The Draconsteed

"Twilight Sparkle, did I teach you nothing? There is a reason why I banned mind-walking spells, though I am impressed you had the magical power to cast it without killing yourself."

Celestia had come immediately after she had received Twilight's letter. Once Celestia had arrived Twilight immediately jumped into explaining what had transpired between herself and Saphear. Everypony sat in a state of shock at what they had heard. Everypony except Celestia who was angered that her student would attempt such a dangerous spell like one of mind walking.

"That's the thing, Princess. I only cast a simple sense sentience spell, and I gave nowhere near the power for it to do anything like what it did." The Princess went into deep thought over what she had just heard. After a minute she finally spoke.

"Then there are two questions that need answering. The first is where the power to change your spell came from. The other is what was that presence in her mind that you had described. We can't answer the second question but I may have an inkling as to the answer of the first. Twilight, may I see your report on Saphear's physiology?"

Twilight retrieved her report from her desk and levitated it over to Celestia.

"Now, she said that Draconsteed come in the exact same three sub-species as ponies, correct?" Twilight answered with a simple nod.

"The only thing that could twist your spell is if you attempted it upon a unicorn, or the Draconsteed equivalent."

"But Saphear doesn't have a horn, she has wings that she seems to pull out of nowhere." Twilight  interjected. Celestia quirked an eyebrow at the prospect of wings appearing out of nowhere. After mulling the information over she took a leap-of-faith with her logic.

"If she is indeed able to hide a pair of wings, what is to stop her from hiding a horn if she has one?" Celestia could see the smoke poring out of evryponies ears as their brains kicked into overdrive to process what she was implying. As she expected, Twilight was the first to figure it out.

"Princess, are you saying that Saphear is the Draconsteed equivalent of an Alicorn?" Celestia's answer was simple.

"Yes, and with this prospect, I may be able to at least partially answer our earlier question."

Everyponies jaws were glued to the floor. There heads were reeling at the fact that Saphear might be of royal blood. If she was of royal blood, then she was a princess of something. Celestia giggled to herself as she saw things click into place in her little ponies heads.

"As you may have gathered, if she is an alicorn then she's a princess of something. If she is then that something would represent itself as another presence in her mind. Much like my sister and myself with the sun and moon. But we can be certain of nothing until she awakens."

Scootaloo stirred slowly. She didn't want to wake up. She felt so safe and warm as her mother held her. She pressed her head deeper into her mother's chest. The sound of her mother's heart was deafening, but it was so calm and soothing at the same time. She raised her head and tried to open her eyes. Her vision was blurry as she tried to catch a glimpse of her mother. In the back of her mind she knew she was an orphan but that didn't stop her from asking a question she wasn't sure she wanted an answer to.

"Mom?"

I never knew the inside of my own head was such a boring place! There is absolutely NOTHING to do here, how do you stand it?

Normally I spread our magical senses and search for future residents of our humble abode. Usually we have much more potential residents to sort through and mark but there's almost no corruption here. At least not enough to warrant going to Tartarus.

Really? I don't believe it. There's got to be somepony who has sinned?

Only one that we could find. A mare with so much lust that even we are having trouble keeping her influence at bay.

Horny enough to make Tartarus wet? Damn, I don't know whether I should be impressed that their's somepony whose a bigger slut than me or scared that she'll rape everything in Tartarus when she gets there.

The filly is stirring.

The poor thing must have been exhausted.

I think she's trying to say something.

"Mom?"

Everything in Saphear suddenly fell into place at that one word. It had been nearly a century since she had heard that word. She  found that she had control of herself again.

She.....

This filly..... she has suffered a harsh fate.

Why....

She never imprinted with her mother. She never had one. Your the first to show any kind of affection for her. She's imprinted to you.

I.... I can't..... our magic-

-she's young, and she has no cutie mark. There is nothing for our magic to get a hoof-hold on.

but when she gets older-

At this age, and this pure. By the time she's grown she will be immune. Why are you so hesitant? You could give this filly a good life. You can protect her.

...

Your afraid. You don't know why, but your afraid...... listen to me, you can do this. She will help with the hole you have. She will ease your instincts and calm your soul.

Can I really? I can't stay here and this is her home. I can't rip her away from that.

"Are you my mom?"

She needs an answer.

Saphear pulled her wing away from Scootaloo. The small filly stared at her with enormous, expectant eyes. Saphear couldn't help herself. She brought her head down and nuzzled gently against the side of Scootaloo's. She had her answer.

"Only if you want me to be, little one." Saphear's voice was barely above a whisper.

Scootaloo just sat there with a look that said her whole world had just shattered. She didn't know if she was still dreaming or not. She knew one thing though. If she was, she didn't want to wake up. Just then the lights began to flicker.

It's about time he got here!

Everypony was about to head upstairs to check on Saphear and Scootaloo when the lights began to flicker. The air quickly turned stale as a chill settled over the group of friends. Celestia felt a dark magic begin to work its way into the room. The source seemed to becoming from the front door. Twilight must have felt it as well because she began to charge her horn as she slowly turned towards the door. At first she couldn't see anything. Then with another flicker Twilight swore she saw a shadow dance across the door for a split second. Another flicker and the shadow was closer. Then it was gone, but she felt like it was still there. She tried to trace it but her magic kept pointing her to one place. Her room.

Twilight ran up the rest of the stairs. Her friends went far behind her as she threw the door open. The first thing she saw was an all white pony in a black tuxedo. He was missing his mane and tail. He was nearly as tall as Celestia. He was so thin that it looked like somepony just stretched his coat over a skeleton. It wasn't until he turned to face Saphear that she got a good look at his face.

Or where it should have been.

He had no eyes, or mouth. Even his ears and nostrils seemed to be missing. His white coat stretched cleanly over everything. Saphear's voice brought everyponies attention to her.

"Slendermane, you look well. How long has it been since we last talked?"

"..."

"Really? That long? Wow, your turning into an old man."

"...."

"That was not an insult! It was a compliment. It means you get promoted from smart-ass to wise-ass."

"...."

"Nnnope. I'm still a smart-ass." Saphear began chuckling and the Slendermane seemed to kind of shake.

"Well, now to get down to the business of why I called you here. I'm implementing an emergency plan to deal with the summoner."

"!!!"

"Yes, unfortunately. I'm afraid this might be the only way. You know the markings I'm talking about. Tell them they need to be etched on with water from the Styx. I'll remove the chains once he is dead."

"...."

"Please, you don't need to use honorifics with me. You are no longer bound to my realm or my sovereignty. You are more than a friend to me, Slemdermane. You are family."

Saphear brought Slendermane close and pulled him into a tight hug.

"Now go, and be safe." Another flickering of the lights and he was gone. Saphear let out an audible sigh and turned toward her audience.

"I bet you have some questions, right?"