rumble mania thirteen'."

Twilight continued to scan the area, not noticing princess Cadence landing behind her.

"And what are you doing out of the infirmary Arch Mage?" Cadence said as Twilight jumped up in surprise. "I...um"

"I ordered her out here. I need her expertise in magic to help fix this ...problem." Celestia said as she pointed to the grey scene before her.

"You did WHAT!" Cadence walked up to Celestia, her face puffed up in anger. "You circumvented my authority to bring my little sister, who I may add is seriously burned, out of her recovery."

"Cadence..." Twilight whispered.

"You brought her out here knowing the town is in ruin and on fire."

"Cadence?" Twilight said a little louder.

"Putting her life at serious risk, any amount of Maskia's spies could off her in her condition. Of all the reckless, stupid..."

"Cadence!" Twilight yelled.

Cadence looked back at Twilight who was short of breath from yelling.

"I'm a little sore but I'll be fine. I was already halfway through town before Celestia contacted me." Twilight inhaled calmly. "If Celestia needs my help I must do as much as I can to help her. I'm sorry that my sense of duty overrides my common sense but I don't like loafing around when things need done."

Cadence looked into Twilight's eyes and then back to Celestia. "I'm...sorry auntie. I guess I keep forgetting the little filly I knew is a full gown mare now. Sorry for blowing up at you."

"We can handle the apologies later. First we need to figure out what 'this' thing is." Celestia pointed her hoof at the mass of grey behind her. "Twilight, care to inspect it?"

Twilight moved closer to the anomaly, taking care not to step into the grey line on the grass. As she positioned herself toward the outer edge she noticed that Fluttershy was running off with what looked like a Zebra foal in a pouch underneath her. A short ways behind her was Maskia herself. Sitting on her haunches, staring at her spear; a shocked look on her face.

Twilight scanned the rest of the scene. A short distance away from Maskia was a ditch in the ground. On the far end her brother, Shining Armor was breaking through the ground around a cave in. Twilight sat on her haunches, still trying to identify the feeling she kept having in her horn when the solution struck her like a bottle of Apple Vodka on Sunday night.

"This is time magic!" Twilight picked up a nearby rock with her magic and flung it into the grey zone. The rock flew a short distance before freezing in the air entirely. "More precisely a time frozen zone."

Celestia scratched her chin with her hoof. "Time frozen zone? I don't remember reading anything like that, not even in the restricted library."

"And you wouldn't have. Doctor Walwick isn't exactly respected enough for any of his theories to be immortalized in the libraries. Many of his theories don't really add up but his paper of time frozen zones was of interest to me."

Cadence walked up to the edge of the time freeze. "So, what exactly causes these time frozen zones?"

Twilight thought back to the paper she had read a few months back. "A couple ways. A spell, a shattered magical time device can theoretically cause one if infused with ridiculous amounts of cronitons and then there is the last way..."

"Which is...?" Celestia asked.

"An unresolved magical error. One that would require an object to both compress space and time in some fashion, but as far as I know there isn't anything that can compress both space and time short of a black hole or possibly a quantum void." Twilight shook her head while rubbing her temples. "There isn't even an item in Equestria that even remotely has that power or even a theoretical way to break a time frozen zone either." Twilight stood up and started to pace back and fourth.

"Twilight?" Cadence said while pointing at Maskia.

"Huh?" Twilight followed cadence's hoof toward her target.

"Yes, I noticed Maskia is in there but that does us no good if we can't get to her."

"No, I mean the spear."

Twilight magicked a pair of binoculars in front of her face and pointed them at Maskia's spear. At first she didn't notice anything different about it, other than some cracks and scratches on the shaft. Maybe her regular old Unicorn eyes couldn't see certain subtle details she thought but then she noticed something gleaming in the moonlight. Twilight moved the binocular sights up the shaft until she could clearly see the tip. Which was oddly not grey but a gleaming silver in the moonlight.

"Um...Celestia?" Twilight said nervously.

"Yes Twilight?"

"How do they say it in South Clopton 'Shit just got real, yo!' "

***

Zecora rolled her eyes. her body in pain from some kind of impact she could barely remember. Everything was fuzzy but she could hear voices nearby.

"Is she okay?" Did I mess up on the landing?"

"You are under enough stress keeping that time stop stable Sight Seeker. My daughter is a strong mare, that impact only winded her at worst."

"Look, I think she's coming to."

Zecora opened her eyes. Above her was a turquoise ceiling with patterns that should couldn't quite make out. As she stared at the ceiling her vision slowly focused until she was able to make out some kind of rune, a shamanistic rune.

"Are you just going to lie there while there is so much work to do?"

Zecora's ears perked up, it couldn't be, they told her she had died. Zecora shot up and looked to her side. Sitting in a silver chair was a mare wearing a blue bandanna around her neck, tacky bronze rings around her leg, stripes that came onto her face like a spider;ending in a black splotch on her muzzle and a hole in her left ear from the day Zecora first learned how to throw a spear.

"Imani, is that you?"

"Who else do you know with this taste in jewelry and a hole in her ear where you caught me on your first windup?"

Zecora lunged at Imani in a hug. Her body in pain as she squeezed the her mother with all her might. "They said you died but how are you here? Did grandmother kill you? Am I dead after all? Why does my body...ache?" Zecora hadn't noticed it before but Imani was semi transparent. Behind her mother was one of the ponies she met at the astral springs over two years ago. "I don't...but..."

Imani put her hoof up to Zecora's lips and made a hushing sound. "Enjoy the moment first, then walk with me. I have much to explain."

Zecora tried to hold back her tears but her mother shook her head in disappointment. "Never hold in those feelings. The longer you try the harder it becomes." Zecora hugged Imani, streams of tears rolling down her mothers shoulder. Everything about the moment was magic. The terrible texture of her neck rings, her mane that was always swept a little to the left, her strange taste in poison joke perfume, everything just felt like home. Like something she had lost but now found. As the tears hit the floor Zecora came to a realization that this moment was only temporary. Her mother was without a body and if she was truly inside the spear it meant that she was indeed very much long dead.

Imani slowly pushed Zecora away, wiping a tear from her eye. "That is enough for now. Follow me, we have much to discuss." Imani walked out of the strange oval room though a teal curtain, Zecora close behind. As Zecora walked out side the silence that was the room she was in was quickly shattered by a low roar of whispers from a massive crowd of ponies, Zebra and even a handful of very young dragons.

"Did you hear? She still has a body" whispered a yellow mare wearing a green bonnet.

"Has that every happened before?" whispered another.

"I dunno, why is that crackpot Imani so interested in her." Said a Zebra in very outdated bamboo war armor.

"I hope she isn't feeding her any lies about getting out of here" another whispered.

"Mother, are all these other ponies Maskia's victims?" Zecora asked while staring out over the crowd as she followed Imani.

"Some of them are, but my mother was hardly the first to be corrupted by the spear."

"Wait, I assumed-"

"There is history that you are not aware of. Be silent and I will explain." Imani walked past a few more oval buildings and into a large cavern. Along the walls were drawings made in blood red, each of them seemed to be a representation of the spears past.

"We start here, many a century ago." Imani pointed to a depiction of large dragons swopping down and attacking fleeing Zebra, on of the depictions showed a Zebra clearly trapped in a dragons mouth. "During this time period the green dragons tribe of the south ran into severe food shortages due to overzealous mining from Zebra folk in the region." Imani pointed to a baby dragon clutching his stomach as a Zebra greedily dug up gems next to it.

"The dragons eventually had enough and after attempting to convince the council to have the miners leave some of the caves alone they quickly turned to violence. When the dragons found there was no more gems to be had even after flushing the miners out, they asked the council for emergency aid. Aid that they never received. With starving children to feed they turned to preying on the Zebra folk."

Imani shook her head somberly and sighed before continuing.

"Not knowing how to deal with the dragons turning to predation the council of the main three tribes commissioned a magical work from one of the ancestors of the Wind Runners." On the wall was a Zebra that looked much like Imani herself but with much better taste in neck rings. "They commissioned her to make a magical weapon that could strike fear into the hearts of even the oldest of dragons. They offered her riches beyond her wildest dreams and vast amounts of land for her services, something unheard of for a mare to obtain in that time period."

Imani moved down the cavern, onto the next set of paintings. "She toiled for weeks on the weapon, crafting it from the strongest metals she could find but ran into a problem. In order to destroy a creature of such power the weapon would need a power source of its own. Originally she had planned on the weapon to use the power within the user but quickly found it insufficient and very dangerous on the user."

Imani pointed to a depiction of a mare tossing parchments aside in frustration. "Desperate for a answer she settled on something of a flesh void zone of sorts within the tip of the spear. The spear would drain all the energy it possibly could from a slain enemy and expel the soul out the back of the shaft." Imani pointed to a picture of her ancestor poking the body of a long dead elephant, the body quickly being absorbed into the spear.

"When she presented her prototype to the council they were greatly displeased. The losses were mounting from the constant dragon attacks and they deemed her weapon needed to be far more lethal. That it should use the power of the absorbed souls as well to bring even greater destruction to the dragons. She tried to explain to the council that such a thing was near impossible with what any shaman of the age could do but they refused to listen."

Zecora watched as a depiction started to move. A angry council member pointed her ancestor out the door.

"Discouraged she went back to work in a effort to grant the councils request. After some soul searching she decided that such a horrible fate of having your soul trapped was unjust, even evil. She intentionally built a comfortable living section and a memory system into the inner workings of the weapon. She also built in a soul leak system to release the souls remotely. She still however refused to find a way for souls to power the weapon believing that no one, even the most vile of creatures deserves an eternal prison for what was ultimately a mortal life of evils."

Imani pointed out the mare building leak holes of near the bottom of the spear, holes that opened and closed on her command. Imani walked a bit further down the cavern. "As she was finishing up the last bits of magic on the spear, her best friend burst into her room.

The depiction of the wall began to speak. "You must flee, the council plans to have you executed after the war is over. They never intended to give a low class mare any land. They were only using you."

Imani shook her head. "Back in those days mares had far less rights than stallions. Mares owning land was rare and only typically applied in lesser tribes." The depiction showed Zecora's furious ancestor gritting her teeth in rage.

"Then I will build a safety into the weapon. If my life ends it will shatter, if they use the weapon on any of my kin it will be obliterated. I will take what I have earned, whether they like it or not."

"She managed to coax the council into waiting one more day for the weapon's completion. That very night she cursed the weapon..."

Another depiction swirled onto the wall this one a mix of red and purple. Spell after spell struck the weapon, each time the weapon glowed hot white.

"The very next day she presented the weapon to the council. She lied about the weapons abilities and her curse she put upon it."

The walls swirled again, this time showing a mare presenting the Spear Of Sealing to the council on a golden rack. "Most gracious council, I present you with a weapon that can fell a dragon in a single blow. The Spear of Sealing." The depiction showed one of the council members picking up the spear, magical power immediately flowing into his body.

"This is incredible. How many more of these can you make?"

The mare shook her head. "That is the only one. The core is made from rare falling star fragments. Such fragments are only found every couple thousand years."

The council began to whisper among themselves. "Then how do we possibly kill hundreds of marauding dragons with a single spear?"

"Grab the bottom of the handle and slowly part the weapon."

The council member did as he was told, although with some skepticism. He slowly put one hoof at the bottom of the shaft and pulled. A thin piece of silver peeled off the side of the weapon, slowly inflating in size as it was pulled off. The council member stood there, shocked for a moment, not only becuase of the genius of the inventor but now he had two weapons that could fell the strongest creature in the land in a single blow.

"This is amazing. The copy feels just like the real thing although, not as ornate as the original."

Zecora's ancestor stepped up and bowed graciously. "The copies are tied to the mains power-source, they only last as long as the power in the spear is active but you can make as many as you need. Even if the weapon is damaged or broken you can make some copies, just so long as the power in the weapon doesn't fail." Zecora's ancestor looked pained as she bowed, almost as if she wanted to punch herself for leaving such a obvious flaw in it's design, that the council could possibly exploit the copying ability.

"I don't get it. If she was to be betrayed then why leave such a flaw in it in the first place." Zecora asked.

"She only had a single day my child. She only had enough to time to work in a few flaws, Not all of them. It is a oversight that would haunt her for the rest of her life."

The council members in the depiction waved a hoof to dismiss her. "We need to convene privately, you will return to your quarters while we debate...bonus pay for such a marvelous design. You are dismissed Alahla."

Alahla gave a short bow and exited the room, muttering to herself. "I just know I'm going to get stabbed in the back, but I will have the last laugh."

"So...a mare with this kind of magical knowledge. This level of craftsmanship even our top shaman cannot match" said the first councilman with a red dyed mane.

"I say we have her executed after the war. What if she starts selling these kinds of weapons to the lesser tribes?" said the councilman with the double tied beard.

"Or worse starts training other mares to become shaman themselves? We could have a revolt or a possible civil war on our hooves if she has that kind of talent." Said the councilman in the eye-patch, waving his forelegs in panic.

"Killing her outright would cause a revolt. She has already devised many new medical spells and has saved lives all across the borderlands. Stripping her of her proper reward could possibly do the same." said the councilman with the red mane.

"We could just accuse her of unlicensed shamanism. Mares are not legally allowed to be shamans within the central parts of the country." The councilman with the eye-patch said nervously.

"No, that would trigger a civil war almost immediately. The smaller tribes have sovereignty and fought hard to have shaman of all age groups and genders. We have not the horsepower or capital in the coffers to fight them all off, at least not while we are busy dealing with the dragons."

Each member of the council leaned back in their chairs, exasperated at how to best deal with the payment. "I think I have a solution. We grant her a larger quantity of land but at least three quarters of it by the Denbar badlands. We keep a watch on her and if she even makes any remote moves to seize more power we hire an assassin from one of the lesser tribes to kill her."

The other two councilman nodded their heads in agreement.

"We can also pay her only half her commission as well. No need to give a inferior mare that's not of any noble blood any large quantity of capital."

The councilman with the red mane stood up. "It's is agreed then. We grant her land that is worthless and reduce her pay from one ton of gold to one ton of silver." The other two councilman nodded their heads in agreement. The depiction slowly faded to black and Imani continued down the corridor to the next one.

Imani stopped at the next depiction before it appeared on the wall. "Any questions before we go further."

"Only one so far. Who made all of this? These moving drawings."

"When the weapon was created, Alahla made sure that the weapon would record every single pony that ever used it and every single word ever spoken around it. She also left instructions on the inside on how to go about destroying the weapon but modifications later on prevented some of those."

The next depiction began to form on the silver wall. This time of a audience between Alahla and the council.

"Alhala of the Wind Runners. We the council are impressed with your achievements and have set aside no less than eight hundred acres of land for your efforts. However due to constraints on our coffers from the war we have reduced the payment from one ton of gold to a ton of silver. Is this payment to your liking?"

"I expected more but I will accept this payment graciously. I can expect a caravan to deliver my worldly goods and the rest of my tribe to this new home?"

"That wasn't part of the agreement. Allow me to convene with the other two council members." The red maned councilman bent over to whisper in the other council members ear.

"She wants to move her entire tribe there? I don't understand. I'm sure she can read the map we presented her. That area barely has enough water supply for a couple dozen scouts, let alone the fifty members of her family."

"We should let her. It would only take a few bronze bars to transport them all. With any luck the elements will claim her and her bloodline. The last thing we need is a powerful 'mare' shaman to contend with."

The councilman with the eye-patch scratched at his nose. "Yes, the last thing we want is a foremost being born outside the main ruling families."

The three councilmen broke their little huddle. The councilman with the red mane clearing his throat to speak for them. "While that request was not in our original agreement the council is hard pressed to deny your request. We will have a caravan for you and your entire tribe assembled post haste."

"That you most honorable council. I hope to be of service in the future as well."

As Alahla turned her back to leave the room one of the councilmen whispered in the ear of the councilman with the red mane. "She thinks we are going to hire a commoner mare again? She must be silly in the head."

Alahla heard the whisper of course but she decided that a confrontation was not in her best interests and left the building without a so much as a peep.

"I want to know something mother, Why are we having a history lesson when my daughter could be in danger as we speak."

Imani sighed heavily. "Sight Seeker has stabilized a time freeze outside of these walls using his astral projection talents. On the other side of this cave others that are supporting his efforts are creating a pathway that connects to the core of the weapon. The history lesson is just to pass the time as we make our way there." Imani pointed to the next depiction that was coming into view. "In order to save everyponies future, we must learn from the past."

The depiction began to form slowly at first but sped up as the pair of Zebra approached. "This next part is twenty years in the future. Unbeknownst to the council, they accidentally granted her land with vast emerald deposits beneath the earth. Our ancestor knew this ahead of time thanks to a spying spell she put on the weapon."

The wall swirled with color and the form of a slightly older Alahla appeared on the wall, her body covered in a beautiful green dress. "Have the lesser tribes pledged their allegiance?"

A Hoof-maiden bowed graciously to Alahla. "Yes, they have all pledged their resources to the war. We have not yet heard back from the council though. I do not think they would adjudicate power to a ...what did you call it again?"

"A vote, all laws requiring a vote. A true democracy. I also remember telling you not to bow to me."

"I-I'm" The maiden hesitated. "I'm sorry. I am just so used to bowing before the council when I served them. It's also hard not to bow to a mare nicknamed 'The Emerald Queen' ."

Alahla poured herself and the maiden a glass of juice. "With any luck we will avoid a war and the council will wise up that all Zebra are equals. Power should not be dictated by birth but by what you do with the gift of life."

"But what if we lose?" The maiden said as her glass shook in her hooves. "They have been burning female shaman for months. The only reason they have let you be is becuase you have the power to fight back." The maiden hugged Alahla, much to her surprise. "I don't think I can bear the thought of losing you. You saved my sisters life when the shaman tribunal chased her to the boarders of your lands. You even killed them to save her..." The maiden hunched over Alahla's shoulder, crying profusely.

Alahla pulled the mare off her shoulder and held face, her eyes meeting the maidens. "I know what it was like to be persecuted as a young one. If the council knew that I was born...different then I would have surely been hunted, possibly killed myself. I don't want that kind of world anymore, I want the burnings and the claims of heresy to stop. That is why we must fight."

The pictures on the wall began to swim, leaving Zecora speechless. "Y-you said the spear records memories. How can it re-"

"She had her ways. If the council ever figured out she was spying on them and the weapon was spying on her then history would have been very different." Imani continued down the hall, not too far away was the exit from what Zecora could tell.

"This next depiction is a long one. I suggest we both take a seat."

Zecora and Imani sat down next to each other, the depiction on the wall beginning to swirl. "Watch very carefully my child, none of what you are about to see was in any history book."

The picture swirled until a vivid display of fire was on the wall. Two ponies standing opposite each other, each ready to strike the other down. On one side was Alahla, brandishing a sword made of silver and encrusted with emerald. On the other side was something far more frightening. A stallion with deep battle scars, a crooked jaw, deep black eyes and a red cape; the heresy inspectors symbol stitched in the back of it.

"Brennen the Red?" Zecora said aloud. She remembered reading about the atrocities he committed in the name of the council but no one knew what happened to him or how a once pleasant chemist became a sociopathic killer.

"Shhh, just watch. This is too important to miss."

Alahla stepped forward. "I ask you one more time. Drop the weapon, the modifications you and the council made to it are unjust and corrupting. This isn't the real you!"

"Is it? The council entrusted me to hunt down and kill every last witch I could find. They entrusted their greatest weapon to me, a simple chemist. To be a great destroyer must be what I was destined to become. Every time I draw power from this spear I feel strong, unstoppable. How can something which makes me feel so good be bad?"

Alahla shook her head. "This isn't what you are Brennen. What happened to the chemist I used to work with?"

"It doesn't matter. After I absorb your soul I will become the most powerful stallion to ever live. Ironic isn't it, that you will be killed by the very weapon you created." Brennen slid the spear off the ground, the tip becoming a Trident. "I think the councils modifications fit it well. Don't you agree?"

Brennen charged forward, the gleeful twinkle of murder in his eyes.

For Alahla it must have seemed like an eternity, as she watched her once close friend slip into the cracks of insanity. She quickly made a decision that would ultimately spell her own doom. The fire's licked her sides and singed her coat as she let the one thing; her weapon,the only thing that was saving her from death, drop to the ground.

Zecora watched as the tips of the trident sunk into her ancestors flesh. The mare standing her ground, being pushed back ever so slightly as her own blood ran down the shaft and onto the hooves of the very monster she unwittingly helped create. Alahla coughed up some blood, a fresh stream of tears running from her eyes. She reached a hoof up to the shocked Brennan's face.

"I deserve damnation and much worse for what my creation has done to you and everypony else. I just hope my death is enough to fix what I wrought on this land."

Brennen looked shocked as if he had suddenly snapped out of a dream. "Alahla...wh-what have I done? Why am I..."

Alahla put her hoof to her once close friends face. "Be free...my friend..."

The trident began to glow hot white, cracks forming along the shaft of the weapon. The ground began to quake beneath them, flashes of lightning flying off the weapon as the defense mechanism she imbedded in it so long ago triggered.

Brennen let go of the trident and lunged at Alahla. "No, please don't die. You didn't deserve this!"

The depiction on the wall began to distort, followed by a flash of light as the Spear of Sealing shattered into three parts.

Zecora and Imani sat silent for a moment, both staring at the wall.

"So, what happened to Brennen? Alahla? The history books tell nothing of what happened to them. Also why did Brennen's demeanor change when he struck Alahla. I just don't..."

Imani stood up, adjusting her scarf as she walked ahead. "Follow me, there are a few more things about the weapon that were not recorded on that wall."

"Like?" Zecora said as she followed along.

"Originally Alahla put a spell on the weapon to make the warrior that wielded it take more risks, fight harder, amplifying his rage and combat potential if you will. The councils modifications were haphazardly done by whatever fool shaman they could muster after Alahla settled into her new home."

"They changed the basic properties of it?" Zecora asked.

"The weapon began to take in the atmosphere around it. It took in the thoughts and dreams of the wielder and amplified them, feeding them back into the pony wielding it. In Brennen's case the corruption was intentionally pushed on him."

"I read that Brennen was nothing more than a simple chemist. How did he go from being one of the brightest ponies of his time to a emotionless killing machine?"

"I'll answer that question once...well, you will see." Imani finished coyly.

"But I-" Zecora walked outside of the cavern and into a large platform. A couple ponies were busy trying to get some kind of device working. On the other side Zecora could see a mostly shattered but still serviceable group of floating platforms all heading up in a spiral toward a deep blackness in the sky.

Imani walked toward the group of ponies and pulled one aside. He had a yellow -tan coat, brown eyes, a herb pouch hanging from his side and purple beret. The two ponies talked for a moment before walking toward Zecora, the yellow one with his head down.

"May I introduce you to Brennen the Red" Imani proclaimed.

"Please don't call me that. My born name is Brennen Whitegrass, you know how much I hated that name." Brennen said with some pity in his voice.

Zecora couldn't believe her eyes. This couldn't possibly be THE Brennen the Red. He was much smaller, lacked the scars and angry disposition. He seemed mild mannered, intelligent and well spoken. Attributes Brennen the Red only had before his corruption.

"I know it's hard to believe but I am the monster you saw on that wall, or at least I was." Brennen shuffled uncomfortably.

"I will leave you two alone, I must help with the bridge device." Imani patted Brennen on the shoulder and joined the other ponies on the other side of the platform.

Brennen stood there, silent for a moment before speaking up. "Listen, I know Imani wants me to tell you what happened but I really don't like thinking about that time in my life. I barely even remember what it was like."

Zecora sat on her haunches, staring attentively. "Something happened with this weapon we are in. I won't judge you, but I must know."

Brennen sighed and scratched behind his head. "My first contact with the spear was when I was approached by a high court shaman. He needed someone of a chemist or alchemist back-round to stabilize some recent modifications to the weapon. According to him I came highly recommend despite my commoner status. He promised me riches, mares and power if I could stabilize the weapon."

"I take it that this was a chance of a lifetime?" Zecora asked.

"I couldn't pass it up. My shop was suffering from a recent stock crash and the amounts they were offering were irresistible. I accepted gladly and got to work on the weapon, thinking of all the prestige and respect i would earn if i was successful."

"Things didn't work out as planned though?"

"On the contrary, the spells they cast on the weapon were fairly easy to stabilize...except one. There was a spell that affected the users mental state and when I went to stabilize the spell it backfired on me and made the affect far more pronounced. I presented the weapon a few days later feeling under the weather, like all my frustrations were being rebounded and amplified by the weapon. The Statesman that ordered my services said it wouldn't be a issue when he picked it up but mentioned a I would not be paid unless I gave a demonstration the next day."

"You agreed to kill somepony with it?" Zecora said, surprised.

"No, perish the thought. I prepared a flash copy dummy of myself to be used as an example. After I finished the copy I decided to treat myself to a night on the town and met the most beautiful mare I have ever laid eyes on. She was a shaman, a highly illegal profession for a mare to have but alluring all the same. I treated her to dinner after she finished her magic show in the square when some royal guards with a chip on their shoulders decided they were short their arrest quota for the month and started to hassle her for 'favors'."

"What kind of favors?"

Brennen's face flushed red for a second. "Those kinds of favors." Brennen cleared his throat to continue. "When she refused they tried to arrest her on the ground that she was a mare shaman."

"What did you do?"

"I intervened, I pushed one of the pigs off of her and yelled 'stay off my wife!'

"You lost me. She was your wife or...?

"No, no, just the accusation of another stallion trying to commit infidelity forced or otherwise was a serious crime. Throw in the fact that I could afford a far better lawyer than either of them becuase of terrible guard pay and they both backed off."

"And the mare?"

"The mare, Eleena thanked me. She even went home with me that night and well..."

"You don't need to get that specific I don't think" Zecora said while holding up her hoof in objection.

"I do." said a very low and sensual voice from behind Zecora. "I rode him so hard that he couldn't feel feelings by the time I was done."

Zecora turned around. One of the ponies that was at the group by the edge had approached them. She was a Zebra of very athletic stature, the kind of mare that would be tough competition even for ponies like Spitfire to compare to. She had a red sash over her chest that formed into a eloquent yellow and red toga and a pair of jade rings hanging from her hips.

"Zecora, let me introduce Eleena" Brennen said while blushing furiously.

"I'll take it from here Bren." Eleena said while pointed at the group of ponies by the edge. "They need your help."

Brennen bowed graciously and headed over to the small crowd of ponies by the edge.

"Why did you interrupt him?" Zecora asked.

"This...next part really breaks his heart. I want to spare him the regret of having to relive it again. Besides, I know most of what happened from where he left off."

"Then please continue, if you would be so kind."

"The night we mated I got up while he was still asleep to get something to drink but when I got downstairs there was somepony else in the house besides Brennen. I couldn't find any candles so I cast a simple light spell to illuminate the intruder. It was one of the guards from earlier, looting Brennen's safe of all the jems and gold he acquired."

Eleena sighed. "I should have known the other one was close by by. I fired a cage spell at him only to be hit really hard in the back of the head by his cohort. The last thing I remembered was being carried off by one of them. I woke up sometime later in the royal dungeon, strapped into a four winds torture device."

"Brennen didn't wake up from the commotion?"

"No, he sleeps like a brick. After a couple hours of trying to free myself from the torture device I was approached by grand inquisitor Galfar."

Zecora put her hoof over her mouth, trying to stifle a gasp.

"I see you have read about him, the 'breaker'. He was well known for keeping a coin on him. He would flip it to determine the punishment for mare shaman. Heads was one hundred lashings and set free with a fine, tails was a week of whatever torture he could think up and if you died he just wrote it off as 'prisoner sickness'." Eleena finished her sentence with the greatest disgust in her voice.

"Somepony must have gotten under his coat that day. He didn't even bother to flip the coin. He..he...Oh." Eleena looked extremely uncomfortable trying to relive what had happened to her. "He bound my midsection down with rope and cast a spell that he was well known for, what earned him his nickname." Eleena tried to hold back the tears in her eyes. "He put it in me, slowly at first, probably to give me a false sense of security. What happened next is a pain like I had never experienced before. His hoof was burning underneath my coat, like a cut but without breaking skin. It was like he was raking my nerves."

"I know what you mean. The grand inquisitors torture techniques are well documented." Zecora said compassionately.

Eleena wiped a tear from her eye, looking as if she wanted to stop but continued on. "He kept me down there for hours, raking down my back until I eventually blacked out but he wouldn't even give me that small comfort. He cast a spell on me to keep me wide awake as he broke all my limbs from stretching, healed all my wounds and broke me again. I remember nearly him ripping at my midsection, like I was a fresh salad. He kept on laughing saying how it was so long since he had such a gorgeous mare to break."

"This must have been before he developed his 'other' technique, the one that eventually killed him. I remember he moved on to raping his victims until they died. A very horrible death indeed."

"I heard that as well, the only reason he didn't shatter my hips and kill me that way is becuase other guards were watching. If I was in his personal dungeon..." Eleena looked as if she couldn't take it anymore and leaned on Zecora, crying. "I should have died down there...but they healed me again but stripped me of my ability to speak or even move...what happened next was something that took me and Brennen a long time to forgive one another for."

Zecora patted Eleena's mane, trying her best to comfort her.

"He whispered in my ear...that horrible pony said the only reason I was alive and not his sexual plaything is becuase he needed a new apprentice. I didn't know he meant Brennen, if I knew..."

"No, if you knew nothing would have changed. No pony in that time period could take the barbaric punishments he dealt out." Zecora wiped a tear from Eleena's face.

Brennen walked over, it looked as if he wanted to finish Eleena's story. "The day I woke up and found all my hard earned treasures missing and the mare I spent the night with gone is one I barely remember. I kept getting headaches whenever I got near the spear. I couldn't seem to let go of my anger. It just kept feeding it back into me."

Brennen kicked the ground. "The caravan to escort me to the council palace arrived a couple hours later but no matter what I did, I couldn't push the anger, the feeling of being possibly betrayed out of my mind. When I arrived at the palace they put me before the council to demonstrate the enhancements I had made to the weapon."

Eleena wiped a tear from her eye. "They brought me out, battered and without the strength to even speak. When I opened my eyes I saw Brennen before me. Ge was gritting his teeth from rage. The only thing I could hear was the grand inquisitors accusation that I stole his riches and the guard caught me but not my accomplice. I tried to use what little strength I had to defend myself but every time I tried to talk the inquisitor would twitch his eye, causing me great pain."

"I couldn't control myself." Brennen said as he brushed Eleena's mane. "I was so full of rage at what she had done that I had completely forgotten about how the spear was affecting my judgement." Brennen kissed Eleena on the forehead. "It's okay, I regret it too." Brennen hugged Eleena tightly.

"They asked me to demonstrate the weapons power by killing Eleena with it."

"He raised the weapon over his head and stabbed it into the floor" Eleena added.

"I managed to control my anger, but only just. When the council said she was also the pony responsible for the death of my younger sister a few months back, I snapped."

"His eyes went pitch black and he was bleeding from his teeth from all the anger. Even without the weapon in hoof it was still affecting him, like it was bound to him. The last thing I remember was him impaling me through the chest and holding me above him for all to see." Eleena looked at the ground somberly.

Brennen shook his head. "The next thing I remember was the end of the weapon sticking out of Alahla's chest. I had killed not only one of my best friends from chemistry school but over a hundred other innocent mares. Next thing I knew I was here after grabbing on to Alahla. We have been trapped here ever since."

Zecora tried to hold back her tears. She knew all about the atrocities committed with the weapon but never in such a first hoof manner.

"The bridge is ready!"

A beam of rainbow light fired from the end of the platform to the other side. "Come with me child, I can follow you as far as the twin spires."

Zecora walked toward Imani but couldn't shake the sad tale that was so vibrant in her mind. She turned back to Brennen and Eleena, the expression on her face no longer sad but determined. "I will find a way to free everypony, I promise you that."

The two looked at Zecora like this wasn't the first time anypony had promised them freedom. "We...don't give our hopes up. Many shaman have tried and failed to find a way out. Imani has been trying ever since she got here...but I guess I should let her tell you that."

Zecora gave the pair a hug and walked over the bridge to the other side where Imani was waiting for her. "I have a few things to tell you before we reach the spire and most importantly how to possibly destroy the center power source and free everypony from this eternal prison."

Zecora's mind was racing with so many unanswered questions. Why was her mother here? Does the spear affect everypony in the same way? "Mother, how did you come to be trapped here?"

Imani flushed red for a moment. "It was somewhat an embarrassing event. I came across the hidden tomb during a geological survey where the emerald queen, Alahla, had once set up camp. I was flipping over some rocks for sediment samples when I came upon a tunnel. I asked my travel guide if he knew of this tunnel but he barely spoke my language and decided to ignore me."

"You went into the tunnel alone? That doesn't seem like something you would normally do."

"I initially thought that it was just a deer hovel but when I entered it i noticed glyphs on the wall. I looked back and I could see that there was something that looked like transparent dirt. Like the entrance to the tunnel was guarded with an illusion of some sorts."

"And yet you still decided not to come back with an expedition?" Zecora said curtly. "I do not remember you being so reckless."

"If you had read the glyphs that I read you would have been reckless as well. It was the tomb where Alhala's children had hidden the fragments of the spear."

Zecora stopped for a moment. "What kind of ancestor of mine hides a weapon that can give you near godlike powers in a hole in the ground and leaves glyphs for anypony to read. I am beginning to think my distant relatives were all drinking lead wine."

Imani giggled to herself as she walked ahead. "No, the glyphs told me that a spell had been put on the tunnel and only ponies of her direct bloodline could see though the illusions. It didn't take me long to find the holding chamber of the weapon. My first instinct was that this belong in a museum but after using my abilities I found something..."

"All the trapped souls in this place?"

"Yes, I managed to communicate with a... very special pony."

"Was it one of the shaman trapped inside?" Zecora asked.

"Oddly enough, no. For some reason Shaman were blocked from the inside, most possibly a curse put on the weapon by the council before Brennen stabilized it. The pony I talked to was a blue Pegasus with an astounding power. The power of astral projection."

"You mean Sight Seeker?"

Imani nodded her head."Yes, he had been using his powers for years to allow ponies to project outside the weapon but was too untalented in his skills to project them any further than the holding chamber of the weapon. He told me about some glyphs on the wall that gave very specific instructions on how to destroy it."

"Then why is this weapon still intact? How come Maskia got a hold of it?"

Imani sighed "When a foremost has a child within the first few days certain powers the mother once held are permanently transferred over to the child, even if the child never becomes a shaman these powers are eventually transferred over to the next offspring until a foremost effect is triggered."

"I don't understand. I was never a foremost." Zecora said as scratched her mane.

"No but certain powers were delegated to you. It was your power alone that could break this weapon. The other way was by brute force from dozens of other shaman from our tribe."

"So you failed in your spell, that doesn't explain why you are here." Zecora said,frustrated.

"I...kind of tried to move the weapon, slipped on some root sap and impaled my hoof on the tip of the spear."

Zecora stopped for a moment, she didn't know whether to feel sorry or laugh. "I thought this weapon couldn't harm our bloodline. That doing so would break the spear."

Imani shook her head. "No, Alahla worded that part of the spell to work only it it is used against one of our family. There was never any spell to break it if the family member wanted to use it on themselves...or in my case be a clumsy fool."

The pair of ponies rounded a corner and came upon twin pillars with crystal Zebra on the top.One blue and the other yellow.

"There is a few things I still need to tell you before you go on. I originally didn't want to get you involved and after a couple years of training I was able to get a hold of my mother using Sight Seekers astral projection powers near a spring by her home."

"Why?" Zecora asked. "I thought-"

"I opted for a brute force approach but...I chose poorly. It was little more than a week after Maskia found the spear that it began to feed on the worst parts of her personality."

Zecora looked as if she didn't believe Imani.

"Yes, yes I know. Your grandmother had always been a bit of a bigot and set in her ways but the weapon amplified it and funneled it right back into her. Sight Seeker told me that it was tearing at her sanity, making her crave power, taking the worst parts of her and burying the good."

"So, what you are telling me is Maskia is just another victim?"

"A non-redeemable one I'm afraid. The last communication I had with Maskia was a couple of years before Sight Seeker and his friend had the ability to search for you. She was entirely unhinged, begging for me to find a way to free myself, she didn't want anything to do with the spear. The next day I couldn't get a hold of her, in our panic we got some relatives from the border patrol to steal and hide the fragments but...the weapon chose Maskia as its new master."

I brief silence fell between the two. "When you reach the top all you need to do is touch the power source. The glyphs on the wall mentioned it could be safely destroyed in that manner."

Zecora sat on her haunches, deep in thought. "So... Maskia will die if I free us?"

Imani shook her head in disappointment. "She will but you must not hate her for what she has become. Her soul is still untainted but her body and mind are a lost cause."

"I can't just up and forgive her mother. She raised a weapon on my mate and my daughter, she has killed hundred of innocents, nearly butchered Luna and has even killed children. Forgiveness is not something I just give away."

"If you don't then ...well, I will let the pillars handle that." Imani began to walk away, her head dropped in disappointment. "In order to properly destroy this weapon you must have no hatred in your heart. The pillars there are there to test that."

"Then why don't you go though it then. Why did you push everything on me!"

"I'll show you why."

Imani approached the center of the pillars. The eyes on both statues began to open and stare at her as she walked by. However when Imani reached the other side her transparency began to ripple, parts of her scarf began to blow away. Imani backed up to the other side of the pillars, her body stabilizing as she passed them.

"I...what...?"

"The council modified the weapon to use souls as a power source but needed a pony of our bloodline to removed the restrictions on it. Alahla never removed those restrictions but it doesn't mean a soul can wander wherever they wish in this place. If I kept on going I would cease to exist in this or any other reality."

"And this won't happen to me?"

"You have a body to protect it. I won't tell you the trek up will be painless or without danger but I will tell you this: If you fail to reverse the spell at the top of this landing or fail at those two pillars then everyone here will be free but everyone outside will be very dead."

Zecora looked as if she had eaten Sweetie Belle's cooking. "What do you-"

"You have as long as you need to think things over. I need to return to my living quarters and help Sight Seeker with his-"

ummm Imania, ma'am?

The voice of Sight Seeker echoed about the chamber.

We have a problem

Chapter XV: Endless Suffering

Chapter XV: Endless Suffering

Twilight fired a beam of light into the time stopped zone from her horn, drilling a hole though the grey toward the tip of Maskia's spear.

"Are you sure this is a good idea Twilight? We have no idea how that weapon will react once it's re-exposed to time." Cadence said with some apprehension in her voice.

Twilight pulled her horn up, stopping her spell and panting heavily. "W-well, the other options are we leave all our friends and loved ones time frozen for eternity or I try to diffuse the possible bomb in the center."

"I still don't understand Twilight, how is it a bomb again. This time try to explain it in terms a filly could understand." Celestia said as she scratched her mane.

Seriously? She can move bodies thousands of times her own size yet doesn't know basic quantum theory?

Twilight sighed, why was it she was the only pony to ever read into things. "Okay so, the spear runs off the souls of whatever it absorbs right?"

"Yes, at least that's what our historians had to say on the matter." Celestia replied.

"Imagine for a moment that the weapon radiates pure magical energy at all times, normally this radiation would be unseen and harmless but what happens when you bottle it up?" Twilight was moving her hooves to show the shape of a bottle.

"You contain the energy but not indefinitely."

Twilight pointed to the grey time stopped zone around the weapon. "Exactly, the time stopped zone is a massive jar but it's far worse than that. The tip of the weapon itself isn't time stopped and all the energy it is radiating is building up between the time stopped layer and the layer where time is still passing."

"So it's a time bomb...literally."

Twilight rubbed her head as she fired another shot from her horn into the time stopped zone. "Worse, my estimates shows the initial explosion would obliterate everything from here to Canterlot but that's hardly the worst of our troubles."

"Wait...that's not the worst part?" Cadence said in a worried voice.

"Nope, The explosion would radiate out by the time freeze will radiate inward. Any pony know what happens when two quantum forces, one compressing time space and matter and the other one freezing time space and matter collide?"

Cadence and Celestia stared at one another as if Twilight was speaking gibberish.

"No idea Twilight." Celestia replied.

"Neither do I, both are technically concepts of infinity. A unmovable body meeting an unstoppable force if you will but I have a theory; If all time, space and matter are compressed into a single point and no time exists outside of it while said matter is trying to expand from its own energy...well, remember the big bang theory?"

"Wait, you're not saying..."

Twilight wiped her brow. "Every living thing within a radius of at least eight billion light years will be exposed to heat wave in the trillions. Not even counting what the birth of another universe within this one would actually do." Twilight collapsed on the ground, panting hard. "We have to drill a hole to release the energy in a controlled direction before it reaches critical mass. Either that or find some SPF one trillion sunscreen real quickly."

"Can we help?" Cadence and Celestia said anxiously.

"You can but I want you to take it slow on the path I'm digging though, no telling what will happen if Unicorn...or Alicorn magic touches that thing directly."

***

Imani, I can't stop her. I can't even get a warning to her, astral projecting doesn't work if you are trying to project through a area with no time. I want to say Zecora's friends are competent enough to know the dangers of making a high power quantum wormhole but...If her magic ruptures the end of the weapon it will be the end of all things.

"I understand. How much time does Zecora have before they get to the spear?"

Judging by how exhausted the magic seems maybe five hours....make that three, Celestia is helping her now.

Imani shook her head. "My daughter, it would seem fate does not give you any breathing space today. If they burrow though the time frozen zone before you can trigger this weapons destruction from within...let's just say more than just Canterlot will have a bad day."

Zecora kicked the ground. "No pressure, eh?"

"I will bring as many as I can to the edge. Maybe if some of the others trapped here cheer you on-"

"No." Zecora interrupted. "I need to handle this alone, a crowd cheering me on will break my focus."

Zecora stepped up between the pillars, the eyes on both sides opening up; one gold the other blue. "Wish me luck..." Twin beams of light struck Zecora on either side, in an instant, she was gone.

Imani sat on her haunches, staring sadly at the red glow far above her. "Keep you wit's about you young one. If you fall to despair, anger or hate then all is lost."

***

Zecora could feel her entire world turning inside out. Colors of all kinds swirled in front of her as her body tumbled around. She felt a bit ill at this sudden flash of color and light but what was more unnerving was the whispers in the back of her mind, whispers that made her hair stand on end.

Are you kidding, I would never date a freak like you!

You will fail and everything you know and love will be my eternal plaything!

Zecora could make out the voices. The first was Fluttershy, although much angrier than she had ever heard the yellow Pegasus. The other was unmistakably Maskia. The swirling colors slowly faded and Zecora found herself in a Forrest, the same Forrest she was in when Maskia stabbed her. Her vision slowly focused from her motion sickness and she spotted a familiar scene.

Maskia was tumbled over on her haunches, staring at her weapon; a look of shock on her face. Something was weird however, the entire area around her; including Maskia was grey.

"This must be the time stopped zone, but...why am I outside the spear?" Zecora scanned the area and spotted Twilight, Cadence and Celestia. Twilight was sweating profusely as her beam slowly made it to the tip of Maskia's weapon.

"No, Twilight! Stop!" Zecora charged forward to tackle the mare down but ran right through her as if she was a ghost. Maybe I'm incorporeal? Zecora thought as her front legs went right through Twilight's neck.

"No, maybe this is a vision? Of what might happen or already has happened?"

Zecora sat there, watching the beam slowly inch its way toward the tip of the spear. "But what if it isn't a vision?" Zecora's eyes lit up as she tried spell after spell to try and communicate with any of the ponies near her, each one failing to get their attention. No matter what spells she cast nothing seemed to get any ponies attention.

Zecora plopped on the ground, exhausted from her rapid spell casting and watched as Twilight's spell made contact with the spear. For a moment all seemed well until a beam of light fired from the weapon and through the hole Twilight had created, unfortunately it seemed the hole wasn't big enough and it began to expand.

Twilight frantically tried to keep the hole stable but it was too late, with a flash of light everypony was gone. Zecora reflexively shielded her eyes bracing herself for an impact that never came. When she opened them there was nothing left for miles and miles around. There was nothing but the remains of a tree cinders, rubble and fire. Even the once mighty cliff-face that held up the Capital city of Canterlot was no more.

"Fluttershy? Our daughter?" Zecora stared at the spot where her mate and foal once were, nothing but ash and a single singed yellow feather remained.

"N-No, this cannot be!" Zecora collapsed on the ground, crying. "Please, this cannot be true! I-"

Zecora heard something that sounded like a low whimper. Her ears perked up as she stood, moving around like twin mini radar dishes, trying to find the location of the sound. Zecora walked around the charred remains of the Forrest when she came upon the ditch in the ground, the very same one that she barely remembered Fluttershy escaping from. Zecora looked into the hold only to find her friends, squirming in the throes of death. The only one that seemed to be still capable of rational thought was Nurse Red Heart.

The mare was crying, using whatever supplies she could in the medical kit she had to treat the other ponies in the pit.

"Class three radiation burns, I don't have anything in my kit for those!"

Nurse Red Heart worked frantically to save each pony but one by one they all slipped away from her, the last one alive, Rainbow Dash wiping a tear from her eyes as she spoke her last words.

"Thank you...for easing my pain." Rainbow Dash's burned hoof fell to the floor with a light thud, the vast vestiges of life leaving her body. Red Heart stood up, her tears still staining the torched remains of Rainbows once vivid mane.

"I...will be joining you all shortly. I don't want to die out here, not alone, not of radiation poisoning." Red Heart searched through her med-kit and pulled out a large bottle of morphine, typically used for after surgery relief. Red Heart then pulled out a syringe and stabbed it into the top of the container, drawing the fluid up to the point where it was leaking out the back.

"I wish I could have fulfilled my oath to save lives but...I am sorry. I will be able to tell you that myself in a few moments." Red Heart jabbed the end of the syringe into her neck and pushed the entire contents into her jugular. She then tossed the syringe aside and then laid on the floor by the others. Slowly her eyes dropped, her breathing slowed and moments later she lived no more.

Zecora stood there above the ditch, tears falling on the corpses of her friends when she felt a jerk on her midsection and a swirl of color, landing her on green grass, right at the point where Twilight's beam was about to strike Maskia's spear.

"No, Stop! You mustn't!" Zecora yelled but nopony seemed to hear or notice her, just like last time.

The beam of light struck the end of the spear but instead of exploding like last time a dark ball appeared at the tip.

"Twilight, what is that?"

Twilight just stared, flabbergasted at the black anomaly she just created. "I...made a black hole?"

The point began to violently pull everything near it inside. Ponies, tress, Maskia and even Celestia herself couldn't escape its pull. Zecora watched as each of her friends were pulled into the hole, only to seem like they stopped at the very edge, as if frozen in time themselves. It didn't take long for the black ball to move into the ground, growing ever so larger as it ripped up the earth.

"Please stop, I can't bear to watch anymore." Zecora cried.

But the vision kept on going, at first the hole drew in objects around it slowly but as it got larger it became far more ravenous, quickly pulling in mountains, cities and eventually Canterlot itself. Within minutes Zecora was floating in the black void of space, the black hole moving toward the sun and consuming its fire from a distance.

"Why am I being shown these things? Are they possibilities if I fail or just to antagonize me?"

Zecora felt her body move and colors swirling again, her hooves landing on the soft grass once more. "This is getting on my last nerve!" Zecora said as she tried to get her bearings.

It was the same Forrest as the last two times but this time Twilight was laying in the grass, sweating profusely while Celestia was busy drilling though the time stopped zone.

"This one is different but the outcome will most likely be catastrophic, just like the last two."

Like before, Celestia's magic hit the tip of the weapon, however there was no explosion. Only a brief silence before the Grey in the time stopped zone began to fade. The ponies inside began to move about again, somehow aware that they were frozen for a moment. Maskia sat there, staring at her spear when a burst of light enveloped her body. Fluttershy, seizing the opportunity, ran through the bushes where she looked for a quick way to get around to Celestia.

The light swirled around and around until with another flash the light faded. Where Maskia once stood was a cloud of smoke and something Zecora and any other magically attuned pony felt. Power, power so deep it hurt.

Celestia gritted her teeth and pushed both Cadence and Twilight back with her wings.

"GO! This is no battle for mortal ponies!" Celestia shouted.

Twilight and Cadence nodded obediently and ran off into the Forrest, quickly passing into an open grassy meadow.

"Show yourself, there is no use hiding in that dust cloud, any Unicorn for miles around can feel your presence."

A voice much unlike Maskia's came from the dust cloud, it was far closer to that of Queen Chrysalis but worse, every word she spoke felt like a thousand cold needles penetrating Zecora's heart. "You have no idea what this feels like...such power, every fiber of my being radiates with it. This must be what it felt like to be you Celestia, when you were much younger. Not just power either, I can know thoughts just by looking at a pony and the knowledge, so much magical knowledge. Spells lost but part of the souls this weapon has absorbed."

Celestia began radiating magical energy, far more that Luna did, far more than what Zecora thought was possible. Celestia's eyes became like molten salt, her wings flared out, becoming bright orange like wings of a phoenix, her once flowing rainbow mane turning to bright red fire. "Show yourself fiend, show yourself and face the full fury of the sun!"

"My, my Celestia, what an outstanding light show, but I can see your thoughts as well. You doubt yourself, you can feel just how massive our power difference is. You know you can only manage to delay me, possibly damage me." The dust began to clear and what Zecora saw chilled her to her very core. Maskia was covered in her silver armor but this time it wasn't tattered and broken. Large curved spikes bent backwards, the once damaged spear now a trident but with twin axe like blades of silver on either end of the outside forks. Lastly her mask was silver but bore a mark that looked oddly like that of her mothers but red, a blood red spider.

"Your thoughts betray you, you plan on delaying me long enough for the elements of harmony to rendezvous with each other and formulate a plan of attack. I now know the center piece of the elements from looking into your past. I don't have to hunt them all down...just one."

Maskia leaped into the air and Celestia took of with one powerful beat of her wings, right for her.

"Silly Alicorn, I know you wanted to make her one like yourself someday but ..."

Celestia slammed into Maskia with all of her might in mid-air, the flash of sun fire brightened the sky as if it were day but when the flash of light cleared Maskia had not budged so much an inch from the impact. Celestia was pushing with all of her might, her wings like that of a humming bird.

"Not good enough." Maskia raised a hoof and with one swift slug across Celestia's face sent her rocketing into the ground, her body leaving a long trail of rubble, ash and fallen trees.

Maskia focused her attention to the fleeing Arch mage and her Alicorn cohort, ignoring the other ponies below her running to the aid of Celestia. "I could just absorb her soul remotely but...no, she deserves an honorable death." Maskia pointed her trident at Twilight and fired an arc of lightning in her direction.

The lightning danced across the sky, ripping off the tips of trees on its way to its intended target. Twilight felt the spell coming however and turned to defend herself. She looked as if she was going to put up a barrier but she must have known it would be futile. She fired a bolt of magic with everything she could muster, allowing the arc to strike her in the chest. Twilight Sparkle fell on her side with a thud, her mane draped over her face, her body unmoving.

"Twilight!" Cadence ran over to her little sister and turned her over. Cadence brushed Twilight's mane only to stare into a pair of dull listless eyes. There was no breathing, no heartbeat, not even a pulse, only the cold body and petrified stare of a once living family member.

"Twilight? Twilight!" No, please don leave me!" Cadence hugged Twilight's cold unmoving body, streams of tears drenching her indigo mane.

Twilight's last spell managed to graze Maskia on the cheek, drawing blood.

"I'm glad I killed her when I did, if she ever became an Alicorn she would be quite the pest." Maskia wiped the blood from her cheek, the wound quickly sealing itself.

Twilight's brother helped Celestia out of the debris when he saw his sisters body clutched in the forelegs of his wife, her screams of sorrow giving away what had occurred.

"You monster! It wasn't enough to nearly kill Luna, torture and kill innocents and kill your own granddaughter but you had to kill my little sister as well!" Shining Armor eyes glowed black with rage. He quickly scaled some trees and after a brief moment to put his trademark shield up, was ready to fight Maskia to the death.

"Oh, the little solider wants to take on a god? What ever shall I do!" Maskia chuckled as she feigned helplessness.

"S-stand down, I will handle her. Your mission as of now is to rally the military, protect the remaining elements and hide my sister." Shining armor moved toward Maskia, his anger overpowering his obedience when an angry glare from Celestia made him rethink his actions.

"As you wish." Shining Armor jumped down from the tree and immediately began to round up the other elements of harmony, all except the conspicuously absent Fluttershy.

"Get your hooves offa me you big jerk! I'm gonna make that monster regret every laying a hoof on Twilight!" Rainbow Dash was giving Shining Armors group some trouble, the fiery Pegasus wanted revenge, everyone could see it in her waterlogged eyes.

"Let it go y'all, we can come up with a plan later, right now we need to get the heck outta her." Applejack was trying her best to reassure everypony, despite a torrent of tears coming from her as well.

"Planning on finding another element of magic are we? I cannot allow that now can I?" Maskia pointed her trident at the group of ponies below her and fired and arc of lighting only to have it explode mid-air when it collided with a ball of fire from Celestia.

Celestia spread her wings, her body glowing white hot fire, her vigor renewed. "I may not be able to kill you but don't think I will not try anyways." Celestia charged into the air once more but Maskia was faster, she kicked Celestia in the ribs and quickly stabbed her though the neck with her trident.

"A pity, but you soul will feed a greater...power?" Celestia's body vanished into ash, reassembling behind Maskia, Maskia failing to notice the obvious ploy.

"Surprised?" Celestia said but her voice was coming from everywhere. The ash behind Maskia formed into a solid flame outline of Celestia. When Maskia turned around to take another stab she was met with a rather nasty point blank exploding fireball to the face, sending her reeling across the sky.

Maskia shook off the hit and fired a ball of light from her trident which went right though Celestia as if she were a ghost. The ball kept traveling, Zecora somehow unable to focus on anything else, she soon noticed why.

In the distance Fluttershy had managed to get into the air while carrying their foal, headed toward Cloudsdale. Zecora did a small double take and realized the ball of light was headed right for her.

"Fluttershy, get on the ground!" Zecora shouted full well knowing that Fluttershy couldn't hear her.

The ball continued on its path and Fluttershy turned her head just seconds before if hit her, her face frozen in fear. The ball struck Fluttershy in the back, the electricity vaporizing her body and that of their foal. The only thing that remained was a couple yellow feathers and ashes.

"No, please stop. This cannot be true. I ..." Zecora was breaking down. All the emotional trauma of watching her friends and loved ones die over and over again was weighing on her heavily. Her entire emotional state was fluctuating, in turmoil, feeling everything at once. Sadness, regret, hatred, anger, all of them a blur of emotion that she could not control.

"No...please don't let that become true..."

The scene around her began to grow dark, leaving only Zecora floating in a void of sorrow.

***

Pant*Pant*Pant* Twilight wiped her brow and nodded to Celestia. "Your turn, I'm pooped." She pulled her horn up and the spell burrowing into the time stopped zone ended. Twilight laid there on the grass content with her work but so drained that she didn't even have the energy to find a more comfortable spot.

"Well done Twilight, I'll take over from here." Celestia walked up to Twilight's side and focused on the hole they were slowly making to the tip of Maskia's spear.

"I think we are almost there, maybe ten more minutes or less." Celestia fired a beam into the hole Twilight and her have been making for the past couple hours. "Just a little bit more and we will be finished."

Twilight busied herself with nibbling on some of the grass by her front hooves while Celestia worked. Cadence took notice and being bored herself decided to lay down in the grass beside Twilight.

"Hungry I see. Normally you are not so keen on raw grass, I remember it giving you gas something fierce when you were just a filly."

*pa-tuu* "Yuck, this grass is stale too, like it hasn't seen water in awhile." Twilight contemplated eating some of the bark off a nearby tree. "I'm so hungry I could eat Rainbow Dash's spinach bread surprise...and not even gag."

Cadence giggled. "I know the feeling, that whole Sombra incident left me famished. Maybe we can scrounge up some food when we get back to Canterlot though that might be a bit difficult will all the refugees. The palace only keeps so much food in storage."

"Doesn't matter to me, I would even eat one of those bland ready to eat meals my brother carries. On even those terrible high energy rations the scouts eat." Twilight thought back to the time she tried one of the bars of food the Wonderbolts carry on them, the mere thought of its flavor nearly making her gag.

"Something wrong Twilight?" Cadence said, noting the green look on Twilight's face.

"You know what, scratch that last part, I would rather eat boiled socks than those scout rations."

"Never had them, what do they taste like?"

"Charcoal mixed with spoiled radishes."

"I hate to break up the sleepover girls but I'm almost to the spear."

Cadence and Twilight both stood up and walked to Celestia's side, each with a broad grin on their face.

"Once the time stop is down I'll hit Maskia with a binding spell, Cadence I want you to get as many ponies away with a mass teleport as possible."

Cadence kicked the ground. "I'm sorry Twilight, I don't know that spell-"

"I'll handle that." Celestia said, a grin on her face. "Twilight, Cadence stopped her magical education when she got married to your brother. She is however almost a class S physician."

Celestia's beam creeped ever so closer to Maskia spear when a blue light fired from something inside the time freeze, colliding with Celestia's beam.

"Twilight, what is that!?" Celestia said, trying to break the connection.

Twilight's ears shot up as she stared into the time stopped zone."I think it's coming from...Fluttershy?" Twilight walked up to the time stopped zone, the glow wasn't coming from Fluttershy but something under her. "It's...coming from Fluttershy's foal?"

Celestia looked anxious as the blue beam coming from Fluttershy's foal slowly pushed hers back.

"Something wrong Auntie?""

Celestia watched the spell slowly push her own back. "I can overpower that spell with ease but..."

"You're afraid of the backlash, afraid that you could hurt the foal, even though time is frozen." Twilight said while watching the beam.

"Not just that, if I over do it I could hit the spear and the wrong angle, firing that pent up energy layer right at us." Celestia tried to break the spell by jerking her head, but he foals spell just hung on tightly, keeping the connection going. "I can't break it either."

Twilight watched the beam as it left the time stopped zone and slowly moved toward Celestia's horn. "Move back a bit Princess, I need a little more time to study it." Twilight examined the energy stream but its true meaning kept escaping her.

"Anything you can glean from watching it Twilight?"

"Nothing. I have seen many different kinds of shaman magic but this wave format is so much more complex than the ones I have studied. Typical shaman magic looks controlled but underneath it's barely being kept in check but this..." Twilight scratched her mane. ""Is something else entirely, it's entirely smooth. No variations in format, no rough edges, extremely efficient magical structure."

"Twilight, enough with the over-analyzing, what should I do?" Celestia seemed a bit on the panicked side. Her only encounters with shaman magic outside of Zecora being extremely violent.

"Just calm down and let it hit you. It still has to follow the same principles of regular unicorn magic. It's only a foal, whats the worse that could-"

The blue beam of magic struck Celestia in the horn and she collapsed on the ground, twitching wildly.

"Happen?"

Twilight and Cadence ran to Celestia's side, Twilight holding the larger mare down as Cadence performed a medical scan with her horn.

"Can you-ow, hurry it up Cadence, she's three times my size and these hoof kicks don't exactly tickle!" Twilight was holding down Celestia with all her body weight on Celestia's ribcage, getting random kicks to her side from the princesses back legs.

"She seems fine. I think it was a dream spell but I can't risk waking her, just get off her for a moment." Twilight took a few steps back, receiving a kick to the head for her efforts as she retreated.

"You okay?" Cadence said with some concern as she watched the sweat fly from Twilight's face upon impact.

"I'm fine, nothings broken, it will probably swell up though." Twilight rubbed her right cheek with her hoof, she could feel the swelling just under the skin. "At least it isn't broken."

Both ponies watched as Celestia kicked in her sleep, her face contorting in both rage and sadness, tears flowing freshly from her eyes.

"Did the foal give her a nightmare spell?" Twilight asked.

"No, I don't think so. Something closer to a subconscious message. Something she needed to be in a dream state to experience properly."

"But what could a less than one day old foal have to possibly tell Celestia, stranger still how did the foal cast a spell while time frozen and-" Cadence put a hoof over Twilight's mouth.

"There will be time for that later, we don't need you going into one of your obsessive compulsive fits right now."

Twilight frowned, she knew that she could get out of hoof at times but hated when other ponies pointed it out to her when she was doing it. Twilight pushed Cadence's hoof from her mouth and breathed deeply.

"Fine, but explain why the foals eyes are still glowing."

"No idea Twilight, we will just have to leave that puzzle unsolved. There no way we can reach it from here to inspect."

Twilight sighed heavily, watching her mentor twitch on the ground with some apprehension. The only thing she hated more than being helpless was being unable to solve a puzzle. Just the mere thought of an unsolvable phenomenon made her want to tear her mane out.

Celestia's eyes shot open, her body drawing in a few ragged breaths as she sniffled and wiped her eyes.

"Are you okay Auntie?" Cadence said as the pair walked over to her.

"Oh, Twilight!" Celestia dived into a hug, catching the smaller unicorn by surprise as she pulled her into a bone crushing hug.

"Oh, Twilight, it was horrible. I watched us all get incinerated, crushed, and worse; I saw you get killed by Maskia while I was powerless to stop her." Celestia was bawling her eyes out when she heard a faint voice say the word 'air'.

Celestia immediately set Twilight on the ground, the unicorn nearly blue in the face from lack of air.

"So, so sorry. I- I just couldn't help myself. The thought of losing you, that terrible vision was just too much."

Twilight held a hoof up, trying to catch her breath. "Okay, so explain it to me this time while my ears are not ringing from asphyxiation."

"Twilight, that spell the foal cast was..."

***

Zecora sat there in the darkness. All she could feel was sadness, the same visions from earlier playing over and over in her mind, paralyzing her from moving forward. The darkness just seemed to keep closing in on her, amplifying her sorrow while far above she could feel nothing but regret and rage.

"Wret?"

Zecora's ears perked up. "Could it be? Here?" Zecora looked around until she noticed a blue dot in the distance. Zecora got to her feet and ran towards the dot. As she approached she noticed something different. Her foal was glowing blue all around her and she was standing up, her magnificent black and white wings spread wide.

Zecora walked up to her daughter, the foal rubbing up under her neck affectionately. "I am so glad you are safe, your grandmother said you were but I had to see it with my own eyes."

"Wret?"

Zecora couldn't make out what she was saying; her just being born recently but in this place she could feel the emotions behind the speech. The vibe she was getting from her daughter was something along the lines of a cheer, encouragement even.

"Wret, wret!"

The next words held hint of excitement and pity. Her daughter seemed sad that they were apart and was wondering what was taking Zecora so long to finish what she needed to do.

Zecora thought for a moment, if the visions of what she saw were to happen, they would only occur if she didn't move forward. "You are right little one, I should have already finished my work here so I can be reunited with you and Fluttershy." Zecora remembered that they have yet to name their foal, something Fluttershy had regulated to her but she had forgotten to do in all the chaos.

"I forgot to give you a name when you were born my daughter. Something that I should have done but was preoccupied with keeping your mother and you safe. Traditionally it is the mother that gives the foal her name but since Fluttershy has left that job up to me I thought I would give you something that fits."

Zecora drew her cutie mark in blue magic high above her head. "This is what my cutie mark represents, the morning sun, just like Celestia's." Zecora draw three butterflies with yellow magic flying far below the sun above.

"This is your mothers cutie mark, it represents kindness, understanding and the power to communicate with any animal."

Zecora drew a flower far bellow the sun and butterflies, it's bud closed. The foal leaned over to inspect the object, leaning over it curiously.

"Go ahead young one, touch it and claim your name."

The foal reached out and poked the bud with her hoof. The flower bloomed in vibrant yellow and pink center with vibrant black and white petals.

"I have named you Ayanna, a name which means 'Blossom'."

The foal nudged the flower again, the magic fading away, leaving the foal puzzled.

"You will understand what it means in time my daughter."

The foal pointed up at the sky, a red crystal was resonating with a yellow and blue light on either side.

"Malfunction: Extra entity detected"

The blue light had formed into a powerful stallion, his voice booming across the void.

"Unknown contingency detected, attempt to override failed. Destroy participants?"

The yellow light formed into a mare with a long flowing yellow mane. her voice a complete polar opposite to the blue stallion's ;so sweet and demure.

The blue stallion looked at the yellow mare and spoke in his booming voice. "Subject of original test failed. Lockout system aborted due to detection of outside entity.

The yellow mare looked right at Ayanna. "Scans indicate intruder is of foremost level. Programming unable to execute purge system due to family lines protocol."

The blue stallion nodded his head. "Unable to purge. Activating purification system of failed subject. Body disintegration in 3,2,1..." Both the blue stallion and yellow mare fired Blue and yellow beams of light at Zecora, the heat from each setting the very air on fire as they approached.

Zecora watched the beams slowly moved toward her, her body frozen in fear. She looked at her daughter and how the beams were coming toward her. Her daughter was too close, if the beams were designating her as a target it could her her daughter if she was too close when they inevitably destroyed her. Zecora started to gallop away from Ayanna, shouting behind her. "Leave this place, it's too dangerous to stay!"

The beams trailed behind Zecora, just a mere few meters behind her.

Ayanna didn't seem to budge an inch. She was staring up at the lights above as if hypnotized by them.

Got to get these things as far from her as possible...

Zecora looked back and watcher her daughter spread her wings, hints of blue magic flying across the tips. What is she doing? I told her to run!

Ayanna spread her wings and with one powerful flap was airborne. Ayanna darted around the beams, coming excessively close to hitting them, turned around and nearly grazing them again.

The blue stallion spoke. "Subject must not interfere with purification program. We are not programmed to do harm to foremost."

The yellow mare chimed in also. "Cannot ascertain interfering entities trajectory, moving to shutdown mode."

The blue stallion on the other hoof disagreed. "Foremost interference irrelevant. If interfering entity is accidentally purifies itself then protocol is not breached. Continue purification sub routine."

The yellow mare pulled her beam away from Zecora and toward the blue stallions beam.

"Protection protocol, morality and ethical nodes engaged." The yellow mare's beam struck the Blue stallions beam, canceling it out.

"Moral node is complacent, increasing fire rate. Targeting interloper for termination."

Zecora felt her heart skip a beat as the blue stallion turned to Ayanna, his eyes aglow, ready to fire.

No!

Zecora's eyes glowed hot white as she moved light lightning, her body coming between the stallions beam and her daughter. "To touch her you have to go through me!" Zecora closed her eyes as the beam struck her, but something was off. She felt no pain, no burning or even the singing of her belly hair. Just a warm embrace slowly pushing her to the ground. Zecora opened her eyes and saw the red and blue beams cradling her, slowly pulling her toward the ground.

The blue stallion spoke. "Baiting sub routine successful. Awaiting query from subject before shutdown."

The yellow mare also spoke. "Subject passed. Subject showed high moral character, sacrificing self to save a loved one. Conclusion: class 1 subject, full shutdown access granted.

Zecora righted herself off her back as the beam let her down gently. "Do you mean to tell me this was all a test? That you threatened to kill my daughter to see what kind of pony I am? That's silly, any mother would do anything; even die to save their children. How does following basic instinct make me any different?"

The blue stallion raised an eyebrow. "Many Questions, enumerating answers and splitting processing with other core. processing." The blue stallion seemed to take forever to speak again.

"What's taking so long?" Zecora said angrily.

"Extra question added to processing. Query full." The yellow mare said.

"This was a test of subjects bravery in face of catastrophic situations. To test if subjects mental state was not damaged and reacted according to database specification of undamaged mentalities." The Blue stallion finished, the yellow mare taking over.

"Foals insertion was unexpected event. Subroutine not programmed to handle unexpected interference. Normal protocol is to purge interfering entity from test but unable due to foremost protocol. Creative core AR097 came up with automatic code to deal with intruder."

The blue stallion began to speak again. "First test was to calculate emotional efficiency. conclusion: pass. Second test was created by sub core to judge moral character. Due to foremost entity interfering the original filed test 0878B was not used."

The yellow mare spoke again. "Data shows that test subject is normal in every way. Following base instinct was crucial, test subject could have let yellow mare core deal with blue core but took it upon herself to deal with blue cores actions. Of all the possible actions test subject picked the correct one."

The blue Stallion began to talk once more. "Enumerating last query. Answer calculation core is limited to the power of one saltine cracker in terms of processing power. Original answer core was shutdown do to a09000e FFFF error. Subject may know error by laymen term 'Blue Screen Of Death'."

"I understand, how do I shutdown the core of the weapon once I reach it?"

"Enumerating answer: last answer, core overloading. Smells like burned baked goods."

The yellow mare stepped in as the blue stallion faded. Smoke coming from his ears as he faded. "Subject will only need to touch the bottom of the core after shattering or removing the bottom control crystal below the main core. Sub routine will handle the rest. Warning...error...possible...dea...t...hhh."

The yellow mare faded away, the black void around her as well. Leaving Zecora on the silver platform leading up to the core. The two statues behind her in a pile of rubble.

"Welcome back, you have been gone quite some time."

Zecora turned around. Imani was standing on the platform opposite of hers, a crowd of ponies gathered behind her. Zecora spun around in place, looking for her daughter but found nothing but a empty starry void. Before she could ask Imani if she had seen her daughter the low roar of the crowd behind her drowned her line of thinking out.

"Do you see that? She's passed the guardians!"

"I know, it's this exciting, maybe we can finally get out of here. I would love to be able to plant flowers again."

Zecora could barely make out a few spare conversations over the low roar of the crowd.

"Silence!" Imani yelled and the crowd fell silent immediately. "I need to have words with her, then you can all go about making future plans that may or may not happen."

One of the larger warriors in the back of the crowd yelled angrily. "Speak for yourself, when I get out of her I have a family to catch up with."

"Yeah, no pony here believes your crackpot theories Imani. Not everything is doom and gloom."

Imani looked at Brennen and Eleena, both of which wore somber expressions on their faces. They knew exactly what Imani was going to say, they just didn't like hearing it.

"You're just angry that the only thing you get to go home to is a criminal investigation for magical tampering. Or did you think we forgot about your mis-enchanted flying carpets you sold before you were trapped here?"

"Shut your face Black Fade!" Imani's eyes went red with anger, something Zecora had only ever seen her do a few times in her life.

"Only a handful of you are trained in shamanistic arts, so only a few of you have any credentials to say what is going to happen. Think about it for a moment. Some of you were near death when you were stabbed with the spear. Some of you have compound fractures, lethal bleeding, ruptured organs and dismemberment damage your mortal bodies floating in the void up there."

Eleena closed her eyes, she knew what was coming.

"Take Eleena for example. Her injuries were most likely fatal BEFORE she was impaled through the chest with the weapon. We cannot move her body from the void above us but we do know that damage never healed. It never had the power to do so without a soul to help power it, to be alive."

The ponies started to whisper among themselves. Some of them in blatant disregard to what Imani was saying.

Imani raised her hoof to silence the crowd once more. "The fact of the matter is most of you were killed, sometimes brutally. And even those that were stabbed with only minor injuries will most likely perish from soul leak. The soul can only remain outside the body for so long before the body rejects them entirely. Some of you may get lucky but you all have to realize that there is a very real possibility you will all pass on."

"You don't know that will happen!" Yelled a zebra with a badly done half- Mohawk.

"That's the thing, we only have math to go by. We are at the limits of what shamanistic magic and unicorn magic alike can predict. Everything could be fine and dandy if the weapon time introverts in on itself, but any other self deactivation will...most likely not be pleasant."

The crowd finally seemed to grasp the severity of the situation.

"Does that mean I won't get to see my mom or my sister?"

"Worst case scenario, every pony here without a functioning mortal body will end up in whatever afterlife awaits all of us." Imani finished somberly.

"I...I don't want to die! I would rather stay here. Maybe find a way to get out alive."

Imani shook her head. "And leave everypony else trapped here? Are you that selfish? Even if every pony or dragon-ling here wanted to stay you would all eventually perish anyways, but in a far worse manner."

"Explain then, Oh smart one." A particularly burly teen dragon blurted out sarcastically.

"I could do without the patronizing but very well. Souls as we know them are not immortal, at least not in once piece indefinitely. If a soul does not move on or has a mortal body to inhabit for a long period of time it begins to split up into energy. Energy that will only recombine with the original structure later on."

"That doesn't seem so bad."

"In a closed environment maybe, here such things can occur but you would recombine in a few centuries. But what happens when this prison eventually breaks down while you are in that form?"

The dragon teenager seemed lost for words as he scratched at a bit of acne on his chin.

"Nothing? No sly remarks?"

"N-no Imani, ma'am."

"Good. Imagine for a moment your mind being everywhere at once but nowhere in particular and you will remain that way until the very end of the universe itself. Possibly even longer. A fate far worse than death itself. That is the price you pay for tampering with the natural order of life."

Zecora raised her eyebrow. Imani was actually lying though her teeth. Soul scatter hypothesis was disproved centuries ago, she was intentionally misleading them. Zecora opened her mouth to counter but felt a tingle in the back of her mind.

Now is not the time to debate this my child. Sometimes a white lie can be used for good reasons.

Zecora closed her mouth. It wasn't exactly the most clever way to handle a crowd, using fear of a fate worse than what they were already fearing as a motivational tool but at least it got the job done.

Fine but if you end up on the other side, expect fallout from this. Zecora replied with her thoughts.

Imani smiled and nodded to Zecora. What are they going to do to me? Souls cannot feel pain nor be destroyed or converted in any known way. The best they could possibly do is bitch at me, thankfully I know the self deaf spell for that.

I hope you know what you are doing mother, I won't be there to help with the fallout.

Imani raised her hoof at the increasingly hostile crowd. "I need to speak with Zecora for a moment." Imani turned her attention to Zecora. "Listen closely. Once you deactivate the core it will be gin to implode in on itself. I suggest you get as far away from it as possible."

Zecora could have sworn her mother just said the word implode. "Wait, no one mentioned anything about implosion. How unstable is the core? How long do I have?"

"Maybe a minute's head start, if you start running after it's deactivated you should be well outside the implosion zone."

"And if I'm not?

"Not much, just a very excruciatingly painful death."

Is that all, I was thinking it would turn my coat permanently blue or something. Zecora thought as she rolled her eyes.

Save the sarcasm for later child. I am de- very serious about you getting away. I do not want to leave my granddaughter with only one parent.

Zecora nodded her head and began to trot up the incline leading up to the spears power core. She moved along at a brisk pace when something inside her told her to stop. She felt a cold wash of fear flow over her, shaking her to the very core.

Mother, what was-

Ignore it, there is much pent up negative energy in the core. You may even have illusions pop up but remember it's not real, only your mind playing tricks on you.

Anything else you need to tell me last minute mother?

Yes, beware of the giant armored vorpal pie.

Zecora took two steps forward before looking back at her mother with a confused look.

I'm joking, get going already!

***

A green Pegasus in gold armor swooped down from the sky and landed in front of Celestia, saluting her before approaching. "Your majesty, I have crucial new to...report?" The Pegasus peeked to Celestia's side to see the grey time stopped zone behind her. "Isn't that the war criminal Maskia?"

"Yes, yes it is. I'll explain in a moment, report first."

The solider saluted and pulled out a notepad from a pouch on his side. "Ahem, news from the Canterlot emergency hospital is that princess Luna is stable but in critical condition. The doctors are sure she will make a full recovery but it will take months of therapy to fix the trauma her body has sustained and even longer to properly regrow her wing."

Celestia breathed a sigh of relief, cadence patting her on the back as the solider continued.

"A grand total of twenty five soldiers, thirteen ground and twelve air centurions have been found with suggestion...wait that part is crossed out. Dominance orbs inserted into their minds. Progress indicates that as of now eighty percent of your ground and air forces have been scanned for this affliction."

Twilight's ears popped up. "Eighty percent? It's been less than a day. We don't have that many medical personnel that can detect it do we?"

"Arch mage Twilight Sparkle." The solider gave a little salute which Twilight didn't seem to care for. "One of the shaman in our care knew of a spell to mass detect the orbs and has helped tremendously in our search for them. I believe her name was Veria Whisperwind."

"Oh, Wait she was a shaman?"

"Not exactly sure but she knew a few spells. Personally I can't tell the difference but her spell turned all the afflicted ponies bright glowing neon purple. We are....still trying to get rid of the glow at the moment however."

"We can deal with that later." Celestia said in a hurry. "I want every single shock trooper, air centurion, battleship and grunt surrounding this area within the hour. Extra medical staff are to finish up scans of any uncleared personnel. Any Class A or above are to report to the front lines."

"Y-your majesty, that is total overkill! We would leave Canterlot wide open to attack!"

Celestia's eyes glowed a hot white. "That was not a suggestion, that was an order."

Twilight put a hoof on Celestia's shoulder, catching the seething Celestia by surprise. "You need to calm down, a little insubordination, well, not really insubordination; more like a suggestion, isn't worth getting all riled up about."

Celestia's eyes went back to normal as she Spoke with Twilight. "I'm...You will understand later. Solider, you have your orders, carry them out."

The solider swallowed, gave a quick salute and flew off to deliver Celestia's orders to the rest of the royal army.

"So, Celestia, do you want to explain to me why you are in such a bad mood all of a sudden?"

Celestia sighed, her heart still heavy from the visions she saw earlier. "I'm a bit on edge. I saw what Maskia was going to do, what she was capable of if we do not stop her here. I watched helplessly as she struck down one of the most important ponies in my life."

"Luna?" Twilight blurted out.

"No, the vision didn't go that far but I'm sure she was next on the list. She killed you my dearest Twilight."

Twilight's eyes widened. "You didn't speak that specifically before. I guess anypony would get angry if it was somepony they felt was close."

"That's why I have concluded that she must die. Not capture, not prison camp or incarcerated in solitude, death."

"Celestia' I-"

"No, Twilight. I will not hear objections in this matter. The life of one murderous insignificant Zebra is not worth risking everything I have labored to build, the bonds I have worked hard to forge. The second that time stopped zone dissipates I will end her life myself and rid her evil from this land once and for all!"

Twilight frowned at Celestia for a moment but then sighed in defeat. "Mandatory counseling for everyone after this is all over with."

***

Zecora jumped from one platform to another, taking care to not slip off and fall into the bottomless void below her. Zecora looked up into the distance, the shroud of hazy black now covered the entirety of the sky and the once speck of red was now larger that the Canterlot palace. Just wrapping her mind around it's enormous size was starting to make her feel dizzy. Where did her ancestor dig up something so massive, something that felt so ominous.

Zecora continued her climb until she felt something touch the back of her mind, something seething with hate, not dark but perpetually angry.

"Turn back."

The voice echoed though her mind but it somehow felt familiar, like along lost friend crying for help kind of way.

"W-who or what are you?" Zecora asked.

"I...don't remember, been so long since I have been trapped. Turn back, only eternal anger awaits those that come near here."

Zecora felt only briefly what the voice was talking about. Anger like she never felt before, not just anger though, other emotions like pity, regret, sorrow. For just a brief moment her entire body felt like it had been in a constant state of emotional turmoil for years. Her body almost wanted to turn back but the thought of all the ponies that would be trapped her, including the thought of never seeing her daughter or mate ever again pushed her forward.

"I cannot turn back. Thousands of trapped souls in this place rely on me. I cannot fail them!."

The voice was eerily silent for a moment, Long enough that Zecora continued further up toward the large red shard above her.

"You must go back. I know of the souls trapped here but their fate is insignificant compared to what will happen if you touch the core. This fate I feel is mine and mine alone for my past transgressions. Transgressions that must have been terrible to seal me here."

Zecora felt another torrent of negative emotions pour onto her like hot, boiling water. "No, I will not fail everyone. I will release them and release you. No pony deserves that kind of torment." Zecora climbed a few more edges until she found herself a few yards from the base of the red crystal. Zecora could feel all the negative emotions emitting from the crystal, her body nearly collapsing from the sheer weight of them, her legs shaking violently as she approached the edge.

Zecora stared into the deep red of the crystal. Something... green was trapped at it's base. As she moved closer the green object inside shouted.

"No! Stay back! Please, do not share my fate!"

Zecora managed to get a good look at whatever was inside. It was Alahla, the depiction on the wall from earlier was a dead ringer for the emerald queen. Zecora walked right up to the edge of the core but avoided touching it.

"I know who you are." Zecora said as she pointed at Alahla.

Alahla stared at Zecora for a moment. "Do you? I do not know who you are but then again, I don't remember anything."

"You are the emerald queen. I am...I guess your very, very, very great granddaughter."

"The emerald queen? Was I royalty or was that a title?" Alahla looked down at her dress, pondering if emerald was a reference to how she dressed.

"Your birth name was Alahla. You were the first foremost shaman to be born into our family. You also brought the Wind Runner clan together and forged an empire of equality and fairness, in an age of strife, sexism and xenophobia."

Alahla kicked the ground below her. "I vaguely remember doing such things. I dunno, it has been so long but I faintly remember doing something so horrible that trapped me here. That this place was to be my eternal prison for the horrible deeds I have wrought."

Zecora rubbed her head trying to figure out what Alahla could have possibly done to think she deserved all of this.

"I think I have an idea as to why you feel that way but I cannot fathom how anyone can want to suffer eternally for something that wasn't entirely their fault."

"I..do not remember what I did wrong just that I deserve to be here in eternal turmoil."

"My ancestor, you are the maker of the very prison you feel you deserve to be trapped in."

"This is a weapon?" Alahla looked above her, not understanding what Zecora was talking about.

"Long ago you were commissioned by the council of the three greater tribes to forge them a weapon to use against predatory dragons. The council modified the weapon long after you were done, modifying it to trap and potentially use the souls it traps as a power source."

Alahla smiled. "It is confirmed then, I am a monster and deserve to-"

"No, do not interrupt me." Zecora said sternly.

"No, you should not be making excuses for me, for my terrible creation that I so ironically became trapped within."

"Listen, you put protections on this weapon in an attempt to stop any misuse of it's powers. You even had a remote destruct system put in place but it was circumvented by the council. They perverted and corrupted your enchantments to help enforce their brutal and sexist views."

"I created it and therefore responsible for all the pain it has caused."

Zecora ran her hoof down her face in frustration. "This weapon is a tool, it is not the toolmakers fault if it is misused. Even more so that you intentionally put protections of it to prevent such things."

"What reason did I make the tool, was I to gain from it?"

Zecora knew what Alahla was trying to do, trying to bait Zecora so she could continue to blame herself. "I will not say but know this; if I touch this core with my hooves then the entire weapon will collapse in on itself. Even if you blame yourself for all the damage you have done you can at the very least let those poor souls move on. Self torture is selfish when you can atone by releasing all the poor trapped souls below."

"But I-"

"No. I am breaking this accursed weapon once and for all!" Zecora slammed her hooves into the side of the core. At first nothing seemed to happen but small cracks began to form along the surface of the core, quickly spreading upwards into the black sky.

"What have you done! I'm a monster, releasing me will only cause-"

*smack*

The core had degraded enough to allow Zecora to reach in and slap Alahla right across the muzzle. Alahla just stood there, shocked at Zecora's actions as the very fabric of space and time started to collapse in on itself. Alahla looked down shaking her head somberly.

"I have been a fool haven't I?" She said as she rubbed her cheek.

Zecora sighed. "Maybe not entirely, the effects of this...prison seemed to fool around with your mind. You are much less a fool and much more a pony with impaired judgement."

Alahla watched as the shard began to fall, becoming ethereal and falling though her.

"You do know that destroying it in this manner will kill anything that still has flesh, right?"

Zecora slapped her hoof to her forehead, she had completely forgotten to run away. "It's too late isn't it?"

Alahla rubbed her face. "For me perhaps, I still have a mortal body but for you..." Alahla's eyes glowed brightly, a powerful aura surrounded Zecora and flung her with incredible force from the collapsing core and into the bottomless void below .

Zecora watched as tears fell from Alahla's eyes.

"Tell my descendants I am proud of them, proud of how strong they have become." Alahla turned around, and walked further into the collapsing core, her body fading from view as bright bolts of red electricity started to crack what Zecora thought was an endless void around her.

Zecora began to feel dizzy, the sensation of her body was being stretched and contracted rapidly wearing heavily on her. The loud breaking sounds and the weird sensations were too much to bear, she quickly blacked out as the entirety of the space around her flashed with brilliant white light.

Wret? Wret!

***

Chapter XVI: Winds Of Change

Chapter XVI: Winds Of Change

The sound of the wind rustling though her mane, the smell of wildflowers assaulting her nostrils, the sound of wave upon wave crashing upon the shore and the warm feeling of the sun on her coat. Zecora didn't want to open her eyes, she didn't want to confirm if she was dead even though she knew full well that Ponyville was nowhere near the ocean.

"You can fool yourself all you like young one but laying there like a lump won't fool reality."

Zecora's ears twitched, It sounded sort of like her mother but the pitch was a little bit higher. Zecora opener her eyes and saw a pair of legs, but something else behind the legs, green cloth. Zecora Stood up and stared at her ancestor for a moment.

"I remember you walking into the core as it collapsed, did I die as well?"

"I think we are dead, not exactly sure though. Our legends said nothing of death being like this." Said a familiar voice.

Zecora turned her head. Her mother was a bit further back examining some dandelions by a field of tulips.

"Honestly I expected death to be well, less pleasant and more black and white like the legends say." Imani said while takinga bite of the dandelion. "Hmmm, quite crispy."

Alahla shook her head. "Back when I was younger I was taught that death was a black swirling pool that led to the underworld where all souls were eventually recycled. I guess this is a better alternative though."

Zecora put her hoof to her chin. If this was truly the afterlife, then where was every other pony trapped in the spear.

"I don't think this is the afterlife, at least not yet."

"Why do you say that?" Alahla asked.

"Firstly where is every other pony?" Zecora spun around in place, but could only see grassy fields as far as the eyes could see. The only exception being an ocean or lake a short distance away.

"Maybe there's something down by that body of water over there?" Imani suggested.

"Well mother, it's better than just standing her and admiring the grass. Also why are you eating the flowers?"

Imani pulled he head up from the ground, her mouth stuffed full with tulip blossoms.

*gulp*

"Speak for yourself, You know how long it has been since I last tasted food, much less had any sensations." Zecora walked behind Imani only to be beaten to the punch by Alahla. Alahla put her head on Imani's flank and pushed her forward.

"I did not stay trapped in my own invention to stand around not knowing if I am dead or alive. You can feed your face later. I want this over with."

Zecora couldn't put her hoof on it. Alahla was nothing more than a mopey shambling mess when she saw her last but now she was all gung-ho about everything. For some reason she couldn't shake the feeling that the core was behind her emotional instability.

"Alahla...or grandma I guess?"

"Do I look old to you?" Alahla said with one raised eyebrow.

*gulp*

"Well you are thousands of years old at this point." Imani said as she swallowed her food.

"Ah-But...bah, point taken. What do you want?" Alahla said with a huff.

"I was wondering, back in the core. Was the core messing with your emotions or were you really regretful?"

Alahla pondered the question for a moment before answering. "I guess you could say that deep down I do feel responsible for all the terrible things my creation has done but at the same time I realize that it is only a tool...or was only a tool. I can't beat myself up for someone else abusing its power; even more so that it had tampering from the old council all over it." Alahla scratched at her mane. "I guess the core amplified negative emotions, something I sort of had a hoof in but never to that degree."

"Anyways, I suggest we investigate the body of water over there, all of us." Zecora shot a glare at Imani who was eating a few dandelions. "I do mean everypony."

*gulp*

"Fine, fine." Imani said as she rolled her eyes.

The group made their way toward the body of water chatting amongst each other until Zecora stopped, the other two bumping into her.

"What's wrong?"

Zecora pointed to a black obsidian beach. In the distance their was a pier adorned with seaweed and moss; it looked as if it hadn't been up-kept in years. The other two Zebra walked up to Zecora's sides, taking in the view.

"Obsidian sand, That's odd, I do not see any volcanoes nearby that could have deposited it." Alahla said.

"Oh, there are volcanoes in oceans as well." Imani said.

"S-seriously? How does the water not put them out?" Alahla asked;exasperated.

Imani had a smirk on her face from ear to ear. "Oh, somepony with an interest in geology. You will find we have discovered many things since your time. Like how all the continents move around on giant plates of rock and-"

"No I mean over the-

*BLLLLLLLRRRRRRMMMM*

Zecora, Alahla and Imani put their hooves over their ears as a loud horn blared from some mist that was forming on the ocean. Alahla cracked open an eye and watched a large ominous looking barge sailing toward the pier at speeds no barge should ever move at.

The barge moved right up next to the pier, the mist slowly clearing to reveal a pony in black standing on the edge of the barge closest to the pier.

"Is that-" Alahla asked.

"Yes, Death itself." Imani replied.

Zecora grabbed Imani with both hooves around her head and pointed her in the direction she was looking. "Not death, her. That's who I was looking at."

Sitting in the obsidian sand some ways away from the pier was Maskia herself, staring into the water somberly. Alahla turned her head, ignoring deaths advance and focused on Maskia.

"I see the wielder of the spear is here as well...but she looks so" Alahla struggled to find the words for a moment. "Un-lively."
Alahla took a few steps toward the black shore when Death stopped face to face with her, breathing heavily.

"You will not communicate with the dead and the living must not cross the line into the realm of the dead nor interfere with their boarding of the barge to the afterli-" Death held his hoof up as Alahla walked right on by him like he didn't exist.

"H-how dare you ignore me!" Death leaped into the air and landed in front of Alahla, his eyes glowing blood red. "How dare you ignore the-"

*Snap!*

Death reeled back, howling in pain as Alahla delivered a vicious headbutt to his face.

"AAhhh she broke my nose, she broke my nose!" Death was holding his face in his skeletal hooves as Alahla approached Maskia, who stood up in confusion.

"So...Zecora, If I ever give you flak about your stubborn attitude ever again, remind me that it came from her." Imani said with her mouth gaping.

"I'll say, I see where we all get our thick skulls from as well." Zecora said as she watched death try and put fragments of his face back into place.

"I guess we follow?" Zecora suggested.

"As long as death doesn't have any objections." Imani raised an eyebrow at Death.

"Sure, fine, you asked nicely but me and Alahla will have words right after I fix my face." Death pulled out a tube of what looked like gorilla glue and began to put the fragments from his nose back in place like a jigsaw puzzle.

Zecora and Imani made ways to where Alahla and Maskia seemed to be in a perpetual staring contest, neither one of them seemed to want to say the first word.

"I'm sorry." They both said in unison.

"No, Let me go fir-" Both said in unison again but stopped mid sentence.

Maskia put her hoof up in the air, watching as her daughter and granddaughter walked up to them. "No, I must repent for what I have done. The atrocities I have committed in my greed for power are unforgivable."

"It's not entirely your fault. I-" Just then a cloak of shadows appeared between Alahla and Maskia. It quickly formed into the shape of death , this time brandishing a rather nasty looking scythe.

"Listen here or-"

"Or what? You will kill me?" Alahla shoved her face right into Deaths, making him wince for fear of receiving another headbutt.

"I have just spent thousands of years trapped in my own creation, thousands of years isolated and wallowing in my own regret as I watched soul after soul be absorbed into the weapon from the remaining copies spread throughout the world."

Death didn't seem to have retort. The look on his face was of fear, that his main trump card had already been exhausted. "I-if you don't listen to me I-I will keep you here in purgatory forever."

Alahla laughed out loud, a horrifying, powerful laugh. "I don't fear death or this place." Alahla pointed to the vast fields of flowers, grass and small dirt mounts scattered among the fields. "Isn't exactly the doom and gloom you pretend it to be. It is just another prison, albeit a far more interesting one than my previous prison."

Alahla took a step forward, her hoof hitting the sand in front of her, but instead of it killing her and greying her color like Maskia's coat; like death said it would, the sand erupted in grass and flowers.

"But- How did?" Deaths face froze, as if Alahla had broken the laws of nature itself.

Alahla swatted the scythe out of Deaths hooves where it landed blade first in the sand some distance away. "My title, 'The Emerald Queen' was not for my tastes in clothing, my gem rich economy or any other nonsensical jealousy codswallop the council pulled out of their behind. It was my perfection of the shamanistic arts, to be one with nature."

Deaths red eyes when small as pinpricks. "Oh, you're one of those. I have dealt with your kind in the past. Your connection wanes with age, eventually you will succumb to my realm."

Alahla stomped on the ground which erupted in flowers, her eyes glowing blue and her voice changing to a much deeper tone. "Be that as it may, death does not bother me but you WILL allow me to get some closure to the event's I unwittingly set into motion so many years ago."

Death looked over to Zecora and Imani, looking for some kind of support but only getting shrugs in return. "V-very well, but you time is limited in this world, due to you three being alive."

"This shouldn't take too long. Wait over there, Maskia will be boarding the barge momentarily." Alahla said in a demanding but calm tone.

Death shook his head quickly and trotted over to the pier, tripping over his own robes in what looked like a nervous panic.

Alahla watched as death boarded his barge and hid himself behind the captains cabin. "Were were we? Oh yes." Alahla beckoned Zecora and Imani to her side, each a little apprehensive about approaching her after her spat with Death.

"Come on you two. I don't bite...hard."

Zecora and Imani looked at each other and then at Maskia who was also beckoning them over to her.

"Well, I Guess it's time we all settled down and talked this over." Imani said.

"I guess so" Zecora replied.

The pair moved to Alahla's side and sat down in the grass that was sprouting all around her but oddly avoiding the small patch where Maskia was laying down.

"Zecora..." Maskia said in a somber voice. "I- I can't even imagine the hatred you bear towards me. I know I can't ever make up for the horrible things I have done or how I tried to kill my own great granddaughter or how I tortured you into doing my bidding."

Zecora sat there on the grass, somehow she felt she was going to be far angrier than she thought but after witnessing what the weapon did to Alahla, a much stronger shaman than Maskia could ever dream of being; she felt somewhat sympathetic. If the weapon could partially corrupt even the strongest willed then how could a Zebra in her early sixties have any chance.

"Grandma...I don't know if I can forgive everything you have done but I want you to tell me exactly what happened. How the weapon fed off of you and turned you into a monster."

Maskia pawed the black sand with her hoof. "How far back should I go?"

Imani spoke up. "A couple months before I contacted you from within the spear."

Maskia looked down at the sand, as is she was ashamed of herself. "I...was in a relationship then. It had been a decade since my husband had passed away from illness and I was feeling lonely. With Imani no longer speaking to me becuase of a earlier fallout and not knowing exactly where Zecora was, I needed someone to talk to."

Alahla laid on the grass. "Understandable. Continue."

"Normally I don't mix with the younger generations but a friend told me I should try and attend ...oh what did they call it again...a rave."

Zecora looked taken aback for a second. The thought of her grandmother headbanging with glow sticks in her mouth was just weird.

"I tried to dress like all the youngsters do and attend one of these events but I found it distasteful. All the youngsters wouldn't even so much as tell me what was going on, let alone make eye contact. Except for one, a stallion in his mid thirties named Greymane."

"So, you found a date that night?"

"Not just a date, a strapping young stud that swept me right off my feet. I thought I was immune to all the flirty tactics of stallions in my advanced age but he had a way with words and knew all the right buttons to push. He even knew right where I like my ear nibbled. A true Casanova."

Zecora raised am eyebrow and shuffled uncomfortably at the next question she was going to ask. "Wait, ear nibbling? You two didn't-"

"Yes, we did. On the third date two weeks in. He seduced me with that magical tongue of his massaging my flank as he-"

Maskia was interrupted by retching sounds from Zecora and Imani.

"Yuck Grandma, There isn't enough mind soap in all of Equestria to get rid of that mental image." Zecora said as she covered her eyes with her hooves, Imani doing the same.

"Mom, gross. I can still see it when I close my eyes."

Alahla glared at Zecora and Imani, contorting her face in disappointment.

"Hey now, I have needs too. Anyways, I thought I had given up carnal desires like that years ago. It had been a decade since I hit menopause and I haven't done anything since then."

"Go into detail, it is important. Ignore the immaturity from the other two behind me." Alahla said while sending Zecora and Imani mean glares from the corner of her eyes.

"Well, he started off by nibbling my ear and caressing my legs. Didn't take him long to seduce me, I actually wanted it. It been so long since anypony touched me that way.

"Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope!" Zecora covered he ears as Maskia continued her story, getting a glare from Alahla for her efforts.

"It was around eight at night when we started and he didn't stop until well after midnight. He made me feel alive again, like I was worth loving again. Also his dong was mass-"

Alahla put her hoof up. "Not that far into detail. I think Imani is about to lose the food she ate earlier." Imani was a few yards away, dry heaving.

"Well, lets just say it was one of the best nights I had in a long time. He left that night with me on the bed still in a dazed ecstasy. For the next two weeks or so we did it every other night."

"But something happened right?"

Maskia started to cry but wiped the tear from her eyes as it came out. "About a week before my daughter contacted me about being trapped in the spear I visited Greymane at his home. What I found cut me so deeply...he was colt cuddling. I found him in his bedroom rubbing his entire body on a younger stallion. He tried to explain that he wasn't serious with him and invited me in for something he called "double trouble" but..."

Maskia wiped away a few more tears before continuing. "I couldn't believe he cheated on me. Worse still I as angry at myself for falling for such a obvious sweet talker. I went home that night and didn't come out until I was contacted a week later by Imani."

"How did you feel that week and how did you feel after your daughter contacted you?"

"I- I was hurt. It been so long since I had any kind of intimate contact with anypony and being betrayed that way made me reclusive, I didn't even want to talk to my secretaries. After I heard about Imani's plight I was elated, the tribe thought her dead after her personal effects were found and not her. It was a chance see her again for the first time in many years, I was hoping we would even be able to set aside our differences."

"That apparently never happened. Something went wrong I presume?" Alahla asked.

"No, at least not at first. I called for a ground caravan and went myself. It Took up to a couple of days to reach where she was last seen but we found the chamber containing the weapons parts within an hour after arriving. I was the first to touch it." Maskia shook her head. "That was the problem, I should have never touched it in my emotionally volatile state. The moment I laid my hooves on it I felt a sensation, something like unabated rage built up in me but then quickly subsiding. I had other examiners look at the parts when I got back to our tribes main encampment. They detected nothing out of the ordinary around it."

"They missed something?"

"A whole bunch of somethings. I became more irritable as time went on, even when I was well away from the weapon thoughts kept popping in my head, thoughts about revenge, things I would have never even considered. I even had thoughts about executing every single homosexual; be it mare or stallion."

"Did you ever have those thoughts before?" Alahlah asked?

"Of course she did, just not to such extremes. That was the fallout we had so many years ago." Imani interrupted.

"Explain" Alahla said.

"Less a year before Zecora came of age the council passed a very regressive law. That any pony or zebra found colt cuddling or filly fooling would be put to death. Lesser punishments were at the sole discretion of the tribe elder, in our case Maskia" Imani said.

"The council gave me the option to kill them or give them a moderate level of punishment. Personally I didn't actually care about what other ponies did in their bed but I did agree that the act was disgusting and unnatural." Maskia stirred the sand on the ground. "Me and Imani got into a fight over it. I wanted to make the punishments dealt out only if I absolutely had to, like if a council arbiter was in town."

"While I wanted the law redacted. Many of the lesser tribes were not given the same leniency as the Windrunners and had to kill violators under the law. The only reason they gave us leniency is becuase we nearly usurped then during your time Alahla. If the law wasn't redacted I was going to declare economic sanctions on the council. I even had the full backing of the border patrol tribes to do so" Imani said while stomping the ground angrily.

"I told you. We didn't have the funds for a full scale war and if we did manage to put economic sanctions on the council they would surely declare war on us. We were not in a position to bully them!"

"And letting that filth get away will taking away our sovereignty, our peoples rights was perfectly okay with you!" Imani was geared up and ready to fight, she was gritting her teeth and puffing out her nostrils and chest.

"Settle down! Both of you!" Alahla slammed her hoof into the ground and sprouted many small tree saplings. "Now, calmly explain."

Maskia started talking again, this time in a lower voice. "The councils new law put me in a very tight spot. I didn't like it any more than Imani did but in order to keep the peace and not show our hoof I needed to make temporary concessions. The council arbiters rounded up a few younger fillies that were caught kissing one another. I had to make the decision on their punishment becuase they were found on our lands..."

"She gave them fifty lashings each, in front of all the other tribe members. She even looked like she enjoyed it." Maskia interrupted.

"I had half a dozen arbiters watching me. I had to look like I was serious about the law. Did you notice any other arbiters hanging around afterward? No, they left becuase they didn't have to hang around thinking I wasn't a council loyalist."

"One of those so called "Arbiters" blackmailed Wenna;Moon Walker and Sundances daughter. They had their way with the poor filly and left town."

"Who do you think hired the lions to have them killed?" Maskia was nearly ready to foam at the mouth in rage.

"Enough! I see where some of the pent up anger and animosity comes from." Alahla moved under the shade of one of the saplings she sprouted. "I want you to continue right after you found the spear."

Maskia sighed heavily. "I limited my work on the weapon to just a few days per week after I noticed it was beginning to affect my judgement and temper. I had an arbiter bring another victim of that horrible law before me. My judgement was a thousand lashings at first but I caught myself and sentenced him to a hundred hours of community service. I had to bribe the arbiter to keep his mouth shut about such a light sentence."

"I assume it only got worse?"

"Far worse. I stopped working on the weapon a week before Imani stopped contacting me. I kept feeling waves of paranoia followed by lust for power and anger; even urges to dole out punishments for petty crimes. I kept in my room but no matter what I did the feelings kept getting stronger. I was contacted by Imani the day before I finally stopped realizing what I was doing, when I no longer had the will power to fight. The next day I remember vividly, but it was like a dream, a dream I had no control over. A horrible, terrible dream..."

Maskia covered her face and began to cry loudly. "I tried to stop myself, I really did!" Maskia continue crying until Alahla hugged her from the side.

"Everypony here has made mistakes, some of them judgmental, some of them bad luck and some by lack of options. I need you to tell me what happened next, I need to know."

Maskia dried her tears and sniffled. "I went outside for some fresh air for the first time in a week or so and saw the same stallion that betrayed my heart hugging on some other stallion. He looked at me for a moment and smiled meekly before turning back to his 'friend' like I didn't exist." Maskia sighed heavily. "The next thing is knew I was heaps angry, I gridded my teeth so hard that my gums bled. Next thing I knew I was losing control. I called a guard over to me and had him arrested for colt-cuddling."

"Was It intentional or?" Zecora asked.

"No, I hated him for what he did to me but I was the Windrunners elder, I never abused my post as a leader...not until that moment. The local arbiter was in town and heard of my arrest, how I lost my temper in front of half the town. He wanted to know what kind of punishment I would give. What happened next is when I new I lost it, what was worse is how it was like watching a bad movie reel; except I couldn't turn it off."

"The punishment was harsh wasn't it?"

Maskia stared at the ground. "Not just harsh. I had him stocked in front of the town. Then I ordered him to be quartered..."

Zecora and Imani put their hooves over their mouths in surprise but Alahla seemed unfazed, most likely due to her seeing far worse punishments in her time. "I see...a truly horrible way to go."

"It gets worse, his brother and elderly mother begged me not to kill him, as did most of the town. But I had lost control of myself at that point. Somewhere in my mind the real me was still watching but unable to do anything. Half the towns folk that could leave left for smaller towns that day. The ones that remained were mostly visiting outsiders."

Maskia began to cry again. "I failed my people but worst of all I betrayed myself and tried hurt my granddaughter soon after. Instead of freeing my daughter I kept her trapped and started to use the weapons other powers to raise and army, something the council loved. After so long they finally had the Windrunners as their magical puppet again."

Alahla hugged Maskia again. "I was reading into your mind when we were talking, the memories you have are clouded, just like Brennen's was."

Imani stepped forward. "It's almost exactly how Brennen's transformation occurred. His was faster due to his inexperience with shamanistic arts and how powerful the enchants used to be. However, the end result was the same, he became a puppet for the council and the very worst of his being was brought out. He was intentionally baited to be a bringer of war and suffering to further their goals."

"When we get out of here we should hunt them down and make them pay for-"

Maskia put her hoof over Zecora's mouth. "No need to get angry. I already killed them, this council may have gotten the weapon they wanted but they could not control it. I slaughtered them and every single one of their family members when they tried to reign me in. I even killed the innocent ones..." Maskia stared at the ground somberly.

"What is done is done. The best we can all do now is move on with our lives."

"I-I guess you're right. I'm very much dead and my loved ones still live on." Maskia stared at Zecora with her vibrant blue eyes. "Zecora, I'm sorry for all the horrible things I have done, even if I wasn't completely in control some part of me wanted to do those things."

Zecora didn't know what to do. Deep inside she still had a little bit of hatred toward Maskia but she knew that it wasn't her fault, that the capacity for evil and cruelty exist even in the most timid ponies.

Zecora stared back at Maskia. "I forgive you. I can't keep blaming you for what happened when other ponies have succumb to that weapons insanity much quicker." Zecora nuzzled Maskia, both of them standing head to head on one another for what seemed like an eternity. They both broke heads and Imani approached Maskia.

"We never got to reconcile our differences. I didn't like some of your backwards thinking but...you never deserved this. No pony deserves what you have been though."

"Imani...I may have been stubborn and we may have butted heads on many things, but it never meant I stopped being your mother. I just wish I could have freed you before my sanity slipped away."

Both ponies stood there staring at each other, the wind blowing blossoms though their manes. Imani quickly broke down in tears and lunged at Maskia, the elder mare pulling her into a hug.

"If only I hadn't been so headstrong and gung-ho about everything. I trapped myself in that weapon becuase of my own stupidity."

Maskia patted Imani's mane. "There, there. You have bigger things to worry about than my passing or did you forget that you are now a grandmother yourself?"

Imani lifted her head up. "But I know nothing of how to be a grandparent. What if I make the same mistakes with her as I did with you?"

Maskia laughed. "You don't have to raise the foal, that part is up to Zecora and Fluttershy. Your job is to drop tidbits of wisdom here and there, maybe foalsit once in awhile."

"Is that it?" Imani asked.

"Oh and spoil the foal. Not too much but just enough to keep Zecora on her hooves."

Zecora frowned at Maskia and Imani as they laughed together.

"You don't have much time left here. Your allies in the living world will soon be waking you all out of the coma you are in. I suggest you make the last of the farewells quickly." Death chuckled as he walked back onto his barge after the brief interruption.

Alahla stepped forward toward the pier. "I request that you take my life in exchange for Maskia's!"

Death stopped halfway up the plank leading to his barge and turned around slowly. "You headbutted me in the face, broke my nose, disrespected my authority and broke the rules of purgatory and death itself. Are you seriously asking me to grant such a request? Why would I bother?"

Alahla rolled her eyes. "I have read enough legends about you to know that answer."

"Which is?" Death asked.

"Because you enjoy having the last laugh and theirs rumors that you get off on it too."

Death let out a blood curdling laugh. "Yes and unbelievably on both counts. However, I cannot grant that request. It is completely outside of my power."

"Load of elephant dung it is!" Alahla yelled angrily.

"Don't get your mane all in a frazzle. Maskia's body was atomized after Zecora broke the core holding the weapon together. She has no physical body to return to. No body, no deal." Death finished snidely.

"Then Take M-"

"No!" Maskia stood up. "I will not have another life taken away becuase of my mistakes."

"I should have died centuries ago and I am not ready to deal with such an alien world, so far removed from my own time. At least this way everypony wins."

Imani put a hoof up, waving it about like a school filly.

"Yes, Imani? This isn't class you know." Alahla said.

"Alahla, I don't mean to demean your knowledge but soul transfer has been done before. When a soul from one pony is transferred to another it begins to take on the shape of that ponies original body."

Maskia nodded her head. "It would be a pointless endeavor.to try and bring me back. I have hurt far too many ponies and left a legacy of terror and destruction. If I were to come back somepony would surely kill me again shortly after. I don't think I could live a life where I am constantly looking over my back to make sure there isn't a dagger wielding assassin or a poison tipped blow-dart heading my way."

"But- I helped cause all that pain. I should be the one punished."

Maskia walked over to Alahla. "If you still feel guilty there is much good to be done in our homeland. Many families are broken, fields burned and wrongs to be righted."

"But-"

"There is also a foal, a foal that is a very powerful foremost that could use your tutoring. A foal that could use a great grandmother." Maskia said.

Alahla thought for a moment. "I am kind of young to be a great grandmother at the age of thirty eight. I didn't even get to see my own daughters wedding to be a grandma first. Wouldn't their be ponies after me as well? I did create a dangerous weapon."

"Doubtful" Maskia replied.

"Yeah, only a few ponies ever bothered learning the history of the weapon. Those that did respect you. The history books are silent as well about your identity the last time I checked, They don't go back that far." Imani added.

"Oh look, time's up. You have ten seconds." Death interrupted with a sly grin on his broken face.

Zecora, Imani, Alahla and Maskia all looked at one another. It was almost as if they were reading each others mind as they all gave each other a large group hug.

"Goodbye and lead a good life. We will all see each other again...someday...."

Zecora, Imani and Alahla slowly faded from view, leaving only Maskia and Death.

"So, Maskia, you about ready to go?" Death asked.

"Yes, I am ready to receive the punishment for my evils." Maskia replied.

Death ran his hoof over his face in frustration. "I'll never understand you mortals fascination with good and evil or your fascination that there must be an eternal punishment for what is ultimately a mortal lifetime of misdeeds."

"You mean there is no, oh what was it "hell?" No repercussions whatsoever?"

"There are, but only to the ponies you wronged on the other side. It's not like they can hurt you or anything. I guess you will understand when you get there." Death walked up to the cabin at the back of the barge and peeked his head in. "Say, I'm not due back for another couple hours at least. Want to play me in a few games? It's always boring playing on my own."

Maskia walked onto the barge. "What did you have in mind?"

"I have Chess, Twister, Scrabble."

"Chess will do, I am far too old to be playing Twister."

Death looked disappointed as he pulled out a fold out table and a chess set in a black and green box. "No one ever plays me in Twister" he said as he set up the chess pieces;taking black for himself.

"Maybe becuase you cheat by disassembling yourself?" Maskia said as she made her first move.

"I wouldn't do that. I always play fair when playing Twister" Death said as he moved a knight out of it's starting position.

"I doubt that" Maskia replied as she made a move, and then another move as death moved his knight up further.

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, it's either that or you are a pervert."

"Wait how did you-"

Maskia made her next move. "Checkmate." Maskia had a sly grin on her face. "And I didn't know, there is only a few reasons males ever play Twister. That and your reaction gave it away just now."

"Fair enough, another game?" Death said grumpily as he stared at the board.

"Sure, All I have now Is time."

***

Zecora began to slowly open her eyes, but quickly closed them when she felt a sharp pain on her side.

"What do you mean we are our of morphine? Yes, yes fine, but tell those griffons to hurry up, we have thousands to treat and not enough supplies to do it."

Zecora knew that voice anywhere. Twilight sparkle was arguing with somepony near by. Zecora opened her eyes again and watched as the arch mage ran from bed to bed treating ponies with injuries of varying severity. After making a quick injection on a mare missing one of her legs she rounded about back to Zecora's bed and checked the vitals, not paying attention to Zecora.

"Odd, she should be aw-" Twilight looked up at Zecora. "Oh, that's why. You're awake." Twilight began to unwrap Zecora's bandages on her side, hovering a ointment for wounds you could make with local plants. She removed the last bandage and with a magically sterilized leaf pressed the ointment up against Zecora's side much to her discomfort.

"Cry about it later. You got off easy compared to some of the others."

"Others?" Zecora asked.

"Yes, others. Thousands of others. Broken bones, heavy bleeding, missing limbs. When your daughter hit the spear with her weird magic a whole bunch of ponies flooded out of it. Then she put a shield around Maskia as the weapon back-lashed and atomized her body."

"Ayanna!" Zecora tried to roll out of bed but was hit in the side of the head by a stand holding an IV bag.

"Are you crazy or something?" Twilight lifted Zecora back into bed and checked the entry point in Zecora's foreleg. "Good, you didn't tear the vein out." Twilight lifted Zecora into the air and wrapped bandages around her midsection before settling her back into bed with a frown.

"Your Daughter is fine for the most part. I have her sleeping in the Ponyville hospital infant ward until testing for diseases is complete. Until I clear you, I need you not to go running off. You already saved the day and your daughter is fine, I don't need you running off like some rescue ranger and getting yourself hurt when supplies are so thin."

Twilight stuck her head out the tent and yelled. "Rarity! I asked for bandages, tape and gauze half and hour ago.

A reply came back in the form a of a posh whine. "But Twilight~ white is such a boring color, the other bandages are not out of the tie dye solution yet."

Twilight ran her hoof down her face in frustration. "Fine, but I want those disinfected before you bring them in."

"Twilight, How is Fluttershy doing? Or Princess Luna? Did a pony named Alahla come out as well? Why are we so short on supplies?"

"Fluttershy, hell everypony is going to need counseling after all of this. This quacks in Canterlot are going to make mint from the Canterlot reserve I bet. Luna is still down but stable, There were waaaay too many oddly named Zebra for me to remember them all and the shortage is only temporary; we had aid granted to us by the griffon queen."

"When can I get out of here?" Zecora asked.

"Once you tell me what these brain patterns mean? It's not like any coma I've ever seen before." Twilight held up a long sheet of paper that Zecora didn't seem to comprehend. Twilight shook the pages in Zecora's face as if she knew anything about nuero-science.

"I...had a very close call with Death. In a very literal sense of the word."

Twilight dropped the pages and looked at Zecora, a pale frightened look in her eyes. "Wait, literal Death? Big open grassy fields with a ugly pier on one side by a vast ocean kind of Death?"

"You met him?"

Twilight shuddered all over as if a cold breeze hit her in the back. "Oh yeah, I met that jerk. I remember how much pain he put me in. How much I had to endure to save one life."

"You will have to tell me about it sometime. Is there anyway you can clear me for release? I'm sure someone with far worse injuries could use the bed I'm in."

Twilight looked outside to find a long line of makeshift chariot ambulances arriving. "You're right I guess, but if you start feeling any pain or dizziness I want you to see a doctor immediately."

"I'll be sure to keep that in-"

Twilight got right in Zecora's face. "No ambiguity or stubbornness on this one missy. Any pain and right back into the bed with you. Am I completely understood?"

Zecora could feel the sweat rolling down her brow. Twilight may be a practiced physician but she gonna give a pony a panic attack one of these days. She thought as she swallowed some air.

"S-sure, pain, dizziness, doctor. Got it."

Twilight continued to stare at Zecora while removing the tubes going into her leg, as if staring into her very soul. Twilight quickly finished re-wrapping the wound on Zecora's leg and gave a smile. "Have a nice day, and tell Fluttershy I said hello."

Zecora hopped out of bed and walked out the tent, just as she poked her head out of the tent a group of doctors with a bed nearly took it off, just barely grazing her ear. In the distance she could see literally hundreds of medical tents, a plethora of doctors, nurses and other medical staff running around like the place was practically on fire.

"Zecora, over here!" A pony wearing a beret motioned her over to a little off to the side place between the tents. When Zecora got over to the tents she noticed that she had seen this pony before. But this time his body was covered in scars and puncture wounds.

"Brennen?" She asked.

"Yeah, I know. I'm scary looking, I get that a lot now that I'm back in my body."

"It is a bit jarring to look at."

"Well, soon as I find a good surgeon I will get it all fixed. Eleena on the other hoof isn't so lucky." Brennen sighed heavily.

"What happened?" Zecora asked.

"Her body is a mess, her pelvis is shattered, bones broken and a spear wound through the ribcage. Cadence was able to save her but it's going to be months before she can walk again."

"Is there anything I can do to help? I know some ponies in Ponyville that may have space open at their residence, assuming it isn't demolished or on fire that is."

Brennen looked up at Zecora. "No, I will find my own way. I can make and sell potions that history has lost to time. When Eleena is out of intensive care she will have a mansion in her name if I have anything to say about it. She deserves all of that for what I did to her."

Zecora sighed. "That's all water under the bridge now. You two have a fresh start, as does every other pony trapped in that weapon. It's not everyday that you get a second chance at life. Make the best of it." Another bed whizzed by Zecora. "By the way, have you seen Alahla around?"

"Yeah she was cleared almost immediately. She headed toward the infant ward at the Local hospital. At least that's where she told me she was going."

"I swear by my aunt, Rarity; If I find another tie-dyed bandage I will shove them collectively up your fat ass!" Cadence yelled.

The entire ward went silent, ponies stopping in place to listen.

"I'll have you know my posterior isn't fat, it is nice and firm, thank you very much!"

"Nah she's got a huge ...what them city folks call it 'badonka-donk'" Applejack yelled.

Laughter erupted all over the medical ward. The laughter was a welcome sound to Zecora, it means that at least some normalcy had come back to Ponyville.

"Well, I wish you the best of luck Brennen. Give Eleena my regards. "

Brennen nodded and waved as Zecora made her way out of the crowded encampment and into the open. She hadn't noticed before but far above her all kinds of flying creatures were in the air. Pegasi, dragons and Griffons were all carrying supplies. There was even an odd Changling or two carrying what their small bodies could. Zecora had to shake her head to bring her out of the amazed daze. I guess when tragedy strikes everypo- everyone comes together to help. She thought as she made her way into the field in front of the hospital.

The hospital looked like it was still running on reserve power, some technicians were busy setting up what looked like a cluster on solar panels on the roof. Zecora walked into the hospital to find it just as busy as the medical camp. Ponies rushing left and right with medical supplies, paper work and moving patients around. One of the doctors looked at Zecora for a moment before asking her a question.

"Please don't tell me you're here to tell us more are on the way, we are absolutely swamped and their is not a room to spare. We even had to convert half the infant ward to makeshift rooms becuase the em ward is full."

"No, I am here to see my wife and daughter." Zecora replied.

"Oh, you must be the lucky...err...mother? I dunno what to call you exactly but you can find both of them in the east part of the infant ward."

Zecora nodded and thanked the doctor before walking into the stairwell that led to the infant ward.

"Hey!" The doctor yelled.

Zecora turned her head.

"Tell those other two Zebra no mojo-funny business in my hospital."

Zecora had half the mind to walk over and correct the doctor on his error about Zebra 'mojo' but thought better of it. She had more important matters to attend to. Zecora walked upstairs into the infant ward and looked around. On one side were a row of beds occupied by Zebra with varying degrees of injuries. On the other was Fluttershy resting in a bed with Ayanna breastfeeding, surrounded by Celestia, Imani and Alahla.

Fluttershy looked over the side of Imani and whispered "Zecora!" In a barely contained, excited kind of way. Ayanna lifted her head up and stared right at Zecora.

"Wret!" She said exuberantly.

The other ponies turned around and watched as Zecora walked up and nuzzled both Fluttershy and Ayanna in a big group hug.

"Zecora, I am glad to see you are all right." Celestia said.

"I told you she would be fine. I would find it embarrassing for any Wind Runner to die from a simple spear wound." Alahla said as both Imani and Celestia rolled their eyes.

Zecora noticed something different about her daughter, the symbol on her flank seemed to be missing. "Fluttershy, did you notice her cutie-mark is gone?"

Fluttershy looked at Ayanna and back at Zecora. "Yes, but your mother and...err...Alahla was it?" Alahla merely nodded. "They explained that our daughter severed her shamanistic connection with nature when she saved the lives of all those ponies inside that weapon."

"Your daughter, Ayanna" Alahla interrupted. "Exhausted a lifetimes worth of power in just a few brief moments. There is a chance that with practice she can become a foremost in the future, but for now her future is for her to decide."

Fluttershy looked at Zecora "You named our daughter Ayanna?"

"It's a name that means 'Blossom'."

"Oh, I like that name." Ayanna nuzzled up against Fluttershy affectionately. "I think she likes it too."

"Zecora, a word in private if you will." Celestia said as she motioned her head to a nearby corner.

"I'll be right back." Zecora walked with Celestia over to the corner of the room.

Celestia lowered her voice to a whisper. "I know who Imani is, I have met her in the past when she asked for funding for digs but I have no idea who that other Zebra is. I figured she was a family member, a cousin maybe?"

Zecora shook her head. "She is the head of the Windrunners and the oldest surviving member."

"She is an elder?" Celestia looked perplexed. "But I thought Maskia was the only remaining elder. My reports say she slaughtered the others near her stature."

Zecora sighed. "I must have your word that you will not freak out or take any hostile actions toward her. The things I tell you must be kept between us and only us."

"But-"

"But nothing, you could endanger her life if word got out as to what she is." Zecora said firmly.

"I agree but I still don't get what all the-"

"Ahem." said a stern voice from behind Celestia.

Celestia rounded about to stare at what she figured was one of Zecora's relatives.

"I am Alahla. I am partly responsible for all the terrible things that have transpired recently."

Celestia was taken aback. "I don't follow. I was under the impression you were a cousin or a elder as Zecora put it."

Alahla shook her head calmly. "You may know me better by my nickname ' The Emerald Queen' "

Celestia's eyes widened. "So...If I remember my history correctly, you are the one that created the spear Maskia used. The one she nearly killed my sister with." Celestia stature changed from that of benevolence to stiff, as if ready to defend herself.

"I have no quarrel with you, Alicorn of the sun. I merely made the weapon, I never authorized it to be modified to be so terrible."

Celestia didn't seem to know what to say next.

"If you want to strike me down then I can understand that. I have but one request, that you let me live long enough to repair the damage my creation has wrought." Alahla bowed respectfully before Celestia before turning her back on the aggravated monarch.

Celestia felt her anger leave her body. She turned her back on me? Surely she knows I was ready to pounce. She thought.

"Zecora, explain."

"She doesn't deserve to be punished more than she already has your highness. She was trapped in the core of the weapon for a very long time, forced to swim though her own amplified anguish."

"She was trapped in the weapon? An ironic twist of fate." Celestia said as she watched Alahla talk with Imani about personal matters.

"I believe you can trust her, your highness."

"Why should I? She essentially created a weapon of mass destruction." Celestia snapped.

"And not once tried to escape her fate. I saw what happened, she let herself be impaled by her own creation to free the pony using it from it's grip. She turned her back to you when she knew she had more than enough power to kill you in your weakened state."

It hit Celestia like a ton of bricks. Zecora was right, she had been using her full restoration spell too much. so much that she was at less than half strength. A talented unicorn could off her if they wanted to.

"See what I mean. She is a rare case. She has an absolute connection with nature, she may not be anywhere near as powerful as Maskia was but she is much stronger than multiple talented unicorns."

"Yet she doesn't use it. She could have easily killed me just now and taken full control." Celestia walked up behind Alahla, the shorter Zebra turned around slowly.

"I misjudged you. It may take me some time to get used to the idea of trusting you but I will honor your request, on the condition that you work with Imani here on the restoration committee for your homeland." Celestia turned her head to Zecora. "I ask for your assistance in this endeavor as well, Zecora."

Zecora walked over to Fluttershy and her daughter Ayanna, nuzzling them both affectionately. "I decline. Maybe when I was younger I would have jumped on such a trial but..." Zecora stared into the eyes of her daughter. "I have a much bigger job to attend to."

"Which is?" Celestia asked.

"Being a parent."

***7 Year's later***

Celestia finished brushing her hair as she stepped out into the moonlight from her tent. She knew it was nearly time to perform her midsummer duties, although being the first year doing it in new zebra capital of emerald city was making her nervous to say the least.

"Dear sister" Celestia jumped slightly at the sudden sound of Luna's voice.

"Why are you so jittery?"

"I know the wars been over for so long but some of the Zebra still hold a grudge against us for the war...and setting up a constitutional council with your oversight."

"Those ponies are in the minority dear sister. You brought prosperity and equality to a people who up until that point only knew varying levels of unfairness." Luna looked up at the clock hanging on the side of Celestia's tent. "Sister, you are a minute late, we can discuss this later. Go!"

Celestia walked out into the moonlight, crowds upon crowds of Earth ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns and this year a plethora of Zebra, including a few Zebra hybrids; something that was originally forbidden in these lands previously. As she walked onto the podium she nearly had to cover her ears from the thunderous cheering, as she peered over the podium she realized why.

There were far more ponies here than she thought, nearly the entire population of Zebra in the entire country showed up. So much so that the crowd was little more than a sea of white and black stripes. Oh, my she thought to herself as she looked upon the waiting crowd.

"Pst, what are thine doing?! Large crowds never bothered you before. Don't screw this up!"

Celestia turned her head for a moment to see Luna with a frown on her face. If I botch this I'll never hear the end of it from her.

"Ahem."

"Ladies and gentle colts. I, Princess Celestia am proud to hold this years midsummer festival here in the emerald city. It has been a long journey since the end of the war seven years ago. Many families on both sides lost loved ones, many homes were destroyed on both sides, livelihoods destroyed and tears shed. I regret to this very day the massive loss of life, even ponies I saw as enemies still had families they were hoping to go home to, many of which never did."

The crowd was silent.

"However, there was a saying; an old saying from one of the wisest unicorns ever to live. 'If great creation eventually breeds great destruction, than great destruction must bring greater creation' that little nugget of knowledge was from Starswirl the bearded, in one of his last few entries into his journal. I see what he meant now, that out of the past tragedies you all have forged a great bond with one another. Pony kind and Zebra alike working together to build a future together out of the ashes of tragedy."

"Today may be a day for the celebration of the sun but the true celebration is every single Pegasus, Zebra, Earth Pony and Unicorn in this crowd. I will raise the sun today, in hopes that your strength of unity will shine forever under its light." Celestia raised her forelegs to her sides and spread her wings wide. She slowly lifted her body into the air, her horn glowing a muted yellow as she did. With a thrust of her forelegs into the sky the sun rose behind her, the ball of light settling in a position to look as if she was lifting it with her bare hooves.

"Ohhhh!" The crowd said in unison as they watched Celestia move the sun into the sky. She stopped just a few feet off the ground and lowered her forelegs, landing with a soft thud on the wooden floor of the stage.

"This concludes the morning ritual of the summer sun celebration. Let the festivities begin!"

The crowd let out a deafening cheer and applause as Celestia made her way beck into the tent.

"If thou was any cheesier thine would swear you were a quadruple topping cheese pizza." Luna said haughtily but soon changed her tone. "All the same though, I am proud of you big sister. The prosperity we have brought to everypony out there is only matched by the reconstruction work being done in the northern badlands."

"Yes, how goes the empire of the changelings. I heard both Cadence and Shining Armor didn't take too well to my orders."

"Cadence was fine with it and Shining as well after he heard what Chrysalis did to save his sisters life. As for whats going on, maybe you should ask her yourself. He personal airship arrived during your speech." Luna pointed outside to a black and green blimp that was sitting a short distance away from some food stands.

Celestia stopped out and watched both Chrysalis and Twilight Sparkle step off of the blimp, Twilight stopping to grab a order of hay fries from a local stand.

"Twilight!" Celestia yelled, waving at her former pupil.

"Celestia!" Twilight set her hay fries on the side of the blimp, spread her wings and zoomed toward Celestia. Grabbing around her neck in an enormous hug. "It's been too long! I missed you!"

"I missed you too Twilight. And Chrysalis, looking good." Celestia looked at the queen of changelings from horn to toe, she looked so much different than she used to. Her long sewer colored hair was now a vibrant spring green, her black chitin no longer has a sulfur like look to it but instead that of shiny black licorice. Her wings were light green with very light pink tips, almost as if she dyed them, her torso was more of a emerald green with the added effect of her no longer being as skinny as a rail.

The most positive change however was in her face and health. Gone were the random holes all over her body, her twisted horn and angry pitted eyes. They had been replaced with a smooth black sheen, soft light green eyes and a smooth crescent horn.

"My, my Celestia. If you keeping looking over me like that I may have to invite you over for 'lunch' " Chrysalis licked her lips seductively. "Maybe even brunch too."

Celestia went bright red in the face. "How about breakfast? I skipped mine."

Chrysalis looked at a crowd of ponies. "Speaking of breakfast..." Chrysalis inhaled deeply. "All done, oh and that green colt over there was staring at my flank. I'll 'deal' with him later."

"So Twilight, I guess the restoration project is going smoothly then."

"Some hiccups here and there, mostly from Chrysalis trying to seduce my brother and some workers." Twilight shot Chrysalis a glare.

"What? It's what changelings DO, not my fault if Cadence can't keep her man pleased." Chrysalis saw the green colt quickly turn his head again. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'll partake in the 'festivities' while you two catch up." Chrysalis walked by the green colt, whispering in his ear as she went by. "Meet me in my blimp and I'll show you what that flank you like so much can do" before heading off into the crowd.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "You will have to excuse her. It's getting to that time of year and shes constantly on the prowl."

"Walk with me Twilight, we have much to discuss" Twilight nodded in response and levitated her hay fries off the side of the blimp, keeping them hovering at her side.

"So, how are your friends doing? It's been so busy that we barely ever see each other anymore."

"Well, Rarity has fell on hard times. Hoity Toity lawered up and claimed copyright infringement on her new line." Twilight said as she ate a fry.

"Copyright infringement? I don't know what that is."

"It's not a law Equestria uses. He filed the petition in the griffon lands. Think of it as a system where if you invent it then no pony else can copy it, distribute it, modify it or make money on it. If you ask me the entire system is a load of tosh." Twilight ate another fry.

"Kinda seems fair, Although how long does this copy right thing last?" Celestia said as she levitated on of Twilight's fries to her mouth.

"I told Rarity not to bother fighting it. It's not like griffon law extends out to Equestria but she insisted on selling her garments there. Anyways, to answer your question that contract extends to about fifty years after the death of the creator. On top of that it makes inventing things a gigantic pain in the flank."

"That long? And why?" Celestia asked as she took another fry from Twilight's box.

"Imagine for a moment that I invented a new kind of, I dunno, rocking chair. But when you try and market it you find out that the spring you invented was in fact invented by someone else before you. Now they want you to stop making your rocking chair unless you pay them for using their idea."

"Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. I always preferred things like that to settle themselves. If the copycat makes a better product than the original than everypony wins. That kinda system sounds like it would charlie horse inventors."

"It eventually does." Twilight reached for another fry with her magic but found none. Looking at Celestia suspiciously.

Celestia grinned sheepishly. "How about I treat you out to lunch?"

"That's fine, I'm starved. Also, no PVP?"

"PVP? What's-"

"Sorry, Luna expression there. Been hanging around Chrysalis too long." Twilight rolled her eyes as she walked into a large tent with wooden picnic tables stacked in lines. Red cloth, condiments and menu's adorning them. Celestia took her seat opposite Twilight whom immediately began to browse the menu.

"So many Apple based foods, it's almost as if-"

"Howdy ya'll!"

"Called it." Twilight said as she turned her head to shoot a smile Apple Jack's direction. Apple Jack stood at the end of the row of tables waving while wearing her "Kiss me, I'm an Apple" apron. Next to her was a mare that Twilight didn't recognize at first but quickly realized who it was as she walked up to the table. What used to be bunched up strawberry red mane tied with a pink bow was now Rapunzel levels of length with little pink bows down it's length. What used to be a blank spot on her flank was now an Apple with a flower growing out of it's top.

"Apple Bloom? Is that you?" Twilight could hardly believe it. She was almost as big as Apple Jack.

"Sure is Twi." She replied in her adorable accent. "Few more years ahn I'll be runnin an Apple farm of my own."

Apple Jack walked up to the table. "Not before college you won't. You remember what Granny smith left in her will. Edumacation first, apple's second."

Apple bloom frowned at her big sister before turning to Twilight and Celestia with a big smile. "What would you two folks like to drink?"

Celestia looked on the menu, there were only three options for drinks; water, Apple cider and alcoholic cider. "Cider please and an order of hay fries and fruit salad."

"Ahn you Twi?"

"Alcoholic Cider, hay fries and a double bark burger, no onions."

Celestia raised an eyebrow. "Little early to be hitting the keg Twilight."

"Alicorn biology, I'll only have a glass, I won't even get a buzz. Besides, I need a drink after dealing with the bug queen hitting on me for the last couple weeks."

Celestia set down her menu and Apple Bloom jotted picked both of them up and walked into the back.

"Well, look at the time, we shouldn't even be open for a couple ours. Mind iffin I join ya?"

"By all means Applejack, make yourself comfortable. And Twilight I'm sure it isn't that bad. I remember that one time four years ago when you Really enjoyed her company." Celestia said with a sly wink.

"Princess!" Twilight went red in the face. "Well, yeah...but if memory serves you're the one that setup that little date."

"Well she said she was a licensed masseuse. I didn't think it would go THAT far." Celestia grinned sheepishly, trying to cover her lie.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "It wasn't that bad to be honest. Being a changeling and all she knows all kinds of things about pony anatomy."

"I see, I'll have to take her for a test ride myself sometime." Celestia said coyly.

"Uh, Princess?"

"Oh, sorry Applejack. I got carried away. How have you been doing?"

"Well, after granny passed we had a couple bad harvests. I think even the trees were sad that she was gone. I mean She's that one that planted most of them. Iffin it wasn't for Apple bloom new irrigation technique I don't think we woulda been able to keep the farm running to be honest."

"What kind of invention?"

"I can answer that. " Apple Bloom trotted up to the table, two plates of food balanced on her back, two on her head and four drinks looped though her long tied mane. She quickly set down Celestia's and Twilight's food before giving her sister an Apple fritter and Apple Cider. She dropped a plate of Apple Pasta and Cider for herself on the table before joining the group.

Apple Bloom sat Next to Celestia, directly across from Apple Jack. "Ya see, I invented a gravity based irrigation system. I had a large pot collect melting ice from the mountains during the early spring and filtered it before it entered a big downward pipe system. The nice cold water would shock the trees awake and they start doing what Apple trees do, make Apples."

"She got her cutie-mark the day she finished it." Applejack added as she took a bite of her fritter.

"Interesting. How are the other crusaders doing? Did they get their cutie-marks yet?" Celestia asked.

"Well, Scootaloo got second place in the Fillydelphia X games, earner herself a scooter cutie-mark. She still says that Bance Larmstrong pony was using some kinda enhancement drugs or sumthin. Sweetie Belle will be singing on stage at the end of the festival tonight, shes amazing to listen to."

"And Babsy?"

"She's a cadet police pony at the Manehattan academy. She told me a position of authority suits her temperament. I want to agree but she has a mean streak sometimes."

Celestia took a few bites before continuing. "So how is Pinkie Pie doing?"

"You might see her around, She's in charge of the decorations this year with a couple other Zebra." Apple Jack said.

"She doesn't show it but shes been down recently. After the devastation suffered by Ponyville she offered up her adult store as a shelter to the towns folks. A lot of fillies and colts were asking all kinds of questions about the products in her store and mare mayor didn't take too kindly to it and revoked her license."

"And then mayor Mare got herself voted out next election, by a landslide victory in Pinkies favor if I remember right." Apple Bloom added.

"Pinkie Pie in a position of authority....that is a horrifying thought." Twilight took a drink of her hard cider. "Simply terrifying."

"Well it's not all bad, at least the schools avoid that abstinence only non-sense the mayor put in place." Apple bloom slurped up a noddle.

"Anyways, the stress is getting to her. Too much work and not enough play I reckon."

"Oh, has anyone heard anything from Rainbow dash? I heard her daughter is almost six now." Twilight said.

Celestia seemed sad. "So much work and I keep missing these kind of things."

"Her name Is Dizzy Dash, she's fast like her mom but not exactly the most co-ordinated Pegasus. Shoulda seen her doin flying lessons outside the school, crashed right though the roof and wrecked a couple classrooms in the process. She didn't have scratch on her either." Apple bloom said.

"You think being a Wonder Bolt AND becoming captain after Spitfire retired would allow her to get Dizzy into flight school with ease." Apple Jack took another bite of her fritter.

"Nah, I heard the instructor at the academy saying that her wing power is too high for her body size still. She won't be able to control them properly for another year. Shoulda seen Soarin's reaction, he was furious about that."

The group finished up their meals. Each talking about past events until the last bite from Celestia's plate was gone.

"Delicious as always Apple jack. How much do I owe you?"

"Not a tootin thing. Family always eats free at any Apple family establishment. Except you Apple Bloom, you eat too much."

"Huh?" Apple Bloom responded with a blank stare.

"Just kiddin, but seriously, if ya keep eatin pasta yer butts gonna be huge."

Apple Bloom looked at her fairly skinny behind. "I can spare a few pounds, stallions love - oh what was it again. 'junk in the trunk'." The ponies at the table shared a hardy laugh as they got from their seats.

"I guess you're in charge of the banquet tonight?" Celestia asked.

"Well, us and the Carrot family." Apple Jack replied. "They are a bit late this year, airship traffic and all."

"I look forward to it. Shall we Twilight?"

"Yep. See you later AJ!" Twilight waved before heading back out into the festival grounds.

"There is one pony I haven't been in contact with. She even refused a bravery coronation stating 'she wasn't any ponies hero', I almost wanted to give her another award for modesty."

"That would be Zecora right?" Twilight said as she walked along Celestia's side. "I haven't seen her in about four years now. Her, Fluttershy and Ayanna disappeared into the northern mountain ranges after a attempt on her life by one of Maskia's less than sane cohorts. She mentioned that in order to protect her family she needed a special enchantment that could only be cast up there."

Celestia stopped. "She could have just asked for protection, it's not like our guards have a whole lot to do."

Twilight shook her head. "I think all of the Wind Runner family would rather die than have 24/7 protection. The only ponies more stubborn than them is the Apple Family."

"I guess so. I remember offering Alahla protection since there was always a chance someone that was inside the spear would want vengeance." Celestia said as she looked over Twilight's shoulder at somepony that seemed familiar.

"I couple tried, but Alahla doesn't play games when it comes to combat. One tried to attack her outside of a school building."

"What happened?"

"Let's just say the attacker got his flank kicked pretty bad. He tried to hold one of the little fillies in the playground hostage as a bargaining token. It didn't end well."

"For the filly?" Celestia seemed distracted as she looked over Twilight.

"No, the filly needed counseling after Alahla exploded the would be assassin's head."

"Brutal. Excuse me." Celestia moved past Twilight with lightning speed, something was telling her somepony she knew was over in the crowd. Celestia trotted to the spot where she saw the pony last. "Where is she?"

"Above you, Celestia ma'am."

Celestia looked up. A pair of magnificent white and black wings was casting a shadow above her, the sun behind it was making it hard to make out any distinct features.

"Oh, sorry about that. My wings have a tendency to do that." The winged creature landed on the ground in front of Celestia. She was wearing heavy coat, typical of those worn in northern hemispheres. Her wings would put a griffons to shame in terms of sheer size and muscle mass. She had a mohawk like so many Zebra like her but hers was black with pink spots instead of black and while.

"I know you, but from where..." Celestia couldn't put her hoof on it. This filly reminded her of somepony she knew.

"Ayanna! What did I tell you about flying off like that." Fluttershy came walking from the crowd of ponies. Zecora carrying large mountain backpack not too far behind.

"Ayanna? Fluttershy! Zecora!" Celestia was overjoyed, before she could even speak another word a lavender purple blue shot past her and grabbed Fluttershy in a tight hug.

"Oh, I missed you so much!" Twilight said as she hugged Fluttershy with all her might.

"I missed you too Twilight but If you don't mind I need air." Twilight loosened her grip on Fluttershy, letting the shy Pegasus hug her back. They were soon joined by Celestia and Zecora, Ayanna hovering above trying to fit into the group hug; finally settling on just wrapping everypony up under her massive wings.

"Group hug!" Ayanna yelled as she pushed her parents and their friends close together.

The group embraced one another for a moment before breaking up.

"I haven't seen you ponies in ages, where have you been?" Twilight said with a perky tone, barely controlling her excitement.

"Walk with us, we have much to discuss." Zecora nodded to a nearby hill top. "Preferably away from prying ears."

The group moved out of the noisy streets and into an open meadow on top of the hill.

"As you know there are still remnants of Maskia's insanity hanging about. Some of them liked the old ways and wanted to remove me, Fluttershy and Ayanna. While me, Imani and most certainly Alahla can look after themselves I feared my wife and daughter could be used as bargaining chips against me."

Celestia spoke up. "I offered your entire family guards. For a lifetime if needed."

Zecora shook her head. "Some of these ponies are master assassin's employed by the deceased council and Maskia. Some of them could easily slip by said guards, I am talking nearly killing you levels of skill here Celestia."

Celestia gulped, remembering her all too close brush with death.

"So? I could have put a un-plotable spell on you all." Twilight said.

"Great minds think alike Twilight, but the unicorn variant of that spell wanes with age. You could cast a semi- permanent version on my daughter till she came of age but that would leave Fluttershy vulnerable. I had a far more powerful spell in mind."

"You know I could have just attached a un-plotable with a secret keeper spell on myself." Twilight seemed distraught, the idea of her friends not trusting her magic seemed to make her agitated. "That way they have to get the secret counter word from me."

"Twilight" Fluttershy butted in. "I can appreciate that but some of these ponies are ruthless, they would have no quarrel with torturing that information out of you."

Twilight tried to argue but a stare from Celestia made her think better off it. "Twilight, they have a very good point. Your Alicorn powers will not be complete for many more years. If they were to capture you, they may not be able to kill you but they could put you though unimaginable pain. Zecora didn't want you to have a target on your back."

Twilight grumbled. "I get it. I guess I can respect that but I'm still a little hurt you didn't ask anypony for help. You must have known we would."

"Twilight, I'm sorry we didn't ask but what we wanted to do needed to be kept a secret to everypony except us three." Fluttershy pawed the ground anxiously. "I really am sorry."

"We put a very powerful shaman enchantment on us all. Any pony that has negative thoughts within miles of us will forget what they were doing and focus on something else. Not only that but if they get anywhere near us, they cannot see or hear us." Zecora pointed at Twilight. "Think that you wanted to kill me."

Twilight was taken aback. "I can't do that!"

Fluttershy butted in. "Do it Twilight...for science."

"Fine, Zecora, I hate you, your ugly stripes, your fat face, your inadequate magic and I wish you would drop dead."

Twilight blinked and when she opened her eyes Zecora, Fluttershy and Ayanna were gone. "Oh, where did they go?"

"What do you mean Twilight they are still the...Oh, huh, they disappeared from my sight as well. Interesting."

"Heh okay Zecora, jokes over. You can come out now." Twilight strained her ears, no response.

Twilight felt something touch her side. Her head darted to the side to see a fuzzy image of Zecora, more akin to a cloud than a pony slowly come into view before her. "Gah!" Twilight jumped in surprise. "Don't do that!"

Zecora giggled, Ayanna and Fluttershy doing the same.

"Sorry, I actually had to touch you to cancel out the other part of the spell." Zecora said still giggling.

The group walked back into the town, Ayanna grabbing a cotton candy from a vendor on the way though the Forrest of tents.

"So, Zecora, what have you been doing for work these past years?" Celestia asked.

"Before Maskia passed on she told me the location of the councils treasures. I have been buying supplies and donating them to tribes that were affected by the war. The funds are nearly used up however."

Celestia stopped in place. "I was wondering why so many of the further out villages didn't require our assistance."

"Yeah, moms been really busy these last few years. All the hiding until the enchantment took hold, charity work. I was almost getting sick of it all." Ayanna fluffed her wings indignantly. "I was barely even allowed to fly most of the time for the fear I would be spotted. But next year I enter the Cloudsdale flight academy, I can't wait to show everyone my stuff."

Twilight looked at Ayanna's flank and noticed that it was a image of a pair of wings made of fire.

"I guess your talent is flying fast? You and Rainbow Dash would get along great."

Ayanna looked at her Cutie mark for a second before replying. "It is now."

"Wait what do you mean by that?"

Fluttershy walked close by Twilight whispering in her ear. "She's a bit sensitive about that, just so you know."

Twilight lowered her voice. "Why, I don't get it. She should be proud of her cutie mark."

Fluttershy nodded her head. "Oh, she is but it's her second one. You see, the spell we cast to protect us had some pretty nasty consequences on the caster. Originally it would have stripped Zecora of her powers entirely, for the rest of her life."

"Did it?" Twilight whispered.

"No, Ayanna completed the spell and sacrificed her own abilities. She earned that cutie mark a year later in the originals place."

Twilight let what Fluttershy said sink in for a moment. She couldn't even fathom what it would be like to have one's destiny stripped away from them. "Is she okay with that? I mean is there a way to fix it?"

"There is Twilight but the only pony that would be able to do so has been dead for over seven years now." Zecora turned her head, she was obviously listening in on Twilight and Fluttershy's conversation. "I still wish it was me, but Ayanna made her choice. Once the enchantment was in place there was nothing I could do to help her, even removing it wouldn't reverse the effects."

"I'm fine about it. Shaman magic is a boring destiny anyways, I prefer to have the sun on my back the wind in my mane and the clouds under my wings." Ayanna said triumphantly but with a very badly hidden hint of regret.

"By the way Zecora where are we going?" Twilight asked.

"To meet with an old friend." The group rounded a comer of a rodeo tent and spotted a large family of ponies. The two larger ones were easily identifiable as Brennen and Eleena but the ten or so smaller colt's, fillies and one foal puzzled Twilight.

"Brennen! Eleena!" Zecora waved at them as they approached.

"Zecora, Celestia, Ayanna, Fluttershy and...Twilight?" Brennen stared at Twilight for a moment. "errr...with wings?"

"Long story, short story is I'm an Alicorn now."

Brennen's eyes drifted up to the crown Twilight was wearing on her head. "And a princess I see."

"Yeah that too. Though I'm not much for the attention I always get from it. By the way are you babysitting for some of the festival goers today?"

Brennen looked confused but Eleena stepped up after putting her foal down in the stroller to nap. "Oh, no these are all our kids."

Twilight did a double take and recounted all of the ponies aside from the adults, a total of eleven kids counting the foal in the stroller. "But...it's ...seven...only...years." Words Twilight, use them! Twilight took a deep breath. "How? I mean-"

"Let's not get into the logistics shall we? Lets just say me and Eleena are a very 'active' couple."

A couple that has apparently never heard of a condom or birth control before. Twilight thought to herself as she looked over the swarm of children around Eleena's legs.

"So I see the family has grown much since our last meeting. The last time I saw you Eleena had just given birth to triplets."

Eleena blushed. "Well, I had twins nearly every time after that. Brennen may be small in stature but he's amazing in...well" Eleena lowered her voice. "Not in front of the kids" she giggled.

"I remember you saying you were going to get a big house of something, how did that work out?" Zecora asked.

"Splendid actually. I have a 28 room mansion on Zigguart lake. Potions have been selling like hotcakes recently." Brennen beamed as he talked, he was obviously very proud of himself.

Celestia learned to whisper in Twilight's ear. "That explains all the kids, that lake used to be mined for chemicals used in powerful aphrodisiacs. Just breathing in the air around the lake could get an adult mare riled up enough to even jump on a stranger in lust."

Twilight's ears perked up. "Seriously?"

"What do you think Chrysalis's massage cream had in it hmmm?" Celestia said coyly.

Twilight's ears folded back. "I will get you back for that one of these days." She knew she was faking anger, she enjoyed it as much as Chrysalis did. Twilight noticed something odd about Zecora as if her mind was focused on something. When she looked at Brennen the result was the same, both ponies were in something of a staring contest. Twilight quickly realized they were communicating telepathically. It took her a moment or two but she managed to eavesdrop on the conversation.

Do you have it? Zecora asked.

I do, but are you absolutely sure you want it? It's only a prototype after all.

Can you bring it to the hill during the festival dance?

I can, I guess you want to use it on Ayanna then?

Yes, but I will make the choice hers. She has grown quite accustomed to her second talent. Zecora's eyes shot sideways, she seemed to notice Twilight eavesdropping in on the conversation.

I think Twilight can hear us. We will talk in private later. Zecora shot Twilight a reassuring glance. Don't worry, what I plan will harm no one.

"Mom, can I fly around the fairgrounds. All this walking stuff is boring me." Ayanna tugged on Fluttershy's wing.

"Okay dear but, I want you to stay within the grounds. No flying off on any adventures okay?"

"Okay, thanks mom." Ayanna said as she crossed her wing tips behind her back and took to the skies.

"Anyways, would you folks like to join us in a few games of kickball? The field is open." Brennen said.

"Sure, adults vs the kids I suppose?" Celestia asked.

Brennen's children lined up in a near military like fashion, one of them saying "lets pwn these noobs!" before the whole lot of them set off into the nearby field.

Brennen turned to the remaining adult ponies. "you...may want to warm up a bit, my kids give no quarter when it comes to games."

***Elsewhere***

"Feels so good to have the wind in my mane again!" Ayanna soared through the clouds while looking down at the festival below. "Wow there must be at least a hundred thousand strong down there." The sea of black and white stripes was mesmerizing, almost to the point of hypnotizing her. Ayanna wasn't looking where she was going and bumped into something.

The creature she bumped into spun around with her, both of them locked together until the the spinning momentum was used up. The only thing she could see until then was a blur of cyan and rainbow colors. When she finally managed to untangle herself she was staring face to face with a blue eyed, cyan coated Pegasus.

"Sorry, my bad." They both said in unison.

Ayanna could have sworn she seen a pony like this before. Cyan coat, rainbow colored mane and tail in a short sporty style, but this filly was too small to be THE Rainbow Dash of the Wonder Bolts.

"You wouldn't happen to be related to Rainbow Dash would you?" she asked.

"My mom? Last I checked yes, I am related to my mom. My name is Dizzy Dash, who're you?" Ayanna watched Dizzy's eyes fall on her enormous wings.

"I'm Ayanna, Ayanna Wind Runner."

Dizzy's eyes went wide, almost as if she had just seen the worlds largest triple chocolate sundae. "Ohhhh, I remember my mom talking about you. Are you Fluttershy's daughter by chance?"

Ayanna blushed crimson. "Yes, I am. How did you know?" Dizzy pointed at Ayanna's abnormally sized wings.

"My mom mentioned that you have the largest pair of wings in all of Equestria. She said yours could even give a dragon wing envy."

Ayanna blushed again. Normally the folks that meet her make fun of her wings but this little filly seemed to genuinely like them. "Thank...I umm, don't get many compliments on them."

"Meh, body shape never mattered to me. Then again..." Dizzy pointed to her own wings. They were a fair size for a filly of her age but the feather structure was entirely different. Most of the feathers were angled and set up in such a way to allow for excessive amounts of speed while the feathers used for turning looked small and horribly underused.

"Ya see, I'm one of the fastest fillies in the clouds but I umm...don't exactly turn on a dime."

"Really? I bet I'm faster" Ayanna said flexing her wings.

"Oh really? Wanna prove it?" Dizzy swept her hoof though her mane. "Let's see..." Dizzy surveyed the area, looking for a suitable goal post. "Something easy to keep in...ahh, there!" Dizzy pointed at a cave a few miles from the festival grounds.

"I'll race ya to that cave." Dizzy said excitedly.

"I err..my mom said not to leave the skies of the festival grounds."

"Pfft do you want your mommy to hold your hoof like a foal. C'mon its not that far away." Dizzy teased.

"Fine but lets get back over the festival as soon as we finish racing. Last thing I need is to be grounded for a week." Ayanna glided over to Dizzy's side as she pushed some clouds into place for them to stand on.

"Rules are simple, if any clouds get in your way, you must go around them if you can. First pony to the cave wins."

"On your mark" both ponies bent their front legs.

"Get set" both ponies arched their flanks into the air, spreading their wings out behind them.

"Go!" Both ponies took off so fast that the cloud landing they made was nothing more than a puff of smoke. Both ponies were neck and neck, with Dizzy slowly gaining the advantage.

"Gonna have to move faster than that to beat me." Dizzy dash's wings became like that of a humming bird, a mere blur of cyan feathers as she easily pulled far ahead of Ayanna. "See ya later slow poke!" Dizzy was too busy taunting Ayanna to notice a cluster of clouds coming up fast.

"Instead of gloating you should be watching were you're going." Ayanna pointed out the cluster of clouds ahead.

Dizzy managed to barely graze the first cloud only to slam face first into the next one. Ayanna managed to roll elegantly around the obstacles, pulling dead in front of Dizzy as she tried to get her bearings.

"Big deal, these clouds are only a setback!" Dizzy pulled herself from the fluffy ruins of the cloud she crashed into and took off after Ayanna. When she finally caught up she realized passing her would be a problem. Her wingspan was not only large but every flap dead behind her displaced a lot of air.

I can't go under her, all that air so displaces can knock me around, don't wanna try the sides either. The last thing I need is it to be slugged by one of those things. If I climb above however... Dizzy started to ascend into the air above Ayanna when she noticed her turning on her back.

"Oh no you don't" Ayanna gave a powerful flap upwards, sending her to the ground at high speed and knocking Dizzy off balance.

"Hey that's cheating!" Dizzy yelled as Ayanna was a mere hundred or so yards from the finish line.

"I didn't lay a hoof on ya. I only returned the favor!" Ayanna replied as she turned around and landed just outside the cave entrance.

Dizzy landed seconds later, puffed out her chest and walked up nose to nose with Ayanna. "You dirty cheater! I demand a rematch!"

Ayanna stepped back. "You cheated first! I couldn't balance the wind on my wings properly with you chopping it up in little chucks ahead of me!"

"It's called dispersion drag, all Pegasi are unaffected by it at birth only....oh." Dizzy looked at Ayanna's wings again. "I forgot that you are not one hundred percent Pegasus, you might be missing some of the magical flying enchantments we get at birth."

Ayanna sighed. "Sorry, I didn't know about that. Sorry for accusing you of cheating, you didn't know I didn't have those and I thought you were intentionally cutting my air supply off."

"Yeah, well, I was just as bad for assuming. Still friends?" Dizzy said as she outstretched her hoof.

"Still friends." Ayanna said as she shook Dizzy's hoof. "I mean it's only a race, there will be plenty more where that came from."

"So if your wings are not for speed then what are they really for?"

"Oh, I can move fast but I am much better at acrobatics and lifting than speed." Ayanna replied.

"Neat, so whattya wanna do now? Cloud dodging? Spin drives?"

"No, I need to get into the sky above the festivities. Last thing I want is being grounded for a week."

"C'mon" Dizzy poked Ayanna in the side. "Where's your sense of adventure?" Dizzy's eyes went wide. "I know we could explore that cave. I bet there's treasure in it."

Ayanna looked at the cave behind her, her nostrils instinctively taking in the air coming from the dank cave. "I dunno, I don't detect any predator smells from the cave but it kinda has a salty, sulfur kinda smell to it."

"Maybe it's a hot spring. I heard Zebra are real fond of them." Dizzy said as she jumped up and down excitedly.

"We are but... I'm not sure. I don't remember hot springs having a sulfur smell to them."

Dizzy poked Ayanna's side. "What's wrong...chicken?"

Ayanna didn't know what to do. Every part of her was screaming that something was off about that cave but she didn't want to look cowardly in front of her new friend. She didn't exactly know how to deal with this situation, all the mountain seclusion never prepared her for this. "I-ummm." Dizzy made the decision for her and charged into the cave laughing "Hey slowpoke, I bet I find the spring before you!"

"Dizzy!" Ayanna yelled after Dizzy to no avail. "Great, now what do I do?" Ayanna looked toward the town, it would take a few minutes to get anypony out here, even if she did get help she would still be grounded AND Dizzy might get in trouble or worse in the time needed to get an adult.

"Here goes nothing." Ayanna charged into the cave, a cave which was oddly not as dark as she once thought. Littered along the ground were pools of water with something silver at the bottom of them. I wonder what that is? she thought as she smelled the air. "This way" Ayanna ran down a few more twists and turns before Finding Dizzy Dash sitting down, deciding which way to go in the fork.

"Dizzy, this is dangerous not to mention we will get in serious trouble."

Dizzy turned around, flaunting a coin in her hoof. "There is treasure in this cave, and I'm gonna find it!"

Before Ayanna could stop her, Dizzy ran down the right fork in the corridor. Ayanna trailing behind the faster Pegasus. Is she nuts? It's probably just some coin a traveler dropped...

Ayanna headed down the right corridor only to find something odd, not a single gold coin like before but a small pile that almost came up to her knee's. Maybe she was right, maybe there is treasure in this cave, but what kinda hiding spot is so close to- Ayanna had a epiphany, smelling the air she noticed the sulfur smell was much stronger than before. "No, No. It can't be. Not this close to a city." Ayanna smelled the air again, she got a slight hint of what smelled like lizard molt, a ingredient in one of her mothers potions.

No, No, No nonono. I gotta catch up to her. Ayanna thought as she took off as fast as her legs and wings would allow. I got to get to her before she wakes the-

"EEEEEEEEKKK!!!!!!"

"Dragon..."

***Meanwhile***

"Long time no see Flutters!"

Fluttershy took her eyes off the sky for a moment to watch a familiar cyan, rainbow maned pony in a Wonder Bolts jumpsuit approach her.

"Oh, Rainbow Dash. It has been a long time, how have you been?" Fluttershy said as she kept looking into the sky.

"Is something wrong Fluttershy? It's not like you to break eye contact when greeting somepony."

Fluttershy took her eyes off the skies. "My daughter Ayanna, hasn't lapped around this spot again like she does every few minutes. I'm sure it's nothing though, she probably got distracted by one of the rides or something."

Rainbow dash looked up in the sky. She could count a handful of younger fillies at lower altitudes holding friendly conversations with one another. "You know, I don't see my own little basket of terror up there. I coulda swore I told her to stay under three thousand feet this time."

"Basket of terror? Who is that?" Fluttershy asked.

"My daughter, Dizzy Dash." Rainbow Dash replied.

"Why would you call your daughter such a thing. That seems rude."

Rainbow dash rolled her eyes. "I mean it in a nice way. Besides it is pretty accurate, she's reckless, bossy, doesn't like to lose and has a huge overinflated ego for a filly her age. I think she get's it from her dad."

Fluttershy stifled a giggle. "I'm sure she does. Could you do me a favor, fly up and see if you can spot them. You can get up higher than I can; much faster too."

"Sure, I need to stretch my wings anyways. What does your daughter look like?"

"She has a black and pink Mohawk and ginormous wings, you can't miss her."

Rainbow Dash took to the skies with gusto, leaving her trademark rainbow colored blur in her wake but after a few tense moments of looking she yelled. "I don't see either of them, I'll check the vendors square."

"N-no, come down. This is way worse!" Fluttershy felt her heart skip a beat. Her body was numb and perspiring profusely.

"Fluttershy, what's wrong?"

"D-danger, find Zecora!" Fluttershy yelled in a panicked voice.

"Got it!" Rainbow Dash turned around to find Zecora, who was also sweating profusely but was keeping the rest of her body in check.

"Hun-I"

"Calm down, I feel it as well." Zecora said before Fluttershy could finish.

"Feel what?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Zecora didn't reply, instead removing one of her rings around her leg and floating it in mid air. "The spell that protects our family warns if any being is near us or Ayanna with dangerous intent. Rainbow, I need for you to get Celestia and Twilight. Warn them of the possibility of one of Maskia old supporter may be nearby."

Rainbow Dash gave a little salute and took to the skies.

"A-any idea where Ayanna is?" Fluttershy said as she stared at the scying device Zecora had floating in front of her. "Outside of town, due north."

***

Ayanna ran down the corridor until she reached a wide open room, Dizzy Dash shaking with fear behind a small rock in it.

"Are you okay?" Ayanna said with a whisper.

Dizzy nodded her head and pointed behind Ayanna. In the corner of the room was a pile of bones, the remains of a long dead pony. Ayanna face went pale but she closed her mouth to stifle a scream. Ayanna quietly tiptoed over to Dizzy and whispered. "This is a dragons lair, we need to get out asap!" Ayanna could hear the low rumbling of a dragon in deep sleep, a lucky break that Dizzy's squeal did not wake it.

"Follow me we need to-"

The light from the entrance to the room began to fade as a massive tail blocked the path out.

Ayanna and Dizzy went still as they felt something massive begin to move, the room being illuminated by torches far above as the dragons fire lit them one by one. Ayanna and Dizzy peaked over the rock they were hiding behind. A massive green dragon, thousands of gems, gold and silver planted around his scales, began to sit up, swinging its head back and fourth with sickening cracks.

"There is no use hiding, I can smell you. Come out so I may gaze upon what silly treasure hunter dare stumble into my home." The deep bellowing voice sent shivers down Ayanna's spine. This wasn't the first dragon she had come in contact with but smaller white northern dragons are far friendlier than what she read about green dragons.

"You have ten seconds to show yourself before I raise the temperature in here hot enough to cook meat."

Ayanna looked at Dizzy, who was still shaking violently, but trying to step forward.

Ayanna stepped out from behind the rock, keeping her head low and submissive. "I-I'm sorry mr dragon. M-me and my friend were exploring, well Dizzy was exploring this cave. W-we didn't know this was your home."

The dragon stared at Ayanna and then Dizzy for a moment. "Ahhhh, mere children have stumbled into my home. It has been so very long since I last talked with any other being. I find it amusing that the first thing to stumble upon me in ages is a innocent filly-" The dragon narrowed his eyes as if he was having a hard time focusing.

"Interesting. A Zebra filly and a Pegasus, but the Zebra filly has wings, very powerful wings."

"Ummm...y-yes mr dragon. My mom was a Pegasus and my other mom a Zebra." Ayanna tried to keep her tone quick but respectful.

The dragon raised one of his mighty claws and scratched behind his neck scales. "Two mothers? Intriguing, I thought the council forbade such things."

"Th-the council has been dead for over seven years, mr dragon. Princess Luna and a constitutional assembly now run the country."

"Ahhh, Luna. Last time I saw her she was but a filly and I was a fiendishly good looking three thousand years old."

"If I may mr Dragon, how old are you?" Ayanna asked.

The dragon scratched his chin, knocking a coin out from under one of his scales as he did. "Last I checked about ten thousand. Give or take a few centuries."

Ayanna swallowed air. That makes him a Greater Wyrm! This isn't good... Ayanna thought to herself as sweat rolled down her mane.

"How old are you young one? Also, I would like to see the other one half hiding behind the rock."

Dizzy Dash slowly walked out from behind the rock. Keeping her wings down and her head low to the ground, trying not to make eye contact.

"Do not fret young one. I do not try to harm ponies unless I am provoked. Least of all little fillies like yourselves, last thing I need is having to move my home becuase angry villagers want vengeance."

"I-I'm six years old, mr dragon s-sir." Dizzy said meekly.

"I'm seven years old, mr dragon." Ayanna said.

"Please call me Balthazar." The dragon leaned his face over to Ayanna and Dizzy. "May I ask what your names are?"

Dizzy stepped forward. "My name is D-dizzy Dash."

Ayanna stared at the dragon for a moment. There is no way I can tell him my last name. If I remember my history lessons correctly, green dragons are mortal enemies with the Wind Runners. "My name is Ayanna Windmere."

Balthazar growled, lifted his head into the sky as he narrowed his eyes on Ayanna. "I small a falsehood young Zebra. Tell me your real last name."

How did he- Oh Ayanna forgot she has a very obvious wing twitch that Fluttershy caught onto whenever she lied, this dragon must be very well versed to catch onto something like that so quickly. "My....my last name is...Wind Runner."

The dragon's eyes went blood red as he lifted his head into the sky and let out a titanic roar, shaking the room to its very foundations. Ayanna grabbed Dizzy and put her wings out. deflecting small falling stones with them. The dragon kept on roaring however, his rage shaking loose larger rocks until a stalagmite fell toward the two fillies. Ayanna freezing in place as certain doom rushed toward them. Just as the stalagmite was about to impale both Ayanna and Dizzy a large scaly claw grabbed the rock and tossed it aside.

"That name....incites so much rage in my heart." The dragon stared at the two fillies for a moment. "But I have a dragons code to honor. Despite your ancestry I will not harm children, however I will not tolerate your company. Leave now and tell no one of my location."

"O-okay Balthazar, we will leave you alone." Ayanna turned around only to still have Balthazar's tail blocking her path.

"Let me get that for you. You should feel lucky, if you were an adult I would have not hesitated to roast you alive where you-" The dragons face contorted in rage, behind his tail was Zecora, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, all funneling into the room to pull Ayanna and Dizzy out, only to be blocked by the tail again.

"You!" Balthazar pointed, smelling the air to make sure he was correct. "You are the parents of this little crime against dragon kind aren't you?"

Zecora kept her calm instinctively shielding her daughter with her body. "Yes, I am one of her parents. I am very sorry she intruded on your lair but you must know she meant no harm."

Balthazar learned back, smoke coming from his mouth. "I will allow the fillies, the yellow Pegasus and the Rainbow colored Pegasus go free, but you, you must stay here. I have much unfinished business with the Wind Runners."

"Mom, you can't do that!" Ayanna cried as Fluttershy tried to usher her to the back of the cave. "He means to kill you!"

"I know that child!" Zecora yelled, sweat rolling down her face. "I need you to leave this place, if he means to attack me then I don't want any of you getting in the crossfire."

Zecora narrowed her eyes. "Balthazar I presume?"

"I thought my name long forgotten to history. How is it you know me?" Balthazar asked as he scratched his chin.

"You are the one that ordered the attack and consumption of any Zebra. You ordered them to eat anypony they came across, be it foal or otherwise." Zecora loosened up a bit but still kept light on her hooves. "I know you want to kill me, for what my ancestors did but I am not responsible for the actions of those before I was born."

Balthazar let out a triumphant bellowing laugh. "Do not try and talk yourself out of this confrontation. I swore to my dead brethren long ago that I would kill every Wind Runner I came across. The only reason-" Balthazar pointed at Ayanna "she lives is becuase my personal dragon code forbids me from attacking those that cannot defend themselves or children."

Zecora and Balthazar stared at one another, gritting their teeth until Balthazar made the first move. Zecora dodged to the side only to be swatted to the ground by The elder dragons tail, leaving her on the ground, vulnerable.

"I really hate leaving orphans but at least she has one parent left." Balthazar lifted his massive claw into the air and came down toward Zecora. Zecora's eyes lit up to block only to have something grab her by the side and fling her out of the way. Zecora got her bearings and watched in horror as the dragons massive claw came down towards Ayanna.

"Hmm?" Balthazar opened his claw, stopping just over Ayanna and picking her up. "You must be silly in the head, I could have crushed you like a fly and not even noticed."

"Ayanna! You have done enough! Let me and your mother deal with the dragon!" Zecora yelled up to Ayanna who was standing in the dragons palm, staring him down.

"No, mom. I have to take responsibility for my own actions." Ayanna stared the dragon dead in the eye. "I bet you feel high and mighty fighting something less than a hundredth your size don't you?"

"Well I-"

"Well what? Killing my mother won't bring back your friends and family. She isn't responsible for those deaths, even my ancestor is only partly to blame. She only made the weapon, the council is the ones that chose to use it." Ayanna had her wings puffed out in anger, walking up the dragons arm as she spoke.

"But Wind Runners are-"

"Are what? Evil? Reckless? Crazy? Some of us may be but harming the innocent becuase of someone else's crime is hardly a worthy goal and most certainly not behavior befitting an elder Wyrm."

Balthazar growled angrily but before he could speak Ayanna was dead in his face, her wings still puffed out angrily as she stared him in the eyes while standing on his snout.

"Even if you killed her it would just be an empty victory. None of your family would come back-"

"Ayanna that is quite enough young lady!" Fluttershy yelled up to Ayanna her face full of fear.

"I know what I'm doing mom. I seen you do it a dozen times by now." Ayanna turned her attention back to Balthazar. "and all you would accomplish would be leaving me one parent short, Equestria short a hero and two of the most powerful beings on the planet hunting your murderous hide down."

"I do not fear Celestia or Lun-"

"No, do not laugh. You may be a elder dragon but you are not immortal." Ayanna sat down on the dragons snout and calmed herself. "Listen, if you kill my mother you would only continue a cycle of hate and suffering that has been going on for many generations. I don't hate you and I know deep down you don't hate me." Tears began falling from Ayanna's eyes. "Please Mr. Balthazar, can't we all just get along...maybe even be friends?" Ayanna made a puppy face that she seen her mother do when she wanted something done.

Balthazar's eyes welled up with tears. "That was the most beautiful thing anyone has ever requested of me." Balthazar lowered his snout to the ground allowing Ayanna to hop off into the crushing hug of both her parents.

"Maybe all these years I was blinded by rage. I was so hurt from all the loss that I lashed out in anger at those that had nothing to do with my grief." Balthazar turned his attention to Zecora. "You were wrong you know, I only ordered the war as part of a long dead dragon council. I never ordered them to eat and most of us were in agreement that most Zebra should be scared away and not killed. But...." Balthazar lifted his head up. "Adolescent and teenage dragons are another story. Normally they sleep much of the time after getting their fill of gems but our people were so desperate that they turned to eating Zebra for food."

Balthazar moved his leg to show a gemstone with two names carved in it. "We even went as far to cannibalize each other."

Ayanna read the gemstone. " Brutus Greenthumb and Daisy Thunderstroke? Who were they?"

"One of them, Brutus was my only son. The other was a Zebra mare that he fell in love with. Towards the end of the war she treated my sons wounds, even though she was technically the enemy. In return for her kindness the Zebra council burned her alive as a heretic. My son died trying to save her, that is when I heard the name Wind Runner." Balthazar sighed. "I heard it was one of your tribe that forged a weapon to kill dragons in a single blow."

"That's true but she didn't exactly have an choice in the matter. She was an illegal shaman and the council wanted her expertise. If she refused..well, I wouldn't exist."

"They would have surely executed her to exonerate themselves." Zecora added.

"Indeed they would have. I never thought about that way. I always thought she did it willingly for profit. Maybe I was wrong all these years, if only I could have...and pardon the pun, get the story right from the horses mouth."

Zecora stepped forward, unsure if she should tell Balthazar that Alahla was still very much alive.

"Something weighs on your mind. Tell me, I have feeling it is relevant to our encounter."

Zecora took a deep breath, signaling her family and friends to step back into the corridor with her tail in case things got dangerous. "The creator of the weapon, Alahla Wind Runner, still lives."

Balthazar seemed taken aback but oddly intrigued at the same time. "I do not understand. It has been thousands of years, surely you jest. She must be long dead by now."

"Ironically she ended up trapped inside her own creation, made to suffer in amplified regret for eternity. We released her from it just seven years ago."

"I see. I guess she is a formidable weapons maker again?" Balthazar seemed both afraid although he tried hard not to show it.

"Quite the opposite actually." Fluttershy said as she stepped out of the corridor. "She has been working to help those in need, she serves on constitutional board as well as helping found the emerald city not too far from here. With Luna's help she has turned a once xenophobic wasteland into a a equal country for all."

"I must meet with this 'Alahla' sometime soon. But maybe in a few days. I need a nice nap to think this over. If you would be so kind as to leave me with my thoughts. I have much to go over." Balthazar began to blow out the lights above the room one by one.

"Mr B-Balthazar?" Dizzy Dash spoke up. "Thank you for not eating my friend or me."

The elder dragon looked down at the rainbow colored filly with soft eyes. "No, thank you and your friends for visiting. At the very least I walk away from this encounter a bit wiser than I once was."

Balthazar blew out the last torch above his lair and laid his head down, drifting into a deep sleep.

Fluttershy whispered to everyone "Everyone out, quietly now." The group moved down the corridor and out the cave, moving some distance away before stopping. Zecora turned her head at Ayanna in what looked like face of both joy and disappointment.

"You know this could have easily ended very badly. Both of you could have died before anypony reached you."

"Z-zecora ma'am, it was my fault. I'm the one that goaded her into chasing me into that cave. It's just...I don't have many friends. I wanted to make the most of it." Rainbow Dash put her foreleg around Dizzy.

"I know the feeling squirt but putting everypony in danger isn't a good way to keep friends. Oh by the way you are so grounded. Two weeks, double studies and air drills; all of them high speed turning."

"The same goes for you Ayanna, triple herbalism homework, double biology as well." Zecora said with a smile. "Only one week though, the way you handled that dragon was beyond your years, crazy, stupid and reckless yes but still beyond your years."

"Can the groundings wait till after the festival at least?" Ayanna asked.

Fluttershy fired both of them a smile. "I'm just glad you're both okay. Sure, but tomorrow morning its hit the books or err...sky for you Dizzy."

Rainbow nodded her head. "Yeah, why not. Would be a waste to have the rest of the festival wasted doing flying drills."

The group walked back into town just as the midday fireworks went off.

Dizzy walked alongside Ayanna, her new friend in awe of her. "So Ayanna, what you did back there was awesome. I mean staring down a dragon hundreds of times your size."

"I think I get it from my mom." Ayanna replied.

"Errr...which one?" Dizzy asked.

"Both of them."

***Later that night***

Ayanna sat on a hill just outside of town, staring up into the starry sky. Most of the celebrating had died down, her belly was full, her legs tired and her ears a little bit ring-y from all the excitement earlier. At least here she was well away from the crowds and had time to think and admire the night sky.

"Ayanna, may I have a word with you?" Ayanna turned her head and watched an exhausted Zecora and Fluttershy walk up to her sides and lay down in the soft grass.

"Sure, what's up?"

"We have something to show you, something you ultimately need to make a decision on very soon." Fluttershy reached into her backpack and pulled out a glowing blue gem, setting it on the ground.

"Today more than ever has shown me that there are ways to get past the protections we put in place. Be it child-like recklessness, beings of greater power or just getting hurt doing the right thing. This gem will erase your current cutie mark and restore the power you were born with. You will be able to defend yourself if the need ever arises."

Ayanna stared at the glowing blue crystal, the glow illuminating her face. "So, if I use this crystal, I can be like I was before all the protection spells were placed on us?" Ayanna thought hard for a moment. Did she really want that kind of responsibility? Did she really want to spend more time studying shaman magic? What would her friends think of her doing strange magic they have never seen before? So many questions swirled in her mind, but no matter what she kept coming back to the same answer.

"Moms , I love you and all and I know you want to protect me or at the least help me protect myself." Ayanna hugged both of her parents and stood up to make her answer. "But I must decline."

"Why!?" Fluttershy asked.

"No offense but I rather not double my studies for something I do not need nor this world needs." Ayanna pointed to the emerald city behind her. "You see that warm glow, that's the glow of thousands of happy ponies. That's the glow of years of hard work to make better lives for themselves. Using that gem would paint a giant target on my back, imagine if someone wanted to corrupt me, make me another grandma Maskia."

Zecora looked at Fluttershy and then back to Ayanna. "Are you absolutely sure you want to stay as you are? This gem is extremely hard to make and only has a limited chance to use its power, you may not get another opportunity like this."

Ayanna picked the gem off the ground and placed it in front of her. "Allow me to demonstrate a less subtle way of saying no." Ayanna lifted both forelegs into the air and used her powerful wings to vault her forward, her hooves smashing the gem to bits.

Zecora and Fluttershy nodded their heads in agreement. "We understand. I guess this means you will be attending the flight academy with Dizzy Dash next year?"

"I haven't decided. I have all the time in the world to find out what I want to be. Even if my Cutie mark tells me to be a flier I at least want to try other things." Ayanna nuzzled both of her parents. "We can talk more about this stuff tomorrow, for now I need some rest for all the extra studies I have to do." Ayanna waved goodbye as she headed back into town, a giant smile on her face.

"So, hun." Zecora said.

"Yes, I know. When did our little sunshine grow up to be so self confident?"

"I don't know. All the terrible things she had to endure at such a young age and hopefully our tutelage turned her into a very balanced, headstrong filly. Our little girl is growing up it would seem." Zecora said with a smile.

"I guess you're right. She has face death in the eye, saved thousands of lives and stared down a dragon. Some of it before she was even fully aware of what she was doing. I guess she just wants to be a normal pony now. I think she has had her fill of adventure for one lifetime." Fluttershy said as she leaned up against Zecora.

"I think we have my love. I can't find any fault with her wanting to stay as is, only time will tell if it was our parenting or the events in her life is what shaped her."

"Speaking of, I just got a letter today from our doctor to the north." Fluttershy said as she cuddled with Zecora.

"About? I hope you are not ill."

"Nothing major, just another one *yawn* on the way..." Fluttershy nodded off. Her neck laid over Zecora's shoulders.

"Another child? Dear Fluttershy, I welcome the challenge."

"I do too" Fluttershy said in a half drowsy voice.

"I love you Fluttershy."

"I love you too, Zecora."

Zecora stared into the night sky until her own drowsiness overtook her. It felt good to finally be at peace once again. All the trials and tribulations had only brought them closer together, their daughter would someday be an amazing mare and her loved ones, friends, family and all were safe, well fed and loved. They even had another foal on the way, another blessing that she never expected.

And I couldn't possibly ask for more...

THE END