Dragon of the Eclipse

Chapters

The Colt and the Poster
Brutal Honesty
Under a Wing
Cold Shoulder
"Do you like parties?"
Evacuate the Dancefloor
Burning for You
Confliction
Rage
A Lighter Side of the Moon
The Heartbreak Inferno
Solstice's Early Winter
Under the Stars...
Wayward Son
When this is over...
Fight the Power
Dear Twilight...
The Final Flame
The Rising Sun

The Colt and the Poster

Chapter 1

The Colt and the Poster

To some, the Everfree forest was a foreboding and dangerous environment. Obviously, Twilight Sparkle was not one of the some. For a young and powerful unicorn such as herself, the otherworldly creatures and magical substances were enough to spark her interest.

Tonight, the purple unicorn was seeking an ingredient for a potion she wanted to try. Spike, her assistant, had taken ill and while it would go away sooner or later, the potion would speed up the healing process immensely.

It would have been relatively easy to make a healing potion for a pony, but a dragon, particularly a baby dragon, was a different story. The potion requires a very specific amount of assorted gems and other ingredients one can’t find over the counter. The last ingredient was a single red mushroom with white spots; the amanita muscaria. It’s often found inside old bricks or dark environments. The Everfree forest was a heavily shaded forest, perfect for the mushroom she was after.

“This place has really grown on me,” Twilight said to herself. “It seems like yesterday that Pinkie Pie was singing that silly song. How did it go? Hm hm hmm hm hmmhmm…” her humming was the only thing that could be heard. “It’s good that the storm finally cleared up. Spike really needs this-” then, a strange sight caught Twilight’s eye. Scraps of blue cloth littered the forest floor. They were elegantly embroidered with patterns of the moon and stars. “Rarity would have a fit if she saw cloth of this caliber all torn up like this.” Upon closer inspection, Twilight could see the scraps of cloth created a path. Curiosity overcame her cautious nature, and she followed the path without hesitation. What lay at the end of the path…

“Oh my goddesses...” Twilight gaped. A midnight blue colored colt with unkempt hair and a slightly larger than average body, was laying on the ground, covered in grass, twigs and… blood. Lots and lots of blood. She crept closer, to see if he was still breathing. That’s when she noticed his wings. He’s a Pegasus, she thought. But there was something wrong… The wings weren’t feathered. They were leathery. Like… "Dragon wings? His tail, it’s got scales!"

"How is that-”

The colt coughed, making Twilight lose her thought. He was spitting up more blood. He stirred a little. He was still conscious.

“Augh…” He groaned in intense pain. He slowly opened his eyes to reveal his irises. They were green slits, also like a dragon’s. He looked at Twilight. “Who are you?”

She managed to swallow her surprise and respond. “I’m Twilight.”

“Hi, Twilight. My name is Cerberus.” The dragon colt named Cerberus continued to hack and cough.

“You’re hurt really bad, Cerberus. You need help. I’ll be right back. Stay here.”

“I don’t have many other options,” he rasped.

Cerberus continued to ebb in and out of consciousness. He remembered a bright pink filly shouting something about cupcakes, and a zebra, of all things, chanting in a cryptic language. He also recalled being fed something incredibly coarse in texture, but he felt better after he swallowed it, so he greedily gulped it down.

“The remedy worked like a charm. In a matter of days, there will be no marks of harm.”

Cerberus’ vision slowly came back into focus, and the first feeling to strike him was confusion. He was lying on a bed of hay with a fur blanket. How had he gotten there? Why was he in a wooden hut, instead of a cement cell, or dead? He groaned in pain as he looked around at all the strange masks. Why was he so sore? Then, everything came back to him. Cerberus remembered encountering the one he feared the most, seeing it beat down his sister as if she were nothing more than a mosquito, and summoning the courage to confront it. Then he remembered the feeling of weightlessness as he was tossed aside, falling from a great height, seeing his companions, and all of hope of achieving his goal, disappear. Now he was struck by sheer panic. He survived the fall, but what happened to the others? He catapulted himself from his bed, only to see the face of a purple unicorn frozen in shock.

“You’re awake!” she said.

Cerberus was terrified at this moment. He realized that he was totally exposed. This unicorn could see Cerberus’ dragon wings and tail. This did not bode well. He locked his eyes with the Unicorn’s. “What the hell happened?! Where am I?!”

“Calm down. I’m not going to harm you.”

“Get away from me!” Cerberus spread his wings, creating a shockwave. Paintings, ornaments and other decorations fell to the ground. He got a running start and launched himself toward the open door. It slammed shut, resulting in a loud crashing noise, and a much unwanted headache.

Twilight was responsible for that headache, having closed the door with her horn. “Sorry for that, Cerberus.”

“Urgh… wait, how- y-you know my n-name?” asked Cerberus as he recovered from his crash, fearfully looking at the strange unicorn.

“Don’t you remember? I found you in the woods. You were pretty beat up…. Okay, you were on the verge of death, but I said I’d find help, and I did!”

“Would a ‘thank you’ be enough for you to let me leave? I have important matters to attend to.”

Twilight shook her head. “No can do. You’re not fully healed yet.”

Cerberus groaned in frustration “Well, can you at least tell me what time it is?”

“Why do you- um, it’s high noon, I think.”

Another groan. “Okay. I’m stuck.” Cerberus took a long breath. He forced a smile, knowing that at least he was alive, and this unicorn didn’t seem offset by his unusual wings and tail. “So, Miss…”

“Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle.” The unicorn returned Cerberus’ smile.

“Yes, I think I remember you now. Are you responsible for healing me?”

“Actually, no. It was my zebra friend Zecora. She made a stew that heals mortal wounds. She just left, actually. You can thank her when she gets back. Oh, there were also Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy - they’re Pegasai - they carried you here. Then there’s Pinky Pie-”

Twilight would have finished that sentence if a pink Earthwalker didn’t barge through the closed door with a tray of pastries on her back. “WHO WANTS CUPCAKES!?”

Cerberus and four other ponies were sitting in a circle, enjoying the festivities that Pinkie Pie had brought. Twilight sat to Cerberus’ right. To his left, Pinkie Pie and the colorful Pegasus called Rainbow Dash sat together. They seemed to be sharing a slice of cake, but Rainbow Dash kept looking at Cerberus oddly, for obvious reasons. Cerberus’ attention was drawn to the yellow Pegasus sitting at the opposite end of the circle from him. Twilight had called her Fluttershy.

Cerberus had to give Pinkamena Diane Pie credit; he felt loads better after eating those frosted treats. His panic had completely ebbed and he found the strength to make idle chit-chat. “Lovely cupcakes, Miss Diane. How did you mix medicine into them?”

“I didn’t, silly! But cupcakes make everything better, don’t you think?”

Cerberus tried to think of a logical response to that question, but all he could say was “Umm… yes. Of course they do.”

“Okay, that’s it. I can’t take this anymore! Cerberus, what the hay’s up with the wings?” asked Rainbow Dash.

Twilight was outraged and embarrassed. She shouted, “Rainbow Dash! Don’t be rude!”

Cerberus intervened, shaking his wings with a flap. “It’s okay. Don’t pretend you’re not curious about my… unusual features.”

“Was it poison joke?” asked Pinkie Pie. “It totally was, wasn’t it?! OH! Oh, wait! I love guessing games! Was it maybe-” She was silenced by a light cyan hoof shoving a slice of cake in her mouth. “Shh!”

Cerberus blinked, still processing what she had asked. “I don’t know what ‘poison joke’ is, so no. I was born with the wings and tail of a dragon.” A few oohs and aahs were interspersed with a “That’s awesome!”

“Well… that’s unusual,” said Cerberus, munching on a slice of cornbread. Not bad. “This is supposed to be the part where you run me out of town.”

All of the ponies looked confused. “Why would we do that?” said Twilight. “Being a half-dragon isn’t a bad thing, even though it violates everything I’ve ever learned about biology, anatomy and basic genetics.”

“Yeah, it’s freaking awesome! Have I said that yet? I think I did. But who cares?!” Rainbow Dash said through a mouthful of cake. “I bet you could make clouds bleed with those wings.”

Fluttershy spoke for the first time since Cerberus first saw her. “They’re lovely.” That comment caught Cerberus by surprise.

Pinkie Pie stood on her hind legs. “A toast to Cerberus and his awesome mutant wings and tail!” she said, much to the group’s confusion.

“Pinks, we’re not drinking anything,” said Rainbow Dash. “You really need to lay off the grape juice.”

“But it’s so-” Pinkie Pie fell over backwards before she could finish pouting. “…tasty.” She then started giggling madly. Then Rainbow Dash laughed, followed by Fluttershy’s soft chuckles, and then Twilight’s. Cerberus somehow found himself laughing too. He couldn’t remember the last time he laughed like this.

He couldn’t remember the last time he laughed at all.

After the delicious dining of doughy delights in Zecora's hut had come to an end, the time had come to discuss where the young half-dragon known as Cerberus would be staying until his injuries had fully recovered. Cerberus insisted that this wasn't necessary.

"This isn't necessary. I can sleep on the grass outside, or in a cave. Honestly, the latter is a luxury for me." Cerberus continued to refuse hospitality, but Twilight's continued protests eventually led him to succumbing.

"We will NOT sleep in our beds knowing that you're not doing the same. Besides, what if whatever hurt you comes back for more?"

Cerberus glared at Twilight. "You have a really sick sense of humor, Miss Sparkle." He shook his head and dropped the negative attitude. "So, where do you live?"

Twilight seemed surprised at that question. "Oh. I wasn't offering; I just wanted to present the idea..."

“It's alright."

Twilight perked up right away. "Wait, you can fly... hey Rainbow Dash, would you be willing to-"

"No can do, Twi," said Rainbow Dash. She was still standing next to Pinkie Pie. Cerberus just now realized that those two were never more than a foot apart from each other. Perhaps... "Pinkie Pie and I were going to... um..."

Pinkie Pie interrupted, probably for the better. "Have a sleepover!" Cerberus' theory about her and Rainbow Dash were officially confirmed, not that he had a problem with that.

"Another sleepover, great," said Twilight in a rather sarcastic tone. "I guess that leaves..."

"Squeak!"

Cerberus looked back and forth for whatever small animal made that sound. His eyes landed on the yellow Pegasus, who had her hoof up to her face and red in her cheeks. Well, she IS called Fluttershy for a reason, he thought. He didn't want to stay at her place if it meant she would keep blushing and squeaking like this, so he reassured her, "You don't have to if you don't want to, Miss." Fluttershy somehow managed to swallow her embarrassment.

"No no no. I'd love to." She spoke quietly and elegantly. Cerberus couldn't help finding her disposition charming. If he had to spend the night, and just the night, at her abode, it wouldn't be so bad. "The animals would just love him." Wait, animals?

"It's settled then," said Twilight. "Cerberus will be staying with Fluttershy until he gets back on his feet."

"What animals?"

Another bucket of apples filled and the new shipment was ready to head off into town.

"Be back in an hour, Mac!"

Applejack threw on her favorite cowboy hat, harnessed herself to a cartful of ripe red apples and waltzed away from the farm. Another back breaking day at Sweet Apple Acres, and frankly, that's the way Applejack liked it. She was heading into town in response to a letter from Mrs. Cake that claimed the bakery was short on apples, and Applejack had no shortage of those. Any excuse to get off the farm for a while and see the smiles of all the colts and mares of Ponyville was a good one.

Today, however, everypony seemed uneasy. Not many folks were outside their homes, and even then, most of them were antisocial.

"Can't talk now, kid. I'm going home."

"You really shouldn't be outside on a day like this."

"You'd best go back inside."

No birds were chirping, either. Ominous. Applejack noticed that the majority of the civilians kept looking up towards the mountain on which Canterlot was set. Applejack eventually saw why. While the mid afternoon sky above Ponyville was completely cloudless, Canterlot was still shrouded by the dark clouds of last week's storm. Very ominous.

Applejack eventually came to Sugarcube Corner, and the mere sight of the luminous and colorful bakery lifted all those ominous thoughts from her mind. The smell of every kind of cake, cookie and cornbread filled her nostrils, and it was simply wonderful.

"Good afternoon Mrs. Cake!" said Applejack as she strolled into the bakery. Mrs. Cake was behind the counter, and she looked delighted to see a friendly face, especially with the disposition of everypony outside. Applejack unhitched herself from the cart. "Ya placed an order for my finest apples?"

"I most certainly did," said Mrs. Cake. She trotted from behind the counter and pushed the cart into the back room. "Thanks for arriving so fast, Applejack."

"By the by, where's Pinkie Pie? I thought she was workin' today."

"She left about five minutes ago, with about half of my baked goods! Apple pies, applesauce, pretty much everything with apples in it."

"What's up with her?"

"I have no idea. She mentioned something about a three headed dog, then she yelled 'Medicupcakes go!' and ran off."

"That girl ain't right."

As Applejack walked through the park on her way back from Sugarcube Corner, she saw Lyra and Bon Bon resting at their usual bench. Applejack noticed they were in hysterics. She just had to know what was going on.

"Howdy girls! Somethin' the matter?" Lyra and Bon Bon stopped their chatter immediately to look at Applejack with surprised faces.

Lyra spoke first, "Of course something is the matter, Applejack! You haven't heard?"

Bon Bon then said, "You must have heard!"

"But she didn't. We have to tell her!"

"YOU tell her. It's too horrible."

"Of course it's horrible, and she has to know."

"Know about Celestia?"

"Obviously!"

Applejack's head was spinning. She couldn't comprehend basic algebra, must less a conversation going at the speed of light. "Hold on a damn minute, what happened to the Princess?"

"Nothing happened!" said Bon Bon.

"Something did SO happen!"

"It almost happened!"

"Almost is still something."

Applejack had to intervene again. "Stop! What is this somethin' ya speak of?"

Lyra was about to start babbling for the third time, but Bon Bon covered her mouth and simply said,

"Look." She pointed to a poster secured to a nearby tree.

Applejack couldn't stomach what she saw. Every bad thing that ever happened in Ponyville; Nightmare Moon, the Parasprites, Discord... all of them combined had nothing on what was she saw just now. Four figures were sketched onto the poster. One was a very tall and rivaled Big Mac in size and muscle, a scrawny earthwalker sporting half moon spectacles, a Pegasus with tribal marks, and a hooded figure without a visible face. What was so shocking about the poster? Not the mysterious figures, but the text written underneath their sketches.

Brutal Honesty

Chapter 2

Brutal Honesty

“Why would anypony do something so horrible?”

“I’m sure they had their reasons.”

“There’s a reason to try and… kill Celestia?”

Fluttershy was dumbstruck at the idea that the much loved Princess Celestia had almost been murdered. Fluttershy could handle fire-breathing dragons, cockatrices and manticores, but she had never dealt with someone almost dying. Imagine how Fluttershy felt at that moment when she saw the sketch of the four mysterious ponies and the text announcing their crime. It’s one thing to be told something awful, but when it’s written, you’ll read it over and over, each emotional blow being almost as horrendous as the last.

Cerberus was apathetic towards this news, as he never knew Celestia as his new acquaintances have. He did his best to understand Fluttershy’s reaction.
“Are you okay, Miss?” asked Cerberus.

Fluttershy tried to regain her natural grace and perfect composure, as difficult as it proved. “I’m fine, Cerberus. Thank you for asking.”

Cerberus was still having trouble grasping the reality that everyone he had met in this town – Ponyville, Fluttershy had called it – treated him with as must respect as they would a normal pony. For a town with such a bland name, its citizens were like nopony he had met before.

That’s not to say Cerberus had actually seen Ponyville. He and Fluttershy were still in the woods bordering the town. Fluttershy was a slow walker, and Cerberus didn’t want to be rude by walking ahead.

“Miss Fluttershy…” said Cerberus. Fluttershy was not used to being called a ‘Miss’. She blushed with embarrassment every time he called her that. Cerberus continued, “I had a cloak before my accident.”

Fluttershy stopped. “You did, didn’t you? I’m sorry. It was torn to bits when Twilight found you.” She lowered her head so low her long pink hair covered her face. “I’m s-sorry…”

What was with her? She insisted on being as polite as astronomically possible. Cerberus almost wished she would get mad or at least stop giving apologies every other sentence. He lowered his head to look her in the eyes.

“Its fine, Miss Fluttershy. I’ll just have to get a new one.”

Fluttershy perked up, hoping she didn’t say anything offensive. Then she had an idea; “Um, actually, we have a tailor in town.”

Cerberus groaned. “Emphasis on ‘in town’, Miss Fluttershy. It’s nice that you and your friends aren’t bothered by my heritage, but I don’t trust everypony here to feel the same way, including the tai- are you okay?” Cerberus just noticed that his words drove Fluttershy into a cowering state, and she was looking away from him. He sighed. “Did I scare you?” Fluttershy turned her head. Cerberus continued to comfort her with words. “Please, you can be honest with me.”

“Your eyes… they’re… intimidating…” Cerberus had almost forgotten about the foreboding nature of his green, draconic eyes. You’d never see them on a pony, except, perhaps…

“Do they remind you of Nightmare Moon?”

“A- a little…”

Cerberus continued down the path, chuckling. “Interesting...”

Fluttershy then realized the oddity of Cerberus’ question. “Wait, how do you know about-“

“So, where is this tailor?”

"Opal! What's gotten into you? Get off the leather!"

As if things weren't bad enough for Rarity. Business had slowed to a crawl (That's being generous) since Celestia's incident. It didn't make much sense to her. It was tragic that someone as glamorous as the princess had almost died, but that didn't mean that the whole town had to fear for their lives. It didn't help that Opal was incredibly destructive today, at least more so than usual. It must have been something she ate...

"Oh, who am I kidding?" said Rarity as she poured herself a glass of grape juice. "I'm overstocked on dresses, denim, designer brands, and no one has bothered to even window shop! The horror!"

Suddenly, she heard the distinct sound of somepony at the door. She nearly spit out her drink, but she stifled her euphoria long enough to swallow. "The guardian deities of fashion have blessed me. Do come in, valued customer!"

The door was flung open in an instant, and Rarity recognized her good friend Fluttershy, but before Rarity could greet her, she poked her head out the door.

"Quick! Get inside," Fluttershy said. She didn't yell, but she did have an ounce of urgency in her voice. That's when Rarity saw a young blue colt enter the boutique as well.

"Well, this day just keeps getting better!"

Fluttershy slammed the door shut and locked it.

"Welcome to the Carosel Boutique, where the fashions are unique, the styles are chique, and... and... tre manifique!" Rarity got a closer look at Fluttershy's friend. She was stunned! He was absolutely gorgeous! Slender body, muscular legs, and shiny unkempt hair. His beauty rivaled everything in the boutique. She approached him. "Well, who might you be, good sir?"

Cerberus was unsettled by this woman's sudden advance to him. This response was new to him.

"Sir? I asked of your name?"

"Um, Cerberus."

"Ooh, how exotic! Are you from Phillydelphia?"

"Rarity!" shouted Fluttershy. Rarity's fluster was shattered. "We didn't come here for this!"

"My my, Fluttershy! Is something the matter? I don't have to strain my ears to hear you for once."

"Do you remember the talk we had about a colt in the Everfree Forest? This is him."

Twilight had told her about the injured young one. Rarity had hoped to high heaven that he recovered from such nasty injuries, but the news of the attack on Celestia had distracted her. Rarity turned back to Cerberus and spoke to him in a more professional matter.

"It's wonderful to hear you recovered, Cerberus. How long will be staying in Ponyville?"

Cerberus was reluctant to answer. "I don't know. I'll have to wait until I can walk without limping."

Rarity did notice he had an odd walking cycle. "Well, don't be a stranger. What can I do you for- I mean, what can I do for you?"

"I require a cloak. I had one before-"

"Your terrible accident, yes. The real tragedy is that your old cloak was ruined. Twilight told me about the scraps of cloth she found. From her elaborate description, it seemed quite lovely. But no matter!" Rarity used her magic to summon various cloths, her sewing machine and other materials for the creation of a cloak. "For I am Rarity, and I will design the finest cloak you ever laid your... strange... green... eyes... on..."

Cerberus had to explain his draconic lineage for the second time that day. This only seemed to make Rarity all the more excited to clothe him. As she measured his proportions, she couldn't stop admiring his leathery wings.

"Well, I don't know why on earth you'd want to cover these fabulous wings with some cloak. If I were you, I'd be flaunting these babies for all to see from dawn until dusk."

"I've been there, and the response is always the same."

"Do they say, 'What an amazing young colt and his exotic wings?'"

"More like, 'It's a monster! Get the pitchforks!'"

"That can't be good for anyone."

While Rarity used her unicorn magic to cut away at fabric and shape the cloak, Fluttershy sat in the corner of the boutique, watching Cerberus. She was just as quiet as she was back in the hut, and it bothered Cerberus. He wished she would say something. Before he could engage her in idle chit-chat, Rarity resumed her squabbling. "Frankly, I fail to see why they'd be so keen on attacking you, Cerberus. Is it just the dragon side of you that sets them off?"

"Actually, it's more than often my actions that bring out the worst in people. I'm not the most law abiding colt."

That brought Fluttershy to speaking. "You've broken the law?"

"I've stolen food and jewels, maybe a break-in or two. It's hard to hold a job when you're on the run for most of your life."

"W-what are you running from?"

"...Can we not get into that?"

"Oh! Sorry for asking."

Rarity stopped her sewing machine and turned her head, shooting a suspicious look at Cerberus. "I do hope you don't intend to steal my more expensive products from behind my back..."

"Why would I do that? You're nice ponies. I'd never do anything to offend you."

After what seemed like forever, or maybe an hour, Rarity had finally finished the cloak. Cerberus was really impressed with it. This one was black with dark blue streaks at the edges. It was comfortable enough, and it obscured Cerberus' draconic features, which was what mattered most to him.

"I'm terribly sorry that I can't replicate the work of the seamstress that made your old cloak. Ah! Curiousity strikes me. Who did make it, anyway?"

"My mother. She made it for me because she hoped I would be able to stop running and settle down, somewhere. If only she knew." Cerberus put the hood up. Looking in the mirror, he could tell it hid his eyes. Rarity’s fantastic work obscured everything unusual about Cerberus.

"Well, dear, you should take her advice. People in this town tend to be more tolerant of the stranger things in life, you could live here." Cerberus was quick to brush off the idea of staying in Ponyville, but the more he dwelled on it... "Now where's Opal? I dare say you might have scared her off."

"You know something, Fluttershy? My mother was right. Hell, Rarity is right." Cerberus and Fluttershy were leaving the boutique, the former wearing his lovely new cloak. "I should live here. I've met five ponies so far, and all five of them actually seem to like me, and I like them."

Fluttershy blushed for the umpteenth time. "I'm one of those five, right?" Cerberus turned to Fluttershy and smiled.

"You think?"

Cerberus and Fluttershy trotted through the town. The sun was setting, and Cerberus took every opportunity to stop and appreciate the beautiful colors it cast on the horizon. "I don't get out at day nearly as much as I should."

"You're nocturnal? Are you sure you don't have some bat in your ancestry too?" Fluttershy made a half-hearted laugh at her own bad joke.

"I'm not a bat! ...but I guess you can say my love of night time is genetic."

Fluttershy was then smitten with several questions, because now she was suspicious of something.

"Tell me about your mother, Cerberus." Cerberus was never asked such a personal question before. He was happy to answer.

"She... she is something else. She never abandoned me, even though everyone else did. She's not always around, but I feel her, everywhere I go. Until recently, she was all I had in the world."

"Is she nice?"

"Very. She does her best to comfort me despite all I've been through. She talks weird, though. She's also rather loud."

Loud? Could it be true? "Is she a unicorn or a pegasus?"

That question stumped Cerberus. It's not that he wasn't aware of what his mother was. It was difficult to explain, so he just said, "Yes."

"Howdy, Fluttershy!" An buff orange earthwalker with an Appleoosan accent came running from the town square to meet Cerberus and Fluttershy. "It's good to see ya today! Everyone's bein' such a sourpuss. Did y'all hear about Celestia?"

"I heard. Unpleasant, huh?"

"Darn tootin'! But she ain't dying on us anytime soon." the orange one turned to Cerberus. "And you are?"

"Cerberus. I'm a friend."

She offered her hoof. "Applejack. Mighty nice to meet ya, Cerberus. Can I call you Cerb?" A nickname? That's new.

"You most certainly can, Applejack." Cerberus took her hoof. He found himself almost whiplashed by how fast she shook. "Um, firm handshake."

"Damn straight. Where you headed?"

"Fluttershy's house?" he said slowly as he looked at Fluttershy. She nodded. "Yes, Fluttershy's house.”

Applejack decided to join Cerberus and Fluttershy for the walk through the woods to her house. It was a lot less quiet than earlier, as Applejack was quite a talker. Next to Pinkie Pie, however, she was tame, but still.

"What brings ya to Ponyville, Cerberus?"

"I thought I'd just... drop in. I'm actually going to be staying a while, hopefully."

"Hopefully?"

"If the circumstances are right."

"You mean, if Fluttershy is in the mood." Fluttershy looked surprised. Her face was so red; Cerberus couldn't tell if she was embarrassed or angry. Probably both.

Cerberus did his best to dispel Applejack's theory. "You misunderstand me. I'm not with her. I mean, I'm staying at her place, but I'm not WITH her."

"Oh sure." Applejack galloped forward, kicking up a lot of dust with her large hooves. "Don't think I can't put two and two together! Fluttershy can't keep her eyes off of you, Cerb!" Fluttershy's face looked red enough to burst into flames. Speaking of flames...

"That's enough, Appleja-ja..." Uh-oh. All that dust Applejack had kicked up got into Cerberus's nostrils. Oh no. Please... don't sneeze... His nose disobeyed his thoughts. "At-CHOO!" Cerberus's sneeze was a large shock for both Fluttershy and Applejack. It sent a spray of RED HOT FIRE in all directions.

"Oh my stars..." uttered, Applejack.

Thankfully, no one was hurt and nothing caught on fire. Fluttershy quickly recovered from cowering on the ground. "You might as well show her."

Cerberus, for once, wasn't worried about the reception he would get. Here he was, hoping for a perfect six for six. He chomped down on his cloak and removed it with a single swing of his head. He dropped the cloak and showed off his dragon wings and tail.

"He's half dragon," said Fluttershy with a smidge of hope in her voice. "Isn't it incredible?"

Applejack was absolutely stunned. Go figure. She regained her composure. Good, Cerberus thought. She lowered her eyelids. Wait, what? She sighed.

"No."

Fluttershy's eyes were wider than a dinner plate. Today's serving: horror.

"Ain't ya knowin' how wrong this is, Fluttershy? Just look at him-it!" After Cerberus had come to expect acceptance for what he was, Applejack's cruel words struck him like a sledgehammer to the heart. Fluttershy seemed to empathize with him.

"Applejack, please... he's not..."

"It's a monster! A half breed! Do you see these?! It's against the laws of nature!" Applejack grabbed Cerberus's wings and waved them around as if they were trash. "It just ain't right!" Applejack's sledgehammer was one Cerberus had taken before, but it wasn't any less horrible.

"Don't touch him!"

Applejack just refused to listen. She planted her hoof on Cerberus's chest and made point blank eye contact, ready to make the final swing of the sledgehammer.

"YOU! You're nothing but a dirty, half-assed, accidental freak of nature! If you've got an OUNCE of intelligence in your filthy head, you'll get the HELL out of this town! We don't need something like you bucking things up! Go! NOW!"

Cerberus had taken a lot of sledgehammers in the past, but Applejack's swing was percise and deadly, on top of Cerberus' lowered defenses. He could feel a stinging sensation in his eyes... his unnatural freaky eyes...

Cerberus looked back at Fluttershy. He managed to force a few words through the tears. "Thank you, Fluttershy, for everything... but she's right. I don't belong...."

Cerberus spread his wings and flew away. On the ground below him stood a furious Applejack, staring at the half dragon she hated on sight, and Fluttershy, who, instead of cowering, or breaking down, was absolutely seething. Cerberus didn't see this. He only saw the moon rising over the horizon through his wet eyes. Silently shed tears fell to the ground in his wake.

Under a Wing

Chapter 3

Under a Wing

"You... you... bitch!"
"Now what did I do to deserve that?"
"What DIDN'T you do?! You made him cry!"
"Whatever. He's an abomination. See if I give a damn."
"You're just like everyone else. Cerberus has been tormented his entire life by people like you."
"Uh, HELLO? He BREATHES FIRE. It's just not right!"
"No. You're wrong!"

The weights of emotional torture eventually proved too heavy for Cerberus. He stopped flying and grounded himself, and soon found shelter in a small cave. The light of the crescent moon shined bright for him, but he was still blinded by tears and unable to see it. He just wanted to cry himself to sleep and hope his day in Ponyville was all a dream. Unfortunately, it wasn't. On top of Cerberus's nocturnal habits keeping him from staying asleep, he kept having flashbacks to all the nice things they had said to him, despite how much of a freak he was.

Twilight and Zecora healed me...

Pinkie gave me cupcakes and cornbread...

Rainbow Dash thought my wings were impressive...

Rarity made me a cloak...

Fluttershy... liked me...

No. It doesn't change anything. I'm a freak. That's the way it is and will always be. I'm sorry, mother. I thought it might work, but I'm still a freak.

"Cerberus?"

Cerberus slowly opened his eyes and saw a familiar yellow pegasus. She was smiling at him, though he could see she was starting to tear up.

"Fluttershy... don't bother. Just go."

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm won't abandon you like the rest." Fluttershy lay down next to Cerberus. Nopony said a word for several minutes. Cerberus knew Fluttershy told the truth. "Applejack is a bit... a meanie." she said.

"Tell me about it."

"You probably will never forgive her for what she said, but believe me; she's always been a little stubborn and prejudiced, especially to certain strangers.”

“I can assume she doesn’t like zebras either? I know they’re not widely accepted.”

“It took her sister walking straight into Zecora’s hut to convince her otherwise. But, to be fair, we all thought Zecora had cursed us…” Fluttershy certainly was talkative. She probably spent the whole flight over here coming up with ways to cheer Cerberus up. It was almost working.

“Does she have any other prejudices?”

“A little bit towards homosexuals. She wouldn't talk to Rainbow Dash for a month after the rave."

"Rave?"

"Vinyl Scratch hosts a rave every month. Lots of grape juice and loud music. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash drank too much and... Applejack... caught them in the bathroom.”

"Yikes." Cerberus managed to chuckle at that story.

“And that’s how Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie started dating. Applejack came around eventually, though. Maybe she'll do the same for you."

"Maybe. Maybe not. You like me, and Applejack is just one pony." Cerberus couldn't believe he was smiling. "If she doesn't like me, then that's her problem."

“That’s the spirit, Cerberus.”

Cerberus had a full smile on his face, and it was amazing. “Let’s go back, then.” He was going to stand up, but a question arose. Something else Applejack had said itched at the back of his mind. “Applejack mentioned you couldn’t stop looking at me. Do you really..?”

“Yes. I think you’re…”

Cerberus and Fluttershy made eye contact. Fluttershy then did something... interesting. She touched Cerberus's mane with her nose. She pulled her head back almost immediately. Cerberus was confused.

"Sorry..."

"I wasn't complaining." Cerberus decided to change the subject. "How did you find me?"

"It was easy, really. I had some help..."

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SEARCH AND RESCUE SQUAD YAY!!!"

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were an energetic bunch, and the more unique fillies Cerberus had ever met.

"I've always had a way with little ones. Adults are quick to judge but sometimes I meet a kid that finds my appearance more fascinating than frightening."

"Are you kidding, Cerb?" said Scootaloo, who was flying circles around him and Fluttershy. "You're probably one of the coolest ponies I've ever seen! Next to Rainbow Dash, of course."

"You should really stop flying before you get a cramp," said Fluttershy.

"Don't be such a ninny. I can finally fly, and I'm gonna exercise my wings until I can beat Rainbow Dash!"

Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom groaned in unison. The former said, "She's been like this for months. I haven't seen her touch the ground since she grew out those stupid wings."

The former said, "She seems to be more obsessed with winning a race with Rainbow Dash than getting her Cutie Mark."

"Hey! I know I'll get my Mark! Just as soon as Rainbow Dash eats my dust!"

“What is it with you girls and Cutie Marks?” asked Cerberus.

Apple Bloom stepped into Cerberus’s path, causing him to stop, and she spoke. “We’re called the Cutie Mark Crusaders for a reason, Cerb!” She tilted her hind quarters to show a blank flank.

“Ah, I see. You want to find what makes you special.”

“Darn tootin’, and our mission is one third complete! Show yer stuff, Belle!” Sweetie Belle leaped to Apple Bloom’s side.

Sweetie Belle flaunted her flank, and lo and behold, she had a Cutie Mark. “I got this about a month ago when I jumped on stage and sang at a Vinyl Scratch concert.” Fittingly enough, the Cutie Mark was a microphone placed diagonally in front of a G clef. “I write music, too!”

Cerberus patted her on the head. “Don’t let your talents go to waste, little one.”

“Never, Cerb!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle cleared the way for Cerberus and Fluttershy to keep walking. “So, um, where’s your Cutie Mark?”

Another downfall of Cerberus’s dragon heritage. Dragons don’t get Cutie Marks. “I never got one. Probably never will.”

Scootaloo dropped altitude and flew alongside Cerberus. “Aw, that blows! You should get a Cutie Mark shaped like a bloody fang.”

Sweetie Belle was disturbed by that idea. “His talent would involve eating ponies?”

“Well, obviously not! He’s not Nightmare Moon!”

Cerberus decided he couldn’t take that one sitting down. This was the big one. If his wings, tail, eyes, or mannerisms didn’t bring out the worst in everypony, it was this:

“What exactly does my mother have to do with this?”

“That just ain’t right.”

“Finally, someone who believes me!”

“I meant you yelling at the boy like that.”

“What- j- Oh come on, Mac! You too?”

It had been like this all night. Applejack’s friends kept mentioning the freak and after she said she told it off, on came the verbal castration. She was especially surprised at Big Macintosh’s tolerance of the freak. Applejack was so angry at him she could tear the barn they were in all the way down.

“Just get over it, Applejack. If he walked like a pony and talked like a pony, he’s a pony. No denying it.”

“But- but- the-”

“I tell you what, I’d actually like to see those wings.”

“It's not about the wings! It breaths fire! Don’t that make you feel anythin’?”

“Eenope.”

Applejack was officially done with this guy. “Fine. I’ll talk to ya later.” she walked away with her head and brow incredibly low. Then Mac said,

“If I were you, I’d apologize to the boy.”

She turned her head. “Would you stop callin’ it ‘The boy’? Besides, there’s no way in hell I’m apologizin’ for tellin’ the honest truth.”

She officially broke Big Macintosh’s calm demeanor. He galloped in front of Applejack and stared her down. “You apologize to the boy or so help me, I just might shove my hoof up your stubborn ass, and I’m not talking about the donkey!”

Applejack was a brave one, but the way Big Macintosh was staring had her scared stupid. She didn’t wait to respond and galloped out the barn door. She was on the trail back into town before she slowed her pace and thought relatively rationally.

“Fer the luva dirt! Why doesn’t anyone listen to me?” She passed by one of the wanted posters, stapled to a single tree that stood between a split in the path. “Celestia forbid my opinion matters. Not that she would’ve had anything to say about it if she died.” She got a closer look at the four figures in the poster. “What’s the point of putting a hooded figure on a wanted poster? More important, why am I talkin’ out loud? Nopony is around to hear me!”

“I disagree in a most formal matter.” Applejack leaped when she saw a small child below her. Seriously, this guy was tiny. He rivaled Apple Bloom in size. “You vertically ascended equal to or greater than two thirds of a meter. Did my introduction surprise you?”

“Um... yes?” Applejack barely understood a word this little guy said. He had a green coat and grey mane and wore glasses that looked like they were cut in half.

“My fellow equestrian, it would be of much appreciation on my part if you were to direct me toward the nearest location of publicity and give it’s moniker.” His voice was the only thing about him that wasn’t young.

“...what?”

Facehoof. “I see I have to resort to the terms of the one called Layman. Where is the nearest town?”

“Oh! Yeah, yeah.” Applejack stuck her hoof to the right fork in the road. “Ponyville is that way.”

“My deepest gratitude to you, aquaintance- I mean, thanks.” The green one moved his stubby legs down the path into town.

Applejack waited until the small one was out of earshot to say, “Fer Pete’s sake, why isn’t anythin’ making sense?! First Celestia, then the Dragon Freak, no one takin’ my word seriously, then a dwarf shows up and starts speakin’ fancy to me...” then, a gust of wind came from behind her, lasting barely a second. Applejack’s already unkempt mane got messed up from the gust. She turned around to see what the heck that was and saw that the wanted poster had disappeared from the tree it was posted on. “What. The. Buck.”

Fluttershy’s house was one of the most brilliant Cerberus had ever seen, decorated with every kind of flower imaginable, surrounded by the peaceful forest and animals of every shape and size, though most of them were tiny. Cerberus stepped cautiously to avoid stepping on the sleeping animals, at least until they got inside.

“Okay girls,” said Fluttershy to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, “Thank you so much for helping me find Cerberus, but it’s way past your bedtime. Get home, all of you.”

All three of them raised their hooves in salute. “Yes, Ma’am!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle galloped down the trail, but Scootaloo lingered to say, “Hey, Cerb. If you see Princess Luna anytime soon, tell her we said hi.” She flew off, overtaking the other two almost instantly.

“They seemed rather calm about Luna being my mother. Is it true that she isn’t seen as a devil anymore?”

“Goodness, no.”

“She never mentioned that in her letters. Perhaps she is more modest then I recall.”

The interior of Fluttershy’s was a welcome sight for Cerberus, after the cave, with its wood interior, elegant nature themed decorations and lots of comfortable furniture. After walking such a distance he was ready to rest his hooves.

“Should I take the couch?”

“Um, it’s not very comfy. You can sleep in my bed upstairs.”

“Your definition of comfy is vastly different from mine. I slept in a cave.”

“You deserve luxury after all you’ve been through.”

“It’s your house. You should sleep in your bed.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Fluttershy.”

“Okay. Sorry for insisting.”

“It’s no trouble at all. I thought I said to stop apologizing so much.”

“Sor- I mean...”

Cerberus placed his hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder, and smiled at her. “Good night, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy returned the smile with a blush. “Good night, Cerberus.” She fluttered up the stairs to her bedroom as Cerberus relaxed on the couch by the open window. “I’m glad that you’re here...” she said.

The cool midnight air and crescent moon made this sleep the most pleasant Cerberus had in ages. His nocturnal habits left him in peace. After many hours of dreamless sleep, he opened his eyes expecting a pleasant view of Fluttershy’s humble abode, and instead got a view of... Fluttershy. Apparently, she saw fit to come back downstairs and snuggle up next to Cerberus. Not that he minded, or that he could do anything about it, as her wing was wrapped around him. He also did not want to disturb her sleep.

Huh. I wonder what she sees in me. She could do so much better than a half wing like me.

So Fluttershy had feelings for him beyond just being friends. Cerberus had his suspicions about that when she nuzzled him in the cave, but he thought it was just in the spur of the moment. Cerberus managed to turn his head and see that the sun was rising, and he knew that if Fluttershy had animals to tend to...

Fluttershy opened her eyes to the sound of a rooster calling out to the rising sun. She noticed that Cerberus was awake.

“Um, hey...” she said quietly, even more so than usual, and took her wing off of Cerberus. She got off the couch, trying to not look at Cerberus. She was already embarrassed to the point of bursting into flames, her face was so red. “I was, um... cold. Sorry about that.”

Cerberus turned over and tried to get back to sleep. Before he drifted off, he thought, Perhaps she doesn’t want better...

Cold Shoulder

Chapter 4

Cold Shoulder

“Solstice, are you well?” asked Heretic.

“I’m... I’m fine... teleportation sickness.”

“Judas?”

“I’m good. Still a little sore from that blow I took. Where’s brother?”

“I don’t think he made it.”

“...Damn it, Solstice. Don’t say that.”

“Judas, considering the mass quantity of stained glass that he-”

“Heretic.”

“-followed by his terminal velocity-”

“Heretic!”

“-and the sheer drop-”

“Shut up, Bubblemint!”

Bubblemint "Heretic" Berry:

Judith "Judas" Blackwing:

Winter Solstice:

The sound of crickets chirping and a stream in the distance were all too peaceful considering what these three ponies had been through. The grass around them was the only sign of a conflict, flattened by the shockwave of a large teleportation spell.

Heretic adjusted his glasses. “Solstice. Your assistance spared our lives and prevented any long term injury. You deserve the chance to recuperate from your exhaustion.”

Solstice laid her head on the soft grass. Even in her weakened state, her icy blue coat and white mane looked gorgeous. “I didn’t need your permission,” she said as she slipped into what would be a long nap.

“Judas, the fate of your sibling is unconfirmed. I recommend you rest for the remainder of the evening as I begin reconnaissance and construct a makeshift camp.”

“I’m far too beat to even insult you right now. Good night.” Judas curled up next to a nearby tree and used her wings as a sort of blanket. Not completely uncomfortable.

Heretic made a point in being the voice of reason in his motley crew. He was always smarter and more rational, however his brains contrasted his brawn, for he never grew much larger than the average filly.

From a slightly higher elevation, Heretic could see the diameter of the forest. It seemed to go on for several kilometers, and that was good.

“Excellent, any pursuers shall have marginal difficulty in determining our precise location.” He looked up and saw the storm clouds that had lasted almost a week had begun to disperse, giving way to a clear night. The only place the storm remained was... “Canterlot’s climate shares empathy with its inhabitants.”

“Return yourselves to a wary disposition, my friends. The hours of daylight are upon us and we must move carefully.” Heretic woke Judas and Solstice with his loud and complex words. “Detection will be hard to come by, however that is no excuse for unnecessary loafing. This is a forest of immense volume and density, at least it seemed so from my discovery. Further, Canterlot is in a frenzy following the incident.”

“Have they dispatched any guards?” asked Solstice in her usual soft elegant voice.

“Not at the time when I witnessed it, but it’s a given that it will happen within hours.”

Judas felt annoyed and anxious - one feeling was because Heretic was around, and the other was for her missing brother. She forced a smile on her face, hoping her friends would do the same. Heretic was always so stuck up and Solstice was so cold. Then again, her full name was Winter Solstice for a reason.

“Should I fly overhead and scout out any cities?”

Heretic was enthusiastic about that idea. “Capital! Stay within earshot in case a threat is to interrupt our escape.”

Judas’ wings were still sore from being smacked around but the pain was manageable, and the thrill of flight overshadowed any discomfort. She broke through the treetops and saw the size of this forest, and it was impressive. She turned her head to the left and saw a small yet lively town in the distance, lit up by the sun behind her.

“Heretic! There’s a country town over there!”

“Well done, Judas! Now retreat, before-”

“HALT!” Just as Heretic had feared, armored guards had been dispatched to find them. All of the guards were large winged pegasi, white, a total of nine. They had Solstice and Heretic surrounded on all sides. A single black unicorn, likely the leader, emerged. “You and your associates are traitors to the Princess of the Sun, accused of attempted murder. Will you come quietly?”

Heretic realized that the black one had only identified two of them. Judas was still above the trees, unseen, and if her were to initiate her usual battle plan, that is, charging in headfirst without consent or reason, then this would be a minor obstruction, at best.

“LEEROOOOOOOOOY WINGKINS!”

All nine royal guards looked to the sky and saw a blur of purple rush past them. One of the pegasi guards panicked a little. “What black magic is this?” He then found himself struck in the head by the very same blur. His gold helmet put up little resistance and it was knocked off. He was thrown to the ground with dilated pupils and a nasty bruise on his noggin. The remaining eight pegasi guards were frozen in place with shock.

The unicorn leader was shuffling his hooves. “Don’t just stand there, attack!” That snapped the eight out of it. Three of them charged at Heretic and Solstice while the other five slowly closed in, limiting their breathing room. Heretic jumped to his usual battle position at Solstice’s side, she towered over him. He hardly got himself involved in battle due to his small stature, instead he saw fit to call attacks. The three rushing guards stood in front. He looked to the sky.

“Judas! Dive bomb!”

Judas stopped in mid air above him. “Awwww yeah!” She stuck her hoof forward and launched herself toward her target. Three guards were blown away from a shockwave where Judas collided with the ground, one of them bowling over one of the surrounding guards. Four more down, four to go. Heretic’s glasses were knocked askew from the blast, but he adjusted them in time to see that the four standing guards had taken position at each cardinal direction around him and his friends. Perfect.

“Solstice, if you would use a radial ice spell, I would be most appreciative.”

“Get down.” Solstice raised her head and closed her eyes to concentrate. Her long sharp horn shined its signature icy blue color. Around her feet, the moist grass began to freeze and the mud became solid as a rock. Everypony’s breath was visible. Heretic and Judas hit the deck. Suddenly, a blast of crisp, cold air emitted from Solstice, followed by a brilliant wave of blue and white ripples. They dissipated when they hit the surrounding trees, leaving frost and wet snow in their place. Solstice opened her eyes to see the pegasi guards, including the incapacitated ones, frozen to the ground, encased in a thick layer of solid ice.

“T-That was... i-i-impressive,” said the black unicorn. He apparently anticipated that spell and sought shelter behind a tree. His armor was frosty from the collateral damage. He stuttered as he shivered.

Judas laughed at his misfortune, even though she was shivering as well, although she could speak just fine. “Obviously you’re frozen with terror!”

Heretic facehoofed himself, but not before wiping the ice off of his glasses. “Clearly I’m dealing with neophytes... en guarde!” he galloped to the black unicorn.

“B-back off, s-s-small fry!” a blast of non-elemental energy was cast from his horn, but Heretic easily sidestepped out of the way. The energy rushed past Judas and Solstice and sputtered out. Heretic made a long leap, broke into a slide on his back. He had enough momentum to be missed by the unicorn’s attempted swipe with his horn and trip him. Before the unicorn hit the ground, Heretic stood up, kneeled down, and bucked, landing his hind legs right into the unicorn’s chest. He landed on his back with a large bruise, moaning in pain.

Judas couldn’t help but cheer for the little guy. “Way to kick some ass, Bubblemint!” Heretic turned to his friends and returned their proud smiles with one of his own.

“I’m much too satisfied with my performance to be insulted.”

“Yeah, I just wish bro was here to see that.”

“What’s next, Heretic?”

“Elementary, my dear Solstice. We trek to the provincial location identified by Judas. Would you point us in the right direction?”

Judas was busy making faces at a frozen guard. She stopped mid-raspberry. “Um, that way?” she pointed her hoof west...ish.

“That will do,” said Heretic. “I say we separate to further lessen the possibility of detection. We will reunite in town.”

Solstice spoke. “Good idea, but... what about them?” she nodded her head to the nine frozen guards and their moaning leader.

Judas was impatient. "Frozen in ice and a broken rib cage. I think we’re done here.” She spread her wings and took off into the woods.

The one thing Heretic enjoyed being alone with more than anything in Equestria was his own thoughts. He would often talk to himself for hours on end, which he must have done here because it was already hours into the night. “Continuing analysis on possibility of mass transit without manual labor. Trains? Out of the question. Too large and cost inefficient. Perhaps wire driven carriages? Would require more electrical outputs. Hold that thought. Maybe a- hold on.” The forest had become less dense and through the brambles and moss Heretic could see a lit pathway. “Excellent. Judas’ haphazard directional assumption was correct.” As he made his way down the path, he stopped to take in the beauty of the night sky. “Princess Luna, you honor us with your artwork. At least, you would be if you weren’t- what the devil is that cacophony?”

“...the point of putting a hooded figure on a wanted poster?” An orange female earthwalker was shouting at a lone tree that lay in a split in the path. Great. A crossroads is a lost traveler’s worst foe. Hopefully this pony knew which direction to take, if she were a native. She continued to ramble. “More important, why am I talkin’ out loud? Nopony is around to hear me!” Heretic saw fit to intervene.

“I disagree in a most formal matter.” The earthwalker leaped. Heretic may have surprised her with his sudden interruption, or it could have been his unusually small stature. “You vertically ascended equal to or greater than two thirds of a meter. Did my introduction surprise you?”

“Um... yes?” she spoke with the Apple family accent. Upon closer inspection, Heretic could see her blonde hair and tail, along with an apple themed cutie mark. A farm pony.

Clearly the average farm pony wouldn’t understand Heretic’s mannerisms, but he gave her the benefit of the doubt, as he did catch her at an awkward moment. “My fellow equestrian, it would be of much appreciation on my part if you were to direct me toward the nearest location of publicity and give it’s moniker.”

“...what?”

Facehoof. She was just like everypony else. “I see I have to resort to the terms of the one called Layman. Where is the nearest town?”

Now she got the message. “Oh! Yeah, yeah.” she pointed her hoof to the right fork in the road. “Ponyville is that way.”

Heretic had heard of Ponyville somewhere before. Hopefully he and his friends wouldn’t be well known there, especially after all they had done. “My deepest gratitude to you, aquaintance- I mean, thanks.”

Heretic could see the town called Ponyville and it wasn’t all that exciting. The buildings were mostly two story huts, restaurants and shops, split up by a town square and an average sized park. Heretic only now realized how hungry he was. He hoped there was a bakery in town. He could really go for a cupcake...

“Yo, Bubblemint! We’re in trouble!” Judas landed next to him. She seemed panicked about something. That was problem right off the bat, she never panics. She had a scrap of paper in her mouth, which she laid on the dirt below a lantern.

“A spare bit of parchment?”

“No, look!”

“I’ll look once you stifle yourself.”

Judas took a deep breath. “Just... look.”

Heretic examined the paper and saw... his face. And Judas’ face. And Solstice’s face. “‘Wanted for attempted assassination of Princess Celestia.'” In a momentary lapse of more sophisticated vocabulary, Heretic could only utter, “Well... shit.”

“That’s not the worst part. I can deal with armed guards, but look at this.” Judas pointed at the fourth figure on the wanted poster, a hooded colt with angled eyes.

“Isn’t that your brother?”

Judas placed her hooves on Heretic’s shoulders. “Heretic, I was hiding up in the tree at the crossroads. That hick you were talking to? After you left, she mentioned a ‘Dragon freak’.”

Heretic was reluctant to believe this, but how many other half dragons did he know? “Oh my...”

“He’s here! Cerberus is in Ponyville!”

"Do you like parties?"

Chapter 5

"Do you like parties?"

Judas had been in a state of half awareness throughout the whole day. One half of her mind was focused on seeking wanted posters and removing them, so that she and her friends wouldn’t be identified as assassins. That was easy for her. With her speed and accuracy attained from a lifetime of training, she could swipe a poster and nopony would do so much as a double take.

The other half was still comprehending that Cerberus was alive, after she saw what she was certain would be the death of him. Glass, rain, and a several hundred foot drop. If it were anypony but her brother, they probably wouldn’t have survived.

Alive and well... the latter was questionable. What if he wasn’t well? Bruised, broken, on the verge of death? What if the guards had found him already? The orange hick’s ramblings said so much, yet so little. What if-

“Look out!”

Judas wasn’t prepared for another pegasus to cross her path. Nor was she prepared for the sudden jolt from getting slammed into by said pegasus. Nor was she prepared for the sharp aches from hitting solid ground at mach speed. Pegasi can survive that sort of thing under the right circumstances, but it still hurts like nopony’s business.

When Judas came to, she thought she was having a dream because all she saw were rainbows. She then had the ungodly taste of hair in her mouth, which she promptly reacted to by squirming. She found herself rolling out from underneath the weight of what must have been the pegasus that blindsided her. She seemed to have landed in a park on the outskirts of Ponyville.

“Son of a bitch!” said the other pegasus. “Did I hit Derpy again? Someone oughta put a bell on that featherbrain.”

“I don’t know who this Derpy is, but she sounds like an airhead.” Judas helped herself up and offered her hoof to her acquaintance. “You alright?”

“Can’t complain. I’ve taken worse hits from the sound barrier.” Judas got a better look at this pegasus. Turns out that the visions of rainbows and taste of hair were from her mane and tail, which were were coated with the six colors of the rainbow. That made Judas’s pink hair and black highlights seem tame. “Haven’t seen you before. Name’s Rainbow Dash.”

Judas shook hooves with her. “Fitting name. I’m Jud...ith.” Every inch of Judas’ body ached, but not from the crash. No, it was the mere uttering of her real name. She hated it almost as much as she hated hearing Bubblemint talk, but she had to use it, in case her name was known across Ponyville. She could only hope that Bubblemint was doing the same, and Winter Solstice... Luna save them if anyone asked of her name. “You can blame me for the crash, I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Hey, I was going too fast, don’t worry about it.” Wow, Rainbow Dash was pretty agreeable. “So, Judith, where ya from?”

“Canterlot-” Oh, crap. Didn’t want to say that.

“Oh, cool! I have a friend from Canterlot, she’s a unicorn. Come to think of it, isn’t Canterlot like, ninety nine percent unicorns?”

“Um...”

“Eh, it doesn’t matter. Hey! Do you like parties?” Well, who doesn’t? Unfortunately, parties were not on Bubblemint’s patented how-to-lay-low-when-you’re-a-wanted-assassin-and-could-get-the-axe-if-you-get-caught list, and as painful as it was to follow guidelines set by someone like him, Judas liked her head where it was.

“I don’t have time for parties right now, Rainbow Dash.”

“Well, in that case, you should avoid my girlfriend.”

“What’s her deal?”

“Total party pony. Some can make do with saying ‘Hey, welcome to the neighborhood,’ but as far as Pinkie Pie goes, she has to throw a party for everypony that so much as passes through Ponyville.”

“Okay, so I’ll avoid the color pink.”

“Call me a stalker, but what are doing in an old country town like this?” Crap. Judas knew that she couldn’t last a measly four days without avoiding an awkward conversation...

“Oh Rainbow Daaaash!”

Judas’ new friend snapped to attention with red in her blue face. Judas was honestly surprised she didn’t blush rainbows too. “That’s Pinkie Pie.”

This wasn‘t going to end well. “Oh, geez! I’d better fly-”

“No way. She’ll find you."

“I’m sure I can get-”

“Trust me, you can’t escape Pinks. I’ll hide you. Hold on.” Rainbow Dash, well... dashed to the overcast sky and pulled down a small nimbostratus cloud. “Quick, get in here!”

Judas decided it was best not to argue. She flew to the cloud buried herself in its fluffy interior. It was kinda wet, and it made her hair stand on end.

“Oh Rainbow Daaaash! Where are you?”

“U-up here, Pinks!” Rainbow Dash relaxed, or at least tried to look like she was relaxing on the cloud that acted as a hiding place for Judith. “What’s up?”

Pinkie Pie stood underneath the cloud and continued to shout. “So I was leaving Sugarcube Corner to like, do stuff, when I saw this cute little green colt wearing glasses that looked like half moons, and I said hello, and he responded by saying something I didn’t even understand, then he talked normally and it turns out he’s not a foal! He’s just small! His name is Bubblemint Berry. Also, his cutie mark is pi!”

Rainbow Dash laughed in confusion. “Wait, he has you as a cutie mark? Do I have competition?”

“No, silly! Pi as in three point one four!”

“Oh.” Rainbow Dash didn’t care much for numbers, another factor that got her kicked out of flight school.

“Anyway, when he told me he wasn’t from Ponyville, I was like, ‘Le gasp! I have to throw you a party!’ and he said something else I didn’t understand, but he liked the idea of a party,” Rainbow Dash felt the cloud twitch underneath her, “so I asked Applejack if we could have one at the barn tonight! And she said yes! So let’s go decorate!”

“Look, Pinks, I’d love to help, but I’m really swamped. Just get Rarity and Twilight to set the darn thing up. I’ll see ya at the party, kay?” Rainbow Dash had gotten better at coming up with a cover story ever since Pinkie’s last... episode. Lo and behold, she believed her!

“Okie-dokie-lokie! See you there, sweety!” Before she left the park, she made a quick one-eighty and said, “Oh, your purple pegasus friend can come too!”

“DAMMIT!”

______________________________________________________________________________

Heretic could’ve had a better day. While he did enjoy having a philosophical conversation with the half pheonix Hephaestus, the following encounter with the prancing party pony properly known as Pinkimena was bad news. Not only did he have to use his birth name, Bubblemint Berry, here he was trying to keep a low profile and this young mare comes along and invites him to a party. “It would be simultaneously impolite and unfair to refute the offer. I also hypothesize that if we were to be recognized, Judas would assist in our escape and we’d be out of the general area in a matter less than or equal to the measured time of a single heartbeat. So... party time.” Heretic bowed his head and sighed. “To further complicate matters, Cerberus has gone entirely undetected by our eyes despite Ponyville’s small radius. One wonders; in which location may he be hidden?”

______________________________________________________________________________

The air was cold, the winds were colder, and he was going so fast he felt that his face was going to peel off. Cerberus felt wonderful. He had discovered that he could go unnoticed by pretty much all of Ponyville if he kept to Fluttershy’s house. He had ample room to spread his wings and soar. Flying during the day was unfamiliar to him, but he liked it. At night, he may as well have been flying in a void. When the sun was high, he could see everything beneath him, like a small world. The world that had spit on him and treated him like dirt. That had changed, though. Even if he was unlucky enough to encounter anypony, they treated him like they would any other. Just yesterday, he had met a wall-eyed blond pegasus in mid flight, and she offered Cerberus a muffin. It wasn’t half bad either, but before he could thank her, she was rammed by Rainbow Dash. Ponyville was quickly becoming a home to him.

“Cerberus, I made lunch!” Fluttershy called from the balcony of her house. That was the other great part of life in Ponyville. Fluttershy always greeted Cerberus with a smile, made him food, and was all around fun to talk to. She had really grown on him, even more so than before.

“Oh, ambrosia, Fluttershy! What do you call this dish?”

“It’s a simple rose and cheese omelet... with sapphire shards.”

“You go to such great lengths to satisfy me. I can’t thank you enough.” Cerberus, once again, found himself lost in Fluttershy’s warm gaze. He relaxed his hooves on the table. “So, what do you want to do today?”

Cerberus’ question went unanswered, as there were three sounds at the wooden front door, each one being a knock. Then, the door opened so quickly it slammed against the adjacent wall.

“Guess who?!” The chipper, high pitched sound of Pinkie Pie echoed throughout the house.

Fluttershy switched her happy face with a disappointed one, and spoke with dull surprise. “I guess Pinkie. Who’s getting a party today?”

“Oh, Fluttershy! You can read me like a book!” Pinkie Pie leaped onto the table, knocking over Cerberus’ omelet. She stood on her hind legs without effort, somehow. “For your information, your auntie Pinkie Pie will be hosting not just a party, but a party to end all parties! Figuratively, of course, it would be the worst tragedy if we were to stop partying!”

Fluttershy turned to Cerberus and said, “At the rate she’s going, I wouldn’t mind that.”

Pinkie was too excited to even hear her. “Applejack is letting me use the biggest barn on Sweet Apple Acres for this one! There’s gonna be a disco ball and black lights, and DJ P0N3 will be there!”

Now Fluttershy was interested. “Are you serious? How did you get her?”

“She’s friends with my sister Octavia. All I had to do was ask. Sooooooo... you wanna come?”

Cerberus and Fluttershy kept exchanging glances, waiting for the other to answer. Cerberus would have loved to go, but he still wasn’t comfortable setting hoof in Applejack territory, even if her hadn’t seen Applejack since her onslaught of insults. Fluttershy was a different story. She was perfectly content doing whatever Cerberus wanted to do. The answer?

Cerberus said, “I’d rather not. I want to spend the evening with Fluttershy.” Fluttershy did her usual routine of squeaking and getting red in the face.

Pinkie took this news well. “Alrighty then! This party is still going to be blowing up! Still, I would have liked to introduce you to the egghead.”

Cerberus wasn’t paying attention, too busy trying to salvage his omelet. Unfortunately, he was forced to sit and watch as Pinkie leaped off the table and squashed what was left of it.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

The streets of Ponyville were almost completely empty by the time the sun went down. “Where the heck is everypony?” asked Rainbow Dash as she vegged on the nimbostratus she had pulled down earlier, next to her new friend that she knew as Judith. Rainbow Dash had rolled over and looked down at the town to see that it had become a total ghost town, worse than when Zecora was considered a threat.

Judas stretched her wings and legs. “Didn’t your girlfriend say she was throwing a party at the barn?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think there’d be this big of a turnout. Pinks has really outdone herself this time.”

“Wait, do you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

Judas covered Rainbow Dash’s mouth with her right hoof so she could hear the faint wub wub wub in the distance...

Evacuate the Dancefloor

Chapter 6

Evacuate the Dancefloor

On the left side of the barn, large speakers that would make an alicorn look up bordered a small stage where a white unicorn with neon blue hair and a white coat was in control of the discs. This was Vinyl Scratch, or as most of Equestria knew her, DJ P0N-3. She levitated the mic to her lips.

“Hey hey hey hey hey HEY, everypony! My name is DJ P0N-3 and I’m gonna turn this country club inside out and upside down! Imma give ALL the pegasai raging wingboners with nothing more than my sick beats!” The disco ball lowered from the ceiling, and refracted the many different colored lights across the room. “This whole barn will feel my wrath. OCTAVIA!” the good DJ pointed to the other side of the barn, where another stage was set. Four ponies stood there, with a large drum set and three electric guitars. “Would you kindly... DROP THAT GUITAR SOLO!”

Octavia Pie picked up her guitar and began riffing like nopony’s business.

“An excessive performance for a simple gathering. Was it truly necessary to hire a four pony ensemble?” Heretic was relaxing by the drink table, sipping grape juice and making desperate attempts to drown out the music. It wasn’t terrible, nor was it too loud, he just couldn’t think clearly. He only came to this party to be polite but he didn’t expect a whole rave in his name. This Pinkie Pie certainly wanted to make a lasting first impression. At least Winter Solstice was here.

“Do enjoy yourself, dear,” she said in her usual soothing voice. “We haven’t been recognized, so that counts for something. Have a drink. Loosen up.” She levitated a shot glass to Heretic.

He thought to himself, Solstice has never steered me wrong before. Gulp!

“She put all this together in just one afternoon?!” Rainbow Dash was astounded at what Pinkie Pie had done.

“Your girl pulled out all the stops for Bubblemint, and he doesn’t even like raves. What was she thinking?”

“If I had a bit for every time I asked myself-” Rainbow Dash stopped herself and thought about what Judith just said. “Wait, you know this Bubbles guy?”

Great, another slip of the tongue. “Um, yeah. He and I have been friends for a while. He’s kind of stubborn, and half the time I can’t understand a word he says, but he’s a good colt.”

Rainbow Dash seemed to be losing herself in the music and lights. “Cool, cool. Hey, I’m gonna go find Pinks. Nice talking with ya, Jude.” What was with Rainbow Dash’s habit of shortening names? That question was gone as Rainbow Dash disappeared into the crowd of ponies, bobbing their heads, shuffling their hooves, and shaking their flanks.

Judas had been distracted with talking to Rainbow Dash all day and had almost forgotten about something. That thought was suppressed at the back of her mind and now it had ricocheted forth. If most of Ponyville was in this gargantuan barn, perhaps Cerberus would be here...

“Either the atmosphere of the party has influenced my passive ability to think clearly or, to put it simply, I’m drunk!”

“Woah there, egghead. You should slow down a might.”

“J’accuse!” Heretic couldn’t help but enjoy the unusually tasty apple cider set out by this orange mare. She looked somewhat familiar... “Another!” She cocked her eyebrow at Heretic. “...please?”

Heretic stumbled through the crowd with an absolute loss for sense of direction. Eventually, he stopped himself at a table where baked goods were being served, and stood next to a grey pegasus. He was so drunk, it looked like her eyes were pointing in opposite directions. “Salutations, ma’am, I am the guest of honor at this gathering of... um...”

“Ponies?” the pegasus suggested.

“Correct. I apologize in advance for anything I might say that would offend, for I am, for lack of better words, drunk as a skunk.”

This seemed to amuse this girl. “And yet you maintain a proper form of speech. This is simultaneously fascinating and amusing. I assume from your previous statement that you are Bubblemint Berry?”

“Correctamuchodinero,” he chuckled. “Ah, I die a little inside every time I hear that name.”

“Then we are in agreement, good sir, for what ponies tend to call me. Derpy, what a foolish moniker. It is perfectly normal to have skewed irises, yet people see fit to call me an asinine neophyte.”

Rainbow Dash noticed a small green colt with magenta eyes, who she assumed was Bubblemint Berry, chatting with Derpy Hooves over by the table that held all the baked goods from Sugarcube Corner. Knowing Derpy, she’d probably see fit to chowing down on everything, the cakes, the cornbread, the muffins, oh sweet Celestia, the muffins...

“...I apologize in advance for anything I might say that would offend, for I am, for lack of better words, drunk as a skunk.”

“Oh em gee, are you Bubblemint Berry? You talk so fancy!”

“Correctamuchodinero,” Bubblemint chuckled. “Ah, I die a little inside every time I hear that name.”

“So, like, I’m Derpy Hooves, at least that’s what, like, everypony calls me. I’m not stupid, just wall-eyed.”

Rainbow Dash couldn’t figure out what was weirder, Bubblemint holding a conversation with Derpy, or Derpy somehow understanding him. Either way, Rainbow Dash wasn’t having much fun. It likely had to do with the fact that everypony had enough grape juice and apple cider to fill a lake, and she hadn’t. In fact, she was probably the only one here who was sober. Well, aside from the DJ. Who the heck did she think she was, standing above the crowd, so high and mighty, looking down on all the drunk ponies below her...

“Every day I’m Discordin’!”

“HEY!” Rainbow Dash yelled to the DJ, “You! In the glasses!” To Rainbow Dash’s surprise, the DJ stopped the music.

After many a moan and groan from the ponies whose dirty dancing was stopped short, the DJ responded. “Wassup, Arbee?”

“You’ve got some nerve showing up here, you white menace!”

“Do I, Vinyl Scratch, hear a challenge?”

“Damn straight! I challenge you to a drinking match! Shots of the finest grape juice in this crib until one of us is under the table!”

“Game on, Arbee. You’ll be out cold before I’ve even gone tipsy. Can I get a woot woot?” Pretty much everypony yelled WOOT WOOT! “Then it’s settled. Somepony get us a table and a keg of grape juice, real quick like.”

Slam!

“Do ya... yagiveupyeah?”

“Don’t get so hast...hastyyyou... freaking... another shot!” Vinyl Scratch was determined to keep Rainbow Dash from besmirching her reputation. Seven years and six months as an A-list DJ and she never once lost a drinking contest, and this was a doozy of a match. Scratch had one too many drinks to use magic to levitate her shotglass and had to resort to her hooves like a common earthwalker. Another gulp, another addition to the odds that she could go catatonic any minute. “Nowayou go... argh...” the mismatch of colors began to blend together, and the edges of her vision were fading... Whump!

It took a moment, but Rainbow Dash realized what just happened. She got up onto the table. “HA! I win! That’s right! I’m is a winner! I always win! I’m not bisexual! I’m bi-winning!” All her shimmying and shaking was too much for the table. Two of the legs broke in half, leaving Rainbow Dash to slide down the dance floor right into the pony she loved.

“Hey Pinks! My wings are pointing straight up! Wanna go to Heaven?”

Pinkie Pie helped Rainbow Dash to her feet and embraced her. “I’m so happy you made it, Dashie!” Then, Pinkie smelled the familiar scent of grape juice. She held Rainbow Dash at arm’s length. “Have you been drinking?”

“No, yes. Maybe. Who’s this broad?” Rainbow Dash noticed a grey earthwalker with a bowtie and straightened hair. Pinkie had been having a conversation with this one.

“I,” she said in a high class voice right out of Canterlot, “am Diane’s sister, Octavia. And who might you be?”

Pinkie nuzzled Rainbow Dash’s colorful mane. “Octavia, I told you about my girlfriend Rainbow Dash!”

“Well, when you said ‘girlfriend’ I assumed you meant... you know what, it’s fine.”

“This might be the grape juice talkin’,” said Rainbow Dash as she struggled onto her hooves, “but weren’t you the cha... cello player at the Gala some odd years ago?”

“Indeed. I would’ve said hello to you and Diane, but it would have ruined my image if it were known that I was related to” she looked at Pinkie sternly, “the pony that practically destroyed the ballroom.”

“I helped!” said Rainbow Dash.

“Oh Octyyyy! I require a cold shower at my humble abode and I need an escort!” The DJ who had fallen to Rainbow Dash stumbled over to Octavia’s side. Octavia lowered her head in wallowing embarrassment.

“Diane, did I mention my girlfriend?”

Pinkie’s already poofy hair was frazzled at the reveal. “Le gasp! You two make such a cute couple!”

“You bet we do!” said Vinyl Scratch. “And let me tell ya, we’d be a lot cuter if I had won that drinking contest.”

The thing with drinking contests is that, despite what anypony says, there are no winners, just whoever loses last, and Rainbow Dash just lost last. She gave in to the overpowering influence of the alcohol and collapsed into Pinkie. “I think I’m done here. Couldja take me home?”

Pinkie‘s mouth stretched into her usual contagious smile. “Let’s go to my place. It’s closer.”

“I like the sounda th-”

This was the low point of the night. Everything just stopped at the sound of CRACK-COW.

“-at... what was that sound? Who turned out the lights?!” It was pitch black in an instant, the music stopped, and the only thing visible to anypony were the whites of each other’s eyes.

“Aw, I liked that song!”

“The hay?!”

“This sucks!”

“Hey, look outside!”

Rainbow Dash sobered up long enough to slowly open the barn door. “Are you serious? We didn’t schedule a thunderstorm!” A blinding flash of white lightning and another deafening blast blew the door off its hinges, and Rainbow Dash back into Pinkie Pie. “Much less one this intense!”

Pinkie stood on whatever table hadn’t been blown away. “Okay, everypony! Party over! Get back to your homes right now! And do take whatever food you can carry, I worked hard on that stuff.”

It was chaotic, but everypony managed to shuffle out of the barn in a semi organized fashion without any trampling, and any collisions that did ensue were mostly the result of Derpy, being weighed down by baked goods. The party had been over for less than thirty seconds and already it had left the minds of those who were drunk, dizzy or all danced out of energy, and instead, filled their minds with confusion. What Rainbow Dash had said was true: the pegasi weren’t planning on an intense storm such as this. No weather ever happened without their consent. Pinkie Pie, however, was more upset that her biggest party yet had been a failure.

“I am SO UPSET! This was my biggest party yet and it was a failure! I’M A FAILURE!” as she lamented her loss, her mane straightened out and drooped over her face. “Bubblemint Berry is going to hate me forever and ever.”

“I strongly disagree,” said Heretic, who had snuck up on Pinkie with his small stature. “Aside from the impending hangover, this party was a modest success. I particularly enjoyed having a philosophical conversation with Miss Derpy. This evening certainly left me long term memories that will not dwindle into afterthought within any foreseeable time period. You have my utmost gratitude, Pinkimena.”

Pinkie, along with everyone else, didn’t understand a letter of that. “What?”

“Thanks for the party, now get happy.”

“You’re the boss, Bubblemint!” Her hair poofed up to it’s usual messy fluffiness. She gave him a friendly hug. “I’ll catch you later!” she started hopping away, ready for a romantic night with Rainbow Dash, but Heretic then grabbed her by the tail.

“Stop yourself. Do you feel that?”

“Feel what?”

“A tingling sensation has arisen at the tips of my mane. I feel static in my tail... HIT THE DECK!” Heretic was somehow strong enough to pounce on Pinkie and pin her to the dirt. It’s a good thing he did. Another flash of light, but this lightning was more intense then before. It came down and struck the tree nearby the barn, barely missing him and Pinkie.

“Thank you, Bubblemint.”

“We are not quite safe. The familiar scent of flint and burning wood. If I turn my head 120 degrees to the right, that tree is likely to be on- FIRE!”

Burning for You

Chapter 7

Burning for You

“Fire!” Heretic’s cry cut through the panic and, for a few seconds, all went deathly silent. Then, somepony screamed.

Mayhem ensued. While the pegasai made haste to the clouds, checking for a chance of rain, unicorns made attempts to carry water with their magic from the rivers to douse the flames. Earth ponies got out of the way, letting those with a better chance of helping take the job.

It was not enough. Despite the adrenaline, there was no denying that many ponies were still under the influence, and this hampered their abilities to perform efficiently. Pegasai forgot to flap both wings, and flew in dizzying spirals before regaining their balance. Ponies stumbled into each other; magical holds on bubbles of water slipped and got themselves and others wet instead of the seemingly unquenchable flames devouring the trees.

The fire, stoked by the trees it fed on and pushed by the intense wind, leapt to the barn, engulfing it in it’s terrible inferno. The grass was soon consumed as well, creating a sea of fire. The pegasi above got the best view of the carnage. Rainbow Dash was in a panic. “This is not good! Oh jeez, oh gosh... if we don’t stop it, the whole farm’s going down!”

“Get ahold of yourself!” Judas slapped Rainbow Dash clear across the face. That shut her up. “You’re a freakin’ pegasus! Get some rain clouds so we can fix this!”

“I can’t! None of these storm clouds have any precipitation! Do you see why I’m freaking out?!”

“Well, go higher then!”

“There’s no time!”

“Rainbow Dash! Yours is the hoof that will pierce the heavens!”

“...What?“ "

"Hold out your hoof!” Rainbow Dash reluctantly did as she was commanded. Judas wrapped her hoof around Rainbow Dash’s, pulling her to her side. “Now flap those wings!”

Rainbow Dash couldn‘t stop shivering. The ferocious and feral wind, the anxiety of the situation, and her immortal enemy, fear, were all slowing her wings. “Judith...”

“RAINBOW DASH, FLY!!!” A second later, a Rainbow trail, as well as a purple and black one, were all that remained of the rocketing pair of pegasai.

Applejack was in a panic of her own. Whereas most were concerned for their own safety, Applejack feared for the life of a little filly who she knew wasn’t at the party. She ran for the farmhouse, faster than she had ever run before, over the blazing grass. The wooden farmhouse was starting to burn. “Applebloom!”

“Applejack! Somepony! Help!” Apple Bloom didn’t know what started the fire, but it was quickly surrounding her clubhouse. It had already ensured that she couldn’t climb down. If nopony came to her aid, She would have to try and make a jump for it...

“Applebloom! Where are y-cuhl, cogk, hack, hack!” The smoke and fire were almost too much for Applejack to take. She could handle out of control carriages, trees ten times her size, even giant monsters, but fire was too much for her. Wild-eyed already from her fear, she made the choice to keep her trap shut, lest she inhale any more smoke.

“That’s it, I’m jumpin’. A few broken hooves are better than dyin’!” Applebloom opened the nearest window and prepared for liftoff. She was ready to jump, but the weak structure of the clubhouse had other plans. A section of the roof caved in, right on top of the hapless filly. Her lower back was filled with the worst pain...

The situation was getting more desperate by the second. Applejack had a critical choice to make. Either risk her own life to find the only sister she had, or bail out now and face the world, knowing Applebloom was doomed to die in the fire... “NO! Not again!” Applejack continued to choke and gag on the intensifying smoke, telling rational thought to piss off, determined to find Applebloom.

Applebloom had gotten in way over her head, thinking she could actually get out of her prison of rubble. The fire continued to spread, consuming all of the pictures, streamers, and other decorations the crusaders had collected over the years. Soon, the fire snuck up on Applebloom, igniting her tail. She hardly registered the pain, it was the stench that got her screaming.

The stairs could not support Applejack’s weight. They split beneath her hoofs, toppling her to the floor. She was already weak, and flat on her stomach was not a good position to be in. She couldn’t stand up.

“HELP! HEEEEELP! SOMEPONY!! Please...” Applebloom had cried out until she was hoarse, and it still was not enough. She was too weak to remove herself from the rubble. She was too exhausted to even continue screaming. Her priorities continued to dwindle. First she had wanted to escape from her prison underneath all this wood and nails, then to continue shouting, hoping that at least somepony could hear her. Now that she had lost her voice, and couldn’t stop hacking, her only wish was that she could keep breathing for just another second. “… Somepony… please…”

Applejack knew, as much as every fiber of her being wanted to deny it, that this was where her life would end. The sting of smoke in her eyes blinded her. The dry air burned her nostrils till they were raw. She coughed to the point of heaving. I... I knew I shouldn’t a... even her own thoughts were too weak to complete themselves. She decided it was best to wait for death to welcome her with open arms, and hope that Applebloom wasn’t at his side... she had an uncanny feeling in her legs and chest. It was like she had left the burning room and had crossed over to... somewhere. If this was what being dead felt like, it wasn’t so bad. She had one more moment of clarity, that she spent on one thought. Applebloom… Ah failed ya… A tear ran down her cheek as she gave one last shuddering breath.

Applebloom’s mind, along with the pain in her hindquarters, began to waver... and she felt an unusual sense of weightlessness take over. As her consciousness slowly slipped away, the burning in her lungs died away to a cool feeling. She watched as the clubhouse burned to ashes beneath her before she slipped away completely...

Ba…………….bum. Ba………….bum. Ba…….bum. Ba……bum. Ba…bum. Ba-bum. Ba-bum. Ba-bum. Applejack felt lips pressed against her own, causing her heart to flutter, as well as her lungs. The darkness began to recede. She saw a deep blue muzzle pressed against her own. Her lungs filled with air, which then trickled out. Another kiss, full lungs. Breathless, repeat. Her sense of smell returned. A musky scent, masculine. Smoke. Then, she saw green eyes staring intently into hers. The lips of the muzzle moved. The face was familiar, but she couldn’t put her hoof on it, figuratively and literally. The head turned away. A pink mane atop a yellow head moved into her dim field of vision as she unconsciously followed the head’s movement. Another familiar face that she couldn’t quite remember... her brain began to receive more blood and she could think clearly.

“F...Flutter...shy?” Fluttershy squeaked with overwhelming joy and nuzzled Applejack affectionately. Upon further inspection, Applejack saw that she was lying in the middle of the burnt remains of the farmhouse’s living room. Somehow, most of it still stood. She turned back to her good friend. “Didja save me?”

“Goodness, no. I’m not brave enough to fight fire. It was Cerberus.”

“... No. No, no. Not him.” Applejack’s mind tried to start racing, but shifted gears too quickly and had to pump out unnecessary exhaust.

“Howdy, Applejack! Ya’ll sound like a hairball’s stuck in yer throat.” Applejack heard a voice she thought she’d never hear again. Applebloom entered the room with her entire hindquarters wrapped in bandages. Applejack managed to lift herself off the makeshift bed and struggle over to her sister to give her the most intense hug in Equestrian history.

“Oh, thank goodness you’re alright... wait.” Applejack looked Applebloom over. “What did it do to you? Oh sweet Celestia, if it so much as touched you...”

“I’m fine, sis! The fire only got my tail.”

“No, I’m talking about the dragon freak! Did he hurt you?”

Applebloom’s optimistic smile trickled into a sad, confused frown. “Why would Cerberus hurt us?”

“Because he-”

“He saved my life! He saved yours! You should thank him!”

“Oh, I’ll do somethin’ to him, alright...”

The blue half-dragon Applejack feared and hated slowly reemerged into her field of vision. “...I heard that.”

Applejack moved to guard her sister. “Alright, ya big varmint, what happens now? You come ta finish us off?!”

“Applejack, don’t hurt yourself.”

“I was doin’ just fine until you showed up!”

“You were dying.”

Applejack moved closer to Cerberus with every word she shouted. “I had it under control! You just bucked it all up with your publicity stunt, you stupid, half-bred piece of-”

“Applejack, if you’re trying to make me cry again, it won’t work.” That was enough to stop her in her tracks. She could see that Applebloom was astounded at the insults she had thrown at Cerberus, and Fluttershy was on the verge of tears. “I knew you and Applebloom were in danger, so I saved you. I didn’t expect you to thank me. It’s just enough to know you’re safe. I know you hate me for my wings and tail and-”

“For Discord’s sake, ‘tain’t none of those things." Applejack lowered her head. She needed to get this off her chest; she hated that she’d practically lied before. The truth came as natural as breathing. “Cerberus... Ah’m fine with you lookin’ like you do.” She tried unsuccessfully to nod her head towards Fluttershy. “You all act like I didn’t learn anything from Zecora. I think you’ve got a mighty fine gift, Cerberus.” Her expression then turned sour. “It weren’t your wings. That fire breathing. Ah. Hate. Fire.” She shuddered as she lowered herself to the ground. “It’s the most terrifying thing I know of. When you sneezed up a fire ball, I got so scared I couldn’t get control of myself, and I ended up hurtin' your feelins'. That's me, stubborn as a mule... When I saw the fire, I thought of that night...” Applejack curled up into a catatonic position on the ground. She closed her eyes and began to sniffle. “Daddy...”

To say that was a difficult night for the Apple family was an understatement. You don’t get over almost dying overnight. At least it ended on a positive note.

Applejack had collapsed from the utter exhaustion and relief, so Cerberus was inclined to carry her to Fluttershy’s house. The rain had begun to fall harder and faster, eliminating the remaining traces of flame. This was a nice kind of rain that lightly falls on one’s head and does not require hooded protection. Best of all, Cerberus and Fluttershy could talk as they trekked along the outskirts of the Everfree Forest. Of course Applebloom was there too.

Applejack was sound asleep on Fluttershy’s bed, her signature cowboy hat, singed at the edges, hung up to dry from the rain. She continued to choke back tears between breaths. Applebloom sat at the edge of the bed. Fluttershy wanted her to rest downstairs, but the little one had insisted that the Apple sisters should stay together.

Cerberus kept his green eyes locked on the mare and filly he’d saved. He didn‘t want to let them out of his sight. What Applejack had said before falling asleep sparked personal thoughts inside him. “I wish I could understand her grief. I never knew my father... I mean, we’ve never met.”

Fluttershy took sympathy on her friend. “Oh, that’s a shame. What was his name?”

That honestly stumped Cerberus. Luna told him, once. “Well, um... mother said it was... Si... Jah... Kwe... I can’t say it.”

“Why not?”

“Uh, it’s impossible to translate.”

“You can speak Draconic, right? I mean, if you don’t want to-”

“I'll try... *&%@!^$%^@)$#+!{*.” The sounds Cerberus made were just plain unnatural, and he looked incredibly strained afterward.

“Um, bless you?”

“Yeah, I am never doing that again.” Cerberus looked back to Applejack to ensure he didn‘t wake her. “I think we should leave her be.” Fluttershy nodded in quiet agreement, proceeding toward the door.

“Please... Please don’t go...” whispered Applejack. Cerberus stopped. The able bodied mare that had once feared him was in a state he couldn’t stand to see. The floodgates had broken. Tears streamed down Applejack’s face, as a result of whatever dream was tormenting her. Fluttershy, like the caring individual she always was, fluttered over to Applejack and whispered calming words into her ear. She then turned back to Cerberus.

“I’ve never seen her so broken.”

“I can try to comfort her.” Just an hour ago Applejack had been just another angry face, though that had lost all meaning when Cerberus saw how fragile she really was. Cerberus slowly and gently crawled onto the bed next to Applejack. He made an attempt to speak as soft as Fluttershy had, to not alarm his friend.

“Um... Applejack, if it helps, I’m sorry for what happened to your father. I… I never knew my father, but I do know what it’s like to lose someone close... And… I’m sorry. I- I could’ve lost you. I- I was scared, too.” Cerberus’ voice cracked as he remembered how horrifying it had been seening her just lying there in a pile at the bottom of the stairs, not breathing.

She must have found some solace with his words, because her sniffling and squirming died down.

“It… it hurts. It really hurts all of us to see you like this. You’re strong and brave. I wish I were half as brave as you are.” Applejack’s face got a faint smile as she shed one last tear, before snuggling into Cerberus’ midsection. “Um.” He blushed, looking up at Fluttershy.

She stifled a giggle. “It’s okay,” said Fluttershy. “It’s been a very long day. You and Applejack should sleep.” Cerberus nodded, suddenly feeling all the adrenaline rush out of his system, leaving nothing but a wave of exhaustion in its place.

Curling up around Applejack’s form so he could keep from falling off the bed, Cerberus drifted off.

Scr-scr-scccccr-scritch...

Cerberus woke. His senses slowly ebbed back to him, starting with his ability to hear. What did he hear? It was not exactly loud or obnoxious, but enough to break the dead silence.

His ability to smell came next. He smelt... hay. His eyes began to work as well, and he saw that his face was snuggled up close to Applejack’s head. She was facing away, and her messy blonde hair took up most of Cerberus’ vision. That explained the hay smell.

When his senses fully returned, he felt the warm body between him and Applejack’s, one of his wings pulled over it and Applejack like a blanket. With what little mobility he could manage from his stiff wing, Cerberus pulled it up a little to see Fluttershy curled beneath it, snuggled up close to his underbelly. Her eyes opened and stared blearily into his own gummy-feeling eyes.

“Yay...” Fluttershy’s voice was barely audible, but it still sent a slight thrill of shivers down Cerberus’ spine.

“Yay?” He could feel a blush forming as he smiled goofily at Fluttershy as she snuggled in closer, nuzzling his neck.

“I’m happy.” She smiled up at him, her eyes pulling him in as he thought of all that had happened. It was truly something to be happy about, in the long run.

“Me too, but, what are you doing?”

“I was cold, and you felt so warm.” She snuggled up even closer until her face was between his and Applejack’s mane. “I like being wrapped in your wings.”

Cerberus’ smile grew to the corners of his face as his blush deepened. “Yay.”

Fluttershy closed her eyes again, her face mere inches from his. Her breath became a steady-paced trickle of hot air that tickled his muzzle. It seemed she was not quite ready to leave. Frankly, to Cerberus, that was alright.

Scr-Sccccrrr-Scr...

Cerberus craned his neck to see what the hay was making that noise, trying not to disturb either of the mares before him. Applebloom was sitting in the corner sketching on a small, plastic artist easel with multi-colored pencils and pens. She still wore her bandages, though they were coming loose. She seemed to be too absorbed in her work to have noticed his and Fluttershy’s conversation.

“Little one,” Cerberus whispered with a spiked curiosity.

Applebloom poked her head around the side of the easel to reveal that she had a red colored pencil in her mouth. "Aoh! Yeou're awewae, Stherbewrus!" Applebloom spat out the pencil, tucking the paper from the easel away with a slight blush.

“What are you working on?” Cerberus extracted himself from the still sleeping Fluttershy, facing the smaller one with a yawn and an amiable grin. Applejack turned over in her sleep, gripping the yellow mare as she would a teddy bear. Applebloom and Cerberus stifled laughs before Cerberus motioned towards the paper again. “Can I see it?”

"Oh... Um... It’s… not that good… J-just, Y- you... and, um, Sis... and, Fluttershy..." Applebloom seemed to think there was something wrong with that. She edged towards the door, the stairs looking like an inviting retreat.

"A... picture? I'd like to see it, if you don't mind?" Cerberus and Applebloom looked up at Fluttershy, who was waking up again, blushing as she saw Applejack’s forelegs around her midsection.

Applebloom, unwilling to hoof it over, finally admitted defeat. Fluttershy was Fluttershy, after all. "Umm... s-sure. It's really bad, though... I was gonna color it better, then you woke up...” Applebloom held out the piece of paper to Fluttershy, who took it and spread it out on the floor. Cerberus leaned in to look, his eyes not comprehending what he was seeing.

Fluttershy couldn’t help but chuckle at Cerberus going slightly red in the face. "Is... is that really what I look like?" he asked, though it was more of a question to himself. The picture was more than a simple sketch, which was what he'd been expecting. It was... amazing, to say the least. He was wrapped around Fluttershy and Applejack, but it seemed less like a thing done to get comfy, and more as a way to protect the two. His face had the kind eyes of a colt with love and compassion in his heart as he looked upon the two sleeping forms. Fluttershy and Applejack's faces were completely blissful, safe from any dangers that may lurk beyond the protection the half-dragon could give. The two mare's manes were detailed in the most wonderful way, cascading around their faces to frame their forms, and the shadows sketched onto the three forms almost seemed to move. Cerberus felt a sting in his green eyes, and realized he was tearing up.

"Ah knew it. It's terrible, ain't it?" Applebloom was tearing up too.

"No, little one." Cerberus pulled her into a hug. "This is the greatest thing I've ever seen. I can't wait to see it finished."

Applejack broke the silence, slurring out a "wazgoinon?" as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

“Look at what your little sister created.”

Still weak from the traumatic night before, the orange mare managed to get over to Applebloom’s wonderful artwork. She chuckled to herself. “I’ll be damned.” Applebloom felt a smile form on her face as something in her mind seemed to... click. "What'cha so happy 'bout, li'l sis?"

Applebloom kept smiling, not sure how to answer. “I dunno, sis... I feel... good. Even though tha farm's gone, I feel... okay. Seein’ ya’ll happy makes me happy. Like I'm complete or sumthin.” Applebloom closed her eyes, nodding in satisfaction with her fragmented reply.

Applejack's eyes widened as the filly seemed to glow for a second. When the younger Apple opened her eyes again, her sis was smiling down at her. Cerberus approached Applebloom, and cautiously barred his fangs. He clutched Applebloom’s bandages with his teeth and tore them right off, revealing Applebloom’s flank.

Instead of singed hair and burns where the fire had licked at her coat, there was... "Mah CUTIE MARK!!!"

The Apple filly pranced around happily, all pain gone for the moment. Her head started spinning, and she sat back on her haunches, her smile wider than ever. She looked back at her flank, wanting to savor the moment, making sure it was real. The mark was still there.

It showed a painter's palette with the paint smeared across it in a smiley face. A paintbrush was dipped into the red, which looked a lot like an apple.

Cerberus was proud that he was here to witness the happiness of the young filly, as she experienced the satisfaction of obtaining what he never would. He and Fluttershy left the two sisters alone upstairs as they oohed and ahhed at the filly’s wonderful new cutie mark.

He was happier than he had ever been in a long time. He had friends… His happiness gave way to a pit in his stomach as he realized that his old friends were probably all dead. He was too exhausted to cry, but he couldn’t help but wish that he could’ve at least told them how wonderful they had been. I can’t believe that I never really thought of them as friends before. We were just a group of like-minded individuals. He sighed. I’m such an idiot. He looked up at Fluttershy, who was busy preparing a meal for them to eat before helping the Apples back to town. He shook those thoughts away. Mourn later. Too much good has happened for you to mourn a loss you only think you’ve suffered. If I survived, then… Maybe…

“Geez, Fluttershy! That smells amazing! I hope that those two have a big appetite, huh?” He nuzzled the butter-yellow pegasus, who playfully swatted at him with her tail as she blushed.

“Stop! *giggle* Don’t make me drop it!”

Maybe something in his life would go right for once. Maybe he could be normal.

“Hey, you two love-birds better not burn them pancakes! Ah guess dyin’ kin give ya the durndest hunger. Ah’m ready ta eat!” Applejack sat down at the table, snuffing at the sweet smell of honey and maple syrup.

“Me too, me too! Ah got mah cutiemark! Ah can’t wait to show the others!” The little filly bounced down the stairs and into the kitchen, managing to land squarely on a chair as she wiggled in anticipation.

Cerberus helped Fluttershy set out plates stacked high with pancakes drizzled in syrup and butter, the honey and biscuits disappearing as soon as it was on the table.

They all dug in, eating however they felt, in no real rush to finish. There was no fear of being discovered.

Maybe, just maybe, he could be normal.

He definitely felt happy.

“Is everypony ready to head into town?”

“Let me grab my cloak. Just in case I need it.”

Yes, happy was a word Cerberus felt he could now understand, and he wanted to share that happiness with a friend he now held most dear. That is why, a few days later, he mustered the courage to take her hooves in his and say, "Fluttershy... I want to go out to dinner with you."

Confliction

Citizens of Equestria, We have found that there are some most peculiar ponies among those we call our subjects. These ponies are not only stronger than normal, but have powers far beyond even mine. I wish to inform all citizens that these ponies with peculiar powers are most graciously welcome to join my Husband and I in our fair castle, to be raised along side our son, Desmond. If these ponies of whom I speak are willing to join us, I am sure my son will be grateful to have fellow children to play with that are at his same level.

Signed, her Royal Regent of the Unicorns, Queen Platinum, Wife to King Hurricane of the Pegasi.

Chapter 8

Confliction

Rarity squealed, and another giggle rattled through her system as Aloe banked more coals in the corner of the sauna she and Fluttershy occupied. “Oh, Fluttershy, darling, out of everything that could have possibly happened, this is the BEST. POSSIBLE. THING!”

Fluttershy, in her usual manner, blushed and hid behind her bangs before responding in her gentle tones to her psyched friend. “Oh, um, th-thank you, Rarity, b-but, you didn’t have to take me to the spa for this. It’s just a date…”

Rarity’s eyes widened, shock evident on her face as she reached new levels of theatrics. “FLUTTerSHY! This is a first date we are talking about! Not just any date! This is something that a pony remembers for the rest of their life, and as your friend, I, Rarity, have taken on the responsibility of making sure that you look your most fabulous when you go on your date tonight! I know we were here just yesterday, but you simply must look your best!” Rarity nodded, secure in her knowledge of all that was fabulous and proper in the matters of the heart.

“But… I don’t want to be too perfect, Cerberus likes me the way I am, and- and- um…” Fluttershy blushed, her cheeks a bright, vibrant red that was like a beacon through the steam. Rarity tsked; clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth like a teacher would at a misbehaving student.

“Fluttershy,” Rarity began, much more calmly this time, “I understand how you feel. You’re just nervous. And that is the main reason why we’re here. You’re going to need to be more assertive. Now, what have I taught you?”

“Calm and control.”

“Good, good.”

“Soft and elegant voice.”

“Right. And the last one..?”

“… Passion.”

“Good! Those are the elements of a romantic date!”

“That’s… nice, b-but…”

“And, Darling, do remember to give him a nice, big kiss after dinner.”

“B-bu-bu-bu-but-”

“Now, now, Fluttershy, don’t worry! Just show him how you feel, and everything will be alright. Don’t hold back. If he can’t stand being smothered by your affection, then he’s not worth your time. Aloe and Lotus, if you would be so kind as to help me with my friend here, she requires a full facial.”

“Oh, um-“

“A pedi will also be in order.”

“But… but…”

“Now, Fluttershy, this is for your own good. Don’t you trust me?” The unicorn and the twins all surrounded the butter-colored pegasus, attacking her with various relaxing and rejuvenating products.

“Rarity, thank you so much for your help, but-“

“We’re not done yet, my dear!”

“We’re… not?” Fluttershy grimaced at the thought of what else Rarity could possibly do to help her further.

“This is me you’re talking to! We must find the perfect outfit. Anything less than perfect would simply be a travesty!” Rarity levitated a rack of several overly fancy dresses, gowns and headwear over to Fluttershy. “So, what color is in for a first date? Perhaps lime green? You’ve always liked that. Ooh! Maybe hot pink! This hat accompanies your hair quite nicely. Mmm, no, less feathers. More glitt- no, no, no, I will not make that mistake again! Let’s see, blue? Red? I simply cannot decide, what do you think, Fluttershy?”

“I think I’m late.”

Rarity glanced at the clock, her pupils shrinking when she caught the time. “OH! There’s no time! You’ll have to make do with how you are!” She ripped the most recent dress off of Fluttershy and scooted her out the door. “Remember, dear! Passion!”

“Rarity! The neck-“ slam! “-lace.” Fluttershy examined the fine jewelry held around her neck. It was a simple gold chain holding a ruby-and-amethyst butterfly. She took another nervous glance at the boutique’s door before trotting off towards the park.

He was sitting there, lazily staring at the fountain through half-lidded eyes with a small smile on his face. His cloak was partially concealing his wings, but his hood was off. Fluttershy had been trying to get closer for a few minutes now, but was making only the smallest bit of progress, usually ending up even further away. C-come on, y-you can do this… She closed her eyes and started forward, head lowered.

“Oh! Good evening, Fluttershy. I hope you didn’t get lost, I didn’t realize there were three other fountains in the park.” Fluttershy looked up into Cerberus’ warm, kind eyes as he easily excused her tardiness as his fault. But…I’m the one who was late…

“No, I’m sorry… I was late, and, um…”

“You look beautiful, Fluttershy.”

She blushed. She didn’t know why, but whenever he spoke, he made her blush. And she liked it. It wasn’t just embarrassment; it was… something… else. “O-oh, um, thank you?”

He got up off the bench, stretching a wing over her as he started to steer her through the park. She leaned her head against him, resting against his withers as she felt her face burn even brighter. “Heh, Fluttershy, you’re cute when you blush. It’s like a signal being turned on.”

“Oh?”

“Mmhmm. I like to think that I can take it as an okay to do… this!” He rubbed his cheek against hers, nuzzling her as they giggled.

“W-well, then, I, um, m-might just do, um, this!” Fluttershy bumped into him with her hip, causing him to yelp in surprise before she got her head beneath his, loving the feel of his chest on her cheek, his heartbeat a symphony of bass, other percussion joining as he let out a great laugh.

“Oh-ho! It looks like the meek ones are the ones who like it the roughest. How about… this!” He dove his head beneath her as he got her onto his back, before rolling over so she was laying on his chest, his cloak keeping the dew from being able to wet his coat.

They lay there for a few moments, just gazing into each other’s eyes as the day gave way to night. “Mmm. Fluttershy, we should get going. We wouldn’t want to be late.” Fluttershy blinked as she shifted slightly on top of Cerberus.

“Late?”

“I got us a table at the Sunset Soiree, and, we still have time to get there. If you want to.”

“Cerberus,” Fluttershy breathed, “that restaurant is the most prestigious in all of Ponyville!”

“Ah. Then their cuisine shall fall short of the food a mare such as you should dine upon daily. But that is to be expected, since you cook the best food around.” Cerberus nuzzled her as she let out yet another giggle, her face redder than a tomato. “Come on, then.”

Fluttershy looked at the fancy decor, her attention on everything but the stallion in their way. “Aie emm Zorrie, but you cannot come een wizzout wearing ze propear attaire. Zees cloak works, yes, but zeh madame ees wearing nuszing but a nehcklahce, and ve requaiur a fourmall attaire. You could daine on zeh uppah balconeigh if you wish for a leetle protecshun from zeh whethur.”

Cerberus began to steer Fluttershy towards the stairs. “Of course, dining outside would be far better than being in here. We’d actually be less likely to disturb the other patrons, and I understand that we would not wish to make a scene.”

The unicorn with the thick accent smiled, relief evident that he was at least dealing with a pony that was able to hold himself with poise, even though he was denying the couple access to the inner sanctum of the barely filled restaurant. “Raiht zees vey, Monsieur, Madame.”

Once seated, Fluttershy had eyes for only one thing. Or, more to the point, one pony: Cerberus.

"You can’t order me, if that’s what you’re thinking.” There went her cheeks again. “The menu has many good choices to pick from, Fluttershy. What would you like?”

Fluttershy finally glanced at the page of stiff paper before her. Hay and Alfalfa Salad, Oat Salad, Wheat Soup, Apple Soufflé, Apple Soup, Roasted Chestnut Salad… Oh, there’s just too many good choices! Her gaze drifted down the page until a particular dish caught her eye.

“Um, I-I’ll have the, um, um, I’ll have this one.” She pointed at the menu, their waiter reading the entry being pointed to with approval.

“Ah, zat is a good choice, Madame. Carrot and Cabbage lasagna is a good choice indeed. And for ze gentlecolt?”

“I shall have the roasted chestnut and carrot salad with some zucchini and alfalfa instead of fries, with a side order of Ruby red-potato soup. Does that come with actual rubies?”

“Ah, zorrey, but, non. We just yewze zat term foar ze colohring of ze potatoes.”

“That’s all right,” Cerberus said, “I brought some of my own.” He pulled out a sack of gems and began to chew on a small emerald.

The waiter, looking as if he’d just seen a tap-dancing Manticore sing a duet with a cockatrice, left without another comment.

The food was great, the cider even more so. “Cerberus…” Fluttershy had asked a few questions of him over the course of the dinner, and the answers she got usually brought along more questions.

He’d only been with his mother a year or so before she had disappeared. He had begun to run at that young age, for Royal guards everywhere would attack him for nothing if he was ever seen in a town.

He’d met Judas when she had helped him when he was on the verge of starving to death. He’d lived with her family, under the guise of being the Butler’s son. When the Butler passed away and left the small amount of bits he had to the young colt, he had to move on. Judas’ parents weren’t going to let him live there any longer, anyways. He’d disgraced their family.

They’d met another disgraced noble who was small, but a few years older than them. They were united in blood and in cause, a family of renegades against the world.

Solstice drifted into the group and never left. She was just… there. Nopony knew her story.

“Yes?”

“One more question.” Fluttershy was blushing, but this time it was because she was trying to stop herself from jumping over the edge of the balcony and flying away.

“Alright, what’s your question?”

“Why… why do you like me?”

“…”

“It-it’s okay. You don’t have to- oh!” Fluttershy was suddenly wrapped in a hug as Cerberus held her in his forelegs. His strong, toned forelegs. Fluttershy could feel all the blood rushing to her face as she reveled in his strong, loving embrace.

“Fluttershy, I… I like you because you are who you are. You know what I am, and yet don’t find me abhorrent. You… you spend time with me doing nothing more than just lying there and watching the sun set. With you, I feel… calm. Safe. I don’t need to run, I can sleep peacefully for the first time in a long while. I’m not afraid.” He ran his muzzle through her mane, rubbing his snout against her neck, cheek, and ear. “I love you, because you’re the only pony to ever love me back.”

It was time. She knew it was. She had every opening necessary. She could steal a kiss from his lips right here and now.

She hesitated.

She nuzzled his cheek, giving him a small lick. Salt. He was crying. She continued to rub her face against Cerberus’, finally kissing his nose before looking into his eyes. They were puffy and tinged with sadness, but that sadness was outshone by the love and trust that he felt for her.

Another chance. He was open again. She closed her eyes, bringing her lips closer to his, and- “Ahem, jour beel es heer, monsieur. I weel be bauk to peek eet up laturr.” Fluttershy beat a hasty retreat, her face even redder than she had ever felt it. Cerberus paid the bill, and left a handsome tip.

Thus began the trip back home, underneath a cloudless night sky. As the couple passed through the town square, Cerberus gazed upon the sky with a new expression of comfort and inner peace. "I'll have to thank mother for providing the perfect atmosphere." His face then had a twinge of doubt. It was only for an instant.

Fluttershy didn't pay much mind to that. Soon, their date would come to an end, and although Cerberus was obviously satisfied, she still had an obligation to fulfill. Don’t worry! Just show him how you feel, and everything will be alright. How did she feel? Simple. She loved him, more than all the wonders of the world. But, could she really, really find the courage to kiss him right then and there? Manticores, Cockatrices, evil embodiments of chaos and destruction? She would take them all on again without pause, but intimacy was beyond her. When she took Cerberus into her care, he was just another little animal in need of her caring touch, except he could talk back. When he did talk, she felt like her soul could melt.

"You know, I'm glad you didn't go to great lengths to impress me tonight. Somepony like you doesn't need to hide behind some dress to look beautiful."

How does he do that? He always knew just what to say and it never failed to set her cheeks ablaze with every word. He had pushed her over her limit. She just couldn't restrain her feelings anymore. Don’t hold back.

Fluttershy lost control and threw herself at Cerberus. She thrust her forelegs around his neck and held on like he was the only thing separating her from life and an imaginary fall to her death. He hardly budged from her affectionate assault, but he certainly was amused by it. He made a triumphant laugh. "Ha ha! You'll have to try harder than that to take me down."

"I just... wanted to get closer. I'm trying to be more assertive."

"You could have just asked, love."

"Love..." His soothing voice had stopped her short of what she wanted to say to him. Here she was, on his back, with a loss for words. What now?

"If you want to say something, just go ahead and say it."

Fluttershy let it all out at his request. "I just want you to know that you mean more to me than anything else, and that I loved you from the moment I first saw you. I know that sounds sappy, but I did, even if you were scary. I'm not scared anymore. I... I..."

"Take your time. We're in no hurry." Cerberus was gazing into her soul... again. This was it. Nopony would stop her from puckering her lips, moving her head closer to the love of her life, crossing the bridge of overwhelming emotion and euphoria, until... "Hold on a second." Cerberus was the one red in the face this time. Fluttershy had finally punctured through his dexterity. Heck, he was so thrown off balance, he had to pull his hood over his head to cover up his flaming cheeks.

"Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked by instinct.

Cerberus shook his head and regained composure. "I'm better than okay. You just caught me off guard."

"HEY!" A chilling voice echoed through the air, filling Fluttershy with a sense of dread. She saw one of Princess Celestia's royal soldiers approach from the alleyway. His golden armor glistened in the moonlight. He continued to shout. "Stop right there, criminal scum!" Fluttershy's newly found assertiveness counted for nothing when she was being yelled at by authority. She cowered, even though she knew she had nothing to be guilty for.

She felt a hoof nudge her. "You'd best get out of here, love." Cerberus trotted forth and crouched into a battle position. He called out to the guard. "It's me you want, right? She's not involved."

What was this? Cerberus standing up to a royal guard... the better question was, why was a royal guard in a remote town such as Ponyville, and what did he want with him?

"What are you still doing here?"

Fluttershy was too confused and too scared to even move. She could only ask. "Wh-what's going on, Cerberus?"

"It's my turn to be assertive. I'm sick of running from these guys. NOW GO!"

The sounds of fabric being torn apart, and a deafening blast of wind accompanied Cerberus spreading his dragon wings. Just doing that caused curtains to fly and the grass to bend. He kicked off the ground and accelerated faster than anypony Fluttershy had seen before. The royal guard didn't even have a chance to dodge, and he was thrown into the air, twirling many times before falling to the ground with less in his stomach than he had before. The dragon colt touched down as the guard managed to get his second wind. "I should have known better than to take you single hooved, freak." He said between breaths. Cerberus shot a menacing glare at him and proceeded to knock him unconscious by slamming both hooves into his chest.

Cerberus then gazed back at Fluttershy. She was not smitten when he did so, because there was no love or contentment in his eyes. Only confliction. She didn't know what to say... again. Apparently he did, though.

"Goodbye." He turned away from Fluttershy as if it pained him to just look at her. He flapped his wings and soared away...

"Cerberus!" Fluttershy yelled. He wasn't going back to the house, and that made her anxious.

The guard groaned a struggled to his hooves. "Bloody stupid 'a me to attack widout reinforcements. You awright there, miss? He didn't hurt you none, did he?"

"H-hurt me?"

"Yeah, the freak that was just wit'cha. He's a wanted convict, y'know. The princess personally ordered 'im to be arrested."

"Celestia? Why?"

The guard was just as confused as Fluttershy. He shook his head. "Don't rightly know, meself. I'd rather see the beast dead in a corner than given a proper trial as a pony, but I don't make the rules. I best bring in the cavalry fer this one." The guard spread his own wings and glided over the town, searching for Cerberus. Like he could actually find him, he was unconscious for his target's getaway.

Fluttershy knew where Cerberus went, though. She looked up to the sky and could just barely see him flying across the night sky. She needed to talk to him. She still had to give him a kiss. She wouldn't lose him, not this time.

Fluttershy tried to keep up, but Cerberus was just too fast. She was losing him, even though she was straining her rarely used wing muscles. I… I can’t do it. Fluttershy’s eyes began to tear up, her pace slacking somewhat. But… Fluttershy looked at Cerberus’ fleeing form, the tears blurring it until he looked like no more than an azure speck. I-I love him, and… She wiped the tears away, her wings straining as they started flapping even faster to make up for the lengthened distance between them. I… I want to be with him! I… I won’t let him suffer like this! Not to those big… Fluttershy closed her eyes as she strained her wings to shuddering speeds. Dumb… She could feel her whole body reverberating as it was buffeted by the air around her. MEANIES! She couldn’t hear anything but the whistling of the wind, and- WHAP! Fluttershy slammed right into Cerberus, getting tangled in the remains of his cloak as he struggled to keep in the air. She had thrown him off balance, and the two plummeted into the outskirts of the Everfree Forest, thankfully with only a scratch or two. Before Cerberus could stand up, Fluttershy forced herself on top of him. She was not going to let him out of her sight until he gave her some answers.

“Cerberus! You can’t just try to leave every time somepony calls you out! You don’t need to run anymore. I... I love you for who you are, and... I...”

“Fluttershy, it would be best if you just forgot about me.”

“...How could you ask me to do that?”

“Trust me, it’s what everypony else has done.”

“...b...but what about everything you said back there?”

“I did mean it. I love you, but I can’t stay.”

“Why?”

“...Okay, do you really want to know? Fine. There’s a reason the royal guards want me. There’s a reason I was left for dead in the Everfree Forest." He sighed. "All I wanted was to see my mother.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m the assassin.”

“...What?”

“I’m the assassin! Celestia cast me from the her throne room all the way to the Everfree Forest. Unfortunately for her, I survived.

“She isn’t the great ruler you think she is. She hates my kind. She won’t stop until me and everypony who knows me are dead. That’s why we can never see each other again. I don’t want anypony else to die. Especially not you.”

Every word was like a knife in Fluttershy’s heart. She couldn’t comprehend what was worse: that this beautiful dragon colt was one of Celestia’s attackers and she has fallen head over hooves for him, or the thought of never seeing him again. She was left without the ability to respond, only to start crying again. Cerberus would be there to comfort her, right?

“Goodbye.”

No, he wouldn’t. His mind was made up. Fluttershy had lost all sense of reality, the only thing she could do was lay on the grass and call out to the half-dragon she only caught a glimpse of before he disappeared into the light of the moon. Just like that, the only pony Fluttershy had ever been in love with was gone.

Rage

"It is an honor to finally get a chance to speak with you, Celina."

"The feeling is mutual, Prince Desmond."

"No need for formalities, I'd prefer it if you'd not refer to me as 'Prince'."

"As you wish. Why is it an honor to speak with me? I'm just a peasant."

"Your unusual qualities say otherwise. You and the rest of your siblings are much like me, a different breed of pony. Few understand what we are truly capable of."

"That is true. I can learn in minutes what other unicorns can't accomplish with weeks of practice... the same goes for my sisters, and you?"

"Precisely. However, there is something about you, Celina, that peaks my interest above all the others. You have something that they don't."

"What's that, then?"

"You have... beauty. I find myself smitten by your perfect coat and flowing hair... it is like an ocean on a summer's dawn. Do my words make you uncomfortable?"

"No. By all means, continue."

Chapter 9

Rage

Dearest Princess Celestia,

We in Ponyville had found a friend in a most interesting individual. He was quiet, scared and a little bit cynical. Most had treated him like he was a smudge of dirt on a carriage until he met us. When he quite literally dropped into our lives, he tore a small rift between Applejack and Fluttershy, but an act of bravery on his part closed that rift, and he became strong-hearted and more friendly. He even fell in love. I've learned that a friend can come from anywhere and sometimes they have unusual qualities, but love and tolerance are all they need.

It's just a shame that he couldn't stay long enough to figure that out.

Sincerely, your most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight checked her letter at least three times for spelling and punctuation errors before she concluded that it was worthy of the good princess' time.

She stepped down from her study area to wake her little dragon assistant, who was still under the weather. He had been sick for the past few weeks and his condition never improved, no matter what medicinal concoctions or spells she tried. Even Zecora had said, "This young one's illness eludes me. There are no internal injuries or blemishes to see." Twilight had assumed he was just hitting another growth spurt, even though it was a rather uneducated guess. After all, dragons were still a mystery to her and the rest of the academics out there. "Hey champ, are you feeling okay?"

"A hundred and -cough, hack!- ten percent better."

Twilight chuckled. "Clearly not, if you're talking in mathematical impossibilities."

"Spare me the geek stuff, Twilight. I can survive." The little trooper crawled out of his small bed and yawned... many times. Twilight was amazed at how dedicated he was to being a little helper despite any obstacles that were thrown in his way. Maybe he was recovering.

"Are you able to send any letters?" Twilight asked.

"I can try." Spike cleared his throat and took a deep breath, but it caught in his throat, causing another flurry of hacking. "Cah-hah! Uh, sorry Twilight. I just can't get it up."

Twilight snickered to herself. "Heh, a bit for every time that's happened."

"What?"

"Oh, nothing." She levitated her letter into a small saddlebag. "I suppose I can give this to the princess personally."

"Why not just have Derpy deliver it?"

Twilight let loose an easy chuckle, expecting Spike to laugh with her. "Wait, you're serious?"

"Pinkie, have you seen Judith anywhere?"

"Who?"
"The purple pegasus with the creepy tattoos."

"What?"

"You met her!"

"When?"

"A few weeks ago."

"Where?"

"The party."

"Why?"

"I'm trying to find her! Why else?"

"I dunno. You know what I also don't know?"

"Enlighten me."

"Why a purple pegasus with creepy tattoos told me to tell you that she was leaving town and not coming back."

"PINKIE!"

"Yes, Dashie?"

Rainbow Dash gave herself the mother of all facehoofs. She loved Pinkie Pie to high Cloudsdale, but... sometimes she was just impossible to work with. Wait, she just said that Judith was leaving... forever?

"Why is it that everypony that just got into town is suddenly taking off? First Cerberus, now Judith..."

Pinkie Pie stepped down from the park bench. "Bubblemint Berry left this morning."

"Well, isn't that fine and dandy."

It hadn't been a very pleasant week for any of the six friends. While the residents of Ponyville were getting along just fine and most of Sweet Apple Acres had been rebuilt, Cerberus' confession and disappearing act had left everypony with mixed emotions about the young colt. Despite being one of Celestia's attempted murderers, he had been so innocent and harmless. Hay, he saved Applejack and Applebloom from a fiery demise, so clearly he valued life. What was his provocation? All I wanted was to see my mother... What did Luna have to do with this? Did she know Cerberus was one of the assassins? So many questions were answered, yet many were created. What was worse was what this did to poor Fluttershy.

One Week Ago...

Nopony except Fluttershy had witnessed Cerberus take off, and when the sun rose the morning after what should have been the best night of her life, everything seemed so... normal. This contrasted the emptiness in her heart and mind. She could only lay in her bed and let the slivers of the morning sun poke through the closed curtains. She couldn't stand to open her eyes when she knew he wouldn't be there on the other side of the bed. She was tempted to cover her ears so she could pretend that she could hear his slow breaths. Even if she were that desperate, she wouldn't be able to feel his chest rising and falling. She could remember, when he breathed it was like a warm breeze that smelled like brimstone. All this she would never be able to experience again, because he was gone. That was all there was to it. The only thing that kept Fluttershy from staying under the covers until she faded from existence was Rarity knocking at the door. She wouldn't take no for an answer when it came to their weekly visit to the spa.

"So, Sweetie Belle has very much improved in the fashion department, at least I assume so, I haven't heard her say 'Dumb fabric' in at least a month. She was helping me with a prototype gown that would look just lovely on you, come by sometime and model for me, would you? Where was I? Ah, yes. I'm so proud of Sweetie Belle. First she gets a cutie mark in singing, bless her, and now she rivals me in the art of the dress. Why, I may have to pass the element of generosity down to her if she... well, of course I wouldn't do that, that necklace is just too fabulous to give up. Oh, there I go again, talking about myself. Generosity my plot! I never even gave you a chance to talk, Fluttershy. So, how did your date with Cerberus go?"

It was a genuinely innocent question. Rarity was not expecting Fluttershy to start sniffling, much less burst into tears. It took several minutes to calm her down, and by that time her tears had mixed with the water of the hot tub, chilling Rarity as if it were a bath of ice. Rarity dried the miserable pegasus' cheeks and asked what came over her. Fluttershy had to explain everything that Cerberus had said, that he was one of Princess Celestia's would-be assassins. It was as if she was reliving the traumatic experience just by talking about it.

Eventually, this led to Rarity telling Rainbow Dash, and Rainbow Dash telling Applejack, and The Cutie Mark Crusaders eavesdropping on Applejack, leading them to telling Pinkie Pie, and Pinkie Pie forgoing making a Pinkie Pie Promise and just literally popping up in Twilight's house to tell her.

It was still difficult to determine if Fluttershy was more upset that she had fallen in love with somepony responsible for attempted murder, or that he had dumped her. It very well could have been both.

Present day...

"Good afternoon, girls," Twilight said to Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash as she passed by Sugarcube Corner.

Rainbow Dash, acting cynical as always, "What's so good about it?"

Pinkie did what she did best. That is, violate Twilight's personal space and barrage her with questions, "Where're you going? What's up? Hey, where's Gummy? Are you gonna find Him? Ohh, what's in the saddlebag, Twilight? No wait, don't tell me! You should know by now that I love surprises!"

"I know you do, Pinkie. Don't worry about the bag. It's just some last-minute packing for a last-minute trip to Canterlot. Spike's still sick and I have a friendship report to deliver."

Rainbow Dash was relaxing on the roof of the bakery at this point. "Let me guess. It's about-"

"Yes." Everypony did their best to not refer to... him by name, as it left them filled them with dread, and if Fluttershy was nearby, covered in tears. "I know it isn't the best idea to write a letter about an assassin and deliver it to the one he tried to assassinate, but I think the message is good, and I kept his identity ambiguous. Celestia doesn't have to know."

"Fair enough. See ya when ya get back."

Pinkie Pie made another invasion. "Gotta sweet tooth? I can getcha something tasty for the trip!"

"That... won't be necessary." Twilight couldn't help but chuckle at Pinkie Pie's never ending supply of energy and Rainbow Dash's sarcasm. Okay, so they lost a friend. At least they all had each other at the end of the day. That was enough to keep her smiling.

"Oh, wait!" Rainbow Dash stopped lazing around to catch up to Twilight as she trotted off to the train station. "If you see Luna, it would probably be a good idea not to mention..." Like she needed to finish that sentence.

"I'll make sure she stays unaware... if she is."

The generally sullen looking coach was void of life. The train still ran on schedule regardless of who did or didn't ride, but there was significant doubt in Twilight's mind that Canterlot was a place worth visiting these days. The mountainside capital was still a fascinating architectural phenomenon, the streets were still paved with diamonds and the snooty upperclass types were still snooty and upperclass. What they were snooting about was whether or not the assassin would strike again, and whether or not it was appropriate to pack their things and leave, as a murderer was bad for their image, in more ways than one. As such, the train leaving Canterlot was plenty full, and starkly contrasted the return trip.

Twilight sat in silence as the train glided along the tracks. I really should have brought a book, she thought. I still haven't finished Daring Do and The Palace of the Diamond Spine. Everypony I know says it's the worst in the franchise, I don't see what's so bad about it, aside from Daring surviving an atomic rain-nuke by hiding in a refri... huh, would you look at the clouds.

Several weeks since the attack and the dark, ominous clouds that reflected the overall mood of Princess Celestia continued to billow over the city. They had shrunk to the point where they couldn't be seen from Ponyville, but they were still there.

Twilight started talking to herself as she usually did when she was alone. "Maybe this is a bad time to see the Princess. I should have taken my chances with Derpy... no. I... I'm sure the Princess will understand. Who knows? Maybe a good chat with her star pupil will cheer her up. Heh, the clouds parting because of me. What an idea."

Twilight got off the train and started on her way to the castle, humming a tune she couldn't quite remember the name to, she-

"Twilight!" She turned around, wondering who it could...

"Oh, no..." Twilight groaned. It's Moondancer! Doing her best to blend in with the surrounding crowd, she dodged and weaved towards the station exit like a seamstress on 'Joke'.

A few minutes later, huffing and puffing at the corner of Breaking Way and Dawn Ave, Twilight tried to regain her bearings.

"Oh, great. Downtown. I'm lost." Twilight sighed, and began searching the skyline for the castle, to no avail. The buildings were too close here, and she had never needed to come here before. The last thing she wanted to do was run into one of these... establishments to get help. Resigning herself to a bit of wandering, she made her way down the street, looking for something... anything that was even remotely familiar. After getting to a street whose only two remarkable buildings were a club announcing the name 'Filly Fools', and a building that looked like a small amphitheater, Twilight saw a familiar face.

"Oh! Octavia! Is that you?"

Octavia looked up, smiling at the lavender mare. "Why, hello there, Twilight. How are you doing today, hmm? Really didn't think to ever see you around here."

Twilight chuckled. "Yeah, I'm actually a teensy bit lost, you see. I almost ran into an old, um, 'friend' that I was really, really hoping I wouldn't see."

"Oh? What's she look like, this... 'friend' of yours?"

"Well, she's got a white coat, and has a red and blue striped mane.Why?"

"Ohhhh Twi~ligh~t! Where'd you go~o~o?"

"Oh, Celestia, help me!"

The lavender mare shot off down the street towards the amphitheater, disappearing from sight right as the other unicorn trotted up to Octavia. "Hey, have you seen a purple unicorn with the cutest array of stars for a cutiemark around here?"

"Hmmm, yes, I think I have. Are you, by any chance, Moondancer?"

The unicorn beamed. "Yes! That's me!"

"Okay, good. The mare you're looking for just went into the club down the street. She said she was waiting for you."

The white unicorn's eyes sparkled as she squealed in delight and, amidst a storm of "thank you!"s, she took off for 'Filly Fools'.

Octavia shook her head and sighed. "I sure hope she gets wherever she needs to. I'll try and help her with her stalker, here." Sighing again, she went off to make sure the young unicorn stayed within her sight for at least a little while.

Finally... she'd finally lost Moondancer. Now, she just needed to find... the... castle... oh, low and behold, in her rush to dodge her stalker, she had found it. "Huh. I really need to work on navigation." The sun was sitting lower on the horizon, so Twilight hurried inside to find Celestia before it became night.

Security had increased tenfold within the castle, for obvious reasons. Thankfully, Twilight's face was still well known in Canterlot and the guards had no quarrel letting her inside. The captain of the guard, a unicorn named Black Licorice, personally escorted her to the princess' chambers.

"We sent some troops into Ponyville last week. Her royal highness suggested that we search every town and city for the assassins."

"Have you, um, found anything? Out of curiosity."

"Not yet, they are sneaky devils, which is odd. You'd think we'd be able to spot dragon wings a mile away." The guard didn't seem to notice when Twilight's heart skipped a beat. "Ah, here we are, miss. Princess Celestia's quarters."

"My faithful student. It is good to see you again, Twilight. How long has it been since we last talked?"

"I don't recall. It's probably been months."

"I trust everypony in Ponyville is doing well?"

"Most of us, yes."

"Oh? Only most?"

Twilight nodded. How much could she say? "Well, Fluttershy recently got a coltfriend..."

"That is good news. How are they doing?"

"... Not so well. He... Something family-related came up, and, he had to leave. We're... not sure if we'll be seeing him again." Her ears drooped as she scuffed at the floor. "He was... an interesting individual." She looked up as she remembered the reason she was there in the first place. "I wrote about him in my friendship report."

Celestia smiled. "Ah, I was getting rather worried. You haven't sent one in a while, Twilight."

Twilight sighed as she used her magic to hand the letter in question to Celestia. "I'm sorry. Spike hasn't been doing very well. I think he's sick, but... Nothing works. His vitals all seemed, well, as 'normal' as ever, I suppose, but that isn't saying much. Dragon's can't run fevers, and I'm afraid he might have something worse than a cold."

Celestia's face carried a pained expression. "I'm sorry to hear that. My flame spell seems to be malfunctioning. I've tried to send a few letters, but... They just burn to ash."

A silence grew between the two ponies as they each look for something else to say.

"... Princess?"

"Yes, Twilight?"

"I... I haven't seen Luna anytime recently. It's been quite a few years since the last time she visited for Nightmare Night, and..."

"Yes? Go on."

"I... I was wondering if she was doing alright? I hope she's not still, out of it after her banishment."

"Yes, well, she has seen fit to take a brief... hiatus, if you will,so she can learn more of what the world is like in modern times."

"Oh, that's good to know. So, you've heard from her recently, then. I was just making sure that, well, there hadn't been an attack on her life, you know? Heh, I'd hate to hear that she was wounded somewhere, unable to get help, you know?"

Celestia's eyes narrowed. "Yes... It would be, at that. I assure you, Twilight, that she is fine where she is, and that I have everything under control." Her voice sounded colder than she had intended, causing Twilight to flinch. Then, her face broke into a friendly smile. "Thank you for your concern, though. Why do you ask?"

"I'm just... worried. Ever since the attack I've felt that everything I know is wrong. I never thought that anyone would want you... gone."

"There are some things in this world that even you have yet to understand, and oh, how I try to keep you and the rest of the peasants safe from those things."

"Peasants? Things? What are you talking about?"

"When I first rose above and purged this world of disharmony and chaos, I knew what I had to do. To keep order, there were... certain beings that had to be destroyed. They only pretended to carry the hearts and minds of ponies, they were nothing more than... half-breeds." Celestia's face contorted into a disgusted frown. The look lasted for less than a second before her smile returned. "Did you have anything else you wished to say, Twilight?"

Half-breeds. Twilight just heard Celestia say she ordered attacks on half-breeds. It wasn't racial issues that kept Cerberus from settling down or making friends, it was that he had a price on his head, because of her. The assassination attempt only upped the ante.

Twilight couldn't comprehend this, but she had to defend her position. She kept stammering over her own words. "W-Well, surely not all half-breeds a-are bad?"

"I'm afraid that's not the case. It may be shallow-minded, but they are all pure evil. Considering their place of origin, the monster that created the lot, there is nothing about them that is worth redemption. They're just unnatural monsters that are a stain on this kingdom of love and tolerance."

No. Just... no. She just called Cerberus a monster. No matter what awful thing Cerberus did, he never deserved these words. Twilight couldn't take it anymore. Against logic, against everything she ever believed in, she shouted at the princess she admired more than anything in the world, "Don't you dare call Cerberus a stain!"

Celestia didn't respond at first. The laws of time and space seemed to come to a crawl, as she was having difficulty comprehending the situation as well. She sighed. "Luna's spawn is still alive, isn't it?"

Twilight was too scared to say anything but, "Yes."

"You befriended it."

"Yes."

"You know what it did."

"Yes."

"You still hold it in high regard."

"He... saved my friends' lives."

"Yes or no, Twilight Sparkle?"

"...Yes."

"You've befriended something that made an attempt on my life."

"Maybe he wouldn't have done it if you hadn't made his life a living hell!" Oh no, why did she say that?

"You are not one to question my rule of this kingdom! I have ruled for nigh on a millenia and I have tolerated the half-breeds' existence for far too long!"

"H-how many have you killed?"

"Hundreds, perhaps thousands, to the point that only a fair few remain, down to a few manticores and griffins, amongst others... I only let your friend Zecora live because she takes refuge in the Everfree Forest. All it would take to rid me of her would be a single monster sent down her path..."

"You wouldn't!" Twilight was almost to tears.

"What's stopping me? Have you researched the drought that destroyed nearly half of Fillydelphia a thousand years ago? That is my usual execution method. Fires can be started by almost anything and it always looks like an accident. Unfortunately that fire in particular only took one of two I had targeted. The latter has... evaded me. I'd get rid of it, but it has proven useful. As for my dear nephew, he is a liability. He has made a fool out of me and must be put to death as soon as possible. As for you... a friend of a half-breed is no better than a half-breed. I'm sorry."

Celestia turned to Twilight, and though she was no less the glorious princess of the sun, she wasn't Twilight's teacher. She wasn't her idol. She... she was going to kill her. Twilight slumped to the ground, in numbness, in confusion, in one thought that kept swimming through her mind. Celestia is going to kill me. Celestia is going to kill me.. It was like Pinkie Sense. It was right in front of her, but she couldn't understand it. After all these years, she would die simply for doing what she had been told to do: make friends.

"Pati intra ecstasi-sicut statu reliquum tui esse." The helpless unicorn closed her eyes. Regret filled her entire being as she was lifted from the floor. This was archaic magic, a spell that trapped its victim in a suspended state of being and slowly drained their life force.

She could feel her mind slipping into rest. Her last two thoughts collided. What a way to go, and, I hope Spike is okay...

Twiiiigliiight...

Twilight...

"TWILIGHT!"

The black void around Twilight shattered when the voice of a familiar purple-blue dragon colt pierced her deep sleep. Wind rustled through her mane and she collided with the ground. All she saw was a blend of white, gold and magenta.

"Don't touch her! Don't even look at her!"

"Nephew. You would be wise to stop your struggle and make it easier for the both of you. I can't promise that a continued struggle will result a painless death."

"Like hell!"

Twilight couldn't feel the carpet anymore. She was soaring through the castle corridors, held by the dragon colt who saved her life. She finally mustered the strength to speak. "Cerberus! How did you find me?"

"I tried to leave, but my heart wouldn't let me. On my way back to Fluttershy's cottage, I heard Rarity talk about you going to Canterlot, and I knew that wouldn't end well."

The voice of Captain Black echoed through the hallways. "The assassin is back! Split up and find him! I want him dead, I want any associates of his dead too!"

"Here comes the cavalry," said Cerberus. "Can you use magic?"

"I d- I don't know!"

"Well, you're gonna have to."

Twilight could see five white pegasi guards trailing behind them. Cerberus was a fast flyer, but he lacked Rainbow Dash's maneuverability. Being unable to navigate the castle while keeping speed ensured that the guards quickly caught up.

"I need a little help here!"

Twilight cast the first spell that came to mind, "Conteram re ita ut effugere!" The walls warped and the windows shattered, hindering their pursuers and spilling blood. Potted plants grew to ridiculous sizes and ensnared the guards.

"Well done."

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere that's not here."

"She... she tried to kill me! I still can't believe it."

"I know. She's hurt us both."

"The half-breed hunts?"

"No. Those were just scratches compared to what she did. She might as well have ripped my heart out if she believed I even have one. She took my mother away from me."

"...Wait, that's-"

"That's why you haven't heard from Luna. That's why I came here that night. I had no plans to kill Celestia, only to take back my mother. I had a few acquaintances that were out for blood, and when the princess intercepted I had no choice but to attack. I was thrown into the Everfree forest."

This expository onslaught was making Twilight queasy, or maybe it was because of flying through the air at breakneck speeds. "I don't feel so good."

"Okay, okay, I'll touch down."

Twilight took several deep breaths, tried not to throw up, and wiped the tears from her eyes. Words couldn't describe how much her perception of reality was utterly destroyed in the last few minutes, but sometimes that's all the time it takes for everything to change. This was really happening. Celestia wanted her dead.

She looked around to see that she and Cerberus were in a lower part of the castle, where the ornate rugs and curtains and finely polished pedestals gave way to warped brick walls and mossy floors.

"Dodgy place..." said Cerberus. He slowly trotted back and forth, making an escape plan. "How to escape a castle full of rampaging pegasus guards with a physically and emotionally traumatized unicorn... If only I had brought Heretic with me."

Twilight got ahold of her gag reflex long enough to ask, "Who's Heretic?"

"Um, you know him as Bubblemint Berry, but he hates that name, so he goes by Heretic."

"Was he one of the..."

"Yeah. There's also Winter Solstice, she's a unicorn, and a quiet one at that. She was in Ponyville, too, but she likes to lay low. There's also Judith-"

"Judith too?!"

"Calm yourself!"

"Sorry..."

"Yes, Judith too, although she goes by Judas. And... there's something else..."

Twilight was getting even more sick of all this. She got as close as she could to raising her voice without actually shouting. "For the love of prince Blueblood's nonexistant modesty, what else could there possibly be to further annihilate everything I thought I knew about Celestia, Luna, you, and the rest of Equestria? What, did Rarity impregnate Pinkie Pie with some ancient magic and the baby is an assassin too? Are rainbows made of pony flesh now? Please, oh please, Cerberus, do tell!"

"Twilight, I think I know where my mother is now."

A Lighter Side of the Moon

"Are you well, Desmond? I can't say I understand what it's like to lose one's parents."

"I will be fine in due time, my dear Celina. I am fully prepared to ascend the throne, and I hope that someday... you can rule by my side."

"Oh my, Desmond..."

"I'll take that as a yes?"

"I'm sorry, but that wouldn't be fair to my siblings. We're all meant to rule together."

"It's more than fair, love. You are clearly the strongest and most capable of them all."

"I... I just cannot see that happening."

Chapter 10
A Lighter Side of the Moon

"Mother... you're really here." Cerberus was close to tearing up himself. Not out of rage or sadness like Twilight, but out of previously untapped joy. He was looking upon his mother, Princess Luna, with his own eyes, although she could not see back. Within a multicolored sphere she was suspended above the ground. Cerberus could feel her essence dwindling away by the second. Twilight would have suffered the same fate had he not intervened. It was easy then; that bubble was incomplete. The princess of the night had been trapped like this for... ages. She looked malnourished, heck, her rib cage was visible, and her mane was not painted with the constellations of a clear night sky like usual, instead it was an unkempt mess of dark blue with streaks of grey. She couldn't last much longer. "I have to get her out!" Fueled by the desire to hear his mother's voice again, Cerberus leaped to her spherical prison and tried to break it apart with his hooves, his teeth, his forehead, his wings, anything that could be used as a weapon. His efforts were futile, particularly when the sphere fought back by releasing a wave of pure energy that cast the hapless colt away. "Damn!"

Twilight regained her balance from the wave. "Physical attacks won't work."

"Why didn't you just say so?"

"I tried to, but you were shouting."

Both of them could hear the clashing of metal and galloping hooves echoing through the outside corridor.

"I think they heard me. Quick, use your magic on the sphere!"

Twilight protested, again. "Cerberus, I'm weak! I could be out for days if I overdo it. I could even die."

"Well, best take your chances, because if you don't, we'll be dead anyway."

That was harsh logic, but it worked, because with a look of reluctant determination, Twilight turned to the sphere containing Princess Luna, and worked her magic... literally. "Misit hunc... caelestis carcerem!" A slightly larger sphere, this one of a magenta hue, enveloped the prison. This was a counteractive spell that cut away at any magical properties contained within it. Twilight had never used it before, ergo she was straining herself to keep it going. To both her and Cerberus' pleasant surprise, it worked. Luna's magical prison dissipated, and Twilight allowed hers to do the same. She did her best to not collapse on the spot.

Luna awoke immediately, and managed to stable herself for a smooth landing on the stone floor... this first impression of fast recovery did not last, and she staggered. Cerberus ran to her side. He was definitely in tears now, as he buried his face into his mother's hair.

"Mother! I'm here! I came to save you!"

Luna was, at first, confused, mixed with a twinge of relief, as if the sphere had her in pain for as long as she had been held within it, which it probably did. She looked at her son, and it took a moment to realize it was him. "Cerberus... what have you done?"

"It's going to be okay now! We can run away to the Draconic Lands. Celestia won't be able to touch us ever again."

"As if I intend to let that happen." Cerberus looked back in horror. Captain Black had barged through the doors with a battalion of armored pegasi, and behind all of them was Princess Celestia. Her menacing influence filled the room as she strode on in. "I offered you mercy, half-breed. Now you, Twilight, and your mother will suffer for what you've done."

"What mercy?!" Surprise abound, Twilight was now standing up to her, it's appropriate to say, former teacher. "You were practically eating your sister alive! You were going to do the same to me!"

Cerberus shouted as well. "What about my half-breed brethren? What about Hephaestus? Would you call what you've done to him mercy?"

Celestia was clearly upset by these accusations. "That's irrelevant!" She turned to the battalion of soldiers. "They're weak! Kill them now! Make them suffer."

Twilight must have been under some intense adrenaline, because somehow, she found the power to cast a spell that blinded the soldiers. When the light cleared, Twilight, Cerberus and Princess Luna were nowhere to be found.

A clash of lightning echoed across the sky. The clouds looming over Canterlot had transformed from a quiet yet ominous overcast into a raging thunderstorm, fueled by Celestia's rage. The whole city had been thrown into a panic from the sudden change. Most scurried home, others ran to the castle to investigate, as flashing lights of magical origin had been seen coming from there from miles away.

The two ponies responsible for the chaos, along with Princess Luna, appeared in the middle of Mane Street from a magenta flash of light. Due to the chaos, nopony stopped to ask why a less than healthy Luna was accompanying a half-dragon and an unconscious-

"Oh no, Twilight's out cold!" Cerberus checked her pulse. She was stable, but this was no time or place to give breaths. "Okay, okay..." He looked around, trying to spot some particular ponies that could help him at this moment. His shouting of their their names was drowned out by the rolling thunder and a lot of screaming. What was the screaming all about? Well, in his mind, it was obvious.

"The assassins are back! The assassins are back! Run for your lives!"

"Get out of town! Run for the hills!"

"Hide your foals! Hide your wife!"

Cerberus was starting to panic. Twilight was out, Luna was weak, and he wouldn't leave either of them, but the soldiers would find him if he didn't get a move on. He wasn't an earthwalker, he couldn't drag both of them all the way to Ponyville...

"There you are, dragon freak." Captain Black emerged from the crowd, his horn covered in flames. Clearly he was experienced in fire based spells. Cerberus had several run ins with this one before. No matter where he ran to, no matter how far away, or how well he hid, Captain Black would always find him. "Alright, boy. I'll make this simple. You and the rest of the trash will die, right here and now. Or... you can face a more humane, public execution if you tell me the location of the rest of your assassin friends."

Cerberus had done this dance with the Captain many a time. He always liked to bargain with his victims, which would work on the average crook. They would get off easier if they spilled the beans about a greater threat. Cerberus decided it would be best if he fessed up. "They're right behind you, Cap."

"What the-" Black turned his head, and from right out of the pouring rain, he got a face full of a pegasus' left rear-leg. His helmet flew from his head, the magic that turned his eyes a fiery orange dissipating, revealing them to be a bright, vibrant pink. A certain female pegasus landed in front of Cerberus, a small earth pony shakily jumping down to the ground from his perch on her back. The captain was struggling back to his hooves, snarling angrily as he did so. The pegasus leaped above him with a single mighty swoosh of her wings, and followed that with a vicious body slam that left him inside a small crater. The flames on his horn finally sputtered out.

She hovered above the street, showing off her muscles and wings. It was Judas! For an assassin, she lacked subtlety, but more than made up for it in perfect timing. "Bro! You crazy bastard, you could've gotten killed!" She landed on the wet concrete and embraced Cerberus. "I see you did what you had to do. So! Let's get these two outta here, huh? Winter! Grab Bubblemint and the purple unicorn- me n' Cerb'll get the Princess."

The snow-white unicorn, who had quietly entered the fray, nodded, with her placid face betraying no emotion as she teleported Heretic and Twilight away. She wasn't, of course, going all the way to Ponyville. She was making smaller leaps that would take them on a path that lead there, but would not be as strenuous as teleporting all the way there in one go.

Cerberus grabbed one of his mother's forelegs, and heaved her onto his back, only one wing sticking out in a usable position. Judas caught on immediately. "Fletchers' Stretcher? Okay, let's do this!" Mirroring Cerberus with Luna's other foreleg, she flapped her wing experimentally, making sure she could use it to its full extent. When she was ready, she nodded to Cerberus and they took off.

This method of flying used two or more pegasai, and had been first used by the twin brothers, Arrow Fletcher and Notched Fletcher, to carry a wounded friend from a battlefield back when pegasai were still a warlike race. The flyers need to flap their wings in perfect tandem, and only a lifetime of cooperation and camaraderie between two could bring about the results that would ensure they stayed in the air. When Cerberus and Judas leaped into the air and flew on over the city towards the Everfree Forest, they didn't think, they just let their years of working together feed their instincts, and let that take over.

With their combined strength, they were easily able to fly away with only a few guards able to give chase. But those unlucky few met their fate at the hooves of Winter, who was hidden amongst the trees below. With her precision, and Heretic's amazing analytical prowess, all her shots proved true, and the guards fell to the earth below, each encased in ice.

Tired. That's all that he could think right now. He had been sleeping poorly, and not eating well. Cerberus' hunger and need for sleep were currently overtaking his earlier adrenaline rush.

His mother was still asleep, her slow breaths a comfort as he struggled not to squirm too much. He looked over to Judas, who was also showing signs of deteriorating focus, and decided that they were far enough for the time being. Angling down towards a small clearing, the three entered the Everfree Forest. The darkness was quickly exacerbated by the thick and menacing crush of trees, but there was a trail that lead through the clearing. It would work as a way to get out when the need arose, but for now... he was feeling sleepy. Judas would keep a lookout. He closed his eyes and drifted away from consciousness.

Winter Solstice walked through the quiet town of Ponyville like a ghost. Her hoofsteps barely made any noise. She approached the tree that housed the library, the unicorn on her back still mumbling in her sleep every now and again. Their were lights on inside, and she could hear voices from within.

"... go! We've already wasted the whole day waiting for her to get back, but that hasn't happened yet! We gotta do something!"

"Settle down, Dash. Twilight's a big mare, she c'n handle 'erself." Winter's face almost creased into a frown. She wouldn't be able to leave the unicorn here like she had hoped to do. There were too many ponies inside, and she did not have proper tools to help the unicorn outside.

Finally, she walked up to the door, resigning herself to having to speak to these ponies inside.

"... Ah'm goin' home. Ah'm sure she's jus'... jus'..." The orange mare in the stetson's eyes widened when she saw Winter and the pony on her back.

"Girls! She's here! Twilight's back, an' she don' look so good!" At her name, Twilight muttered again, wrapping her forelegs around Solstice's neck as her head slowly rubbed against the white unicorn's own.

The others in the building gathered round as Winter slowly and fluidly strode forward, seeming to glide past them as she headed up the stairs in search of the restroom, and the medicine cabinet.

"Who are you? What's wrong with Twilight? What are you doing? Can you talk? Where are you going?"

Winter didn't pause in her search, and kept her voice to herself for the time being. Time enough for storytelling later.

Finally finding the medicine cabinet, she pulled out a bottle and pulled one tablet out, carefully placing it in the lavender unicorn's mouth as she set her down on the bed. After a moment of instinctive chewing, the pill was swallowed, and the pony's face immediately grew into a grimace as the pill began to take effect.

Twilight opened her eyes, her horn burning, her eyelids feeling heavy, and a terrible taste on her tongue. "Ugh... where..?"

She looked up at the white unicorn above her, mistaking her for Celestia in her blurry vision. "Ahh!"

A new face entered her vision as it slowly cleared, this one cyan with a shock of color on top, worry evident in the rosy eyes. "Twilight, are you okay?"

Twilight shuddered, the recent memories of her teacher's treachery still on the surface of her mind. "No," she said weakly, "I'm not okay. The one pony I had held in higher regard than any other pony betrayed me, and seemed not to have remorse for doing so." Her eyes burned with tears. "Celestia... she... she was going to k-kill me, j-just because I considered a h-half-breed, C-Cerberus, a friend." A soft gasp from a yellow pegasus brought the distraught unicorn back to the present. "If it hadn't been for him, I'd... I'd-"

Fluttershy pulls the sobbing mare into a big hug, tears of her own in her eyes.

As the true depth and meaning of her words sank into everypony else, their eyes widened in shock, their haunches met the ground, and they all tried to rationalize what had been said.

There was no way to rationalize it, though. There could only be acceptance, or denial, and... there was too much to lose either way.

Speaking up for the first time, Winter decided to push them towards a new goal. "We should find Cerberus before dawn. He is somewhere out there with his mother and Judas, and they must survive." Her voice, while soft, was cool enough that they still took note of it. As she walked towards the stairs and the front door, she heard a few of them getting up behind her.

After an hour trekking through the forest around where Heretic had calculated their landing, they finally stumbled upon them. In Pinkie's case, this was quite literal, as she tripped over Judas' sleeping form.

It did not take long for them to get Luna onto the cart, and they were able to get back to Ponyville easily enough.

As they came within sight of the library, Luna stirred. "Thank you, Applejack, Rainbow Dash. And you, as well, mare of Solstice, mare of Blackwing. I believe... that the time for me to come clean about some things... comes close. I will tell... everything."

Luna's Story

"There was a time, before my long imprisonment, when Celestia and I had a common ideal. The liberation of all half-breeds from Equestria was our goal. We saw them as abnormal, a liability. We thought that this kingdom would be a better place without them.

Our means to deal with them was far more humane. Together, Celestia and I would confront a half-breed in secluded chambers, and with our ascended magical abilities, separate them. Not physically, of course. That would be simply gruesome. No, we simply made them into two different beings. A griffon would be split into an eagle and a lion, or a half-dragon like my son would be... well, you understand.

That method proved to be too exhausting and time consuming as the years went by. Celestia decided it would be more efficient to seek out the half-breeds and just... it was horrid. Back then I thought nothing of it, and neither did the citizens. The half breeds were an ostracized community, out of sight and out of mind.

Equestria entered an age of renaissance, and life flourished throughout the land. It was decided that we should extend our borders. The Draconic Lands proved to be a perfect area for the citizens to migrate to. All we had to do was ask the elder dragons if we could do so. That's when I met... him.

He was different from the other dragons. He was smart, sophisticated, and very, very kind, and because he never once gave in to his greed, we could see eye to eye. In the weeks of discussions between Celestia and I and the elders, he began to take interest in me, and although the attempt to merge our kingdoms was unsuccessful, he and I made a point to continue seeing each other. It didn't take long for us to fall in love. I made a new constellation in the night sky. The stars would always lead me to him, and him to me. On a clear night, we would meet each other half way and spend the night exploring the wonders of Equestria, together. He told me to call him 'Dasforah'. Roughly translated from Draconic, it means 'My Beloved'.

It was only a matter of time before Celestia discovered I was forgoing my responsibilities as Princess of the Night to pursue a summer romance. She took extreme measures to ensure I wouldn't leave again. First, she raised the sun and kept it there, preventing me or Dasforah from finding each other. Then, she barred me from ever leaving Canterlot, lest the guards escort me back to the castle. She even ordered the execution of any dragons seen crossing the border.

After some time, I grew tired of being put under house arrest by my own sister. I was lovesick, hellbent on seeing Dasforah again. I finally gathered enough strength to pull the sun out of the sky and began an indefinite night.

That did not bode well. I was not only against my sister, but also the citizens that feared me, now that I had shrouded them in darkness. I was called a liar, a traitor... a devil. Soon, Celestia decided to put an end to this long and tiresome debacle. She summoned the elements of harmony, the very weapon that we had used long ago to seal Discord in stone. I thought I would meet the same fate, but Celestia wasn't feeling merciful that day. Instead, I was sealed in the moon.

Eventually I forgot what the passing of time even was. All I could do was lay there, unable to move, unable to feel... well, I did feel something, I was drowning in it. It was heartbreak. The hopeless abyss, the knowledge that I would never see Dasforah again. Unable to take my own life, I could only hope to fall asleep, and see him in my dreams. Only, one time, it wasn't a dream.

Dasforah had pierced through the barrier separating me from the rest of the world. He told me that the seal on my prison was growing weaker. Almost a thousand years had passed and he never stopped in his quest to find and rescue me. I felt joy beyond the boundaries of emotion. I could move again. I could touch him, I could... feel him. He told me he loved me, and right then and there, on the lunar plane, secluded from the rest of ponykind, we made our love blossom. It wasn't too long afterward that I gave birth to Cerberus.

Dasforah insisted that I come with him to be his queen in the Draconic Lands but I refused. There was something Celestia hadn't thought of in foresight. I was on my home turf. I had been gathering more power than I thought imaginable, and I knew what had to be done; Dasforah would take Cerberus back to the world below, and leave him with a normal family, provided that times had changed since the half-breed hunts. Once the seal on my prison was broken and I could escape of my own accord, I would return to Equestria and take it for my own. I wouldn't have my child grow up in a kingdom with Celestia as ruler.

One thing I had not anticipated was that Celestia was aware of my escape. She seemed to have been absent from her own party. How furious I was. I wanted to look her in the eye as I destroyed her very essence... I wanted to make her feel my pain several times over. I waited for her to return in the old castle. Of course, most of you know what happened next. Twilight and the others who now bore the elements of harmony took my power away. I expected Celestia to come and finish the job, but all she wanted was an apology. I was welcomed back to Equestria like a hero. I thought to myself, perhaps Celestia had a change of heart.

That thought began to waver as the years went by. Celestia wouldn't leave me alone if just for a moment, and I could only leave the castle on special occasions. I knew that, aside from then, it would hardly be safe to sneak off and see my family again. I only saw Cerberus a few times. Dasforah even less. The only consistent way to keep in contact with them was through some very vague letters. She was waiting, for that very moment when I would crack under pressure. Eventually, I gave her the satisfaction. I confronted her head on, demanding that I be allowed see my family. Obviously, Celestia didn't take the news that I had given birth to a half-breed very well. I almost expected another thousand years on the moon, but she didn't show any mercy this time.

She said to me, 'I am so close. Soon, I will have enough power to destroy every last impure being in Equestria. It's clear, however, that you have no place here anymore. But don't worry, dear sister. Your power will help cleanse this world.' After that, she sealed me in that sphere, and Celestia took my power for her own. Whatever she was talking about beforehand is a mystery.

I had given up hope and assumed I would die in the castle dungeons, but... I hadn't counted on Cerberus making multiple attempts to rescue me. And now... here I am."

The library was filled with mixed emotions. Anxiety, happiness, sadness... fear. Now everypony knew the truth, that Celestia was little more than a tyrant wearing the colors of a benevolent ruler. Glances were exchanged in silence.

Spike, who had been relaxing in the corner, was the first to speak. "If she comes near Twilight again, I swear, I- Cah-hack!"

Applejack's voice of reason followed. "So, what do we do now? Tell the whole town that their ruler is a mass murderer?"

Pinkie Pie's usually cheery demeanor was lost to grave seriousness, at least judging by her straightened hair. "We can't just keep this a secret."

"I think that if Luna were to tell the people, they'd believe her." said Rarity.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Knowing Celestia, she's already put up wanted posters of Twilight's face."

Fluttershy and Cerberus sat side by side. In the light of the situation, neither of them were as euphoric as they thought they would be to see each other again. The latter spoke. "I'm just glad you're here, mother."

Luna's grim disposition gave way to an affectionate smile. "Me too, my son." Cerberus was impressed that she had improved her manner of speech since he last saw her, as well as keeping her voice down. "I'm very proud that you have made some friends. What a happy coincidence that they are the element bearers. I also see that you and young Fluttershy have found happiness in each others hooves."

"It hasn't been easy," said Fluttershy. "This one has a tendency to take off the moment I stop looking at him."

"Hey, I'm not the squeaker here." Cerberus laughed, and that was enough to make everypony else smile, which made Pinkie's hair fluff up again.

There came a knock at the door.

Twilight made an attempt to hide herself underneath her blanket, as she assumed that the princess had come to finish her off. She was trembling like she had a stampede running through her veins.

A voice spoke from outside, "This is Heretic, also known to you as Bubblemint Berry, followed by Judas and Winter Solstice. I am humbly requesting entry into this place of higher learning, or a library as one may call it, and deny any claims that we are royal guards."

Pinkie Pie hopped to the door. "I didn't understand a word of that! It's definitely Bubblemint!" She yanked the handle and the door flew wide open. The earthwalker, the pegasus, and the unicorn entered the library in unison.

Heretic continued to talk, despite being well aware that the ponies around him were not likely to interpret his complicated form of speech. "We have made several rounds of this small town in an orderly fashion and are quite certain that the odds of any royal authority are in exceedingly low percentages, though I doubt it will remain so for an extended amount of time. For the temporary moment, Princess Luna, Twilight Sparkle and Cerberus are safe."

One could almost hear these words flying straight through the heads of everypony in the room, aside from Cerberus, who responded. "That's good to hear, Heretic. Now, it's been a long night. I want Twilight and my mother to rest. Winter Solstice, Judas, you stay here and protect them. Everypony else, return home and get some sleep, and we'll figure this out tomorrow. Okay?"

Nodding heads and sleepy eyes all around. The adrenaline of this night's unfortunate news had worn off, and five of the six friends yearned for their comfortable beds, so they quietly shuffled out of the library without further question. Of course, Fluttershy left with Cerberus. They would sleep in the same bed tonight, just like before. It was like nothing had changed.

Shame, though. Things had changed, especially in the mind of Twilight Sparkle. She couldn't sleep, she couldn't even blink, lest she see her old teacher, and the murderous intent in her eyes. It was still something incomprehensible. She had almost died. She felt cold, prompting her to settle even closer into her blanket. Ugh, now she was too hot, beads of sweat were forming on her brow. She wanted to cry, scream, do something. She just couldn't. All she could do was say, in a barely audible whisper, unheard by anypony, "Why... Celestia...?"

She just laid there, trying to steady her own breaths, trying to keep herself from going mad from the sheer trauma, until the sun began to peak over the horizon. It was unbelievable. Something so beautiful, so peaceful, was created by somepony so evil.

"Hey, Twilight. Are you feeling any better?" Spike had awoken, and despite still being sick, he was in better condition than Twilight, who responded somberly.

"A hundred and ten percent better." she muttered.

"Heh, you know, I don't think you are. You just used a mathematical impracticality!"

"Improbability."

"Whatever!"

Twilight cracked a small smile. She knew Spike was trying to cheer her up, and it was working. "Oh, Spike..." She pulled her little dragon in for a quick hug. Although he was more of an old friend than a lover, he was much like how Luna described Dasforah; kind, loyal... the best assistant anypony could have.

"AUGH!" Spike doubled over. Arms clenched to his sides, Spike shuddered and cried, before... "ARGH! Houghhhugh! Hough... Hunhhhguuh..." Spike continued to gag as his body tried to expel food he had not eaten.

Finally, a small, sickly green flame passed between his lips, a very badly burnt scrap of parchment forming before him as he sobbed and whimpered from the pain.

Twilight tried to calm him with some soothing noises, and a constant rubbing of the ridges along his back proved to be effective. Soon the dragon was sleeping almost peacefully. Twilight put him to bed and carefully wrapped him in his blanket.

The parchment was still floating above the floor. Something that was glaringly obvious: it was bathed in red hot flames, instead of the usual harmless green kind. She fanned out the flame with a small wind spell, and brought the scrap up to eye level. What she read chilled her very being. There was no signature, but there didn't need to be one. Only one pony could send letters to her via Spike. The note had just three words on it, but they were the most horrifying words she had ever read in her life.

The Heartbreak Inferno

“My sister is asleep now. I suppose there is nothing left to do but-”

“Enjoy the evening?”

“Desmond, I should have known. You have a tendency to show up unannounced.”

“Unexpected pleasures are always the best, my dear Celina.”

“Oh, Desmond... ...wait, is something wrong?”

“There is not. Why do you ask?”

“Your eyes. They’re different...”

“Different is good, is it not?”

“I suppose so. Ah, you always know the right thing to say.”

"Celiiiiina... Your mane is so silky~"

"Oh, stop it, Desmond. You're making me blush."

"Oh, but you love it when I brush your mane, don't you? I'll just brush, brush, brush, until all your problems go away."

"...I love you, Desmond."

"And I you, my little pony."

"Oh! I have something to tell you that should bring you happiness.”

“Enlighten me.”

“I have decided to accept your offer. I want to rule by your side.”

“Fantastic, Celina! Oh, this is simply marvelous, because it means I can do this properly.”

“Do what, Des- oh my goodness...”

“Celina my love, will you marry me?”

Chapter 11
The Heartbreak Inferno

"Hmm... this isn't a situation of much good fortune."

"What are you babbling about, Bubbles?"

"The late hours of the afternoon should be upon us, yet the sun has been without motion since it arrived at its peak position. By my calculations, it should be glancing the horizon at this point."

"So, you're saying that the sun has stopped moving?"

"Affirmative."

"Well, shit."

The door to Fluttershy's house was slammed by two hooves repeatedly. "It's horrible! It's terrible! It's a huge- no, enormous catastrophe! Oh, the horror!"

Cerberus flew away from the couch upon which he was resting and opened the door in mid-flight. The shrieking pony at the doorstep was Rarity. "What? What is it?"

"It's Luna... she's..."

He touched down. "Was she harmed?"

"No, she's just... gone! Disappeared into thin air! Do you suppose the royal guards took her away?"

"Even in a weakened state, my mother would be more than a match for a few petty mooks. Are Twilight and Winter Solstice okay?"

"Twilight was resting and Solstice was just being herself."

"Quiet and nonchalent?"

"Yes. Come to think of it, there weren't any signs of a struggle."

Everything that had happened since that morning suddenly made sense to Cerberus. He breathed heavily. "Then I know what this is."

"What?"

"A cryptic letter from Celestia, the sun being suspended in the sky... something big is coming, and my mum knows it."

"What do you think is going to happen?"

"I don't know, but it won't be pleasant, and I doubt there will be anything we can do to stop it."

“Awright, hind legs, show ‘em whatcha got!” After being out of commission for a long while, and under a lot of stress from Luna's unexpected arrival, Applejack was raring to go buck the everloving apples out of these trees. In her mind, there was nothing more thrilling than doing some good honest work, and after the accident, she learned to relish every moment, from her feet slamming against the tree, to the last apple dropping into the bucket. She also took her sweet time to enjoy the many sights, sounds and smells of nature... mmm, smelled like bark, sap, and brimstone... and burning wood... and... smoke.

Applejack looked up and saw a tower of black clouds rising from the apple grove. Her hind legs started trembling. “Ah no... not again!” She couldn’t bear to so much as look at a candle since the house burned down. What would she do with herself if she was caught in the middle of a full-on forest fire? “It’s okay... it’s okay...” she muttered to herself. “If it is a forest fire, then it’s perfectly natural. Just leave it alone, it’ll wear itself out.”

“Applejack!” A streak of yellow and red dashed across the grove. It was Applebloom, a ball of energy as usual, except she was now in a panic.

“What’s th’ matter, sugahcube?”

“F-f-fire!”

“Ah know, kiddo. Just relax, forest fires happen all the time. It-”

“NO! It’s not just the woods! It’s the whole town! Look!” Applebloom pointed her hoof at Ponyville.

Applejack's jaw dropped. Just a moment ago, this had been a peaceful autumn afternoon. Now, there were no birds to be heard, no cheerful sounds of the townsfolk off in the distance, no cheery music played by street performers... only screaming, as Ponyville was now covered in flames.

When tragedy strikes, the victims seldom recall when it began or how long it lasted. Such was the case for Ponyville, as the rooftops and streets had erupted into flames spontaneously in the middle of a saccharine afternoon. It wasn’t long before the sky was filled with black smoke and panic struck the citizens. Any attempt to contain the flames was futile. All the ponies of Ponyville could do was abandon their homes, seek shelter, and hope to the divines that this would end soon.

Cerberus was caught in the center of it. Fire hardly bothered him for his dragon heritage made him more or less immune to all forms of intense heat, even lava. What bothered him instead was watching the town he fell in love with get torn down before his eyes. He’d seen houses destroyed before - Judas’ mansion came to mind. That was his fault. He had a sinking feeling that this was the same... no. This wasn’t his fault. It was the royal guards. Cerberus could see three of them flying across the underside of the smoke clouds, dropping burning coals unto any house in sight. Everypony else was too panicked to notice.

“Bastards!” he yelled, whist he spread his wings and flew to them with clenched teeth and flaring nostrils.

He could hear the pegasus sergeant calling to them from up above. “Get out of sight of the civilians!”

“We can’t see our targets from up there, sir! The smoke’s too thick.”

“Are you serious? It’s fire, you don’t have to aim!”

One of the guards was a little more reluctant than the others to drop his coals. “Why are we doing this again, sir?”

“Don’t question Her Royal Highness’ orders, private. Get back to work!”

That guard didn’t get a chance to do so, because Cerberus had rammed him from underneath. He lost his breath and his balance and toppled to the ground. Cerberus then caught the bucket of burning coals, flew above the smoke (He made sure to hold his breath when he did) and threw them at the very surprised sergeant, who lost his balance due to his feathers burning away. He wouldn’t be coming back.

Two guards remained, but they didn’t seem interested in fighting, instead they tossed their coals away and held their hoofs up in surrender. They spoke to Cerberus at the same time.

“We’re sorry!”

“It’s not our fault! Celestia told us to do it!”

“She said something about rebels or whatever, but I don’t think she was telling the truth.”

“Don’t kill us!”

Cerberus snorted. “Just go away.”

Winter Solstice was in a state of discontent, though that was trivial compared to the sheer mayhem surrounding her. While she maintained her stoic disposition and cautiously navigated the wreckage filled streets and made sure to step away from any falling debris, everypony else was running for dear life. They made hopeless attempts to stop the fires from consuming their homes and businesses, or at least salvage some of their valuables, only to end up with dry throats and third degree burns. Solstice did everything equinely possible to steer panicking ponies away from danger. At times, she was less than successful.

“Mommy! It hurts!” yelled a young blonde unicorn as she cried in sheer pain. Her forelegs were burned when she tried to rescue her favorite doll, without magic. It took her a while to realize the thing was on fire, much to her discomfort.

“I know, Dinky, I know. Just be a brave filly.” Her pegasus mother tried to comfort her and apply bandages.

That was almost enough to make Solstice sad. She hardly had any emotions for anything, and she absolutely hated fire more than anything else in the world. She had been in a position like that little one, only with no parent to heal her. Left to die in a gutter with a hole blown in her life, her horn broken, her heart shattered. She had made a resolution to not let that happen to anypony else. Nopony deserved this misery.

Solstice approached the filly and her mother. "Do not cry, little one." She took her hoofs. The filly winced, but she held back the tears. "Your mother is right. Be brave." Solstice touched the hooves with her horn. An icy current flowed from the horn into the hooves, cooling the burns and mending the cuts. "I understand that pain is inevitable, but all wounds heal. You just need to have a little patience, and a strong mind."

The worst thing in Cerberus' mind was the knowledge that no matter how hard he tried, he wouldn't be able to save everypony. He came to the conclusion that it would be best to help those he held close to him. He flew as fast as he could to Fluttershy's cottage. The royal guards didn't make it easy for him. Sure, they were nuisances at best, but any moment not spent at top speed increased the chances of Fluttershy's home- his home being burned to the ground- "NO!" he pushed that thought out of his mind.

There was something he had noticed about these soldiers; they weren't trying to deal a fatal blow, or tear away his wings. They were merely trying to apprehend him. Why was this? Circumstances had not changed, unless... of course. Celestia would frame him for this tragedy. It had happened before. It was all part of her smear campaign. An unexplained incident would occur and the wanted posters would go up, putting the blame on him. This was the case for other half-breeds, as well, but most weren't as... evasive. Cerberus had witnessed so many hangings. That was another reason he saw Ponyville as his home. Nopony had even heard of a half-breed, and while there were some double takes, he was free from the cruel words and curses and violence. But... by staying here, he brought the cruelty to everypony he had learned to love.

"...I did do this."

He did his best to focus on the present. He had to, as he had arrived at his home, and it was everything he had dreaded. The grass roof was coated in flames, the glass from the windows had been shattered, and the whole interior was unlivable at this point. "Too late..."

Fluttershy was making desperate attempts at keeping order, with minimal success. She was doing her best to fight back tears of stress as she used water from the river to put out the flames, not of the house, but of her animals.

"Oh... my..." Cerberus couldn't fathom it. The rabbits, the mice, all the critters that he and Fluttershy had cared for were burning alive. "HEY!"

Fluttershy turned to him as she doused the flames off an unconscious bunny. She stammered through her words. "Th-the fire, i-it s-spread t-t-too fast!"

He began to fly. "The river won't put all this out. I'll find a rain cloud, or something! Just stay put... and..."

"Half breed! Stay where you are!" Cerberus turned around and saw the only thing that could make this worse. It was Captain Black, backed up by at least a dozen unicorn guards. He could take them. First, he stared them down.

"I recommend you run."

The Captain only smiled. "I recommend you come with us. After all, your friend over there is in no condition to fight."

This was true. One could clearly see that Fluttershy's will had been broken, along with her little heart. Her home and her critters were all gone. She lay on the grass, not blinking, only letting her tears fall to the ground.

"So what?!" yelled Cerberus. "I can bring you all down!"

"Ah yes, but not all at once." Captain Black's smile changed from a mildly amused one to that of a psychopath's. "If you intend on fighting, what's stopping one of us from sneaking away from the scuffle to, well, to put it simply, reintroduce her to her animals?"

Under normal circumstances, Cerberus' adrenaline would have kicked in by now. He would've had enough strength to tear every single one of these guards apart limb by limb. But... a thought crossed his mind. What if he slipped up? If Black truly meant what he said, would it happen? There was something else... many ponies were losing their homes too, possibly their lives. The grunts were fooled into setting Ponyville ablaze, and the higher ranked ones used this disaster as grounds to take Cerberus away. What if...

"If I go with you, will this stop?"

Everyone was gone.

The royal guards were gone.

Cerberus was gone.

The animals were gone...

Their screams of pain as they had burned alive echoed in Fluttershy's ears. Something in her was missing, no, completely destroyed. Her mind went blank. The tears stopped flowing. She stood up and began walking. Something turned on. Some valve inside of her that had long gone untouched was now set on full blast...

...and the handle was broken.

“This is simply horrible. In all my years, I never would have imagined this would happen in my kingdom.” The radiant Princess Celestia addressed her royal subjects as she looked upon the burning town. Everypony began to feel more secure, now that their ruler had come to sort things out. “Citizens of Ponyville, your town has been disgraced beyond all reason, and I know what is responsible for this tragedy. It walked among you, earning your trust, waiting for the moment to strike, destroying all that you hold dear. Its wings strike fear into the hearts of the unwary, and its eyes pierce your very soul. Cerberus! Show yourself and repent for what you have done!”

Many a pony let out a gasp of shock. The half dragon that many had looked upon with wonder emerged from behind the Princess, his wings bound by chains, his hooves much of the same. Clearly he was weak, but his expression showed a contrasting feeling of determination, and at the same time, acceptance.

“My little ponies, we have apprehended the monster that has set fire to your fair town. The one who made an assassination attempt against me a manner of months ago! We are giving it a fair and just punishment.” Celestia looked out at all the ponies, her facial expression souring. “We are sentencing it to... the Death Penalty.”

There were cries of shock and despair, and three earth ponies cried out “The horror, the horror!” before fainting dead away. Cerberus didn’t so much as flinch. He remained as stoic as ever. From a young age, he had learned to accept this day’s coming.

Celestia let a smile slip onto her face for a second. She was finally going to get rid of this stain upon her land. “Ponyville. The execution will commence ...what was that?”

Every head in the crowd had turned away from the Princess as a loud noise cut through her speech. After the echo died down, one could hear a long, continuous drone that became clearer as a streak of yellow rocketed towards Town Square. The sound became distinctive. It sounded like...

“...iiiiiiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITCH!” The yellow streak slammed into a shield that Celestia barely had time to prepare. As the light faded away, the last pony anypony would have expected was slamming her hooves into the shield repeatedly, shouting obscenities and inarticulate curses at the Princess. It was Fluttershy.

Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash had joined the crowd. They had rushed to the scene when they heard that Cerberus was being executed in hopes of helping him but they were resisted by the guards. Now they were absolutely dumbstruck at Fluttershy’s rage. It was as if she had left her timid and elegant self to die and was reborn into... this.

“You... You BITCH!” she yelled. “YOU KILLED MY ANIMALS! MY HOME IS DESTROYED! IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT! YOU FUCKING MONSTER!” The shield seemed to flicker for a moment, before regaining its full strength.

Celestia was mildly offset at best. “You misunderstand, child. I am not to blame. It is-”

“CERBERUS DIDN’T DO IT! IT WAS YOU! YOU WERE GOING TO BURN DOWN EVERY HOUSE IN PONYVILLE AND BLAME ON HIM!”

“It, dear child. It. This half breed is little more than a blight, a mistake. It is better off dead.”

“I’LL KILL YOU FIRST! I’LL-”

"Fluttershy!"

Everything stopped. All eyes looked to the young dragon colt who had undone his gag and was finally able to speak. Despite his bruises, burns and the chains wrapped around his wings, he had the willpower to crawl to Fluttershy. He did not want to go to his grave and see her as she was, fuming and hungry for vengeance. He wanted to see the pony he fell in love with. He wanted to gaze into her kind, heartwarming eyes, see her soft smile... he could die happily if he could talk to that Fluttershy one last time.

Cerberus spoke to her. "Just... stop fighting. I'm the only one Celestia wants. I knew this was going to happen someday, but if you keep fighting, you'll die too." He lowered his head. "This is my fault. If I hadn't come here, this town wouldn't be a flaming wreck. Once I'm gone, it will all be over." He looked straight at Fluttershy. Her anger had ebbed away. All that remained were tears. She wasn't protesting. "Thanks," he said, "for the best days of my life."

Fluttershy threw herself at Cerberus, knowing very well that this would be her last chance to feel him. She made a note in her mind of every detail, from the scales on his body, to the leathery feel of his wings, his silky hair... she wanted to remember everything. She wanted to remember every second of this moment, when she puckered her lips, and without faltering, without error, she kissed him.

For only a moment, all the chaos, the fire, the crowd, Celestia, and the gallows disappeared. A void surrounded the once timid pegasus and her half-dragon. For just a moment, they were alone, against each other, with their lips locked. Their hearts, minds and very essence were one. She opened her eyes and pulled her head away. It was just like their first date... he was crying again. She reached out with her hooves and held him. He was trembling. For the first time in his life he was afraid to die. She cradled his head and stroked his unkempt hair.

She could feel the void collapsing. Soon, reality would come back, and he would be taken away from her forever. Before that happened, she brushed his hair away from his ear. She wanted him to hear every word, when she moved in close and whispered to him, "I love you."

The world was quiet. Cerberus could hear no chains around his hooves, or the shouting of Captain Black as he ordered his troops to take the prisoner to the noose. There was no sound to be heard of Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash protesting as they were held back against their will. Cerberus couldn't even hear his own heartbeat, though he guessed it would be beating very fast, not because he was about to die, but because he just had his first and last kiss.

There it was. The noose. The messenger of death, ready to take him into the next life. It was secured around his neck by Captain Black, who proceeded to speak.

"For crimes against ponykind, and for violating the rights of its existence, Cerberus, spawn of Princess Luna, will hang today. This sentence is absolute and will carried out... immediately." The Captain's horn began to glow. He gripped the lever that, when pulled, would remove the dragon-colt from this world.

The lever began to turn...

"DO NOT HARM MY CHILD, THOU WRETCHED FOOL!"

Rays of blue and black pierced through the smoke that plagued the sky. Everypony gathered around the gallows turned their heads and saw what had been unseen in years, a mighty force that had threatened to drown the world in darkness. Her armor was blacker than a moonless night, her mane glistened with the constellations and surrounded her massive figure. Nightmare Moon had risen again. Many ponies cried out in terror, but Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash cheered. Fluttershy's broken heart was filled with hope, and Cerberus' tears dried.

The very embodiment of night herself spoke, forgoing everything she had learned about modern speech. "Sister! Thou art the traitor responsible for this tragedy to befall thine kingdom, not my son! Confess!"

Celestia's expression changed little. She called out to Captain Black. "Don't just stand there! Pull the damn lever! End the freak's life!"

The Captain almost cowered at her command, though only for a moment, and he returned to his stoic self. He grabbed hold of the lever, this time without magic- and he stayed there, for he was frozen on the spot by a wave of elemental magic. Winter Solstice stood by Nightmare Moon. She smiled up to her princess, then spoke calmly. "Judas. Free your brother."

A streak of pink and purple cut through the crowd, causing everypony to duck. When they looked back for whatever that was, they noticed that the noose had been severed, and the half-dragon had disappeared. He now stood next to the purple pegasus Judas on the cobblestone.

Celestia was now at a complete loss for words. Everything gone completely awry and she couldn't figure out what to do. Attack her sister, or the element bearers? That would make her the bad guy. Kill the half-breed? Her sister wouldn't let her touch him. Disappear? She would not be made a coward. She never had the time to make a decision, for Nightmare Moon had caught her off guard and she was pinned to the ground by a hoof.

"I said confess! Thou hast betrayed these innocent ponies!"

She was out of options. The only way out this was to talk. She yelled in utter desperation, "YES!"

"Lovely... so, hast thou attempted to hang my son in false accusation?"

"Yes!"

"And what wouldst thou hath done following this crime?"

"Go to hell!"

Nightmare Moon's green eyes lit up like a full moon. "Come again?"

"Fine! I would have had Twilight Sparkle executed too!"

By then, the crowd had gone completely silent. The news fell upon them, settled, and then, the reception. For the first time in Ponyville's history, the Princess of the Sun's name was being cursed.

"You monster!"

"Why would she do this?"

"Witch!"

"Hag!"

"Tyrant!"

"My, oh my, dear sister," gloated Nightmare Moon, "It seems you have lost the worship of these ponies."

Celestia was now spitting with anger. "I couldn't care less about this country town!" She finally had control of her magic, and was able to teleport out of her vulnerable position. She reappeared at the other side of the crowd. "It seems that I have to take a more blatant approach to purifying my kingdom. All of the remaining half breeds will burn underneath a ring of divine retribution!" Her horn lit up once again, as she was gathering enough power to disappear and return to Canterlot. Nightmare Moon wouldn't have it.

The Princess of the Night cast a binding spell that would keep Celestia from using her magic. "Non evanescunt ante vos sentire ira!" Neon blue ropes came forth from her horn and wrapped around Celestia's legs, holding her in place. This was the time to strike. "Winter Solstice! Twilight Sparkle! To my side!" The former and the latter jumped from the crowd and stood near Nightmare Moon on her left and right, respectively. "Give this tyrant everything you have!"

The three of them stood tall, and tapped in to every ounce of power they had inside them. Twilight cast a spiral of magenta colored light. Winter Solstice whipped her hair and reinforced the spiral with a beam of pure ice magic. Nightmare moon followed, and cloaked their surefire finishing attack with a blue energy field that would make any chance of dispelling worth nil. Celestia didn't stand a chance when she was struck by the combined forces of an ice queen, her sister and her former student.

Cerberus' feet felt cold. He blinked several times to clear the white from his vision alongside everypony else who was dazzled by that light show. When he could see, all there was to see was... more white. The smoke and the fire were completely gone and in their place was several feet of snow!

Everypony began oohing and ahhing and what-the-hay-why-is-it-winter-all-of-a-sudden-ing, then they locked their eyes on the only patch of cobblestone that wasn't covered in snow. Laying there was a weak alicorn with pink hair and frail wings. It was Princess Celestia, only she was now less of a Princess, thanks to that spell. It had reduced her to a lesser state of existence. Nopony dared make a move to help her. Some were fearful of taking in Nightmare Moon's wrath if they did, others had already accepted that Celestia was not the great ruler they had thought she was and would let her suffer.

Cerberus relished every moment as he watched his mother approach what was left of Celestia. She spoke, slightly softer than before, to say something personal. "What thou art feeling be much like what I hath endured these last several months; a loss of strength and power, helplessness, hanging by the one hoof at the edge of the abyss! Thou hath felt my pain, now feel that of every half-breed or 'impure' being that thou hast cast away like dust!" Nightmare Moon raised her hoof with the intention to bring it down on Celestia's neck and end her many millenniums of life. "Long live the Lunar Republic!"

"NO!" Captain Black had broken free from his icy prison. He cast a fireball at Nightmare Moon, which hardly itched in her mind, but it was a distraction effective enough, for it allowed the Captain to jump from the gallows to Celestia, and teleport away.

"Your Royal Highness!" Heretic shouted from the distance. "Winter Solstice and I are presenting to you the most disagreeable low ranking soldiers whom of which serve Celestia and await your decision as to what their fate shall be!"

Nightmare Moon chuckled as the group of eleven pegasai guards was brought forward, bound not in chains of steel but magic. "Doth not think we hast forgotten thee, mine Sister's Royal Guards. I request of thee today that thou doff your allegiance towards my sibling, and consider my offer as it stands: Bow to me, or be bound to none. All else shall be punished. And I wish not to be a jailer like mine Sister."

The group shared glances between themselves. Some were still angry. Others were more... receptive. One got up the courage to speak, "And our families, Your Highness? What will happen to them?"

Luna turn a glittering eye to the pony who spoke. "No harm shall befall your families from a hoof of one of mine subjects, whether you choose to side with me, or against me. That, I shall promise."

The soldier nodded, his body relaxing in his magical restraints, as did the others. "Then, if my troops agree, we accept our fate at your hooves." He then muttered, "Hooah."

"Then you are free to go as you please. You shall be the Captain. Just remove thine armor and give it to the local Blacksmith, I shall have him repurpose it." Without further ado, Luna closed her eyes and bowed to the soldiers before her, and the magical bindings faded away.

Another guard, however, was less than satisfied. "You're the tyrant, not Celestia! GET HER!" He and five others gave a bloodcurdling yell and charged... but in a blink of an eye, they were gone. All that remained were six sets of brittle armor.

"I... apologize." She didn't sound angry, though there was an edge of disappointment in her voice. "It seems as though this conflict will continue."

She was surrounded by a cloud of blue and purple, and when it cleared, she was the mild and less threatening Princess Luna, whose appearance was celebrated with cries of joy and relief. While Ponyville had not been spared by any means and many homes were beyond repair, everypony knew that there was hope. Luna was humbled by the cheering and wooing. She hadn't had a reception like this in a very long time. She heard a familiar voice.

"Princess Luna!" The little white and brown foal from Nightmare Night many years ago, Pipsqueak, ran to Luna and hugged her. "It's so good to see you!"

She returned the show of affection with a brush of his mane. "The feeling is mutual, little one. You have grown quite a bit since I last saw you. I suppose I cannot gobble you up anymore."

He chuckled. "So, since Celestia's bad now, does that mean you'll be a Queen?"

"...Something like that. Come, stand by my side as I address my loyal subjects." Pipsqueak did so, and proudly at that. He waved to the crowd as he was joined by Cerberus, Winter Solstice, Judas and Heretic. "Citizens of Ponyville! This day will go down in history, not as the day that your town was destroyed by a corrupt monarchy, but as the day that a new order is established! Celestia has spit upon this land, for behind her warm smile lies nothing more than a Templar with utter distaste for what she deems impure! For more than a thousand years, a war has been waging out of plain sight. Half breeds like my son, Cerberus, along with those who speak highly of him, have been put through hell simply for the crime of existing. Why Celestia does this, I do not understand, but there is no need to! For as of this day, I intend to stop this nonsense as I did a thousand years ago. This time, however, I shall not be alone!"

A roar of support erupted. It could have been heard from anywhere in Ponyville.

"Yes! I already have a small army. Soon we will go from five young pegasi to a hundred soldiers of the night, with an inner desire to drive a stake through the heart of this evil! We will go to the other great provinces of Equestria and have their support. We will form a new ruling power, The Lunar Republic!"

Another roar. This one could have been heard from the draconic lands.

"I will be your guide through hell! I will be your Virgil! I WILL BE. YOUR. QUEEN!"

This time, if an angel had been passing overhead, they would have been knocked out of the heavens from the sheer force of the cheering for Princess- No, Queen Luna.

If it were up to Fluttershy, she would have never let Cerberus go again. They were the only ones left in Town Square. Everypony else had returned to whatever was left of their homes. Clouds had billowed in the sky, and from them came a light snow that fell upon the couple as they danced.

Fluttershy slipped on an icy patch and fell on top of her beloved. Her dasforah. She kissed him, more intimately, more passionately than before. Then, she laughed.

"What's up?" asked Cerberus.

"If Luna is a Queen, and you're a Prince... does that make me a Princess?"

"...I don't know." He laughed as well. "Could you get off me, please? The snow is cold."

"Oh, sorry about that." Fluttershy helped him onto his hooves and nuzzled him... again.

"Um, Fluttershy..."

"Yes, dear?"

"In regards to what you said earlier... I mean, I know I've said this before but... I love you too."

"We've been through a lot in just a few months, haven't we?"

Solstice's Early Winter

"Hm hmhm hmm hmmmm, hm hmhm hmm hmmmm... hmm hmm hmm...."

"Desmond, what are you doing?"

"Ah, my sweet ray of sunshine! Good morning! Have a look at this. I've been experimenting with biological magic and I have created something... interesting."

"Are those... lions with wings?"

"I call them griffons. Aren't they just adorable?"

"They certainly are interesting."

"I intend to release them into the wild."

"Why is that?"

"To see what happens, what else? Of course, this won't distract from my royal duties... or you, love."

"Oh, Desmond..."

"Come, let us retreat to our bedchamber."

Chapter 12

Solstice's Early Winter

Years earlier...

That was probably one of the most entertaining days of Rainbow Dash’s life, because until then, she never saw Pinkie Pie as anything more than that one friend that somehow found her way into the group and they never had the heart to say ‘bug off.’ Now that it turned out that she and Dash had so much in common, tomorrow was looking to be a really good day. Just her and Pinkie Pie, two good friends and all the ponies one could ever want to prank.

Heck, the young pegasus thought to herself, maybe we could be more than friends. Maybe we could... she never got a chance to finish that thought, because laying on her lightning bolt patterned bed was a familiar face... or beak. That beak was snacking on a leftover piece of cake. Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped. Gilda the Griffon was in her bed.

"I may have emptied your fridge." she said.

"Gilda!" Rainbow Dash leaped from the entryway to her room all the way to her bed, right next to her old friend. "How've you been, you old carnivore?"

"Meh, not bad. Flight school's boring as usual. I'm took the quarter off so I could spend the summer with someone I hadn't seen in a while."

"Who?"

"You, dumbass!" Dash found herself on the receiving end of a noogie, and she was laughing the whole time. "I wanted to surprise you but you weren't here."

"Oh, sorry. I was spending the day with-"

"You're not seeing someone else, are you?" If there was one thing that Gilda could do better than fly, it was giving a death glare, and Rainbow Dash was the victim here. She kept stammering over her own words before Gilda let up. "Aw, come on, Dash. I know you'd never think of cheating on me. Come here."

Rainbow Dash's head was going a mile a second. First she realized that she was on a bed. Then she noticed that Gilda's eyelids were lowered, and she was pulling Dash in close... so close...

Okay, this wasn't the most entertaining day of Rainbow Dash's life. It was the best day of her life. Pranking all day with Pinkie Pie, then spending the night with Gilda... she couldn't stop grinning. Gilda gave her a peck- er, kiss, on the cheek before getting under the covers. "Wake me if you wanna have another go."

Present Day...

"Brilliant! Simply brilliant! Winter Solstice is a live saver! I heard the rumors, supposedly her elemental magic was so powerful she changed the seasons themselves, why, I only wish my magic were that powerful! Of course, I can settle for smaller, more practical things, like levitating that measuring tape over here. So, since it is suddenly winter for Equestria, I'm getting a surplus of business. Winter fashion has always been one of my strong points, wouldn't you agree?"

"Shrr hrrn Rrrity," said Cerberus through a mouthful of pins.

"Be a dear and hoof me another pin, would you? This will be your new cloak, I used sheep wool to ensure toasty warmth throughout even the coldest of nights, not that it's been night for a while now. Ooh! Idea! I can make Fluttershy a matching cloak! You'll be such a cute couple."

"Thrrrt wrrnt br nrrcrsrrer."

"Speak up, dearest."

Cerberus spit the pins out of his mouth. "That won't be necessary. I don't think Fluttershy approves of black and blue too much, right love?"

Fluttershy was laying on the couch examining a fashion magazine while she sipped hot tea. "I like the design, but if you changed the colors to green and cyan, then I'd wear it."

Rarity pointed her hoof to the ceiling. "Then I will make it so!"

"What kind of a pose is that?"

"Judas does it all the time, usually saying something along the lines of 'Who the hell do you think I am?' Her switch is always on full blast, isn't it? Kind of like Fluttershy when she..." Rarity tried to avoid speaking of Fluttershy's outburst in town square, but being the socialite that she was, it was difficult to not bring up recent events. There was something she wanted to get off her chest, though. "Um, Cerberus, could I speak to you alone for a moment?"

Outside the boutique, Rarity got rather close to Cerberus. She spoke softly to him, and he craned his neck to keep at least a few inches from her face. "Are you and Fluttershy doing well?"

He laughed his discomfort off. "Miss Rarity, are you coming on to me?"

"Wha- oh goodness, no!" She backed away and snorted and chortled at such an idea. "Ha- just- where did that come from? Well, to be honest, if Fluttershy hadn't snatched you up at day one I would've jumped on that bandwagon right away. Figuratively speaking, of course."

"Why do you ask, then?"

"Well... she's still very kind and gentle, but there's something unusual about her. She's not quiet or reserved. She's actually speaking audibly."

"I figured out why."

"Well, it's a mystery to me, so do tell."

"She lost her home and almost every animal she cared for. We were lucky to get Angel Bunny out of there alive. He's still very restless. Anyway, all of that on top of... the trial..." he shuddered and did his best not to recall the feeling of the noose around his neck, "I think the trauma really got to her."

"I am calling out to you, Cerberus and hope I have your attention!" Cerberus knew Heretic's voice when he heard it. He looked at the ground to ensure he wouldn't step on him by accident, and saw that he was approaching from the crowded streets.

"Good morning, Heretic! Well, at least I think it's morning."

"The venture I have taken to arrive here has been comparable to a night terror. For what reason is everypony up and about?"

"They're leaving."

"To which location?"

"Anywhere but here. It's not like most of them have homes anymore."

"Then I come to the conclusion that the fact that Twilight Sparkle's home, the library, is structurally intact, is convenient. I wonder why the highest elevated tree in this locale was not decimated by the fire?"

"Perhaps Celestia took sympathy on Twilight."

Rarity had a look of intrigue on her face as to how Cerberus understood a word Heretic spoke. She decided to sneak back inside the boutique and finish her work.

Heretic continued. "I am at this location for this reason: Queen Luna has requested your presence at the library at the most convenient moment."

"I'm free right now. Shall we?"

As Twilight's library was the largest building undamaged by the fire storm, Luna had began using it as her base of operations. She occupied a collection of pillows beside the fireplace, writing letters to nearby towns and provinces to tell them of the unfortunate circumstances at hoof, hoping that they might sway their loyalty to her and assist in the uprising against Celestia, or at least offer financial support for Ponyville.

"One thing I certainly did not miss whilst I was imprisoned in that sphere was the paperwork. I suppose the idea of taking a single throne for myself is enough motivation to keep writing."

"I can do the writing for you when you're officially queen, mother." Cerberus and Heretic had entered the library.

"Ah, my son." Luna wore a heartwarming smile that could melt a windigo whenever she saw Cerberus. "My other motivation. I hope you and dear Fluttershy have been doing well. I've been so preoccupied with these professional affairs, I've hardly had time to check up on you two."

"We're doing fine. Rarity was kind enough to set up a guest bedroom for me and her."

"As for your more personal-"

"Your majesty, I apologize for my interruption although I believe it is most important that you are informed of the damage report for Celestia's attack." Heretic was holding parchment with many numbers and calculations scribbled onto the corners. Luna turned her attention to him.

"Do tell, Heretic, so we may never speak of that day again. I'm already sick of it."

Heretic adjusted his glasses and scanned the paper. "Let us see... property damage, reimbursement and medical bills add up to the upper thousands."

Luna dropped her quill in surprise. "In bits or pounds?"

Heretic responded with a blunt "Yes."

Twilight, who was reading history books on revolutions in Pre-Equestrian times, spoke. "Not even Mayor Mare's constant penny pinching will be enough to cover that."

"On to more important things," said Luna. "What is the casualty count?"

This was what everypony dreaded most of all. Death was seldom an issue in Ponyville with minimal crime rates and high life expectancy. Then the disaster happened. Twilight, Cerberus and Luna braced themselves for the unfortunate news.

"Injuries have been reported for more than half the population, but the death toll is," Heretic's eyes widened, "Zero! How is that possible? Considering the structural damage and widespread decimation of-"

"It was Hephaestus Ironwright." Cerberus interrupted.

"Oh, you know him?"

"Yes. I went to him for some protective gear after Sweet Apple Acres was burned down. It's a good set too. It's something only a half phoenix can make."

Luna gave a chuckle of intrigue. "So, the elusive half phoenix. I've seen many half breeds but not one of his kind. I wonder how he even came to be? I highly doubt a pony could have relations with a phoenix."

"He's something special. I saw him while I was flying above Ponyville. He was, I think, absorbing the fire."

Heretic was just giddy with this revelation. "Positively brilliant! He can walk amongst the elements of high temperature and be without discomfort."

"Indeed. He will make a great asset during our assault upon Canterlot. I will have to send him my regards."

The door opened without a knock. What entered was not exactly shocking but unexpected nonetheless. A female griffon with a letter in her talons.

"I've, uh, got something for a Princess Luna?"

"Come on, Dashie! You've been flying all day. Let's go have some fun!"

"I just gotta try out this new stunt I've been planning, but first I need my goggles. I don't want my eyes freezing over. Geez, it's cold! What was Solstice thinking?"

"Dashie..."

"I know, I know. I'm being selfish again. I just need to poke in to the library. Be back in a sec."

Rainbow Dash touched down on the cobblestone and entered the library, but she got much more than her goggles...

Rainbow Dash's jaw almost hit the floor when she saw her. There she was, by the fireplace, presenting a letter to Princess Luna, speaking in her ever so sarcastic tone. "Okay, Princess. I've got a letter from Appleloosa. Apparently all the hicks over there actually want to fight Celestia too."

"Most wonderful of news. I was expecting that they would need more convincing, but I suppose Applejack put in a good word for us."

"Yeeeeah. Am I excused?"

"You may take leave, Miss...?"

"Gilda."

Was this real life? Was this just fantasy? Rainbow Dash couldn't move, she could only watch Gilda the Griffon stride past her. Then, she stopped.

"Um, hey, G." said Rainbow Dash in hopes of breaking the silence. She wished she didn't say that.

Gilda tilted her head ever so slightly. She then said, "Who are you again?"

That was not the response Rainbow Dash expected. She looked around at anything that could distract her from this awkward moment. "So... you're delivering mail now?"

"Yeah."

That's when Rainbow Dash decided to just go for broke. "Why are you so upset, G? I thought you would've been over me by now."

Those were the scissors that snapped Gilda's cord. "It don't work like that, Dash! When I finally got a quarter off of flight school and I decided to spend it with you, I thought it would be the most smokin' hot summer of our lives, then Pinkie shows up to steal you away! Then you insult me to my face springing all those lame-o pranks and calling me 'uncool!' You know what? That's not cool. And here's the thing! Griffons only get one."

"Um... one what?"

"One. Lover. We're sensitive, you know! We lose our lover, we go find a cave to mope in and die. How do you feel now?"

"I... never realized-"

"Well, I ain't like other griffons. I got out of that cave and swore that I could make it on my own, so I finished flight school, and got this stupid mail job, and where should my first delivery be but here, where my old girlfriend is having secret butt-fun with a stupid pink pansy!"

"...Wow, G. I'm really sor-"

"That ain't gonna cut it, Rainbow Dash. Life ain't been easy for me, especially when the only job I could get is minimum wage. Do you know how hard it is to make ends meat when your supervisor is a dumb blonde with bubbles on her ass?! Whatever, dweeb. I'm out." With a slam of the front door, Gilda was gone.

Rainbow Dash knew without looking that everypony in the library was now staring at her and her stunned expression. She looked back and sternly said, “What are you lookin’ at?” and they returned to their business, muttering their curiosity under their breath. Rainbow Dash decided that she had worn out her welcome. She grabbed her goggles from the coatrack and left the library in silence.

To clear her head and cheer herself up, Rainbow Dash took to the skies and let the crisp winter air fill her nostrils. She made several laps around indiscriminate cloud formations and glided between the wreckage of old businesses. It was strange... in the air, everything made sense. The laws were simple; just flap your wings and let the wind carry you. Enjoy the moment. Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and did just that. She wasn’t going to hit anything. Just fly away... she snapped her eyes open as a blur of orange and magenta crossed her path, and stopped herself to avoid a collision. “Okay, I was wrong again. Scootaloo!” The streak stopped doing loops around a small nimbus cloud and settled down upon it.

“You’re getting easier to predict, Rainbow Dash!”

“Oh, come on, squirt. You only caught me off guard. You’ve got a long way to go before you can best me.”

Scootaloo glared at Rainbow Dash with a smirk. “Is that a challenge?”

“It could be.”

“Then I accept!”

“Alright then! Last one to my place is a... gnarly dragon egg.”

“Dash? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. ReadysetGO!”

From cloud to cloud, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo kept trading places at the front of the line, and the former was almost too astounded by how skilled her little fan had become to hold the lead before they touched down at the clouds leading up to Rainbow Dash's airborn abode.

"Darn it!" Scootaloo kicked away stray clouds in frustration. "No matter how hard I try, you always beat me!"

Rainbow Dash flicked Scootaloo's spiked mane with her hoof. "No matter how times you lose, you never give up."

"Yeah, I guess so. It's because I know that someday, when I beat you, I'll get my cutie mark!"

"You would deserve it, kid!" A familiar streak of purple and pink landed next to Scootaloo. "Yo wassup?"

Scootaloo was intrigued. "You're Judas, aren't you?"

"Yes indeed, and don't you forget it!"

"Wow, I never thought I'd actually get to talk to a member of the Loony Republican!"

"Lunar Republic, kid."

"Whatever, stop touching my mane."

"Let me put it this way." Judas took to the sky and accentuated her speech with several broad movements of her hoofs and hindlegs. "Some ponies decide to do everything they can, and I mean everything, to get their cutie mark. Others," she landed and posed in a primal stance, "will wait and let what they call destiny take its course. Then," she flew again, trying to appeal to a nonexistent crowd, "you have a pony like me, who went quite a while without a cutie mark. But dude, you could have hired Daring Do herself and you wouldn't have found a buck that I gave! I still got it, though. Take a look." Still remaining airborne, she flaunted her flank for Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo to see. Her cutie mark was a white symbol resembling the letter Y, but at the same time, not quite. Its color matched the rest of Judas' tribal tattoos that made up most of her body.

"So, it's some kinda fork?" asked Scootaloo.

Judas slapped herself across the face and laughed, then she did the same with her flank. "No way, kid! This is the symbol of betrayal and revenge."

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's something to be proud of?"

"Uh, maybe I should explain why I got it."

Judas' Story

My family was what you would call the uppercrust... if that crust was armor plated in platinum and gilded with sunshine and rainbows! We weren't living the high life. We were living the mile high life! Yep, my folks were the some richest pegasi in Canterlot. Though, come to think of it, they were some of the only rich pegasi there. I was their little bundle of awesome. I had everything I ever wanted on a gold platter. Of course, my parents were too absorbed in their fame and fortune to see anything lower than their noses, including me. My only real friend was Litner, the butler. The one thing I really wanted that my parents couldn't provide was a little brother. Then, there came a miracle.

Outside the front door was a little half dragon going through dumpsters. I never saw a more pathetic sight, so I took sympathy on the little bugger and said hello. He clearly wasn't used to casual conversation because he growled at me like a dog! I offered him a daisy sandwich, but instead he ate some of my jewelry. I wasn't upset, it wasn't like I actually wore that crap. I knew this boy and I were destined to meet. I told him, "From this day forth, you are my little brother, and I will call you... Cerberus!"

My parents were too high and mighty to notice Cerberus. Litner took care of him just as he did me, and slowly he warmed up and stopped acting so beastly. I taught him how to talk right and read. Eventually he was no different from the average pony. My perfect life was becoming even better.

Of course it all had to come crashing down eventually. On the night of the Summer Sun Festival, the news came. Nightmare Moon had returned from her lunar prison and was wreaking havoc on Equestria. Cerberus was out of control. He kept hollering, "Mum! Mum!" as he bolted for the door. My parents didn't care when I crashed into a window and got a concussion after my wings spurted, but they threw a hissy fit when Cerberus knocked their diamond encrusted silverware to the floor in the confusion.

They threatened to call the soldiers on me for hoarding a half breed, and said they would have "It" executed. I yelled, "Leave my little brother alone!" I came over some serious adrenaline. To this day, I don't remember what happened, except for a lot of yelling, bruising, and somehow, the mansion was destroyed. As Cerberus and I looked over the wreckage, I noticed that I had my cutie mark... the symbol of betrayal. Yeah, I turned against my family, but who cares? So long as I had Cerberus, I was happy.

"You see, kid, this cutie mark doesn't define who I am. My actions and experiences do. Who am I? I'm Judas Blackwing, and I exist to protect my little brother and the rest of Equestria from tyranny!"

Scootaloo, while she enjoyed the story, was sick and tired of the mushy stuff, like Judas constantly talking about Cerberus like he was some kind of cookie she had been saving for a special occasion and wouldn't let anypony touch. "That's great and all, but come on, Rainbow Dash and I don't need to hear all that lovey dovey family crap. Right, Rainbow Dash?"

However, the cyan pegasus that Scootaloo admired was acting rather sentimental, lying belly down in the clouds with her hoofs on her cheeks. Suddenly, her wings shot upward. "The ponies you love are the most important, right Judas?"

"Damn straight. It's times like these in which we have to stick with the ones we care about most. You never know if it's the last time you'll ever see them."

"Heeeeeeeloooooooooooooooo, Heretic!" Pinkie Pie came into the library from the nonexistent back door that was totally always there since like forever and knocked the notebook away from Heretic's hoofs. He shot a stern glare at Pinkie.

"Miss Pinkie, I was in the centroid of progress on several economic calculations." The glare was not very effective.

"You work too hard, Harry!"

"Curiosity arises as to what you previously spoke."

"Harry! That's my nickname for you! It saves me precious seconds from saying the 'Tic' after the 'Here', and it rhymes with that name you don't like, Bubblemint Berry! It's cute, isn't it?"

"You are entitled to the opinion of your possession."

"Soooooo... Rainbow Dash is off having fun somewhere else. Do you want to come down to Sugarcube Corner and get a slice of coffee cake?"

"I have already informed you of my current state of-"

Pinkie Pie's pupils widened as she stuck out her lower lip. "Come on, Harry. I'm bored!"

"There will be ample hours for mild entertainment when this conflict reaches its conclusion. For the present time I am occupied. Twilight Sparkle, I request that you-"

"I got it." Twilight, who was still studying previously unread books about times of war (Currently she was reading Commander Hurricane's Perfect Army - Where and how to create the ultimate soldiers), levitated the scrapbook back to Heretic.

"I don't get you, Harry. Why don't you ever relax that big brain of yours?"

"The moment that my superior intelligence is tranquilized will be the day I am declared legally dead. Any moment not spent analyzing every possible outcome for an upcoming battle is potentially lethal."

Twilight put her book down, intrigued by Heretic's dedication. "What drove you to be like this, anyway?"

He sighed. "Very well. A brief history of my brief existence is as follows. I will be sure to decrease my level of existential language to make comprehension an easier feat."

Heretic's Story

The happiest pony in the world is likely the most ignorant one, for knowledge can bring sorrow. I never believed that. In my superior mind, the only thing that mattered to me was knowing everything. Every equation, every biological code, every historical event, every last piece of the puzzle. That's why I spent my days in the library of my mother and father's mansion. I took my meals in there. I never stopped researching, studying or experimenting, and I never let the idea that I as an earthwalker am less handy than the average unicorn stop me. My parents had to pull me out of Canterlot Academy for I was beyond my fellow students by dozens of grade levels. I had a bright future; the youngest teacher at the Academy. Master Bubblemint Berry! A future of infinite knowledge up for grabs... it was only appropriate that I would earn this insignia of pi for my hard work.

Unfortunately, I eventually learned too much. When I had finally read and memorized every last book in the family library, I was too ambitious to stop there. In a dusty, condemned section in the public library I found the one book that I had not read. The Myths and Murders of the Half Breeds. The author was unknown, its origins more of the same, but what was contained within that book told me everything about a subject seldom mentioned, often persecuted. The book was made of several brief journal entries describing the half breed hunts from centuries ago, how they were kept under wraps, and what Celestia had done to ensure any half breed ever encountered would be discriminated against until their life was taken... sometimes by their own hoofs or talons, or claws... it was the most horrifying piece of literature I had ever read, but it was just as much informative. I knew what I had to do. I had to wipe out the ignorance and tell the truth, for a brighter future for all half breeds.

Celestia wouldn't allow that. Every last page in the family library and public library was turned to ashes, and my mother and father were imprisoned for raising me on such thoughts, even though the thoughts were my own. From that day forth I was a criminal that couldn't be caught. My infinite knowledge of infamous outlaws provided me with the necessary skills to avoid any and all arrests. The time would come when I would meet Judith and Cerberus, two spiritual siblings with a common goal; the liberation of Equestria. Thus, with their experience in battle and my superior mind, the Lunar Republic was born.

"Um... Miss Pinkie? Were you paying attention?"

Pinkie Pie was upstairs on Twilight's bed, flipping through a recipe book. "I already knew about all that."

"You... what?"

"I read the script." She smiled with closed eyes.

"What do you-"

"PINKIE!" Rainbow Dash flew through the window, smacking into Pinkie at such velocity that it sent them bouncing into the kitchen.

Pinkie opened her eyes, but not to the multicolored mane she loved. "Spike? You're not Rainbow Dash."

"Ugh, get a room." Spike took his turquoise sandwich back upstairs while stifling his coughs.

Pinkie felt Rainbow Dash run her muzzle across every inch of her mane. "What got into you?"

Rainbow Dash kissed Pinkie, long and passionately. "I just... really, really love you."

"D'aaaaw, I love you too, Dashie."

Hephaestus Ironwright was to be the hero of another story, titled Flames: Eclipsed by Super Big Mac, but the idea of dual stories fell through and it had to be cancelled.

Hephaestus' story will be elaborated upon in a future remake of Dragon of the Eclipse.

Under the Stars...

"Behold, Celina. The rising sun. Have you ever seen a more beautiful sight?"

"You come to mind."

"Oh, you flirt..."

"Well, that's what I would have said a long time ago."

"Is something the matter?"

"This is strange. Every time I look at you, you've changed. Your eyes are differently colored from last night, your hair is graying... by the divines, look! One of your wings is turning blue."

"Oh, would you look at that. I rather like it."

"...Who are you, Desmond?"

"I'm your husband, don't you remember?"

"Don't touch me.

“Aw, Celina...”

“I said hooves off!”

Chapter 13

Under the Stars...

Cerberus had heard the announcement. This was the day that Luna would bring night to Ponyville for the first time in a week. Somewhere deep inside he knew that he would never get an opportunity like this again. He launched himself from Town Square into the sky and touched down at the library. He hoped that his mother would take a break from her meditating for at least a little while to hear him.

In the most shaded area of the library, a corner off to the side of a curtained window underneath the staircase, Luna was levitating slightly above the carpet, processing the shade around her into pure energy. She intended to use this power to move the sun out of the sky and keep it that way for some time. She stopped floating and opened her eyes.

“My son. As always it is a delight to see you. Are you looking forward to tonight?”

“More so than usual. My nocturnal instincts are screaming at me from the inside. Not literally, of course.”

“That wouldn’t be pleasant at all.”

“Actually, I’m here to ask for something.”

“Anything in the world I would give you, child.”

“I want to make this a very special night for me and Fluttershy.”

“Why? Are you-” Luna looked puzzled for a moment, then she scrunched up her lips when she realized what her son meant. “Ah, yes. I understand completely. I assume you want to give her something special. I salvaged some jewels from my portion of the royal vault if you-”

Cerberus raised his hoof. “No. Anypony could get their dasforah some rubbish jewel. This is something only you can do.”

A comfortable cloud... check. Some healthy snacks for her and bits of sapphire for him... check. Nopony in sight? Check. Fluttershy had set up what Cerberus said would be the best night ever. She hoped he wasn’t exaggerating by any means. At the very least this was guaranteed to end better than their last date. Who knows? Maybe it would end in something wonderful. Fluttershy tried to keep her wings down when she thought of that.

She looked around the late afternoon sky and saw a familiar figure approaching from Ponyville. His dark coat and mane contrasted the white snow, and his dragon wings and tail could be seen from miles away, at least by her. Cerberus landed on the cloud and dropped a small hoofbag from his mouth, from which he pulled out a light blue scarf.

“You oughta bundle up, beautiful. It can get cold up here at night.” He got close to Fluttershy and wrapped the scarf around her neck. She moved closer still to embrace him.

“I suppose I could just snuggle up next to you if I do get cold.”

“Save it for later, love. I want you to see this.”

Soon both Cerberus and Fluttershy had settled down on their private cloud, trading gazes with each other, and the horizon where the sun was disappearing.

“I bet Celestia is pissed at your mother right now.”

“Imagine her face, it’ll cheer anypony up instantly.” They shared a laugh. “I bet the view is even better up in Cloudsdale.”

“Have you ever been to Cloudsdale?”

“Once, with Judas. They’re more tolerant of half breeds up there. We met a filly with butterfly wings, she was a doll.”

“Why didn’t you stay?” A brief silence, and Fluttershy answered her own question. “Captain Black.”

“Captain Black.”

“What’s his problem with you?”

“What’s anyone’s problem with me?”

“He seems to hate you more than the others.”

“He doesn’t hate me. He hates that Winter Solstice is friends with me.”

“Do they go back?”

“Oh yeah. I’d rather not talk about it. You can ask her, she tells it better.”

“If I even see her.” She chuckled at her own joke. “You know, despite everything that’s happened, I’m glad that I’m here. If you hadn’t come along, I’d still be the same quiet, timid, cowardly Fluttershy I always was.”

“I’d still be cold and friendless if I hadn’t met you. I still can’t believe you’re willing to risk your life to be with me.”

“You’re worth hell, baby.”

Cerberus laughed to hide his blush, though that was hard to see as it was getting darker by the minute. The sun was almost completely gone. "Okay okay, pay real close attention to this part."

"I'm looking, don't worry."

A few minutes in silence and... gone. All that was left of daylight was the faint orange glow past the mountains.

Fluttershy sighed happily. "I missed the sunset. Going a while without it makes you appreciate-"

"It isn't over. Turn around!"

This was the part that no one had seen before. From the east came several streaking white lights that filled an empty black sky with stars and constellations unknown to ponykind.

"Is your mother remaking the entire night sky?"

"It wasn't hers until now."

"Oh yeah... heh heh, Twilight's going to have a fit."

Shadows were cast by trees every time another star was created. Slowly but surely, the sky was decorated with lights large and small. A night sky that Celestia could never have imitated. This was Luna's artwork.

"Truly amazing, isn't it?"

Fluttershy rested her head on Cerberus' neck and yawned. "Couldn't be better." She spoke too soon. She perked up when she noticed one last constellation was being formed.

Several stars, brighter than the others, formed the bodies of a colt and a mare, intertwined in an embrace only true lovers could share. More stars came along and filled in the details, giving the couple eyes and hair... and the colt now had a dragon wing...

Fluttershy gaped. "Is... that us?" Her eyes quivered and she felt the sting of tears of joy.

"Mother rather likes us as a couple." Fluttershy's silence made Cerberus nervous. He began to babble. "But if you think I could do better, I could get a royal jewel, or maybe a brooch-"

Cerberus was pinned to the cloud and kissed furiously. "I love you so much," said Fluttershy. She sat up and removed her scarf.

"Why'd you take it off?"

"All I need is you."

"Oh..." Cerberus noticed that his dragon wings were now pointed straight outwards and he couldn't retract them. He crossed his forelegs. "I'm... I'm kinda nervous. You're my first."

"Please, Cerberus? I want to do this."

"I know, me too. Come here."

Their lips, their bodies and their wings touched, and for that night, and many nights afterwards, every ounce of love and passion Cerberus and Fluttershy had built up for each other blossomed into a romantic evening. They relished every thrash, seize, and release, and every time, fell asleep with one's forelegs wrapped around the other's neck.

One morning (Or what should have been morning, thanks to Luna and her artificial sun) Cerberus woke to his dasforah's loving gaze.

"Yay..." she whispered.

This time they had fallen asleep on the outskirts of the Everfree forest, quite possibly the most romantic place they had found yet. Cerberus sat up and took in the winter air, though no snow surrounded where he and Fluttershy lay. He remembered that he had used his flames to burn away the snow for a more comfortable evening.

Fluttershy had just noticed Cerberus was awake. "Aw, don't go anywhere."

Cerberus looked back and smiled. "Don't worry love. I'll go find us some breakfast, then I'll be back. Just stay right there. Seriously, don't budge. You look perfect like that."

"With grass in my mane?"

"Your beauty is never tarnished."

She smiled again. If it were up to Cerberus, he would make her smile forever. "Okay. Hurry on back now."

Little did Cerberus realize, that he had planted a seed of creation during one of those nights. He didn't know it yet, but that seed would be a symbol of hope for all of ponykind in the battle that was sure to follow.

Wayward Son

"Sister? What are you doing?"

"Pack a bag. We are leaving."

"Why? I'm happy here."

"Well, I am not. We have no place in Equestria any more."

"Celina, my dear. Why so eager to leave?"

"Sister!"

"You let her go, Desmond. I'm not afraid to break you."

"Yes, that's it. Do give in to your hatred. It very much clashes with your old self. Chaotic, is it not?"

"I don't know what you're doing, but if you value your life-"

"Oh blah, blah, blah. Okay, you win. Take this little tyke and gallop. Gallop for the hills if you must! Don't expect your precious kingdom to look the same when you return."

"That's just fine, for we never will. Come along, little sister."

Chapter 14

Wayward Son

"Ah still don't get why we have to go all the way to Fillydelphia."

"It's simple, Applebloom. Every business that wasn't destroyed by the fire is closin' down. Let's face it, Ponyville is dead." Applejack kicked the barn door shut and applied the lock. "Fillydelphia is so dense that she'll never find us there."

"Can't we just take the train?"

"And pull up to an army of soldiers ready cut ya in two? That ain't happenin' to mah lil' sister." Applejack patted Applebloom's scarlet mane, mussing up the little one's hair.

"So, what would you do if one a' them soldiers came our way?" asked Applebloom as she fixed her hair and bow tie.

Applejack stopped loading up the cart with rations, tents and blankets and thought about that. "Well, I'd prolly do somethin' like this." She got into a primal stance and kicked out her left hind leg at an imaginary pony, followed by the other. "Then a little something a' this!" She then leaped into the air, landed on her rear and proceeded to wail on the imaginary pony's imaginary face. She stopped and tilted her hat. "Then I'd yell, 'You leave my family alone ya lil' sack a-'"

"Are you two ready to go?" Big Macintosh trotted around the corner and hitched himself up to the cart.

Applejack returned to a standing position. "I guess you want to beat the traffic?"

"Eeyup."

Thus the Apple siblings walked the stone trail leading away from the town they spent their whole lives in. Ponyville sank lower and lower into the distance.

Apple Bloom couldn't help but glance back, as she could feel her eyes swell from the tears. "Ah'm gonna miss it here..." she looked back at her childhood memories; her, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo always going on zany adventures, always obsessing over attaining their cutie marks. The day Cerberus saved her life from the fire. The day she finally got her cutie mark, creating a masterpiece painting that could even jerk other ponies tears...

The little filly wasn't the only one taking a trip down memory lane, for her big sister had a vast amount of enjoyable memories of her own. Like the day Applejack and her friends saved Applebuck Season. The day she made amends with her rival during the Running of the leaves. Even through the fall of Discord, her bond strengthened as they overcame their obstacles through sheer friendship alone...

Big Mac was stoic as ever.

Heartfelt goodbyes were commonplace on that cloudy winter morning. Even though many a pony had scraped by for a few months in what was left of Ponyville, it was time to face facts, they couldn't live in the wreckage of old businesses and residential districts forever. Ponyville had fallen like the snow from the sky, which was falling rather fast and heavy, but not to the point of being unforgivable.

If one were to ask anypony where they were going, the answer would vary. Some groups were simply relocating to the nearest town over. Others were going to live with distant family. Some were so terrified of what Celestia could do that they would take the journey across the border into a neighboring kingdom.

The Lunar Republic had other plans; they wanted to get as close as they could to Celestia so they could launch an attack on a dime if they so wished.

Fillydelphia wasn't much farther from Canterlot than Ponyville, and the dense population provided necessary insurance. Heretic had reasoned that Celestia would never destroy such a densely populated town to worm out a few select criminals. At worst she would send Captain Black, and with their combined strength, the Lunar Republic was more than a match for him.

Before that, however, the Lunar Republic would take an indiscriminate path through the forest bordering Ponyville. It wasn't nearly as treacherous as the Everfree, but the journey would be rather long.

Heretic surveyed the cold clear water slowly moving down the large ditch. A waterfall could be heard in the distance. It was eery in that it was the only thing to be heard in the silent woods. Even hoofsteps went without a sound in the dense snow.

"Right then. This stream will lead us to Fillydelphia. It won't be the fastest route but it will definitely be the safest."

Pinkie Pie was washing her mane in the stream. When she pulled her head up, her hair fell flat across her vision. She talked to Heretic, though she was looking the opposite direction from where he was. "Harry, I can understand what you're saying! What's up?"

Heretic brushed the snow on the ground with his hoof. "I... simply wish to make sure my words don't fall on deaf ears. Having a superior mind means nothing if nopony cares to comprehend my speech." He adjusted his glasses and looked over his chart. He had spent weeks on this, mapping out probabilities and percentages and researching the history of paths traveled in these woods to make a safe path. He had minimized the possibility of meeting any undesirables along the way. The Lunar Republic would split into two teams. One group consisted of Twilight Sparkle, Heretic, Rarity, Fluttershy, Cerberus and Winter Solstice. The other was smaller, only having Rainbow Dash, Judas and Pinkie Pie and Spike.

Luna had disappeared beforehand to gather followers in other towns. She had sent several letters through Cerberus to inform the Lunar Republic of her progress. Appleoosa, Manehatten, Trottingham and Las Pegasus had given their support to Luna and were gathering troops for an uprising. Other towns disinterested in war would instead contribute food and medicine. Hephaestus Ironwright himself was working under Celestia's radar to supply enchanted armor to the troops.

In silence, the first group walked along the river, and the second crossed to the other side to take a more direct route to Fillydelphia. Winter Solstice lead the first group from the front. The rear was brought up by Cerberus, who, of course, walked next to Fluttershy. Everypony else walked freely in the middle.

More silence. Nopony bothered to speak for the remainder of the day. It wasn’t because talking would be overly risky. Heretic actually encouraged talking, as he said earlier, “Social interaction can relieve stress, and there is a large quantity of that these days.” It seemed that reality was catching up with the group. Now that Ponyville had been left for dead, all that awaited them was a battle. When it would happen? Nopony knew. Would they win? Nopony knew that either.

Twilight Sparkle thought that she would be more anxious about this. If the Lunar Republic was successful, Celestia would likely end up dead, so why was it that she wasn’t going ballistic? In such a short time everything she expected out of life had been tossed out the window, burned at the stake and buried at sea, and yet here she was, taking it all in stride.

Fluttershy was worried. Not for anypony’s life, not for Cerberus, not for herself. It was about something else. Something that had been aching at her for weeks. She felt heavy and sluggish. She knew what was wrong, she just couldn’t let herself accept it, not that it was a bad thing. In fact, it was the possibly the best thing that could happen to her. But why did it have to happen now?

“Fluttershy? You’re falling behind.” said Rarity.

“Sorry. I’m a little distracted.”

“Lucky you. This is all too much for me to bear.”

“You’re not getting all prissy about walking through the woods, are you? Could your hooves use a little trimming?”

Rarity laughed. “Goodness no! Some things are more important than hygiene. I just can’t relax! All this sneaking around, going under Celestia’s radar, I hate being so discreet. Ugh! It’s so stressful!"

Fortunately for Rarity, everpony's hooves began to tire and the sun began sinking down on the horizon, at least they could assume so, for the snow on the ground was beginning to dim in brightness and turn orange to reflect the sunset, so it was mutually decided that it was time to set up camp.

Twilight unzipped her bag of holding, which had been magically amplified to carry much more than it looked like it should, and pulled out three rolled up tents. "There's one for me and Rarity, one for Heretic and Winter Solstice in case they need to discuss battle strategies, and one for Cerberus and Fluttershy." She glanced at the latter two. "Of course these have been enchanted with silencing spells so nopony can hear you-"

"Snoring?" interrupted Cerberus. Fluttershy laughed at his euphemism.

Rarity began searching through the bag. "You didn't happen to bring any towels, did you?"

"Why?" asked Twilight.

"I noticed a most lovely pond a little ways from here. I was going to cast a heating spell to make a temporary hot spring."

"I wouldn't recommend it," said Heretic as he organized the supplies for his tent, which Winter Solstice began setting up with her magic. "The steam would be rather visible to our enemies."

"Don't be such a worry worm, Heretic. I'm plenty capable of handling a few soldiers. Never underestimate a lady."

The more Fluttershy thought about a hot spring, the more appealing it sounded. She grabbed a second towel between her teeth and followed her friend to the pond.

Fluttershy emerged from the warm water and let her now drenched hair fall across her eyes. A single flower that had sat on the surface of the pond now rested on her muzzle. She leaned her head against the edge and closed her eyes.

"Wonderful... it feels so good..."

Rarity had wrapped her towel around her mane and gently eased into the water. "That heating spell works wonders, doesn't it? I learned it from Hephaestus Ironwright. That colt is a saint, he is."

"I'll have to thank him later. I needed this."

"Why, darling, are you ill?"

Fluttershy's smile faltered. "A little bit, I guess you could say so."

"Well, I'm not surprised. I love the artistic effect of snow but when it drags on for months like this, it starts to be rather dull. At least you have a lover that you can cuddle up with when you get cold. Speaking of which, how are you and Cerberus doing?"

"I can't complain. He's always there for me when I need him."

"He's been there for all of us. Helping me sharpen my fashion techniques, loving you, saving Applejack and Twilight's lives... I swear, if you hadn't scooped him up-"

Fluttershy's eyes flashed open. "Don't touch my Cerby."

A moment of awkward silence passed, followed by laughter.

"It's funny, really." said Rarity. "I'm the hopeless romantic and yet you're the only one in this pond with any experience in the bedroom. I do hope your and Cerberus' romance doesn't go stale in a hurry."

Fluttershy was brought back to the issue that had been clouding her mind. Would it be a good idea to tell Rarity? She was her best friend, she could keep a secret. Telling somepony would at least take an invisible weight off her back. "Um, Rarity?" Fluttershy said, lapsing back into her cowardly disposition, which she thought she had left behind in the ruins of Ponyville. "I'm... I'm..."

Rarity moved closer to her dear friend to hear her better. "What's the matter, Fluttershy? You can tell me."

"I'm... mmgm..."

The three tents were set up in a triforce, with Heretic and Winter Solstice's standing closest to the river. Twilight was putting the finishing touches on a cooking fire. She was aching for a toasted daisy club.

Cerberus was hungry too, eager to warm up the last of his sapphires and pack away. If they got jumped, he didn't want to fight on an empty stomach. He warmed the coals with his fire breath and reached into his satchel, only to stop at the sound of his beloved talking in a hushed voice to Rarity. They had returned from their makeshift hot spring, apparently.

"I don't want to."

"It's no big deal, darling, it's actually quite wonderful."

"I know, I'm happy about it, but I can't tell him. I'll just be a liability."

"That's a big word for you. What do you mean?"

"Everypony will be taking enemy fire for me if I tell-"

"Tell us what?" Cerberus intercepted their path. He was rather put off by how somber Fluttershy looked. She was rather happy earlier, what happened, he wondered? "Is something wrong?"

Rarity nodded to Fluttershy and shut herself away in her tent to get her beauty sleep.

"Um," Fluttershy looked back and forth for a possible exit to this conversation. She was foolish to think so. There was no escaping Cerberus, and she would have to say something eventually.

Then she got an idea. If she couldn't tell him, but at the same time, had to tell him, she could just tell him that she couldn't tell him what she had to tell him until she could tell him. Eventually.

"I can't tell you." Fluttershy said as she approached Cerberus. She flinched. "But, I will. Soon."

"How soon?"

"Just trust me. It's for the best if you don't know, and please, don't try to find out what it is." She rested her head on his withers and hugged him.

Cerberus returned the hug. "If you think that's what's best." He didn't doubt her for a second. Whatever she neglected to tell him could wait, so long as he could keep her close to him. "Don't worry. I love you no matter what." He raised her head gently and kissed her.

"Let's go to bed."

Heretic was almost done with the prototype of his battle strategy. After analyzing several maps of Canterlot and doing almost obsessive amounts of number crunching, he felt that he had reached the absolute minimum in the odds of fatalities. It was a cinch for him, really. He planned obsessively like this on a regular basis, even for simple shopping trips. He stood up and tried to fix a crick in his neck from doing calculations all evening and noticed he left an ink stain on his bedsheets. His hooves were covered in the stuff.

"Reasonable excuse to exit the tent, I suppose." As Heretic unzipped the tent flap, he realized that as of late, his common vocabulary, while still advanced and proper, had been deprived of overly complicated literature. Pinkie Pie did point this out earlier, he remembered. He chuckled and reassured himself. "I still hold a superior mind. Simpler words have a farther reach."

Somehow the night was noisier than the day. Crickets chirped in the distance and the river frogs sang their nonsensical song of croaking. The glow of the fire had yet to dwindle. Something else was glowing. A light blue color, nearby the river. Winter Solstice was meditating. Heretic smiled and slowly approached her. He always valued her as one of equal mind, though she saw little reason to use it. She let her actions speak for her.

“I have good reason to be awake at this hour. But you, what are you doing, Winter Solstice?” She took a while to respond, lost in her own garbled reflection in the water, which was moving faster downhill. When she talked, Heretic had a feeling it wasn’t a direct answer to his question.

“Some may say revenge will leave one nothing to live for. I’ve already lost everything, so revenge is all I live for.”

“You’re speaking in riddles again.” said Heretic.

Solstice didn’t respond to that. She continued,

“Trapped underneath a frozen prison with all hope sinking as I am. The only one that can help me cackles like a hyena, and trots away without a word. My vision fades into nonexistence, but my horn shines brighter than a hot summer’s day. The ice falls under my control and breaks for me to return to life. Part of me is left in the river, my innocence, forever lost. All that waits for me at home are ashes and glass, and armored individuals ready to decorate the cobblestone with my blood in the name of a crime I had not committed. Their lives are ended by the ice that I guide, and thus I am reborn with no desire left but to send the burning one to the place in which his heart was created.”

Heretic was stunned. He had never heard any poetry of this caliber, but he soon realized that the reason for that was because this wasn’t poetry. It was the story of Winter Solstice’s life. He looked over the river. Yes, I get it, he thought to himself, this is where Black Licorice left her to die. He spat at the ground in utter disgust. What kind of sociopath would abandon his own sister like that? “He’ll die,” he said to his silent friend. “Just like the rest of them.”

Before he closed the tent flap and went to dreamland for the night, he heard Winter Solstice say, ever so quietly, “Thank you, Bubblemint Berry.” For the first time in many years, Heretic wasn’t angry to hear that name.

The tent flap hadn't been closed entirely, meaning the silence enchantment wasn't activated, and Heretic's attempt to fall asleep was interrupted by the sound of somepony screaming.

"AAAAAAAAGH!!! NO!!" Cerberus shot forward into a sitting position so fast he threw the sheets off the air mattress. He was drenched in cold sweat. "No... no no no... please..." he muttered with his head bowed. Fluttershy woke and was comforting him within seconds with her hooves massaging his withers. His hyperventilating showed no signs of slowing.

"Just talk. Tell me what happened," whispered Fluttershy into his lowered ears. "It's okay, darling. I'm right here."

Cerberus managed to speak between breaths. "It was... awful... they were all... dead... everypony was... dead... then... I saw her... laughing... I couldn't... get away... I'm scared..." He curled into the fetal position and let his tears flow freely. They stained the sheets. Fluttershy only smiled and looked upon her lover with her angelic eyes. She lay down next to him.

"It's okay," she repeated, "I'm right here. I'll always be here." She reached out to touch his head and cradled it in her lap while she brushed his unkempt mane.

Cerberus looked up to her and tried to force his frown to leave his face. "I... I love you..."

Fluttershy closed her eyes. Letting her long lost soft voice return to her, she sang the first song that popped into her mind. "Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head... hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed..."

It took many hours and a lot of tears, but Cerberus eventually stopped trembling. He could still hear Fluttershy's heavenly singing voice, even though she had been asleep for a while, snuggled into his warm chest. His draconic body was always a source of heat for her, like a pillow that she could snog.

Cerberus was lost in his thoughts. His nightmare had quickly faded into a hazy memory like all dreams do, but the idea still tore away at him, the idea that everypony he had come to love could end up dead.

Suddenly the tent felt constrictive. He had to get out of there. He rolled over, causing Fluttershy's head to fall onto the pillow. She gave a quick grunt, but she didn't wake, much to Cerberus' relief. He rubbed what was left of the tears he shed earlier out of his eyes and opened the tent flaps. It was really late, at least he assumed so. The only light came from the dimming fire that Rarity had fallen asleep next to. Snow was lightly falling, coating the ground in another layer of white. Cerberus was thankful for this, because his hoofsteps were muffled, keeping anypony from following him, not that he even knew where he was going. He hoped that the falling snow would cover his prints.

You can't run. You can't run forever, Cerberus. No matter where you go, no matter how well you hide, you can't escape your fate. Those voices echoed in his ears every time he looked at Canterlot. It figured that Celestia, damn her, would want to have her home set at the highest livable point in Equestria. It gave Cerberus a continuous feeling of dread. That city was like a permanent reminder that he was unnatural and there were plenty of ponies out there who would gladly see him turned to ashes, or hung at the noose, or left to die of heatstroke in the deserts of Saddle Arabia.

Celestia wouldn't show him such mercy. He had so many brushes with her and lived to tell the tale, she would rather have him utterly destroyed. Emotionally, and physically. Inside and out. Nothing left to live for until he begged for death... and she would not grant his wish. He would hardly deserve such kindness.

"That's not who I am anymore!" he shouted to Canterlot as if the bigots up there could hear him. "I'm not afraid of you!" He spoke with such passion that the birds perched in the branches above him flew away. Cerberus liked to imagine those birds as his inner demons, leaving him forever.

He still dreaded the inevitable battle that lay ahead. What if everything that the Lunar Republic and Hephaestus Ironwright had done wouldn't be enough? What if his nightmare became reality?

Canterlot Castle was lit up. Celestia would be locked away, preparing herself for the fight, gathering what little power she had left. She was expecting a fight, but what if she got less than she bargained for? In some cases, less is more. Perhaps in her weakened state she would powerless to stop a certain somepony from, say, flying into Canterlot, breaking through a stained glass window and severing her neck with his draconic fangs?

"One more shot. Yeah. I can do this."

"That son of a mule, what the hell is wrong with him!? ARGH!" Everypony awoke to the pleasant sound of Fluttershy stomping the ground and cursing her little heart out. "He always runs away! Every time something bad happens, he runs away! What the hell kind of pony thinks that running from their problems will solve shi-"

"Fluttershy!" Rarity was the first one on her hooves. Despite her worst fear of being seen in public with an mussed up purple mane and improperly curled eyelashes, she comforted Fluttershy and put an end to the obscenities. "You cannot get stressed like this! Think of the-"

She stopped and looked behind her. Everpony else was fully awake and leaving their tents to investigate (Except for Heretic, who silently watched from his tent). Twilight was on the scene. "What happened, Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy didn't let Rarity's gentle hooves restrain her. With wide eyes and a strained brow, she continued to shout. "He's gone! Cerberus just up and left!"

"Why would he do that?"

"This... might explain it." Winter Solstice levitated a scrap of parchment partially buried in the new fallen snow. It was partially soaked and dirty, likely from Fluttershy stomping on it in disappointment and anger. It was definitely written in a hurry.

Fluttershy,
I can't let you get hurt. Going it alone.

It didn't take a specialist to know it was written by Cerberus.

Twilight was clearly stressed out by this too, but more on a logical level than a emotional one like Fluttershy. "He keeps thinking that we're going to get the way and get hurt. He has to understand, this isn't about him. It's about doing what's right, and we're willing to risk our lives for it."

"It's more than that!" yelled Fluttershy. "I need him more than ever right now!" Angry tears were starting to form in her squinted eyes.

Rarity was beginning to show concern. "Just calm yourself, dear. Let's make you some tea and-"

"Buck the tea!" Fluttershy pushed Rarity away and began turning in random directions, trying to find the right words. Twilight took a wild risk and spoke.

"Fluttershy, what's wrong?"

The butter yellow pegasus had learned over the past few months to not bottle up her true feelings, which is what she had been doing this whole Luna forsaken trip. She couldn't do this anymore. She had to let it all out in one shout. "I'M PREGNANT!"

Even the sound of the flowing river seemed to stop. Nopony spoke a word. One could say the reactions were mixed, but nopony even had a reaction. Fluttershy was pregnant with Cerberus' child. Twilight didn't even think that was possible, but then again, she didn't know half breeds even existed at a time.

The one with the blankest expression stood behind Fluttershy. The father himself made his presence known when he exhaled. Cerberus had been standing there the whole time but everypony was too dumbstruck to even notice. Fluttershy's anger disappeared. One half of her was thrilled to see that Cerberus' common sense had returned and he had come back, and the other half was wondering how he would take this news. Would he run away again?

"So..." he said as he scanned the ground beneath him, "...have you thought of a name yet?"

Luna trotted toward this disembodied light that had appeared to her during her personal trek through the woods, until she found herself in a clearing, where the trees were separated by a half kilometer and the night sky could be seen. The light had dimmed and had settled in the center of the clearing. Luna approached it with half a mind of curiosity, the other half of caution. Light was not a sacred thing in these times. Nevertheless, while she mentally recited the incantations of every offensive spell in her arsenal, she touched the disembodied light.

"Hello, my sister." Celestia's all too familiar voice echoed from every direction. Luna could have sworn she even heard it in her mind. The light was now gone, replaced with the Princess of the Sun, still in her weakened state. Just the sight of her made Luna seeth, and her voice made her more angry still. "It seems that our differences have climaxed into a war of loyalty."

Luna stifled herself. "That loyalty falls to me. Every town surrounding Canterlot is at my beck and call."

"I will not deny that you have a vast quantity of supporters, but few of them have experience in combat compared to my army. Tell me Luna, was there any conflict in Equestria before you started complaining?" She chuckled.

Luna couldn't contain her royal Canterlot voice. "How dareth thou question thy queen!" In a lapse of common sense due to rage, attempted to spear Celestia with her horn. However, it seemed that she had missed her target, even though when she looked back, Celestia hadn't budged an inch.

"I'm sorry, did you believe that I would actually come to you in the flesh? This is only an arcane projection."

Luna stomped at the ground.

"You ought to control yourself, sister. After all, you only have so much time left."

"You intend to attack us?"

"No. I have decided to take an indirect approach. Look to your night sky, and despair." Above the minimal cloud cover was a crescent moon surrounded by the many constellations that Luna had recently created to celebrate her return. At first glance, nothing was abnormal, but then she looked to the horizon, or at least as much of the horizon as could be seen through the trees, and saw a sunrise.

"You're forcing the day upon us again?"

"Two strikes, Luna. Do you recall the last spell that Star Swirl the Bearded taught us? Oh no, that's right... you were imprisoned in the moon! I suppose that means you have no way of counteracting this. I call it the Pure Eclipse, for as soon as our celestial bodies cross, the solar eclipse will grant me enough power to destroy every last impure speck in Equestria."

Luna gaped. In denial, she could only utter "No..."

"Yes, Luna, yes. Your son. The half phoenix. Your lover. Every one of them and more will be dead soon... along with you."

"What?"

"Well, you copulated with that dragon. You carry part of him within you, therefore you are impure."

Luna sighed. Her sisters words were true, but they were mere gusts of wind compared to what she had done before. Luna was not afraid of this impending eclipse. She had too many brushes with death to be afraid. No, she stood her ground, tilted her head back and laughed.

The image of Celestia showed confusion. Had Luna gone mad from the thought of losing everything? Was this a poker face?

"You'll be dead before that happens, sister." Luna advanced on the image, flames of blue aura echoing in her walking path. "You tried to quell this storm with a rain of fire, but I have sour news for thou! Thine fire hath spread in our favor, and thou shalt be impaled upon thy own sword! Thy biggest mistake was failing to foresee that we knew what thou truly art, so we could win the trust of our comrades!"

With every syllable, Celestia's image faltered, not only stepping away from the bigger threat, but also flickering, growing more transparent by the second.

"Never show thine face in our presence ever again, for thine words only fuel our desire to take your throne and your kingdom away!" Luna paused with her head held high. She lowered it. The static image of Celestia remained still as the alicorn of the night whispered into its ear. Luna spoke as coherently as equinely possibly so that her real sister could hear her on the other side. "Be very afraid, sister."

In a flash of imperfect light, the hologram was gone, and Queen Luna had the last laugh.

When this is over...

“Good evening, Celina! I assume you’re doing well?”

“Desmond! I’ve had enough! This is our kingdom!”

“Our?”

“Yes! My brothers and sisters will have their thrones back!”

“I’m afraid the only thrones that belong to your siblings are coffins.”

“...No...”

“Do not blame me, my dear. I thought that they and I had come to an agreement, but apparently they weren’t fond of their new personalities that I, ah, insisted upon them. Their deaths were of their own accord.”

“NO! YOU BASTARD! DESMOND!”

“Oh now now, Celina. You should know I have grown tired of that name. I have decided on something more fun, more fitting... something along the lines of, Discord.”

Chapter 16
When this is over...

The weather was as stark and monochromatic as the cliff face on the outskirts of Fillydelphia overlooking the fields leading to Canterlot. Gilda the Griffon sat alone at a rocky balcony, away from anypony that would get the bright idea to talk to her. She was only in this battle for her own benefit, so that she wouldn't be hunted anymore, or get gipped out of a decent paying job. She looked at the bustling city across the open fields. The innocent ponies cramming into the trains to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. Gilda spat at the ground. Oh how she wished that they would stay, so they could pay, and face their dismay when she ruined their day in revenge for how many times they ruined her day...

"Hi! Whatcha doing all the way out here? Come join the party." Spitfire had flown down from the dozens of chatting ponies onto the cliff below. Gilda snorted. Why was she the least bit interested in talking to her? She didn't do any favors for this pegasus. She just continued to stare out at the plains and hoped that this problem would disappear. Surprise, it didn't.

Spitfire swept the ground with her left hoof as she tried to find the right words to say for this griffon. She decided to just talk and let the words come to her. "So, I heard you used to be Rainbow Dash's... friend?"

Gilda pointed one of her eyes at Spitfire. "Emphasis on used to be."

"Well, she talks about you a lot. She said, 'I never would have gotten past mach 1 if it weren't for Gilda. She's rough around the edges but she's the best friend I've ever had.'"

"What the hell? That's the sappiest thing I've ever heard. Dash don't care about me."

Spitfire was wearing an innocent smile that made Gilda sick to her stomach. "You're saying that now, but you wouldn't be here if you didn't want to fight alongside her."

Gilda pointed her index talon at Spitfire. "I'm only here because I'm pissed off at Celestia and wanna kill something."

"Keep telling yourself that." This orange pegasus still hadn't left. "Can I keep talking?" she asked.

"Go ahead. Maybe I won't eat you."

She seemed to find this amusing, and for some reason she wasn't afraid of what should be a terrifying beast of a half breed. Then again, maybe mach speeds were scarier than a griffon in her mind. So, she sat quietly next to Gilda and tried to find the right words.

"If you're half as good as Rainbow Dash, you would make a great Wonderbo- I mean, Shadowbolt. Still getting used to that."

"Why not sign her on, then?"

Spitfire shuffled her hooves. "Um... well... I don't want to hold her back."

"The hell does that mean?"

"Rainbow Dash can only go so far if she flies with us." Spitfire said. "She would only fly in formation with us, she'd hardly stay in one place, she wouldn't be able to visit her friends too often, the list goes on. She's become a much better flyer on her own." She looked back, to ensure that Rainbow Dash wasn't listening. "To tell you the truth, I really envy her."

"Uh huh."

"You, however... you seem like you need somepony to point you in the right direction. Lost your way, much?"

Gilda started to shake her head in denial, but stopped midway through and nodded. "Yeah, I'm lost. Rainbow Dash pulled me down below the clouds and it's hard to go back."

"Your focus is all out of wack. Come on, I'll buy you a drink."

Gilda wasn't about to refuse alcohol, but she paused for a moment. What just happened?

"You're all here for a reason, obviously. It varies from pony to pony. Maybe you sympathize with our cause and want to lend a helping hoof. You could have been hiding in the shadows, as part of this genocide of half breeds. Maybe you are a half breed. Either way, we are all united in the aftermath of a tragic occasion. Hephaestus Ironwright's death will not be in vain. Either we go down fighting for what's right, or we create a new world."

Heretic bowed to the several dozen Lunar Republic soldiers below him, and they bowed back. Heretic was too caught up in his own thoughts and calculations to revel in this moment he had dreamed of. Commanding an army! Keeper and the rest of the refugees up front and many more ponies caught in vengeful emotion after watching Hephaestus' hanging. Heretic thought he'd be more excited. He knew what was at stake, though. It wasn't a matter of being amazing and showy. It was about keeping every one of these soldiers alive.

"You are the best we could ever have, given the circumstances. We only have so much time to make our last minute preparations for this battle, because as you all heard, at the time of approximately 1:53 AM, we will have lost."

Luna had appeared to them earlier in the week to inform her subjects of the impending solar eclipse conjured up by Celestia, that would grant her enough power to wipe out every half breed in Equestria at her command. The news was necessary, as it put what was at stake into focus, but it had quickly turned a rough and tough group of ponies ready for action into an anxious team of worry worms, hoping to the divines that they didn't make a mistake on the battlefield lest Cerberus and the rest of the half breeds die inadvertently at their hooves. They would set out five hours to midnight. After that, well, anypony's life was at stake.

Judas Blackwing groaned at the melancholy tone of Heretic's speech. She shoved him aside (More gently than usual) to step things up a bit. "Okay, I don't care how religious any of you sods are. Fate has no play in this battle. Why is that important?" She answered her own question by clenching her forehooves together. "I'll tell you what it means; THERE'S. NO. REASON. FOR US. TO LOSE. By pure emotion we can tear through probability and destiny and force our way down the path we choose to make." She pointed her hoof to the cloudy sky. "Zecora is right; Equestria will bloom like a flower! We will move forward, beyond Celestia's restrictions, creating a new future for the freaky mutant children she loathes so much. We won't stop moving forward, even after we pierce the heavens themselves!"

That was more like it. The Lunar Republic soldiers stood on their hind legs and cheered for Judas. Heretic, however, was less than thrilled.

"Judith, could I talk to you in secrecy?"

Behind the dead trees bordering the edge of the cliff, Heretic led Judas away from the now optimistic soldiers. Winter Solstice was meditating nearby, though the voice of her companions bothered her little. If anything, it gave her strength.

"I'll put this as lightly as I can, Judith." said Heretic.

"It's JUDAS."

Heretic's little thread of patience snapped. "I command this army, I'll call you whatev-" he took a long breath. "Apologies, et cetera."

"Wow, Bubblemint. I didn't know you had emotions."

Heretic grumbled at the use of his real name, even though he felt he deserved it. He paced back and forth. "I'm... for the first in my life, I worry for the loss of life. Everything I do, I mentally calculate the outcome and tweak my approach to find the best chance for success, whether it be grocery shopping, bug hunting or... planning a life or death battle for Equestria. This all happened so fast. When did all this begin?"

"I remember we got into Ponyville near the end of summer, then by the time autumn was coming around, Solstice fired off that megaspell and made it winter. Now spring is coming up."

"Hmm... well, I suppose our first order of business if we survive will be the annual Winter Wrap Up."

"WHEN we survive."

"That... is actually why I pulled you aside, Judit-" Heretic shook his head. "Judas. We lie on opposite sides of the spectrum of idealism and cynicism. I occupy the latter, whereas you hold the former. My point is, no matter how much number crunching I attempt, the possibility of survival until midnight not including the actual odds of victory are less than-"

Judas did the last thing that Heretic expected of her. She hugged him and gave him a small kiss above his left eye. "You talk too much. Trust me, Bubblemint, I'm a realist too. Reality is, we may or may not win this war. That means there's a chance, and that's as good as a hundred percent. Besides, the odds never mattered to me. I'm Judas effing Blackwing!"

Judas flew back beyond the dead trees to give more pep talk to her troops. Heretic knew he was imagining it, but he swore for a moment that he could see a visible stream of fighting spirit traveling in her wake.

Another kiss was given that evening, by Rainbow Dash to her beloved Pinkie Pie, after they had engaged in utter ecstasy, out of sight and out of mind by anypony else. Rainbow Dash had been waiting for the calm before the storm to whisper intimately into Pinkie Pie's ear that they should savor the moment, in any way and every way possible. After an hour of hushed moaning and repeated uttering of each other's names, they were blissfully satisfied and somewhat sweaty, lying intertwined against the biggest tree they could find.

Rainbow Dash had her eyes closed with a smirk adorning her face. Her eye twitched when she heard Pinkie Pie munching on something, and she opened her eyes to see Pinkie munching on her multi-colored mane. It wasn't uncomfortable by any means, Rainbow Dash somewhat enjoyed the slight yanking feeling on her scalp. Just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie.

"Why are you doing that?" asked Rainbow.

Pinkie stopped chewing. "It tastes like every delicious thing in the whole wide world at once and it tickles my tongue!"

Rainbow put her hoof on the back of Pinkie's head and pulled her in close. "You are so random. That's why I love you." She gave a sigh of pure happiness. "I can die now."

"Why would you want to die, Dashie?"

"Well, not literally, what I mean is-"

"For the luvva dirt!" Shouted Applejack, trotting away from Fillydelphia. "Ah can't go two weeks without seein' you lovebirds in a compromising position. There's a hotel half a kilometer away!"

"Nice to see you too, AJ." said Rainbow. She and Pinkie Pie slowly let go of each other to stand back up. "Half a kilo is half a kilo too far. Besides, I know you enjoy the show."

"Ah already told ya, my barn door don't swing that way."

"Sure it don't swing both ways?"

"Why in tarnation are we even having this conversation?"

"I'm just trying to ease the tension. We're going to war, you know."

"You've already eased the tension with Pinkie Pie!"

Rainbow Dash looked back at Pinkie, who was laying on the ground in a sultry position. Rainbow had to struggle to keep her wings down. "AJ, the army's over there." She pointed to the sound of Judas' ongoing monologue. "Whether you leave or not, Pinkie and I are gonna- WOAH!" Rainbow had to do a double take. The second time she looked back she saw two Pinkie Pies.

"What the hell?! Pinkie Pie, is this one of your stunts? And if so, why didn't you do it sooner?"

"Dashie! It's a changeling!" said both Pinkie Pies at the same time.

Rainbow Dash, along with everypony else, dreaded the reappearance of the Changeling hive. They had prepared for this with questions that only the real pony would know the answers to. "What is the full nickname that the real Pinkie gave me?"

The Pinkie Pie on the left smiled and spoke without pausing to think. "Dashiewashieloveydoveysuperchocolatelyfudgecoatedvanillafrostedwithcherryontopwithextrasprinklesandwhippedcreamdoubleshotofcaffieneultrasmexyspankmyassandcallmesusiewoosie!"

A slightly more flustered Rainbow Dash pounced on the one on the right, the false Pinkie. "Show your ugly mug! Imma pound you so hard the whole hive will feel it!"

The changeling did away with the false face and revealed its black skeletal body and neon green eyes. It protested in Applejack's voice. "Ah'm on yer side! We all are!"

"Oh please! That's exactly the thing you would say! You're just one big lie! Eat this!" Rainbow Dash found her hoof held back by Applejack (The real one, not the one with the false... you get the idea), who had been yelling at the pegasus to stop the whole time.

"He's tellin' the honest truth!"

Rainbow Dash wouldn't hear it. She stared Applejack down. "How do I know you're not a Changeling?"

"Because Ah know pretty darn well what Ah am. If that ain't good enough, well, lookit this here!" Applejack pointed to the apple shaped gem hanging from her neck. It was the Element of Honesty. "They can't imitate these."

Three more changelings, in their native insect-like form, came into view from behind the trees and stood next to Applejack. They took her form, and talked in Rainbow Dash's voice simultaneously.

"The Queen sends her regards."

Heretic was absolutely giddy. He was prancing back and forth around a rather young Changeling that had offered to speak for the 'hive.'

"This is most ingenious! I had heard of the Changelings but I thought Celestia had all but exterminated them. Then the attack on Canterlot on the day of Princess Mi Amore Cadenze's wedding occurred and I regretted not being there in person to witness it, because I must study these creatures. I must know, is their innate ability to transform magical or biological? Either way, I could manufacture a concoction that could make everypony able to do this, temporarily of course-"

Judas bopped Heretic on the forehead to stop him his near unintelligible ranting and obsessing over one of the Changelings, who had taken on his form. "Take a breath before you pass out, dude." said Judas.

Rainbow Dash was the only one out of Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Heretic, Judas and Winter Solstice who was still none too happy about anypony trusting a Changeling. "Okay, time for us to ask the questions." she said. "Why are you suddenly on our side?"

"As your friend said before-" said the Changeling, still using Rainbow Dash's voice.

"Okay, hold on, can you use your own voice? That's just creepy."

"I don't have one. I can use another."

"Please. Anypony but me."

The Changeling cleared his throat, and his voice became a deep and strong one. Hephaestus Ironwright's voice. "The hive was initially much larger, spread out across Equestria as a dormant race. Some of us worked as servants for the Princesses. Others lead normal, peaceful lives, treated as regular ponies. At least, that was until the fall of Discord. Princess Celestia... changed. She had us 'exterminated' by the hundreds, until only a few dozen remained. We fled to the outlands and formed a monarchy of our own, until such time that we could strike back."

"And I sat back and watched, laughing the whole time." said Princess Luna, who had quietly entered the vicinity. "It's a shame Queen Chrysalis' methods were so... devious, otherwise I would have struck a deal with her. She may have been victorious."

"You saw how well that went." said the Changeling as he grimaced. "Thanks, by the way. You punched me in the nose."

Rainbow Dash folded her forelegs. "I'm not sorry. If I'm right, you were one of the ones ganging up on Fluttershy, yeah?"

"The yellow one? Yes, I was one of the ones copying you. You're just... fun to be." The changeling chuckled, his voice shifting slightly back into Rainbow's. "When I was you, I just felt great. Like I could take on the Princess by myself."

Heretic had a broad smile on his face. "So... Changeling, if I may call you that..."

"My kind have no names. Refer to me as you wish."

"Okay, I shall call you Alpha for future reference, as you are our first contact into Changeling kind. What do you have to offer the Lunar Republic in the last moments before the struggle?"

The Changeling Alpha barred his fangs in a grin. "Would the the entire hive be of any assistance?"

Everypony looked upward. While most were utterly stunned by what they saw, Luna and Winter Solstice were stoic as ever, and Heretic looked like he would explode from pure ecstasy.

Hundreds and hundreds of Changelings filled the sky and joined the soldiers of the Lunar Republic. In mere moments, Luna's forces had grown from a mere several dozen, to...

"Five hundred and twenty six!" yelled Heretic as he jumped in place alongside Pinkie Pie. "Hahahaha! I can't believe it! I must calculate this! It changes everything!"

While at first, the soldiers were reluctant to trust the Changelings, but as they saw that the hive was being friendly rather than threatening, a bond was quickly made.

"We may not have enough armor to fit them, but their skeletal structures will be a fine substitute. Even without that, this increases our odds of survival by a fantastic margin." Heretic kept muttering to himself as he crunched numbers in his head.

Applejack, Pinkie Pie and a more trusting Rainbow Dash were just as excited. Their inner dread had been erased in a matter of minutes and they weren't afraid to show it. They might just make it out alive, they thought.

Alpha approached the three of them and used Twilight Sparkle's voice to get their attention. "There's something else. Clearly the only way to defeat Celestia is to use... these."

Five other Changelings flew down from the trees, presenting the Elements of Harmony hanging from their necks. Rainbow Dash had almost forgotten that Applejack was wearing hers in the heat of the moment.

"How did you get those?!" she shouted in awe.

"Well, it's obvious, silly!" said Pinkie Pie as she equipped her necklace. "They waltzed into the castle, one of them changed into Celestia, unlocked the vault, and they all carried the Elements out of the castle disguised as royal guards!"

Rainbow's eye twitched. "That's so stupid, it sounds plausible."

"That's more or less what happened." said Applejack. "Ah just happened to meet them halfway. Ah knew Ah could trust 'em because the first thing they did was give me the Element of Honesty."

Rainbow Dash felt good with the Element of Loyalty back where it belonged, around her neck. "These little buggers thought of everything. Hey, we oughta get the other three Elements to Fluttershy, Rarity and Twilight. Where are they, anyway?"

Meanwhile, Princess Luna spoke quietly to Judas. "Major Blackwing."

"Is that what you're calling me now?"

"Of course. You are more or less leading this battle."

"Heh... I am, aren't I?"

"Yes indeed. Would you come with me for a moment? There is something you should see. It's about your brother."

At a gap in the trees, the east side of the cliff face looked out onto the empty field where the moon was beginning to rise above the horizon. There stood Cerberus, wearing a new jet black cloak adorned with exotic lunar patterns that Rarity had prepared for him. Fluttershy stood beside him in the most gorgeous white dress, lined with small sapphires, the half dragon's favorite kind of gem. They held their right hooves together, determined to hold on as long as they could.

Luna approached them cautiously to avoid upsetting the moment. "Shall we begin?"

Cerberus didn't look away from Fluttershy for a second. "Are you ready, love?" he asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be, darling." she whispered.

Luna looked to her son, more proud of him than she had ever felt before.

Once upon a time there was a scared, emotionally starved half dragon who fought for survival, to live another horrid day. Only a few stood by his side, to help him find his true calling, until a time came when he met a select few ponies from whom he learned how to trust. Despite circumstances threatening to take all that away from him, he had come farther than any half breed preceding him. He had found friends, a home... and a bride.

Luna cleared her throat and spoke to a group of three, the only guests permitted to see Cerberus and Fluttershy's private wedding. "We are gathered here on this late winter evening for a momentous occasion. Though the fear of death still looms in our minds, there are ways to overcome it, through feelings of happiness, pleasure, and love. As such, as a reminder of what we are all fighting for, we celebrate the first marriage of a young mare and a half breed in Equestrian history... of course, we will have to make this official when this is over." The three guests, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity and Judas, chuckled at Luna's little joke. "Now, the bride and groom shall recite their vows."

Cerberus took a deep breath. "Well, um... I'm just making this up as I go... well, Fluttershy... there's nothing I can say that hasn't been said before. It's been a lot of fun, getting to know you, learning how to love. I suppose I had a lot of love to give but I never had the opportunity. I owe you my life for giving me the opportunity, so I'm giving my love to you today."

Fluttershy had that old look in her eyes. Wide, sparkling and soft, like before her rage broke. She was back to her old self again, just for a moment. In many ways, Cerberus was grateful that she had become much stronger, but it was the old Fluttershy he fell in love with.

"Cerberus..." she whispered. "You've brought so many things into my life, most of them tragic, but I still have what's important, and I'd be willing to go through it all again just to be with you." She rested her head against his neck, hearing his fast, strong breaths, beating ever faster in the heat of the moment. "Dasforah."

Rarity was so close to bursting into tears, her lip was quivering. She could hardly stomach it, her best friend was getting married right before her eyes. She had to hold on to Judas, who was also choking up at the sight of her little brother tying the knot. It was near unbearable to think that the little half dragon that tried to bite her on the streets of Canterlot had now become a full grown colt, and was now leaning in to kiss his wife to be. Soon, Cerberus would no longer need her guidance. "Do it, you big lug." she said under her breath, sniffling. "Kiss her. Do it before I stop you."

So he did. In a warm and caring embrace amongst the cold and dreadful weather, the half dragon and the pegasus' lips locked.

Luna's smile grew wider. "By my power, and by my word, I pronounce Cerberus and Flutttershy husband and wife."

That was it. Nothing amazing happened. No fireworks, no magical light show. Everything was ordinary, and it was perfect.

When Rarity finally had control of her eyes, she looked to her left to speak to Twilight, only to see that she was absent.

Seeing the wedding, seeing how far, how driven to the edge everypony had become really put matters into perspective for Twilight Sparkle. She wanted to be alone. She kept walking, with the view of Canterlot becoming more obscure, followed by Fillydelphia. Eventually, dead gray trees and billowing gray clouds from above were all that could be seen,

Twilight sighed. Reality was finally catching up to her. She was long past accepting that Celestia was evil, but only now did another truth reveal itself to her. Many times, she and her friends had erased corruption and disharmony from Equestria, subjecting those who spread it to a terrible fate. Discord and all of his skin and bones were turned into stone, never to so much as twitch ever again. Would Celestia suffer the same fate? Or worse? What would the Elements of Harmony do to her? Would they even work? If Twilight survived long enough to do so, it was inevitable...

"I have to kill her." she said out loud. Just the thought of it made her want to scream.

"You are just now realizing this?" said a hushed yet somewhat edgy disembodied voice that Twilight knew too well.

A soft flickering light grew forth from the trees. Twilight backed away. She knew what this was. She turned to run away but the light cut her off. She was aware that she could just run through it but she felt too threatened to do so. The light shifted into a faint image of Celestia, who had gathered enough power to return to her tall and brilliant regular self, though her hair was still just a bright pink.

"Just go away!" shouted Twilight. "What else could you possibly do to me?! You've already broken my heart!"

Celestia's face of intimidation faltered. What was this, she looked somewhat panicked?

"You must listen to me, Twilight Sparkle." she said.

"No! I can't believe anything you say! Everything you've ever told me was a lie!"

"Then allow me to say one true thing. You must tell my sister to call off this attack."

"Why should I?"

"Because I don't want you to die."

Twilight backed away. "Since when did you care?"

"Ever since the day we met. I never undervalued you as my student, or my friend, and I still don't."

"You're not my friend."

"Search your feelings. Find some part of you that feels regret for defying me."

I have to kill her. The thought still caused pain. I have to kill her. Why did it still hurt? Why couldn't she accept it? I have to kill her.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!!!" The trees rattled and birds flew off in flocks. Twilight fell on her chest and pounded the ground with her hooves. Hard. "WHY?! What happened to you?! Why did you do it?! What possessed you to kill them?!"

Celestia's expression now showed sadness. She was in pain too, seeing her student suffer like this. "You're naive, Twilight. Not every terrible thing that happens in this world is because of possession. Sometimes, there are ponies who think vastly differently from each other, and there is nothing the other can do to change their mind. Not exactly the happiest friendship report, is it?"

Celestia paced around the cowering Twilight, who was clutching her head and sobbing.

"I chose this path, because I know that if impure beings such as the half breeds are allowed to walk the soil, my kingdom will be plunged into chaos. Earthwalkers, pegasi, unicorns, and royal alicorns. That is all that is needed. Everything else is expendable. You are not expendable."

Twilight wiped her eyes and nose. "I am?" She found herself looking right at Celestia, who looked like she used to, before she showed her true colors. Calm, comforting, with a smile that made everypony feel like nothing could go wrong.

"I couldn't live with myself if you got hurt. Please, tell Luna to stop this nonsense. Save yourself. Save me."

That almost sounded reasonable. If everything could go back to the way it was before, if Celestia was truly sorry, then why wouldn't Twilight take this opportunity? Then, there was the one deal breaker, something Celestia wouldn't let go so easy.

"What about the half breeds?" sniffled Twilight.

Celestia wasn't smiling now. She wasn't angry by any means, just uptight and stoic. "I suppose there are alternatives to taking their lives, so perhaps my eclipse can be done away with. I could stop labeling them as monsters, and the hunting will end."

"You could do that?"

"Yes. There was an idea Luna had before she... mingled. She wanted to peacefully gather what half breeds had been born and seal them off, out of sight, out of mind. They would be provided ample sustenance and have plenty of area to roam, though still far away from ponykind. And, of course, in order to prevent overpopulation, there would be a... suppression field. They would have no desire or ability to mate, keeping the gene pool clean and eventually eliminating them from the living world. Two birds with one stone."

Twilight's brief moment of optimism hit rock bottom. She should have seen this coming a mile away. "You'd put them in your own personal zoo?" she asked, as she tried to contain herself.

"Not a zoo. A safe haven. It is a humane way for them to die. In fact, I'm rather disappointed that it couldn't be done. I'd require Luna's assistance. That is why we must make a peace treaty. I need her. I need you."

This was the push that Twilight needed. It was clear to her that Celestia saw no alternative. She wouldn't believe for a second that the half breeds should be free. She would gladly drop Cerberus into a saccharine cover up of a prison and let Fluttershy suffer, watching their individual worlds pass by without ever seeing each other ever again.

"No."

"What?"

"No. You're such a hypocrite."

"Twilight Sparkle..."

"I love you, Celestia. But I cannot tolerate hypocrites."

Celestia was beginning to show panic again. She was losing Twilight, who was starting to enjoy watching her former teacher sweat. I have to kill her. The thought no longer hurt. Instead, it gave Twilight hope as she shouted at somepony she held no sentiment for anymore.

"How is this for a friendship report? Dear former Princess Celestia, sometimes there are ponies who refuse to accept your point of view and the best you can do is ignore them. However, you can take solace in knowing that there are those who share your feelings, and who will gladly stand by your side as you face your inner demons." She stretched out her neck to look Celestia dead in the eye. "Need that in writing?"

Celestia sighed and backed away, her image fading fast. "Very well, I can see you have made your final decision. I hope you know what you're doing."

"You know something, I think this might be the smartest thing I've ever done."

"Then I will see you in my throne room. I'll be waiting."

Twilight was slightly offset by that. "You're actually hoping I make it there?"

The image of Celestia disappeared, though it didn't leave without a final word. "I know you'll make it. You are my student, after all."

Fight the Power

"Well then... it seems this is the end for me. Good show, Celina, and to your little sister as well. I didn't expect the Elements of Harmony to actually work. Oh well, we all make mistakes.

"You are awfully calm for something that is turning into stone."

"It's no big deal, love. I will return in due time."

"That will never happen. You will remain a statue in the royal gardens of my new castle for all eternity, or until you crumble, whichever comes first."

"A new castle?"

"Yes. This place is tainted with your corruption. It deserves to wilt and die."

"Aw, do you miss me already, sweety?"

"No."

"Do not deny it. Even a thousand years from now it will be incontrovertible. I will always be your husband. Besides, I happened to leave behind a piece of myself in this kingdom."

"What is it? Tell me so I may destroy it!"

"I suppose I could, if you could tell me something..."

"Yes?"

"Do you still love me?"

"What- no! Never!"

"That's a shame, because I feel much the opposite as you do. Farewell, Celina."

"Damn you, Desmond!"

"It's Discord. Hmhmhmhmm..."

Chapter 17

Fight the Power

"Right then, I think it's time to relay our plan of attack. It's quite simple, but very effective. I have split our new Changeling forces into three groups, hereinafter referred to as Sword, Shield and Hammer. Sword will be accompanied by every pegasus with fully functioning wings. Your goal is simple. Fly overhead behind enemy lines and eliminate Celestia's forces early on, and keep doing so as you see fit. Make sure to strike fast and back off before a potential counterattack. This will make Hammer's mission all the easier. They are our primary ground forces, made up of our most potent unicorns and strongest earthwalkers. Their mission is to move in and take care of the enemy perimeters and more bulky fighters. Anything goes. Move as you will, attack as you will. The elite guards will be too bulky for Sword to take out in one fell swoop, so target them first. Now, to ensure that we can close in on the enemy and keep ourselves from being pushed back, that is where Shield comes into play. They will be comprised of heavy lifters and battle medics. They will set up perimeters of our own around claimed territory and keep the enemy from regaining ground. Hammer, you are free to move and attack at will, but make it a primary objective to protect Shield, as they carry our medical supplies and heavy artillery, provided by Hephaestus Ironwright. Remember that this battle would not be possible without his work, or his sacrifice."

The five hundred and twenty six Lunar Republic soldiers (Including the Changelings) took a moment of silence for their fallen comrade. Heretic adjusted his glasses and resumed his speech.

"Now, Sword will be lead by Judas Blackwing-"

"Aw yeah!" shouted Judas as she swept over the soldiers and bowed in the air. "Sergeant Major Judas Blackwing reporting for duty... all up in this bitch!"

Heretic smiled at her faux sophistication and continued. "I have put Big Macintosh of Sweet Apple Acres in charge of Shield."

"Eeyup." said the big red colt as he marched to the front of the pack, bulked up with royal blue armor from head to toe. He somehow looked even more intimidating than usual.

"As for Hammer, as you will be scattered from the initial, I will not burden you with a commanding officer. What you do is your call. Our (Soon to be) Queen Luna, she does not wish to be a liability. She will wait in the shadows, assisting us from out of danger's path. She is too valuable to stand on the front lines, or any lines for that matter. However, there is something else critical to our success, and I cannot stress this enough." Heretic's pride gave way to grim seriousness. "Taking Canterlot will be one thing, but our victory is meaningless if Celestia is not dead before 1:53 AM. Our best means to her defeat are the Elements of Harmony. As such, it is of critical importance that Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are kept alive." He paused for emphasis. "At all costs."

Under normal circumstances, Rainbow Dash would be less than pleased about being the load of a large scale operation like this. She wasn't used to having to be protected. Still, she knew the risks, and understood that there was no honor in flying into danger headfirst when you were so damn important.

However, there was a young pegasus that didn't know the risks. She stood amongst the Sword group in the smallest set of armor she could get her hooves on (And it still didn't fit her). Rainbow Dash recognized her spiky magenta mane anywhere.

"Ugh, Scootaloo! What the hell are you doing here?" she said as she approached the little one.

"It's obvious, isn't it? I'm gonna fight too!" said Scootaloo.

"Have you been following me?"

"Ever since you left Ponyville. When I heard that there was gonna be a fight, I thought maybe I could get a cutie mark for being a soldier!"

Rainbow Dash facehoofed and tried to comprehend the utter stupidity of the situation. "Why is everything you do about cutie marks? Didn't you listen to Judas? You're supposed to live for the moment! Hell, you should just live, instead of throwing yourself into the fire for a freakin' cutie mark!"

"Sweetie Belle and Applebloom already have theirs! This could be my last chance to-" Scootaloo's sentence was cut short by Rainbow Dash slugging her across the face. The little pegasus fell flat into the mud.

Rainbow stepped back when she realized what she just did.

"R-Rainbow Dash..." muttered a black-eyed Scootaloo.

"Get rid of that armor. Don't follow us." said Rainbow, who couldn't bear to look her biggest fan in the eye. "If you do... I..." She gritted her teeth and shouted. "I SWEAR TO LUNA I WON'T HESITATE TO KNOCK YOU OUT!"

Scootaloo was starting to tear up, at least Rainbow could hear her sniffling. Still not looking her in the eye, Rainbow put her hoof on Scootaloo's mane and rustled it like she used to. "I love you, kiddo."

In all the mayhem, Rainbow didn't notice that Heretic had given the word for the soldiers to move out. She found her place amongst Sword, leaving her friend in the dirt to cry.

A flash of lightning and a clap of thunder roared across the sky, followed by several more flashes that Heretic could see in the reflection of his pocket watch.

"7:00 PM on the dot." he said as he put the watch back in the right pocket of his cloak. As always, he prided himself on punctuality, as he had just begun mobilizing the troops at the exact hour on the hour that he planned. Now that the Changelings were amongst the numbers, there was no doubt in his mind that this battle would be won without a hitch, and if he didn't have any doubts, nopony should have. Heretic ran to the front of the hundreds of ponies on the long trail to Canterlot, where Judas was flying in lead, and Twilight Sparkle trotting underneath with new determination and hope, ready to face Celestia and anything in her path.

Heretic checked his watch once again. "7:01 PM." He noticed some white specks on the glass of the watch and he brushed them away. They were replaced by more specks, falling from the sky. Gradually, flakes of snow began to cover the dirt road.

"Incredible! A thunderstorm and snowfall simultaneously. One of the few types of weather I have not had the luck to witness."

"You're not going to call off the attack, are you?" asked Twilight.

"Goodness, no. Even without the impending eclipse, I'd rather not be made a coward. I may be small, Miss Twilight Sparkle, but my emotional dexterity is most gargantuan." He turned back to his soldiers, as they were now at the base of the wide marble staircase leading to the city, where the final struggle awaited. "This is where it starts! Sword, present yourselves!"

A third of the soldiers, Changelings and pegasi alike, took to the air, hovering above the other two teams. Judas tapped Heretic on the withers.

"May I take this one?" she asked.

"I know you'll make a speech even if I say no."

"Alright then!" Judas flew to Sword, her ragged cloak flowing behind her, with the lightning in the distance reflecting off her black armor. "You all know what to do! Pick off as many soldiers as you can and regroup! We'll stay in horizontal straight line and dive in unison. As soon as we break ranks, take off and do your own thing, whatever you can do to help! You do your part, then we will take Canterlot! Then we will take all of Equestria!" A roaring adrenaline filled cheer passed over Sword. Judas rocketed higher into the sky, and Sword began to follow. "Then we will take the heavens themselves!"

All of Sword held their hooves high and yelled for all of Canterlot to hear. What few civilians hadn't evacuated flicked their ears at the sound of a couple hundred Changelings and pegasi shouting, "JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK WE ARE?!"

Heretic adjusted his glasses and grinned as Sword plummeted into Canterlot. "Let the games begin."

Little Scootaloo was furious, no, livid at Rainbow Dash. Not only had she downright insulted her, she punched her. She didn't understand why she couldn't fight. She was willing to die for Luna and Cerberus and the rest of the Lunar Republic, but instead she could only stomp back to Fillydelphia and wait. She had never felt more betrayed in her life.

"Well..." she said to herself out loud, "If I can't help on the battlefield, maybe I could support them in another way... but how?!"

"Uuurrragh... is someone there?"

Scootaloo's ears perked up.

"Spike? Is that you?"

"Yeah..." he sounded hoarse beyond belief, and he kept moaning. "Oh geez.... it's like a knife in the back."

Scootaloo followed the sound of Spike's voice through the trees. She found him keeled over a puddle of... that wasn't water. Ew.

"Are you okay?" asked Scootaloo, even though she knew the answer.

Spike coughed and held his neck. "I thought the pain would stop after Celestia stopped sending letters, but... ARGH! My stomach! Agh, my back! EVERYTHING HURTS!"

Scootaloo was reluctant to even touch him, because he was clawing at the air and pouncing at non-existent objects. She didn't know what to do, stuck between a screaming baby dragon and a war she couldn't fight.

Judas swept through the streets of Canterlot, with the velocity of dive attack propelling her at wicked fast speeds like she had felt many times before. She barreled through several soldiers of the sun and got one unicorn in a headlock. She returned to the sky and dropped the poor bastard on his head. He didn't get back up.

The rest of Sword soon followed. The falling snow didn't distract them for they were all equipped with enchanted goggles (Courtesy of Rarity) that repelled moisture. They couldn't deny that even with several layers of embroidered cloaks and a full set of leather armor each, it was quite frigid in the air, but there were much more important matters at stake and a few goosebumps wouldn't stop them.

Judas made another sweep, and this time the soldiers were more savvy of Sword's strategy. Three unicorn soldiers got in a line and summoned a flat repulsion shield that sent Judas careening in the opposite direction. She managed to ground herself on the stone paved streets and get her second wind in a heartbeat. She cast herself forward, and over the shield. Before the three guards could react, she swept the one in the center off his feet with a spin kick, knocking him into his friend on the right. The left one was put down by Cerberus doing a dive bomb.

"Thanks, bro." said Judas.

In those few short moments, Canterlot had erupted into a war zone. Citizens began to gallop for the nearest exit and soldiers left their posts to join the fight. Sword was able to make those increased numbers dwindle ever so slightly.

Two earthwalker soldiers charged at Cerberus, who made quick work of them by diving in between them, leaving gaping wounds with his sharp dragon wings. He then smacked another out of the way with his tail. Sneak attacks wouldn't work on him.

Judas dodged a unicorn soldier's lightning spell and pile drived him into the sidewalk, leaving him with a nasty concussion. She then grabbed his horn and used his still firing spell to knock incoming pegasi out of the sky.

"Just like old times, huh?" said Cerberus.

"Better than old times, bro!"

Heretic was most pleased with what he saw. Sword had successfully lowered enemy numbers in just a few minutes, thanks to a well timed surprise attack. Heretic always enjoyed catching his foes off guard, seeing the look in their eyes when they knew, I should have seen this coming, but I didn't, and now I am dead. Surprise attacks are always avoidable, but they are seldom actually avoided.

Now that enemy lines were dwindling, this made Hammer's job all the easier. "Sword has done their part, and now it is time for round two! Hammer, you're our freelancers. Do whatever suits your fancy, attack, defend, confuse the enemy with interpretive dance, it doesn't matter. Exterminate with extreme prejudice. You will be followed by Shield, who will ensure that whatever ground we claim stays that way. Keep moving until you reach the castle, and the Elements of Harmony will take it from there. Move out!"

Twilight Sparkle, despite understanding her value in this fight, knew that she was top tier in most types of offensive and defensive magic, and as such ran to the front of the pack. A line of earthwalker soldiers stood at the peak of the staircase, ready to buck. Twilight summoned a mobile magic shield and cast it forward, shoving them out of the way.

Despite all the rubble, chaos and blood, she recognized these streets from her childhood, and remembered the fastest way to the castle. She ducked and weaved through skirmishes and firefights alike. A few unicorn soldiers tried to get the jump on her but she was either too fast for them or a Sword fighter knocked them out of the way before they could do anything.

She had barely enough time to sidestep out of the way of a bank collapsing from one too many magic missiles. A few Changelings had taken refuge in there and the unicorns had shot it to oblivion. The Changelings didn't leave the rubble.

"Hey, dude!" Rainbow Dash hit the ground running and effortlessly caught up with Twilight. "It may be the adrenaline talking, but this is kinda fun!"

Twilight nodded and started to slow down. Seeing Rainbow Dash reminded her to pace herself, especially since she was wearing armor that impeded her endurance. Hephaestus' design was far from uncomfortable but it was still heavy. She wished she had gotten a set of leather armor instead. Much lighter.

"Damn... they got the jump on me." In a back alley, a pegasus soldier lay dead against the brick wall next to Cerberus, who was cradling his right wing. It was bent in a way that reminded him of dead tree branches. No matter how he looked at it, his dragon wing was broken. And he was laughing.

"My greatest weapon and it's freaking broken. Hehehe..." he sighed, and halfheartedly called out, "Medic!"

"You called?" Fluttershy entered the alleyway, much to Cerberus' pleasant surprise. She was wearing hide armor with a fur collar and had a bag of holding equipped to her back.

"Ah, my sweet angel of mercy, come to take me away?" said Cerberus as he melodramatically waved his arms.

Fluttershy laughed. "Not a chance in hell, honey." She opened her bag with her wing and searched for anything that could fix a broken wing. "I doubt I have anything that can heal that directly. I may have to resort to other means."

"Could you heal me with a large dose of love?"

"Is something wrong with you?"

"I dunno, I hit my head pretty hard against that wall. I don't have a concussion, though."

"That's a relief."

"I think I'm just really happy to see you."

"The feeling's mutual." Fluttershy kissed Cerberus on the cheek and resumed her search.

"How's the battle going?"

"For the most part, not too bad. We're gaining territory but we lost some of our supply carts. Unicorn soldiers on the rooftops tore them apart, so we're short on artillery, medicine... and anesthesia."

Cerberus groaned. "Okay, I understand. Get it overwith."

Fluttershy grabbed his injured wing. "Just breathe and think about something else. This might cause some discomfort..."

Crack.

"AAAARGH! PISS! OH SWEET MOTHER!" The pain only lasted for a second but it was some of the worst Cerberus had felt in a long time. It was effective, though. His wing was now straightened out, though he still couldn't use it properly.

"I know it hurts, but this speeds up the healing process." Fluttershy sighed and sat next to Cerberus. "Would another kiss help you feel better?"

He smiled. "Maybe."

"Hey! Lovebirds! There's a war going on here!" Rainbow Dash swung into the alleyway with a frown on her face.

"How did you find us?" asked Cerberus.

"Oh please, the whole city could hear you cussing. Come on, Fluttershy. Twilight and I are making a mad dash for the castle. Be there or be... dead." On that happy metaphor, Rainbow dashed away, back into the mayhem of battle.

Cerberus smiled at Fluttershy. "Need an escort?"

A mad dash... Rainbow was right to call it that. This was almost insane, to charge ahead, ignoring the danger that surrounded them. Any soldier that stood in their way was quickly cast aside by Twilight's force field, or a kick from Rainbow Dash, or a slash of Cerberus' one working wing.

Fluttershy was starting to regress into her old self, but not in a good way. The toppling buildings and magical explosions that shook the ground were beginning to genuinely frighten her. Cerberus saw the fear in her face and ran closer beside her. "I told you I miss the old you, but please hold on to your anger for just a little longer. It's almost over!"

"I know. I can do this." Fluttershy thought of some way to distract herself from the fear. "Hey, where do you want to go for our honeymoon?"

Cerberus laughed. "That's the spirit! I was thinking Cloudsdale. I've only been there the once, and I didn't get a chance to see the sunset."

"Okay, so I'll rent a room with a view, and we'll-"

"Hey, y'all! Take cover!" Applejack shouted from behind a barricade that stretched across the length of the crossroads. Twilight, Fluttershy, Cerberus and Rainbow Dash jumped over and covered their heads, making sure to stay unexposed.

"We're closin' em in to the narrow streets, so they have nowhere to hide."

"Nice going, AJ!" shouted Rainbow Dash.

"Well, it wasn't easy. We got a lot of folks wounded when the cart was hit by Captain Black's flame spell." Applejack shuddered. "Some of them didn't make it."

"No time for mourning. We have work to do." said Big Macintosh bluntly. He removed the tarp from one of the two carts carrying apples, of all things. He loaded a bucket of red delicious onto a wooden catapult, which Keeper cut the rope to, sending the fruit flying into the air.

Cerberus was confused. "We aren't schoolchildren pulling pranks here! What good will an apple do against a highly trained soldier?"

Applejack winked and said, "Old family recipe."

A few moments after hitting the ground, the red apples lit up and exploded, knocking several soldiers out of commission at once across the entire street.

"A lil' bit of sulfur, some unicorn magic, and a three second delay after hitting the ground and you've just solved yerself a problem!" said Applejack, as she tipped her hat to the dead soldiers left in the wake of the apple barrage. "We also have golden delicious, those are flash-bangs, and we even got some-"

Applejack was too busy gloating over the artillery to see a surviving elite unicorn soldier, covered from horn to hoof in bulky glimmering gold plated armor. He cast a magic rope from his horn that wrapped around Applejack's neck and pulled her over the side.

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Cerberus leaped over the barricade, kicked away a second rope cast by the elite, and pinned him to the ground, releasing Applejack from his grasp.

Cerberus opened his mouth and released a wide blast of white hot flames onto the elite, reducing him to nothing but a charred set of armor.

"That's two Ah owe ya." said Applejack. She turned and saw more elites were approaching, in greater numbers than before. She put her war face back on and shouted to Big Macintosh. "We haveta fall back! Abandon the barricade and regroup down the path!"

"Eeyup." said the big red stallion as he pulled one of the carts with little effort, leaving Keeper and three other earthwalkers to drag the second.

Twilight summoned two magic scimitars to her side. She made good use of them as she charged ahead, her shouting increasing in escalation as she hacked and slashed at every soldier that came within fifteen meters of the carts. Everypony else had to do little, and some soldiers even backed down in terror at Twilight's rampage.

Keeper managed to get a burst of adrenaline and move ahead of Big Mac into a small tunnel. The road split on the inside, one way leading the the airship balcony and the other leading to the castle. The choice was obvious. Keeper and his friends steered the cart to the left and accelerated forward.

"Wait a minute!" Applejack shouted, her voice echoing off the walls. She sniffed at the air, then pounded her hoof against the bricks. "Yep, that's what I thought." Her hoof had some sort of dust on it. "Magnesium. It's a trap."

Rainbow's eyes were wide enough to light the whole tunnel. "Shit."

Applejack started to work the harnesses on the carts. "Leave this junk! It's only gonna get us all-"

There was a screech in the distance.

Dash's ears perked up, and she turned to Twilight with a concerned look in her eyes. "Didja hear that? Sounded like... Philomena?"

Twilight violently twitched as the gears began to turn in her mind. "Yes, and if that's magnesium covering the walls... EVERYPONY OUT, NOW!"

Even if they were all as fast as Rainbow Dash there was nothing they could have done to prevent the bright and brilliant phoenix Philomena from sweeping the walls with her flaming wings, rattling the tunnel with violent explosions that caused the roof to creak and crumble, eventually caving in. Twilight brought a bubble shield up around her, as big as she could, but it couldn't block out the sharp cries that were silenced too quickly from the ponies too far ahead, nor could it remain stable for long underneath the several tons of solid stone cascading down upon them all.

It was at least an hour before Cerberus could stand. Aside from a few scratches from shrapnel there was nothing that required medical attention. "Head count! Everypony front and center!" he said.

"Right here... I'm okay." Twilight struggled onto her hooves and shook away her dizziness. "Never had a shield break on me before. I..."

"Where's the rest?" Cerberus checked every pile of rubble in sight. When the dust cleared, there was a much bigger pile in sight that blocked off the entire tunnel, what was left of it, anyway.

"I... I couldn't save them..." Twilight shuddered, turning away from the charred remains of Keeper and his crew.

Cerberus choked back tears, then bowed to Keeper's corpse. "Ssifisv martivir, thurirl." He walked away with sullen eyes. "That means, uh, rest in peace, comrade. In draconic."

"Cerberus! Over here!"

His eyes widened as he galloped to the rubble blocking the path. He could hear voices on the other side. "Fluttershy! You're okay!"

"Of course I'm okay."

"Twilight's alive but Keeper didn't make it. Cart's ruined too. How are things on your end?"

"We're all fine 'n' dandy!" said Applejack. "We still have the other cart, but there's no way we can move this mess. We'll head back and find another way around."

"Eeyup." said Big Macintosh.

"I'll try to meet up with you two." said Rainbow Dash. "The other path is still open. I'll head there and fly around. No promises, though."

The sound of hoofsteps meant that everypony was going their separate ways. Cerberus sighed and mentally prepared himself for the journey ahead with just Twilight by his side.

"Good luck." said Fluttershy. Apparently she hadn't left yet.

Cerberus perked up and got as close as he could to the rubble just to hear her loud and clear. "Fluttershy. You know I lo-"

"I know you do. Now get going!"

"Damn that phoenix! After you nursed it back to health, this is how it rewards you?" yelled Rainbow Dash to Fluttershy as she stomped on the head of a pegasus soldier.

Fluttershy dodged some stray magic missiles and ducked underneath a table. "That was a long time ago. I don't think he remembers me."

"Well, then I suppose you'll have no problem with me curb-stomping the little shi-"

"Oh, Daaaaaaashiiiiiiiie!" The cute and chipper sing-songy voice of Pinkie Pie contrasted the sounds of clashing armor and explosions. She was standing at the edge of the airship balcony high above street level, aiming her signature pink party cannon at the mayhem below. "There's a bunch of big guys coming your way! Judas and I are gonna blast 'em!"

Judas poked her head out of the cannon and slapped Pinkie's hoof. "Hey, Rainbow Dash! The farm ponies and Cerberus' wife better clear out, 'cause this snowstorm is gonna get a little bit redder!"

Applejack nodded and ushered Big Macintosh away from ground zero with the last cart in tow. Rainbow Dash flew to the balcony, and Fluttershy ducked into an alleyway to take cover.

"How did you come up with this?" asked Rainbow Dash as she examined Pinkie Pie and Judas' crazy plan. "What makes you think it's even going to work?"

Judas' voice echoed in the cannon. "Point shooty thing at things you want to blow up! What's not to understand?"

Pinkie jumped in place. "Okay, it's ready to fire!"

"Alrighty then, Pinks! Press the big red button in three, two-"

"WAIT!" Pinkie let go of the cannon, her eyes darting back and forth across the balcony.

"What's wrong?" asked Judas. "Don't keep me waiting!"

"Juuuust a second..." said Pinkie as she sniffed the floor.

"Hey, is it getting warmer?" asked Judas.

Rainbow's eyes widened to the brink. She looked at Pinkie Pie's rump, and not for the usual reasons. Her curly pink tail was...

"TWITCHY TAIL! GET DOWN!" yelled Rainbow. She ducked and covered, followed by Judas and Pinkie.

"What the hell are we doing?" asked Judas.

"Whenever Pinkie's tail twitches, there's going to be a-"

A flash of scalding heat washed over all three of them, followed by a screech, and loud crash. For a moment, all Rainbow Dash could see was fire, smoke, and Pinkie Pie and Judas thrashing in violent pain.

The flames gathered together into the form of Philomena, the sight of which made Rainbow Dash curse. Twice in mere moments, the phoenix had ruined their battle strategy and separated the Elements of Harmony, and it flew away, ready to cause more misfortune.

"Pinkie Pie? Please, wake up..." Rainbow prodded at her friend's now flat mane, which was covered in soot and coming out in clumps. Pinkie was breathing, but she was trembling at Rainbow Dash's touch. She was burned, badly, down the entire length of her body.

Judas was much of the same, a once unbreakable force now left on a scorched spit of marble. It was by a stroke of luck that Philomena's rage didn't incapacitate Rainbow Dash, who looked up at the stormy skies, where a flaming streak passed by, calling out as if to mock her and her friends' misery.

"You... bitch..."

Rainbow Dash felt something new. Hidden strength, buried deep within her heart that she had built up over many years, bursting at the seams of her very being. She was ready to unleash this power and destroy anything that dare harm her, Judas or Pinkie Pie.

Rainbow Dash grit her teeth, flapped her wings, and shouted at the heavens, “PHILOMENAAAAA!!! JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AAAAM?!?!” She took to the sky, leaving behind her signature multicolored trail, which was shining much brighter than usual. She ignored the raging thunder and lightning, as well as the chilling snow that froze the fringe of her armor. She was only concerned about the streak of fire in the distance, the phoenix that had the guts to hurt her friends. Finding that balance between anger and serenity, Rainbow Dash chased after Philomena, who knew she was being followed and made every effort to get away, flying between buildings and in every direction she could think of, but she never lost the raging pegasus. She wasn’t that good.

Rainbow Dash was experiencing something familiar. It had been years since she did this. Accelerating faster than light and sound could comprehend... faster and faster she flew, until... there was the blast. A sonic rainboom, parting the clouds and propelling her forward, right on Philomena’s trail. Philomena made a last ditch effort to escape by flying straight upwards. Rainbow Dash changed directions just as she did, doing everything in her power not to black out. She remembered what she and Judas had done when Sweet Apple Acres had caught aflame. They gathered the clouds around them by performing a constant barrel roll, creating a vortex. My hoof is the hoof that will pierce the heavens... Let’s do this! She tilted her body to the right and began spinning. She cut through the wind and snow and any resistance in her path. This was the fastest she had ever flown in her entire life. So fast... she felt a tingling sensation at the tip of her snout and across her face. It took her a moment to realize, she was on fire. She couldn’t turn back. She nearly had that phoenix in her grasp...

“YES!”

Rainbow Dash shouted when she wrapped her forearms around Philomena. She looked down. Canterlot was only a speck kilometers below her. She smirked.

“Hey, birdbrain. I never did thank you for tickling those guards. Well, I guess it all works out, because now I’m gonna kill them with you!”

Philomena gave a weak Squack! in protest, but Rainbow Dash didn’t care. She angled herself back towards the ground and stopped flapping her wings, letting gravity work its magic.

Philomena wouldn’t have it. She lit herself ablaze. The fire seared Rainbow Dash’s leather armor, eventually breaking it into scraps. Her mane, coat and skin were burning, but if she felt any pain, she didn’t let it show. The only thought on her mind was what Judas would do in this situation, plummeting down toward the town square, filled with guards with stunned stupid looks on their faces as they wondered why a spiraling rainbow fireball was heading their way. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath, ignoring the flames, and screamed at the top of her lungs what she thought would be the last thing she ever said.

“DOUBLE... RAINBOW... GIGA... DRIIIILL... BRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAK!!!”

It could be seen by all of Canterlot. A flaming rainbow spiral erupting from town square, destroying buildings and topping pillars, traveling higher and higher into the sky until it broke through the clouds and revealed the impending eclipse for all to see. This provoked many reactions. Some guards were intimidated, others were metaphorically trying to pick their jaws up from the concrete, and many galloped to the nearest train station for a quick exit.

Those who knew it was their friend Rainbow Dash who had destroyed the phoenix and the soldiers that stood in their path cheered, whooped, and stomped the ground.

Gilda was the exception. Instead, she roared and thumped her chest.

Spitfire, who was standing next to her, awestruck by the light show, spoke. "Best flyer in Ponyville."

Gilda placed her hand on the back of Spitfire's head. "Best flyer in Equestria."

On a small balcony overlooking the carnage, Captain Black was issuing commands and sniping soldiers with fireballs. He snickered every time they were set ablaze and helplessly struggled to put it out. However, his cheap shots were put to an end when a marble pillar, set flying by the explosion caused by Rainbow Dash, crashed into the balcony and unhinged it. Black went toppling to the ground, though the slant of the of the remains of the balcony broke his fall.

He had landed in a museum, what was left of it, anyway. The statues were falling apart from stray shots of magic and the roof had caved in from his crash landing.

Black shrugged off the aches and pains from his fall and started to exit the building, but the door was frozen shut. Literally. It was coated from top to bottom in ice. He snickered.

"Come to die, little sister?" he turned around and saw Winter Solstice. Pure magical energy was radiating off her unkempt coat, and her eyes shined a blinding light. "I suppose you saved me the trouble of finding you. This time, I'll make sure you're really dead."

"Before that happens," said Winter, "there is something I'd like to ask."

"Ask away."

The light of Winter's eyes faded. "Why?"

Black's smile faded as well. "Why, what?"

"Why, everything. Why did you destroy our home? Why did you kill mother and father? Why did you put the blame on me? Why?"

"You were harboring half breeds."

"I gave them a home, and hope. You killed them all."

"Sister, you're as beautiful as you are naive. Celestia's law is absolute. There is no other truth."

"So you lit everything that mattered to me ablaze because your code as captain demands it?"

"That's what sets me apart from that old captain, Shining Armor. He put his personal relationships above all, and what happened? Canterlot nearly fell to a Changeling army. I, however, know that the creation of a pure world is most important. By obeying Celestia's orders and destroying what was left of my origins, I traveled further down the path of perfection!"

Winter Solstice's eyes lit up again as she summoned every last bit of magical energy she had. "There is no perfection, and your idea of purity is only filled with murder and destruction of thousands of innocent lives. I nearly died trying to protect those lives, and I'll gladly throw myself into the reaper's line of sight again if it means saving my family!" She cast a small beam from her horn that caused an explosion of ice crystals. Black blocked every one with small magical shields.

"But sister! I am your family." he said with a smirk.

"Then I disown you as my brother, because Heretic, Judas and Cerberus are the only family I need."

When her vision returned, Rainbow Dash struggled to sit up. Ashes fell from her head and settled on the ground. She noticed that she was sitting in a crater, riddled with burning coals and the shadows of soldiers that were there a minute ago, incinerated by her crash landing.

It took a moment for the feeling to come to her, but the burns on her chest and forelegs were starting to really sting. The adrenaline had worn away.

“Heheh... This... really... hurts...” Rainbow Dash muttered to herself as she stood up, her hooves in the ashes of what once was Philomena. She limped forward, only to bump into an... egg. It was decorated with many shades of red and yellow, and Rainbow Dash knew it was a phoenix egg. Even if she killed Philomena, somehow she would live on, unless... I could do myself a favor and just smash this thing. She raised her hoof and was ready to make a phoenix scramble, until she decided to put it down. “Eh, buck it.” She saved herself the effort and just kicked the egg away from the ashes, and kicked those too, for good measure.

To this day, Rainbow Dash didn’t know how she did it, but despite the searing pain of the burns and bruises, she managed to get out of the crater, walk amongst the ruins of the square, and find the balcony where Pinkie Pie and Judas lay. The latter rolled over and spoke to Rainbow Dash. “Did you... pierce the heavens?”

Rainbow Dash coughed up another weak laugh. “Just who the hell do you think I am?”

Judas closed her eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep (She’s not dead).

The cyan pegasus looked at Pinkie Pie. Her burns from Philomena were a little more severe than Judas’, and she was buried in her hoofs, sniffling. Her mane was still flat and charred, black hairs falling out at the ends. Rainbow Dash wrapped her hooves around her. “Hey... it’s gonna be okay.”

“No it’s not... I have short hair! You hate me with short hair...”

Rainbow Dash snickered. “Come on, Pinkie. Stop being superficial. I love you no matter what you look like.”

Pinkie wiped her eyes and gave a small smile. “You do?”

“You’re pretty hot with short hair.”

“I am?”

Rainbow Dash kissed Pinkie’s forehead and cradled her.

“Okay, then I’ll go bald for you!”

“Wha- no! I didn’t mean it like that!”

“Awww, my little Dashie!” Pinkie snuggled in closer to her best friend’s chest.

“Yeah, I’m your little Da... da... dra... DRAGON!!!”

Everypony stopped and stared.

From the gap in the sky flew in a wide spectrum of dragons, barreling and spinning toward the battlefield. With some decisive blasts of white-hot fire, more soldiers of the sun were blown away or turned to ashes without a fight. Rainbow Dash gaped at the flurry of winged beasts surrounding her. It took her a moment to see Rarity calling out to her from the steps leading up to the balcony. “Rainbow Dash! You’re alive!”

“Can hardly believe it myself.” The cyan pegasus rubbed at a nasty burn on her lower hindleg. "Where've you been?"

“I used an invisibility spell that Hephaestus Ironwright left in one of his journals. I've been sneaking around out of harm's way and healing anypony I can find."

"Staying out of dirty matters, that sounds just like you."

Rarity huffed. "Don't accuse me of being a coward. I'm being cautious. Now let me work.” She opened a bag of medicine, ready to apply ointment to Rainbow's wounds, but she was stopped by her hoof.

“Take care of Pinkie and Judas first. I'm not dying.” Said Rainbow. She looked back and continued to be simultaneously mesmerized and fascinated by the dragons. “Where did they come from?”

“They’re on our side, I know that much.” Said Rarity as she bandaged Pinkie Pie’s neck and legs. “I was pinned down by a few elites in the hallway leading up to this place but they were snatched by a rather burly white dragon.”

“Here’s hoping that’s the last we see of those jackasses.”

“D...fh...” Judas muttered something unintelligible and twitched as Rarity cleaned her wounds.

“I know it hurts darling, but you must stay still.”

“Das... fo... rah...”

"Aw, she's thinking about an old colt friend!" said Rainbow Dash.

"No, look!" Judas sat up and pushed Rarity away. She pointed up with her right hoof, not to make a dramatic speech, but to draw everypony's attention to a relatively small royal blue dragon with three rows of spikes aligned across his head and neck. He touched down on all fours in front of Rarity, causing the stunned unicorn to faint on the spot. He stood up and brushed back his spines in mild embarrassment.

"I seem to have spooked your friend." His voice was svelte and young, while still containing the sheer magnitude of a dragon's call. He surveyed the balcony and looked at Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Judas. "Greetings from the Draconic Lands, everyone... or everypony as you Equestrians say."

Judas pulled Rainbow Dash down to speak in a loud whisper. "That's him. The Dasforah. Luna's husband."

Rarity recovered from her fainting spell and stood up. "Whe- wha- who-"

"Be calm, Rarity. I'm a friend." While Dasforah wasn't any larger than an alicorn, his broad shoulders, grand voice and sharp scales made him seem much more intimidating and amazing than the tall, green, long necked dragon that landed next to him. It spoke in a language unknown by pony kind, incredibly elegant yet impossible to describe. "Hesi moxt isthasy vur wer moxt pony toln ve ekess xtirl vhira tenpiswo. Svabol nishka si tir frevor?"

"Origato astahi vhira vur demak wer ssifisv di hesi buthre. Si geou asix nomenoi moxt iri, hak ehtah sia daariv ekess qe." said Dasforah.

Rainbow Dash's head was spinning from this manner of speaking. She scratched what was left of her mane and said, "Could someone translate that?"

"I can explain!" From the back of the green dragon poked out the head of a familiar baby dragon.

"Spike!" shouted Rarity with newfound admiration.

"We flew to the Draconic Lands before the battle started. I didn't have to even convince Dasforah to come here, he just said 'It's finally happening, isn't it?' and flew away. We hitched a ride on the back of this big guy and... it was a long trip. I had a lot to talk about, especially you. So yeah, here we are!" He gave a friendly slap to his ride and thanked him in Draconic. "Vinxa, rumag!"

"Tikil tairais, sia thurirl." it responded.

Spike jumped to the ground and gave a gentleman's bow to Rarity. "I didn't even know I could speak Draconic until now."

Rarity gaped, with one hoof near her open mouth. "My goodness... you have wings!"

Spike looked back at his two new gifts of age and smiled. "I guess aging naturally has its benefits. There's also this!" He put his hands on his hips and flexed. Not only was he a little taller, he had muscles growing on his shoulders and chest. "Not bad, eh?"

Rarity couldn't express her awe with words, only stifled gasps at how much this little dragon had matured.

Rainbow Dash had a nagging thought in her mind. "Wait, Spike. You said 'we?'"

"Hey hey hey hey hey hey, Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo flew from the back of the green one and embraced Rainbow Dash, nearly knocking her to the ground. She winced from the touch of another's hooves on her burns, but she didn't care about that. She held Scootaloo at arm's length.

"Are you crazy? I told you to stay put and you flew all the way to the Draconic Lands?! You should have gone home!"

"I had to help!"

"You..." Rainbow Dash was so tempted to strike Scootaloo across her muzzle for scaring her like that. She restrained her right arm to the best of her ability and tried to speak. "I couldn't have lived with myself if you got hurt or killed."

Dasforah silently walked to Rainbow Dash and said, "Wer sacrphi di ir geou canbus ekess wer waphic di vi owier. The sacrifice of one will contribute to the lives of a thousand... even if she wasn't killed. Besides, as far as she's concerned, anything is worth doing if it means getting a cutie mark."

At those last two words, everypony's attention turned towards Scootaloo's flank. It was no longer bare, instead imprinted with a red and white three pointed shield, with the letters CMC decorating the top curve.

Rainbow Dash let a single tear fall down her cheek before she pulled Scootaloo in for a hug, despite the pain of the burns. "You just never give up."

After a moment of silence, the green dragon decided to say, "Si kashor wer graty di nomeno klewar shar yth zklaen demak mrith wer ssifisv di wer herd, vur wux lae algbo."

Dasforah translated. "He, uh, understands that this is something special, but we must get moving."

Rainbow Dash held out her hoof in protest. "What about Pinkie Pie and Judas? They can't go anywhere!" she rubbed another burn on her neck. "I can't either."

Dasforah gave a wave of his hand, passing off their injuries as a minor issue. "My irisvar has already seen to them."

After getting caught up in the moment, Rainbow Dash hadn't bothered to pay attention to a small red dragon with one clawless hand. She assumed that hand was for applying remedies, and the other with claws was for making... incisions. Luckily the latter was not necessary. Instead, this dragon approached Rainbow Dash and lightly breathed cool blue flames on all of her burns and bruises, which disappeared almost instantly. She was astounded, and further still when she saw that Judas and Pinkie Pie had gone under the same treatment and were now able to stand, though they were still weak, to the point where they couldn't fight.

Rainbow Dash smirked. "Alright everpony, I'm gonna go kick some ass. I have to get to the castle pronto!"

Dasforah spread his wings and hovered in the air. "We shall clear the way for you. Bensvelkilti di apzen ekess wux."

"Uh... you too?"

He laughed and flew away, the battle medic and the large green following close behind.

After many a cheer and whoop from Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Judas, their dragon friends were gone. Rainbow gave Pinkie one last peck on the cheek before running through the hallway leading to the balcony and returning to the bloodshed in the streets below. The pink party pony laid down next to Judas to rest her significantly less painful injuries. Scootaloo took her brand spanking new cutie mark and left the battle for good. Rarity and a more matured Spike were still standing. The little dragon spoke. "Well, go on then. I have to join up with my herd." He was ready to jump from the balcony and fly as well, but Rarity, who couldn't hold herself back any longer, held on to Spike's shoulders, and without restraint, she kissed him, not on the cheek, but on the mouth. It was long, it was beautiful.

Spike wasn't overly flustered, or maybe he hadn't realized what just happened, but he could only smile.

Rarity held him close and whispered, "You'll always be my dasforah, Spike."

Winter Solstice couldn't have cared less about the horn of Captain Black embedded in her chest, nor did she care about the warm blood staining her icy blue mane red. She could only stand proud, ignoring the pain, and relish the moment, what she had been waiting for since the day she was left to drown in that river. She was ready to perform one last act of bravery. She fired one of her trademark ice spells at the Captain, who made an attempt to dodge but was too slow, and was slowed down even further by the frost that gripped his gold armor. He was helpless when Winter Solstice bowed her head and charged at him. Her sharp horn pierced his armor and broke the chest piece, then it broke his skin...

Black's mouth hung open. He was in shock, but he could still feel Winter Solstice's sharp horn inside his stomach. She spoke quietly as ever. "I will not die alone." From her horn, expanding outward from the gaping hole she had put in her brother's chest, came several ice crystals, which continued to grow across their bodies. Black was unable to move his ice encased legs. Neither could Solstice, but she wasn't thrashing.

"S-s-sister... p-p-p-lease..." muttered Black, shivering from the frost and fear. "I d-d-didn't want this..."

"For every time you turned you neglected me, put me down, left me to die, and laughed at my misfortune, for every time you hurt me, physically and mentally, up until the day you took everything away from me and put the blame on my name, I'd say this is the least you deserve."

Soon, the ice traveled up their necks...

"No! NO! You can't do this to me! You can't! You-" Captain Black's cries of denial went unfinished. Even a thousand years from then, his mouth would stay wide open, frozen in time in a cold and crystaline prison. The ice queen, however, would wear a satisfied smile for all eternity. Black Licorice was trapped. Winter Solstice was in paradise.

Heretic was in agony.

Twilight was halfway between fighting to her last breath or letting the surrounding troops pin her and Cerberus to the ground and execute them. It could have been a fair and quick death... but how could she do that when she had come so far? The castle was within view! She was so close, but there was nothing she could do. She backed up as the wall of golden armored soldiers closed in on her, until she collided with Cerberus.

She lowered her gaze, eyes narrowed in concentration as she tried to think of a spell, any spell, that could get them out of this. Rainbow Dash was off chasing a few pegasi guards and a small multicolored dot. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie were Luna knew where - she actually probably didn't - Rarity was trying to sneak past the fight, Applejack was busy bucking at everything in sight, and the rest of Luna's soldiers were strewn across the battlefield, giving it their all. Even the dragons giving their all to assist the rebellion were no help to Twilight. The DJ's music was still blaring in the background, the beat reverberating within her very being. She couldn't just give up, but...

"I can't think of anything, Cerberus...I don't know what to do!"

"I could probably fly past them, but my wing is still killing me. I don't think I could carry you, and you can't tire yourself out by using your teleportation spell."

"Can you breathe fire?"

Cerberus grimaced. "You'd be trapped by the flames. That is, if I didn't hurt you in the process. Urgh..." His voice was shivering from the anticipation of what was to come. "Twilight, I just want you to know," he sighed, "I'm still glad that I'm here, instead of dead in the Everfree Forest."

"I'm happy that I get to die next to you. You're a good friend."

Inevitable defeat stared at Cerberus and Twilight dead in the face...

"Twilight Sparkle!" A young female voice echoed across the sky, stopping everypony, even the soldiers, in their path. A flash of lightning broke the silence and struck the ground. At least five of the soldiers were thrown off their hooves, landing against the hard ground or falling multiple stories below. After that, a green colored wave pulsed outward from the center of the platform. As it passed over the soldiers, they were frozen in place. "You must live!"

A blue flash touched down in front of Twilight, taking the form of a blue pony wearing a purple cape and pointed hat... Even with her back facing her, Twilight knew who it was. It was... "Trixie?!"

The boastful con-artist stood on her hind legs and turned her head. "That name will not be spoken anymore. My name is Maredoth, and I cannot let you die."

Twilight and Cerberus watched their savior hold her hoof to the sky and summon a bronze staff. It was bent in two ways in the middle, with a crescent moon and five pointed star adorning the tip. With that, the mare launched herself forward, leaving a trail of dust in her wake. Her magically enhanced staff twirled around in the air as she danced a deadly ballet. She spun and struck at every guard within her reach. Even those that had broken out of the slow-motion spell stood little chance. Any attempt to get near Twilight or Cerberus was met with a bolt of lightning, a blast of fire or a downpour of frigid water. Twilight was in awe at the speed and strength that Trix- no, Maredoth- was showing. She had none of these elemental powers all those years ago, but now...

This dance of flames, lightning and water ended, and dozens of earthwalker, unicorn and pegasi soldiers lay dead on the cobblestone. Maredoth let her staff disappear, and she stood on four legs. "That was for Hephaestus." She turned to Twilight with a humble smirk. "I think you oughta get going. Take this kingdom for Queen Luna."

Twilight flushed out the surprise and intensity of the moment and hugged her new friend. "Thank you so much, Maredoth."

"I do hope we can catch up later," she said with lowered eyelids and a beaming grin.

The path to the throne room was empty, the torches unlit. It was dark and foreboding but it left no impact on Twilight or Cerberus. They stopped running to catch their breath beside a broken window. The eclipse was still visible in the sky, in the one clear spot not surrounded by storm clouds. The sun and the moon were almost touching each other. When they crossed... Cerberus seemed to only be more driven to their goal when he saw what would spell death for him and the rest of the half breeds.

Death... a lot of ponies were dying. For what cause? Saving a race that had gone beyond the vision of modern pony society? Was this really worth it? No, it wasn't just that. It was about truth. The only reason the half breeds were invisible to most was because Celestia had already killed so many. For purity... as disgusting as it was, it sounded like her. Still, back at the camp, when the image of Celestia had appeared to Twilight, she seemed desperate, like she was starting have genuine regret for what she had done. Would she change her ways? It wouldn't make up for the countless amounts of half breeds with unmarked graves. She only had regret because she knew this could be her end. The elements of harmony and the rest of Equestria were now against her.

"Twilight," said Cerberus. "we're not getting anywhere staring out windows. Let's just get this over with."

"You're being unusually nonchalant."

"Look, either we die or we don't. It's as simple as that. Let's not wait for our answer."

"Is this how you always felt? Back when you were hunted down?"

Cerberus started walking past the window with an expression of quiet anger. "Yes." He started to gallop, away from the past to face his inner demons and Twilight did everything she could to keep up.

"STOP RIGHT THERE, CRIMINAL SCUM! You will not enter here!" The large, diamond encrusted gates to Celestia's throne room were blocked by no less than twenty elite unicorn soldiers. A wall of golden plated armor versus Twilight Sparkle and Cerberus, and the odds weren't exactly in the latter's favor. "We won't let you so much as look at our Princess! Now pay for your crimes with your blood!"

Despite these threats, Twilight summoned her magic swords again, and stood her ground. Cerberus was ready to fight as well, but suddenly he faltered, with a twinkle in his eye.

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked.

Cerberus raised a hoof to his forehead to concentrate. "I sense something..."

From there, everything seemed to move in slow motion. The windows bordering the hallways all shattered simultaneously from a deafening roar. Everypony clutched their ears as if they were going to blow away at any moment. A blue blur flew inside from where the right window used to be. Before the elites could react, five were tossed aside, seven were crushed into bruised and bloody heaps, and eight were utterly obliterated by an intense wave of white flame. All this happened in less than five seconds.

When Cerberus and Twilight could open their eyes, they saw what had caused all this carnage, and it brought a smile to their faces. They spoke at the same time in hushed voices. "Dasforah."

Cerberus' dragon father stood before them. He bowed as if his daring rescue was a mere performance. He then approached Cerberus and embraced him as a father would. "I've kept you waiting far too long. That cursed Celestia, she will pay for tearing our family apart." He swiftly ran on all fours to the gate. "Are you ready?"

"I was ready months ago," said Cerberus. "I should have finished the job when I had the chance."

"You could have," said Twilight, "but what about everything that's happened since then? You made some friends, you inspired this revolution. Don't forget Fluttershy, or Nero."

Cerberus couldn't argue with that. If he, Heretic, Judas and Winter Solstice had killed Celestia in cold blood that night all those months ago, they would have been hunted down as criminals, Luna would have been long dead in that parasitic sphere and someone just as corrupt would have ascended the throne.

"Has my son finally found his place amongst purebloods?" asked Dasforah.

"I'd say I found it a long time ago. That's why I'm here, to make sure the other half breeds can truly live, as I have."

"Then let us make it so."

"It all ends here." said Twilight.

Dasforah turned around, raised his hands, and opened the door.

Cerberus and Twilight stepped into Celestia's throne room, ready for the end.

Dear Twilight...

Epilogue

Dear Twilight,

Every night I dream about that day, when I saw you become what you are now.

Cerberus made sure to look the letter over several times, slowly and carefully.

"You seem somewhat obsessed with the Princess."

Bubblemint Berry, who was taking notes in the corner of the library, had taken up Judas' responsibility of providing a decent amount of snark for everypony to snort at.

"I just miss her a lot." said Cerberus as he tucked the letter away in his bag of holding. "I may have married Fluttershy but Twilight was the one who rescued me."

"Mmm-hmm." Bubblemint adjusted his glasses and resumed his work. "Now then, that takes care of the scientific studies section... Spike, would you kindly check if this library carries the Adventurous Astronomer's Almanac?"

Spike flew down from his perch about a bookshelf the second floor down to Bubblemint and handed him the requested book. "Anything else, boss?"

"No thank you, and you don't have to call me boss. You're my partner, not my assistant."

"Sure thing, boss. Hey, have you gotten taller?"

"Very funny."

It wasn't that Bubblemint was upset about his stunted growth, not in the slightest. In fact, just after the taking of Canterlot, he went under a massive growth spurt, and in a manner of a few years, he began to rival Winter Solstice in size. His mane had also grown long and began to grey. It was common knowledge that Heretic had figuratively become a broken bird after the deaths of Judas and Winter Solstice. All joy in his calculations and studies had disappeared, and he only collected books, never reading them, only keeping them dust free.

"Right then, my collection is nearing completion. I have nearly every book that was published this year."

"How do you afford all this?" asked Cerberus.

"You spent your war benefits building your family. I merely occupied this building in Twilight Sparkle's absence leaving me plenty of pounds and bits left over, now are we done?"

"I can tell you're not interested in talking. I'll let you work."

"Yes, excellent decision. There's not enough time in the world to achieve one's goals and make idle chit-chat."

Spike, who had begun to lie down for a nap, followed Cerberus out the door.

It hurt me a lot, to see you walk away from your friends. For a long time, I wondered why.

Luckily, Heretic's superior mind was still of great use, and his knowledge of government creation and reconstruction allowed the Lunar Republic, as well as New Ponyville, to blossom forth.

"Good morning Cerberus!" said Blossomforth as she passed by with her cart of flowers. Cerberus waved back politely. The fact that his name had become a legend still had yet to sink in. In his mind, he was just another pony.

After Winter Solstice and Judas died, I didn't cry, but I regretted not getting to know them better. Until then, I never even took the time to say "I love you" to Judas. She said it to me almost every day. It hurt to let her go, but it hurt worse to watch you go.

What qualified as 'just another pony' had changed in so little time. While the majority of the population was still made up of purebred earthwalkers, pegasi and unicorns, the streets of New Ponyville, with its tall Veneightian buildings and winding canals, were home to the half breeds that had come out of hiding. Flutterponies, zebra unicorns and pegasi, griffons, Changelings... even other half dragons. Everywhere one looked there was a half breed, free to walk the streets without being assaulted or slandered.

I thought maybe I could get to know you better, but now I only know you as the pony whose life I ruined. If I hadn't been thrown into the Everfree Forest, or maybe if you hadn't come along to save me, you would still be here where you belong.

A sigh and an inhale of the moist spring air were all Cerberus needed to know it was going to be a gorgeous day. "Beautiful sight, isn't it, Spike?"

The little dragon stretched his arms and wings and looked to the clear sky. "You bet. You know, the red rooftops look awesome from above. Wanna go flying for a bit?"

"Eh, no thanks. There is something you can do for me, though."

"Sure thing, bro."

Spike had really gotten in touch with his lineage since he got his wings, speaking regular Draconic and calling every dragon or pony with dragon heritage he met some variation of "Brother." It hit a bit of a soft spot when he called Cerberus that.

Cerberus reached into his bag of holding and hoofed over a multiple page letter to Spike. It was wrinkled and torn at the edges with many lines crossed out or erased. Only a few lines were legible.

"I can only send post to my mother and odds are she's asleep at this hour. You still have your letter link, right?"

Spike scratched his chin. "Well... technically I'm not linked specifically to Celestia, the exact words when the spell was cast on me were 'Princess of the Sun', so I think this should go straight to Twilight."

"Here's hoping. I've spent years on that letter."

Perhaps I have yet to understand what it means to sacrifice, considering that until I met you, I never had anything to die for.

Spike held the letter up high and breathed his enchanted green fire upon it. Cerberus sighed heavily as he saw the flames soaring across the sky to Canterlot.

"I suppose flames do have their uses, other than destruction."

"Yeah..." Spike wasn't exactly in the mood for a deep conversation, plus he had other plans. "I'm taking off." he announced with a vibe of somewhat undeserved accomplishment. "I'm going out to dinner at the new Sunset Soiree with the Cutie Mark Crusaders."

Cerberus snickered.

"What's so funny?"

"You spend all that time chasing Rarity and now you go after three girls at once?"

Spike started across the cobblestone bridge over the canals. "Cerb, sometimes when you get what you want, you realize that it was much better wanting. I value Rarity as a friend and I don't want to put that at stake."

"That's very mature of you."

"The Cutie Mark Crusaders, however... ever since graduation, they've filled out something fierce."

"I retract my last statement."

Spike pumped his fist in the air and spread his wings. "Trust me, by the end of tonight, one of those three fine mares will be-"

That sentence would go eternally unfinished, thanks to three rambunctious seaponies making a jump over the bridge and drenching Spike in cold water, leaving many bystanders to laugh out loud. Spike even found himself laughing too once the shock wore off. The only one who wasn't really laughing was Cerberus. Everywhere he went he just wished Twilight was there to see it, and this was no exception.

I hope I can see you again soon. I may have a beautiful wife, but right now I just need a friend.

Later that day, Cerberus was flying through the eastern quadrant of New Ponyville, doing his part to clean out the clouds for the day. Construction of the town had begun as soon as Spring had come to the old town’s ruins post revolution, and in the years since, it had never truly stopped. A rain cloud was working its way slowly towards one of the build sites that was still pouring wet cement for the foundation. Cerberus stretched his right wing out and curled his left one in, causing him to turn sharply. He pulled up right behind the cloud and pushed it away from the oblivious construction workers, and off into the distant apple orchards.

Cerberus looked up towards the sun, squinting as he tried to figure out the time relative to its position. It was a little after three. “Alright, that’s enough work for one day,” he said to himself as he sped off towards the weather station. He didn’t want to be late, after all. It was time for the weekly picnic.

He looked up at the sun again. He really wished that Twilight would come meet up with them, at least once in a while. He knew that Fluttershy always packed an additional daisy sandwich, just in case, and there always seemed to be too much punch. Sometimes, nopony would even touch the desserts, lest they be the one who sees the last one. It seemed that the closest he and the rest would ever get to Twilight for a while would be her magenta sunlight.

Banking as he caught too much of an updraft, Cerberus took a second to admire what had become of a town that had suffered so much destruction. New Ponyville wasn’t so much a town as it was a city.

"Dad!"

As Cerberus was flying over the sunflower decorated fields on the outskirts of town, he heard the shrill and energetic voice of his son. Nero. At first glance, nopony would guess that this young colt had mixed blood. His wings were feathered, his coat a baby blue with not a single scale, and his mane was frosty white, cascading down the sides of his face into a curl, just like his mother’s. The only things he seemed to have gotten from his father were a pair of green, draconic eyes, a strong sense of self, and a single fang in his otherwise flawless smile.

Of course, it was also somewhat abnormal how quickly he was learning to fly, but 'learning' was still the key word. Cerberus had to help him keep his balance. "It's hard to keep both wings flapping in unison, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is. I'm getting better. Watch this!" Nero dived and attempted to do one of Rainbow Dash's loop-de-loops, but he stalled at the peak of his turn and Cerberus had to catch him. That happened three times before Nero said, "I think I'm just having an off day."

Cerberus couldn't have been more proud. "You have your aunt Judas' determination."

"Cerberus! Nero! Over here!"

Pinkie Pie's shouting and the smell of baked goods wafting through the slight breeze led Cerberus and Nero to the picnic beside a large lake under a single cherry tree.

There was always one unoccupied spot on the red checkered sheet, just in case Twilight showed up unannounced. Cerberus sat next to that spot every time he joined the picnic with his best friends, with Fluttershy by his side.

Applejack brought out the colorful array of apples and apple flavored treats, Fluttershy had the sandwiches and many varieties of plants and grass to go with, Rarity had a thermos filled to the brim with fruit punch, and Pinkie Pie had enough leftover sweets from the recent grand opening of Sugarcube Corner to feed an Ursa Minor.

As Cerberus and Nero began to dig in, Applejack looked around in every direction. "Confound it, Ah coulda sworn Ah had another basket of-"

Cackling laughter erupted from the pond as three tentacled pranksters tossed the basket of red delicious back and forth. Applejack winced every time it almost made contact with the water.

"You thievin' varmint octiponies! You gotta pay for that!"

One of the octiponies blew a raspberry and dragged the basket under the surface with her. Applejack stomped the grass in frustration, but Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy found it hilarious.

"Like there ain't enough troublemakers in this town..." Applejack muttered.

"They were just having fun, AJ!" cackled Pinkie. She reached into her basket and retrieved a slice of cornbread. "Hey Cerb! Catch!"

While Nero began to wolf down cupcakes and apple fritters, Cerberus caught the cornbread. He hesitated to pack it away, because looking at that cornbread brought him back to his first day in the old Ponyville, and how this was the first meal he ate there. He then remembered the rest of that day, the day that made him realize that he didn't need to be a xenophobic coward, that he could stand and fight instead of running away.

"Um, Dad?"

Nero nudged Cerberus. He looked concerned.

"Why are you crying?"

Cerberus was too busy with his sentiment to notice his wet cheeks. He dried them quickly. "It's nothing, Nero," he lied. But, looking at Fluttershy, who had hardly stopped smiling for years on end, to Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, who had saved him from himself, and back at his son, who would never have to experience pain or suffering, he corrected that last statement. "Actually, it's everything."

All it took was a single magenta letter descending from the high city of Canterlot to remind Cerberus that despite the hardships and heartbreak, in the end, it was all worth it, just to experience the magic of true friendship.

My dearest Cerberus,

You put the blame on yourself far too much. I do yearn for the simpler days back in Ponyville, but that town is long gone. New Ponyville is your home, not mine, and you have lots of other friends there that you can always talk to.

Do stop blaming yourself. It wasn't fate or karma that that made me a princess. It was not my destiny. I chose this path, just as you chose yours. Don't waste your life worrying about the past. Those who look only to the past are certain to miss the future. I learned that the hard way. You have a brilliant future. You, Fluttershy and Nero can spend every day in happiness, and it would make all our efforts go to waste if you can't enjoy yourself. Can you do that for me? Just be happy, and I'll know I'm doing my job right.

Love, Twilight.

PS: I was only able to send this so quickly because my new assistant, Maredoth, is ridiculously fast with her quill. Still not as good as Spike, though!

Meanwhile, back in the library...

There was one last book that Heretic had not dusted off, and it was not on the shelves. For years, it had been taking up space in Heretic's bag of holding, and he had all but run out of use for it, at least until right then, when he emptied out the bag, letting "The Myths and Murders of the Half Breeds" fall to the wood floor. Heretic picked it up, fully ready to put it aside forever, but that fall was the last straw. The book fell apart in his hooves. Pages were scattered in the draft of an open window leaving quite a mess. That was the least of Bubblemint's concerns. The broken cardboard cover of the book held a scrap of parchment, a note that confirmed who had written the journal entries of the book. It held an enlightening secret.

Bubblemint debated for years afterward whether or not the note was worth sharing with his friends, but his conclusion always came to something along the lines of, "It wouldn't make a difference."

I do hope somepony actually has the courtesy to find and read this someday.

The extermination of the half breeds has gone so far out of hand that I have been driven to pack my bags and board the nearest ship to Saddle Arabia. It's a developing nation as of this writing, perhaps I can warn them of Celestia's drastic measures.

Let it be known that I have confronted the Princess on the issue and informed her that the fragment that Desmond/Discord left behind are not the half breeds. They had existed in slight numbers long before the chaotic years of his reign, this was just not common knowledge. They are simply a result of evolution. Unfortunately, the Princess, as well as her sister, refused to listen to my words. It's my greatest regret that I hadn't mentioned the half breeds sooner. I thought Celestia had known already, and now it's too late. Half breeds are being murdered by the hundreds every month and I feel it's partially my fault. There is nothing more I can do.

On a brighter note, I have found what exactly Desmond/Discord did leave behind. He passed down a small shred of his uncanny powers through one family in an attempt to gradually spread chaos across the land. I informed the family of this and they immediately took refuge on a rock farm far away from here. They intend to live in isolation until the chaos powers in their descendants' genes are scattered enough to return to society. I only wish the best for the Pie family.

Thank you for reading, whomever you may be.

- Star Swirl the Bearded

The Final Flame

"This is where they should be... sister. Wake yourself. We've arrived."

"Mmm... where?"

"One of Star Swirl the Bearded's secret reports led me to this cavern. It says here that this is where we can find the Elements of Harmony."

"Can they stop your husband?"

"He's no husband of mine. Yes, I can purify him with the elements... whatever they are. Star Swirl told me that they will take whatever form is necessary for the situation at hand, but we'll know what they are when we see them."

"Like those six gems over there?"

"Why... sister! You found them!"

"I only wish to help."

"Okay, these represent magic, kindness, and generosity..."

"What about these?"

"Those are loyalty, laughter and honesty. Hmm... if only our friends were here. I suppose I'll have to use all of these on my own."

"No, Celina. It might be too much for you to handle. I'll carry half the load."

"You're so young. Why cast yourself in harm's way?"

"Desmond is ruining what should be our kingdom. Why shouldn't I help?"

"You're a good mare. Just be careful. There's no telling what Desmond will do once we enter his territory."

Chapter 15

The Final Flame

The trees began to thin out, becoming few and far between. The sky could be seen, presenting a cloudy day. The limit of Winter Solstice’s spell was also visible, as blades of grass escaped the dwindling snow cover. It was likely that by the time the Lunar Republic reached Fillydelphia, the snow would be nowhere to be seen. There were painful jokes about how Ponyville was more or less a frozen ghost town at that point, causing once pleasantly nostalgic thoughts of home to become more sour and depressing.

Judas, who had snuck away from Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash (“It’s all night with them! I couldn’t sleep for a second.”), did her best to keep her friends’ hopes alive with a friendly toast of apple cider, which she had brought in a thermos instead of water, much to Heretic’s chagrin. Still, he enjoyed the alcohol as much as the rest of the bunch.

“What shall we toast to?” he asked.

Rarity raised her cup high. “I wish to propose a toast to Cerberus and Fluttershy.”

Judas rolled her eyes. “A drink to the happy couple... how original.”

“You misunderstand me. They’re expecting!”

Judas, who had been up in the air, collapsed to the ground as she momentarily forgot how to use her wings. Cerberus approached her seemingly unconscious body and prodded it. “Um, Judas? Are you okay?”

“Okay?!” she pounced on Cerberus and spun him around. “You’ve gotten laid and you’re gonna be a father and you ask me if I’m OKAY?!” She squeezed him until his eyes looked as though they were going to escape their sockets. “My little brother is growing up!”

“What do you think? How long has it been?” Judas had spent the entire last stretch of this trip pestering Fluttershy and Cerberus with questions about the pregnancy.

“Well, I haven’t felt a kick yet. We don’t really know.” said Fluttershy.

Cerberus, as ecstatic as he was that he would be a father, was mentally kicking himself for not expecting this. He had gotten so enveloped in every passionate encounter with Fluttershy that he never stopped and thought about the consequences. Consequences? That sounded like a bad thing. This was amazing. Cerberus also couldn’t believe he never noticed the slight bulge near Fluttershy’s stomach until now. He had a lot on his mind at the time, he supposed.

Twilight Sparkle had examined Fluttershy with her magic and confirmed that the baby would be a male pegasus. So far, no genetic mutations could be found.

“Nero.” Fluttershy said.

“What?” asked Cerberus.

“I think that should be his name.”

Cerberus liked that name well enough, but he couldn’t focus on that or the numerous “Congratulations” that he and Fluttershy were getting from the group. What would Nero look like? Would his wings be draconic like his father’s? Cerberus didn’t want his son to be discriminated against like he was. No, he won’t. This is completely different. Besides, the whole point of this fight is to make a world where my kind can live freely. If we die, well, then we won’t have to worry about it. That was the reason Fluttershy had neglected to telling me at first. I can respect that.

Cerberus stood at the top of the hill, looking down at the city of Fillydelphia. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Winter Solstice had entered the city from the North Entrance a few hours prior. Heretic, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie had gone in through the Western Entrance.
He looked about impatiently, before looking to Twilight and Judas with a small nervous tick over his eye. “He said in his letter that he’d be here by now. Why isn’t he here?”

Twilight looked at Cerberus quizzically. “Who?”

“Hephaestus! He was going to meet us at the top of this hill so he could give us our armor. What the hell happened?"

Rarity steadied Cerberus with her hoof. "Sweetie, maybe he's just late."

The entrance to town, as the traveling ponies thanked the divines for, was unguarded. Fillydelphia was much like the Veneightion architecture of Ponyville, mixed with the corpulent high rises of Manehatten. Fresh, yet familiar, however the beauty of home was nowhere to be seen. The tension of this war was like a rubber band, it could snap at any moment. Civilians ran and hid from even the lowest ranking guards, who looked keen to strangle a puppy. The brick walls were almost invisible beneath a veritable wall of wanted posters and calls to arms. Contain the Uprising. Show your support for the Empire of the Sun. Some were torn down by angry townsfolk, leaving behind scraps of glued paper. Other walls were coated in black graffiti. Luna will save us! All hail the Lunar Republic! Amateur sketches of Heretic, Judas and Winter Solstice could also be seen on the walls. Apparently their names and faces had become known by word of mouth.

“Well by Luna, Solstice. We’re celebrities. I suppose all the single colts will gather at your hooves for an autograph, or a kiss.” said Judas.

Solstice shook her head. “They will be disappointed.”

"Psst!" A voice could be heard from what looked like an unoccupied building with broken windows and an unreadable sign hanging from the doorway (The paint had long faded away). A brown earthwalker pony with a patch over his right eye stuck his head out the window. "You lot! Get inside, quick! We've been expecting you. Hurry, before the guards come by."

Cerberus lead the group up to the doorway, and reluctantly stepped inside.

It seemed as though this miserable little wooden shack was much larger on the inside than it was on the outside, and much more welcoming too. Various cots were set up along the finely painted crimson walls, occupied by wounded refugees and rebels. Tables filled with various foods, from salads to pastries, made up the opposite end. There was even a lit fireplace.

The brown one-eyed earthwalker spoke to the group.

"You're not as subtle as you think, Lunar Republic. The moment you waltzed into town, everypony was on edge." He smiled. "Hella good you ran into us first. My name is Keeper."

Judas burst out laughing. "Wow, I've heard my share of dorky names-"

Rarity magically smacked Judas across the forehead. "So, this is a sanctuary for the rebels?" she asked.

"Yeah, the attack on Ponyville set off a lot of folks. When they found out that Celestia burned down a whole town just to kill one half breed, well... that didn't go over well. So, a nice unicorn by the name of Maredoth set up this little hospital slash hotel for anyone on Luna's side. She put an improportionata interiora spell to make it bigger on the inside and a nihil ad hic charm to keep the royal guards from investigating. What a woman, eh?" Keeper nodded to the cots. "Runaway half breeds are also welcome, of course."

On the cots, upon closer inspection, some of the sleeping ponies had zebra stripes, or manticore tails, and there were even other half dragons. Cerberus was pleasantly surprised by how much kindness these half breeds were getting in retrospect to the hell he was put through. "All thanks to you, Celestia." he gleefully muttered.

"Hey, wait a minute..." Keeper used his one good eye to look closely at Cerberus. "I thought you looked familiar... it's just how she described you... blue, magenta highlights, gold earring..." He then shouted to the refugees by the dining table. "HEY EVERYPONY! We've got Cerberus over here! Just like Queen Luna said!"

Suddenly all attention was on Cerberus instead of the food. He was overwhelmed by the bruised and battered rebels lining up to shake his hoof and tell him how much of a hero he had become. Ponies that he recognized from years ago that had cornered him in alleyways and beat him within an inch of his life were now treating him like royalty (Which he had to remind himself, he was). He even caught a glimpse of the filly with the butterfly wings from Cloudsdale.

"Okay, give the lad some space. I'm sure he's not used to the publicity. Still, this is something worth celebrating! Cider's on the house!"

"If this is just a glimpse of what a normal life is like, well, I could get used to it." said Cerberus to Fluttershy, as they slowly drank their cider. Cerberus was grateful to Keeper for mixing in sapphires to give the cider an extra zip.

"We had a normal life." said Fluttershy. "Just, before all this nonsense with Celestia."

"Once she's off my mother's throne, all the other half breeds can have what I had, and we can settle down."

A tipsy Judas was talking to the drinking refugees telling exaggerated versions of her adventures with Cerberus, which somehow always ended with her using some un-foreshadowed deus ex machina to save the day. Her stories only got more and more ridiculous by the minute.

Winter Solstice and Heretic kept quiet, hardly touching their drinks.

"Okay, okay, everypony! Settle down!" Keeper stood atop the bar counter with his glass held to nearly touching the ceiling. "I think we need an official toast!"

Pinkie Pie jumped from her seat. "There's toast? PLEASE tell me you have raspberry jelly! Or blueberry! Or if you mix the two you can get-" Rainbow Dash forced more cider down Pinkie's throat to shut her up.

Keeper went ahead. "To Cerberus! Our savior, the Dragon of the Eclipse!"

"To the Dragon of the Eclipse!"

Heretic was intrigued. "I see, I see. They have taken to calling this revolution the Eclipse. Very fitting."

As Fluttershy downed more glasses of cider, her smile widened. "I was thinking, when this is over... at least two more kids?"

"Lots and lots of mutant babies." said Cerberus.

"House on the beach, or maybe a penthouse suite?"

"Let's keep it close to nature."

"Ah yes... you'll have to tend to the critters while I tend to Nero."

"But first, the wedding."

Fluttershy stopped drinking and tilted her head. "Wedding?"

Before that awkward conversation could reach a conclusion, a heavily scarred pegasus opened the door to the inn and shouted at the partying ponies. "Guys, quiet down! Listen to the town crier!"

A ringing cowbell could be heard outside the inn, followed by a loud gravelly voice, that of a minotaur's.

”Attention citizens of Fillydelphia! On this day, a required gathering of all able bodied ponies will be held in the center square at exactly twelve o’ clock! I repeat! At twelve o’ clock, drop whatever you are doing and go to the center square! All able bodied ponies in the vicinity are required to show!”

Keeper scratched at his crew cut mane. "That... never happens. We're never required to show for anything. Hell, neither is any other town."

The scarred pegasus was now inside the inn and peeking through the curtains. "Hmm... awful lot of soldiers out there... it looks like they took somepony captive... he's a unicorn... bronze... it almost looks like his tail is on fire... sweet Luna, I think it is on fire..."

Cerberus' drink fell to the floor, sending glass flying. "HEPHAESTUS!" He flew to the window and shoved the pegasus aside. "Where are they taking him?" He looked at everypony with desperate eyes. "What time is it?"

Keeper pointed to his wall clock. "About a quarter to twelve... son of a mule!" He realized what Cerberus was panicking about. "Are they gonna-"

Cerberus went a little ballistic, flying around in circles and jumping on tables. "THEY'RE. GOING. TO. KILL. HEPHAESTUS. In front of everypony! And you know something? Celestia is only doing it to get to me!"

Numerous cries of anguish and variations of the word 'bitch' were passed around.

Cerberus threw on his black cloak and opened the door. "I'm not going to let that happen. I'm tired of watching my friends suffer." He was gone in an instant.

"Wait! Come back! That's just what she wants!" Twilight threw her cider aside and chased after the vengeful half dragon.

The silence that followed was only broken by Keeper groaning. "Maredoth's gonna have my head if I don't clean up all this cider."

Cerberus found it very easy to avoid the guards, as he kept to a large crowd moving in a single direction. He duck and wove between breaks in the crowd and kept his wings tucked into his cloak to avoid rousing suspicion.

The center square was more of a circular kind of place. Many different shops and facilities surrounded the remains of what used to be a marble statue of Celestia. The head, part of the tail and her wings were broken off. Set in front of the forehooves of the statue, fittingly, were the gallows. There, Hephaestus Ironwright stood tall, the noose already set around his neck. Despite looking malnourished and absolutely exhausted, his face was a face of determination.

Cerberus' heart skipped a beat. It pained him to see another half breed in this state, but also shocked him to see Hephaestus stand so tall and mighty in his situation.

Twilight followed Cerberus as he broke away from the crowd and approached the gallows.

"Try and stop me, Twlight. See if that makes a difference."

"I want to help him too. I'm just here to make sure you don't do anything you'll regret."

Cerberus lowered his hood and began his quest to save his friend.

“Hephaestus!” Cerberus called out in a shouting whisper. The half phoenix looked his way and, surprise to him and Twilight, smiled.

“Greetings to you, Cerberus. Here for the show? There’s cookies and punch by the door.”

“I’m here to rescue you.”

Hephaestus gave a quiet chuckle. “I don’t think so. Trust me, this is for the best.”

“How is this a good thing?” said Twilight. Her voice was significantly louder than Cerberus’, causing heads to turn. “We have to get you out of here! We need you.”

Hephaestus bowed his head. “Celestia has done everything in her power to break me, even going so far as to kill my little Sophie. I don’t want the same fate to befall Golden Glimmer. It’s better that I die now than let my friends and loved ones suffer. I’ve long worn out my welcome anyway.” He slowly exhaled. “A thousand years. Like a long day, and I finally get to sleep.”

"Don't do this, Hephaestus!" Cerberus stopped trying to be discreet. He was leaning on the platform, desperately yelling to somepony he hardly knew, yet he felt like he had as a friend his entire life. He couldn't let a friend die, not after every brush with death that he had endured.

"Stop your babbling!" snapped Hephaestus. "I've already given you everything you need! My time is over!"

It was clear to both Cerberus and Twilight, despite their protests, that Hephaestus had made up his mind. He had fought this war since the beginning, and it was time to pass on the torch, and like a torch, the flames that made up his mane burned bright, a light of hope in these dark times. These were the only good flames that Cerberus had seen in a long time. It pained him to think that they would soon be put out.

“Time for you to leave, Cerberus.” said Hephaestus. “Go to my workshop, next to Maredoth's inn. Everything you need to end this war can be found there. Give my best to Rarity and the rest of your friends.” He said that as if he were merely going on a summer vacation.

Despite their grief, Cerberus and Twilight found the strength to back away from their friend in war, and rejoin the gathering crowd.

Captain Black ascended the staircase to the gallows (Cerberus growled under his breath) and stood next to Hephaestus. "A message from Canterlot! Evidently there has been talk of an uprising against the Solar Empire, and for what reason? An attack on the traitorous town of Ponyville? It was the home of the Lunar Republic, who had conspired to kill her majesty Princess Celestia. Their leader? None other than a half breed by the name of Cerberus! Murderers and nothing more, but now some of you, or if the rumors are true, most of you actually revere this half breed as a hero. Well, perhaps your loyalty will be swayed on this day. Allow me to introduce you to Hephastus Ironwright. A half breed, and a filthy ingrate like the rest of them-"

"I'm afraid I am no half breed, Black Licorice." said Hephaestus ever so calmly. "It was an uncanny magical accident that merged me with my pet phoenix, I'd say it was about a thousand years ago. I believe a half breed is a pony born with the qualities of another species?" Some ponies in the crowd below who were not speaking out against this hanging laughed at Hephaestus' civil impudence.

Captain Black was left with a twitching eye, in response to the interruption and the use of his full name. "Y-yes, that's right." He continued his speech. "But, half breed or not, this unicorn phoenix rebelled against Celestia from inside the castle itself! Delivering armor and magical weapons to the rebels and sabotaging our own. Now the time has come to end his little charade and make it known to the public what happens to traitors!"

"You're the traitor, Black Licorice!" Hephaestus broke out of his stoic disposition and was now bold and enraged. "Last I checked this was supposed to be a kingdom of love and tolerance. When was the last time you upheld either of those things? You're hypocrites! You and the rest of your templar friends! Listen to me, Equestria! The Lunar Republic is the answer! Go to them! This war has been going on for much longer than you realize and they will stand up and end it! Maybe not today, maybe not a hundred years from now, but even an immortal tyrant has her time!"

"So do you." said Black.

"Yes, but the difference between me and Celestia is, I've learned to accept it."

Captain Black pulled the lever to the gallows, as Hephaestus shouted to the sky for all to hear, “LONG LIVE LUN-” but his voice gave out when he fell, the rope tightening around his neck, severing him from this world and taking him to the next. All that remained of Hephaestus Ironwright was the lifeless corpse of a grey foal and a single phoenix egg.

Cries of sadness and disgust swept over the crowd for all of Fillydelphia to hear.

"How could you?!"

"You're a monster!"

"He didn't have to die!"

Twilight remained quiet, though miserable, and saw Cerberus was facing the cobblestone. He was starting to sweat. His fangs were barred.

Twilight knew he was ready to charge Captain Black. She threw herself on him to prevent it.

"You can't! There's nothing more we can do! Risking your life won't bring him back!"

Cerberus let out an earsplitting roar which caused Twilight to get off of him and cover her ears. He took off from the floor and swept over the cobblestone, right into Captain Black's smirking mug.

"You-" The Captain hardly got a word in as Cerberus slammed his head into the gallows. The collision knocked Black unconscious. Cerberus debated finishing him off right then and there, but there were more important matters at hand, like the hundreds of ponies cheering his name!

These ponies that had once thrown stones and blades at him and wished for his death were now seeing him as a hero, an icon in a time of uprising. Their emotional support gave him the courage to speak aloud, as he picked up the phoenix egg that was once part of a dear friend and held it up for all to see, high in the air.

"My fellow Equestrians! We have lost a valuable comrade in war, but have no fear! To me, Hephaestus Ironwright is there on my back!" He slammed his free hoof against his chest. "And here in my heart! He is with all of us! He believed in us! He gave us a mission. It's time to end this thousand year war once and for all! The Lunar Republic will protect you, as soldiers and as friends! Fight alongside us! End the tyranny of Celestia!"

It was as though an invisible bomb had detonated, as the cheers of these ponies were so loud and mighty.

Cerberus returned to the ground and passed the egg to Twilight who was now beaming. "Do with it what you will." he said.

"You've come a long way." said Twilight. "One day you're fighting for your life, now you're a father to be, leading a whole revolution..."

Cerberus nodded. "Gotta go. No doubt Celestia's soldiers won't like what I did to Black."

Everypony below waved to him as he flew away from view. As for the late half phoenix, his egg was passed around for all to say their last goodbyes. A final farewell to an unsung hero. The lifeless foal under the gallows would receive a proper burial later that night, but not by the Lunar Republic. They had more important matters to discuss. Twilight snuck away from Hephaestus Ironwright's makeshift funeral, and rejoined her friends to relay his message.

Twilight didn't have to say anything to the Lunar Republic for them to know what happened. A moment of silence was shared between them. Heretic raised the last of his cider. "To Hephaestus, and everything he has done for us." He paused. "And everything he could have done."

"He isn't done with us yet. He said he left something for us in his workshop..."

Hephaestus' workshop was small, but absolutely jaw dropping. From ceiling to floor, the walls were covered in armor of varying color, shapes and size. Some armor was exotic and dazzling, adorned with tribal marks (Judas in particular was eyeing those ones), other sets were bulky, and could make anypony as huge as Big Macintosh. Other armor (Likely for pegasi) was skintight, giving ample protection whilst not obstructing their flight capabilities.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes darted around the room when she heard some loud snoring from nearby the hoof locker up against the wall. She noticed a lumpy blanket rising and falling.

“SPY!” she yelled, causing everypony else to jump. She swiped the blanket away from whomever was beneath it, waiting to strike... or sleep. “Zecora?!”

The forest dwelling Zebra was the last thing the Lunar Republic had expected to see here. She was awake almost instantly, wearing an embarrassed smirk. “The Everfree forest was being raided. I decided my residence should be updated. The guards couldn’t catch me, though they tried. I found this house was unoccupied.”

“I never took you for a squatter.” said Rainbow Dash.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures. Case and point, look at these treasures.” She gestured to the armor along the wall, and to the hoof locker.

Twilight opened it and levitated the contents up high for all to see. Hephaestus had prepared unique cloaks for all of them!

“Oh my goodness, Hephaestus!” said Rarity as she applauded. “You really did think of everything!”

The cloaks were colored and adorned for its specified wearer.

Twilight Sparkle’s was purple, decorated with many familiar constellations and a magenta six pointed star.

Rarity’s was a milky white mixed with sparkling curved streaks of pink and blue.

Pinkie Pie’s... well, pink, of course, and three cupcakes which changed color in the sunlight made up the center.

Heretic’s was a simple black with a white pi in the corner (“Hey, he perfectly captured your blandness!” said Judas).

Winter Solstice got a significantly larger cloak. This one was a light blue with sparkling snowflakes. No two were the same.

Judas’ cloak was black like Heretic’s, but intentionally artistic rips and tears could be seen at the corners. Of course, it was covered in exotic patterns and tribal marks to suit her fancy.

Even Rainbow Dash, who wasn’t exactly the most enthusiastic about fashion, found these cloaks drop dead gorgeous. She saw that the blanket she had pulled off Zecora was a cloak made for her, dark blue with rainbow patterned lightning bolts traveling vertically down from the hood.

There was a small grass green one for Applejack too, with many different types of apples to represent the Apple family stitched onto the border.

“Even in death, Hephaestus Ironwright guides us all.” said Heretic. “Gather everything you can carry. We will send a letter to Princess Luna, and tell her the time has come. Celestia has gone too far. This war will come to an end.”

Everypony was in silent agreement.

"From winter, to spring, to summer, to autumn... one side of this war will feel defeat upon them. Fate has no place in these times, we can not depend on the divines. Purge the templar or quell the rebellion, end the pain or die like a hellion. Either way, a new age will rise, the kingdom of the sun or the republic of starry skies. Equestria can bloom or wilt like a flower. The answer will come in the twilight hour."

Zecora walked out the door without another word, leaving the Lunar Republic to ponder her cryptic words.

"Was that some sort of prophecy?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Don't be foolish. Prophecies don't exist." said Heretic.

"Oh, don't get us started on stuff like 'inevitability' and 'fate'." said Judas, rolling her eyes. "Even if there were a prophecy, it wouldn't change a thing."

"She also made it very clear that fate has no role in the outcome." said Heretic.

"So, we pretty much just heard what we already know. What was the point of that?" Rainbow Dash stuck her head out the open window. "Thanks for nothing, Zeck!"

Heretic adjusted his glasses. "I don't think we should worry about that too much. It's a distraction, and we have a lot to do. Troops to gather, weapons to organize, organizations to plan..." he rambled on about the preparations for the upcoming battle. This was really happening. Most of the Lunar Republic thought that they would be in higher spirits, or inversely, dread this fight, but the idea had lodged itself in their minds and became common thought. "Um, what do you think about it, Twilight?"

Twilight Sparkle, however, was stricken dumb by Zecora's poem. Something about it made her go silent, unable to respond to any questions. She left the shop with her eyes on the ground.

“Zecora! Please, wait!” Cerberus had been hopping from rooftop to rooftop and had overheard his friends in the armory below. He had heard Zecora’s name and seen her leave the shop. He flew down to her, for he had something he had wanted to say for a very long time. “Zecora!” He intercepted her path, much to her surprise. “I never got a chance to thank you for everything.”

“Everything being what?” she asked.

“If it weren’t for you and Twilight, I’d be... wait, I thought you spoke in rhyme?”

“I must forgo my usual mannerisms to make my message more direct.” Zecora looked rather content at a glance, but her eyes began to show regressive sadness, like she was remembering something she had put behind her. “Like Hephaestus Ironwright, I have been aware of this war of purity for some time. Not as long as he was, mind you, but I too have been hurt by Celestia. In my younger days back in Saddle Arabia, I had fallen in love with a treasure hunting unicorn. He was reluctant at first to try his hoof at a relationship with a zebra, as such a thing was unheard of, but he quickly came through. Soon we were married and we boarded the first ship to Equestria. Before I knew it, we had a lovely home in Ponyville and I had given birth to a unicorn Zebra hybrid. I couldn’t have been happier.

Of course, word quickly spread of a half breed wandering the streets. Celestia is not fond of Zebras, but to have my kind mix with hers? I shudder to think of what anger was in her heart and mind.

So, my house was ransacked and destroyed, my husband was taken away, and my daughter...” she bowed her head and sighed. “I haven’t seen her since. I had to hide in the dangerous catacombs of the Everfree forest to survive. Even in a remote town such as Ponyville, my name had become taboo. That’s not the case anymore but... I can never go back.”

Cerberus reached out his hoof to comfort Zecora. “I am so sorry...”

Zecora quickly snapped back a state of alertness, now slightly angry. “Apologies and grieving will not bring our loved ones back. Cerberus. I knew from the start that you were my second chance. I knew that you had made an attempt on Celestia’s life, and I knew you would do it again, and several times more until you had your freedom. You and your friends can right her wrongs. Create a new world where all half breed children can frolic. End this thousand year war for me. For us!”

“I will! For your lost ones and my son!”

The Rising Sun

"I will always love you, Celina."

Chapter 18

The Rising Sun

The throne room was a total wreck. Most, if not all of the stained glass windows were completely shattered and there was rubble from the marble floors scattered everywhere. The throne, as well as the the fountain that held it, was in pieces. Standing in the center of the ruin were the Princesses of day and night.

Celestia glanced at the new faces in the room, Cerberus and Twilight, and she huffed at the sight of Dasforah.

"Hello, sister-in-law," said the blue dragon.

"You've truly outdone yourself Luna, going so far as to call the patriarch of your abomination-"

Luna wouldn't hear it. She swiped Celestia across the chest with her hindleg. "That's my family thou art besmirching with thine words!"

The sisters circled each other, looking for a chance to strike. "You just had to mingle," muttered Celestia. "You just had to put a stain on my families name by giving me a half breed for a nephew. If you had just listened to your elders none of this would have happened. It's your fault!" She cast forth a binding spell that wrapped Luna in partially immobilizing chains and brought her to the ground. "I suppose I'm still superior."

Luna snickered. "I am sorry that I haven't had the time to surpass you in magic, seeing how I wasn't even a unicorn for the first decade of my life. There was something else, too. What was it? Oh yes, about a thousand years of solitude. Thank you very much, Celina."

Celestia froze in place. Her already angry demeanor went straight down the path of furious. "Say that again."

"Let us face the truth. The only reason you wanted the half breeds gone was because you couldn't look one straight in the face without thinking of your beloved late husband. Well, I can only imagine how happy you were to see Desmond alive and well, so happy that you had to send Twilight Sparkle to finish him for you because you didn’t have the heart to do it yourself."

Celestia was no longer enraged. She was livid. Her horn's aura was violently bright. “CELINA. IS. DEAD!" Her voice reverberated like she shouted into a canyon.

Despite the bindings Luna was laughing spiritedly. “Ahaha! The royal voice! I still think mine is more intimidating. Yes, that’s right. I am no longer afraid of you, because when I see you, I only see a frightened little filly compensating for a broken heart.”

“THAT IS IT! NO MORE TIME OUTS! YOU’RE DEAD!” Celestia’s hoof came down on Luna’s neck. She lowered her horn, ready to cast a finishing blow.

Cerberus and Twilight were too stunned by the emotional battle between the Princesses to react, but Dasforah wasn’t. He pounced, pinning Celestia down and taking in the full force of her spell. Even that wasn’t enough to do him in, only leaving him unconscious. Cerberus barred his teeth. His father was out cold and his mother was prone. He couldn’t just sit idly by and watch.

“Twilight, do it now!” he yelled.

Twilight nodded and cast a repulsion shield around Cerberus, which absorbed most of the rapid-fire magic missiles from Celestia, but it couldn’t withstand a pillar of light that the Princess summoned from above, sending Cerberus back to square one.

“Oh, do go on, children. By all means, keep trying.”

Twilight glanced at Cerberus and whispered, “Cracker-jack.”

Cerberus smirked, rolling his eyes. “Hoh, boy.”

Twilight slid behind Cerberus and set off a radial explosion, sending him through the air at breakneck speeds. Celestia had barely enough time to set up a barrier, which shattered on impact, leaving her open to Cerberus’ sideswipe. Twilight followed up with a lightning spell that stunned the Princess, but for the barest second. Cerberus did an aerial buck that collided with nothing. Celestia had teleported behind Cerberus, and with a swing of her hindleg, he was tossed aside. He hit the ground running and counterattacked with a large fireball, and Celestia effortlessly blocked.

“Not good enough, nephew.”

“I know, it was brilliant.”

“What?”

Cerberus ducked to the side as Celestia looked over her shoulder and was met with Twilight and her summoned scimitars. Twilight swung down, the blades slicing through the tendons on Celestia’s withers, barely missing her wing joints.

“I never taught you that...” Hissing in pain, Celestia hid behind another barrier. Golden Ichor dripped from her wounds, which were healing much slower than they should have.

Cerberus regrouped with Twilight, who winked. “Just a little something from Star Swirl the Bearded’s secret files. Did you think the time spell was the only thing I picked up in there?”

“Should have seen that coming. I wonder how my old master would react if he could see his own spells being used for my undoing?”

“He’d probably thank me.” Twilight’s eyes flashed for a moment as she brought her scimitars to her side.

“Two can play at that game.” Celestia’s shield dispersed and reformed into an oversized claymore sword.

Twilight charged and made a broad swing with both her swords, clashing against Celestia’s. She dodged left and jumped. Celestia sliced at Twilight, but left herself open for Cerberus to sweep her hooves from beneath her.

Celestia’s sword disappeared as she lost her balance and fell on her side. Twilight’s eyes widened in excitement. “We can finish this without the other Elements! Cerberus!”

He nodded, grim determination clear on his face. Celestia lay before him, panting softly as he reared back, his jaws coming open, fangs sharp and ready for the plunge. He looked to Twilight, who just nodded solemnly, saying in a detached voice, “Do it.”

Cerberus shot forward... and stopped. He whimpered at the sight of Celestia's horn, suddenly aglow with an ungodly black light. A shuddering gasp left the half dragon's body, his breath catching in his throat as he fell to his side, writhing in pain.

“Cerberus!” shouted Twilight.

Celestia smiled smugly. “Ah... Right on schedule. Just as it has been for the past thousand years.”

Twilight looked outside. "The eclipse..." She watched in mounting horror as the sun closed in upon the moon, and Celestia teleported to the remains of her throne, surrounding herself with a white shield. Twilight exhausted herself trying to destroy the shield, but to no avail. Celestia was untouchable, and the eclipse was making her power escalate by the second. Her reverberating voice returned, speaking the incantation that would bring everything the Lunar Republic had fought for to an end. “Munditia servetur regni mei. Uanitatem finem daemones expellere se ab oculis meis. Nocte, vim desinit et omnes protestando voces sunt ad requiem!”

"Let's see how we can fix that up... now hold still, you'll only make it worse, and we don't want that now, do we?" Rarity used her horn to numb the bleeding hooves of another unicorn.

"No, Miss Rarity."

Rarity applied the anesthesia to the colt, then moved over to Alpha the Changeling to mend his broken leg.

Spike sat on a makeshift couch of sandbags in the corner of the alleyway, sharpening a diamond sword that he crafted back in the Draconic Lands. "Hey Rarity? I think I got nicked a little back there. Could I get a kiss?"

"Oh, you little flirt. Please let me work- um, are you okay?"

Spike coughed and felt an ache in his belly, only for a moment. Perhaps his body was still adjusting his sudden wing growth. "I'm fine. I think I just-" he looked up. "Is it getting darker?"

Through the falling snow, Spike, Rarity and the many wounded in the alleyway could see a patch of sky where the moon was blocking out the sun, darkening the sky, along with everything else in sight. "Oh no..." uttered Rarity. "This is what Heretic warned us about."

Spike scratched his head. "What's gonna happen now?"

"Miss Rarity! Look!" one of the wounded, a blue colt with butterfly wings, pointed to the castle. From the peak of the tallest tower radiated several waves of black magic. Literally black.

Spike started sweating profusely. He clutched his chest, then his arms, everything he could get a grip on. "Rarity... I... I feel..." then he felt for his throat. "I can't breath." His pupils shrank, his fingers twitched, then he started screaming. "AAAUGH! NO! RARITY! HELP ME!"

Rarity tried to force him to get a grip. "SPIKE! Tell me what's wrong! Oh sweet Luna, is this the eclipse's doing?"

"Indirectly."

Heretic slowly walked past the alleyway with a vacant expression, red irises and mussed up hair. His glasses were absent. "Celestia can use solar power to increase magical potential. Eclipse magnifies solar power. Celestia's power increases exponentially. Use any spell without limitation. Spell in use predates Star Swirl the Bearded. Strictly forbidden. Almost unheard of. Targeted holocaust. Overloads every nerve and muscle in targeted victim. Inevitable death." He finally inhaled, and fell flat on the cobblestone, still conscious. "We've lost."

"How do we stop it?" asked Rarity."

"Can't. We've lost."

"What can we do?"

"Don't. We've lost."

The butterfly winged colt and the other wounded half breeds joined Spike in yelling, twitching and thrashing in the worst pain imaginable.

Alpha screeched in his haunting insect-like voice, until it gave out. His horn cracked, then shattered at the base, and the lights left his eyes.

Rarity stepped away, absolutely lost and horrified. "She's killing every half breed in Canterlot with this spell?!"

Heretic continued to ramble without blinking. "Not just half breeds. We've lost."

Spike was in pain too. Rarity realized what this meant. "Every dragon too?"

"Anything Celestia wants. Anywhere. Across Equestria. Across entire world. We've lost."

The screams of those Celestia deemed unworthy to live echoed across Canterlot for only purebred ponies to hear.

"We've lost."

Rainbow Dash and Judas looked into the ballroom between them and the way forward, and saw at least two full platoons of pegasus and earthwalker guards, with a small scattering of unicorns. Judas looked out into the room and sighed. “Hey, Dash. D’you know how to dance?”

“Yeah? Why?”

“Because, I want to see if you know this one.”

“What?” Dash went to step into the room, but Judas held her back.

“Sorry, Dash, but this is a solo dance.”

“No way! Your wounds haven’t healed yet! I can’t-”

“Dash.” Judas’ voice was calm, almost as icy as Winter’s. “Our time’s up." she pointed out the broken windows at the dying dragons and half breeds underneath the eclipse. "My little brother’s out there with only Twilight and his mom for backup. He needs you and your friends at the moment more than he needs big sis to wipe his snout.” Judas’ smirk came back full force, a hard glint in her eyes. “If there's something you still don't understand, it's that no matter how hard you, Cerberus or anypony else I love tries, they will never be as badass as me."

"Judas..." Rainbow looked pleadingly at her friend.

"Hey, don't get all mopey on me. Bubblemint said it himself, 'At any cost.'"

“I know that, but-” she tried to intervene, but Judas didn't falter. She walked proudly forward, not limping nor hesitating.

“You can't have this one. It takes two to tango, but only one for a ballroom blitz!” Before Rainbow could stop her, Judas threw herself at the nearest pegasus guard. They tumbled to the ground in a flurry of feathers, a snik signifying the end of unlucky colt’s life. Judas flipped over a unicorn’s spear, gripped it in her mouth and slipped it in between the ribs of a charging earthwalker.

Judas ducked beneath the earthwalker’s body and launched it into the air, knocking aside a few pegasi before they could take flight. “DASH! Get your friends! My brother needs you!”

An overzealous unicorn advanced with his horn aimed for her heart. She leaped atop his head and steered him into another unicorn’s summoned sword. She looked down at the guards, a shiteating grin on her face. “I’ll take you all down to Tartarus with me! JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?!”

Rainbow Dash couldn't hear anything, aside from the blood pounding through her head. She didn't shed a tear. She wasn't sad, nor was she angry. There was just nothing. Nothing to feel, nothing to lose, only the knowledge of what she had to do. First, she closed her eyes. Then, she flew.

“Remember this... Rainbow Dash...”

Rarity was pinned down with little chance of escape. Whatever chance she did have before was on the ground, twitching and thrashing in the worst pain imaginable. Spike couldn't defend Rarity, and she had worn herself out performing what little offensive magic she knew. As she staggered backwards against the stone wall, she shouted at the countless unicorn soldiers that surrounded her.

"Wait! I'm a medic! You can't kill the medic! Isn't that part of your code?"

The one closest to her responded. "You weren't supposed to bring in an army of dragons."

Well, there was no arguing with that. All is fair and love and war, Rarity supposed. Only love was a young dragon that was entirely defenseless and the war was close to being lost for the Lunar Republic, because even the large dragons weren't strong enough against the black magic that had been cast forth from this deadly eclipse.

Rarity lowered her head, ready to accept her fate-

"RARITY!" A streak of rainbow pulled Rarity back to her senses and away from the battle.

“Never give up... I believe in you...”

Pinkie Pie could only sit and wait. She was too weak to move away from the balcony, and too sad to stay optimistic. There were no smiles to be had in war, no matter how she looked at it. It only took this long for the reality to hit her. Everypony was dying. Celestia was winning this fight. Soon, there would be no more smiling for her and her friends. What good was laughter in the face of death?

Then, she remembered. Back on that somber rock farm, when she couldn't bear another day of moving rocks under a gray sky, she saw that rainbow that turned her into the happy go lucky party pony she was today. She just closed her eyes and imagined that rainbow, so she could smile before this battle ended.

Huh, she thought, That rainbow looks really real... In fact, when she opened her eyes, the rainbow was still there, flying right towards her...

“I will always believe in you. You should believe in yourself.”

Applejack felt like a coward. She was outside the field of battle, tossing explosives, when she could have been putting her legs to good use. She could have been helping her friends. She didn't know whether they were alive or dead. If she was supposed to be the most honest of all ponies, why was she lying to herself? This is not okay. This is not alright. Stop telling yourself they'll be fine on their own. They need me!

But, she wouldn't be abandoning her post anytime soon. Big Macintosh had just thrown the last apple grenade, which turned out to be a dud, and several pegasi soldiers were closing in on their position. Applejack was ready to defend herself and her family, at any cost, even her own life.

She got into a feral stance, and bucked the first soldier to cross the line of defense. He landed on a catapult and shattered it. "How do ya like them apples!?" shouted Applejack.

She then felt a strong hoof pat her on the back. Big Macintosh was trying to get her attention. He pointed to the sky. "How do you like them apples?"

There was the multicolored streak, flying between buildings and bowling over any soldiers in sight, even knocking every descending pegasus out of the sky. Applejack knew what this was. She could feel it. She looked at Big Mac and her little sister Applebloom. "Ah gotta go. See y'all soon."

“Believe in the me that believes in you...”

The dying dragons, some falling out of the sky to the hard ground, some suffering a slower and more painful demise. Fluttershy knew that her Cerberus was out there, somewhere, writhing in pain. The thought of the love of her life dying without her by his side was worse than a dagger in her heart. It was like being struck by lightning and drowning at the same time. She didn't know where he was, much of the same for the rest of her friends.

It was hopeless. There was nothing more she could do. She could only hope to survive long enough to attend Cerberus' funeral.

She could see rainbow reflections through the tears stinging her eyes... one of those rainbows was moving rather fast, and right towards her...

“Later... buddy...”

Twilight felt like she was about to break internally. She had failed. Cerberus was wailing and moaning, cursed to perish in the worst way possible. Luna was twitching in her bindings too, suffering all the same. She reached out to her dying son, unable to move or say last words to him. Dasforah was in pain too, only sleeping through it. The whole family was at last together, only in their dying moments, and Twilight was blaming herself.

"CELESTIA!" she yelled as her tears fell to the floor, "PLEASE, NO MORE!"

Celestia looked up from her meditative position inside her white shield, though her eyes remained shut. "I will not stop for your pleas, nor anypony else's."

"That's not what I meant!" Twilight whimpered, trying to avoid choking on her shame. "If you're going to kill them, then... kill me too!"

The Princess then opened her eyes. "Come again?"

Twilight lost all feeling in her legs and collapsed. Trembling on the floor, she continued to shout. "Please, kill me! I can't do this anymore! Get it over with already! ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU WANT?!"

The opportunity had finally presented itself. Twilight was surrendering to her enemy. Celestia could finish her off at will. But she didn't. She only lowered her head. "Twilight, I can't-"

There was the sound of shattering glass.

The window depicting the Elements of Harmony’s triumph over Nightmare Moon was turned to dust when the most beautiful rainbow Twilight had ever seen shot through, coating the throne room in brilliant shades of every color imaginable. The rainbow dispersed. Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Fluttershy landed on the marble floors. A cursed Spike landed next to Cerberus, and Rainbow Dash flew straight for Twilight.

“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” yelled Rainbow as she cocked her hoof. “LET’S SEE YA GRIT THOSE TEETH!”

The hoof landed right in Twilight’s face and she was thrown into the wall, leaving a crack. After that collision the world seemed much more dizzy, but also a lot clearer. She was ready to give up on life so quick when she had friends to back her up the whole time. It was like the spark inside her mind during the fight with Nightmare Moon had come back, only as Rainbow Dash belting her.

"Snapped out of it yet?" said Rainbow Dash.

Twilight shook off the headache.

"Is that a no? If it is, I'll punch you again and again until you do!" Rainbow pounded her hooves together.

"I'm fine!" shouted Twilight. She sighed. "Thank you."

"This fight ain't over yet Twilight. You still have some work to do."

"What can I possibly do?"

"You were Celestia's brightest student, Twi!" said Applejack as she adjusted her hat.

"I know you can throw some brilliant plan together!" said Rarity.

Twilight looked to Fluttershy, who was doing her best to console Cerberus with her signature comforting smile. His twitching seemed to have stopped a little bit. She then turned to Twilight. "Show us how much you care..."

Pinkie hopped over and got right up in Twilight's face. "Put on a smile and do what you do best!"

Cerberus managed to look Twilight straight in the eye. He needed her. Everypony needed her.

"What is it that you do best?" the other Elements of Harmony asked her.

"Magic." said Twilight, with a new spark of determination in her eye. "...and friendship."

That spark is what motivated Twilight to step forward to the first step of the stairs leading to Celestia's throne. The Princess looked dead center at her former student. "Make your move." she said.

Twilight inhaled and exhaled, clearing her mind of every stray thought and doubt. She closed her eyes, and focused on her goal.

She pictured a light in her mind, staying in place, never moving. Then, she imagined moving this light. Moving it away from its peak and to the horizon. Something was resisting her control over this light, something much more powerful than her. Twilight drew more energy from deep inside her to fight back against the superior force. She couldn't lose. She couldn't allow herself to lose. She thought of everything she was fighting for, and how she got here.

Her best friends in the entire world that had never left her side...

The Princess of the Night who fought for what she believed in...

A half breed that was on the verge of death in the Everfree forest...

Every pony in Equestria, and all the creatures beyond its borders that had suffered at the hooves of Celestia...

The truth... the most important thing of all, the truth...

All these things gave Twilight hope and strength, enough strength to overpower the superior force, and take full control of the light.

"NO! HOW?!"

The throne room had darkened, as the clashing between the sun had ended, and settled into a silent evening. The eclipse was gone. The screaming stopped. Everything stopped.

"You... moved the sun... my sun," muttered Celestia, sans her impenetrable shield and her pride. "How?" she asked again. She slowly stood and approached a silent Twilight. "How did you do it? I never taught you that. That is something only I can do. I am the chosen one. How. Did. You do it?"

Twilight's eyelids remained shut and her mouth remained unopened.

Celestia's quiet rage broke. "ANSWER ME, TWILIGHT SPARKLE!!"

The unicorn slowly rose from the marble floor and slowly opened her eyes. A brilliant magenta aura pushed Celestia away, enveloped Twilight's entire being and lifted her into the air.

The magenta aura branched out and surrounded the entire throne room. The torn banners depicting the Solar Empire's insignia changed to bear a six pointed star, the same one on Twilight's flank. All damage done to the throne room was washed away, the craters and burns on the floor disappearing, the stained glass windows repairing themselves in an instant. The broken throne was renewed.

The aura returned to Twilight and took shape upon her back, forming large, majestic wings. Her horn grew longer and sharper. Golden hoof rings materialized around her limbs. Finally, the sixth Element of Harmony, the Element of Magic, took its place on her forehead.

Twilight Sparkle, the alicorn, spread her wings and stood tall among the other Elements in a hexagonal formation. "I am the Princess of the Sun," she said, facing a bewildered Celestia, who squinted and clenched her teeth, taking a step forward. Twilight readied herself for a final confrontation, but it was unnecessary. Celestia retracted that first step. She pointed her nose to the ceiling.

"Go on."

Initially shocked, but understanding what had to be done, Twilight let the Element of Magic lead the other five, the Elements of Loyalty, Kindness, Laughter, Honesty and Generosity, in the psychedelic wave of pure light that shook the throne room and consumed Celestia. Her light began to fade, her body was reduced to the size of a mortal mare, and her wings burned away feather by feather, until a weak white pink maned unicorn was all that remained, lying on the red carpet in front of the new throne, drawing labored breaths.

Twilight was overcome with regret, knowing she had brought her former teacher to the lowest point of her existence. She approached the dying mare. She looked just as pathetic as Twilight had when she was begging for death. With great empathy and sympathy, she brushed Celestia's pink hair out of her face to reveal tearful eyes. The former Princess spoke in a hushed and weak voice. "What have you learned about friendship, my most faithful student?"

It had been so long since Twilight had heard that from Celestia that she nearly shed a tear, but she knew that longing for the past would bring about nothing good. She searched her mind for what she learned coming this far, about purity and corruption, and what lies beyond the naked eye, but what had she learned during this emotional and physical trial?

"Never let anyone hurt your friends."

Celestia's smile grew wider as she nodded.

"Not my best lesson learned, is it?"

"It's good enough for me," said Celestia. She held out her hoof, and Twilight took it, as if she was holding on to her teacher's lifeline. "I've never been more proud of you." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for the last time. "Good night... Twilight Sparkle..."

Celestia's hoof fell from Twilight's, and hit the floor, limp as a fallen branch, and like her wings did before, she faded away, passing on to the next life without a trace.

The snow had stopped falling and the thunder was no longer rolling.

There was no celebration, no triumphant fanfare, no party in the streets. Despite the Lunar Republic's apparent desire to end the life of Princess Celestia, their victory felt bittersweet. While they had followed through on their goal and taken Equestria for their own, they had also taken the life of an immortal that had protected them from harm in the past, and this was how they showed their appreciation, a revolution.

"So this is what justice feels like." said Cerberus to himself as he stood in the wreckage of an old donut shop he used to steal from. He looked out over the snow-covered fields below Canterlot, glistening in the moonlight.

"Well... you're free." Fluttershy approached and stood next to him.

"I'm not going to say it wasn't worth it, because it was. Um, you've got a little..." Cerberus wiped away a smudge of dirt on Fluttershy's nose. She gave a small sneeze and chuckled, then leaned in a little closer.

They both sat down and admired the beautiful landscape in silence, at least for a moment, before the quiet was interrupted by the emotionally distraught Heretic.

"How-could-I-have-been-so-asinine!" He stomped down the descending cobblestone pathway. His glasses were back on, but his eyes were no less bloodshot from hours of crying. "I made a miscalculation. I just knew it. Something was off. But what?!"

He stopped and stared at the numerous stretchers and cots that unicorns, rebels and loyalists alike, had gathered their wounded and dead. Despite all that, Pinkie Pie was happily hopping along the trail with an extra spring in her step, as her melodious voice sang out. "Oooooh, V is for this very special daaaaaaay, I is for-"

What was sure to be a very memorable if not out of place musical number was interrupted by Heretic forcing his hoof upon Pinkie's muzzle. "Don't."

Pinkie held her arms out wide. "Aw, why the long face? Set phasers to hug!"

"I-don't-need-a-hug!" Heretic wrestled his way out of her grip. "So many comrades lost their lives today and it's because of me! I planned this! I had everything right, and I still couldn't save everypony!"

Shaking his head at the naive self deprecation, Cerberus stood and spoke. "We all knew that from the start." he said. "That's war. Death is hardly avoidable."

Heretic ran to Cerberus and leaned on him by his forelegs, looking him dead in the eye. "Are you really as emotionless as the conspiracies said?! Because of me, Winter is-"

He stopped with his ranting at the sight of one particular stretcher. From under the white sheet hung a purple hoof, adorned with tribal tattoos...

Heretic, heart, mind and spirit simply shattered. "No..."

The dead were put to rest in black caskets set across the royal Canterlot gardens.

Cerberus didn't know why he didn't feel sad. He knew what this meant; he wouldn't see Judas Blackwing or Winter Solstice ever again. Perhaps he had felt so much misery in his life that this felt trivial in comparison. Did he see this coming? Was he in denial? Either way, he held on to his happy thought as he rested his head on Judas' casket.

"I remember that night when we hid in the cave from the guards. You told me, 'It's just like hide and seek.' Then I asked you, 'Aren't you afraid of getting caught?' You didn't talk much after that, but you told me before I fell asleep, 'All I want is for you to be safe. If I had the choice between going back to that shallow life of luxury or dying in battle to save you, I'd take the latter.' Looks like you followed through on that promise." He took a knife he borrowed from Hephaestus' workshop from his bag of holding. He had yet to find a use for it, until now. He carved an etching of Judas' cutie mark into the lid of the casket. "I love you, big sister."

"My fellow Equestrians..."

Princess Twilight Sparkle descended from a warm glow in the sky to many stunned and applauding ponies.

"Former Princess Celestia is dead and I have ascended. To the throne, and to a higher level of existence. I will be your immortal Princess of the Sun from this day forth."

More applause, but it dwindled as Twilight waved her hoof.

"The time for celebration must wait. In recent memory, we see only the hate and corruption for the impure when we think of our late Princess. However, as her most faithful student, I remember something greater. Celestia once loved and cared for me as she did anypony else. Every day she raised the sun for us and never once thought ill of ponykind. It is a shame that her love for Equestria was outshined by her hatred of half breeds, but never forget those days when we thought highly of her. As such I think it should be appropriate, if you wish to participate, to have moment of silence for Celestia, wherever she is now."

The soldiers that had fought for Celestia bowed their heads and removed their helmets in mourning without pause. The rebels were more reluctant to do so, but most of them eventually found the part of them that still respected her, particularly the Elements of Harmony. Only Cerberus and Heretic saw no reason to mourn Celestia, and even if Heretic did, he was occupied with clutching Judas' casket as tight as he could.

"For now," Twilight continued, "times of reconstruction lie ahead. Lay down your arms, look to the sky. The clouds have cleared and Spring is upon us. It is time for the Lunar Republic to bring new life into Equestria, and for the half breeds to come out of hiding. The bloodshed is over. Say your last words to your lost ones, then return to where you belong."

Princess Twilight and the ponies that had fought alongside her quietly walked away from the caskets of their fallen comrades, away from the sorrowful memories, except for Heretic, who was still leaning on Judas' casket.

"You were the only one who has the guts to insult me. You were never afraid to insult me..." he wiped the ever flowing tears from his eyes. "Why aren't you insulting me?!" He was so desperate to hang on, that he was enraged at the others whom he felt dismissed death so casually. He shouted through his tears at the departing soldiers, rebel and loyalist alike. "So that's it then? After everything we fought for, you cry for your tyrant princess and ignore everything else, is that it? My best friends are dead! Where's your respect?" He was shedding angry tears, and his voice was becoming hoarse. "Where's your damn respect?! What is wrong with you?! This isn't right!!" The weight of grief proved too much for Heretic to handle. He collapsed and let his glasses fall into a puddle. He didn't bother to pick them up. "This isn't right... I planned it all out... I planned everything..." Nopony remained to hear his sobs and quiet mumbling, except for Pinkie Pie. "It's... my... fault..."

Pinkie put a reassuring arm around Heretic, who let his tears flow freely as he hugged one of the only close friends he had who was still alive. "Heretic." she said, "Smile."

"Pinkie..." he whispered. "Please... just call me Bubblemint."

"My son." Luna spoke proudly as Cerberus descended the steps leading out of Canterlot.

"Mother." he responded

The two embraced as a mother and son would, as they were finally free to be a family.

"Where's dad?" asked Cerberus.

Luna's happy expression was plagued with slight sadness, but not enough to wipe away her smile. "Dasforah loves you. You know he does. He just didn't want to say goodbye. He was never good at that sort of thing."

Cerberus was disappointed that he hardly had any time to speak to Dasforah, especially after the many years of absence. He took a deep breath and let the more positive thoughts flow.

"I've never liked to say goodbye either." said Twilight Sparkle.

"Wait, what?" Cerberus had failed to comprehend what becoming an alicorn meant for her. He couldn't come to the conclusion before many voices shouted out Twilight's name. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy ran to bring Twilight into one of their signature group hugs, laughing all the while. Cerberus backed away to let them be. This was their moment.

"This is just wonderful! Alicorns have a natural beauty unmatched by even the most prestigious ponies in any corner of the world, but just to see the transformation on you... it's done wonders for your curves-"

Applejack nudged Rarity to silence her obsessive fawning. "So, how does it feel, Twi?"

"Not too different from normal. I'll have to get used to the wings. I also seem to have gotten stronger. That must be the power of earthwalkers."

"All the awesome qualities of the pure breeds thrown into a blender!" said Rainbow Dash as she put her foreleg over Pinkie's shoulder. "Hey, Pinks. We should throw a party for her, eh?"

"Yeah! A 'We won a war' slash 'Freed the half breeds' slash 'Twilight is a Princess now' party!"

Fluttershy quietly agreed with a nod.

Twilight couldn't stop smiling as she basked in the heartwarming emotional support of her best friends. "I'm so happy..." Truth be told, she had many emotions coursing through her besides happiness, but the most obvious one showed in the tears of dread streaming from her closed eyes, contrasting her smile.

"Is something wrong?" asked Fluttershy.

"That... party will have to wait." said Twilight. "For now, it's time for some peace and quiet."

"That's just fine n' dandy." said Applejack. "Let's go home then, shall we?" She began to walk proudly down the steps, then was stopped by Luna's hoof.

"Fair Applejack, I'm afraid Twilight will not be returning to Ponyville on this day."

This was met with many protests.

"Ya can't not come back with us, Twi!"

"You belong in Ponyville!"

"It's your home!"

It took a while for all of them to calm themselves so Twilight could bring comfort to their worries.

"Years ago, I made friends with all of you and learned the true meaning of friendship, but then I was concerned I had to leave for Canterlot. This time, there is nothing I can do. The Lunar Republic still needs its Princesses. I have to stay. These wings come with a heavy burden."

She walked past her close friends towards Cerberus. "Um, yes?" he asked.

The response was unexpected. Twilight kissed him on the cheek, leading him to blush furiously, much to his embarrassment and Fluttershy's chagrin (Rainbow Dash had to hold her back from tackling Twilight).

Twilight tried to hide a blush of her own while her voice maintained composure. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"If it weren't for you, this wouldn't have happened to me."

"That's a mixed compliment. Sure, you're essentially a deity now, but-"

"You worry too much. Just be happy knowing that after a life of running, you've finally helped create something." Twilight lifted Cerberus head to look him in the eye. "And that I love you."

With that, she turned around and ascended the stairs, with Princess Luna following closely behind, though she stopped to say some last words to her best friends.

"I love all of you. Remember that."

Five Elements of Harmony watched in deep sadness as Twilight walked farther away from the home in their hearts down the path she had chosen.

"Oh, one more thing." Her horn began to glow, the light shining brighter than before, and the sky before the horizon began to lighten, and the sun, the real sun, not Luna's replica, slowly rose above to illuminate a reborn Equestria and melt the snow of a fallen kingdom. This sun had a slightly different tint than Celestia's, like Twilight's magical aura it was magenta around the fringe, and as such the morning sky was more colorful and beautiful than any other sunrise before it.

"I look forward to seeing your sun every morning before I retreat to bed, my sister," said Princess Luna as she admired the morning, wishing under her breath that she had a poet on hoof.

Basking in the dawn of a new age, the new Princess of the Sun parted ways with her friends, who walked the long trail back to Ponyville, ready to spread the message of the Lunar Republic's victory to all of Equestria, and bring the surviving half breeds out of the shadows into Princess Twilight's beautiful sunlight.

As for Cerberus and Fluttershy, they held each other close and passionately kissed every time they they had the chance, and one of those times, as they embraced mid-flight in front of a gorgeous sunset over Fillydelphia, Cerberus whispered "I wish you could see this view."

Fluttershy laughed with a hint of confusion. "I'm right here, silly."

"Actually, I was talking to... somepony else."

"Judas?"

"No... Nero."