TiM: A Shining Light

by Twidashforever

Rating: mature
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Nightmare Moon, Romance, Drama, Original Character, Adventure, Sex, Twilight Sparkle
Length: 114131

TiM #13. Red's plans are about to come to fruition, can Twilight and her family stop him, or will they be too late?

The lunar solstice is right around the corner. The dark pseudo-god Red has almost achieved his objective, and despite the six months that have past since their battle in Tartarus, Twilight has found nothing they can use against him.

Yet, until the world actually comes to an end, life continues on for the ponies of Equestria. This is true even for the eight foals that currently call the palace home. However, when their parents find a lead and in their absence the palace itself comes under attack, they will all be forced to grow up far sooner than they should.

Story number 13 in the Twilight is Magic series, see author notes in the first chapter for a link to the read order.

Thanks to ModMCdl for the cover art.

Thanks to my cowriter ScratchnTavi for helping to write this. Shadowironsword, Deputyduck, Roflmao, and Lunatone for help with edits!

Published 2015-11-19 16:20:02 UTC
Last updated 2016-01-11 11:33:29 UTC

What's in a Name?

Celestia’s Palace

After a moment of silence, Vela asked, “Anyone else got anymore dumb ideas?”

“That’s… not a bad idea actually.”

Everyone at the table froze at the sound of that voice. It sounded as weak as the pony that said it. Ataxia kicked back from the table and ran around to confront the idiots that let the speaker get out of bed. “What are you doing up‽”

Everypony who wasn’t already facing the stairs turned around and gasped at the sight of a tall, lavender alicorn with a rainbow mane hobbling down the stairs. Although she was aided by more than three doctors, they could all tell the physical act of walking down the stairs had drained everything from her.

“Night? what are you doing up?” Rainbow asked as she practically threw her chair back and ran to her daughter.

“I’ll teleport her back to bed,” Dayspring Gleam said.

“Please, don’t. I’m so sick of being in bed. Let me, let me…” Shimmering Night fell down on the ground, exhausted.

“YOU BUCKING IDIOTS!” Ataxia shouted at the three doctors. “I LEAVE THE ROOM FOR ONE BREAKFAST AND YOU MORONS LET HER OUT OF BED‽”

“Princess, she ordered us to,” the lead doctor stated, already expecting this conversation.

Fourteen of those assembled were gathered around. Despite her protests, Dayspring Gleam did indeed use his magic. He lifted his little sister off the ground and teleported several pillows underneath her. With care only an older brother could show, he gently placed her down, even going as far as to make sure the pillows were nice and warm before they came into contact with her fur.

Shimmering Night looked at him with gratitude on her face.

“You know this is something mother would totally do, right?” Dayspring asked.

Night chuckled as she looked up at Rainbow. The cyan mare just shrugged her shoulders in agreement.

“Night, why did you come down here like this?” Twilight asked.

“I… I… I wanted to see you all again, before…” Tears started to fall from her eyes.

“We visit you every day,” Radiant said.

“No, I wanted to see you all happy again. Talking, like a family. Not… not with pity or sadness in your eyes. I want more memories of you guys as the family I remember, not crying over me.”

Every single instinct in Ataxia’s body wanted to jump on her, to squeeze her, and hug her, and never let her go again. She had to fight against it. With her condition, and the pregnancy, it would be the worst possible thing to do. Even still, nothing she did could fight off the tears that fell. “Night, we haven’t given up hope. Y-you can’t either.”

The dying alicorn cocked a smile at her wife, but it was one that conveyed anything but hope. It was one more of… amusement at false hope.

“What did you mean?” Nighttide asked.

“What?” Rainbow turned.

“You said it wasn’t a bad idea, what did you mean?”

“I—” Night’s words were cut off when Starlight couldn’t help herself anymore. The blue mare cuddled up to her mom and held her tightly, exactly what Ataxia wished she had done. Shimmering Night nuzzled her daughter with her muzzle, feeling the mare sobbing quietly to herself.

It was then she noticed that someone was missing. “Where’s Ana?”

Ataxia turned back to the table, already knowing right where her daughter would be. Ana was sitting at the table, quietly eating her breakfast and ignoring them all. “Ana, why don’t you come over here?” Ataxia asked.

“I’m hungry,” Ana said.

Rainbow was about to lose her cool at that, but Twilight chipped in before she did. “Ana, don’t you want to come say hi to your mom?”

“She’s not my mom,” Ana said under her breath.

“What was that?” Nighttide asked.

She was the wrong mare to ask that question, but she was the only one that heard what Ana had said.

“SHE”S NOT MY MOM!” Ana screamed and teleported away.

“That little…” Ataxia growled with anger.

“I’ll go get her,” Dayspring Gleam said.

“No,” Night whispered. “She just needs time, she’ll…”

“What she needs is a good beating, not time,” Nighttide muttered quietly.

Taz nuzzled into her side. “She doesn’t mean it; she’s always been so sweet, it’s just… hard for her right now.”

“Taz, she’s going to lose her mother, and she—”

The look on Taz’s face told Nighttide to not continue with that statement. She—sometimes—forgot that Shimmering Night was Taz’s sister as well as Ana’s mother.

When Taz looked back at his sister, Ataxia had cuddled up to her free side, pressing their coats together. The mare longingly looked like she’d have given anything at that moment to wrap a wing around Night. Sadly, unicorns just didn’t have that appendage.

Twilight laid down right in front of Night to look her daughter in the face as she spoke. “What did you mean, Night? It’s not in our ability to resurrect a dead god and simply ask for his son’s name. Without that we’d be stuck trying every single name in existence.”

“No, you’re right, we can’t do that. Either of those two things,” Night said with a small smile. “But, do you remember eight months ago? It… it came back to me when Ataxia just spoke, there is a way we can find out Red’s real name, and if mom’s right and concepts of power do mean more for gods, we can use it against him.”

“What?” Aurora asked. “What happened eight months ago?”

Twilight thought about it for a while, trying to remember those events. So much happened, too much to sort through it all. “I…”

“With Luna,” Night added, hoping to see that look again on Twilight's face.

“Gods I hate the pronoun game, just spill it!” Rainbow said.

Night ignored her, she wanted to see that look again on her mom’s face, the same one she’d have when she solved a riddle. That was the other thing she wanted to come down here for.

“THE SPHINX!” Twilight shouted with joy as her wings shot back and her eyes went wide. “You’re saying we can use the sphinx to find Red’s real name!”

There it is, Shimmering Night managed a smile at the site of her mom so happy one more time.

“What’s a sphinx?” Nighttide asked.

“A sphinx is a creature with a body of a cat and wings of a great bird.” Taz filled her in.

“But… how in the hay can such a creature know my father’s true name?”

“Luna… Luna said that sphinx know the answer of any question asked of them,” Shimmering Night said.

“That sphinx must have been a Tartarus escapee,” Twilight said. “Probably the last of its kind.”

“But why wouldn’t Red just use the sphinx to find his name, seems like it’d be a lot easier than resurrecting Tartarus?” Flash asked.

“Sphinx were—are—supposed to be incredibly crafty, if this one is the last of its kind, then it’ll have done a superb job in hiding its presence. And you’re right, according to the legends, they know the answer of any question asked of them, but they only tell you that information if you can answer three riddles. Do so and you can know anything you want to know, fail, and you’re dead,” Dayspring Gleam stated.

“The riddles are supposed to be incredibly hard too,” Twilight added.

“And Luna answered these riddles?” Blaze asked.

Night shook her head. “No, the sphinx was trying to warn her I think. The riddle she gave Luna was about… well, her.” At that, she pointed over to Nighttide.

“Me?” Nighttide asked.

“It seemed like she was trying to tell Luna she had a daughter,” Ataxia stated. “Of course it was done in such a cryptic manner one has to wonder why it even bothered.”

“It may have been all it could do,” Dayspring said. “I don’t think they can volunteer information straight out even if they want to.”

“We should go find it!” Ataxia said all too enthusiastically.

Twilight rubbed her ears to try and get the ringing out, “Ataxia, we don’t even know if this will work.”

“You got a better idea, mom?” Dayspring asked.

“Well—”

“Twi, it’s been almost six months, I know these dumb things are due to fall off any day now, but I seriously doubt they will in time. The Lunar solstice is coming up soon and if I were a betting pony I’d say that’s exactly what he’s been waiting for,” Rainbow said looking down at the stone attached to her hoof. “This is our chance to finally get one step ahead of him.”

“Yeah, but where would we even find this sphinx? Can we even answer its questions? And if we do, will we even be able to use it against Red?”

“I say it’s worth a shot,” Ataxia stated.

“What made you so gung-ho all of a sudden?” Aurora asked.

“A chance to get revenge on the one that hurt my wife and your asking my motives?” Ataxia said with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, but, the riddles?” Twilight asked.

Ataxia facehooved. “Look, Dayspring is the strongest magic user in the land right now. You and him are two of the smartest ponies in the world. And if you’re worried we might need even more strength, I’ll go to.”

“What about Night?” Aurora asked. “You’re just going to leave your wife here without you?”

“It’s fine,” Night said. “Ataxia’s just been a pain in my ass anyway.” She gave an amused smile.

In truth, Night wanted Ataxia to go, the mare needed to feel like she was doing something. Sitting around, not being able to do anything, it was driving Ataxia mad.

“I’ll go too,” Radiant added. “I’ve yet to meet a living thing that can withstand my blades.”

Ataxia felt a nervous tick in her jaw when he said those words. Memories of having her muzzle—literally—cut off by the unicorn were never that pleasant.

“Guys, c’mon, this isn’t a plan, this is just…”

“Twi, you have any other thoughts? Anything else we can go off of?” Rainbow asked.

“A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week,” Radiant said with a smile as he quoted his favorite historical figure.

Twilight cocked an eyebrow at him. “Yes, but this isn’t a good plan.”

“Can I go?” Starlight asked.

Ataxia cuffed her over the head with a hoof. “No, I want you to look out after everyone with your Aunt Aurora.”

“Who said I’m not going?” Aurora said in a huff.

“We need someone to stay behind and look out for the kids, and our sister,” Dayspring said.

She was about to bring up Rainbow but then bit her lip. If Twilight was going, Rainbow was going too; that was just a fact of life.

“Who said we needed to be looked out for?” Taz asked, put out.

“You’re fourteen, kid,” Rainbow said.

“Nighttide’s almost five hundred years old!” Taz replied.

“In a sixteen year-old’s body,” Dayspring stated.

“And if Red picks now to come back to claim her…”

“I’d love to see him try,” Vela said as she spun Siros’s Vengeance in her claw.

“And it’s not like I’m helpless,” Nighttide cut in. “I know ways to keep him busy, and you’d do well not to underestimate my power.”

“We’re not, but the point is none of you are mature enough to leave by yourselves, and—”

“I’m just this young because of Timespire!” Nighttide cried out, making Taz quickly shake his head, directing his power to her before she could burst out. He knew from experience how bad that could get.

“And we need you all to be on the lookout to protect Shimmering Night as well,” Dayspring Gleam finished.

“Yeah, I can’t exactly…” Shimmering Night tried to stand, only to collapse. “Well, I don’t think I could fight off an ant right now.”

“It’s not that bad,” Taz whispered to Nighttide, lightly rubbing his coat against hers. “We’ll be here together, and I can think of a lot better things to do right now than arguing about your power.”

When Taz rubbed his coat against her’s, Nighttide felt like she might literally start to float in the air at the contact. She sighed when he pulled away. “Okay, I understand, I guess.”

“Between you, Taz, Vela, and Aurora, I’d pity anyone that dared attack this place while we were gone,” Rainbow said as she ran her hoof through Nighttide’s sky-blue mane.

Nighttide smiled a bit. “I think I would too. Especially if they try to hurt Taz.” Her voice went cold, venom clearly dripping from it. “I’d rip them apart,” she growled the last part.

Flash gulped as he saw a look in her eye. “There, problem settled. We leave Aurora, Night, and the kids here, everyone else goes and tracks down this sphinx,” Ataxia stated.

“If you call me a kid again, I might show you how small you are compared to me,” Nighttide cursed slightly, just before Taz sighed and pulled her in for a kiss.

“Shut up and spare the rough talk for later,” he whispered with a smile.

“I’m pretty much outvoted here, aren't I?” Twilight asked.

“Eeyup,” everypony else said at the exact same time.

“Sigh, fine, but we’re not going in half-cocked, again.” The last look was directed at Ataxia, who, for some reason, instigated this rather crazy plan. “Dayspring Gleam, and Rainbow, let’s get to the library and do some research on what to expect, and the best ways to hunt down a sphinx. Ataxia, you Aurora, and Radiant take the kids—and Nighttide—and run them through some training drills so if something does happen while we’re gone, they can at least defend themselves until help arrives.”

“Hey!” Nighttide shouted.

“Who do you think she’s calling ‘help’,” Taz said as he kissed her on the cheek.

“Yes that means you too, Nighttide. You might be strong, but fighting in a unit is different than fighting solo,” Radiant replied.

“I don’t need that stuff. You forgot that my shadows can’t be trained like you think. I’ll watch. And if you beg to differ, we can do it right here and now, my powers against yours. Everything allowed.” She smiled evilly.

“You won’t train with me?” Taz asked with wide puppy-dog eyes.

“That’s more than just unfair,” Nighttide said. But Taz didn’t stop. “Taz… no. I can’t fight the usual way, I use my shadows!”

“Who says you can’t use the shadows? They are you after all, and I love you.” Taz smiled, still with his expression set in stone.

“And besides, Nighttide, if you and Taz train through a few maneuvers, you could have it where Taz strips Red of his powers right before you strike. You could be the one to stop your father before he could so much as touch Taz,” Dayspring Gleam said with a smile.

“I know you’re playing me,” Nighttide said with a raised eyebrow.

“Am I wrong?” Dayspring asked.

“No.”

“Glad that’s settled,” Rainbow said.

“Can I train too?” Dayspring asked as he grabbed at his sister’s claw.

“NO!” Vela said, then kicked herself when she saw the look of hurt on his face. “You train with me,” she quickly added.

“What about… my… my sister?” Starlight asked.

“She needs to be involved too,” Twilight added with a no-nonsense tone.

“Mom,” Shimmering Night said as she looked up.

“I know she’s pissed, and that this is not going to help things, but this goes beyond personal feelings. Dayspring, Taz, and I will go talk to Ana.”

“Taz?” Nighttide asked.

“Yes, I think Taz might help calm her down. I’m sorry Nighttide, but if you went…”

“Yeah… I know,” Nighttide said with a frown. She and Ana had never gotten along since the first day they met, and over the last five years, that had evolved into straight up hatred.

“Okay, let’s go have that conversation before we get to the library. Radiant if you want to, take everyone else to the courtyard with Ataxia to start their training?” Twilight asked.

“Shouldn’t I go and talk to my daughter?” Ataxia asked.

“You, in a sensitive situation when feelings are on the line?” Rainbow asked.

“Fair point.”

“You want me to make sure she can’t teleport away, don’t you?” Taz asked.

Twilight shook her head. “No, I just want you to be a friendly face.”

Dayspring Gleam paused as everypony started to move away, As Aurora and the foals went to the courtyard, everyone else gathered up to talk to Ana, as soon as they knew where she went that is. He concentrated on the young mare’s energy. Feeling out where she had teleported. “She’s in her room.”

“Original,” Taz said.

“Please, be gentle with her,” Shimmering Night stated, “she’s always been such a good girl, it’s just…”

Dayspring ran his muzzle next to his sister’s. “We’ll reach her, don’t worry.”

“Ready to go back to your room?” Rainbow asked.

Night sighed. “Yeah, can’t say it wasn’t a nice change of pace though.”

Dayspring kissed her forehead before powering his horn. In a second, she was back on her own bed. He then turned to the three doctors that had stood off to the side of the room. “If that happens again…” His eyes went green when he said those words, a punctuation on his comment.

All three of them audibly gulped and ran up the stairs back to Night’s room.

Rainbow watched with a grin as Twilight, Dayspring, and Taz followed them up the stairs. She was grateful not to be joining them, talking feelings and girly stuff with Ana was not high on her to-do list. But then she sighed when she realized that she had to go to the library to do… research.

“It’ll be okay, Rainbow.” Nighttide said as she saw the look of distraught on Rainbow’s face.

“Rainbow, if you want to go help the kids train, that’s fine,” Twilight said with a smile as she followed the rest of her group up the stairs.

“LOVE YOU, TWI!” Rainbow shouted up after her.

Twi grinned at that as she walked up the stairs behind Taz and Dayspring. Together, the group walked up the stairs and down the hallway to Ana’s room. Her smile faded when they got closer.

“Ana, you in there?” Dayspring asked from the outside of the door.

“Go away!”

“Ana, we just want to talk. There’s nopony that wants to force you to do anything you don’t want to do,” he tried again.

“Oh yeah? Then why do you all side up with our enemy, with the mare that stole Taz from me? Why are you all against me?” she cried.

“Ana… I’m sorry, but you know what I told you,” Taz sighed. “Please, let us talk.”

“...”

“Is that a yes?” Taz asked as he held his ear to the door.

“...”

He turned to his mom. “I think it’s the closest thing we’ll get to a yes,” Taz stated.

Twilight nodded at Dayspring who powered his horn and opened the door to Ana and Starlight’s room. It was pitch black inside, with only the light from the hallway for illumination. Starlight’s side was nice and clean, her bed well kept, her floor nice and picked up, and even a few star stickers up on the ceilings.

Ana’s side was the exact opposite. It looked like the mare hadn’t cleaned up her room in over six months. Clothes and sheets were strewn everywhere. The mare herself was laying on her bed, her head buried in her hooves.

“Ana,” Twilight said.

“...”

“Ana, please turn around and look at me,” Taz stated.

She spun on the bed, her face looked, in a word, hurt. Notably though, there were no tears. “You’re all here to yell at me for what I said?”

“No, Ana, we’re not going to yell at you,” Twilight said sadly.

“Then, what do you want?”

Dayspring spoke next. “There’s a possible lead, but before we can investigate, we need to know you all will be able to handle yourself while we’re gone. We want you all to train a little under Ataxia and Radiant before we go.”

“Is she there?”

“She is always at my side,” Taz said, before realizing it was the wrong thing to say.

“Then I won’t, and I have nothing more to say!” Ana scowled before turning again.

“Ana, Nighttide is not your enemy, she’s kind and sweet and car—” Taz tried to reason with her.

“She’s the enemy! Of us all!” Ana yelled. “She put you under her magic, and now you’re her puppet, don’t you see it, Taz?” She wore a sad smile now. “We were destined for each other, but she stole you with her acting.”

Dayspring walked up to her and placed a hoof on Ana’s shoulder. “You know, there was a time I told him the exact same thing.”

“W-what?” Ana said, wide eyed.

Dayspring nodded, sadly. “I did, I first—officially—met Taz when he was five. I met Nighttide on the same day. During our first encounter, she flat out threatened me, called me a hypocrite, and told me not to interfere.”

“Really?” Taz asked.

“Why do you think I told you to stay away from her?” Dayspring told his brother.

“S-so you know she’s bad too!” Ana shouted.

Dayspring closed his eyes and turned to the young mare. “No, I was wrong.”

Ana’s jaw dropped.

“Ana, Nighttide’s lived a life in living hell for four hundred years. She’s experienced the worst that one can do to a living being, on both ends. Yet, that mare downstairs is somehow… a sweetheart.”

“She’s got to you too!”

Twilight stepped up. “Ana, Taz can cancel out magic, you know that right?”

“Well, yeah.”

“So how could Nighttide possibly have him under her thrall? How could she have anyone under her thrall if magic doesn’t work on him?”

“Well… I—”

“I’m not asking you to like her, Ana. I’m just asking you to be in the same room with her. Can you do that?” Taz asked. “For me?”

Ana glared at him.

“We’re going to hunt down this lead, that means it’ll be up to all of you to watch each other’s backs, yours and Taz’s sisters. And yes, that includes your mom,” Twilight said.

“I’m not apologizing to her.”

Dayspring jumped up on the bed. “Ana, I know more than anyone how life can change in the blink of an eye. This hate you carry for Nighttide, and for your own mom, it’ll consume you; it’ll haunt you forever if you let it. If you miss these last moments you have with her, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

When he said those words, Twilight and Taz both looked down at their hooves. One was on the verge of losing her daughter, the other, his sister, and they both knew it.

“I…”

“Ana, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I don’t feel the same way for you that you do for me. My own experience with love has been… rough, to say the least. I know what it feels like to love someone that didn’t love me back. I know the depths of depression it can drive you to, and what I almost did when it happened to me. But, because of it, I was able to move on, I was able to find the one I was meant to be with. If you did the same, I know that’ll happen to you too.” Taz tried to plead with her.

“You’re the one I was meant to be with,” Ana whispered under her breath.

“But you can’t know that if all you do is focus on me. It took me a long time to understand who I was meant to be with,” Taz replied as gentle as he could.

Ana sat up on the bed, her hind hooves hanging off, her front two fiddling with each other as she stared at them. Dayspring sat next to her and ran his hoof up and down her back. “We’re going to try and find a way to put an end to this once and for all, a final trump card if you will. But we’re not leaving all of you unless we know you can take care of yourselves and look out for each other. We’re not asking you to suddenly become BFFs with Nighttide, or to forgive your mom overnight, we’re just asking you to look out for everyone, and to let them look out of for you. We won’t leave unless we know you’ll all be alright in our absence.”

Ana cocked her head slightly as she thought about it. “I… fine.”

“You’ll do it?” Taz asked.

She looked up at him and smiled. “For you.” At those words, she got off the bed.

“They’re all in the courtyard,” Twilight stated. Ana nodded and left the room.

When she was around the corner and gone, Taz looked up to his mom and brother. “Why do I have a feeling this isn’t over?”

Dayspring chuckled. “Fact of life, little brother. For every two ponies that get together, there’s one pony hurt on the sidelines. It’s just worse this time because she’s forced to live with it in front of her muzzle day in and day out.”

“Maybe me and Nighttide could… tone it down a little?”

Twilight’s grin became very noticeable, only for her eldest son to kill it.

“No, that’ll just make it worse, it’d be like you’re trying to hide it or something. Now get going, I’m sure Nighttide will be missing you in the courtyard for your portion of the training.”

Twilight and Dayspring watched as Taz made his way out of the room and turned right to head to the courtyard. As soon as the stallion was out of earshot, Dayspring turned to his mom and said, “I saw that.”

“What?” Twilight said definitively.

“That look of joy and disappointment in your eyes. Don’t try and deny it, mom.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh please, I know it puts you off, but after growing up in that house seeing you and Rainbow together, do you really think he’d somehow tone it down?”

“That was on Rainbow!”

Dayspring laughed. “Oh please, how about the time you two fucked in the janitor’s closet to the diplomatic mission to the diamond dogs?”

“Again, Rainbow…”

“Don’t let me go into detail on the really nasty ones,” Dayspring warned.

“Alright, alright.” Twilight sighed. “I just can’t help but being curious about them. I mean, Nighttide isn’t a pony in common sense…”

“Please don’t tell me you wonder what her shadows could do,” Dayspring frowned.

“What? No! I would never think of such a thing.” Twilight blushed furiously.

“Rainbow?”

“Rainbow…”

Dayspring chuckled, and then broke out into full on laughter as the two walked out of the girl’s room and to the library. He paused when they made the stairs and hugged Twilight.

“What was that for?” Twilight asked.

“Nothing, it’s just… good to be back.”

Twilight smiled and hugged him back. Six months ago, had somepony told her this moment would exist, that she would, once again, have her oldest son back in her hooves, she’d have had them institutionalized. But now that it was a reality, she found that she could only cry. It was too much, too real for words to even begin to describe.

“I love you, Dayspring,” Twilight said as she held him tighter.

“I love you too, mom.”

***

Taz was almost bowled over when he got to the courtyard. “You butthead, keeping me waiting like that!” Nighttide said as she ran up and began to rub up against his coat.

“Sorry, sorry, didn’t meant to keep you waiting,” Taz said with a smile at her.

“Well, now that the prince of tardiness has finally arrived, we can began in earnest,” Aurora replied with a casual chuckle at the two.

“Mmhmm, can’t keep my mare waiting after all,” Taz hummed.

“Okay, Romeo, how about you two start then by showing us some basics?” Aurora asked playfully.

Nighttide and Taz both blushed and looked down, not saying a word. Aurora waited for them, then broke out into full laughter.

“Alright, alright, I think it is up to me and Radiant to show you some tricks,” she said as her laughter died down to some giggles.

“Trixs are for kids!” Ataxia chipped in. “I say we test them against a real opponent!”

“Well then, kid,” Radiant chuckled. “Show us some.”

“Okay,” Ataxia sauntered up, smiling. “You two versus me. And let's make it interesting… Hmm…” She started to look around to all the gathered foals.

“Ataxia, what are you doing?” Aurora asked. “We’re supposed to be teaching them how to work as a group.”

“Hey, real combat can’t be taught in the classroom, only on a battlefield.”

“Night wouldn’t welcome what you’re doing,” Radiant added.

Ataxia potently ignored him. If she were going to leave the kids to look after her wife, she’d make damn sure they could handle anything. Her eyes went wide as she spotted Starlight. “Starlight will be the bait, Starlight, stand over to the corner.”

“What are you doing?” Aurora asked again, only to suddenly find her muzzle full of gum, so much she wasn’t able to keep talking as she started to spit it out.

Starlight looked unsure, but she obeyed her mother nevertheless.

“Okay, I’ll represent the attacker, it’s Taz’s and Nighttide’s job to prevent me from reaching Starlight. Starlight, you do nothing to defend yourself.”

“You’re serious?” Nighttide asked with a grin. “I could stop you without Taz.”

“Can you?” Ataxia said with a grin.

“Of course,” Nighttide replied smugly, “My shadows could catch you blindfolded.”

Taz giggled as Ataxia pawed her right forehoof on the ground. “Well, then here I come.”

Ataxia’s plan was simple. Look out for the two kids and use her experience to avoid them and reach Starlight. Easy peasy. After a brief moment, her eyes went wide as Nighttide rushed forward, shadows emerging from her body as she growled and tackled Ataxia.

“What in the name of!” Ataxia shouted, just to be bowled back, knocked several hooves away from Starlight now.

Ataxia picked herself off the dirt, somewhat laughing.

“I told you not to underestimate me,” Nighttide said with a grin. “For four hundred years I lived on the moon with Red, Mindsink, Timespire, and Nightmare Moon. Four hundred years I learned everything there is to know about fighting, combat, and looking out for yourself.”

“AHH!!!”

A scream from behind them caused Nighttide to turn around. The plants around Starlight had come to life and were chomping down on the mare’s limbs even as they spoke. It was disturbing, but for play, as none of the plants actually had teeth.

“That’s cheating and you know it,” Nighttide growled. “But two can play that game!”

Before Ataxia could react, Nighttide’s shadow split into six different tentacles, half of them attacked the plants currently enjoying a Starlight snack, the other half turned and chased Ataxia, who yelped and tried to avoid them. It was a race against the shadows, words that became true to themselves.

Taz could see that Nighttide was angry about the little game, and the small cheat Ataxia used. He couldn’t feel her power like some of the others, but he didn’t need to; experience with the mare had taught him what to look out for. Her tentacles basically ripped the plants apart, freeing Starlight, before the other three attacked Ataxia, wrapping around her hindhooves and letting her kiss the dirt muzzle first.

“Nighttide…” Taz mumbled, but the mare was caught in her actions.

The shadows pulled Ataxia up from the ground and threw her back, hard enough to fly over half the distance of the whole field and meet the ground, hard.

“Nighttide, that’s enough. Please!” Taz whispered, rubbing his coat gently against hers.

Nighttide looked at him, anger in her eyes, but it died down as soon as her eyes drowned in Taz’s. Before she could react, Taz planted his lips on hers, firmly kissing her, causing Nighttide’s shadow to disappear.

“I’m sorry,” Nighttide choked as they broke.

Aurora returned to the ground with a rather… shocked Ataxia held in her hooves.

Radiant walked up between them. “Well, that was something.”

“I-I didn’t… I mean… I…”

“She’s a loose cannon,” Ana said snarkily.

“Ataxia just pressed her buttons with her little trick,” Taz frowned.

“So you defend her for everything now?” Ana cried. “If she vowed to kill us all, what would you say? ‘Oh sorry, but it was your fault, you basically begged for it?’”

“Don’t push it, kid,” Nighttide growled, but Taz stopped her.

“I think I can decide on my own what to do and what not. Right now, and forevermore, I trust her with all of my heart,” Taz said. “If you can’t understand that, I doubt you ever will and that is something I feel sorry for. I feel sorry that I didn’t push you into another direction while I still could.”

“ENOUGH!” Ataxia shouted with a magically conjured bullhorn, one that rang around the courtyard and caused everyone to put their hooves over their ears. “Now that I have you attention,” she stated as the bullhorn faded to nothing. “Nighttide, you lost.”

“You CHEATED!” she shouted.

“Do you expect your enemies to fight fair? Are you honestly telling me that Red, or Timespire, Or Nightmare Moon are going to fight fair if they attack?” Ataxia stated.

“You changed the plants directly at her side! That’s not dirty, that’s outright… I don’t even want to spell the word for it but, I’d kick your flank one-on-one!” Nighttide yelled.

“Then bring it!” Ataxia scowled.

“NO!” Taz shouted, jumping between the two mares.

“Why not?” both asked.

Taz looked at Ataxia. “Please, don’t take it personally. I know her power. I know everything about her down to her deepest secret. Right now, without your transformation, she would kill you, she would rip you apart.” he turned to Nighttide. “I know that you want to roam with your shadows freely in a fight, but we are allies here, friends. Don’t kill anypony,” Taz whispered, nuzzling her gently.

“I think… this was a fine lesson,” Radiant said as he stepped up, hoping to defuse the two hotheads. “The reason we’re doing this as a group, Nighttide, is not because we somehow doubt your individual strength in a one-on-one matchup, but because we’re trying to stress that this is not a one-on-one battle. Our enemies don’t have to defeat us to win, they simply have to achieve their objective.”

Nighttide scowled, but said nothing.

“In this, Starlight was Shimmering Night, if this had been real, they would’ve killed her, regardless if you whooped their flanks or not.”

“I’d have gotten them,” she growled.

“Yes, but Taz’s sister would be dead.”

She paused at that.

“Your coltfriend, the love of your life, would have to live knowing the mare he loved was so egotistical, she let his sister die.”

“You do realize you’re digging yourself a hole?” Nighttide snorted. “If our enemies can use the same strategy Ataxia did and change the plants behind our backs, we’ll all fail and die. Where’s your logic in that?”

Taz tried to scold her, but he did it wrong. He slapped her on her flank, just to realize a second later HOW he had tried to scold her.

Nighttide yelped, then turned to him. “Did… did you just‽”

“Uhm… sorry?” Taz smiled nervously.

Nighttide walked up to him, Taz trying to go back as quick as he could. He knew how it would end, and he had no intention at all to let it end like that in front of everypony, not again anyway.

“Nighttide, be reasonable, not here!” he whispered as she caught up, pressing her muzzle against his.

“Too bucking late,” she whispered huskily.

“Nighttide… please! I’ll do everything you want tonight, just… behave now!” Taz tried to reason with her.

With reluctance, a lot of reluctance, she pulled back. The glare she gave him would have made most stallions weep for joy. “Promise?”

“Pinkie promise,” Taz stammered.

Nighttide pushed him into a kiss, one that cut off Taz’s breath as her tongue quickly followed. He knew better than to slack off and attack back, their kiss soon evolved into a heated battle.

“Nighttide brings up a good point though, how do you defend against what you don’t know is coming?” Radiant asked. “Let’s run another test. This time… Ana, you and Starlight defend against Ataxia. Vela you can play—”

The glare the hippogriff gave him made Radiant rethink his plans. “I mean, Vela, you and Starlight defend Ataxia’s attacks. Ana, you play the target.”

Vela nodded once as she helped little Day down from off her back. She and Starlight took the field, Ana moved over to where Starlight used to sit, Ataxia went back to her spot.

Vela moved over and whispered something unintelligible into Starlight’s ear; with a nod, the mare replied and moved back to her sister. Vela pulled out Siros’s Vengeance and spun it around.

“Vela, honey, remember, this is just practice, don’t chop off any limbs,” Aurora reminded her.

Vela nodded her comprehension to her mother, but her understanding… that was something nopony was quite sure of.

“And, go!” Ataxia shouted as she ran around several pillars.

Vela simply eyeballed the mare, watching her movements with a warrior’s grace.

Starlight, stood back with her sister, eyes unmoving as she took in the whole battlefield all at once. She heard Ana practically yelp when the same trick was used again. With casual ease, she turned and blasted the plants with her horn.

Exactly as Ataxia planned. The mare leapt out, and she now had a clear line of fire at Starlight.

One that was broken when Siros’s Vengeance cut the ground right in front of her. Ataxia let out a very un-Ataxia like eep as she darted back into the foliage.

“See there, they’re looking out after each other. Their objective is to guard Ana, not to defeat Ataxia,” Taz whispered into Nighttide’s ear.

“But Vela could beat her, easily,” Nighttide replied as she watched another attack get repulsed.

“But that's not the point. Did you ever play the game Treasure of Dronor in your life?” Taz asked.

“No, what’s that?”

“It’s a game where one pony stands against a group of others. You could call him the villain. He tries to touch them all to get their treasure and turn them into statues. He has to fight alone, but the others can team up, defending and distracting him, but not beating him. This is kinda the same,” Taz explained.

“So we have to team up against a mighty foe to help everypony instead of just one of us getting him down at the cost of the others?”

“Right,” Taz smiled, nuzzling her lovingly.

“Vela! Watch out!” Flash yelled out as the two lovers were talking to each other.

Nighttide and Taz both turned to see that, somehow, Ataxia had distracted Vela long enough with a diversion to get a direct assault at the mare herself. Vela flew up into the air and went to spin the spear around, but it wasn’t going to be enough. Ataxia smiled as her stun spell flew true at the mare’s unguarded chest, only to be deflected last minute by a spell shot out from Starlight.

Vela flashed the pegasus a smile in thanks.

The smile was a mistake as Ataxia’s second blast almost struck her in the side. She avoided it with help from Starlight again and then turned in a rage to the mare herself.

Ataxia blew her a raspberry before going into hiding yet again.

Pissed, Vela flew high above the palace and spun the spear around in the air, twice.

“Oh no,” Taz said as he closed his eyes and looked inward, finding his ability. “EVERYONE DOWN!”

The mare’s attack came next. Vela had officially grown sick of this little game. With one swing of the spear she cut through the air and into the courtyard itself; her attack carrying the same destructive potential as Rainbow’s mega-rainboom from all those years ago.

It was an attack that did nothing.

When the smoke cleared, Radiant coughed several times, trying to figure out what had just happened.

Nighttide felt… strange, cut off from her power. But she was the first to figure out what had happened. “It’s over, Taz,” she whispered.

Taz opened his eyes and pulled his power back inside of him. He had cancelled out the attack of the god weapon before it had destroyed Celestia's Palace.

“Okay, umm…” Ataxia said as she got to her hooves.

“Young lady, get down here now!” Aurora shouted.

Vela gulped audibly, having no intention to face her mother now.

“Get down here or I’ll come up and get you!” Aurora screamed much louder and furious now.

It was obvious Vela was still hesitant, that is until little Day hopped on his mother’s back. With a sigh, she lowered herself out of the sky.

“Well, who won that one?” Nighttide asked.

“I think that’s what we might call… mutually assured destruction,” Taz answered.

“What in the wide wide world of Equestria is going on out here‽” Dayspring Gleam shouted from a window.

“We’re taking care of it!” Radiant said back.

Vela landed in front of her mother with a sheepish grin on her face. One that went away when Aurora's glare indicated that she was anything but happy.

“What were you thinking‽” Aurora shouted.

“I knew Taz would protect you all,” Vela stated sheepishly.

“So you were going to destroy the whole palace?”

“I-I didn’t,” the hippogriff replied.

Aurora huffed, she paced around three times before stopping in front of her daughter. When she sat back on her haunches, her son slid off of her back and she sighed, loudly. “Vela, I let you keep the spear because I thought you knew what it meant, I thought that you respected its power, but now—”

“NO!” Vela shouted, knowing where this was going. “You’re not taking it away from me!”

“You let your anger get ahold of you and almost destroyed the whole palace!”

“She didn’t mean to! It was my fault, I got in the way,” Flash said as he ran forward.

“Yeah, c’mon sis,” Taz stated as he walked forward. “You can’t take that from her.”

Vela’s brother ran to her and hugged her. She was all but crying now.

“Vela, I’m sorry, but—”

“Even Icarus misused the spear’s power at first,” Rainbow said as she walked up. Having just arrived from the kitchen, she had a plate of cookies for all the kids held in her hoof.

“Rainbow…”

“He did, I was there. I had to remind him what it meant, what the spear represented. Vela may be small, she may be an immature little brat at times, but she has his heart, his spirit. She’ll make mistakes, they all will. Heck, we all do, but she’ll learn from this if you give her a chance.”

As Aurora thought this over, Starlight turned to her sister and softly spoke in a conversation only Nighttide overheard. “This is why we can forgive Nighttide, Ana. It’s because we’re all guilty of doing something dumb once in awhile. We forgive each other because we’re all family.”

“She’s not part of our family,” Ana hissed.

“Not yet, but I think it’s just a matter of time.”

The glare Ana gave her sister could shatter glass.

“No one is asking you to like her, but you gotta accept some hard truths eventually. She’s an important part of Taz’s life now, which makes her part of our life, and yours. If you can’t be happy that they’re together, can’t you at least be happy that Taz is happy?”

Ana glanced over to see Taz and Nighttide facing Aurora in defense of Vela; they were sitting together, coats touching. “I-I could make him happy too.”

“Only by stealing him away from the mare he loves,” Starlight replied coldly.

“I-I-I—”

“It’s hard, I know it’s hard. But you’re unfairly taking it out on everypony around you, and mom.”

Ana laid down on the ground; distraught and simply wanting this conversation to come to an end. Starlight lay down next to her, their coats touching. “I love you, Ana. We all do. And yes, that includes Taz and mom, both our moms. We’re… if the worst should happen, if they don’t…” Starlight paused for a second, fighting back her own tears. “We… we may lose…”

Ana nuzzled her sister gently as she spoke. “We may lose mom...”

Starlight nodded. “Please, find some way to forgive her before that. Not for me, not for her, not for anypony else, but for yourself. Please, it’ll haunt you forever if you don’t. It’ll define who you are for the rest of your life.”

“This is my decision,” Aurora said as she glared at all the eyes directed at her.

“Of course,” Rainbow said back. “But as Twi always said, you shouldn’t make decisions without all the facts you can get.”

Aurora glared at her mom, then paused, sighing loudly, “I guess I’m overruled here?”

“Nopony…” Rainbow started, but Vela shot her an ugly glare. “I mean, no one is overruling you here, but you have to look at the facts. And I doubt that Vela will give up the spear just because you tell her.”

Vela tightened her claw around the spear, but said nothing. The conversation was turning her way and she didn’t want to do something to ruin it.

Aurora glared once more at her daughter. “Vela, I have your word that this will not happen again? Your promise?”

“Y-yes,” she stammered.

“You still deserve a punishment,” Aurora continued.

“What‽”

“You can sleep in your own room for a week.” Aurora scowled as everypony looked at her, shocked.

“You can’t do that! We’re family!” Vela yelled.

“It’s that or the spear, your pick.”

“You wouldn’t force me to...” Vela whimpered, looking at her brother.

“Pick.” Aurora’s tone was no-nonsense.

Vela tightened the grip around the spear, yelping as it began to grow hot in her grip.

“Easy Vela, the spear thinks you’re being threatened, loosen your grip,” Rainbow warned her, just to earn confused glares. “What? I listened when Twilight explained all the powers of that awesome thing!”

“I’ll keep the spear,” Vela mumbled.

“What was that?” Aurora asked

“I’ll keep the spear.” Vela growled louder.

“As your father told you, own your words.”

The hippogriff glared at her mother as she walked away. Then another thought crossed her head, with a glance to her left, she took one more look at Flash.

“What was that about?” Taz asked nopony in particular.

“No idea,” Nighttide replied, blushing a little.

“Okay, who’s up next?” Ataxia asked.

“Umm… let’s take a break for now and eat the cookies. Besides, I wanna play the attacker next,” Radiant said with a grin.

Little Dayspring started to chuckle, and then laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Radiant asked.

“It’s a little too late for the cookies,” he said with a grin, pointing over to where Rainbow had sat them down.

Every set of eyes turned to see Aurora scarfing them down. She looked up and blushed. “What?”

The laughter that filled the courtyard echoed throughout the palace.

***

After a few hours, the kids were starting to make a good account for themselves. The adults had taken turns to have them practice in odd groups, albeit they weren’t dumb enough to push their luck with Nighttide and Ana being on the same team, even they knew better than to tempt fate.

As expected, the strongest team was definitely Vela and Nighttide. When those two got together, there was little that could stand up to them. Taz proved to be a wild-card, able to work with anypony he was paired up with.

Of all of them, the twins were probably the weakest, but they made up for it with their speed, a little factoid that made Rainbow proud. After all, she had been the one to train them.

When the sun started to go down, even Ataxia was starting to get exhausted. “Okay, I think you all got the gist of it today.”

“Gist of what?” Vela asked. “All we did was play keep away.”

“Is that all?” Radiant asked. “Seems to me you all learned teamwork, working for a goal, gained a greater understanding of each other's abilities, and even made a few new friends.”

Vela looked confused until she noticed he was smiling at her and the pegasus she was standing by. Looking to her left, she saw Flash was almost touching her coat-to-coat. She jumped away, causing the white unicorn to laugh. “I don’t think he minds, Vela.”

“Yeah, well I do!” Vela protested.

She felt a little bad about seeing the hurt look on his face.

“Well, how’d it go, Radiant?” Dayspring Gleam asked as he and Twilight walked out of the entrance way.

“Well, I’ll be honest, they’re rough. I wouldn’t personally take them to war or anything—”

“Hey!” Vela, Blaze, Flash, Nighttide, and Taz shouted.

“But it’ll be enough for what we plan to,” Radiant continued. “Especially Vela, Nighttide, Starlight, and Taz, those four could stand in the front with us if things got hairy.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Flash said with a scowl on his muzzle.

Radiant laughed and ran his hoof through his son’s mane. “Relax, champ. You’ll be a superb warrior in no time. We just need to get you the right gear.”

“Can I get a weapon like Vela’s?” he asked excitedly.

“Sure, just become the ruler of an entire nation first, and then we’ll hook you up!”

Twilight hummed in thought. “It’s probably not a bad idea to at least get them something to protect themselves and others. I’ll talk with the night guard commander and see if he has anything to spare.”

“Why not from the Royal Guard?” Flash complained.

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Because I know for a fact that they’re using every bit of equipment they have right now and can’t spare anything. Plus the Night Guard have a larger amount of pegasi gear, or at least, gear that can fit one.”

“I think you’d look good in the purple of the Night Guard,” Vela whispered to him.

Flash’s ears perked up at that. “O-okay,” he stammered.

Radiant chuckled at the sudden one-eighty his son did. He turned to look at Twilight and Dayspring. “How about you, were you two successful?”

“Very much so,” Dayspring stated with a smile. “We found every bit of information on sphinxes and I’m pretty confident I have a way to track them. We can leave in the mor—”

“Now!” Ataxia shouted. “Let’s go now.”

Dayspring paused. “Ataxia… I know you’re worried about Night, but—”

“But what? I’m sorry, have you spent the last six months watching the love of your life wither away next to you? Have you seen someone you love dying next to you while you weren’t able to do a damn thing about it?”

Dayspring Gleam paused. “No... “

“Then you don’t know shit.”

“But I did hold my dead sister’s body in my hooves after shadowbeings tore into her and ate her flesh,” Dayspring countered.

Ataxia pulled back, visibly and violently struck by that. Dayspring had never, never talked about that before.

“I rushed into something then, I did something stupid, something that everypony else was made to suffer for, all because I didn’t think with a clear head. So tell me, what do you want to say about it again?”

“Fine…” Ataxia mumbled. “But we leave at first light!”

“Pinkie promise,” Dayspring Gleam said, smiling a bit.

“Alright everypony, let’s have dinner, then we’ll get a good night’s sleep before we head out in the morning,” Twilight said with a all-too chipper smile before leading the way back inside.

“I hope you’re ready for tonight, because we’re not going to sleep at all,” Nighttide huskily whispered into Taz’s ear.

Taz smiled as he watched her walk inside, her tantalizing flank was all but begging for him to give a good smack, again.

“Oh, I can’t wait.”

Playtime and Punishments

Celestia’s Palace

Dinner finished without too many incidents, which—for these ponies—was saying something. That being said, Blaze was still told he had to take a bath before bed, and Vela got yet another reminder not to hit ponies during dinner.

Although the look of embarrassment on Aurora’s face when she realized that it had been Starlight that hit Blaze with the sandwich and not Vela was all too funny for everypony involved.

Throughout dinner, Taz found his lap was rather… occupied by another hoof that wasn’t his own. Three times he had to force Nighttide’s hoof from his lap. Each time the mare would just grin at him and wink seductively at what was to come after dinner. After the third, he started to scarf down as much as he could and drank four glasses of water in a row. The stallion had a feeling he’d need his energy and liquids for what was to come that night.

And he was right.

Radiant was the first to retire, followed closely by Aurora. The mare stretched her beautiful blue wings and yawned. “Big day tomorrow, I think we could all use our rest.”

“You’re not going,” Vela said. “How do you have a big day?”

“I get to watch over all seven of you. I’d say I have the biggest day possible.” She chuckled at her daughter. “Son, you ready for bed?”

“But...“ Little Dayspring looked longingly over to his sister.

“She’s sleeping in her own bed this week, aren't you, Vela?”

“Yes, Mom…” Vela said, downcast.

Her brother looked back longingly at his sister as he walked up the stairs behind his mom. It was an action that just made Vela feel worse about the whole thing. The three of them had shared their mom’s bed ever since the passing of their father. In a way, it had bonded them closer as a family, as such; this was just as much her brother’s punishment as it was hers.

“Are you going to be okay?” Flash asked.

“Shut up.” Vela scowled at him, causing the pegasus to almost jump back.

“Damn, sorry for caring.”

“Yeah, well, no one told you to care now, now did they?”

“Vela,” Twilight said, causing the hippogriff to flinch.

Vela shut up, but still glared at the princess.

“We should get to bed too,” Rainbow replied as she nudged Twilight’s side.

As Twilight got up, she saw the obvious look of hurt on Flash’s face, which sparked another memory. “Oh, before I forget, Starlight, would you mind going to the bat-pony barracks and requesting some armor and weapons for everyone?”

“Umm… sure,” Starlight said as she pushed her chair back and jumped down.

“Thanks,” Twilight replied as Rainbow and she started up the stairs. The twitch on the pegasus’s flank as she tried to wrap a wing that wasn’t there around her wife went all but unnoticed.

“I think we should go to bed too, don’t you agree, Taz?” Nighttide asked with a grin.

“Yeah, like you two are going to get any sleep,” Flash replied with a roll of his eyes.

“Who said anything about sleep?” Nighttide stated, flashing the pegasus a wicked smile.

As the two lovers made their way out of the room, Blaze noticed the look of envy on his brother’s face. “Jealous?”

“No.”

“Methinks thou doth protest too much,” Ataxia said with a wicked grin.

“Shouldn’t you be getting back to Night?” Flash blew her a raspberry.

Ataxia gave him a look before glancing up at the clock. She sighed, knowing that he was right. “Yeah, you’re right about that,” Ataxia replied, getting up to leave.

“You’re jealous, aren’t you?” Blaze asked as he got up as well. The colt had an appointment with the shower.

“Maybe,” Flash replied sheepishly as he got up as well.

Dayspring Gleam watched them go. The light-purple unicorn looked around the table as his eyes came to rest upon the one remaining occupant in the room: Ana. “Tell me, did you at leas have a little fun today?”

Ana looked up at him. “Maybe,” she said with a blush.

He got up and walked around to her. “I’m proud of you. I just want you to know that. I know how rough it can be to see somepony you love end up with someone else.”

“Wait… who did you—”

“Goodnight, Ana. Don’t stay up too late, okay?” Dayspring said as he nuzzled her once and started to walk up the stairs.

Ana was frozen in her place. She had no idea how to react to that revelation.

***

Starlight quickly made her way to the Night Guard’s barracks. She may have never walked this way before, but she found her way pretty well, as all the towers and barracks were designed with the same layout.

As the barracks were a bit away from the main rooms of the castle, Starlight had time to reflect on some of the stories she had heard about bat-ponies. Luna always told stories about how bat-ponies and normal ponies simply didn’t get along on the best of days. Rainbow’s stories were more about endless nights and wild parties.

As soon as Starlight opened the door to the hallway that led inside, she feared that Rainbow was right. Everything was alight with loud music booming through the hallway. With steady hoof-steps, she closed the gap to the door at the end, which seemed to vibrate with the music.

Tensions had been high and discipline a little lax after what happened with Princess Luna. The Night Guard commander had told the princesses in no uncertain terms that they were not happy about being left out of the Tartarus raid.

Even though they wouldn’t have been able to help, every one of them had sworn a duty to defend the Princess of the Night with their lives; a duty that had been stolen from them with Twilight's brash raid into Tartarus, at least in their book anyway.

Starlight reflected upon that now as she made her way to where the armory should’ve been. She knew the layout and had studied the palace’s designs more times than she cared to count.

I suppose we should be lucky they stayed around at all.

The bat-ponies were never the most welcome of species, even taking into account Equestria’s nature. When Luna returned, one of her first acts was to reestablish real relations with them and start rebuilding that trust.

Relations that are now in danger of being completely destroyed, Starlight thought as she rounded the bend.

There was one bat-pony still on duty, “on duty” being a relative term here. The bat-pony was leaning on a stand behind her, whipping her head to loud music as she held a glass of apple cider that was filled to the brim. It smelt more than familiar to Starlight.[1] Starlight was sure that the mug was filled with cider that was a bit more than regulations would allow her to drink on duty. The-bat pony didn't seem to notice Starlight, her black and purple, unkempt mane was still flowing to all sides with the music. Her grey coat seemed to gulp down all light, making it shimmer slightly. Her black armor cutie mark seemed fitting, since she was in the armory.

“Umm, excuse me,” Starlight said, clearing her throat.

She wasn’t anywhere near loud enough to get this mare’s attention. The mare just kept lightly head-banging, enjoying the music.

“Excuse me,” Starlight said more forcefully.

Again, the mare flat-out ignored her.

“EXCUSE ME!” Starlight yelled.

“It’s not a volume issue,” the mare replied, still refusing to stop what she was doing. “I’m purposely ignoring you.”

Starlight was flabbergasted at that. “W-what?”

“I heard you coming in; smelled you too. Luna you stink, when was the last time you bathed?”

“Umm, excuse you‽”

“No, I’m good. I think you mean excuse you.”

Starlight’s jaw hit the floor. “Do you know who I am?”

Finally the bat-pony stopped rocking her head back and forth. She opened her eyes and stared at the blue unicorn mare in front of her; taking in her green eyes and constellation tree cutie mark. “Hmm, based on the ‘how dare anypony not kiss my flank’ look you have on your muzzle, and your rainbow mane and tail, you’re—Princess Something or Another.”

Starlight wanted to yell, to berate her for daring to talk to her like that. She had several, good retorts to counter the bat-pony’s impertinent attitude, but she found herself tongue-tied by the mare’s piercing lavender, cat-like eyes.

“Equestria to Princess Stick-In-Her-Ass, you there?”

Starlight blinked. She forced herself to look down at the desk as she said the next part, “Who do you think you are?”

“Me? Private First-Class Echoside, ma’am!” Echoside gave a very sarcastic salute.

Starlight glared. “I do hope that you know the consequences of talking to a princess like this.”

“Consequences? No, thank you. I only take commands from Luna or her children, just following our law,” Echoside said snarkily.

“You’re under the command of every princess!”

Echoside laughed. “Nuh-uh, Princess Stick-In-The-Flank. We only take commands from Luna, her family, or her children. And you’re not related to her.”

“Then at least take this order from Princess Twilight!” Starlight yelled, seemly furious now.

Echoside glared at her, unimpressed. In the end, she simply shrugged. “Well, if it gets you out of my mane that much quicker, what does she want?” Echoside murmured before reaching for a note.

“We need armor for three colts and two mares,” Starlight told her as Echoside haphazardly acted like she was scribbling it down.

“Alright, I'll get to it when I get to it, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.” The mare chuckled before going back to her former position, continuing to enjoy the music.

Starlight wanted to scream at Echoside, to ask what the hey her problem was, but she forced herself to calm down. It seemed Rainbow and Luna were both right after all.

“Stupid bat-pony,” Starlight muttered as she practically stomped out of the barracks and made for her room.

***

Taz considered himself lucky, Nighttide actually waited until they got to their room before throwing him down upon the floor. He had seen the mare horny before; hell, he had seen himself just as horny, but this was taking it to a new level even for her.

Not that he’d complain about it, of course.

It came as no surprise when she pulled herself off him and glared lovingly into his eyes with an ‘I’m about to fuck you’ look.

“Damn, what’s gotten into you?” he asked.

“You, soon enough,” she replied, still smiling.

“No. I mean: I had to fight you off three times before you gave me a hoof-job under the table.”

“Yeah, what’s up with that anyway, you’re not going soft on me, are you?” Nighttide asked with a raised eyebrow.

“What? No…”

“You’ve never complained before.”

“Nighttide, last time I had to sneak back down and clean cum off the underside of the table.”

“You should've just asked me, I’d have licked it clean,” NIghttide said as she sat down upon his stomach.

“Not to mention that walking upstairs with a black coat and a huge white stain on your groan is not exactly a pleasant experience.”

“So what? Let them look and know that your mare takes good care of you,” she whispered seductively.

Her kisses started next. Taz moaned as she started leaving a trail of licks, kisses, and bites up and down the side of his neck. “Mmhmm…”

“Do you want me to stop?” she asked playfully. “You want me to, and I will, just say it.”

“Mmhmm…”

“Is that a yes, or a no?” Nighttide said as she stopped kissing his neck to look him in the eye.

“Well… it’s not too bad, I guess,” Taz admitted, the blush on his black coat could be seen from a mile away.

“Even going around with cum-stains in your fur in front of your family?” Nighttide pressed her advantage.

Taz glared at her, and then, using his greater bulk, flipped her over with him on top. “Even that. Besides, if you don’t mind going to lunch with my seed leaking out of you, why should I mind the occasional mess?”

“You do know that I love it when I'm full of you, leaking or not,” Nighttide whispered huskily, lightly nipping at his muzzle.

“All night?” Taz asked.

Nighttide just smiled as she focused on her shadow, splitting off a small section of it, she used it to shut the door behind them. “All. Night. Long. And I have something special planned for tonight.”

Taz grinned as he went back in for a kiss. Black met blue as their lips came together. He loved the taste of her, the feel of her lips, and even the scent of her sweat. There wasn’t a single thing about the mare he wanted to change, especially when he felt her hind leg move up and start lightly rubbing the side of his already expanding cock.

When they broke, they were both smiling at each other. “Mmh, you are eager tonight,” Taz said.

“I just want to get the quick one out of the way.”

Taz nibbled on her ear before saying the next thing. “I ain't that quick.”

Nighttide smirked. “Who said I want you to be? I want the foreplay to be over.”

“Who said we need foreplay?” Taz asked and slightly bucked his hips, causing his erection to lightly hit Nighttide between her legs.

“Mhh I love that feeling,” the mare replied huskily.

“I agree,” Taz mumbled as he felt himself push against her already dripping entrance. There was something about when he first entered her, when he first spread her wide and she invited him in that he absolutely loved.

Taz had been right; there was no need for foreplay. The pegasus was already dripping wet, waiting for him. He felt his head press against her slit; it was practically pulling him inside of her. He pushed, ever so slightly, his large member piercing her wide as he did so.

Nighttide’s muzzle hung open when he did. She loved this feeling as much as he did. Taz was a large stallion, both in physical size and down there. His girth would make most stallions envious; and it was all for one mare and one mare alone.

Nighttide wrapped her hooves around his back and pulled her chest close to his. She wanted him; she wanted him mind, body, and soul. She could feel his heart pounding away in his chest; she could sense the heat coming from him, and from inside of her.

Every time they made love, every time they fucked in their room, kitchen, dining room, wherever they could get away with it, she returned to this feeling. It never got old or failed to excite the passion she had for the stallion, the drive; or the pure, unadulterated lust in her loans.

“Make me yours, take me,” Nighttide whispered as she held onto his body, already knowing what would happen next.

In one go, Taz pushed half of himself into her. His member spitting Nighttide wide as a full eight inches pierced the mare all at once. Nighttide’s head shot back and she let out a long, pleasurable moan in response. “Ahh, buck yes…”

Taz simply grinned and started to slowly pull out. Her pussy, her waiting hole, it was gripping on him; it was so tight, so warm, he felt like he could burst even now after just getting started.

He wouldn’t since he had more than enough self-control for this, something five months of experience had helped him develop into a fine-tuned skill. The stallion only pulled his hip part of the way out, ensuring that he grinded his cock on the upper side of Night’s pussy the entire way.

For Nighttide, every moment, every second felt amazing. She loved that he now knew what he was doing, that he knew all the best ways to please her. It was simply a sign that he cared about her enough to learn, to know how to give her pleasure.

Taz only pulled out two inches before thrusting back in eight.

“Ngggg, I know you’re bigger than this,” Nighttide panted, “No stopping at this point today.”

He grinned and kissed her again. Most stallions wouldn’t have this issue since the cervix was far deeper than their length could ever reach. Then again, most stallions didn’t have a sixteen-inch dick either.

Taz kissed her again and again. Then, when he felt Nighttide relax enough on his touch, he pushed in hard. His cock easily made it past her cervix, making Nighttide gasp loudly; her tongue lolling out of her muzzle.

It felt fantastic to the stallion. He felt her grasping his head like nothing else he could ever imagine. It took all this strength, all his willpower to hold right there, to not just start bucking her madly. He knew this was painful to her. Experience had taught him that much; but, if he waited for her to adjust, she’d enjoy it just as much as he did.

As with the times before, Nighttide raised her head back up from the floor and smiled at him, her body already adjusted to the pain; to the extra… him, that was as deep inside of her as it was possible to get. She stretched her neck up and kissed him again, a clear sign to continue.

Taz began moving in and out in slow rhythms. Already surprised with how far they had taken it and knowing that this was nothing more than just the warmup. He knew Nighttide was special, that something in her body had allowed this to take place; but, he wasn’t dumb enough to question it. He loved it, she loved it, and that was good enough for both of them.

Nighttide flexed her wings and wrapped them around both her and her lover. She arched her back, enjoying the feeling of being penetrated by the stallion she had so grown to love. Somehow, his simple touch made her feel better, his words had a way of reaching past her own horrible memories and right to her core, to the diamond he swore she was.

She started to flex and squeeze her flanks, throwing him off balance and causing him to almost blow his load right then and there. He looked down at her, shocked and smiling in equal measure.

“What? You think I don’t know some tricks?” Nighttide replied, seductively.

“Just surprised you took that long,” he teased lovingly.

“Oh, you!” she said and kissed him. “Just wait, this is nothing compared to what we're going to do tonight.”

“Ten seconds?” he asked.

“Ten seconds,” she confirmed.

It was their favorite game, try and make the other cum in ten seconds. If you lasted longer, you got to pick the next activity.

To date, there’s yet to be a real winner. Tonight was no exception. Taz started first, he increased his speed and his grinding, pounding at the mare with reckless abandon.

Nighttide told herself to be ready for it. She mentally prepared herself for this maneuver, but it’s hard to prepare yourself for a sixteen inch long, four inch wide dick to suddenly start rampaging your pussy. She lost her grip on his body, her jaw practically hanging open as he went buck-wild on her.

Three seconds into it, she could already feel herself fast approaching orgasm. That knowledge gave her the strength to fight back, to raise her head and start to squeeze her vaginal muscles together, forcing Taz to work even harder to get her off before he came.

It was a double-edged sword. Doing so also increased the friction Nighttide felt from each of his movements. And it wasn’t like her stallion would let a little thing like extra work slow him down anyway.

As soon as she did, he looked down and nipped the side of her neck, biting into it with a large amount of pressure before letting go. Nighttide yelped from the sudden, unexpected shooting pain in her neck, causing her to lose focus and Taz to once more pull ahead. He pulled almost the entire way out before thrusting close to fifteen inches of meat directly into her, one inch easily breaking her cervix again.

Nighttide’s wings flared out. She knew she was dangerously close to losing now, one more of those and she’d definitely be the first one to cum.

I have to use it.

Taz grinned, knowing she was close, very close if the signals of her body were anything to go on. Yes, technically it’d be a tie, again, her cumming would no doubt cause him to as well, but he’d still have the victory of having made her cum first. Which was a win in and of itself.

He quickly pulled back, readying himself for one more push that would finish her off and end the game in a tie at the six second mark. However, when he pushed in, something very unexpected happened.

In less than a second, Nighttide had somehow managed to force a portion of her shadow-self in his rear and pressed it against his prostate. The action was so strange, so sudden, so unexpected, and so good that when Taz pushed himself in, he blew his first load on the way inside. “HOOOLLLY….”

Nighttide was right behind him; the feelings of her stallion ejaculating inside of her as well as the rapid speed he was moving pushed her over the edge. Her moans quickly joined his as their bodies erupted in simultaneous pleasure at their actions.

Somehow she actually managed to tighten her wings around him as they came; she felt squirt after squirt deposited directly into her womb. Had she been in a different state of mind, Nighttide would have wondered if the sheer volume he deposited into her would make her stomach distend.

The mare wasn’t thinking about that. She couldn’t think about that. Her entire body—her entire being—was focused on the wave of pressure that was flowing over her very self, exciting her like only this ever could. It was a tsunami of joy started by her love.

Taz was the first to come down. He could still feel her holding onto him. He could still feel her pussy wrapped around his cock, milking him for all he was worth. It took all his strength to stay on his hooves, to not collapse on top of her.

Her heart’s beating a mile a minute. The thought made him smile. It was like he could literally feel her pleasure in just holding him. Not that the heat and grip she had on his dick was anything to sneeze at. That felt amazing as well, but just a different kind of amazing.

Eventually, he felt her grip loosen. Taz raised his left hoof and caught her head before it fell back upon the ground. With care, he gently laid it down, letting her arched back come to rest upon the floor of the bedroom. He looked down to where they were still connected. He could see himself already getting—somewhat—soft, but he wasn’t worried. He’d be more than ready to go again before he was all the way out of her; experience had taught him that much.

There was so much cum though, more so than he had ever remembered seeing before. His juices were mixing with hers and spilling out around the gaps between the two lovers.

She opened her eyes and grinned at him. “So, who won?”

Taz opened his muzzle to answer her, but he hesitated. I’ll give her this one. “You, my love.” He smiled after his pause and closed the gap between their lips, kissing her deeply.

“I can decide what we do next‽” Nighttide cheered.

“Yes, you can,” Taz chuckled at her open adorable display.

“Oh, what do I want to do?” Nighttide asked herself, humming in thought.

The grin on Nighttide’s face as she came to a conclusion made Taz excited and worried in equal measure.

***

“Why’s Ana acting so bad?” Blaze asked his brother when he got out from their shower. As per usual, the pegasus had taken his sweet time in the restroom, so much so that Flash had almost fallen asleep before he came out.

“She’s not bad, you should be nicer than that,” Flash said.

“Yeah, she is, she’s acting bad; she’s a bad Ana.”

“Don’t say it,” Flash grunted as he held his pillow to his head, already knowing what would come next.

“She’s a banana!” Blaze giggled, and then laughed.

“Ugh, you said it.”

Blaze broke into a full-on laughing fit. Flash threw his pillow at his brother’s head in response. “Hey! We don’t hit!”

“I didn’t hit you, the pillow did,” Flash replied. A tittering built up in his throat.

“Oh, I guess that’s okay.”

Flash sighed extremely dramatically. “You’re impossible sometimes, brother.”

“Hey, I’m your brother, that’s how I’m supposed to be,” Blaze said as he threw the pillow back to Flash.

“Yeah… no,” Flash replied dryly, just to be surprised by a rather forceful knock at the door.

“Who the hay is that at this hour?” Blaze questioned.

“I don’t know, but look.” Flash pointed at a note that had been slid under the door.

Blaze got to the door and picked the note up, glanced at it, and then at his brother. “This is for you.”

Flash got up out of bed and took the note, confused, noting in big letters ‘Flash’ on its front. He opened it to find some rather clear words.

My room. Now.
Vela.

“Buck me, she’s still pissed,” Flash said.

“Who is it, who is it?” Blaze asked.

“Vela. I think she’s still mad at me,” Flash replied as he folded the note back up and stuck it under his wing. “She wants to see me in her room.”

“You’re… you’re going to go?” Blaze asked, wide-eyed.

“It’s Vela, if I don’t go she’ll blast the door down and drag me to her room.”

“You sure she’s that bad?”

“Do you even have to ask?” Flash countered before leaving the room. “Remember when she knocked my front teeth out?”

As Blaze watched his brother leave, he gulped at that. “Good luck…”

“Thanks, I have a feeling I’m going to need it,” the pegasus said to himself as he walked down the hall to the hippogriff’s room.

Every step he took felt like a death march as he recounted every way he bucked up today. Flash had thought he was doing her a favor, that after she wanted to hold his hoof at breakfast this morning they had formed some kind of bond.

The girl’s undeniably a stubborn, egotistical hothead; but she’s cute when she wants to be. Wait… where did that come from?

He shook that off and chose to concentrate solely on putting one hoof in front of the other. His eff up was obvious on him. Sure, he had the best of intentions warning her about Ataxia’s attack, but that warning almost caused her to lose her father’s spear. That alone earned him a spot on her ‘pissed off at’ list.

Flash considered bolting, going to his father’s room, going back to his own room, or even hiding out with Twilight and Rainbow.

Sure, it wasn’t my intention to get her in trouble, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t my fault… even if there were… extenuating circumstances.

His hooves betrayed him. They carried the pegasus right to Vela’s door. He paused, wondering how he found it so easily being that the girl hadn’t slept in the room for almost six months, and also wondering why he felt more nervous than on his first day of school.

Steadying his resolve, he knocked twice, forcefully. Say what you will, I’ll never back down from facing the music.

Every part of his being wanted to run. He hoped against hope that no one would answer the door, that Vela would not be back yet, and he could return to his room knowing he did everything he had been asked.

That small hope vanished when he heard the doorknob turn and the door opened in front of him. What he saw almost caused his jaw to fall to the floor.

Empress Princess Vela did indeed open the door. However, that wasn’t the surprising part. Around her dark-blue fur she had on a set of bright-pink pajamas that hugged tightly to her frame.

“You coming in or do you just want to stare at me all day?” she asked him and stepped to the side to let him in.

He gulped; she looked, in a word, girly. With every nerve in his body on edge, the pegasus stepped inside, not knowing if the sight of her was the last thing he’d ever see, or if she was just screwing with him in the worst possible way. “I-I got your message,” he managed to say after she shut the door and locked it. The sound of the bolt closing was like a jail cell door slamming shut.

“Duh, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. Now sit down, we have to talk,” she replied and got to her bed, motioning to her side for him to sit down as well.

Flash quickly looked around and then right next to her. His mind warned him to sit anywhere but there, but his hooves started to move on their own, causing his mind to go into panic mode.

Vela watched with a scowl as the pegasus took his sweet-ass time about it. “SIT!”

He yelped like a beaten dog and scampered to the bed. Within seconds he had sit down, his flank parked firmly on her bed sheets. “Vela, I-I-I-I—”

“Nope,” she replied, “now is not the time for talking, now is the time for listening. I will do the talking, you will reply by nodding your head in agreement, understand?”

He looked at her, wide-eyed right before he went to open his muzzle.

“UNDERSTAND‽” Vela shouted.

Flash firmly shut his muzzle and nodded his head viciously.

Part of him noticed that she hadn’t given him the option to shake his head no, but he—wisely—said nothing about that little factoid.

“Good, I’m guessing you’re wondering why I asked you here.”

Flash nodded his head.

“Well…” she looked hesitant to say the next part. Flash saw something in her green eyes right then, something that looked... sorrowful.

He made the bravest choice he had ever made in his life; for, at that moment, he placed his hoof on her claw.

She looked over to his hoof and did something really strange to the stallion, she smiled. “I can’t sleep alone.” The words came in a mumble.

Flash’s ears perked up that. He cocked his head inquisitively at her.

She noticed. “Ever since dad… you know, I’ve slept holding my brother, being held by my mother. We’ve been that way for almost six months now. When mom punished me like this, I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal. Sure I’d miss sleeping with Day, but, I’m a big girl, right?”

Flash nodded.

She looked down at that. “Or so I thought, I laid here for almost two hours, even tried on these PJ’s my mom gave me before... you know. But I’m just not tired. It’s like... something’s missing.”

“Like what?” Flash asked, not even caring that he broke her no-talking rule.

Rather than be pissed, Vela actually smiled at that. “I think I’m just used to holding someone, you know?”

Flash took another glance around the room, looking for a stuffed animal or something the hippogriff might hold, but there was nothing. It then dawned on him just why he had been called to the room.

“You… want… to… sleep with me?”

She turned away from him, fuming, but the blush on her face was impossible for him to miss. “Y-you don’t have to if you don’t want to. You can leave—if you want—of course I’ll kick your ass if you ever mention this to anyone.”

Somehow, Siro’s Vengeance picked that moment to almost sing out from where she had it propped up against the wall. Flash’s eyes darted to the spear and then back to her.

“Why not Starlight, or Ana?”

“Starlight’s too logical, she’d never understand this. Heck, I don’t even understand this. Ana’s being a bitch, and before you ask, your brother is a big baby, and all the adults know I’m being punished, so they’d never let me sleep with them.”

Flash gulped. The way he figured it he had two choices: His first was to bear with it and hope he might actually fall asleep at some point tonight, even if it would be beyond awkward, and might lead to him being punished for breaking her punishment. The other one was to quickly flee out of the room and never face her again. His life, his mind, his body, his very being told him to flee, to fly away in a flash as fast as his wings could take him.

There was just one problem with that plan, one small little teeny-tiny-detail: Vela. It wasn’t that she’d hold it over his head; it wasn’t that she really would kill him if he ever told anyone ever about this, but rather, it was that she seemed really hurting because of this.

The brash, arrogant, punch-your-teeth-out-hippogriff had put everything on the line, she had put herself out there to be… rejected? Flash thought.

He simply couldn’t do that.

“Okay.”

“W-what?” Vela asked, looking downright puzzled. It had been a fool’s hope, and yet…

“I said okay,” Flash said as he gave her a warm smile, well, as warm as he could make it when his mind was trying to shut his muzzle. “I may not get any sleep tonight, but if it’ll help you get to sleep, I’ll do it.”

Vela showed a genuine, bright smile and leapt at Flash, hugging him so hard he could've sworn he heard his bones cracking. Despite the bone-crushing hug, Flash couldn’t help but feel the pajamas the mare had on were silk. Each spot it touched on his coat felt like it was softly caressing him, almost like his mother used to....

As quick as it began, the hippogriff let go of him.

“If you tell anyone about this, it’ll be the last thing you do,” she said coolly before moving away to remove her pink pajamas.

“Vela?”

She grunted in response.

“Could you leave those on?” Flash mumbled.

Vela looked up, puzzled. “Why?”

“Because… umm…” Flash was more than blushing now, something that was quite obvious on his white coat, “you look rather… cute in them.”

Did he just call me cute? Vela’s blush was intense as she turned her head away. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence she whispered, “Fine,” before turning off the lights.

Flash gulped and crawled up the bed, waiting for Vela to tell him what to do rather than acting first and getting her angry by doing something wrong.

“Now lay down on your side.”

The pegasus did as he was told. He laid down on his side, facing away as she gestured. That was the easy part; the hard part was trying to get his tensed body to calm the buck down; an action that was made nearly impossible as he felt Vela move closer to him. Before he was ready for it—something he didn’t know if he could ever really be as this whole experience was far too surreal for him—she was pressing against his back. He gulped loudly and hoped she didn't hear it.

Whatever nervousness Flash had, Vela was the exact opposite. To say Flash was bigger than her brother would be an understatement, as Flash was significantly bigger than Dayspring. Still, without the slightest bit of hesitation, she wrapped her left claw under his body and with her right, pulled the pegasus’s body right up against hers.

Flash didn’t fight it. He was too afraid to. Right now he figured his role was to act as a big stuffed animal and so that is exactly what he became. However, when Vela’s front was pressed against his back and she wrapped a blanket over them both, he felt that fabric again, pressed against him.

To say the least, it was amazing. Even from the small amount he could feel against his wings, the exquisitely smooth, soft texture of her PJs were cool to the touch, and the material seemed to dance across his fur like a whisper on a summer's breeze.

He could only imagine, neigh, only dream of what it must feel like to sleep in such clothes.

His embarrassment was kicked up a notch when he realized she was resting her head against the back of his own. He could feel her soft breathing upon the nape of his neck. The gentle rise and fall of her stomach as she took slowing breaths in and out while pressed against him.

They lay like that, making Flash tense up while Vela simply enjoyed holding someone close to her. Flash realized that all his life he had seen her as this girl to be feared, the one that knocked his teeth out for standing up to her, but in the end, she was no different than anyone else.

“Umm… Vela?”

“Hmm?”

That’s good; at least she didn’t bite my head off for talking.

“Those pajamas, they feel amazing, what are they?”

“Clothes, dummy.”

“I know, I mean—”

“I don’t know. My mom had them already made in Warclaw. She gave them to me one day when, dad…” there was a noticeable pause before she kept talking, “was away on a training exercise. Mom said they were made by someone called, Rarity.”

“I’m sorry,” Flash said, “I know how it feels, I miss my mom too, and my grandma.”

She squeezed him tighter. “Now quiet, you big dork; I want to sleep.”

Despite himself, he chuckled a little at that. “Yes, Vela.”

As the seconds ticked by to minutes; Flash found himself lost in thought, unable to sleep. His mind was trying to connect Vela—whom he’d known for most of his life as a rude arrogant brat that would’ve destroyed the palace today all over a stupid training exercise—to this new Vela, the girl that was pressed up against his back. The girl that needed somepony to hold so she could sleep.

It was a connection made all the more difficult by the feeling of that wonderful fabric pressed up against his back and wings. He could lose himself to that feeling, it felt, it felt...

Suddenly, her claw shifted ever so slightly. Vela’s right claw moved in what he assumed was her sleep. It fell slightly down his chest as her grip upon him relaxed and gravity did what it always did. Which in and of itself wouldn’t have been a problem. It wouldn’t have been save for the fact that the back of her claw was touching something Flash hadn’t even been aware was out until contact was made with it.

His eyes grew as wide as dinner plates as he realized that, at some point, he had gotten hard. Whether it was just his nerves, her holding him, or the feel of those pajamas pressed up against his back, he simply didn’t know. What he could say, right now, without any doubt, was that the back of Vela’s claw was touching the side of his stiffening dick.

He tried thinking of anything other than what was happening, of concentrating on any memory, any feeling other than the feel of her claw against his member.

The poor fourteen-year-old colt didn’t have a prayer. The only thing he could think of was the feeling of his member being touched by someone else, touched by the girl holding him in bed. The more he tried not to think about it, the more he thought about it; and the more he thought about it, the harder and hotter it became.

Please don’t be awake, please don’t be awake; please don’t be awake.

The pegasus counted his lucky stars when she didn’t stir. The hippogriff simply continued to lightly breathe while pressed against his back.

He relaxed a little—most of him relaxed a little anyway. His cock felt rock-hard and started to pulse a little. He knew he was in trouble, he knew that if she woke up, she’d rip his dick off for daring to get like this while they shared a bed. Or at least, his brain knew that. His cock, well, that didn’t get the memo.

That brain only felt another touch it, a girl touch it. That brain was fully concentrated on the external stimulation it was getting from Vela’s claw, the feel of Vela’s PJs pressed against his back, and the heat coming off the girl herself.

As more minutes ticked by, one brain was winning out against the other: the brain where the blood was pumping to. Flash started to focus on the heat coming from her body, the feel of her claw against his stiff, painful member.

I’d give my wings to get to the restroom right now.

It was only twenty hooves away, but to the fourteen-year-old, it might as well have been on the other side of the planet for all the good it did him.

He didn’t want to do it, he didn’t mean to do it, but he did it all the same. Flash tightened his flank muscles, pushing his member along the side of Vela’s claw ever so slightly.

The feeling was like charged lightning shot directly into his brain; his eyes widened, his pleasure centers overloaded, and—unfortunately—the smallest amount of pre came leaking out of his tip.

In and of itself, it wouldn’t have been a problem, it was so small that even if it got on the sheets or blankets, it’s doubtful anyone would have noticed; or if they did, they would’ve simply written it off as a food stain. Sadly, it was a big problem. When Flash relaxed his flank while mentally berating himself for what he’d done, his member moved back as well, transferring the small amount of pre to the back of Vela’s claw.

The heat between the two was incredible. Vela, in her PJs, cuddled up with Flash in her claws, under the blanket, had never felt more relaxed or warm in her life. Her body was at the final stages of falling asleep, blissfully unaware of anything happening, that anything that might be wrong.

Or it was until a small amount of a cool liquid-like substance transferred to the back of her claw. The dichotomy of heat and cool immediately alerted her mind that something was strange… different. That something required her conscious attention.

“Flash…” Vela said groggily as her mind woke itself up.

The stallion all but eeped at the sound of her voice. “Y-yeah?”

“Did you just, did you…” her brain asked the first question it could think of, “did… did you just pee on me?”

Flash’s thoughts screamed at him. Say yes!

“No…”

You fool!

It was then that Vela realized that something hot, long, and rod-shaped was against the back of her claw. Her groggy mind finally connected the dots.

Needless to say: She wasn’t tired anymore.

“What the...” Vela started, just to be cut off by Flash.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t hold it! Don’t hurt me!” he yelped, quickly trying to get a gap between them and hide his hard cock.

Vela scowled as she stood up and went for the door to switch the light on, revealing a quivering mess of wings trying to hide something, or rather, trying to hide somepony.

“What the buck, Flash‽” Vela yelled, her eyes darting from the back of her claw, to the spear resting against the side of the wall, and finally to the quivering mass of feathers and fur that yelped at hearing his name.

In his desperate attempt to hide his shame, Flash was trying to overcorrect, trying, and failing. Vela’s eyes could make out his meatstick even through his feathers. She sighed, loudly. “I can still see it.”

He withdrew his wings and reached for the blanket, shoving it over his cock in a foolhardy attempt to hide it, just to have Vela laugh loudly at the tent poking up under it.

“I can still see it,” Vela giggled.

Flash tried everything: sheets, laying on it—which proved to be rather painful—and covering it with his wings again. Every single attempt made the hippogriff laugh louder and louder.

The pegasus blushed and turned his head away. “I… I think it’s time I left.”

Vela stopped dead in her tracks. His expression was hurtful, and somehow, for some reason, him leaving was the last thing that she wanted.

“Flash, it’s okay. I’m not mad,” she said.

“You’re not?” he blinked, surprised.

“Mom said for stallions, it’s like… involuntary or something?” Vela said. “Like it just kinda happens at times.”

“Well… yeah, at times.”

“Does…” she went to ask, then stopped.

“What?” Flash asked, grateful to have something else to talk about, somewhat anyway.

“Well, I’ve seen a griffin’s before, you know when they walk around sometimes, so I was just wondering if a pony’s looked different?”

“I thought you saw it?”

“Not close up,” Vela replied. “Just behind your rather… humorous attempts to hide it.”

“I don’t know, I’ve never seen a griffin’s so I can’t tell you if it looks different.” He played with his hooves a little, the rather big mountain of blankets he had wrapped itself in made itself known when his cock pulsed once more, the pain remind him that while the conversation was… something, he had another thing to take care of. “If you want me to stay, I… I need to use the restroom first. To, you know, take care of it.” Flash gulped.

“I-I… um…” Vela found herself torn; she really didn’t want him to go, even to a quick trip to the bathroom. She was too worried he wouldn’t come back.

“Hmm?” Flash looked questioningly at her.

“I… what about…”

“Spit it out already.” The pegasus giggled, it was… unusual for Vela to be tongue tied.

“Do-you-want-my-help?” Vela blurted out quickly, making it nearly impossible to understand.

“What?” Flash asked, perplexed.

Vela glared at him. “I mean… um…” she sighed, loudly, before finding her resolve. “Do you want me to help you?”

Flash’s jaw dropped. “Y-y-y-you want to…”

“Only if you’ll stay though,” Vela said through a stiff upper beak.

“Umm…”

“Unless you really want to jerk yourself off in the bathroom that is?”

“No, I umm… sure.”

Vela grinned. “Well, first you’ll have to pull those blankets off.”

That made him second-guess himself. Although the second she said it, his cock pulsed in agreement. It had heard everything and firmly agreed with Vela on this one. Flash didn’t have a clue what to think, so he went with the only option left to him: not to think at all.

His hooves acted upon their own accord. With care, he started removing the bunched up blanket from around his dick. Every single time he did, he felt himself twitch, grateful to be free. “Have you… umm, helped a lot of stallions?”

WHY THE BUCK DID I ASK THAT‽

“Two, but that was a few years ago,” Vela replied as she walked up to the bed. Her eyes focused on the mountain of blankets that was fast disappearing.

Somehow, that didn’t make him feel any better. What did; however, was when he pulled the last bit of the blanket away.

“Wow,” Vela said as she scooted closer, eying every inch of his meat standing tall in front of her. It was a lot darker than his coat, almost greyish-black in coloring. At first glance, she’d guess it stood to almost eight inches. The flared head on top shone with a clear liquid coating it. Half way down the length was a ring, after that it increased in girth until it reached the stallion himself.

“What… what’s it like?” Vela asked.

“I thought you said you had helped someone before?”

“I did, but I didn’t really ask questions,” Vela said as she lightly touched it with a claw.

“Well… right now it hurts a little,” Flash admitted.

“Hurts?” Vela asked.

“It’s like… umm… flexing your muscles. When it stays hard like this, it’s like doing that for a long period of time, it hurts after a while if you don’t take care of it.” Flash’s face was in danger of turning red with the size of his blush. And Vela poking his penis with her claw wasn’t helping things.

“Well, it’s different from a griffons, at least in size and shape. Yours is wider and...” Vela replied before lightly touching the ring, “what’s this?”

“It’s called a medial ring, I guess it forms a seal when you have intercourse.”

Vela looked up. “You’ve never had sex before?”

Flash shook his head. “Have you?”

“Yeah,” Vela replied, her eyes going back to the standing rod.

“Ohh... okay,” Flash said. He knew she had ‘helped’ stallions before, but this…

Vela sat down at the edge of the bed, gesturing for Flash to move to the edge. The pegasus gulped as he moved over and hung his hind legs off the side. “Let’s see if I remember how to do this,” she teased, releasing the look of fear in his eyes.

“You need me to—never mind,” Flash stated as Vela wrapped a claw around his member. That made the hippogriff smile, and almost caused the stallion to blow his load right then and there. The touch of such an unusual appendage wrapped around his meat from a girl was nearly enough to send him over the edge.

Vela smiled at him as she started to lightly move her claw up and down his shaft. She noticed the liquid leaking from the tip and used that to help lube up the stallion’s road.

Flash only lasted five pumps, “Vela, I’m gonna!”

Remembering her last time with a stallion, she looked around real quick for something to catch what was about to come out. There was nothing in range though, so, thinking quickly, she simply took the head in her mouth, it being the lesser evil of getting covered in it, or having a huge mess to clean up.

The feeling of her tongue touching his dick was enough to send Flash into overdrive. He grunted and squeezed off one, two, three loads that shot out with more force than most of his orgasms combined. This had been quick, really quick, but already put everything he had done himself to shame in terms of sheer pleasure.

Vela had to fight back her gag reflex when the first load hit the back of her throat. She angled the cock slightly to the left and caught the next few in her beak. However, the volume took her completely by surprise. The stallion pumped her beak almost completely full of cum.

The hippogriff figuratively held her nose and swallowed, not knowing if this would be the worst thing ever or surprisingly good. What she had in her mouth tasted salty, and just a little bit bitter, not a good combination. What she got was somewhere in between them. It wasn’t a good taste, but it wasn’t bad in any definition of the word.

Flash laid back on the bed, his young mind blown by his first orgasm at the hooves—claws of another in his life. “Oh… wow…”

Vela licked him clean before pulling back, noting that his rod was already starting to shrink. “That better?” she asked.

Flash actually started laughing at that, an action that caused Vela’s eyes to dart over to the spear. “Vela, that was hooves-down the best thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.”

She looked back to him, relieved mentally, and, strangely, emotionally. “So, we can go back to bed now?”

He sat up, his eyes wide at her casual dismissal about what they’d just done. “But, I mean, w-what about you?”

“What about me?” Vela asked with a scowl. Unsure what he meant but not liking the implication of that comment one bit.

“Hey, hey, calm down. I meant… what about you? Want me to return the… favor?” Flash asked, mumbling the last word.

“W-what?” Vela stammered, her anger forgotten.

Flash sighed and collected everything he had for a last, brave question. “Do you want me to return the favor? You helped me, so it’s just fair that I help you as well.”

“Have you… um… helped a girl before?” Vela asked.

“Well, no, you’d be the first. But I’m willing to learn if you want to… you know, teach me?”

Vela felt her heart start to beat a mile a minute at those words. Somehow, the thought of being Flash’s first… “I, um… okay.”

Flash smiled and jumped down, indicating for Vela to take his spot on the bed. The hippogriff suddenly knew exactly how he had felt. With nervous apprehension, she got up on the bed, her hind hooves hanging off.

“Umm, you want me to take your bottoms off?” Flash asked.

“W-what?” Vela stammered.

Flash gestured to the pajama bottoms she was wearing.

“Oh, okay, sure.”

The pegasus was nervous. At first he thought about pulling them down with his teeth, but in the end, he used his wings. Gently, softly, and slowly, he pulled Vela’s pajama pants down, revealing more and more of her fur. He held his breath until more came in sight. Flash gasped as he took a glance at a rather wet spot between Vela’s legs.

She… she liked helping me...

Part of him wanted to stop there, while a part of her wanted him to stop there. He didn’t. Flash kept pulling with both wings, concentrating on pulling down the pants. Vela helped by lifting her flank up in the air, allowing the pegasus to completely remove the pajamas from around her waist.

There’s something… hot about him undressing me. Why do I feel this way? Vela’s thoughts were in turmoil.

Flash had them all the way down before he pulled his wingtips out of the sides. For this last part, he had to get the leggings over her hooves. Grasping the side with his teeth, he pulled one leg past hers and then the other. At that, the pajama pants were free, lying on the floor in a crumpled heap.

Vela’s eyes were glued to him. What took him almost a minute to do she could have done in two seconds, but there was something about how he did it, something that made her… hot.

Flash smiled before looking down between her hind legs. What had just been a small wet spot looked wetter now then if he had spit water over it. “Okay… umm… so I just…” he stammered. It wasn’t the first time he had seen a vagina, but it was the first time he had seen one like this.

The smell. She smells amazing.

“You just lick, here and here feel the best,” Vela said, pointing at two distinct areas on her slit.

Flash hesitated, taking a deep sniff of her smell before diving in; extending his tongue to touch exactly the places Vela told him to.

The hippogriff lost herself in the touch and moaned loudly. A pony's muzzle was always amazing to her. It was soft, pleasing her in new ways as Flash nuzzled her pussy deeply, licking her special spots better than she thought he would.

She had to fight the urge to close her eyes and toss her head back. She wanted to look at him, and see him with his head buried between her hind legs. There was something about knowing it was him, knowing that Flash’s head was between her legs that simply excited her to no end.

Flash had no idea what the hay he was doing. He had barely paid attention when his grandmother had tried to teach him anatomy one day, something his mom immediately put a stop to by saying he was far too young for that. He knew his own anatomy well enough, but a girl’s was an enigma to the stallion.

That being said, he kept his eyes and ears open. Listening to her, watching her as she bit her claw a little when he licked up and to the left. Or how she’d almost fully stop when he went too far down. That’s not to say he wasn’t enjoying it himself, far from it. If Vela had smelled good, she tasted fan-fucking-tastic.

Every time his tongue pushed inward, he was rewarded with more and more of that tasty-tasty liquid. Flash was quickly growing to love the taste as it danced upon his tongue.

Never in a million years had the young stallion ever dreamed of even imagining doing something like this with Vela. But now that it was happening, tonight was quickly becoming the greatest night of his life.

There was just one little problem, one problem he had never encountered before as he had never been in this situation before: with his muzzle buried in Vela’s snatch, licking her juices, smelling her sex, his stallionhood was starting to react all over again.

“Ahhh.” Vela couldn’t fight it anymore. The situation was simply too good, the feel of the stallion’s tongue licking her felt too amazing, and it had simply been far-far too long since she’d last done anything like this. Vela cried out as she felt her own pleasure increasing in her loins. “D-don’t stop!”

Stopping was the last thing Flash wanted to do at that moment. As far as the stallion was concerned, he could die there, and it would have been a life well spent. Whatever it took to keep her making those noises, all so he could continue to taste her like he had been.

As such, it came as a surprise when she almost twisted his head off with her hind hooves; his tongue work, while crude, had been more than made up for with raw enthusiasm. Vela found herself pushed over the edge as she came. In the heat of the moment, her hind legs wrapped around the stallion’s muzzle and she twisted to the left, taking him along for the ride.

He yanked back, shocked and with a small crick in his neck, “Vela, what the—” He paused, seeing the look of utter contentment on her face.

Well, my neck hurts, but she looks… beautiful.

When Vela recovered she was greeted by the smiling idiot’s face. Somehow, it made her smile too, a smile that quickly turned back to lust as she noticed his stallionhood at full mast again. “Well, somepony’s excited again.”

He looked confused until his eyes followed her own. Looking down he spoke in shock. “Crap, It doesn’t normally do that!”

“Well, it was also your first time pleasing a mare, and let me say that, you did a great job for your first,” Vela giggled. “But now we should take care of your problem again and…“ The hippogriff hummed. “I think I know exactly how.”

The way she pronounced the last word made Flash’s cock pulse, his excitement was raising more and more at the sight of the beautiful hippogriff and her still dripping folds.

“Um… how?” Flash asked.

Vela just smiled. With one claw she gestured for him to get up on the bed with her.

Flash made to do just that, jumping up to her side. She held out a wing to stop him. “No, just your front hooves, place them on either side of me.”

Unsure, he did exactly what she had told him to. He placed his front hooves up on the bed, to either side of Vela. It was then he noticed that his member was pressed against her body. “Umm, sorry?”

Vela grinned. “That’s part of the idea.” With one claw, she held onto the tip and started moving it around.

Flash’s eyes went wide as he stared directly at her. He only felt what she was doing; too afraid that if he went to look, she’d stop doing whatever it was. He felt the tip of his head line up with her wet, moist slit.

“Now be a big stallion,” Vela whispered. “Take me.”

Instinct alone drove him to push. He gasped as he felt her resistance for only a second, and then warmth. A warmth unlike any he had ever known in his entire life. His head had popped inside of her and she was hugging it, massaging it in all the right ways.

“Mhh, that’s a good boy,” Vela cooed. “Now push in and out, slowly at first,” she breathed out.

‘In’ was something he could get behind, ‘out’ was something he thought he might fight against. There was no doubt in the stallion’s mind that if she hadn’t ‘helped’ him earlier, he’d have blown his load already. Still, he did as she asked. Every inch he went inside simply got better and better. Almost as if he was simply meant to be there, as if this was where his cock should have always called home and he was only now figuring that out.

He paused when he met resistance. His own medial ring had hit the entrance to her slit. Even if he had to stop here, he knew he’d have more than enough fun.

“What’s wrong?” Vela asked. “I know you’re bigger than that.”

He looked down. “The medial ring, it’s um…”

“Push past it,” Vela said as she laid back down.

“Umm… okay?” Flash said as he added more pressure to his hips.

Vela gasped as she felt his ring pop inside. His girth almost doubled at that point and was still increasing the further he pushed. “Oh… wow…”

“Do you want me to—”

“All the way,” Vela said as she looked up at him. She hadn’t failed her last time and she’d be damned if she failed this time.

Flash nodded and kept pushing. The coos and moans she released made him feel happy in a way he simply could not explain. It was like he took pride in the pleasure he was causing her.

Vela’s claws came up and started to rake the side of his body. Flash grunted a little as he felt her scratch him. Then, he stopped.

Vela looked confused. “W-why’d you stop?”

Flash looked down. “It’s all the way in.”

Vela shut her beak, but smiled. “Then pull back and do it again. But this time, faster,” she cooed.

Flash nodded in understanding as he pulled his hips back. As soon as he did, he realized a fundamental truth: out could feel just as good as in. His body shivered as he pulled his hips back, enjoying the feeling of her tight walls around his stiff rod and the suction that seemed to want to pull him back in.

He stopped before getting halfway out and pushing back in, noting just how warm, how welcoming she was; how… epic it felt in every definition of the word. “Ahh, Vela’ this feels amazing.”

“Faster,” Vela panted.

Flash was all too happy to comply. He pulled his hips back faster, thrusting back into her wet folds with gusto, enjoying every single feeling caused by it as he pushed his stallionhood deeper into her pussy.

He repeated the process two, three more times. Every time felt better than the last; it was more welcoming, hotter than the last. He groaned in pleasure with each attempt. He noticed that the faster he went, the more she enjoyed it. The harder he thrust, the louder she moaned.

However, it was not to last. In spite of the fact that he had cum once already, he could feel his own orgasm fast approaching. “Vela, I-I…”

The hippogriff nodded her understanding, a little disappointed, but expecting it nevertheless. After two more pushes she waited until he was half out of her again before wrapped him in her wings and pulling him to her with all her might.

The sudden unexpected movement was more than enough to send Flash over the edge. He felt his cock pulse inside of her. Again and again he shot his load as deep inside of her as he could get it. After the fourth pulse he collapsed on top of her, feeling his front hooves completely give out.

In spite of the fact that only one of them had finished, Vela actually felt pretty good. She laid her claws upon the back of the pegasus and gently stroke his mane. There was something… different about being with Flash. Something about holding him, about making love to him, something that called to her in a way she had never known before.

She could feel his heart beating a mile-a-minute, his heavy breathing as he lay upon her. But more importantly, she could still feel him inside of her. She could feel the tip of his head as it continued to leak more of his cum. She could feel the medial ring doing exactly what it was meant to do, keeping the cum as deep inside of her as it could be.

“Congrats, you’ve just had sex,” Vela said with a smile when she felt his energy starting to return.

He continued to lay his head upon her chest, not wanting to move it for the world. “Vela, I-I... I mean…”

“Still hesitant to talk to me?” Vela asked with a slight chuckle.

“Well.” Flash giggled. “I guess this is not what you do every day with the mare that usually threatens to kill you.”

“I will if you ever tell anyone about this,” Vela growled.

“I won’t… but… Vela?”

“Yeah?”

“Can we do this more often?” Flash asked silently.

Vela thought about it. How she had felt, how much care he brought out of her. It could only get better.

She giggled. “I’d love too, but not without some cuddling.”

“Of course,” he said with a smile.

“And,” Vela added.

“And what?”

“You have to be my boyfriend.”

“You mean coltfriend, but deal,” Flash said with a grin as he picked her up and moved them both all the way on the bed. The hippogriff laughed a little as she was forcefully moved into a more comfortable position with both their hind hooves up on the bed. In truth she never knew that he was this strong. But she was more than happy for it.

As Vela lay deeply cuddled against him, he nuzzled her forehead. “Good night, beautiful one.” Flash smiled as he felt the hippogriff fall deeply asleep. His own head rested upon her pajama tops, feeling the smooth silk-like fabric and her beating heart beneath him.

The hippogriff and pegasus slept better that night then they had since their parents were killed.

***

“You want to do what‽ ” Taz asked for the second time, gulping loudly.

Nighttide chuckled, continuing to circle him. “I want to use my shadows to make love to you,” she repeated.

Taz paled a bit. “Nighttide, I told you that your shadows are a part of you and I love every part of you. I mean that, but I don’t know about sex with them… or if we even could.”

“You know I’d never hurt you and I’d stop if you asked me to,” Nighttide cut him off.

“But I mean… I-I uhh…” Taz stammered.

Nighttide simply smiled. “What’s wrong, don’t you trust me?”

“Of course I do.”

“So then, can we?”

“Nighttide…”

“What? It’s not like I can harm you with my ability, Taz. You’re a blank when it comes to magic, you can’t be directly harmed. Of course, I can still… have fun with you with it, maybe.” Her experience earlier gave her hope it could work.

“How would that even work?” Taz asked, unsure.

“Oh, something like this,” Nighttide replied as she concentrated. Taz saw her levitate a sheet over to him, with care she ran it along his muscles, pushing and massaging in all the areas he liked best.

Taz cooed and moaned all at the same time. He understood now. His mom had warned him about this. Sure, the strongest telekinetic spells would do jack diddly to him, but nothing would stop anyone he fought from picking up a rock in their magic and chucking it through his head. This was… this was simply another version of that, albeit immensely more pleasurable.

“So, I won, right?” Nighttide asked, playfully.

“Eeyup,” Taz stated.

“That means we get to do what I want to do?”

“Eeyup.”

“So sit back, shut up, and relax. Let your mare take good care of you.” The grin on Nightide’s face told Taz he had made the right call.

The mare smiled as she moved the sheet across Taz’s body. The stallion was enjoying himself; that much was obvious. He cooed in appreciation as she channeled more and more power into her shadows.

He didn’t even notice when the room started to go dark. Nighttide grinned and shadowmelded into her shadow. She became the shadows and traveled up and over Taz’s form, the thin sheet wrapping around him the only thing allowing her to actually please him like this.

Taz cooed in appreciation at her actions. However, that wasn’t nearly enough for Nighttide. She wanted him moaning, eating out of the bottom of her hoof. And besides, they hadn’t even gotten to the fun stuff yet.

Taz felt the sheet wrap under him and lift him up in the air. It was then he noticed she was no longer in the room with him—at least not physically anyway. He could see her shadows, her other form all too easily. “Going full out, huh?”

“For you my love, anything.”

The voice came from everywhere and nowhere as the stallion found himself deposited upon his back on the bed.

The sheet massage came next. He knew why she was doing this, it was his ability, but in terms of sexual it was kind of… lame.

“Nighttide, this is stupid.”

Nighttide paused. “I was just…”

“I… have an idea,” Taz said.

“What?” Nighttide asked.

“Try touching me directly,” Taz said with a smile.

Unsure, but trusting, Nighttide did just that. Taz watched as an artificial shadow moved its way up the blanket and to his muzzle. Just as with every spell ever used on him, it simply stopped being as soon as it reached the stallion. “Taz, I don’t think this will work.” No pony was more disappointed then her; especially as it had all but worked earlier, somehow anyway.

He closed his eyes and concentrated inwards. Twilight had taught him to extend his power, to use it against others at range, but… he had always wondered if it worked in reverse, if he could shrink it.

He tried that now. In his mind’s eye, he saw the ball of power he’d normally tap from. Red had called it unique in all the universe as being able to cancel out a god’s magic power. With this he was untouchable, magic wise anyway. He had more than his fair share of scares to prove that little tidbit.

This time, instead of pulling out, directing it to another, he squeezed, compressing it, trying to limit its effect on him. “Try. Again. Now,” the stallion grunted through gritted teeth.

“Taz?”

“Again,” he spoke.

Nighttide did as he asked. Once more her shadow traveled up the sheet to his exposed fur. However, this time, this time she felt something she hadn’t expected. With her shadows, she felt his fur. “Taz…”

The stallion felt it too. He smiled.

“How… what…. when… where… why....”

“Just… testing out a hunch.” He chuckled. “After you managed to, you know, earlier, I thought that maybe there was a way?”

The sheets were ripped off next. Taz’s eyes went wide as they practically flew across the room.

“I can finally touch you like this,” Nighttide whispered and Taz smiled as her shadows flew over his fur like she had never been able to do before.

Taz moaned as she touched him everywhere and at the same time. He lost himself in the touch A feeling that went away suddenly when the shadow pulled back.

“W-what’s wrong?” Taz asked.

“I can't touch you again,” Nighttide replied sadly.

The stallion gasped as he realized that he had lost his concentration and his ability hindered Nighttide from touching him again. “Sorry, if I lose concentration it can extend again.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can't only direct and extend it, I think I can also control and pull it back.” Taz smiled as he tried to contain his ability again.

“This… This is amazing. And you’re doing this just for me,” Nighttide whispered and Taz felt a soft touch upon his lips, as if her shadow was kissing him.

No, not her shadow. She is kissing me, Taz thought with a smile.

“I think you deserve a special reward for this.” Nighttide purred and massaged his fur softly, touching every single spot on his body.

Taz almost lost his concentration in the dichotomy of cold and warmth. Her shadow, it was as all shadows, devoid of light. That of course made it a little cold. But her touch... it was warm and amazing. Her kiss? Even more so. He cooed in sheer delight as he felt her over him, as he felt her form fully encompass him.

Nighttide was as flowing water around her stallion. She found herself giddy in anticipation of what this would mean. She was around her stallion, all around him, caressing every inch of him with her shadow form.

In his mind’s eye, it was like portions of Nighttide materialized all around his body at the exact same time. Taz closed his eyes as he felt her hooves press against his back, as he felt small little bites trail over his neck, kisses plant themselves upon his lips; however, it was Nighttide’s tongue licking from his base, all the way up his sixteen-inch member that caused the stallion to moan in desire.

“Everything you could hope for?” the shadows asked.

“You’ve been everything and more, Nighttide,” the stallion replied.

The Shadows seemed to increase in temperature around his body. He felt something very familiar, and very wet at the tip of his dick, pressing down as her form took advantage of its free-flowing nature to pleasure him every way she saw fit.

Taz kept his eyes close. He knew there was nothing to see, but seeing wasn’t the point right now, feelings were everything. His eyes were useless while she was like this.

Not that he had a single thing to complain about.

I still don’t even know what you are, not really, but I don’t care either. You’re the love of my life and that’s all I need to know. Taz’s thoughts made him smile.

Somehow, it seemed as if she responded to what he thought. With his eyes closed, Taz felt what reminded him of her feathers lightly tickling the joints in his hooves, all four of them, front and back.

He almost lost the tentative grasp he had on his power when he felt—what could only—be Nighttide’s mouth lightly start to suckle on his balls, both of them at the same time.

“OH-MY-LUNA, this is amazing!”

“Glad you like it,” Nighttide replied.

He knew it wasn’t happening, not really, not unless Nighttide somehow gained about seven different mouths and was able to direct them at rather interesting angles. If he opened his eyes, he’d just see himself surrounded by a shadow cloud.

He kept his eyes closed. At least, as long as he could before he felt a strange, yet very familiar touch upon his dick.

“H-how?”

“No physical restrictions, remember?” Nighttide chuckled.

Before, it felt like her muzzle, her wonderful muzzle, now, now it felt like she was riding him. He had to resist the urge to buck his hips up, to try and take control to return the favor. The feeling… it was just, in a word, amazing.

He felt her sliding down his sixteen inches of stallionhood. She was going so bucking slow that it was driving her stallion mad. Every inch of him felt encompassed by her pussy, one that stayed tight; one that massaged each inch as it went deeper and deeper down his cock.

Not that Nighttide stopped her… other ministrations. All the while she kept nibbling on his neck, kissing his lips, suckling on both his balls. Like this, in this form, it was easy to apply exactly the feeling she wanted right where she wanted to apply it.

“O-oh my…” Taz grunted through her kisses.

“Now I know how to make you cum quick,” Nighttide smiled as she saw the all too familiar look upon his face. The two had learned together what each other liked, what set off their pleasure centers the best and knew how to take full advantage of it.

This… this was like somepony had hit the reset button on Taz’s. He felt like a virgin all over again, being manipulated by somepony far, far more experienced than him.

“I love you, Nighttide.”

The shadows smiled as she made it all the way down his cock. She brought them back up, paying special attention to the sensitive head while doing so. She loved every second of pleasing her stallion, every moan, every shiver, and every weakened breath was like music to her ears. It didn’t even matter to her that she was getting no pleasure in return. Her pleasure came from seeing him in pleasure.

Taz… didn’t feel the same. He was close and he knew it. This whole experience, it was something he wanted to duplicate a hundred, no, a thousand times over. But he’d be damned if he was the only one that was going to enjoy it.

When the time was right, when he felt her all the way down his shaft once again, Taz quickly sat up. Nighttide gasped at the stallion as he wrapped his hooves around the massive amount of shadows around his member and unleashed his power.

Nighttide materialized out of the shadows, right in his hooves, right on his dick. In a second, she was filled with sixteen inches. Her muzzle opened up to let out a cry of surprise and pleasure all at the same time. It was a cry that was stopped as Taz caught her lips with his own.

She moaned into his mouth as the stallion came.

The sensations, the taste, the bites, the licks, the pure pleasure, all of it, it all pushed him far, far over the edge. He had timed his maneuver just right, when he knew his orgasm was seconds away, he forced her to materialize so he could finish in his favorite place in the world: right inside of her.

Nighttide’s wings shot back as she felt hot stallion spunk suddenly shoot inside of her; one, two, three, four squirts, and more, right into her womb. She found her breath taken away, her forehead instantly perspiration, and her cries growing louder at the sudden onslaught of sensation.

Taz fell back, his energy spent, his orgasm one of the best in his young life. Nighttide realized that even though she wanted to fall as well, she simply couldn’t, not impaled on his cock as she was. Instead, she simply dropped her head to her chest, smiling. “Damn you.”

Taz started to chuckle at that. “Thought you had me, huh?”

Nighttide chuckled as well. “You know, you never fail to impress me.”

“May that day never come.”

With care, Nighttide lowered herself down to his chest, mindful not to make any sudden jerky movements due to the—rather large—object still inside of her. “I don’t think it’s possible.”

“You want to stay like this?” Taz asked amusingly.

“If I didn’t have to walk and actually do other things, I would always stay like this with you.” Nighttide grinned back.

“I agree,” Taz replied as he felt her head fall upon his chest. With one hoof he started to lightly stroke her mane. “What happened to all night long?”

“Nopony said we couldn’t take a rest every now and again. Give me a few moments and we’ll go again,” Nighttide cooed softly.

“Good. I lead this time,” Taz replied gently, but in a tone Nighttide knew meant that she was in for a real treat.

***

Starlight was awoken rather abruptly by a soft knocking sound. Blinking her eyes, she noticed that it was still dark outside, the only light coming from a small inch of the slightly open door. A door she was sure that she had closed before going to bed.

“Hello?” she asked.

The door slowly opened more, revealing a grey muzzle shoving itself inside, followed by a black and purple mane.

“Echoside, what do you want?” Starlight whispered, annoyed. “It’s the middle of the night!”

Echoside stepped in, glancing a worried gaze to Ana before approaching Starlight. “I know. We watch the night, remember? I wanted to deliver the gear… and…” the mare stopped.

“And what?”

She hung her head, surprising Starlight. “I also wanted to apologize.”

Starlight’s jaw hit the floor. She had expected rude, inconsiderate, or more of a smart-ass attitude. She hadn’t expected this.

“I’m sorry I was mean to you. It’s just… since the incident in Tartarus where we weren’t allowed to help, and then Luna turned, again… it’s too much for us. We’re the Night Guard, without Luna we’re… well... useless… without our friend… we’re nothing,” Echoside whispered, shocking Starlight with that revelation.

Starlight closed her eyes and concentrated on a spell. In a flash of purple, both Echoside and her were teleported outside of the mare’s room. She blinked three times to clear away the aftereffect. Echoside took slightly longer, unused to being teleported like that. “Echoside, you’re not useless, we still count on you, all of you to guard the night. Especially now that Luna’s not with us anymore.”

“I still feel bad for treating you like shit,” the mare sheepishly replied.

“Honestly, I was warned all bat-ponies were like that, glad to know you’re the exception.”

Echoside shot her a glare. “That’s funny, I was warned all princesses were stuck-up ponies, glad to know you proved it right.”

Starlight did something unexpected at that moment, something that gave Echoside a second’s pause: She laughed.

Echoside glared at her. “What’s so funny?”

Starlight grinned. “Nothing, I’m just messing with you.”

Echoside’s glare became a frown, and then a blush, and then anger. “Sweet Luna, and here I was trying to be nice!” She frowned, but caught herself before she made the situation worse. “I better go before I say something else.”

Starlight stood there, not knowing what to do as the mare turned and started to trot away. She didn’t know why, she didn’t understand why, but she really didn’t want Echoside to leave, not yet anyway. Without thinking, she moved and hugged Echoside, surprising the bat-pony.

“W-what in Luna’s name are you doing?” Echoside stammered.

“I’m giving you a hug, silly,” Starlight chuckled. The answer was obvious, why was a bit of a more… troublesome question.

Echoside squirmed away from the hug. “Ugh, are all cute princesses this bat-shit crazy?”

Starlight paused. “D-did you just call me… cute?”

Echoside froze upon that, completely. “I...I… I gotta go!” she quickly yelled and spread her leathery wings, taking off as fast as she could.

Starlight could only shake her head, perplexed at her own actions as her eyes trailed down Echoside’s body and to her black-armor plate cutie mark as she flew away. Somehow, Starlight knew that she would visit the bat-pony at the next opportunity. Starlight didn’t understand her own actions, her own thoughts, but something about that mare interested her; she just couldn’t get to the core of what it was.

But like any good scientist, she was determined to find out just what it was.

Author's Note

Echoside - Batwings and black armor-plate cutie mark

An Unknown Road

Celestia’s Palace

When Flash awoke the next morning, things felt more like a dream than anything else. He felt warm—hot even, and sticky. There was a mess between his legs that told him he might have had an… accident.

As the pegasus opened his eyes, he realized that something was fundamentally off. There was fabric sticking to the side of his muzzle. Fabric that was part of the pajamas somepony, or rather someone else was wearing. He blinked his eyes clear of sleep, noticing, for the first time that morning, that he was in fact not sleeping on a bed. Not directly anyway.

Vela… I’m sleeping on Vela, I had… What happened last night came back to him. We… we had… we had sex.

The mess, it wasn’t an accident. It’s…

Oh no… I came in her, did I get her pregnant‽

Is she going to hurt me?

How will I explain this?

I… I…

She wants me to be her coltfriend.

That last thought caused him to pause. Every single thought before that had been wracking his nerves, causing him to fret as if the world was coming to an end. The last one calmed him in a way he hadn’t expected. Almost like none of his other worries mattered once he remembered that bit.

He looked back down at her head. Vela was still sleeping, peacefully resting her head on the pillow. Her eyes were closed and a smile was upon her beak. She looked, in a word, cute.

I wonder if she’s dreaming about me.

Suddenly Taz and Nighttide made a lot more sense to the young stallion. This had been amazing; beyond amazing. It was no wonder those two were always fawning over each other. They had… they had this.

He seriously doubted that Vela would ever be like Nighttide though. Most likely we’ll have to play this low-key until Vela either feels ready to tell everypony or she goes back to the Griffin Empire.

Flash didn’t know why, but that thought kinda hurt.

It was strange to him. Vela was an abusive, egotistical bitch, who had no problems telling anypony exactly what she thought when she thought it. He had lost teeth when he stood up to protect others from her. And yet…

His thoughts were more than confusing. As such the stallion did the only thing that made any sense right now. He stopped thinking and just rested his head upon her chest.

I may not know what’s coming, but right this second, I just don’t want this moment to end.

There was just one small problem with his epic plan to go back to sleep upon his lover’s chest. A little thing he’d have normally taken care of last night after his orgasm, but didn’t as he had never actually pulled out of the girl, at least not until sometime in his sleep when he got soft and went back into his sheath.

I need to pee.

As his dad had taught him: identifying the problem is half the battle. Of course, as he lay there, afraid of waking her up—but knowing he’d be forced to one way or another—that little tidbit of information didn’t exactly help.

He knew, logically, he had to get to the restroom, and the sooner he did, the better it would be for the both of them. Flash weighed his options: I could try flying off her, but the noise alone would wake her up. I can stand up and scooch over to the side of the bed, and, if Luna’s with me, I can get off the bed to the floor without moving her. Then, if I’m lucky again, I can make it to the bathroom without tripping over my hooves and waking her up.

The first one was guaranteed to wake her, the second, only about eighty percent. He decided on the twenty percent odds. He moved his right front hoof first. Placing it on his side, hoof down on the bed so he might start transferring his weight off her.

It worked, being that he moved his hoof, and she didn’t wake up. Flash had no time to celebrate that little achievement. Now that he had his hoof in position, he raised his head next. This was the most dangerous part, for this was the part of him that somehow felt more… connected to her. He believed that by moving his head, he’d be cutting the bond they shared. That logic was… absurd. But somehow… he just believed it.

As his head pulled away, the bright-pink satin PJ top Vela wore stuck to his fur for a moment. He worked it clear and looked down at her, really looked this time. She’s... amazing. How… how have I never noticed before?

His bladder reminded him he was on the clock. Shaking his head free, Flash moved his other hoof to the bed and lifted himself up. This was the part that actually caused Vela to move, she squirmed—just a little—as his weight was lifted from her body.

She looked unhappy.

He kicked himself for this again, wishing he had more self-control then this, and didn’t absolutely have to pee.

It’s either in a toilet, or on the bed. One way or another, it’s coming out, and I seriously doubt you’d be happy with option B.

His hind hooves were easier. They allowed him to get to his hooves and start the long, arduous process of removing himself from the bed. A process that was slightly expedited as his biological needs forced him to speed up.

Flash only barely avoided falling off the bed. He saved himself by a last second correction with his wing.

Stupid blanket!

As he pulled the offending garment from off his body, he stood up and took one more look at Vela. The hippogriff was on her back, her head raised and to the left. Her beak had the cutest little smile on it. The pink pajama top was matted to her fur, ruffled from having been pulled away from his body.

His eyes trailed down her body to the mess that was between her legs. Her fur there was sticky and matted, a little leftover from their… fun.

I’m so bucked if she’s pregnant. Grandma, why didn’t mom let you teach us more?

Cadance had tried to teach the boys all about sex when she was still around. Sadly, their mother, Firestar, had a different perspective on what a ten-year-old should know than what Cadance did.

He really, really, really wished that Cadance had won that argument, that his mom hadn’t pulled the ‘mom’ card, and that his dad hadn’t simply let them fight it out without taking sides.

Sure, he knew the basics: dick goes in pussy, cumming, foals, masturbation, etc… But he didn’t know how to please Vela. What sort of things did girls like? How could he go the extra mile to make sure that she's happy?

And most importantly, why did the thought that she might be pregnant with his foal make him, somewhat… joyful?

His bladder reminded him once more that now was not the time for such questions, now was the time for peeing. Flash was left with the distinct impression that he’d not get another warning.

He—painfully—tore his eyes away from her sleeping form and to the restroom. The sun was already out, lighting the room just enough through the blinds to prevent the young stallion from stumbling over anything. He hurriedly made his way to the bathroom, taking extra care to make as little noise as possible so as to not wake up his sleeping princess. With a huge sigh of relief, he made it to the restroom and shut the door behind him.

Loudly.

Vela awoke with a start. Her sleep was interrupted by what sounded like the door to her room being slammed shut. She stretched her front claws over her head and yawned, feeling stiff, satisfied, and sticky.

Her mind quickly remembered what had happened last night. Her eye darted around the room, looking for her coltfriend.

Then her mind put two and two together. The noise, the slamming door, he… he left.

She expected to be angry even. She told herself to grab the spear and hunt him down, to skin the colt alive and drape his pelt over her doorway. But yet, oddly, all she felt like doing was crying.

Suddenly, last night didn’t seem so fun to her. She had felt… something different, very different when her and Flash had...

Vela pulled her hind legs up to her chest and buried her face in her claws.

Of course he’d leave, stupid! Who’d… who’d want to be with me...

The flush of a toilet caused her heart to jump into her throat. Her eyes went wide as her head shot up to see a white pegasus stallion walking out of the bathroom. A relieved look in his eyes, or at least it was in his eyes before he caught sight of Vela.

“You’re up?”

“YOU JERK!” Vela yelled as she started throwing things at him.

Flash took two pillows to the face before he started ducking. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you! I just had to use the restroom!”

Vela paused. She looked down at her claws, the bed, and then back up to the stallion himself.

Flash blinked three times as he heard the strangest noise: She was laughing. It started off as a chuckle, but quickly built up to full on laughter.

“Sorry,” Flash said again as—against his instincts—he moved to the bed and jumped on it. “I really didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Leave it to me to fall for the stupid ones.” Vela lamented.

“Wait, you fell for me?” Flash asked with a smile.

“What do you think, idiot, that I just have sex with anyone?”

Flash—wisely—said nothing. He’d heard more than his fair share of tales about Ataxia.

“Y-you did mean it, right?” Vela asked. Her tone was suddenly somber.

“What?” Flash asked.

“You want to be my coltfriend?”

Flash smiled at her. “Of course.”

She did something surprising. Vela moved her head and placed it on Flash’s chest. The pegasus held her in his hooves. He was enjoying the feeling of someone being close to him like this.

“You know you can’t say a word about this, any of this, right?” Vela asked as she practically purred into his chest.

“I’d never,” Flash said as he simply held her, “not until you’re ready.”

“Ready?” Vela asked.

“You know, to tell them, about us I mean.”

“Who said I wanted to tell them?”

Flash sat there, dumbstruck. “But… I mean, us?”

Vela glared at him; waiting until the confusion on his muzzle became a frown of reluctant acceptance before she smiled. “I’m just bucking with you. Of course we’ll tell them, one day.”

Flash chuckled. Of course she’d still mess with me, she’s still Vela after all.

“You think they’ll be mad? I mean, we’re related after all,” he asked

“Pft, we’re second cousins. Besides, Shimmering Night—after a foursome with her own sister—is pregnant with her brother-in-law’s foal, and Taz and Nighttide are fucking every chance they get; they can’t really say shit about us, now can they?”

“Speaking of pregnant. I mean…”

“Very doubtful. My parents tried for years to have foals, and they only had two. Three if you count the one they lost. They said it’s really hard for ponies and griffins to conceive. I doubt it’s that much easier for hippogriffs.”

“Oh, okay.”

Why does he sound disappointed?

Why do I sound disappointed?

“But, if I was?” Vela asked.

“I’d be a dad,” Flash said with a smile upon his face at the thought of it.

Vela felt her heart beat rapidly in her chest. She smiled and pressed herself tighter against his chest.

“So, I want to ask, about us?” Flash asked.

“What now?”

“Well, does this change things between us? I mean, not in private?”

Vela raised her head and kissed him. She let her tongue reach into his mouth and find his own before pulling back with a smile, her claw having found its goal while she had him distracted. “What do you think?”

Flash cringed as he felt Vela squeeze his balls in her claw, not enough to cause him real pain, but more than enough to make her point. “Noted.”

Vela ran her other claw over his muzzle in a tender touch before lightly slapping him upside the muzzle in a playful manner.

Flash rubbed his muzzle.

Luna this girl is crazy. What did I get myself in t—

“We need a shower before we head out. We both smell like sex,” Vela stated.

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”

Vela jumped down from off the bed and made her way to the bathroom; halfway there, she stopped and turned around to wink at him. “You coming? I could use someone to wash my back.”

Flash nodded and jumped down to follow her.

I think I could get used to it.

He had no idea just how deep the rabbit hole went, but now that he started, there was no turning back.

***

Ana put a hoof to her face in frustration at her sister’s pacing back and forth in their room. “Ugh, how long are you going to do that?”

Starlight looked over to her. “Oh, you’re awake?”

“Duh, you’ve been pacing since sunrise.”

“Actually, about an hour before that.”

The glare Ana gave her could shatter glass. “Are you still going on about that bat-pony from last night?”

“She came by again, this morning. Woke me up to apologize.”

“So then what’s the problem? She apologized, let it go.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do!”

“Based on the groves in the floor, you’re not,” Anna said.

“I just don't know what to think about that mare!”

Ana snorted. “She's just a bat pony, there’s nothing to think about.”

“I know the stories,” Starlight snapped. “She's just so different in her own way. Something is interesting about her but I just can't figure out what!”

“Oh please not you too!”

“What‽”

“That look. I know it from that mare and from mom. Don't tell me you fell for a bat-pony.”

“What‽” Starlight’s eyes raised in shock. “That’s ridiculous!”

“Oh please, let me guess, you can’t stop thinking about her. You can’t get the mental image of her out of your head, you feel like somepony completely different when you’re with her?”

“I’ve only seen her twice.”

Ana rolled over, a smile crossing her face. “My sister, the smitten pony.”

“You’re the one with the silly crushes, not me!” Starlight protested.

“Yet you’re the one pacing here, thinking about that mare,” Ana teased.

“She’s in the Night Guard, she’s at least eighteen!”

“Age isn’t nothing but a number,” Ana replied.

“You say that out of knowledge from Nighttide?” Starlight asked.

Ana scowled at that, pissed. Starlight took a step back, knowing she took it too far. “Sorry.”

The dark-blue unicorn stared at her sister. “Look, you want some help or not?”

“Help with what? I don’t have feelings for her, if that’s what you’re implying.”

“Oh sweet Luna,” Ana said, rubbing her temples. “Assuming you don’t, why can’t you stop thinking about her?”

“She’s… I… but…”

“Yeah, enough said. Look, you can’t get her out of your head, right?”

Starlight nodded, that statement she could—would agree with.

“So figure out why.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do!”

“No, you’re not. Spend time with her, figure out why she’s running around your head nonstop.”

“What, like on a date?”

“You said it.”

It was Starlight’s turn to scowl. “That's not helpful at all!”

“Nopony said it had to be a date-date. Just take her out to eat as a way of saying thanks for the hard work she did on the armor.”

“But bat-ponies eat… meat.”

“And?”

“And I…”

“Look, you’re going to drive yourself crazy with this, trust me I know. But the one place you won’t figure this out is in your own head. I know this is weird for you, but the answer you’re looking for is not in your brain or books. It’s out there.”

Starlight sat down and wrapped her tail around her hind legs. “But, would she even want to? I mean, I’m only thirteen.”

Ana sat up. “Honestly? I have no idea. But I think you’re pretty cool to be around, so she’d have to be blind to see otherwise.”

Starlight blushed at her sister’s complement. This was the Ana she missed, the Ana she had been before this all started. “Will you be my wingmare?”

“You want your sister to go with you while you ask a mare out?” Ana asked, a smile upon her face.

“We’re not goi—”

“I’m just screwing with you,” Ana said with a chuckle. “I’ll do it. But on one condition.”

“Name it.”

“We go right now.”

“What?”

“Yep. I’ll go with you, provided we go right this second. Together, the two of us, before she’s asleep.”

“But we’ve got so much to do! Twilight and everyone’s leaving today, we can’t just—”

“That’s the condition,” Ana stated, her voice recalcitrant. “Take it or leave it.”

“Why now?”

“Because I know you, this is a problem you will not let go of. You’re going to spend every second of every minute of every hour thinking about it. And then you’ll make a hundred excuses on why not to do it and drag your hooves about it for weeks, if not months. So no, we’re not going through all of that. We do it now, or you’re doing it alone.”

“I hate you.”

“Is that a yes or a no?” Ana said, already knowing she had won.

“Yes,” Starlight mumbled.

“What was that? Sorry, couldn’t hear you. I think we might have a mouse in here.”

“Yes.”

“That’s better,” Ana replied with a chuckle. “Now let’s do something about your mane before we go and try to woo the fair maiden's heart.”

“I DON'T LIKE HER THAT WAY!”

“Sure, whatever you say, sis.” Ana chuckled as she got up and grabbed her supplies. Reluctantly, Starlight parked herself in front of a full length mirror.

If I don’t like her that way, why is my heart beating a mile-a-minute at the thought of her?

***

Echoside lay back in her bed, her headphones turned all the way up as she enjoyed the latest beats by Dr. Hooves. She frowned, regardless of how loud she turned the sound up on her headphones, they wouldn’t drown out her thoughts.

She hugged you.

She turned the volume up even louder

You called her cute.

She maxed out the volume.

She’s an annoying, stick-in-her-ass, princess. Like we don’t have enough of them already.

It still wasn't enough.

You can't forget her, you’re interested in her.

“NO, I’M NOT!”

Echoside blushed when she realized that she had shouted that last bit. Looking up she saw every bat-pony staring at her, wondering what had crawled up her flank and died. She took off her headphones and sighed. “Sorry.”

“Freaking rookies,” one mumbled before turning away.

“Care to say that to my face‽”

The pony that had spoke turned back around. Echoside took stock of him. He was a big-beefy pony, a Linebreaker if she had to guess. The strongest, toughest units one could be in. His jet-black mane seemed to suck in light as he walked up to her, easily twice her size.

Echoside didn’t even bat an eye.

He glared at her as one might a piece of excrement on the sidewalk. “You’re lucky your grandmothers are famous, otherwise I’d wipe that smirk of your face.”

“Too big a pussy to take on little old me? I see how you are.”

“The Night Guard has gone soft letting blowhards like you in. All talk, no bite.”

She growled, baring her fangs. “You want to see my bite? I’ll be happy to show you.”

“Echoside!”

With venom, she turned to the speaker. “WHAT‽”

“You have visitors,” the bat-pony on guard stated.

Echoside’s eyes went wide as she saw the source of her frustration this last night standing at the door. She shook her head clear and retracted her fangs. “Princess, what are you doing here?”

“Hanging out with the namby-pamby princesses now? I knew you were soft,” the large pony chuckled and turned away to his bunk.

Echoside spun around and bucked him in the balls as hard as she could. The bat-pony collapsed like a house of cards. The mare smiled before bolting in the direction of the princess. She almost paused when she saw that the unicorn wasn’t alone. “C’mon, get moving! He’s going to be pissed!”

“And you’re wondering about that?” Ana asked her sister.

Starlight gave her a look before smiling and running after Echoside. Ana shrugged and did likewise. She could hear the big bat-pony cussing and cursing behind them as he tried to stand and failed several times over. From the stories she had heard, the others wouldn’t help him, but they wouldn’t hinder him either.

Bat-ponies were all about personal honor.

Echoside led them out the barracks and around to the edge of the palace walls. She took so many twists and turns that Ana was completely lost. Starlight fared better, until they reached several places that weren’t on the blueprints. Then her mental map simply did not line up with the physical world anymore.

Only when Echoside was satisfied he wouldn’t be able to follow them did she come to a stop. Starlight and Ana were close on her tail, but they were both completely out of breath. “That’s what I call a morning workout!” Echoside said with a smile as she turned back to her two charges, the mare wasn’t even winded.

“W-what… was… that… about?” Starlight grunted.

“Somepony just getting too big for his own good. I had to knock him down a peg, or two in this case.” Echoside giggled. “What were you doing here anyway, princess?”

“The name’s Starlight.”

“What makes you think I care what your name is, princess?”

Starlight ignored that comment. “And this is my sister, Ana.”

“So you’re princess seven, or eight? I’ve lost count.”

Ana glared at her, then turned to her sister and asked, “This is the mare you’ve been pining over?”

Echoside paused, then gasped. “What?”

Starlight blushed at that. “I’m not pining over anyone, Ana. I just… I mean… I—”

“Been pacing back and forth in our room for the last three hours unable to get her out of your head. Yes, I know. I was there, remember?”

“You too?” Echoside blurted out before coughing, “Uh, I mean… Buck!”

Ana glanced at the bat-pony; this being her first good look at her, she could… kinda see it. The mare was grey, had a black mane that was about twenty-five percent purple, and piercing lavender cat-like eyes. When she was off-hooved like this, she was actually kind of cute.

“The reason we're here is because my sister had something she wanted to ask you. Don’t you, Starlight?”

Starlight suddenly felt butterflies in her stomach. She opened her mouth, wishing more than anything she had something to drink; her blue coat felt itchy, her eyes watery, especially when Echoside locked eyes with her. “I-I I mean, I wanted to… I… Um…”

“Oh for buck's sake,” Ana groaned. “She wanted to know if you’d go out to eat with her, on a date.”

“It’s not a date!” Starlight protested, suddenly finding her voice.

Ana sighed. “Don’t mind her. She’s just in denial.”

Echoside looked from Starlight to Ana, Starlight to Ana, Starlight to Ana, and then she started to laugh at what was going on. “Oh my, Luna, it’s like school all over again!”

“Is that a yes or no?” Ana asked. “We kinda need an answer.”

“If I say yes is her interpreter coming too?” Echoside asked.

Starlight blushed. “No, just us two eating something, alone.”

“Fine, whatever. But you’re paying. As I can’t exactly return to my bunk for a while I could use a free meal. You can take me out to eat tonight, but I’m picking the place!”

“Please pick something that has salads as well,” Starlight said quietly.

“Ignore her, whatever you pick is fine,” Ana stated. “You can pick her up from her room at six, that good?”

“Ehh, whatever,” Echoside replied.

“See you at six,” Ana stated as she walked over and started to bump Starlight out of the hole in the wall they were in. “I’ll make sure she’s ready to go by then.”

“S-see ya then,” Starlight mumbled as she looked back once. Echoside sat facing away from them, but the mare did look over her shoulders at the departing princesses once. Before realizing she had been busted and quickly looking away.

Ana chuckled as she did her best to lead them back. “Hey, Starlight?”

“Yeah?” Starlight asked nervously.

“Is there a spell or something that can give you the ability to speak, if not that’s going to be one awkward date.”

“It's just a dinner and not a date!” Starlight snapped. “Why can’t you get that through your head?”

“Whatever you say, sis, whatever you say,” Ana said with a chuckle.

Starlight growled, “C’mon, I’m sure they’re waiting for us. We should get back.”

“And then get ready for your date,” Ana said under her breath.

“What was that‽”

“Nothing, like you said, we need to get back.”

***

Starlight’s words proved prophetic; the two sisters were indeed the last to arrive. They found everyone waiting in the courtyard. Twilight, Rainbow, Dayspring Gleam, Ataxia, and Radiant had packed their bags, ready to go. Aurora was the only adult that didn’t; she was watching the kids roughhousing. Next to them were three opened crates of armor. Blaze, Flash, and Taz were already in their armor. Starlight couldn’t help but see Nighttide admiring her prince in the purple armor of the Night Guard. However, when Ana looked around, she could’ve sworn she saw the same look Nighttide had on her muzzle on Vela’s. But she lost sight of it too quickly to see whom it was directed to.

“You two finally get up?” Radiant asked.

“About time, let's go!” Ataxia said.

“Damn, you’re in a hurry aren't you,” Dayspring Gleam commented.

“It’s mom, she’s always in a hurry,” Ana said with a smile; one that disappeared when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nighttide kissing Taz.

“Alright, you all know why we're leaving. We’re leaving to finally get ahead of the Red situation and hopefully put an end to this once and for all. I don’t know how long we’re going to be gone, but with the lunar solstice in three days’ time, I expect that we won't be back until this is over. While we’re gone, you are ALL to listen to Aurora. She’s in charge, okay?”

Most of the ponies present said okay; however, there was some mumbling of disagreement from Nighttide.

“Nighttide, is that understood?”

“I’m older than her!”

“That may be, but you’re not a princess.”

Nighttide glared at Taz when Twilight made that comment. The colt just shrunk at that comment. He had considered marrying her a few times already, in truth he didn’t know why he hadn’t yet.

“I shouldn't give a buck about the title. I could be her… Well, I'm more than six times her age!” Nighttide scowled.

“The guard’s only answer to a princess or prince of Equestria, until that’s officially your title, you cannot be left in charge,” Twilight answered matter-of-factly.

Nighttide grumbled, but stopped when Taz nuzzled her coat. “Relax,” he whispered, “if we’re not in charge, that means we have more time to ourselves.”

The mare smiled wickedly and gave Taz a glare that made him gulp. It was a glare of lust, of a mare that knew what exactly she wanted.

As with every time the two started in, Twilight ignored it. Pretending something wasn’t happening wasn’t the healthy way to go about it, but it was either that or accepting it. She chose A. “I expect you all to look after each other. It’s been almost six months since we’ve last seen or heard from Red, but while we’re gone, he might make his move. Trust each other, have each other’s back like the family you are. And watch out for Shimmering Night, please.”

They all nodded at that.

“Starlight, you’re the most magically gifted. If something goes wrong, I want you to contact Dayspring Gleam as soon as possible.”

The mare nodded at that.

“Vela, Nighttide, you’re our heavy hitters. However, don’t get overconfident. Attack as a team, don’t try and take them by yourself,” Radiant stated.

They each nodded in turn.

“Blaze, Flash, use your speed, you can’t hit what you can’t catch,” Rainbow added.

“Ana, Dayspring. Look out for Aurora, she’s getting slow in her old age,” Dayspring Gleam said with a smile upon his muzzle.

“Oh, buck you too!” Aurora replied back, smiling at her twin brother's jest.

“The point is, look out after each other. You’re all friends... of sorts anyways. Be there for each other, and above all, stay safe,” Twilight stated.

“You can count on us, mom,” Taz said.

“We’ll make you proud, grandma,” Vela added.

“You’ve already done that,” Twilight said as her party gathered around. They could all see that Ataxia’s patience was quickly reaching the end of its rope.

Starlight watched as Dayspring Gleam powered his horn, surrounding the group with the beginnings of a mass, long-distance, teleportation. She knew from her own studies the spell took a LOT of power, but he made it look almost like foal’s play.

“Hey mom,” Ana said.

Ataxia looked at her daughter, surprised.

“Kick his flank!”

The purple unicorn smiled. “He’ll never know what hit him.” She then closed her eyes and prepared herself for the thing she hated most in the world: teleportation.

Dayspring’s spell was complete and the group of ponies flashed out of existence to hunt down the only lead they had discovered in six months.

A new Plan

Celestia’s Palace

As the sun’s rays lit up the room the two filly princesses shared, Ana awoke to a rather unusual sight. Her sister, Starlight, was sitting in front of a full-length mirror, levitating several different covers and powders, all from Ana’s makeup kit.

At first, the dark-blue unicorn thought she was still dreaming. It was… strange, Starlight never used makeup, not before yesterday anyway; and even then, Ana was the one that applied it for her. To make matters even stranger, Starlight was applying it to her neck. She was trying and failing to cover something up. Her neck looked like a hodgepodge done by somepony that had no idea what she was doing—or that when it came to makeup, less is more.

Then Ana realized that Starlight had come home late last night, after she’d fallen asleep waiting for her.

“What-do-you-think-you’re-doing?” Ana blurted out, smiling as she saw her sister almost jump out of her fur. Ana had to act fast to catch multiple items she had been levitating before they fell to the ground and broke.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean t-to I mean, I…” Starlight stammered at being so caught.

Ana chuckled as she levitated the items back to the bin she kept them in. “It’s fine, sis. But ask before you use my stuff.”

The blue unicorn blushed. “I-I… I kinda, um…” When Starlight moved her neck to the side, Ana saw the huge blemish of makeup that was doing a piss poor job of covering something up.

Ana raised an eyebrow. “So, just how was your date anyway?” A hickey, I can’t believe she got a hickey on the first date.

“Oh, Echoside’s so much fun. Did you know she’s related to General Night Watch? Yeah, that general! She tried to take me to a bar at first, but then we went to a restaurant I had never been to before. After that…”

Ana smiled as she realized that Starlight hadn’t said a thing about her calling it a date. You really are smitten to her, aren't you?

“... Then she was diagnosed with a fractured rib so we came back here. And after we… well…”

“You kissed?” Ana asked.

Starlight blushed. “It was amazing.”

Ana walked up and hugged her sister. While the two were the same age, Starlight had always been the more mature one. It’s nice to see her living life instead of just reading about it, Ana thought. Starlight leaned into the hug, which turned out to be a mistake, because, when she did, a large amount of her makeup transferred to her sister.

The dark-blue unicorn looked at her hoof, one that was now covered in multiple shades of makeup. Without even asking, she levitated up a washcloth and some cleaner to start over.

“So, your first hickey? Whose idea was—” she paused, her eyes widened as she saw that what her sister had tried to cover wasn’t a hickey, at least not in the traditional sense.

Starlight was caught unaware; Ana had transitioned so smoothly from the hug that she didn’t even realize what her sister was doing until it was too late. As soon as she did, the mare jumped back. “Ana, it’s not what you think!”

“Those… those are puncture wounds…” Ana said, mouth agape.

“I-I-I-I—”

“Starlight, were you… attacked?”

“What? No!”

“Then how did you…” The look on Ana’s face caused Starlight’s heart to sink. “Echoside… she… she bit you…”

“It was my choice! I wanted to!”

“I’m telling mom,” Ana said, going for the door.

“She’s with Night!”

Ana looked back at her sister with a look that could only be described as disappointed. “I don’t care.” At that, she turned to head back to the door.

Starlight teleported directly in front of the mare. “Just let me explain, please?”

“Starlight.”

“Please, sis, please,” Starlight pleaded.

Ana huffed and looked away, but it didn’t stop her sister’s piercing green eyes from staring at her, pleading with her. “Fine, I’ll listen. But I’m making no promises that I won't tell.”

“That’s all I ask,” Starlight said as she sat down and cleared her throat. “You’ve heard the rumors of bat-ponies eating meat and drinking blood, right?” Ana nodded. “Well, they’re true. Bat-ponies carry a lot of their namesake’s traits, including the blood drinking.”

“So what? She was hungry and you just offered yourself up as a free meal?” Ana asked in disbelief.

“No. It started off as nothing more than a kiss, I swear. In the hospital we almost kissed, but the doctor came in and interrupted us. Well, when we got back home I went in to kiss her. But I wasn’t prepared for her teeth. She kinda bit into my lower lip by mistake.”

“You’re not helping your case, Starlight.”

“You have to understand that to them, feeding from one another is an act you only do with your special somepony.”

“So they only drink each others’ blood if they really like each other?”

“Exactly.”

“But, you said it was an accident?”

“Yes. However, when she pulled back she just looked so embarrassed, and… well… cute.”

“No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no. You’re telling me that it was you. You two kissed and when she accidentally bit your lip, you wanted her to do it.”

“Right, yes.”

“WHY‽”

“I don’t know,” Starlight said with a sigh. “I just wanted to know what it was like, I guess. When we kissed, it felt amazing! It was like—”

“Fireworks?” Ana asked.

“Cliché, but… well, yeah.”

Ana ran her hoof across her brow. “So help me understand this. How’d you go from kissing to being her next meal?”

“She wasn’t feeding from me!”

“She drank your blood, she fed from you.”

“No, it’s not, it’s… Luna I don’t know what it is, but it’s more of a bond. Something we—”

“Shared?”

“Yes.”

“That few ponies will ever understand.”

“Yes.”

That, Ana could relate to. Even if she didn’t understand this, she could understand being in this position. Ana moved to examine her sister’s wounds; it was obvious. Starlight had two puncture wounds on the side of her neck. They were scabbed over already and covered in a small amount of makeup she hadn’t yet wiped off. The fur around them looked tender to the touch. “Do—do they hurt?”

“They’re sore, and there was a small amount of pain when she bit in, but after that it felt… um…”

Ana pulled back, a neutral expression on her face. “You liked it.” It was not a question.

Starlight almost looked ashamed when she nodded her head.

Ana picked up the cloth again and started wiping off the rest of the makeup trying to cover her sister’s wounds. “If this happened last night, how come they’re already scabbed over?”

“Oh, when we were at the hospital, the doctor showed me some healing spells that I could use to help heal Echoside ribs. I used them on myself too, they accelerated the healing, but it’s not like mom’s ability, it can’t just magically heal me overnight like it never happened.”

Ana levitated the cloth to the sink and grabbed a fresh one, she wet it to make sure the area was completely clean. “How did this not hurt?”

“Bat-pony fangs release a numbing agent into whatever they bite.”

“So they don’t fight to get away?”

“Well… yeah,” Starlight said. “For them, the blood is an ambrosia, it’s a fine wine that helps with their amazing healing and stamina. That doubles when there’s an… emotional connection.”

“Starlight, I—”

“Please! This isn’t her fault, I wanted her to do it.”

Ana huffed, and then sighed. The look in her sister’s eyes told her she was telling the truth, but the dark-blue unicorn needed to know something. “Starlight, are… are you going to do it again?”

“Ana, I—”

“And keep in mind, this would be a really, really, REALLY bad time to lie to me.”

“I… I…” the blue mare sighed, relenting. “Yes.”

“Well then, let me give you a crash course in doing this on your own.”

“What, does that mean you’ll—”

“I won’t tell, but you have to promise me you won’t take it too far, okay? If you end up in the hospital from blood loss, I’ll kick her ass myself, never mind what mom or grandma will do.”

“I promise,” Starlight said with a smile.

***

Vela sat up and stretched her claws above her head and into the air. She yawned, loudly, and then leaned forward to extend her wings and their pearl-white feathers. Soon, she realized that she wasn’t alone. Looking down at her bed, she saw her new bed-partner, the white pegasus currently curled up at her side, his head resting on her stomach. Flash was sleeping with a smile on his muzzle.

“You big dork,” Vela whispered with a grin as she ran her claw through his sky-blue mane. In a way, she felt kinda bad. He had undoubtedly been excited to come to bed last night because he thought it’d be a repeat of the other night’s performance.

The other night was fun, as was the shower—even if we just kept that to touching—but if we did it all the time you’d start to expect it.

She considered waking him up with a blowjob, but decided against it. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, as seeing him there, curled up, softly breathing against her fur, he looked so positively adorkable. It was just that he was in a bad position for her to do such a thing. His groin wasn’t in a spot she could easily access. She’d have to escape from underneath him, and then turn him over so she could actually access his sheath.

Doing so would wake him up, and while she seriously doubted he’d complain, it’d defeat the surprise.

Maybe next time.

Vela realized something at the moment: the punishment her mom sentenced her to, she no longer considered it as such. Sure she was—for all intents and purposes—cheating; only obeying the letter of the punishment if not the spirit. But when it was over, she didn’t really want to go back to sleeping with her mom and brother. Flash was… well… she didn’t really know, but it was just better sleeping with him.

Even if all they did was sleep.

She moved her claw down to his ear, scratching lightly behind it. The pegasus purred in his sleep at the touch. His wing started to unfold itself at the contact, causing the hippogriff to giggle a little. That is until she saw something that almost blew her mind.

Vela smacked him upside the back of the head.

“Oww!” Flash said as he sharply sat up “What the heck?”

“When was the last time you preened your wings?”

“What?” Flash asked.

“Your wings!” Vela shouted, pointing at the pegasus’s white wings.

Flash looked back at his right wing. It looked fine to him. Sure there were a few dislodged feathers, but nothing severe. “I don’t know, about a week ago, I guess?”

“You guess?”

“Yeah, I mean it’s not really something I do a lot.”

Vela face-clawed. “Even if it was a week, they shouldn’t get this bad in such a short period of time.”

“They’re not that bad,” Flash said, subconsciously moving the wing back to his side.

Vela looked at him in disbelief. Only a non-flyer would ever consider those ‘not bad’. Then a thought occurred to her. “Who taught you how to preen anyway?”

“My dad. He showed me and Blaze four years ago.”

“Your dad, Radiant, the unicorn.”

“Yeah.”

Vela face-clawed. “Why didn’t your…” she paused, not wanting to say mom and remind him about Firestar but needing to have this conversation all the same. “Why’d your dad teach you, and not, you know, somepony that could fly?” Like your mom, or grandma.

“What? He did a good job, we’re both great flyers.”

Vela just shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Tonight, I’m going to show you how to actually preen your wings.”

“Umm… every time I do, I—”

“I know,” Vela said. “And same for me, but you’re doing it… well, I don’t know what you’re doing, but you’re doing it wrong. I’ll show you the right way and then”—Vela grinned—“maybe I’ll let you preen me.”

Flash slowly became excited. Every time he went through the steps that his dad had shown him, it—at least in the last few years anyway—always ended with him furiously beating off. Vela not only knew about it, but she was also more than willing to teach him a better method and even offered to let him return the favor.

“Flash, you’re getting hard again,” Vela said.

The pegasus looked down to his groin. Sure enough his member was starting to poke out of his sheath. He looked up at her and shrugged. “Little help?”

Vela leaned in a whispered into his ear. “Sure, it’s called a cold shower.”

His ears fell back and his posture slumped.

“Now get out of here, we don’t want to draw too much attention.”

“You’re kicking me out? Like this?” He asked, looking down at his fast growing semi-hard cock.

Vela reached her right claw down and ran her digits softly up the underside of his dick. She was tender, caring, soft, and dragging it out as long as she could. When she reached the tip, she brought her claw back up to her beak and licked off the pre that had transferred to it. “Just think, it gives you something to look forward to tonight.”

He watched her turn around and saunter to her bathroom. Her tail swished back and forth far more than was needed, giving him stolen glances of her pussy past her purple, blue, and orange tail. She looked back, once, winked at him, and then entered and locked the bathroom door. That small sound echoed around the room, signaling that Vela’s mind was made up and there wasn’t a single thing else more that was going to say to him.

It was that noise that made Flash realize she was serious about him leaving, now. He looked down at his now rock-hard cock. Her touch, and the sight she had treated him to, had done their worst.

“Cold shower, right…” Flash moaned as he got to his hooves, his member bouncing up and down below him. He stared at the door, knowing he had to walk down the hall, up a flight of stairs, and to his room with his dick hanging out. All in the slim hope that his brother wasn’t up, so he could make use of the bathroom.

“Dammit Vela, why do I keep letting you do this to me?” Flash said as he left the room.

Because I love her.

Flash found himself smiling as he walked down the hall to his own room, his member bobbing along happily underneath him.

***

Aurora looked around the breakfast table. All eight of their foals were smiling and laughing with each other. She saw Vela playing with Flash, Taz, and Nighttide. Ana and Starlight were happily chatting back and forth with each other, whilst Dayspring and Blaze were playing with each other, tossing small biscuits at the others around the table when they weren’t paying attention.

Everything was largely idealistic.

“Okay, what the buck is going on here?” Aurora asked, startling everyone present.

“Mom said a bad word,” Dayspring said.

Vela smiled. “What’s wrong, Mom?”

“You all don’t get along this well! What are you hiding?”

That took Vela aback, and almost caused Flash and Starlight to start reacting in a bad way. “Hiding, what makes you think we’re hiding anything?” Ana asked.

Aurora cleared her throat.

“Well, first off, you’re not scowling at Nighttide.”

“Vela, you haven’t threatened to hurt anyone yet.”

“Flash, you actually seem to be getting along with Vela.”

“Nopony has called Blaze dumb.”

“And Vela, your brother’s not sitting on your lap.”

Taz blinked three times. Oh, wow… she’s right.

Vela scowled. “So, we can’t get along with each other?”

Aurora glared at her. “Don’t pull that shit with me. What are you hiding?”

Eight sets of eyes turned and looked at each other. Four of them were indeed hiding something. “I… uh…” Starlight started to say, her conflicting nature causing her to want to answer the question, even though she really didn’t want to.

“And why was Flash walking up the stairs with his dick hanging out at seven in the morning?” Aurora asked, her voice friendly, but dangerous.

“You saw that?” Flash asked, embarrassed.

Aurora shook her head clear of that memory. “I’ll ask one more time, then I’m going get serious. What. Are. You. Hid—”

A loud explosion hit the roof, causing several stones and bricks to fall loose. Dayspring cried out and Nighttide’s shadows shot up and shattered several of the largest pieces of stone. Flash jumped on Vela and Blaze, knocking them to the ground and covering them with his body. Starlight didn’t even think about it. She simply powered her horn and formed a protective shield around everypony.

“What the buck‽” Vela yelled, kicking Flash off her as she un-holstered Siros’s Vengeance from its near-permanent spot on her back.

Nine sets of eyes looked up at the new hole in the roof. There, flying in the sky, were two ponies. One a night-black alicorn, whose mane and tail were like smoke in the wind, in light-blue armor. The other was a dark-blue pegasus. Although they could all see that was only in his looks, as he currently held up three royal guard pegasi in dark magic and broke their necks.

A demonstration, just for those present.

“MOM!” Nighttide shouted, her voice full of anger.

Nightmare Moon did a double take. “Didn’t I kill you in Tartarus?”

“You’re going to wish you had!” Nighttide said as she shot up. Only to be stopped when she felt something grab her tail. She glared back in anger to see Taz holding her tail, a pleading look in his eyes. “Taz, let go!”

He grunted. “No, remember the training.”

“Whatever you’re here for, you’ll lose!” Aurora shouted as she jumped up on top of the table.

“What? Is the powerless supermodel going to stop me?” Nightmare Moon said with a chuckle.

“Keep em distracted, I’ll send Uncle Dayspring a signal,” Starlight whispered to Ana.

Unfortunately, Ana wasn’t the only one that heard it. “No, we can take them,” Vela growled.

“Vela, that’s not what Grandma Twilight said.”

“Time to pull up your big mare panties, Starlight. I want to see what I can do.” Vela grinned as she eyed the pony next to Nightmare Moon. “He looks like one of those revenants that attacked us, I want revenge, for dad.”

“Vela, I don’t think—”

Vela turned, the look in her eyes caused Starlight to shut up. “I need this, please.”

“We’re here for your sister, Aurora. Turn her over, or witness eternal bloodshed,” Nightmare Moon said as she licked her lips at the sight of the eight charges placed under Aurora’s watch.

“Let’s just kill everyone,” the dark-blue pegasus said. “I could do it myself, easily.”

Aurora grinned. Self-confidence, such an easy flaw to take advantage of. “There’s just one problem with your little plan, Luna.”

“It’s Nightmare Moon, Little Pony,” Nightmare Moon growled. “And humor, me, what exactly are you going to do to stop me?”

“Me? Nothing,” Aurora confessed. “But I think Vela would like to have words with your friend there.”

At those words, Vela slashed the spear through the air, cutting a slice of magic that traveled up and straight through the pegasus’s right side, cutting off his left hind leg and a good portion of his left wing.

“Shadow!” Nightmare Moon yelled.

“Dammit, I missed,” Vela lamented.

Aurora turned and smiled at her daughter. “We’re definitely going to have to work on your aim, young lady.”

“I’ll kill you!” Nightmare Moon shouted as she dive-bombed the young hippogriff. It almost worked, if not for a dark-blue pegasus that had just been waiting for her mom to drop her guard.

Nighttide flew up and impaled her mother seven different times, slamming her into the back wall with a smile upon her muzzle. “Don’t forget about me, mommy.”

Taz ran after her, certain that if he left Nighttide to her own devices, she’d quickly get in over her head. Blaze followed him, unsure just what to do or where he could help.

Aurora’s eyes grew wide as she saw the pony Nightmare Moon had called Shadow starting to heal. It looked like his very form was regrowing the missing hoof and wing, which was impressive, but obviously painful. However, the crying she heard demanded her attention. She looked over to see her son full on panicking in his seat; the poor eight-year-old looked scared out of his mind.

“Mom, grab him and go!”

The command caused Aurora to do a second take on who had said it. For a second, just a split second, she had thought it came from the old, long-dead Emperor Siros. It wasn’t though. It had been from Vela, his granddaughter.

“Okay.” Aurora grabbed Dayspring and ran, too little too late did she realize that there was no place to go. The rubble had been successfully blocked from landing on them, but in doing so, it blocked the main doorway.

Holding her son in her hoof, Aurora glanced around for the other exits, one by one, she dismissed them all. They were either blocked, or would expose her to the enemy. As much as she hated it, she was stuck here. Her best option was simply to hide, to stay out of their way.

“Shh, Dayspring, I need you to be strong for me, okay?” Aurora asked.

Dayspring did his best to stifle his sobs, but for the eight-year-old, everything was simply too much. Especially when his sister joined the battle in earnest.

As soon as her brother was clear, Vela stated to approach the downed pegasus. “Starlight, Ana, you two got my back?” she asked.

“Right behind you,” Starlight said with a grin, powering up her horn and glaring at the rapidly healing pegasus.

“Same,” Ana replied. She wasn’t sure what she could really do, but she could at least guard their flanks.

“Flash, see to mom,” Vela said.

“But didn’t she escape?” the pegasus asked, flying over them.

“How?” Vela asked.

That took Flash aback until he looked around, seeing that there was no escape. Not until they had time to clear some of the debris anyway. Somehow, Vela had taken it all in without even looking. He saw Aurora and Dayspring hiding in the corner. “You promise you’ll be okay?” Flash asked.

“Pinkie promise, after all, I have something to teach you tonight.”

With a nod, the pegasus flew over to the corner. He couldn’t do much, not until his training was complete, but he’d guard Vela’s family with his life.

“Shadow, huh?” Vela asked the dark-blue pony still on the ground. She spun her spear around in a threatening arch while saying, “Let’s see how many pieces I can carve a shadow into.”

***

Nightmare Moon growled at her daughter. The two were face-to-face, muzzle-to-muzzle. She could feel the hatred radiating off Nighttide; she could see the loathing in her eyes, and the pure, blood-rage that Nighttide just seem to... emanate.

Even with the shadow spears impelling her against the wall, she smiled. “There’s the daughter I remember from the moon!”

That caused Nighttide to gasp. “W-what?”

That moment’s pause, that second’s surprise, it was all Nightmare Moon needed. She blasted her daughter dead center in the chest. Sending her flying to the floor. “Tisk tisk, you could’ve had me, what did I always say about capitalizing on your advantage?” She powered her horn, drawing more and more dark magic to the very tip. “And ALWAYS kick ‘em when they’re down!”

At that, Nightmare Moon launched a magical blast straight at Nighttide’s fallen form. One more than powerful enough to finish what she started in Tartarus.

The magic simply ceased to be ten-hooves from Nighttide’s fallen body. A black earth pony with a long blue and purple mane just seemed to materialize right between Nightmare Moon and her daughter. His natural ability simply dissipated the attack. His magenta eyes glared up at the alicorn in distinctive hatred. “LUNA! Why are you here‽”

“The gallant prince coming to rescue his damsel in distress. It’s so cliché, it’s sickening.”

Nighttide started to get to her hooves. Her chest felt like it was on fire, and, while her body was healing, it wasn’t anywhere near as fast as Nightmare Moon’s recovery rate. “I’ll get you back for what you did to me!” Nighttide growled, her determination got her to her hooves, but not even that could keep her there.

She collapsed back to the ground. Blaze flew to her side, giving her a hoof up. Taz never took his eyes off Luna. “As long as I’m here, you can’t touch anyone!” Taz shouted.

“Oh, is that so, Little Pony?” Nightmare Moon asked sarcastically with an evil grin as she powered up her horn. Taz kept his eyes on her, refusing to look around at any distraction she might try.

“Taz, duck!” Blaze shouted.

Taz dropped to the floor as a huge brick flew right over his head. He gasped as he realized Luna had almost smashed his skull open.

“You may be able to cancel my magic, but the physical world plays by its own rules, doesn’t it, Prince Taz? I may not be able to affect you, but the objects around you are fair game,” the alicorn said with a smile as she hovered in the air.

Taz scowled at her as he tried to focus his ability, to shoot it as a beam and take away her magic—just as he had done to Red all those months ago. He never got the chance to use it though.

“DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE TOUCH HIM, YOU BITCH!” Nighttide screamed as she shot up to attack her mother. The mare was still grasping the wound in her chest, but the rage and adrenaline were pushing her past it.

Taz and Blaze were left wide-eyed as Nighttide gave Nightmare Moon a buck, powerful enough that the alicorn flew through the next wall.

But it just wasn’t enough.

“It’s time I got rid of you!” she yelled as she shot a magic blast back through the hole.

Nighttide pulled to the right, but her previous injury slowed her reaction time and she was unable to avoid all of her mom’s attack. The spell scorched down the left side of her flank, passing far enough away where she wasn’t directly hit by it, but close enough to leave a nasty burn. Nighttide cried out in pain as she started losing altitude.

“Blaze!” Taz yelled.

The pegasus flew up and caught her. “You okay?”

“I’m going to, I’ll make her, I’ll…” Nighttide cursed through gritted teeth, doing her absolute best to articulate her rage.

“No, you won’t.”

The voice caused Nighttide to pause. Those words, they’d normally cause her to lash out at whomever had said them, but who said them made a big difference.

“We will, together,” Taz finished, holding out a hoof for her to take.

“How?” Blaze asked. “How are you going to defeat her?”

Taz smiled. “I know we can. Nighttide, what we have is stronger than anything she could throw at us, it can protect us from everything she tries to hurt us with. We just have to trust each other and work together. We will defeat her together and we will bring Luna back.”

“Exactly like Ataxia showed us,” Nighttide said, getting to her feet with a downcast expression. “And first chance I got I tried to do it all on my own.”

“We all make mistakes,” Taz said with a friendly smile.

“Even me. After all, I had her,” Nightmare Moon smiled as she flew out of the hole in the wall.

Taz shot her a glare. “You’ll never hurt her again. I won’t allow it. Do you know what you’re missing, LUNA? Friends that live with you and a family that loves you.” Taz gave a small look at Nighttide. “And lovers that will always stay with you. You lack all of that, and that is exactly why we’ll win and you loose!”

“I swear, prince, I’m not sure if it’s actually possible to make me vomit, but you’re getting reeeeaaal close.”

Taz smiled and nodded to Nighttide. “Let’s see if you can vomit while you lay bleeding at our hooves.”

Training took ahold of them. Nighttide rushed forward again, but this time with the love of her life directly at her side. Nightmare Moon knew all their weak spots, but the rage and hatred between her and Nighttide was big enough that she made a small, but important mistake. She attacked Nighttide with her spells, spells that were easily nullified by Taz. She realized her mistake all too late as they appeared in front of her.

Nightmare Moon cried out in pain as the first three shots of Nighttide’s shadows penetrated her stomach and her hind hooves, then she bolted quickly enough to avoid the rest that had been aimed at her chest and head.

“Nighttide, we’re trying to capture her alive,” Taz whispered as he noticed the aim from Nighttide.

“Trust me, she can take a little abuse.” The tone of Nighttide’s voice said that while it may be true, she was going to give her more than just a ‘little’.

“She deserves it at least,” Taz replied. “Just try to not kill her.”

“Kill me? As if you could!” Nightmare Moon shouted as she focused her magic and blew outwards, shattering several windows and further ruining the walls. Despite the impressive display, she had no choice but to roll to the left when she saw Taz fire his ability at her. That was a no-win situation for her. As by avoiding his ability she was forced to move into her daughter’s line of fire, and Nighttide blasted her back against the wall.

“You’ll all pay for that! When Shadow get’s done we’ll—”

“If you’re counting on him, you better look to the left!” Blaze shouted from behind them, the pegasus had been watching both fights.

“Are you trying to fool me? I’m not so easily distracted, amateur!”

“What a shame, your shadow buddy is losing at the moment.” Blaze laughed, followed by a loud, ear-shattering scream that stole everyone’s attention.

***

Shadow grinned as the foolish mares waited on him to recover. They literally watched as his body regenerated and he was once again able to stand on his own.

However, if he was happy about that turn of events, his happiness had nothing on Vela’s. The young hippogriff saw this as her chance. She was giddy with anticipation over the battle to come. She loved this. She wanted this. She NEEDED this.

“Finally! Now I can cut you into even more pieces!” she cried out, swinging the spear in her claws.

“You could’ve done that while I was down.” Shadow grinned. “Now it’s too late!”

Vela simply gave him a frightening smile before she spoke, “Well, that wouldn’t be fun! After all, the real fun is in breaking unbroken toys!”

“You foolish little mare, I’m going to—hmpf!”

It was the end of his sentence as the spear swung through the air and cut his muzzle off.

“You’re scary, Vela,” Starlight commented.

She grinned “What? I’m just having some fun.”

“That’s your definition of fun?” Flash asked from where Aurora and him were hiding.

Vela smirked. “Don’t worry, you’re on my mostly safe side.”

He turned his head to ask her mom, “Mostly safe?”

Aurora did her best to smile at him and hide Dayspring’s eyes from what was going on. The eight-year-old didn’t need to watch a pony get dismembered in real life. “She’s really a sweetheart, you just gotta look… deep.”

“That’s true,” Flash said, then his eyes went wide as Aurora glared at him.

Fortunately, his small gaff didn’t require an immediate explanation, as the battle demanded their attention.

Shadow cried out in a bestial rage, which came out as nothing more than a gargle on a pony without a muzzle. He focused on his element—the shadows, and shot them at all three mares.

Vela rolled her eyes, cutting the shadows heading for her and Ana with one swing of the spear, while Starlight simply generated a magical shield, causing the attack that went after her to deflect away into oblivion.

“So tell me, Shadow, do you feel woefully outclassed yet?” Vela teased.

Another roar, another group of shadows shot at the three. Another easily avoided attack. Vela almost laughed as she flapped her wings and took off into the air. “Starlight, Ana, NOW!”

Both mares knew what to do. They both raised shields on either side of Shadow, preventing his escape. Shadow looked up to see the spear raced through the air and cut down, right between the two shields the unicorns had raised.

He had no choice. He left his host body seconds before the attack hit. A scream of bestial pain and death rang out from a muzzleless soul that had been used as his vessel; another pony that died because of Red’s ministrations.

The gouge in the floor cut a nasty gorge in the stone, one that would take months to repair if fixed by hooves.

“Did that get him?” Vela asked.

“No, he’s still here!” Starlight shouted. Her horn glowing from the magical trace she was running.

“You’ve gotta fight harder if you want to take me down, fillies.” A voice echoed amongst them, laughing loudly.

“Give me a target!” Vela yelled, spinning around in the air to try and cover every direction at once.

“I-I…” Starlight tried to track him, her readings were making no sense though. He was… everywhere.

“Let’s see how you like MY game!” the shadow growled.

Shadow spears shot out from directly below Vela, above her, and at her flank. Her instincts kicked in and she rolled, slicing out with her spear and cutting the ones below and at her flank. The one above her shattered on a dark-blue barrier as Ana raised a shield that took the hit for the hippogriff.

“Such teamwork, it almost makes me want to weep with joy.”

“Starlight‽” Vela growled. “I’m getting really tired of this shit!”

“I’m trying!” she yelled back as another four attacks came for Vela.

Just as before, Vela had the reflexes to cut two of them, the third Ana blocked, the fourth… that was another story altogether. It struck her back leg, cutting a gash across the skin and muscles there, causing her to bleed.

“STARLIGHT!” Vela shouted. “NOW OR NEVER!”

“NOW!” Magical energy radiated out from around the unicorn. The pupils of her piercing green eyes faded, as the irises went dark when her eyes took on the appearance of her namesake: starlight.

The shadow revenant found himself pulled back from his element. He gasped as his form became manifest, as the little unicorn forced his shadows to coalesce into a shape, a shape Vela could hurt.

Vela’s mistake was taking the first shot she could. Her spear lashed out and a wave of power shot forth, striking the shadow form a glancing blow. Yet even that attack managed to cut off a large section of the creature's body.

He screamed in pain as his form—his true form—was just sliced apart.

Vela closed her eyes and basked in that scream. It was like the sweetest music to her. That is until she still heard it speak again. “Y-you’ll pay for that.”

She opened her eyes, too late to realize that she had celebrated too soon. In that instant, she saw that the creature had not only survived, but was already launching its counterattack. Seven shadows shot out directly from it.

The two heading for Vela were cut apart with a swordsmare’s skill. The one heading for Ana was deflected, as was the one heading for Starlight.

Those weren’t the ones that caused the young hippogriff to gasp. The other three spears hadn’t targeted any of the three of them, those went after Aurora, Flash, and Dayspring.

An irony of battle no one taught Vela: You’re at your weakest right before you’re about to win.

In spite of her unusual birth, Aurora Flash was born a normal pegasus. Her entire family was special in every definition of the word, they had power. Real power. Whatever genetics and magic went into the mare, they went into her looks. She was the cutest filly and later, the most gorgeous mare that ever lived. However unlike the rest of her family she wasn’t magical and she had no special abilities that the world had never seen before.

But she was still Rainbow Dash’s daughter. Every day would see the two training, harnessing her flight. She had the speed and reflexes that matched somepony in that station, even if it had been decades since the last time she had to put them to real use.

When Flash blinked, he had Dayspring in his hooves and was several hoof-lengths away from Aurora. There was no way they’d all be able to avoid the attack, so she made the choice for them. She shoved her son in his grip and tossed them clear, all in the blink of an eye.

Aurora gasped as she looked down. The toss had positioned her just so, she saw herself impaled in the front left shoulder and right hind leg. The third spear just barely missed her chest, even still, it left a nice cut down the right side of her barrel. Her last thought before losing consciousness was, Why… why isn’t there more pain?

The pain came soon enough, but not from her body; rather, it came in the form of a shout. “MOM!” Vela yelled.

Starlight evaporated the spears with a flick of her horn. Then Ana and she ran to the downed pegasus, the blue mare was already pulling out the limited healing spells she knew.

“He he he he, I’m goi—”

“YOU'RE GOING TO FUCKING DIE!” Vela shouted as she charged forward. “HOW DARE YOU HURT THOSE I LOVE!”

Siros’s Vengeance was, in every definition of the phrase: a god weapon. It was created by the combined power of Princess Twilight Sparkle, Princess Shimmering Night, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadance, two of which were Avatars of gods; one the demigoddess of magic, and one an alicorn. When it’s first bearer, Emperor Siros’s son, Emperor Icarus, picked it up, he swore an oath to use it to protect those he loved. And while it would grant any individual who wielded it amazing power, only when used for its true purpose would its real power shine through.

Vela flew at a speed only achievable by Rainbow Dash, but there was no sonic rainboom. She lashed out with power only matched by Twilight Sparkle, but there was no spell. Those were all things there wasn’t, what there was, was a death shriek.

It lasted longer than it had any right to. Even when the body was gone, the sound it had made echoed around the dining hall.

Unlike before, Vela found she could take no enjoyment from it. The creature, the thing had just been put down, a rabid dog had just lost its life, that’s it. There was nothing to celebrate. Especially not at the cost that came with it.

Unable to look at her mother in fear of the worst, she found herself crying; at least until a set of white hooves wrapped themselves around her. She looked up at the muzzle those hooves belonged to, they were Flash’s. He held her, squeezed her, and then smiled. “She’ll be fine, she’s unconscious but the injuries weren’t life-threatening, Starlight’s already stopped the bleeding.”

Vela didn’t reply. She simply reached up and kissed him. Not knowing or caring if they were seen, or who was watching. Consequences be damned, she simply wanted to. When they broke apart, the mare rested her head on his chest. Flash smiled, or at least he did until he saw the other battle.

“It isn’t over.”

Vela raised her head and looked over. She tightened her grip on the spear and said, “Then let’s end it.”

***

Nightmare Moon watched the death of her fellow revenant with wide-eyes. She had expected a lot, but not that. And while she knew she was definitely more powerful than Shadow had been, she was no longer facing a three-on-one battle. She was now facing a five-on-one assault as Flash and Vela started to fly at her.

The mare started to fly up, taunting her daughter on the way. “My oh my where did I go wrong, look how weak you are Nighttide. You’re relying on the help of others!”

Nighttide scowled, but Taz was the first one to speak out. “It’s a strength to be able to count on your friends!”

The alicorn laughed at that. “Friendship, oh how could I forget the power of friends. But this isn’t like last time, colt prince!”

At that, something clicked in Taz, an epiphany at the worst possible time.

“If I’m so weak, why are you the one running, MOM!” Nighttide shouted.

Nightmare Moon smiled; even more so as she started to hear the doors to the hall being pounded on as the Royal Guard sought entry into the room.

She heard the legion of guards that were trying to gain entry. Most of the pegasi had already been taken care of, but against that many earth ponies and unicorns, she knew the odds were against her.

“We’ll end this another time, you weaklings!” she hissed and bolted through the hole, trying to escape in time.

The door to the hall was blasted open, unleashing an entire detachment of unicorns, a few pegasi, and several earth ponies all in the garb of the Royal Guard. Vela turned to see several dark spots of the Night Guard as well, they were fewer in number, but somehow that made them seem even more dangerous.

Starlight, who had been focused on Aurora, noticed them as well. She smiled as she thought she saw Echoside, completely dressed in her armor. She had no idea if it truly was the mare or not, rather, her heart simply said it was.

She knew it to be true when the mare turned and spotted her. Echoside made a beeline right for Starlight’s side.

“You’re not getting away!” Nighttide shouted as she went to give chase. She was stopped when something bit on her tail and held her back. “Taz, what the buck‽”

“Wait… I have a better idea.”

A not so Crazy-Crazy idea

Celestia’s Palace

Vela paced back and forth in the hallway, in front of a large door. She held her brother’s sobbing form in her claws; her every nerve was on a razor’s edge as they waited for word from the doctors. It had been like that for the better part of the day. After dealing with the fallout of the attack and subsequent examination by the doctors, the sheer amount of time spent not knowing was especially grading; even more so on the hippogriff.

Ana was sitting on the window ledge with Starlight. Flash had tried three times to comfort Vela and end her pacing, but every time he did, it only lasted a few minutes before she started pacing again.

Blaze sat by Taz and Nighttide, unsure what to make of this strange development. Nighttide glared at Taz. He had stopped her from chasing after her mom, but despite her wanting to know the reason why, he had thus far been… unforthcoming with the information.

Nighttide wanted to be mad, but there was something sexy about him keeping the information from her. It was proving difficult to be angry and horny at the same time, especially when her mind already made plans in how to devour him that night.

Vela stopped pacing when the doctors came out of the room. “Empress Aurora—”

“Empress Princess Aurora,” Vela corrected.

“Empress Princess Aurora will be fine. The wounds were closed before she was brought to us. We healed the rest of the damage, and she’s resting comfortably.”

“Mum’s going to be okay?” Dayspring asked.

Vela hugged him tighter. “Mom’s going to be just fine!”

Flash ran up and hugged them as well, something that was more than welcome by Vela and more than noticed by the others.

“That’s good to hear,” Taz said with a relieved smile.

Just then, three royal guards ran up to the group. “Prince Taz, the Night Guard has reported back. I regret to inform you that Nightmare Moon has escaped capture.”

Taz looked at him, confused. “W-why are you telling me?”

Nighttide grinned, remembering Twilight’s words. “Because you’re in charge now.”

“WHAT‽”

“Yeah, dummy, think about it. Twilight and Rainbow aren’t here. So command would go to Dayspring Gleam first, then Aurora, then Night, and then you.”

“But Aurora... Night!”

“Both incapacitated.”

“I-I…” He paused, and then smiled as he realized just how well this fit into his idea. “Thank you, good sirs. Your new orders are to secure the palace. Double—no, triple security around my sisters.”

“Understood, your highness.” The guards turned and left, ready to relay his orders to the rest of the guard.

“What was that about?” Ana asked.

Taz grinned. It was the sort of grin one has right before they admit to some hair brain scheme with almost no chance of succeeding, and every chance of backfiring and blowing up in their face. “I… have an idea.”

“We’re finally going to get your idea, huh?” Nighttide asked playfully.

Taz looked around at everyone, but his eyes stopped on the doctor. The unicorn took the hint and went back inside Aurora’s room. When the door was closed, Taz cleared his throat before speaking.

“During the battle, Luna said something that took me by surprise. She said that she hadn’t forgotten about the power of friendship, but that this time wasn’t like last time.”

“Yeah, I mean what happened almost a century ago with grandma is nothing like the situation we’re in now,” Starlight replied. The young mare was well versed in the history of Equestria.

“Why not?” Taz asked with a shit-eating grin.

“What? What do you mean, Taz?” Ana asked. “

“Why isn’t it like last time? Think about it. Sure, Nightmare Moon might just be a toy of Red, but she’s still Nightmare Moon, she’s still the same princess Luna that she was back then, still possessed by the same creature that she had been for almost a thousand years. Why can’t we defeat her in the exact same way?”

Ana started, “You mean—”

“Use the elements of harmony?” Starlight finished.

“Yes,” Taz said with a smile.

“Taz, the elements only worked because they bonded with the six ponies that best represented the characteristics of friendship. We’re not those ponies,” Flash stated.

Everyone turned to look at him, surprised he knew that.

“What? I thought the story was interesting.”

“Besides, we now know that the Tree of Harmony is nothing more than Gaia’s Occulous,” Starlight added, slightly impressed with Flash’s knowledge but wanting to fill in the small gap.

“But we are those ponies, in a way anyway,” Taz stated. “Flash, who’s more loyal than you? Starlight, name me one mare or stallion without phenomenal god-like power that’s better in magic than you. Even my brother says one day you’ll surpass him. Blaze, who better represents laughter than you? Vela who’s more honest than you? And Dayspring, name somepony more generous than you. Ana, name me a pony more kind than you.” He didn’t point out her behavior over the last few months. “And as far as it being the Occulous of Gaia, I say, so what? With mom cut off from Gaia’s power, I say we could use another source. It could even help us defeat Red.”

There was a potent silence before Flash broke it. “Anyone else got a bad feeling of Déjà vu?”

“This is just like when we followed Starlight’s plan to hunt for you in the north,” Vela stated.

“No, it’s not.” Taz protested. “There’s one major difference this time.”

“What?” Vela asked. “The way I see it, it’s the exact same. We’re being lead on a hunt by information gleaned from the enemy on a wild-goose chase in the slim hope of finding something useful. That was then and this is now.”

“Since when did you run from a fight?” Nighttide asked.

Vela scowled. “Since it directly involved my little brother.”

“Sure you’re not referring to your coltfriend over there?” Starlight asked, giggling a little as she looked at Flash.

“Starlight, shush or should I remind you on a certain bat-pony?” Ana cut in with a smile.

“What bat-pony?” All of them asked in unison, turning their gaze to Starlight.

The blue unicorn’s cheeks turned beet-red. Taz opened his muzzle, and then shut it when he recalled the clean-up after the battle. He didn’t get a good look, but now, with hindsight, he remembered a grey bat-pony in the purple of the night guard standing next to Starlight.

Taz cleared his head with a shake. While it was undoubtedly a juicy piece of gossip, but it didn’t relate to what they needed to do. “It’s different now because I’ll be there.”

“Correction, we’ll be there,” Nighttide said.

“So, your game plan is just to leave the palace unguarded?” Starlight asked, grateful the others weren’t looking at her anymore.

Starlight smiled. “Who says unguarded? We have the Royal Guard and the Night Guard on watch, should something happen.”

“Besides,” Nighttide added, “I know my mom. She’ll lick her wounds before trying anything and my… fa—Red can’t produce another revenant for a long time. I’m actually amazed he managed to produce that one after Fire and Ice.”

“Could Red come here by himself and try to finish what Luna started?” Vela asked.

“I doubt he’s that dumb. I know for a fact that creating revenants weakens him. And I doubt that Nightmare Moon will flee to him and plead for him to get revenge for her defeat,” Nighttide replied.

“I think… I think it might work,” Starlight said, causing the others to turn to look at her again. “Listen, the Winter Moon Festival is tomorrow. Remember what mom said? Whatever they’re planning, it has to happen in those twenty-four hours. I don’t know why they wanted Shimmering Night, but now that they were defeated, they’re not going to have time to wait for another attack, and they’ll, naturally, expect us to be on our guard.”

“So we go on the offensive instead?” Vela asked.

“Exactly,” Taz said. “But… for this to work, we all have to go.”

“Not you, or Nighttide,” Blaze said. “Isn’t this just us?”

“Oh, like hell I’m staying behind,” Nighttide growled. “I have four-hundred years of abuse to settle with that bitch.”

“Nighttide said a bad word,” Dayspring muttered.

“I’d feel safer with Taz there anyway,” Starlight replied. “His ability truly is our trump card.”

“My ability is not impenetrable,” Taz said. “Luna flung a brick at my head during the fight. Had it hit, I’d be dead. Thankfully she missed.”

“I’ll slit her throat for that,” Nighttide growled.

Taz turned to her. There was no love lost between Nighttide and her family, but that comment seemed more akin to something a serial killer might say than the mare he knew.

“Please, calm down,” he whispered, nuzzling her gently. “Focus on us, what we’re about to do, and not on her. Please, for me.”

He turned to the others. “I’m going, and you all know that you can’t stop me.”

“You do present a problem though,” Starlight said. “I can teleport us, but not you. You’d slow us down.”

“I’ve actually been working on that,” Taz said as he grinned at Nighttide. “Our… um…”

Nighttide chuckled. “While we were fucking the other night, he figured out that he can stop his ability, or at least he can keep it down for a while if he concentrates enough. That should allow you to teleport him as well.”

The group of ponies blushed, with Flash, Vela, and Ana as the exception. They just scowled.

“I’m not going!”

They turned to the speaker. “Ana, this only works if we have all six, you have to go or nopony—forgive me, no one can,” Taz started.

“Still,” she glared again at Nighttide.

“C’mon, Ana, where are we going to find another pony that represents kindness as well as you?” Taz asked.

“How about you take miss shadow-bitch here, maybe that’ll work,” Ana muttered.

“Sis! She said a nasty word!” Dayspring cried.

Vela placed Dayspring down on the floor and walked up to Ana’s side. She leaned in and whispered, “But just think; if you go you’ll have the Element of Kindness while Nighttide doesn’t get one. It’ll be something you can hold over her.”

Ana was taken aback by that. She opened her muzzle and shut it a few times, unsure of what to think.

“Well, if Vela’s going I’m going too,” Flash said.

“You two have become smitten, haven’t you?” Starlight teased.

“Oh, I’m definitely going.” Vela stated. “I owe that fucker.”

“Vela, you said a—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”

“I’m going too, I want to help out!” Dayspring said.

“I’ll go,” Blaze said, “anything to put an end to this.”

All the eyes turned to the sisters. Reluctantly, Ana was about to say yes, but then she noticed a little nervous twitch coming from Starlight. What’s wrong with… oh… Echoside.

“I’ll go on one condition.” Ana stated. “We take somepony with more experience with us this time. Somepony who’s trained, like one of the guards.”

All of them looked perplexed. “Ana, we can’t tell anypo—anyone what we’re doing, they’d try to stop us.”

“Yeah, we’d have to find one that would willingly go against orders and can keep this a secret,” Vela stated.

“We’d need a guard that’s trustworthy,” Ana stated, hoping her sister would get the hint.

Starlight smiled. “I think I know the perfect guard for this. One who is trustworthy.”

Taz facehoofed. “Starlight, I—”

“I pinkie promise that we can trust her. And as Ana said, it’s the only way she’s going.”

Taz was about to say something, but then sighed and relented. “If I agree, that means you’ll both go?”

“Yes,” they replied in unison.

“Fine. Starlight, fetch that guard.” Taz grumbled.

Nighttide couldn’t help but notice the pent up eagerness in Starlight’s walk. She tried to hide it, but it was obvious this had been something the sisters had set up.

“Everyone go pack, meet in the courtyard in thirty minutes,” Taz said, loud enough for Starlight to hear. The blue unicorn mare took off running after that. It wasn’t so much because there was now a time limit, but now she could do it without attracting undue suspicion.

As the others left for their rooms, Nighttide walked up to Taz’s side. “You think this will work?”

Taz leaned into her touch. “I can’t explain why, but yes… I think it will.”

“Good enough for me,” she replied, kissing him for luck.

***

Starlight was out of breath when she reached the Night Guard’s barracks. She burst in. “Echoside!”

Her words were only echoed back to her.

She looked around, the barracks were completely empty.

Starlight facehoofed. [iThey’re either on alert or getting food; I doubt even they would be able to go back to sleep after that attack, she thought.

Starlight made her way out and took another route, one she knew led to the mess hall were the bat-ponies met and ate their meals. She was right. As she reached it, the whole hall was full to the brim with the Night Guard. They were all in a rather somber mood while they drank cider and ate.

As soon as Starlight stepped in, everypony went silent.

“What can we do for you, princess?” a black mare with a green mane asked from her side. It was clear they were on alert for another attack.

“Do you know where Private First-Class Echoside is? I need her for a task,” Starlight blurted out.

“I think she’s in the showers,” a stallion said before laughing. “Third door in the next hallway.”

Starlight blushed, but turned to leave. In the showers? Oh Celestia… “Thank you. Enjoy your meal,” she said before the doors closed.

She followed the hallway and found the door pretty easily, but hesitated.

Can I really just go in there?

She’s your marefriend!

That doesn’t mean we’re that far yet.

Just go in. She’s a mare, you’re a mare, and it’s a shower for mares.

Starlight shook her head before knocking on the door, but no answer came. Sighing, she pushed it open and walked in. The common showers for mares were open with a huge locker room. The room itself was void of any other pony—that’s not to say that there were no ponies in there. Starlight, hearing a shower, walked around the corner to see who it was.

Echoside was under a shower, washing her mane while her eyes were closed. Starlight couldn’t help but stare at her, taking in her body, her well-toned flanks, and the strong muscles of her legs. The young unicorn felt enraptured, aroused, and perverted all at the same time. She gulped, a little louder than she meant to.

The bat-pony opened her eyes at that noise. “Starlight! What are you doing here‽”

“Searching for you.”

Echoside chuckled and smiled. “Well, you found me. How about you come closer and you tell me why you were looking for me?”

Starlight’s mind told her to simply tell the mare, but keep her distance. It was just unlucky for her that her heart made another decision. Without conscious thought, she took step after step until she was close enough for Echoside to pull her under the shower with her wing.

“Now, where were we?” Echoside answered gently while nuzzling Starlight lovingly.

“I-I, um, I mean, I uh…” Starlight stammered, lost in those gorgeous lavender cat-like eyes.

“No thanks necessary, my princess,” Echoside cooed back as she leaned down and kissed the mare on the lips.

“I… I need to ask you for a favor,” Starlight breathed out once they broke. “I need you to come with me.”

Echoside smiled. “Gladly.”

Starlight blushed. “I mean… umm… To Ponyville, with… with my friends.”

Echoside sighed at that, clearly disappointed. “Why?”

“Because I want you at my side, and you know, you’re healing...”

Echoside paused, and then smiled. “Well, princess. I think you have to earn my company.”

“H-how?” Starlight asked.

“How long do we have?”

“Twenty minutes,” Starlight answered, confused as to what Echoside had planned.

“Well, that’ll have to be enough. Let’s see if you can earn it,” Echoside purred as she pressed against Starlight, forcing her up to against the shower wall.

Starlight felt like it was happening to somepony else, which was… strange, because it was happening to her. She felt water hitting her coat, wetting her fur, washing off the makeup that had so elegantly hidden what they had done last night. She felt Echoside pressing herself up against her, her forceful, take-what-I-want ways causing her to melt at the mare’s voice. But it couldn’t be her. It couldn’t be happening to her because, if it was, she’d put an end to it. She’d tell her to stop, she’d be offended, reminding her that she was a princess and not to be used in such a manner. And because she didn’t want any of that, in fact, she wanted MORE. The only logical conclusion was that it was happening to somepony else.

Echoside gently nipped at her muzzle and then down her neck, caressing the wounds she had caused the other night. Starlight melted at the touch. Her heart wanted more and more; she ignored her mind shouting at her that they didn’t have time for this. Echoside moved back up to her muzzle and kissed her again; passionately, lovingly, and lustfully.

The young mare had no idea how long they held that kiss. It felt like a lifetime and an instant all at the same time. The nagging voice in her mind went silent, the emotion, the kiss; they were all that Starlight knew; they became her whole world.

When Echoside pulled back, Starlight was left gasping, wanting, and needing. “Are you… are you going to feed from me again?” Starlight asked with nervous apprehension and just a hint of longing.

“Yes, but not in the way you imagine,” Echoside gently replied before pulling her into a third kiss.

The kiss started simple, but soon turned passionate. Echoside caressed Starlight’s lips until she opened them, she quickly moved her tongue inside and playfully rubbed along her lover’s tongue. As soon as Starlight fought back, quickly brushing her tongue onto Echoside’s, the mare retreated, coaxing Starlight’s tongue into following her. Starlight’s eyes went wide as she understood the plan of the bat-pony.

Echoside gently closed her muzzle, capturing Starlight’s tongue, just before slowly piercing it with a fang. Starlight moaned upon the small feeling of pain and the far greater pleasure—the latter easily winning out in her mind as Echoside gently sucked the blood from the wound.

Starlight was lost in her feelings, so much that she almost didn’t notice Echoside’s hoof going up the inside of her hind legs. She felt it by the way it lightly brushed her inner hairs. It moved up, from her knees, up her thighs, with only one possible destination in mind. A destination Starlight both longed for, and feared.

The bat-pony played it cool and slow, so much so that Starlight’s doubt was all but forgotten. She wanted it, she yearned for it. However, as quickly as the moment began, it ended; the mysterious hoof that Starlight only felt—or only imagined she felt—was gone. Echoside pulled her fang out of Starlight’s tongue and pulled back, smiling at the confused, lust-filled look on the young unicorn’s face.

“Why… why did you stop?”

Echoside smiled. “I’d say you more than earned me coming along now, but it’s been more than twenty minutes.”

“What‽ That can’t be,” Starlight replied, shocked.

“Thirty minutes to be exact. We should get ready and grab my armor,” Echoside said before moving closer, nipping at Starlight’s ear while whispering, “If you’d like more of that, ask me again tonight.”

“O-okay,” Starlight said, then shook her head clear as Echoside turned off the showerhead and started for her armor.

“No time!”

“What?” Echoside turned to see Starlight powering her horn. Both mares soon found themselves and every scrap of armor in the room teleported to Echoside’s bunk. Surprisingly, they were both dry. “How did you—”

“What do you need?” Starlight asked, looking around the still empty barracks.

“Starlight, calm down!”

“We don’t have time!”

“Calm down,” Echoside growled before smiling. “You have to stop freaking out. That you should leave for bed.”

Starlight opened her muzzle for a retort, but shut it quickly, shaking her head with a blush and a smile. “You’re one of a kind, Echoside. Now please get ready, they’re waiting on us…”

“Let me get my armor on and grab my bug-out bag.” Echoside gestured to the bag under her bunk. The gesture turned out to be a mistake, as, in two flashes of magic, she found herself fully armored and the bag strapped tightly to her back. “You’re a bit crazy, you know that?” she asked Starlight.

“Get used to it,” Starlight replied with a raspberry and then teleported the two straight to the courtyard.

Of course, they were all fully packed and waiting on her.

“Where the heck have you been?” Taz asked, before stopping. “Who is that?”

Ana, in the meanwhile, had eyes for something else. “Starlight, the makeup is gone,” she hissed.

Oh buck me, Starlight thought before smiling. “This is Echoside, she is our guard for the journey.”

“Our guard or your guard?” Vela asked with a grin.

“And what happened to your neck?” Blaze asked as he spotted the two puncture wounds.

“Mhh, you don’t know bat-ponies well, do you, little one?” Echoside asked with a smile.

Starlight simply couldn’t hold herself. “Alright, stop it! We’re not talking about that!”

“Oh yes we are, just not now,” Taz said, “let’s go, we’re already late.”

“Who does he think he is?” Echoside asked Starlight.

“My uncle,” Starlight admitted as everyone gathered up around her. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her destination: Ponyville.

And then she thought of Echoside biting her tongue like she had, how there was almost no pain, how good it had felt, how genius of an idea it was—after all, tongues are very hidden, and they heal quick, even for non bat-ponies, and how she really wanted to do it again.

“Are we going today, Starlight?” Vela asked in a huff.

“Uh… yes, yes, of course.”

She removed the thoughts of Echoside from her mind, something that proved incredibly difficult to do as the mare was standing right next to her. Power began building up around the group; enough power to teleport all nine of them. It took a while for Starlight to build it up around Taz, but the stallion quickly reacted and pulled his ability back, enough for Starlight’s magic to be able to grab him.

In a flash of light, the odd group of one earth pony, two unicorns, three pegasi, two hippogriffs, and one bat-pony were teleported from Celestia’s Place to Ponyville.

***

San Palonimon Desert

“We there yet?”

Dayspring rubbed his temples. “Ataxia, I swear to Luna if you ask that question one more time.”

“Well if you didn’t suck so bad at tracking a bucking sphinx I wouldn’t have to keep asking!”

“I’m sorry; we’re in the middle of the San Palonimon Desert for bucks sake! Maybe you’d like to take over if you think you can do a better job.”

“Dayspring, Ataxia, enough!” Twilight shouted at the two. “Ataxia, Dayspring’s doing the best he can based on rumors of rumors of rumors of legends. Cut him some slack.”

Ataxia huffed, but shut her muzzle. She focused on her own magic and doubled the strength of the shield protecting the group from the sun’s heat.

“That being said, this is unusual for you Dayspring,” Rainbow added. “We’ve been to four different locations now; you’re not usually one prone to making such mistakes.”

Dayspring growled, “That’s just it, I don’t think I have.”

“You mean…?” Radiant Star asked.

Dayspring nodded. “I think it knows that we’re after it. I think it’s been leading us on a wild-goose chase.”

“Night would have caught it by now,” Ataxia mumbled.

“Night’s NOT here.” Rainbow glared at her. “And you’re not making the situation any better!”

“Mother, lay off her, she’s just stressed. Would you be any different if it was mom and not Night?”

“Last time she slayed a god, so I’m going to go with no,” Twilight said, wrapping her wing around Rainbow and kissing her on the cheek. Rainbow huffed, but, notably, didn’t pull away. Twilight nuzzled her again before turning to her son. “Dayspring, what are you sensing, exactly?”

“It’s strange, the sphinx is strong, but not overly so. It’s like I can sense its presence all around me at times, and at others she’s on the other side of the continent.”

“That’s why you teleported us four bucking times already?” Ataxia asked. The last time she hadn’t been able to hold in her lunch.

“Ataxia, I’m sorry,” Dayspring said; his eyes downcast. “I know this is rough for you, I—”

“As long as it’s worthwhile, I don’t need an apology from you. Just find it.”

“I think we’ve been looking at this the wrong way,” Rainbow said, her eyes focused on something... up.

“What do you mean, Rainbow?” Twilight asked.

“I don’t think we can find it; rather, I think the sphinx will find us.”

Twilight looked at her confused until she saw that Rainbow’s gaze was focused on something else, something in the distance, something up in the sky. Twilight’s eyes followed the gaze to a cloud floating high in the sky at least five miles away. She could just make it out, there was a… a lion's head poking over the side, staring right at them.

Twilight blinked, thinking it was just a mirage. It wasn’t. In that one blink, the sphinx was five miles closer, right next to their group.

Ataxia lowered her horn and made to attack. Dayspring let out a surprise gasp as he started raising shields. Radiant Star broke out three magical blades. Twilight yelled, “Hold!”

They all paused. The sphinx chuckled. Rainbow took a moment to admire the creature before them. It resembled a large lioness with golden fur and the great brown wings of an eagle. Its physical impression was… lacking, being lesser in size than Luna or Celestia back in the day, or even Shimmering Night now, but it seemed to make up for that with an other-worldly presence. It just seemed… more.

The sphinx admired each of the ponies in turn. Its sky-blue eyes took in each and every pony, one at a time. Almost as if it could see what normal eyes could not, as if it could peer into each pony with abilities far beyond mere magical ones.

In a way, it was doing just that.

The sphinx opened her muzzle, and in a soothing, motherly voice, spoke, “The seekers of knowledge have finally found me.” Ataxia went to speak, but before she could, the sphinx raised her right lion’s paw to silence her. “Before you speak, know that I have what you seek. Answer three riddles of mine and my knowledge will be yours. Fail… and I shall take what I seek.”

“Oh dear Luna, she speaks in rhymes,” Rainbow said as she raised a hoof to rub her brow.

The sphinx chuckled. “No, just something I’ve been working on.”

Radiant glared at the sphinx. “Can we at least know what you seek from us? Or are you just going to leave us in the dark?”

“Those who fail, well, they shall be my next meal.”

“Now I really wish those stones would fall off from our hooves so we could simply kick her ass,” Rainbow mumbled to Twilight.

“Even at your peak of power, you might not defeat me. My power is strong beyond your knowledge, even myths and books don’t know me well,” the sphinx said.

Twilight stepped in, knowing that when it came to some of these ponies, it was better to simply not let them poke the bear. “We’ve come with a question. According to the legends you know the answer to any question asked of you. As such we’ve come to solve your riddles to get the answer we must know.”

“My, my, such an eager princess; usually ponies ask a wide range of things about me before moving onto to their question, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Avatar—excuse me, Mortal Incarnation of Gaia.”

Ataxia laughed. “Are we supposed to be impressed that you know her name? She is a princess after all.”

“Maybe not, Princess Ataxia, born a unicorn, but now living on as a dragacorn. I’m a bit curious about you, I have to say, but I think there is something else you would love to tell?”

Ataxia’s eyes grew wide. She backed down, not wanting to hear that spoken.

The sphinx chuckled softly. “While I know what most of you seek, the question in your heart is different, Ataxia. I have to warn you. I only answer one question after you solved my riddles, so choose well. Both questions are important and will have an impact on the world you know.”

Twilight looked at Ataxia. “What does she mean?”

Ataxia turned away, not wanting to say.

Radiant moved to her side. “Ataxia, what are you—”

“Are you ready for the first riddle or no?” the sphinx asked.

“Of course we are! Bring it on!” Rainbow shouted.

“No need to make such a loud drama of it, Princess Rainbow Dash with the magical, golden wing.” The sphinx chuckled before her expression turned serious. She rose into the air on wide-spread wings before saying:

“If it's information you seek, come and see me.

If it's pairs of letters you need, I have consecutively three.

What am I?”

Radiant’s jaw dropped. “What?”

Twilight frowned, rubbing her jaw in concentration. Something about it felt familiar, but like it was from a lifetime ago. It was as if it she knew the answer, but from another life.

Rainbow looked on, lost. “Umm… how long do we have to solve this?”

“Take your time, but you cannot progress to the second until you answer the first.”

“So we have, like, endless time?” Rainbow asked.

“Yes, but let me make one thing clear. One of your questions, if not asked soon, will lead to the death of one dearly loved by you,” the sphinx spoke softly.

“Dayspring,” Ataxia growled as she looked up and broke the light-purple unicorn’s concentration. “Please, you can do this.” There were tears in her eyes.

The unicorn nodded and went back to his thoughts. Radiant whispered to Rainbow. “Hey, come over here.”

The cyan mare followed, the two stopped to collect Ataxia and then walk out of what he hoped was earshot of the sphinx. “What do you want?” Ataxia asked.

“Let’s face facts, the three of us aren’t going to solve these riddles,” Radiant said. Rainbow and Ataxia could only nod. “So we need to let Dayspring and Twilight think without us butting in.”

“And?” Ataxia asked already seeing the wheels in his head turned.

“And we need to have a plan B. Just in case they answer… wrong.”

“She said we might not be able to defeat her. Especially not while Twilight and I have these bucking stones,” Rainbow huffed.

“But even if we could, our answer would be lost,” Ataxia mumbled.

“Given, but this is only for if they fail to answer correctly,” Radiant said.

Rainbow turned to see Twilight and Dayspring discussing the riddle. For her part, the sphinx was sitting down, her front paws folded calmly underneath her; as if she hadn’t just threatened to take everypony’s life if they failed to answer her questions correctly.

“Ataxia, if it comes to it, do you think you could...”

Ataxia looked up at Radiant confused; that is until she realized just what he was asking of her. “No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no!”

“Ataxia, it’s been years,” Radiant said.

“And we’ve all lived happy in that time. Key word there, lived.”

“And if they get it wrong, we won’t be living.”

“She knows what I am and said we probably couldn’t kill her. I doubt she didn’t take me into her calculations with that,” Ataxia said.

“How strong can such a bucking…. sphinx even be? I doubt stronger than a dragon!” Rainbow blurted out.

The sphinx licked her front paw before saying, “Underestimate me at your own peril.” She said it loud enough for all to hear.

“Oh, buck it,” Ataxia growled. “If it comes to it, I’d love to wipe that smirk off her face.”

“Hey, retards!” Dayspring yelled out. “It’s not an issue of power; it’s an issue of control. As soon as we agreed to it and she asked the first riddle, we were all placed under her control. Failure means she has power over us, regardless of how strong we are!”

The sphinx chuckled. “Somepony’s done his research.”

“We’re bucked, aren’t we?” Radiant asked.

“No, I’ve been in worse situations. We just gotta put our faith in Twilight, and my son,” Rainbow replied.

Ataxia whispered, “Well, I could think of worse situations to be in.”

“You’ve indeed faced a lot, but compared to what’s to come, what you’ve faced will seem like foal’s play,” the sphinx said.

“How can you hear us?” Ataxia growled.

“Because we’re under her control! She can always hear us, even feel what we’re feeling or thinking, if the legends are true,” Dayspring shouted. “And now please, shut up so we can concentrate.”

The purple mare blushed and shut her muzzle. Still, with what the sphinx had said, Ataxia couldn’t shake a very strange thought. She said what’s to come; does that mean… she knows we’ll answer her riddles? Does she want us to? Is she… is she doing this to help us?

As if in reply, the sphinx smiled directly at her.

Secrets don't stay Secret

Ponyville

“Wow…” Taz said as he blinked his eyes clear a few times as he strove to shake off the results of the long-distance teleport. He wasn’t the only one dealing with the aftereffects. The oldest one of them—in physical age anyway, second oldest in terms of age—was also trying to blink her eyes clear of the effects.

It wasn’t Echoside’s first teleport. In fact, it was her fifth, but it was her longest.

“Spill!” Vela shouted. “When did you two meet? How’d you start going out? How long have you been going out? What’s with the bites?”

“I don’t know, Vela, how long have you and Flash been going out?” Starlight countered.

“Wait, you two are going out?” Blaze asked his brother, shocked. “But she knocked your teeth out!”

“Sis, what’s she mean?” Dayspring asked.

Ana was a gasped. “Vela, you hate Flash!”

“I don’t hate anyone!” Vela shouted back.

Nighttide burst into laughter. “Oh please, you’re a bigger bitch than me.”

“Hey, don’t call her that!” Flash yelled.

“Sis, she said a bad word,” Dayspring said from atop Vela’s back.

“What in the world did I get myself into,” Echoside mumbled.

“Everyone SHUT UP!” Taz yelled. His vision was coming back and he now saw that even though they had teleported to the edge of Ponyville, their fighting was beginning to draw a crowd. He sighed, knowing that he couldn’t just leave it. They needed to work together on this, they needed to be together on this, and that meant they needed to reach an understanding about who was now with whom.

Like it or not, Aurora’s right, we are hiding things from each other.

There was no reason they should follow his command, and yet they all did. Everyone present kept quiet and turned to the earth pony. They were all surprised and unused to him losing his temper like that.

Taz looked around, slightly surprised himself that they had listened. “Okay, we’re going to walk and talk at the same time, I trust we all know how to do that?” he asked, earning eight nods in return. “Good, this way.”

The black earth pony lead the way with his unusual entourage following behind him. As he found a path to the Everfree Forest that he thought would lead to where the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters once stood, and more importantly, underneath it, the Tree of Harmony.

When he thought they were out of earshot of any other ponies, he said, “Echoside, Starlight, we’re starting with you two. Speak.”

“Why in Tartarus would I listen to you?” Echoside protested.

“Uh, he’s a prince, duh?” Blaze said.

“Bat-pony laws, we only obey Luna and her kin.”

“Oh, you mean me?” Nighttide asked as she looked back at the bat-pony.

That took Echoside aback. “Who are you?”

“Luna’s daughter,’ Nighttide said with a smile.

“Luna doesn’t have a—” She saw it, deep in Nighttide’s sky-blue eyes. She saw the truth. It wasn’t that Nighttide resembled Luna; rather, she saw the age of the mare; her true age, something that the eyes would always reveal. Echoside’s muzzle fell open. “Why weren’t we told?”

“It’s… complicated,” Starlight mumbled.

“I am indeed Luna’s daughter, and if your law says you must obey me, I’m ordering you to also obey Taz, and to answer him.”

“What… what do you want to know?” Echoside asked; her mind still trying to wrap itself around this new development.

“The bite marks,” Vela said. “How old you are, and why did you think it was appropriate to bite a thirteen-year-old princess on the side of the neck.”

“How you two started going out,” Blaze asked.

“How Starlight actually managed to fall for somepony,” Nighttide said.

Taz didn’t look back; he kept walking and said, “Let’s start with who you are, how old you are, and why my niece has... what I suspect to be your puncture marks on the side of her neck.”

Starlight, embarrassed beyond belief, blushed and looked away from everyone. Echoside just sighed before saying, “My name is Private First Class Echoside. I’m a member of the Night Guard in defense of Luna and Equestria’s night. I joined the guard when I was sixteen and left to make my own way in the world. That was four years ago.”

“You’re twenty?” Taz asked.

“Yes,” Echoside side, her chest distended a little in pride.

“And you know that Starlight’s only thirteen—”

“Taz, you of all ponies have no right to talk about dating someone older than you.”

“My parents know about it.”

“Yes, when you told them we were going to happen regardless of how they felt and after we had sex,” Nighttide added, kissing him on the side of the cheek.

“That’s different.”

“How so?” Flash asked.

Echoside turned to Starlight. “Does he always stick up for others?”

Starlight nodded. “When they’re being unfairly attacked, yes.”

Taz replied to Flash’s question. “Nighttide’s never bitten—” he paused. “I mean, she’s never left marks—” he stopped again. “We’ve never risked inj—”

The stallion shut up and lowered his head. His arguments defeated before he could even finish one of them. Nighttide and he had done all that and much more.

“They're only seven years apart, Taz. Our parents are nine years apart and you and Nighttide are like four hundred years, plus,” Ana said. “I don’t see why you’re making a big deal out of this.”

“Four hundred forty-eight,” Starlight added.

“Four hundred forty-eight years apart,” Ana stated with a nod of thanks to Starlight. “If you have an issue with them being together, I suggest you look at your own relationship first. Also, if they’re happy, isn’t that all that matters? Unless you don’t want them to be happy, which would be totally stupid and selfish.”

Starlight suspected that while Ana was technically fighting for the former, what she really wanted was the latter.

There was noticeable silence before Vela spoke up. “So… we’re just cool with Echoside sucking Starlight’s blood?” Her tone said she was anything but cool with it.

“Any worse than you dating your cousin?” Starlight asked.

“Second cousin, and being that your mom is pregnant with her brother-in-law’s—my dad’s—foal, and your sister is in love with her uncle, I don’t think you have much to say in that regard,” Vela stated, smiling as she played her trump card. Given, she didn’t really see anything wrong with any of it; it wasn’t even the worst thing she’d done.

“What sort of fucked up family dynamic have I gotten myself into?” Echoside asked, wide eyed.

“The type that might not have you arrested for being with a thirteen-year-old,” Nighttide replied.

Taz came to a stop as he reached a fork in the path. “Starlight, which way? Echoside, explain.”

“Left,” Starlight said.

Echoside sighed; this was sensitive to her; it was almost like being forced to explain—in intimate detail—your last orgasm to a whole bunch of teenagers you just met, but she was under orders. “I assume you’ve all heard the rumors about my kind?”

“Meat eating?” Vela said.

“Blood drinking?” Nighttide asked.

“Afraid of light?” Flash added.

“Hunts and gobbles up little foals that disobey their parents?” Blaze asked, a little scared. His words caused Dayspring to try and hide himself on his sister’s back behind her pack.

“Yes, yes, no, and hell no,” Echoside said, looking in shock at the white pegasus.

“What?” Blaze asked in shock. “It’s what I heard.”

Flash facehoofed. “Bro, you and I are going to have a talk.”

“Is she really going to gobble me up?” Dayspring asked his sister, scared.

“You know I’d skin her alive if she ever tried,” Vela replied as she sought to calm down her brother.

“Ha, I’d like to see y—” Echoside’s comment was cut off by Starlight. The blue unicorn shook her head and pleaded with her eyes for Echoside not to go there.

Echoside looked up from Starlight and back to Vela; only now did she really take in the spear holstered across the hippogriff’s back, near her pack. When she first saw it, the spear looked like nothing more than an ornate weapon: highly detailed and expertly crafted of course, but nothing special beyond that. Echoside herself had trained with such weapons and found them ungainly to say the least. But now she took a moment to really look at it.

As with all ponies, Echoside’s talent matched her cutie mark, or more precisely, her cutie mark matched her talent. She was an armorer, her skill was in the forge, working with metal crafting, forging, and fixing armor. She had a natural talent for it and could spot the small flaws and weakness in any piece of armor brought to her.

Every piece of forged metal has some weakness, some small flaws that she could spot. Given, she could never hope to fix them all, it was simply a fact of life. But she prided herself on making them as small as possible, as insignificant as possible.

Her jaw dropped as she took in the spear, really took it in. She had no knowledge about its magical properties, it’s creation, the vows that were sworn to it, or the abilities it would grant its user. She didn’t need to know any of that. She knew it was special for one small detail; a detail only she could spot.

The spear was flawless, utterly flawless. Echoside couldn’t spot a single blemish in its shaft, hilt, or blade. If she didn’t know better, Echoside would say the spear was brand new, forged by a master blacksmith.

There was no doubt in her mind that spear had seen combat, real combat. She could tell that just in the way the hippogriff carried it. Most likely she had used it in the Nightmare Moon attack.

The gouges Echoside remembered seeing in the floor of the dining hall came to mind. She gulped and nodded her understanding to Starlight.

Echoside was beginning to understand just why General Night Watch had been able to retire early. These ponies, they had power, real power; power that made concepts such as troop movements and tactics irrelevant.

“You were saying, Echoside?” Taz asked, gesturing for her to continue.

“I um…” she closed her eyes and took a deep breath; suddenly wishing she was somewhere, anywhere, else. That thought went away when she felt a coat press up against her own. Turning her head, she saw Starlight’s piercing green eyes gazing into her own. Her short rainbow mane was hanging over her ears, and a wonderful smile was upon her muzzle.

The smile told Echoside this was worth it. She wasn’t dumb; she knew the risks of a relationship with somepony so young, especially when that somepony was a princess. But every time she had almost convinced herself to stop it, that smile would come back to her mind. There was just something about Starlight; something Echoside had never felt before from anypony else she had ever been with, mare or stallion.

“We do drink blood,” Echoside said. “We normally get it from our prey, creatures we might hunt. It’s part of our biology and heritage. Well, we can also drink each other’s blood, but it’s rare for us to do so. Think of it like a bonding experience. A giving and receiving of yourself to the one you… love.” Echoside smiled at Starlight when she said the last part.

Starlight took over. “I met Echoside the other night, when Twilight asked me to get the armor for everyone. She was rude, crude, and obnoxious. But there was just something about her. Something I couldn’t get out of my mind. I’ve never known anyone like her, but Ana was the one that told me I was in love.”

“But you didn’t believe me,” Ana said with a teasing smile.

“Yeah, yeah, you were right. Anyway, Ana got us to go on a date, and despite it being a… a disaster, at the end of the night, we… well, kissed.“

“And that’s how it turned into extreme necking?” Vela asked.

“Well, no. See I’ve never kissed anyone before. Especially not like that. When we did, I didn’t adjust for her fangs and she kinda… bit me, on the lip.”

“It was a total accident,” Echoside said. “I really didn’t mean too.”

“It’s true,” Starlight confirmed. “She didn’t mean to, but when she did, I… Um… I knew what it meant for her race, and it um… it wasn’t all bad.”

“So you wanted to try the real deal?” Vela asked.

Starlight nodded. “I asked her to, wanted her to.”

“And you just thought…” Flash asked Echoside.

“In for a bit, in for a pound? I was already bucked when I unknowingly tried to take a thirteen-year-old princess out to a bar. And then when it... well, happened, when she shared herself with me. I… I… felt something.”

“You fell in love?” Ana asked.

Echoside looked up, her grey cheeks blushing a little. “I think I did. She... look, I acknowledge that this is strange to all of you, trust me, it’s no different for me. I have a very… low opinion of most of Equestria’s royalty. But Starlight… she… I didn’t plan this, any of this. I was happy with my go-nowhere job. Or at least I thought I was, and then I met her.”

As she looked around, Echoside saw that most of them had, in fact, been won over to her side. Starlight and her interpreter were a given. Luna’s daughter seemed to nod her understanding. She couldn’t read the big hippogriff. The small one was still unsure of her, but Echoside figured that had more to do with the story the dumb pegasus had said. The two pegasi themselves also looked unsure, but in the end, she suspected that it was the black earth pony that she had to win over. That, in the end, it was his opinion the group looked to.

For the first time since they started walking, Taz turned to look at her directly. Somehow, his magenta eyes carried a weight that belittled his age.

“Flash and Ana are right. Whatever my personal feelings about it, I really don’t have a say. I can’t really say she’s too young when I’m with someone almost five-hundred-years old. And as far as the bite marks, well, we’ve done a lot worse than what you two have. However…”

Echoside tensed up.

“If you hurt her, we will hurt you.”

“Understood, prince.” Echoside didn’t know why, there was no reason for it, and unlike some of the others she knew she could take him in a fight, but that didn’t change the fact that he kinda scared her.

“And you will tell your parents about her when this is over,” Taz said to Starlight.

The blue unicorn didn’t back down. “Fine, whatever.”

“I mean Shimmering Night too, not just Ataxia.”

Starlight cursed a little under her breath. “Fine, but I’m telling Ataxia first.”

“That’s fine, as long as Night knows too.”

No pony mentioned that very soon, Night might not be around to tell.

Taz took one last look around. “Anyone else have a problem with Echoside? Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

“I don’t want her to abduct me!” Dayspring shouted.

That caused a round of laughter to break out.

When it was over, Taz wiped a tear from his eye. He glanced around to everyone present, seeing smiling faces on everyone, everyone but Dayspring that is. “Okay, moving on then. Flash, Vela, you’re up!”

Taz started walking down the left path, fully expecting everyone to follow suit. They did.

“So, how’d you two get together?” Ana asked.

“Yeah, I’ve never pictured the great Empress Princess Vela with someone before,” Nighttide said.

“And you were always afraid of her, talking about how you didn’t like her!” Blaze protested to his brother. “She even knocked your front teeth out!”

“You’re really going to make us do this?” Vela asked, one part in disbelief and one part in threat.

“I had to do it, now it’s your turn,” Starlight said.

“Yes,” Taz replied.

“Are you dating Flash, sis?” Dayspring asked.

The girl sighed, loudly. Flash went to speak so she didn’t have to, but was immediately stopped by the mare’s wing slapping against his muzzle, shutting him up.

“We got together the night after my mom punished me. I needed someone to sleep with and Flash was my first choice, happy?” Vela asked, expecting that to be the end of it.

It wasn’t.

“Wait, what? You two slept together‽” Taz asked, shocked.

“You’re having sex?” Ana asked.

“Flash… is that why you didn’t sleep in our room the last two nights?” Blaze asked.

“Yes, yes, and yes. Can we move on now?” Vela asked with a roll of her eyes.

“WHAT‽” Everyone shouted.

Vela looked annoyed that ‘that’ hadn’t been the end of it like she hoped. Flash looked like he’d rather be anywhere else right now.

Echoside stared at Vela with a smile upon her muzzle. “Oh, naughty mare!”

What she failed to see was the look Starlight was giving her. Does she want to? I… Do I want to?Starlight thought.

“Go Flash!” Nighttide said with a shit-eating grin.

“Sis, does that mean you and Flash—” Dayspring was cut off when Vela looked at him and raised an eyebrow, all but saying to be quiet about that.

“Details, details, spill!” Ana shouted excitedly.

Taz wanted to point out that shouting in the middle of the Everfree Forest was probably a bad idea, but he wrote that off. With these companions, there wasn’t anything in the forest they actually needed to be afraid of. Red himself could ambush them and he’d put his bits on the nine of them.

What’d mom say about overconfidence?

Shut up, ehh…me.

“So what? We bucked. It was just two times and we both needed it. That’s it!”

“You don’t go from mortal enemies to sleeping together in one night!” Ana said.

“Hey, get off my back!”

“Then how about you tell the truth?” Taz cut in. “There’s no need to lie to us.”

“This… this wasn’t a one night thing. Was it? You two… ever since we went to the Crystal Empire you two have been different around each other. When you comforted Flash after…” Starlight said, her mind putting the pieces together.

“You’re imagining things,” Vela said while Flash looked outright hurt.

“And then when Aurora punished you by making you sleep in your own bed… that’s why you asked Flash to come slee—” Starlight found herself unable to finish her sentence. In a fit of rage, Vela pulled out the spear and pointed it right at her face.

Taz had enough. He extended his ability and everyone present shuddered as they found their natural abilities and magic removed. It even removed the magic from the spear; it being her first time, Echoside gasped upon the new feeling.

“What are you?” she asked.

“That’s not a topic for now. Vela, spear down and come up with the truth before we really have a talk with Aurora once we get back,” Taz said.

Flash moved to Vela’s side and softly nuzzled against her. He could feel the tension in Vela. She didn’t care if they knew about them being together, physically anyway. But the line of questioning Starlight had begun touched a sore spot in the mare, her emotional side. “Here’s the truth,” Flash started; only to earn a pleading look by Vela. He gave her a soft smile of understanding before continuing.

“She’s been helping me deal with mom’s death for a while. When she asked me to come to her room, I agreed and kinda… broke down. You’re right, Starlight. She’s been helping me for almost six months now. In that time we kinda developed feelings for each other and that night, we just… umm… consummated it.”

“I believe there’s a bit more to it than you're saying,” Ana cut in. “While I can’t really say what to think about Vela’s feelings… I know that you love her,” she smiled at Flash, who blushed slightly.

Vela holstered her spear and Taz retracted his power.

Unable to hold herself back, Nighttide said, “Now if you’ll only accept that Taz and I love each other.”

There was a collective silent gasp as those words left the mare’s mouth and made themselves known to everyone present.

Oh dear Luna, she just had to go there, Taz thought.

“I don’t have to, nor will I! What you two have isn’t natural! It’s nothing more than a perversion!” Ana shouted.

“What’s unnatural about a mare falling in love with a stallion she’s not related to‽” Nighttide replied with venom in her voice.

“You throw the word love around mindlessly, but what meaning does it have to you? All you were meant to do was use and abuse him.”

“That’s enough!” Taz screamed. “I’ve had enough of this nonsense. Ana, you need to stop this right now. Don’t make me regret you coming with us.” He then turned to Nighttide, his gaze lovingly but also pleading. “Nighttide… love, don’t give her any more fuel. You know what we have and if she doesn’t accept it, then that’s an issue she will have to deal with on her own. Fighting about it won’t change anything.”

“I feel like I’m missing some context here,” Echoside whispered to Starlight.

“More than you could ever know,” Starlight whispered back. “Whatever you do, don’t get involved under any circumstances.”

“Why?”

“Because you don’t want to get on the bad side of either one of them,” she replied.

“No, I think it’s time we had this out!” Nighttide replied, shocking Taz. “For years she’s been giving me the stink eye, and if everyone else is baring their secrets, maybe we should have this conversation too.”

“Secrets, like using him? Trying to trick him into falling in love with you, and then, when he actually does, we’re supposed to believe you’ve turned over a new leaf? How do we know this isn’t just part of your plan?”

“MY LOVE FOR HIM IS TRUE,” Nighttide growled and her form waved. “I know how to treat him right!”

“Sure. How to abuse and lie to him,” Ana snorted.

“You little brat, I’m going to hurt you,” Nighttide burst out, her form splitting into her shadow; causing Echoside to cry out and jump back in shock.

She was only stopped as Taz got into the way and laid a hoof upon her shadow form. Surprisingly, she didn’t turn back; as Taz was trying to reason with her, not control her.

“Please, listen to me. She can’t destroy what we have if you don’t give her more fuel,” Taz said calmly before lowering his muzzle, kissing her shadow. “I love you, and that won’t change.”

“What you have is a lie!” Ana shouted.

“Don’t listen to her, my love,” Taz whispered, planting more and more kisses on her. “Just think about us, think about our absolutely wonderful times and ignore her. ”

Amazingly, Nighttide’s form didn’t seem to move. It stayed in place as the mare thought about her response. Then as suddenly as she had transformed, she retook on her pony form. “Ana, what we have is love, I love him, and he loves me. I want to spend the rest of my life with him, and he wants the same. It’s just a shame you can’t recognize love when it’s right in front of your muzzle.”

“He doesn't know what he wants.”

In a calm, rational voice that belittled their fight, Nighttide replied, “If that were true, I wouldn’t be pregnant, would I?”

“WHAT‽” everyone cried out, even Taz.

Nighttide lowered her head and then turned to Taz. “I meant to tell you, I really did, but…”

“You were scared?” he asked gently.

“Yes,” she whimpered, just to be stopped as he raised her muzzle and kissed her.

Ana couldn’t pick her jaw off the floor. But that didn’t stop any of the others from talking. “I know how, but… how?” Starlight asked. “I mean, you’re not really a pony, but, I guess you are?”

Nighttide turned to her. “I don’t know. I started to feel a little strange a month ago and when I looked inward, I could just... feel her.” Nighttide placed a hoof on her stomach.

“Her?” Taz asked.

She nodded. “She’s a part of me; she doesn’t affect my shadow melding or healing, but I can feel her getting... bigger.”

“I’m… I’m going to be a dad?”

“Well, you two have been fucking like bunnies,” Flash said with a laugh.

Ana huffed and turned; she had intended to turn this situation her way, but now it was even worse than before. She knew that it would be nearly impossible now to get him out from under her influence.

Echoside saw Ana drop her pack and turn to leave. She lightly tapped Starlight with a hoof.

“What? I want to know more abou—”

The bat-pony pointed to the dark-blue unicorn walking away from the group. “I don’t know if we need her or not, but if we do…”

“I’ll go talk to her,” Starlight said as she made her way to follow Ana.

“What are you going to name her?” Blaze asked.

“Sis, does this mean Nighttide has a baby in her stomach?” Dayspring asked Vela.

“It does,” Vela confirmed.

“Are you going to have one too because of Flash?”

Vela’s beak opened. “I…”

She wanted to deny it, to simply tell him no. Somehow, she couldn’t. Her thoughts in that regard were somehow pleasant. She just couldn’t explain why or how.

A white hoof rubbed Dayspring’s back. “Maybe, one day,” Flash said with a smile, earning a smile in return from Vela.

As the group kept pestering Nighttide with a million and one questions, Echoside’s eyes stayed glued to the trail that Ana and Starlight had taken. She turned to the group and cleared her throat, loudly.

“Yes?” Taz asked.

“Forgive me, prince, I know it’s not my place, but I get the feeling that tensions are running high right now. Maybe we should set up camp here and allow everyone to calm the buck down?”

It was then Taz noticed the two missing ponies, and the fact that the sun was about to go down. “That… might be a good idea.”

***

Ana’s trail wasn’t hard to follow. Starlight followed the unicorn over a small hill as her sister sought to put as much distance between herself and the group. In the end, Starlight found Ana looking down over a ridge. The dark-blue unicorn was sitting on her haunches, her posture sloped, her tail wrapped around her legs, and her head hanging loosely.

What took Starlight aback though was that she had expected to hear her sister crying. Ana wasn’t; she was just sitting there, completely still, save for the soft rise and fall of her body as she took small breaths in and out.

When Starlight approached, Ana spoke without even looking back at her. “Why?” Her voice was so soft, so weak.

“Why what?” Starlight asked.

“Why am I not crying?” Ana asked.

“Ana, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t. Please don’t do that.”

Starlight sighed as she walked the rest of the way to her sister. She didn’t say a word. She simply sat down with their coats touching each other.

“Why me? Why is it me that has to be so unlucky? Everyone’s got someone to love. Taz got that… that… and Vela and Flash… Now even you got somepony in your heart,” Ana said.

Starlight wasn’t sure if she was supposed to say anything. It wasn’t until Ana gazed up at her with those bright red eyes of hers that she knew her sister was waiting for an answer. An answer she simply didn’t know.

Starlight sighed. “I don’t know why, or even how, Ana. But there is something I do know. Do you remember a while ago when I always said I’d never find anyone to be with? That I always thought love was for other ponies and said I’d never fall for that trap?”

Ana nodded.

“Look at me now. I found it without ever wanting it. If it can find me without me even looking for it, I know deep in my heart that it’ll find you too.”

“I-I thought it had. I thought I just needed to fight for it.”

Starlight brushed part of her sister’s purple mane from her face. “If I’ve learned anything, it’s that you’ve just gotta be open to what comes your way. I think… I know why you weren’t able to cry, Ana. It’s because you knew you’d never be with Taz, not really. You’ve always known, haven't you?”

“If Nighttide hadn’t—”

“Nighttide has nothing to do with it and you know it. You have so much love in your heart... love for your family, love for me, love for your friends, and love for him. But he’s never reciprocated that love, not in the way you’ve wanted. You can’t force someone to feel something for you that they simply don’t.”

Ana mumbled, “If I had just fought harder…”

“No, it doesn’t work that way. Even if Nighttide never mentioned her pregnancy, even if she wasn’t even pregnant, you would’ve lost. You and I both know that,” Starlight whispered.

“But he was my special somepony…”

“No, he was your friend. He’s always been your friend. And if you apologize for your behavior, he’ll always be your friend.”

“But… Nighttide…”

Starlight smiled. “Ana, you don’t have to be her friend, you don’t have to like her, but you have to accept her. For Taz, and his foal.”

For the first time since Starlight found Ana, she saw a tear fall from Ana’s eyes. It was quickly followed by another, and then another. Starlight wrapped a hoof around her sister’s shoulders and pulled her in for a great big hug.

Ana sobbed openly into Starlight’s coat; she sobbed for everything she had lost, and, more importantly, for her behavior.

“They’re going to need us, they’re going to need all of us, and you. We have to work to make sure that Taz’s foal has a place to live, that she’ll grow up big and strong. Don’t you want to be a part of that?”

“I do,” Ana sobbed into her coat. “I really do!”

“Then how about we go back? I think you know what you have to do,” Starlight said softly.

“I-I… I don’t have to like her, right?” Ana asked, never removing her head from where she buried it in Starlight's coat.

“No, but you do have to stop fighting with her. After all, she’s going to be a mother, and you don’t want to hurt her family, especially not Taz.”

“Yeah, I guess that wouldn’t be fair to beat up on a pregnant mare,” Ana said, chuckling a little.

Starlight chuckled too.

***

When the two made their way back to the encampment the tents were already set up, and someone had a fire going. They walked around to the group of ponies talking in the center. Echoside, with her enhanced night-sight, saw them first and got up to move by Starlight’s side. Ana walked up to everypony and cleared her throat.

“I’d, um… Nighttide?” she looked up at the dark-blue pegasus.

“Yes?” Nighttide answered.

“I just want to say, I’m… I’m sorry.”

Nighttide had expected everything. Everything but this, her jaw fell open in surprise; as did Taz’s, and just about everyone else's.

“And what are you sorry for?” Starlight asked, trying to help.

“Nighttide, you and Taz are together. I’ve been… unfair in that. I may not really… well, like you, but Taz does. I can see that you two love each other and I was wrong to say you didn’t know what love is.”

“Sis, is that supposed to be an apology?” Dayspring asked.

Vela closed his beak with her claw. “Shh, it’s more than we could’ve expected.”

Taz was the first to collect himself. “So, is this the end of the barbs between you two?”

Ana nodded, ashamed of her actions.

“Ana,” Nighttide said.

Ana looked up, her red eyes meeting Nighttide’s sky-blue ones. “Yes?”

“I accept your apology.”

Taz smiled at both mares. He loved Nighttide more than he could ever say, but him and Ana had been the best of friends for his entire life. It had felt wrong for the two of them to fight, especially as they were fighting over him. “Ana, come sit by me. We warmed up your dinner already.”

“Actually, can I sit by Nighttide? I’d kinda like to hear about my... um… cousin.”

The nervous tension filled the air until Nighttide broke it by saying, “Sure, you can even feel if you want. She’s not kicking yet, but there’s a little bit of a baby bump.”

“I still can’t believe Taz didn’t notice that,” Vela said.

“I just thought she was getting a little fat,” Taz replied. Earning shocked stares from everyone in the group. “IN A CUTE WAY!” he quickly added.

With a hoof upside his head and a round of laughter later, the group soon found themselves enjoying a wonderful campfire with great company.

Author's Note

Note: due to it's size ch 9 will be delayed a week to give my editors more time to look it over (it's about 20k words).

Sorry for the delay. You can expect it on the 24th.

Pregnancies, Preenings, and Bitings

Author's Note

If you're wondering if The Looking Glass affected my writing any, the short answer is: yes, yes it did.

Pregnancies, Preenings, and Bitings

Everfree Forest

Dinner wrapped up without issues. Well, without any major issues. With these nine, nothing ever happened without any issues. Blaze always found a way to make an issue out of something. In this case, it was a flaming marshmallow tossed into Flash’s tent, completely by accident, or so he said anyway.

Taz wrote it off as he followed Nighttide into their tent. They had set them up in such a way as to provide some privacy, but they were close to provide help in case something happened. None of them had any illusions as to what Taz and Nighttide would get up to.

When they were both in their tent, Taz closed the zipper behind them. He logically knew that it wouldn’t keep in the sound, but it made him feel better. “You should have told me.”

Nighttide turned around, blinking. “I thought we went over this already?”

“I know you were afraid, but this is dangerous Nighttide. Had I known I would have told you to stay home. I mean, what about our daughter’s safety!”

Nighttide gave Taz an ‘are you bucking serious’ look. “You do know I fought my mom this morning, right?”

“You shouldn’t have!” She shot you in the chest! What if… you know!”

“Ugh, are all stallions this dumb?” Nighttide asked herself, rubbing her head with a hoof. “Taz, she’s a part of me. I can feel her, she’s fine.”

“You can’t blame me for worrying about my wife and foal!” Taz blurted out before he could stop himself.

Nighttide perked up. “Did you just call me your wife?”

The stallion opened his mouth and then shut it again, realizing what he had just said. He blushed as yet another secret had been spilled tonight. “Nighttide, as far as I’m concerned, you’ve been my wife in all but name only. I’ve been wanting to ask you for a while, but I just never found the right moment.” He paused, then stuttered. “I...I… would you? I mean—”

He never even had the chance to finish his question. Nighttide leapt at him, sweeping him off his hooves and kissing him deeply. “Yes, oh my, YES!”

The attack pushed the pony up on his hind hooves and then he fell over on his back. Hitting the side of the tent and almost going through it. Almost. The two of them slid down the side, Nighttide pressed up against him, their lips connected in a passionate kiss.

Taz wrapped his front hooves around her, trying to protect her from the two hoof fall to the ground. Nighttide chuckled as she pulled back, smiling as she saw the look of concern on his face. Her smile became a frown. “But this has to stop.”

“What?” Taz asked.

“Whatever this is.”

“Me loving you?” Taz said, confused.

“No, you’re trying to protect me.”

“I can’t help it.”

“Then help it, or I swear I’ll stay in my shadow form for a week!” Nighttide threatened him playfully.

“Should you do that with the baby?” Taz asked.

“TAZ!” she shouted before starting to tickle him.

“Alright, alright!” he admitted his defeat, laughing madly. “Stop, please!”

“Stop trying to protect me!”

Taz grabbed her sides with his hoof. The stiffness of them caused Nighttide to pause in her tickle attack and look him in the face. “Nighttide, I promise to never stop trying protecting you. I’ll give my life a hundred times over for you and my daughter.”

“Don’t!” she suddenly growled. “Don’t you ever swear to give your life for me. That’s not what I want! I want you, us, our family, to be together… forever.”

Taz smiled about that, but something tingled in his mind. She hasn’t considered that she’s going to outlive me.

“What’s wrong?” Nighttide asked now, noticing his new expression.

“I was just contemplating how long a lifespan you have. I wonder if It’s even possible for me to go all the way with you,” he said silently.

“We’ve gone all the way plenty of times,” Nighttide said, confused.

He brushed her sky-blue mane out of her eyes. “Nighttide. Your real age is almost five hundred years. Timespire put you in this body, he regressed you to a sixteen-year-old. That means, guaranteed, you’ll live for at least five hundred more years. A lot longer based on Luna’s lifespan.”

“Taz, please. I never wanted to think about it. Do you know why?” He shook his head and she smiled. “Because you’re my life. Even when you start getting old, I will stay by your side. And I already faced a fact. As soon as you leave this world, I’ll leave it with you, to stay at your side forever.”

He raised a hoof to wipe a tear from her eye. “Even if I ask you not to?”

“Why would you do that if we could live forever in another world once our bodies ceased to exist? I would happily follow you,” Nighttide said.

“Because,” Taz said, a tear starting to fall from his own eye, “I plan on giving you every second of my life for as long as I can. Our daughter is to be the first of many, many foals I want to have with you. I want you to stay around for them. To remeber me, and when your times comes, then you’ll join me.”

Nighttide had another idea. One she had thought of many times, but never spoken of. “Taz… If I could find a way to extend your life… to… to make you live on with me… Would you do it?”

“I’d fight every second to be with you Nighttide. Every moment we have is precious to me. You know that.”

“I was hoping you’d say that. Count it as a promise that I will live every single second at your side and that we will find a way to be able to stay together, forever,” the mare whispered while burying her muzzle into his coat.

“Just… let’s promise each other to not waste the time we have, okay?” I don’t want you wasting what time we do have on a fool's errand.

“Promised,” Nighttide smiled.

He reached up and kissed her again. The two of them pressed their lips together, meeting again. Nighttide felt herself melting into his touch, even more so when she felt his tongue asking for entry into her mouth. She parted her lips and allowed the slimy, warm appendage in without a second’s hesitation.

For Taz, everything felt different. He was no longer kissing Nighttide, daughter of Luna and the love of his life. He was kissing the mother of his foal, his fiancee, his wife-to-be. When she gently met his tongue with her own, and the two engaged in an intricate ballet dance with one another, they were doing so as more than lovers, but as a couple in every aspect of the word now.

Luna, why did I wait so long?

His thoughts were cut off as she pulled back, smiling at him. She was simply the most sexy, gorgeous mare he had ever known, even beating out his sister Aurora, at least in his eyes anyway.

“So, does this mean I’ll get a ring?” Nighttide asked, grinning.

“My heart’s not enough?” Taz asked.

Nighttide chuckled. “You know it is.”

“And you know I’ll get you a ring, the biggest most expensive ring in all of Canterlot.”

“You know what they say, if you like it you put a ring on it.”

“So I need one for your pussy too?”

Nighttide laughed. “You know it’d just fall out when I changed forms.”

“So we could do it over and over?”

“Oh, kinky boy. Of course we do that and I’ll get you one for my favorite spot.”

“Ehhh... never mind.”

“Mhh, I thought you like it kinky?” Nighttide purred.

Taz smiled. “I do.”

“Well, then let’s move on, after all, I’m getting cold down here,” she mocked him, slightly rubbing her hips forward.

Taz licked his lips as she started to move her hips up his body. Nighttide took her time, grinding herself along the larger stallion’s hips, over his sheath and his emerging cock, up his abs and chest, until she was sitting with her marehood inches from his hungry, hungry muzzle.

He wasn’t even hesitating for a second. He gently kissed her wonderful marehood, teasing her along with slight nips and licks. Nighttide was immediately putty in his hooves, loving his teasing tongue work oh so much. Sometimes she needed it right there and quickly, but she simply loved his foreplay and was more than happy to give into it.

Taz licked along the outside of her labia. Watching with smile as she grew wet from his saliva and her own sweet, sweet nectar. He teased herd, even going part of the way down her thighs before turning around and heading in the opposite direction.

She tasted like she always did. Her smooth fur on the top of his tongue, sweat and moisture dancing and mixing with the taste of the forest itself. Hungrily he licked and licked, ensuring that every inch of both her thighs were nice and clean before staring at the wettest spot of them all.

“You’re going to tease me tonight, aren’t you?” Nighttide asked. Already feeling the heat in her loins growing almost unbearable.

Taz puckered his lips and blew lightly up and down her slit. Watching as the mare’s juices traveled alongside her already puffy lips.

Nighttide moaned in response. “Taz…”

The stallion nuzzled her marehood with his nose, earning yet another moan from her. “What can I say? I gotta treat the mother of my foals right.”

“I’d say you were treating me fine this morning.”

“Then consider this the… extra special treatment,” Taz said as he raised his front hooves and started to lightly massage her cutie marks. Nighttide was close; close to simply grabbing his muzzle and shoving it into her marehood. The fire in her loins was burning uncontrollably now: a raging inferno that threatened to consume her very essence.

Just when she was reaching her edge—the very limits of her endurance—where she’d do just that—the night-black earth pony placed his tongue an inch below the bottom of her slit and licked. He licked slowly in one long drawn-out motion, only coming to an end after passing an inch over the top of her slit.

“Ohhhhhh…” she couldn’t stop herself from letting out one long-drawn out moan. The feeling of his tongue was like lightning shot through her body, exciting her in ways that only he could.

Each time he could feel her body tense up. He could feel her hips tighten even through his massage of her flank. But mostly, he could taste her. Each lick caused the mare to practically leak juices, coating his tongue in her wonderful taste.

Nighttide was about to lose every form of resistance she had, flowing over the edge thanks to the wonderful tongue of her lover, and her soon-to-be husband. Every single one of his served licks made her run, against her resistance, to her edge, threatening to shove her over with a powerful buck.

It was true that the mare was older than him. Far, far older for that matter. However, they had both had their sexual awakenings together. They were both each other’s first. And with no way to stop them, they had explored that aspect of their bodies at every chance they had. Nighttide knew all of the little things Taz loved, all the spots on his form that, simply, made the stallion go wild.

Taz knew Nighttide’s too, and he had no compunction about holding back, especially now that they were engaged. He felt her. He felt the subtle movement of her flanks, the familiar tense and release of her muscles. The stallion was waiting for the perfect moment.

That moment came at the end of the third lick. For it was in that lick that Nighttide’s clit was fully distended. He trailed around it with his tongue, licking the edges in a circle before giving it a slight flick with the tip.

Nighttide’s back arched, her wings shot out, and her body tensed in epic longing. She shouted now, unable to hold back, “TAZZZ!”

It was then when Taz stopped licking the outside and went inside. He plunged his tongue as deep into her as he could get it. Forcing it past her tightened walls, a process made easier by the sheer wetness inside.

Nighttide was shot off the cliff and plunged head first into a river of pleasure. She almost fell back—and would have—if Taz hadn’t moved his hooves up to catch her. She felt the fire in her loins flicker and die as it was extinguished by the river that poured into an ocean that was emptying out into a waiting, and very eager, muzzle.

Taz did his absolute best to not waste a drop. Sadly, he needed a muzzle about one and a half times as big as the one he had for that to be a possibility. When she was with him, Nighttide had no compunction about anything; she simply loved to please her stallion, and he loved to please his mare. So when she came, she came.

He drank down her juices, enjoying the taste he knew he would never get enough of. Even then, he could feel the sides of his muzzle and chest getting wet. It wasn’t bad... yet. But the night was still young.

Nighttide panted heavily, slowly calming down. As soon as she found her breath back, she smiled gently. “We’re not done yet.”

“How right you are,” he whispered huskily as he let her slide down, bringing her back muzzle to muzzle with him.

The two kissed, Nighttide enjoying the taste of herself in his mouth before she pulled back and said, “If that’s how you’re going to treat me now that I’m a mommy, I guess I have to up my game for you, daddy.”

“Nighttide?”

“Yes?”

Taz blushed. “With the foal… can I still… you know… what we did last time… a bit deeper?”

Nighttide smiled lustfully. “Taz, at that time I was already pregnant, so I doubt it will be a problem.”

“I guess we really don’t have a playbook on what one can and can’t do with a pregnant shadow lover.”

“We’ll write it together, just the two of us,” Nighttide said as she started to leave little kisses on his muzzle, working her way to his neck, and then chest.

Taz cooed as he felt her work her way down, knowing what was coming and loving every little bit of it. The two had done everything they could do to each other, or at least, everything they had found so far. They were always hunting for other things and ways to surprise each other.

Needless to say that their minds were flooded with ideas they hadn’t try yet, and Taz was not exactly shy about asking others for tips. Ataxia was proving to be his go-to for most new things, at least when he could get her alone.

Nighttide continued working her way down his chest. She slid her flank back, feeling his hardening member stiffen. It wasn’t at full mast yet, but it was only a matter of time until that happened. She moved her flank back, letting it pop free right in front of her.

Taz saw her glared hungrily at it. “This is why you’ve been… well… more horny lately, isn’t it?”

“No, not the only reason. I simply want to devour you on every single chance I get!”

“You’d eat me if you could, wouldn’t you?” Taz asked seductively.

Nighttide smiled and moved her head to his sheath, then kissed the base of his cock. “Mind,” she started saying as she licked around the main shaft “Body.” She worked her way up to his tip, already glowing with pre, “soul. But only if you could come back out so we could do it again, and again.”

Taz cooed with each and every touch of her lips, the sensation of her breathing, and the feel of her licks on his sensitive rod. He loved her, he loved her touch, her taste, and her smell. He simply loved everything about her. She was his everything.

His muzzle fell open when she stuck the head of his shaft into her maw. Her tongue played over his tip, licking the top before massaging the sides. Taz had to resist every urge to buck, to take her then and there. They had been down that route before, and while fun, it was not what they were doing tonight. Tonight was all about showing each other what they meant to one another, tonight was their first time together as fiancée.

Nighttide didn’t pull back; she had no need. The mare kept moving down, taking his full head into her muzzle and continuing further and further. She moved her tongue back and forth, tasting him, tasting everything about him as she felt more and more of his pre-cum on the back of her tongue.

Taz groaned as she pleased him like no other mare could. Sliding down his member more and more, her tongue gently continued its work around his girth. She hummed happily as he moaned, loving the sound she was the reason for.

Despite her best attempts over the last five months, she had never been able to take him all, not in her mouth anyway. Luna help her, that was going to change tonight. She felt his flare about to touch the back of her throat, and yet she still had another six inches before she had taken all of him.

She recalled Ataxia’s advice and relaxed her throat while fake swallowing. The trick worked, and she pushed him past, into her esophagus and kept moving down.

Taz was used to a lot from his mare, his wife. But this was new even to him. He gasped as he felt a tightness he had never truly known before. A tightness that only increased as his love pushed past her barrier and kept lowering her muzzle one inch at a time.

Nighttide kept lowering her head, feeling him pulse inside her throat, lubricating her insides with his pre as he kept leaking cum directly into her esophagus. She kept swallowing, almost as if she were eating a rope. In a way, she kind of was.

Taz watched her muzzle three inches from his stomach, and then two. He was one part amazed at just how much she had taken and three parts overcome with sheer pleasure of it.

Nighttide was more than familiar with her stallion’s length and girth. She had experienced it in full in both of her other holes, but today was the day she would know it in her mouth. She knew when it was coming by the position of his medial ring. She could feel it in her mouth going deeper and deeper, almost to the point where it would be at the entrance to her throat.

She had no hope of taking it past that point, but not even Taz was that big. She knew she had one inch left but resisted the urge to simply take it all at once. That would only lead to her gagging and a temporary halt to their fun times while they cleaned up.

Nighttide controlled herself, forcing herself to keep swallowing, to go slowly the rest of the way down his length. So engrossed in what she was doing that Nighttide was taken completely by surprise when her muzzle hit something soft and warm. Opening her eyes she saw that now, at last, she had finally done it.

“Nighttide, I love you so much,” Taz said between soft moans that escaped his lips.

Nighttide grunted, her mouth a little full to be able to talk. However, that wasn’t her only reply. The mare started to raise her head and then lower it again, allowing Taz to fuck her throat.

He didn’t last long; he couldn’t. It was simply too tight, too good, too pivotal for him to be able to hold back. The second time she hilted herself on his member, Taz screamed out, “I’m cumming.”

Ataxia had told her about this part too. With much envy, she had told her to treat it like a drink and swallow, that pulling back at this point would only trigger her gag reflex.

Nighttide did as she was taught, feeling his member pulse in her throat and unleash a torrent of seed halfway down her esophagus and to her stomach. She drank everything he had to offer, everything that he gave to her and only to her. Only when she felt his member settle down, only when she felt him settle down and relax, did she start to pull off.

Pulling off was much the same as going down. She took it slowly, careful to not go to quick and to give her body time to adjust. Only when she felt her throat relax and the flare of his member in her mouth did she increase her speed and let his semi-hard dick pop free in front of him.

“Taz I—”

She never got a chance to finish her sentence. Before she could say more than two words Taz grabbed her and kissed her. Not caring where her mouth was, after all, if she was willing to do that for him, who was he to say it was somehow disgusting. He loved her and everything she did.

Nighttide melted into the kiss, she pushed her tongue into his mouth, something he was more than happy to receive as the two celebrated this latest achievement, the latest barrier that had crumbled between the two.

When their kiss broke, she lowered her muzzle and smiled. “I love you.”

“I love you too, and I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you how much.”

“How about we just start with tonight?”

“My thoughts exactly.”

***

They all watched Taz and Nighttide ‘subtly’ call it a night and head to their tent. No one there had any illusions that those two would not soon be in the throes of ecstasy. Some of them were disgusted by it, some were jealous, and some had plans of their own. Vela was one of those with such plans.

“Well Flash, since your tent was burned down, I guess you’re sleeping with me tonight?”

“I thought he’d just share my tent,” Blaze said.

“Actually, I want you to sleep with Dayspring. I’m still technically grounded from sleeping with him or mom.”

“Letter of the law but not the spirit?” Starlight asked with a smile.

“Exactly,” Vela said with a shit eating grin.

“Don’t I have a say in this?” Flash asked.

“Nope,” Vela said. “Besides, I promised to show you something tonight.”

“Why do I have the feeling that I should be scared by now?” Flash added dryly.

“Oh, shut up,” Vela said with a roll of her eyes as she moved to get up. “It’s not like I bite.”

“Biting can be fun,” Starlight said before she could help herself. When everyone turned with wide eyes to stare at her, she blushed and lowered her head.

Echoside grinned at Starlight. “Hey, talking about biting. You didn't pack anything so it's my tent for you.”

If anything, that caused the blue unicorn’s blush to grow even more pronounced. “Have fun you two,” Ana said with a shit-eating grin.

“Shut up, we’re not doing that!”

“Sure,” her sister smiled and blew her a raspberry as Starlight got up.

Vela chuckled as she walked over to Blaze with her brother’s sleeping form in her claws. The little guy had fallen asleep thirty minutes ago and she knew from experience that he’d be out like a light for most of the night. “Do you mind?”

Blaze just looked at him. With a smile he shook his head no and made to take him from her. “I’m trusting you here, don’t let me down.”

The obvious threat there made him pause for a second. But only a second. He took the sleeping hippogriff in his hooves. “I won’t let anything happen to him. But… don’t hurt my brother, okay?”

“I can't promise that to a hundred percent,” Vela grinned.

“Oh dear,” Flash mumbled before being gripped by the hippogriff and pulled to her tent.

Blaze held a sleeping Dayspring as he and Ana watched Starlight and Echoside leave for their military tent, and Flash and Vela left for her tent. “He’s bucked, isn’t he?” Blaze asked.

“Oh yeah,” Ana replied with a smile.

Flash found himself gulping as he was practically thrown inside of Vela’s tent. She followed soon after and zipped it up with a claw. The pegasus reached around until he found the magical lamp and lit it.

“God’s would you just settle down?” Vela asked.

“Sorry,” Flash stated.

“And quit fighting,”

“Sorry.”

“And quit saying sorry.”

“So—”

Vela giggled a little.

Flash blushed and looked down at the rather comfortable floor of her tent. “I know you didn’t want to tell them this soon. I—”

“Shit happens,” Vela said with a shrug of her shoulders. Then she paused. “Thanks by the way. For, you know, saying what you said.”

“I know it’s hard for you too… um… show your emotions.”

“It’s not hard, I just… don’t see a reason to.”

“Vela, you don’t have to—”

“Flash, you really want to continue this line of questioning or shall we get to some more fun stuff?”

“Vela… I…”

“That's good enough for me,” the hippogriff said before jumping at him, pressing her beak against his muzzle and kissing him deeply.

The kiss was so surprising that Flash almost jumped back. He tensed up, ready for anything, even as her beak pressed against his lips. Even still, he couldn’t help but fall back. That was something Vela took pride in, as she was now laying on top of the pegasus. Her tongue pushed itself past his lips, demanding entry into his mouth.

Flash had no chance of keeping her out. He didn’t even try and simply allowed the invader entry. She tasted him, the inside of his mouth and gums before growing a little bored in his lack of participation.

“If you want this to be a night full of lust between us, you do your work now. Else you can sleep outside on the ground.”

“Sorry, it’s hard to be relaxed when you jump on me.”

“Because I want my coltfriend; is that so hard to understand?” She asked with a smile, which became a frown as he didn’t seem to relax one bit. She sighed and rolled her eyes before remembering the ‘other’ thing they were supposed to do. “You know what, sit up.”

“What?” Flash asked as Vela got up off him.

“You heard me, sit up, on your haunches, now.”

He stared at her confused, but did as she said.

With a seductress smile, she walked up until she was an inch from his muzzle. “Now, spread em.”

“What?”

She had to resist the urge to kick him out right then and there. Colts can be so dumb at times. “Your wings, spread them.”

He stared at her in fear, but just as with her last order, he obeyed and spread both his wings out. Something only achievable thanks to the size of Vela’s tent. Being an empress she had all sorts of luxurious things.

She moved her eyes from his and to his left wing. “Flash, these are shameful.”

This girl is bi-polar or something! Flash thought as his eyes took in what he was seeing.

“They look fine to me.”

“OUCH!” he shouted as she yanked out one of his secondary feathers in the most painful way possible.

“You call that fine?” She waved with the broken feather in front of his muzzle. “Most of them are done! Unusable anymore!”

“It’s just a little bent, I don’t see the problem. I fly just fine.”

She glared at him, “I don’t know if you're dumb, or ignorant.” At those words she started to pace in front of him, every few seconds she looked back at him. “I’m going to assume ignorant because my coltfriend is not dumb.”

“Vela, you don’t ne—”

“Here’s what we’re going to do. Everything in your head you thought you knew about wing maintenance. Forget it right now. I’m going to show you the right way to do it.”

“Vela, my dad—”

“Your dad’s a bucking unicorn!”

Flash shut his muzzle, not knowing if he should be scared, or hurt by her voice.

Vela paused as she saw the look on his face. She sat back and sighed. “Sorry. I didn’t meant to—”

“Yeah you did,” Flash said, taking pride in this being the first time tonight that he got to interrupt her. “You did this on purpose, and we both know it. But if you think I’ll stay here and listen to you insult my family and me--he one you call coltfriend--you’re wrong.”

“Flash, listen—”

“No, you listen now.” Flash raised a hoof and pushed into her chest as he stared her straight in the eyes. “This feels like you are only playing with my heart and my feelings, and I don't like it one bit.”

“I'm not playing with you; my feelings are real!” Vela burst out. “This is just… I only have one setting…”

Flash shook his head. “No, I’ve seen the other side of you, the side you showed me these last two nights, the side that comes out when you’re with your brother. That’s the side I agreed to be a coltfriend to. I expect you to be you, but I’m not a toy for you to use and abuse, Vela. If you can’t handle that, maybe I should go sleep outside.”

She glared at him, wondering if he was serious or not. He was, very.

The hippogriff lowered her head. “Sorry.”

Flash smiled warmly and walked up to her, nuzzling her gently until she looked up on her own. “Now what were you saying about preening?”

She looked up, shocked. “You still want to?”

“As you said, my dad’s a unicorn. If they’re as bad as you said, maybe I do need to learn a new way, and who better to teach me than you?”

“I can’t promise I won’t be mean about it.”

Flash laughed. “As long as you keep in mind that I’m an equal part of this relationship, I can take it.”

“Maybe I was right to chose you as my coltfriend, after all,” Vela said gently, looking at Flash who thought to see a loving gaze for the first time this evening from her.

He kissed her forehead and respread his left wing for her to examine. “Now, what were you saying?”

Vela smiled once before moving back to the wing. That smile became a frown as she examined the damaged and bent feathers. “Maybe… maybe we can save a few of these.”

Flash gulped. “A few?”

“I’m trying to be optimistic here,” Vela said with a sigh as she moved to his primary feathers. She held up a claw and ran it along the rachis of the feather. The action was taken simply to straighten it out so she could point out things he needed to look out for. But for Flash it felt as wonderful as when she ran her claws up his dick. “You see this one, the vane is torn here and here. It’s minor, but in flight you’re not going to be able to achieve as much lift.“

There was no answer from him and Vela looked at him before noticing his stare. “Hey, Vela to Flash, would you give me your attention? First the work and then the pleasure!”

“S-sorry,” Flash mumbled.

Vela grinned as she saw the effect on him. She had hoped that this whole situation would drive him up the wall, but with the state of these wings, she suspected that it might prove to be more painful than pleasurable. “Now if these were my wings, I’d pull it and let another grow out in its place. But given the state of your wings, I don’t want you to be grounded after this so I’m going to let it slide.”

“What.. what do your wings look like?” Flash asked.

Vela shrugged and extended her left wing right in front of his face. He gasped as every pure-white feather looked perfect, flawless, and pristine. “How did you…”

“My mom, she was a model after all so she knows a lot of tricks to keeping up their appearances. Honestly, I’m surprised your mom didn’t teach you.”

Flash lowered his head at mention of that.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“No, it’s… it’s fine. My dad insisted, especially when we, you know…”

“Started to get excited by it?” Vela asked.

“You too?”

“Yes, even girls get horny, Flash. You should know that by now.”

“Sorry,” Flash said. “It’s all so new with you.”

Vela smiled and pecked him on his muzzle. “And I’m happy to show you everything.”

“Mhh can’t wait for it,” Flash replied, then surprised her as he caught her in a deep kiss.

She squealed in surprise but gave into his kiss. It left her with a smile, but it didn’t stop her from raising a claw to prevent a second one. “Work first.”

“Fine fine,” Flash replied.

Vela booped him on the nose and then turned back to his wings. “Now this next one, it’s not bad but it’s twisted. See here?” She gestured to where the feather was. Flash could see it, it was a little twisted, but didn’t see a problem with it. “All you gotta do is take it in your muzzle and gently twist the quill light at the calamus.”

She said muzzle, but she used her claws. Her actions brought upon the same feelings he would have when he preened himself. A soft coo escaped his lips at her actions.

Vela smiled at that, she then immediately moved on to the third primary and yanked it out as quickly as she could. This time, she had done it not to make a point, but just to get it over with.

“Ouch, Vela, what the hell?”

She held up the new white feather and showed him. “The rachis is bent here and here, the vanes are torn and the after-feathers are basically non-existent. There was nothing we could do for this one.”

“You could have warned me.”

“It’ll hurt worse if you know it’s coming.”

He pouted. “Fine, but you have to make up every single one!”

She giggled and yanked out another. “I already promised you pleasure after the work, so keep calm.”

Flash tensed up , hissing through his teeth as he expected a lot more of this. The pegasus was in for a surprise though. “Oh, these aren’t bad at all,” Vela stated as she moved from removal to simple maintenance for the next three.

Simple maintenance left Flash with the exact opposite feelings from when she yanked out his other feathers. Vela knew what she was doing, what felt good, and what felt awesome. Flash had been right when he called her out, he wasn’t like the others, he was… he was special to her. She needed to treat him the way he deserved.

The way my coltfriend deserves, she thought with a smile.

Vela continued to take care of his feathers, only stopping to tell him something important or giving some tips on keeping them in shape. She also noticed Flash getting more and more into it with every second, made clear by his semi-hard stallionhood slowly emerging from his sheath.

The look on Flash’s face was too cute to her. She blushed and moved back to his feather before stopping and smiling to herself as she realized there were only two more feathers and they both needed to just be straightened.

Vela lightly ran the tip of her claws down the rachis, taking the vanes between two digits and straightening them as she moved all the way down to the tips. There, she lightly started to play with the edges, brushing up against them and acting like the stallion she was helping wasn’t rock hard now.

“Vela, that feels amazing.” Flash said, doing his absolute best to keep his hoof off his dick. It was all but begging for attention now.

Vela glanced down to it and then back up to his face. “We’re not done with this wing yet, next we gotta apply… the oil.”

Flash felt his member twitch below him the way she said that. Vela smiled and ran her claw tips along the base of his wing. Stimulating the calamus into oil production.

Flash shuddered as he felt it, almost causing him to blow right there and then.

“I’m guessing you never get to this part on your own?” Vela asked with a smile.

Flash shook his head; his dad mentioned something about this, but for the past few years he’d do it, he would’ve stopped long before now, or more exactly, he’d have beaten off before now.

Vela laughed inwardly. She ran her claw tips down each feather, putting a nice shine on each one. When she finished coating oil over the rest of his wing, she saw just how close he was to cuming. He only needs one little push.

Vela licked the bridge connecting to the innermost feathers. It wasn’t pleasant for her, as it left the girl with a tongue coated in oil, but the effect it had on Flash was more than worth it.

“Oh dear Luna…” Flash moaned as for the first time in his life, he came without even touching his cock.

Vela watched as three good squirts of cum shot from his dick. He made good distance too, shooting the sticky white liquid a good three hooves away. The next three squirts simply dribbled out, coating his stick in his juices.

She smiled, leaned down, and cleaned him off with her tongue, which caused Flash’s eyes to widen, and, more importantly, his dick to stay semi-hard.

Vela noted that between the taste of cum or oil, she definitely preferred cum. Not that the former tasted that good to begin with, it was just easier to clean up the mess this way. She moved her mouth off his cock, but, notably, kept her claw on it.

With a smile she said, “Now you preen the other wing, and every time you do right, I’ll do right by you.”

There was no doubt in his mind what she meant. With a grin, Flash folded his left wing to his side and extended his right. In reply, Vela started to lightly massage his shaft, giving him just a taste of what was to come.

Luna, I love this girl.

***

It was with nervous apprehension that Starlight followed Echoside to her tent. Her marefriend had been right: She hadn’t had time to pack a single thing; not even the armor Echoside had made for her. That being said, she also didn’t know what Echoside had planned for their ‘shared’ time in their tent.

Does she want to… do I want to… are we going to...

Starlight couldn’t even finish her thoughts, mainly because she legitimately didn’t know the answer to the questions. She was scared but excited. Anxious but confident. Nervous but composed. The dichotomy of emotions that were running through her body made her feel like she needed to throw up.

Somehow, her hooves never stopped following Echoside. When she walked into the tent, she was met by the last thing she had expected: A leathery wing slapped her right in the face.

“Hey, what the hay?” Starlight said, more shocked than offended.

“You look like you’re ready to jump out of your fur, Starlight. Relax, I only bite if you let me.”

“I’m… I’m actually more nervous about this… To sleep right next to you,” Starlight said.

Echoside smiled gently. “Starlight, sleeping in a tent together doesn’t mean that we have to do it. I would never force you to do anything you weren’t ready for.”

But that’s just it… am I?

Starlight gave her a kind smile, one that said she truly did appreciate the older mare waiting for her to decide. It went a long way to calming her down. “Thanks, Echoside.”

“I see you still can’t relax. How about we just sit down and talk? You ask me what you want to know about me and maybe tell me a bit more about you?” Echoside asked.

Starlight thought of it, before smiling. “You know what? I’d love that.” At those words, Starlight moved to the center of the tent and laid down on her stomach with her front hooves tucked underneath her. Echoside smiled and followed suit. It wasn’t exactly a big tent, more of a standard issue guard tent, but it was large enough for them She scooched up to Starlight’s side and sat down right next to her, and their coats couldn’t help but touch.

“Tell me about your moms,” Starlight said.

Echoside chuckled. “What would you like to know? There’s so much to talk about.”

“Just how they are, who they are… etcetera.”

“Well, my moms are Night Moon and Velvet Sky. Night Moon is just like my grandma’s, a stubborn bat-pony.” Echoside giggled before continuing. “Her head was always full of her duty and Velvet, nothing more. Well, and me of course.”

“She sounds lovely.”

“She is. She got her coat from Blue Moon and her short, jet black mane from Night Watch. Sometimes I think she’s cute.” Starlight gave the mare a deadpan stare. “Don’t look at me like that! Yeah, I think my mom’s cute.”

“What about Velvet Sky?”

“She’s way different. She’s not even part of the main guards. She works in Luna’s Skywatcher Team, some elite unit that patrols our borders. She’s tough, but loves me and my mom for all she’s worth. In duty you wouldn’t see an emotion slip from her, but in private, she’s just outright sappy.”

“What does she look like?” Starlight asked, interested.

“She had a light-grey coat, but her mane… her mane looks like my grandma Blue Moon’s eyes. It’s unusual, but it fits her. Pinkish-red looks good on grey if you ask me.” Echoside giggled again.

“Your family sounds wonderful,” Starlight said. She was pressing her coat deeper against Echoside’s. “Why’d you leave them to join the guard?”

“It’s what we do. At sixteen we’re out of the house and make our own way,” Echoside said.

“That sounds awful.”

“No, it’s just our way. I knew it was coming and left to do my own thing. Believe it or not I wanted to go to the Crystal Empire and work on their jousting armor.”

“Those are gorgeous!”

“And the way they’re made…” Echoside’s voice trailed off as she remembered learning about them.

“But then Luna…”

The dreamy look on Echoside’s face drifted away. “Princess Luna. She… she came to me in my dreams, told me that I had a future in the guard, that if I joined I’d see things that I could never hope to see in my life. That my heritage made me special in a way I’d never know.”

“I can’t believe Luna would do something like that to you.”

“It’s considered an honor to be visited by Luna.” Echoside’s voice said it was anything but for her. “Don’t you remember what I told you? I declined her in my dreams, so she dragged me to the applications about four days after the visit. She kinda forced me to join.” The bat-pony chuckled.

Starlight’s muzzle was hanging open as she tried to overlay this Princess Luna she was learning about to the one she knew. They just seemed like two different ponies to her. That being said, she’d never asked the Princess of the Night about her personal guard or how she ran them before either.

“How’s your family?” Echoside asked, hoping to change the subject. That wasn’t really a conversation she enjoyed having.

“Huh? Oh, my moms are great. Shimmering Night is actually my birth mother. She was the first alicorn ever born and is actually a demigod. You think we have it bad with two moms? She’s got three. She can co—”

“Starlight, I didn’t ask for her life background, I wanted to know how she is, you know, as a mom.”

“Oh,” Starlight said, blinking. “She’s um… good I guess?”

“You guess?”

“Well, she’s busy, you know. Before she was poisoned, my mom took over the night from Luna when she was on monster hunter duties. She tried to be there as much as she could, but for the most part I spent my days with Grandma Twilight.”

“So Princess Twilight Sparkle can rule over the days and make time to take care of you but your own mother can’t?”

“It’s not like that!”

“What’s it like?”

“I… umm…”

Echoside smiled. “Starlight, I won’t spread anything around you tell me, so just tell me.”

“I miss her,” Starlight said, looking down. “I know she tries to make time for us, and that she’s a princess, and that she has a responsibility to all of Equestria. I know all that, I do, but… doesn’t she have responsibilities to her daughter too? I mean…”

Echoside wrapped a wing around her and brought her in closer. Starlight looked up at her, on the verge of tears but thankful for the contact all the same. “It’s worse now that she’s sick.”

“Sick?” Echoside asked.

“You really don’t pay attention to what happens with your own princesses do you?” Starlight asked, chuckling slightly.

“Generally when I hear Princess Anything-Other-Than-Luna, I zone out.”

Starlight smiled softly. “I hope that changed.”

“Yes, it did,” Echoside said. “Because one cute princess actually snuck into my heart.”

Starlight couldn’t help but feel her heart flutter. Before she was aware of it, she moved forward and pressed her muzzle on Echoside’s, lips meeting lips in a passionate kiss. When they broke apart, Starlight found herself disappointed that they didn’t go any further than a kiss. The issue was still the same though, How much further do I want to go?

“So, you were saying she’s sick?”

Starlight took a deep breath. “She’s the Demigoddess of Magic. Commander of magic, all magic falls to her. When we went to rescue Taz from Tartarus, the portal closed behind us. Night was the only one with the ability to open it again, but she had exhausted herself saving her brother’s life. To do it, she had to command the magic of Tartarus, the dead magic that was left over. It… It… It poisoned her.”

“Can’t she just cure it with our magic?”

Starlight shook her head. “She was able to stave off the really bad effects for a while, but every time she’d use her ability, it’d get worse. She’s dying Echoside, she’s dying and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Echoside held her close, feeling the mare’s tears fall freely. “I told my mom not to lose hope, that we will find a way, but look at me now, I-I… I can’t do it, I—”

Echoside shushed her and simply held Starlight until she felt like the unicorn was ready to speak again. “Tell me about her, your other mom.”

“Ataxia?”

“Yes, her.”

“She’s… well… Ataxia.”

“That’s not a description.”

Starlight found herself doing something strange, she started laughing. “She’s her own description.”

“Hm, will you finally start telling me or do I have to tickle you and believe the rumours?” Echoside asked playfully.

Starlight blushed. “It’s like trying to describe the sun to somepony that’s never seen light.”

“Okay, you wanted it,” Echoside said before lifting her wing and start to tickle Starlight on the side of her belly.

Starlight laughed and fought against it, or at least, acted like she fought against it. The unicorn all but rolled over, giving echoside even easier access to her sensitive belly as she put up only a token defence at the mare’s attack.

Echoside grinned at the display and now used both her wings to tickle Starlight. Then she stopped, looking down at the unicorn.

“Something wrong?” Starlight asked.

Echoside smiled. “No. Just admiring my beautiful marefriend.”

The blue unicorn blushed as she folded one hoof in on itself. Without asking permission or needing Echoside to take the lead, she reached up and kissed the mare again. This time she opened her muzzle and started to push her tongue into the bat-ponies mouth.

Echoside accepted, letting the unicorn’s tongue dance and tangle with her own. They met in her mouth and massaged each other tenderly, almost as if it was simply natural for them to be there together. She felt the expectation of Starlight. The unicorn was expecting to feel her fangs again, to feel the sensation of being penetrated, of giving herself to the pony she was growing to love.

Echoside didn’t give her what she wanted. She played with her tongue but when the unicorn started to dance her appendage across the mare’s fangs, she pulled back, not letting her cut herself open again.

“W-what’s wrong?” Starlight asked, confused.

Echoside fought the urge to be angry, more at herself than anything else. “What’s wrong is you’re not my meal, Starlight. You’re my marefriend.”

“I know that.”

“Do you? Then why is it everytime we kiss you seem to be wanting me to feed from you?”

Starlight blushed. “Because I know what it means to makes me yours.”

“You’re already mine,” Echoside said, “and I’m already yours.”

“Yeah, but… I mean, um…”

“Starlight it means something because it enhances what we have, it’s not all we have. That only cheapens it.”

“But… we—”

“I’m just saying relax, Starlight. Let’s let the moment carry us and not go in it expecting anything.” Echoside kissed Starlight again, and this time, she lightly captured the mare’s tongue between her fangs and pulled only a little. Not piercing, but just lightly nipping. “When we expect something from the other, it only makes it less special when it actually happens.”

Starlight nodded her understanding. “Sorry, I know I have a lot to learn.”

Echoside smiled at her. “As do I. Most of my old relationships ended by now.”

“Why?” Starlight asked. “I think you’re wonderful.”

“Starlight… I’m a rude, arrogant, brash mare that always likes to take what she thinks is hers,“ Echoside mumbled before looking up. “But you, you’re different… I don’t want to ruin this, I want to take things slow and enjoy it.”

Starlight blushed. “What if I-I want you to take me?”

“Because I know from your emotions and how you’re acting. You’re not ready yet,” Echoside said gently. “I can tell you’re scared of moving too quickly, and to be honest, so am I. And I say this not just because I could get thrown in prison. So let’s take it slow and see where we go, alright?”

Starlight looked lovingly into her eyes. “I’d like that a lot.”

Echoside smiled before leaning in to kiss her again, gently teasing her with her tongue, eliciting a soft coo from the unicorn. Starlight felt wonderful and daring, moving her hoof just a bit back, causing Echoside to squeal in surprise as her hoof touched her flanks.

“Somepony is eager,” Echoside giggled.

It was Starlight’s turn to nod. She kissed her again, lightly pecking her mouth three times before moving down the bat-pony’s neck. Echoside had more than explored her own neck, so in Starlight’s eyes, this was simply returning the favor.

The older mare raised her head and allowed the princess better access. Starlight started with small kisses, tasting Echoside’s fur. It was coarse and in need of grooming—if it had ever even know it to begin with. The taste was salty yet flavorful. She tasted like being outside after a rainstorm.

That wasn’t to say that Starlight didn’t like it, quite the opposite. She didn’t exactly know why, but she loved everything about Echoside. Well, maybe except her behaviour at their first meeting in the armory.

Ha, that’s what caused you to take notice of her. You like the bad mares, don’t you?

Starlight ignored the nagging voice in her head and keep doing what she was doing. Growing slightly more daring, Starlight’s kisses became slight licks of her tongue, crescendoing into one long lick from the base of the mare’s neck to the top of her jaw.

That lick actually elicited a coo of delight from the bat-pony. Starlight stared down at her work, for all intents and purposes she had just washed Echoside’s neck with her tongue. And worse, she enjoyed every minute of it.

The mare’s piercing green eyes focused on the vein in the side of Echoside’s neck. She couldn’t help but wonder what it was like to actually bite Echoside, to penetrate her skin and taste her.

“I know what you’re thinking,” the mare suddenly spoke up. “Your teeth aren’t sharp enough and you don’t own the same painkillers to inject. It would be more painful than pleasurable if you did it.”

Starlight couldn’t help but feel sad at that, but Echoside quickly traced her wing over her muzzle, calming her down. “Hey, I never said you couldn’t bite me. Just not like I did.”

“It still… you know, makes me wonder sometimes,” Starlight admitted.

“I could help you.”

“How?”

“Kiss me again,” Echoside whispered, smiling.

Starlight looked confused, but did as she was told. Gently, she pressed her lips back on Echoside’s, enjoying her touch before noticing that the bat-pony opened her mouth. She quickly invaded it, tasting something different.

It took her exactly five seconds to know what it was.

“You bit yourself?” she asked with wide eyes, pausing the kiss.

Echoside grinned. “Now you can taste me.”

The unicorn didn’t need to be told twice. She quickly leapt her muzzle back at Echoside’s, trying to taste her as much as she could. The taste was bitter, with a coppery tang, almost like licking a literal bit. But she didn’t let that stop her. Starlight continued to taste her, knowing that this was her sharing a portion of herself, a culture she was trying to appreciate but would never truly know, as she simply wasn’t one of the breed.

Still, she wouldn’t dismiss the gift Echoside had shared with her. With care she slowly guided Echoside’s tongue into her own mouth. She had felt that was where Echoside bit herself.

Echoside gave her what she wanted. She followed Starlight’s tongue back into her mouth, letting the mare suckle on it. Starlight didn’t disappoint; she closed her lips on the foreign invader and treated it like a popsicle.

When she finally did let it go, Echoside had long since stopped bleeding. “You like that, didn’t you?”

“The experience? Yes. The taste? No, not really.”

“Mhh, already suspected it. You ponies aren’t really fond of blood.”

Starlight nuzzled into her muzzle. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”

“I want to share everything with you, in time,” Echoside said with a smile. “Maybe I’ll take you to my home one day.

“Your home?” Starlight asked, puzzled.

“The caves.”

“I didn’t think ‘normals’ are allowed,” Starlight said with a smile, one that became a frown when she saw the look Echoside gave her.

“Don’t, I used to joke about it, but it’s wrong.”

“Sorry,” Starlight mumbled, before nuzzling her again. “I don’t think we’re done here, huh?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, that this can’t be all. I mean, I love kissing you, the experience… but… is that it? Nothing more?” Starlight asked.

“Well… sex, but we’re waiting on that.”

“Aren’t there… more things that lovers can do?” Starlight blushed heavily at those words.

“There are no rules, Starlight. Why don’t you do whatever you want.”

“You mean?”

Echoside nodded.

Starlight giggled and moved her head back down Echoside’s neck. The mare did her best to adjust but it was quickly becoming too difficult. “Hang on, let’s switch.”

“Switch?”

Echoside smiled, grasped the mare’s sides, and rolled them over, leaving Starlight on top of the bat-pony. The unicorn laughed a little before she realized that they were now pressed against the side of the tent. She powered her horn and moved them both back to the middle.

“Cheater,” Echoside said with a boop to Starlight’s nose.

“Since when did you care about the rules?”

“When did you not?”

“Hey, I didn’t—”

The bat-pony stopped that rant with a kiss before saying,“I’m just giving you shit.”

“You’re lucky I’m starting to fall in love with you. Did I say that out loud?” Starlight said.

“Yeah you did.”

Starlight didn’t respond; rather, she continued where she left off before: Peppering kisses and nips down Echoside’s neck, making the mare coo at the touch. Starlight paused for only a second when she reached the bottom of the mare’s neck. She paused to admire Echoside’s chest. It was taut, firm, and well defined. She could see that regardless of what other slack in discipline that the bat-ponies had, physical fitness was not one of them.

Starlight supposed, based on the fight at the restaurant, that that shouldn’t have come as a shock. If fights amongst themselves were common, then they’d naturally need to stay in shape.

Hesitantly, she placed her hoof on the ponies chest, feeling the muscles underneath it press back against her. It was so different than her own unformed body. Different in ways that made Starlight excited like she never remembered being in her life.

However, something happened that Starlight didn’t expect when she slid down farther. Starlight moved her body down as to gain better access to Echoside’s chest, but in doing so, her hind legs split across Echoside’s right thigh.

The unicorn’s jaw dropped as she accidentally ground her pussy across Echoside’s thigh. The touch sent jolts of lighting up her body and into her brain, causing her jaw to drop open in equal parts pleasure, surprise, and worry.

Luna, did I just? Oh my, I just... Did she...

Starlight looked up. If Echoside was aware of what had just happened, she gave no sign.

“E-Echoside?” Starlight stammered.

“Mhm?”

“What… I…” the unicorn just couldn’t find the right words.

Echoside smiled and reached up to kiss her again. “I told you that you can do whatever you want. I’ll tell you to stop if we’re about to cross a line.”

A line, right...

“You… you don’t want to do anything yourself?”

“No… I don’t want to ruin anything,” Echoside replied hesitantly.

“Echoside, you can’t ruin what we already have,” Starlight whispered, gently kissing her. “At least not in my book.”

The mare smiled. “I’d rather just let you explore, Starlight. Besides, I’m not sure I could stop myself if we changed places.”

Who said I’d want you too?

“Echoside…”

“Starlight… we’ll do everything once the time is right, but not today. Okay? I promise.” Echoside kissed her marefriend on the forehead.

She nodded her understanding, confused beyond belief why she was having such an issue with it.

She looked back down to Echoside’s chest, and then farther down. She saw her own nethers straddling the mare’s hind legs, pressed against her fur. With the grin of somepony who was knowingly doing something they shouldn’t, Starlight pushed herself farther back, all under the pretence of getting a better position to explore her chest.

Starlight had clopped three times in her life. The first time she hadn’t been aware of what she was doing. It simply happened by accident when she was out with her family on an outing. She had been playing on a fence and accidentally straddled the post. It felt good so she kept doing it, but she had been young and didn’t know why it felt good. Eventually she’d got distracted by Ana’s antics and moved on.

The second time had been out of curiosity. Ataxia was on a kick and before anyone could stop her, she told the foals all about her first time clopping. Night had—of course—yelled at her for sharing such information with ten-year-olds, but by then it was too late.

Curious, Starlight tried it that night. It felt good to rub herself with a hoof—just as her mother described, but her session was interrupted when Ana came out of the bathroom and she stopped.

The third time was the first time she had ever actually achieved orgasm. It occurred after a rather detailed lesson with Grandma Twilight. The alicorn was teaching both her granddaughters about biology and, as usual, went through a rather detailed session.

That’s not to say she made it in any way, shape, or form fun. But she skimped on none of the details, describing in scientific detail the body’s process and effects of overstimulation on the effects of a ponies’ brains. At the end of the session, Ana had been lost and Rainbow absolutely bored, stating, “Only Twilight could make sex boring.”

However, Starlight had been able to follow along. She understood the concepts and reactions her body would have, and they intrigued her. That night she ran the bathwater and got to know herself. Intimately.

It was a novel experience to say the least. She filed it away as a ‘learning experience’ and moved on with her life, concentrating on the next thing there was to learn, with no real desire for a repeat performance.

Until now.

The feeling of grinding herself on Echoside’s thigh was unlike any of her other times. This felt better, so much better. She had no clue if it was because she shouldn’t be doing it, or if it was because it was another pony causing her to feel this way, or whatever other reasons she couldn’t even begin to fathom; and if she were really honest with herself, she didn’t really care either.

As she ground back, the blue unicorn had to bite her tongue not to moan in pleasure. Her eyes stayed on Echoside’s, trying to see if the mare knew what she was doing, and worse, if she’d stop her. In order to disguise her actions, Starlight moved her muzzle back to the mare’s chest and started to lick again.

She found it surprisingly easy. She’d simply lick up and down instead of left and right. If Echoside said anything, she could just play it off as not knowing there was a more efficient way.

Echoside found herself lost in her mare’s touch: Her own nethers were burning heavily, and she knew that she was close to a line she wouldn’t be able to stop after crossing, a line after which she would throw all caution into the wind and simply ravish the young mare. It was a line she didn’t want to cross. Not yet anyway.

Starlight all but moaned as she pushed herself past Echoside’s hook and started back up. She glared up, worried that that might have overdone it. Echoside’s head had fallen back and she was no longer paying attention, which was probably a good thing because Starlight could feel a small amount of wetness where her marehood was rubbing against the bat-pony’s leg.

She paused when she found one of the two small buds inches from the bottom of Echoside’s stomach. Her nipples, Starlight thought. She remembered Echoside’s words about exploring whatever she wanted to and took that as a green light.

Echoside’s head shot up when she felt Starlight start to lightly pull on her left nipple with her lips. Oh dear Luna… is this too far? I… I…

She couldn’t answer that question, so, taking no answer as a ‘no,’ she simply let it happen.

Starlight smiled as she felt a small reaction from the bat-pony. It was subtle, but she could tell this was a sensitive spot. With a grin, she grew more bold, taking more liberties with the small bud by using her teeth.

Echoside couldn’t stop herself from moaning , making Starlight grin and continue her efforts. Her mind told Echoside to stop this and simply pull away, but her heart couldn’t. Her heart was in love with Princess Starlight.

Those moans caused Starlight to throw caution to the wind. She started moving her hips again, feeling the heat rise in her loins in a way she had truly never known before. The pretence of exploring was all but forgotten as her mouth never left the nipple.

If Echoside noticed, she gave no sign. The mare was too lost in her own perplexed thoughts and growing pleasure as Starlight worked over one nipple and then switched to the other. She couldn’t explain it, but there was just something about having the mare suckle from her teat that turned her on like nothing else.

Starlight felt that familiar feeling growing inside of her. It was like a bathtub being filled to the brim every time she ground herself against Echoside’s leg. She found herself arching and flexing her back, forcing herself harder and harder against her leg. Any thought of it being wrong, or breaking some rule, was long forgotten in the feeling of doing it.

When it happened, when she felt herself convulse in pleasure, Starlight had Echoside’s nipple in her teeth and was lightly pulling on it. She found herself letting go, a small mumbled of “Oh my Luna,” escaping her lips as she tried as hard as she could not to cry out.

It only lasted a few seconds, but already she knew she wanted to do it again, many times in fact. This… this was not the time in the bathtub, this was better in a way she’d never be able to describe, not to anyone. And it had all come from rubbing between her legs, just as her mom described.

Starlight knew at that moment they’d do it a hundred times—no, a thousand times. If that simple act felt that good, she wanted to explore everything. But first, she wanted to find some way to pay Echoside back. Her panting muzzle looked down at the other marehood in the tent.

As Starlight licked her lips, her lustful gaze meeting Echoside’s, the bat-pony knew that the line was already crossed. She had no idea how she could stop it without hurting Starlight, without losing the mare she… she loved.

However, when Starlight’s hoof started to move down, further down than she had yet been, and lightly brushed over her wet lips, Echoside’s body reacted on its own. She reached up and grabbed her hoof. “Starlight, we…”

Starlight looked taken aback by that. “What? I just… I—”

I so want to kick my ass for this! Echoside cursed in her mind.

“We agreed on something…” Echoside spoke hesitantly.

“B-But I was just,” Starlight started before looking down. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For doing something you don’t want.”

“Hey, don’t think like that. I do want you and only you, just not now. I want to do this right. with you.”

Starlight looked down, and her body tensed up; she was nearly trembling at the feeling of acute rejection, though she understood the reasoning. Shortly after, Echoside took notice. “Starlight, look at me”—Echoside propped Starlight’s chin up with a hoof—“I… I love you.”

And that’s when they kissed.

Starlight was taken aback. Did she just say...?

An awkward silence filled the tent before the unicorn realized that she was expected to speak. “Sorry, I um—”

Echoside shushed her. Silently cursing herself for blurting that out and not wanting to put Starlight on the spot in case she... “Nothing to be sorry about. We had fun, right?”

The blue unicorn grinned and nodded.

“Good night?”

More than you can know.

“Yeah, I’d say so.” Echoside started to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Starlight asked.

“I just can’t belive that of everypony I’ve dated, you’re by far the most mature of all of them.”

I can’t believe you stopped me, Starlight thought. “Thanks. Do you want to, um… cuddle?”

Echoside chuckled again. “Another first. Sure, let’s do it.” At that she wrapped her hooves around Starlight and laid back down, taking the unicorn with her. The mare in her hooves smiled and laid her head on Echoside’s shoulder as she stretched her hind hooves into a more comfortable situation.

As they laid close to each other, slowly blurring into sleep, Echoside couldn’t help but wonder. She didn’t say it back. Is it too early? Or did I read more into this than I should have? It was a thought for later, because all she cared for, at this moment, was the young unicorn cuddled into her.

Had she been in a different mindset, had her thoughts not been in turmoil and her own nethers still burning, and the fact that of all ponies, she dropped the L-bomb, she might have wondered why her thigh felt a little wet.

***

“Oh fuck!” Nighttide all but screamed as Taz rode her. Of all the positions they had tried in the past there was something about ‘traditional’ that always held a special place in her heart. Taz was a big stillion, both in physical size and dick size. When he was over her, his chest pressed against her back, his breathing on her neck, she felt consumed by him in a way that no other position truly allowed.

He was holding back a little, this she knew without having to ask. She knew his weight, intimately, and it wasn’t all pressed against her, not like it’d usually be anyway. Still, the way he pounded his cock in and out, the way his balls slapped against her clit, the way he nibbled on her ear with varying degrees of pressure. It more than made up for that one little thing.

“I love you so fucking much,” Taz said as he pushed in again and again. His form had gotten better over the months, and that wasn’t even talking about his endurance. He had learned from trial and error, and from asking. The key was to ask the right pony, Ataxia being a fountain of sexual knowledge that seemed to be without end.

He pushed himself against her g-spot with each push in. His withdrawing would leave her satisfied and wanting more all at the same time, something he was more than happy to give her. Wet sucking sounds soon accompanied their movements as Nighttide’s juices were practically flowing out of her, lubricating her passage more efficiently than any amount of lube could ever hope to. The pre the stallion was all but gushing into her was just icing on the cake.

However, there was one fact that Nighttide couldn’t let slide. One little thing that made her somewhat angry. While Taz was rutting her in all the ways she liked, she could tell that the stallion wasn’t giving her everything he had. He was holding back from that last inch.

“TAZ!” she suddenly yelled, making him stop.

“W-what?” he asked.

“Why are you holding back?”

“I’m not!”

“Don’t lie to me! I told you that you don’t have to worry. The last time you even passed my cervix while I was already pregnant and the foal is fine! Now stop playing the gentlecolt before I lose my manners!” Nighttide growled at him.

“But… I mean, last time I didn’t know…”

She grunted, angrily. “You’re either going to give me everything you have or I’m going to shove a twenty-inch long dildo in your ass and make you keep it there for a whole bucking week!”

“But… Nighttide… I…”

“NOW!”

Taz grunted as he pushed in again; he felt that all-too familiar barrier and pushed against it ever so slightly, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. He pulled back again under the pretence that he was simply trying to take his time.

Nighttide wasn’t buying it. She growled as he pulled back, and when he pushed in again. She forced herself all the way back on his rod.

Taz’s eyes went wide as he felt her force him past the barrier. It had not been general nor slow; instead, it hurt her, a lot. Him too if he was being honest with himself. He froze, fully hilted inside of the mare as he felt her entire body was tense. Nighttide was all but hissing as she adjusted to this new pain.

“Nighttide, you shouldn’t have done that. You could’ve—”

“Pull your power back,” Nighttide said.

“Nighttide, I—”

“ Do it!”

Taz gulped as he tried to do as she asked. It was almost impossible since the feeling of his rod buried to the balls inside of the mare. His flair was pulsing with small amounts of pain, and the nervous tension at actually having made her pissed at him simply added together to make it incredibly difficult. Still, she asked and he managed it. “Done.”

In the blink of an eye the colt was knocked on his back, his entire form manhandled by a shadow that treated him as roughly as it damn well pleased. He groaned as his head hit the ground, causing his vision to lose focus for an instant.

When he could focus again, Taz found himself staring at a very angry Nighttide, back in her pony form, who was still riding his dick, based on what he could feel she hadn’t wanted to move herself an inch upon it. But that didn’t change the fact that she looked at him with rage in her eyes.

“Nighttide, I—”

“You’re going to shut the hell up, now.”

He had to resist the urge to say ‘yes ma’am’.

Nighttide lowered her head until she was an inch from his muzzle. She all but whispered the next thing she said in anything but a sexy manner, her tone of voice was overlaid with a threatening tone. “Understand something, prince. If I want you to hold back, I will tell you. But if you ever ask me if you can do what you want, take me hard, I say yes and you don’t do it, I’m gonna be really pissed.”

“B-But...!”

“I order you to shut up! I don’t need your protection while making love! I want to feel you, EVERY bit of you! Taz, if you ever hold back without me asking you to, you will regret it,” Nighttide scowled. “Now promise it!”

Taz hesitated, but the added pressure around his stallionhood made him squeal, “Alright, Alright! Promised, Nighttide!”

She was still scowling at him, causing him to gulp in fear at what else he had done wrong, what else she was going to get mad at him about. He was so worried that it took him a second longer than it should have to process her next action. Nighttide leaned down and kissed him.

Taz adjusted as quickly as he could, which in a way simply made his delay that much more obvious and awkward. So much so that when Nighttide pulled back, she was smiling a little.

“W-what?” Taz asked.

“Nothing, just… thinking how much I love you.”

His worries immediately changed. “I love you too,” he whispered gently, kissing her neck.

She melted a little into his kiss, then again when he repeated the process, and again with his third peck. He raised his hooves and held her in them. They were big strong hooves, hooves that fit the stallion they belonged to, hooves that fit her stallion. “You ready to go again?” Nighttide asked.

Taz looked down. Even though her baby-bump he could see the distended portion of her stomach where his rod pressed against her. “Sure, but there’s just one little thing we need to change.”

“What’s tha—” Nighttide tried to say when Taz smiled, and in one fluid motion, rolled the two over. He was back on top of her, his muzzle inches from hers as, with a smile, he pulled his hips back and thrusted into her again, as hard as the stallion she remembered used to do it.

Nighttide gasped as she felt her body try and slide along the floor. Friction stopped any real movement, but she could still feel herself moved by centimeters at each thrust.

Their fight had brought them both extra time that Taz put to good use. He pumped into her just as she liked, just as he liked. In the back of his mind, he had no idea how her biology worked. She was a pony, or at least on the outside she had a pony’s form, but she also wasn’t. She was a creature of shadow, a creature that could metamorphose her body into the shadows themselves.

There was no point in him trying to figure out what she could and could not do. He simply didn’t have enough information for that. All he needed to know, the one thing he could grasp on was that he loved her, that he trusted her. She knew her body better than anyone else—even if he was rather intimate with it himself. So if she said it was okay, he’d trust in that, he’d trust in her.

“Ah, buck, yes! Just like that, fuck yes!”

Taz smiled as he heard her moan out her pleasure. He knew the others could probably hear it too, but he just couldn’t bring himself to care. All that counted was that every time he hilted himself completely into the mare he loved more than anything else, all that counted was that she enjoyed it, that she wanted it.

And he loved to give it to her. Each of his thrusts, each of his pushes did so with even more reckless abandon. After a few moment, thoughts of restraining and not hurting her were forgotten. The stallion found himself growling as Nighttide began to respond to his movements in all the ways she knew he loved.

The mare under him was lost in the throes of ecstasy, but that didn’t mean her body was lost. Far from it. She started to flex her abs and squeeze him as hard as she could, making him work for every inch he pushed into her, making his movements more powerful inside of her as he was forced to grind along with each push and pull.

“Oh, Nighttide,” he said. “You’re simply amazing.”

“Then give it to me!”

Taz did as he was told. He spread her hind legs far more than before and pulled out until his tip remained a bit above her pussy. Then he slammed home with all his might, causing them both to scream in pleasure.

The feeling of being empty and then in the next instant, full of sixteen-inch stallion meat caused Nighttide to go slack. Her head fell back as she cried out in pleasure, her tongue all but hanging out of her mouth.

Taz loved that look on her face, he loved it almost as much as the mare herself. If she’s made that face, you’ve done it right. And I know how to do it right!

“Taz,” she moaned, her tongue still hanging freely. “I want you to pack me full… Fill me… Use me…” Nighttide all but cried out.

“By the time I’m done you’ll be having a litter to put rabbits to shame,” Taz said as he repeated the process again. He knew it didn’t work that way, but that wasn’t the point.

For both of them it was the sexiest thing they had ever heard. Taz felt the mare’s pussy tightened around his cock even further as he kept up his actions. At first he thought she was just squeezing him tighter, but it took him a few seconds to realize that while she was; it wasn’t intentional, well, not her intention anyway.

“OH, FUCK YES!” Nighttide screamed as she came.

Taz’s eyes went wide. Normally they came together with one going over the edge would push the other. This was the first time he could remember when they were fucking that she came and he could keep going.

He growled with lustful desire as he started to rock his body even harder into her, dragging out her orgasm and pushing her even farther along the floor of the tent with each and every thrust.

Lost in her world of ecstasy, Nighttide almost missed the fact that she was still getting rutted violently. Even in the middle of her orgasm, she managed to raise her hooves and wrapped them around his neck.

Taz stopped grunting—but not thrusting—and leaned down to kiss her. He could still feel her entire body shaking, convulsing underneath him, but he didn’t stop, or even slow down. The truth was he couldn’t, his body simply wanted this. She wanted this, and while he didn’t know which drive caused him to achieve this, he didn’t really care either.

Nighttide held on tight. She could feel herself twitching and moaning. She could feel their mixed juices sloshing along inside of her pussy, tossed by the rapid insertion and removal of the largest stallionhood she had ever known.

His thrusts grew desperate, shoving into her without mercy, making her scream in delight. Taz could feel his own climax approaching, but he didn’t want to stop. He wanted to give her simply everything.

“NIghttide… I…” He growled out.

“DO IT! FILL ME UP!” The mare screamed into his ear.

He gritted his teeth and pushed again, and again. Beads of sweat were dripping from his brow, down his muzzle and onto the mare underneath him. If she noticed, if she was even aware, she gave no sign.

Taz could feel his shaft tighten, he could feel his balls tense up as they prepared to unload their entire payload in one wonderful orgasm. Taz scrunched his brow and pulled back, ready for one final thrust.

Nighttide screamed out when he pushed inward this time. It was his hardest thrust that night, pushing himself right past her torn cervix and directly into her womb. Or at least that would have been the case if she was a normal pony. In truth she had no idea how her insides worked, and she didn’t care either. She simply felt him, she felt him take her, use her, make her his.

The cum hit next. She felt his member tense up and release its long awaited payload directly into her. Her body responded almost as if a suckling newborn on their mother’s teat, trying to get more and more of it out with each and every wonderful burst.

Taz’s body locked up and he collapsed on top of her as he shot rope after rope of cum directly into her. He knew he was decorating her insides white: Knowledge that made the whole experience all that hotter.

After what felt like a second, and an eternity at once, the stallion felt the last spurt leave his dick. He was sweating from head to hoof, and he could feel cum—his and hers—all around his shaft. It was leaking out, dripping down her nethers and his balls at the same time. He felt weak, empty, and satisfied.

A hoof touched the side of his muzzle and raised his head. Taz let it lift his muzzle until he was looking directly into Nighttide’s sky-blue eyes. She leaned in and kissed him as deeply as she could manage.

The mare was in much the same state as him: She was sweaty, breathless, and full. But even still, she found the energy to show the stallion she loved just how much she appreciated him, every bit of him.

When they broke the kiss, the two were still panting and sweating, but they never once stopped staring into each other’s eyes.

“How long until you’ll be ready for round three?” Nighttide asked.

“R-round three?” Taz asked, shocked.

She smiled. “I told you I want you everywhere. You’ve already cum in two holes, one more to go.”

He started to chuckle at that, then laugh. “Ten minutes?”

“Clocks ticking,” Nighttide said with a smile that caused Taz to gulp.

***

Flash’s tongue hung limply out of his muzzle as Vela pulled back, licking her claw clean of his cum.

“You payed attention to my lesson, that’s a good boy,” she said. “I promised you real fun, and I hope you’re not done yet.”

“We’re… we’re not done yet?” Flash said, his eyes wide.

“Of course not, or did you think I would be happy with lessons and some clawjob?”

“Vela… I don’t know if I’m ready to go again… I—”

Flash stopped as Vela rolled her eyes and turned around, showing him her rump. To make things worse for the poor stallion, the hippogriff bent down, showing him her pussy that was already dripping wet.

“You were saying?” Vela asked with a smile as she watched little Flash growing back to full length.

The pegasus didn’t want—or need—a second invitation. He dove in, muzzle first.

The hippogriff almost yelped in surprise. She had expected him to mount her right then; rather, Flash had managed to surprise her. You always find some way to surprise me.

Vela couldn’t help but let a moan escape her beak as Flash licked eagerly at her pussy, trying to get every bit of juices she offered him. Every ounce he drank, her pussy created double the amount for him to drink. A gift he attacked hungrily.

Skill… he had almost none of that. But he more than made up for it with enthusiasm and endurance; and if Flash was anything, he was a quick learner. He remembered what Vela had shown him their first time together; somehow, he knew he’d never forget it. He hit those spots with reckless abandon, seeking to take her, to make her his in the bedroom in a way he knew he’d never do outside..

Vela found herself unable to stay on her claws. Flash was going at her pussy like a fat foal in an ice-cream store, and it was simply too much for her to take. She had enjoyed playing with him, making him hard when she preened his wings, and he had felt proud when he copied her lesson almost perfectly on the other wing. So much so that, as she played with his member, she had gotten excited herself.

Her eyes went wide when she felt him push in with his tongue.

Last time he had just licked, he had licked the spots she told him to without questioning or exploring. This time, this time Flash felt more bold, more daring. He wanted to know Vela, to know all the different spots and areas on the mare he was falling for.

Vela moaned; and with no objection in mind, Flash discovered her weaknesses: Teasing some spots before generously licking others. It was a game the hippogriff soon came to love, as did her lover. He wanted to know his girl, his mate, his love, and she wasn’t denying him.

Flash enjoyed eating Velva out; his nostrils, penetrated by her smell as she grew wetter and wetter, quickly replaced the juices he licked up. The smell coming from her made Flash’s wings twitch all on their own. Grinning slightly, Flash got an idea, though he hoped Vela was up for it.

Slowly, he unfolded his wings and rubbed them over Vela’s flanks, eliciting soft coos along with the moans from the hippogriff. He teased her in many different ways, letting her turn to putty under his ministrations. Soon, he pulled his tongue back, much to the anger and disappointment from Vela, just to make her gasp as his feathery appendages rubbed along her pussy.

“Oh, my,” Vela gasped, wiggling her flank. “More, I want more!”

Flash grinned before gently pushing the tip of one freshly preened wing against her entrance, teasing her slightly with his movements before giving it a sincere push as Vela growled. The appendage easily slid in, filling the mare with an incredible tickling sensation.

He had no need to worry; she liked it.

I’ve never thought having pegasus wings in me would feel that good, Vela thought, moaning a bit louder as Flash kept pushing in.

Flash pushed as much as he dared to, then slowly pulled back before pushing in again. He repeated that process, noticing with pride that Vela was dripping wet now, plastering his freshly preened wings with her fluids. Not that either of them cared at that moment.

The young pegasus enjoyed it, he enjoyed hearing the moans, and the feeling on his wings and the sight in front of him. Grinning, he unfolded his second wing and out it to the first, eliciting a surprised moan from vela in return. The hippogriff squirmed now, under his ministrations, wiggling her flank and begging for more. Flash responded to that need with harder thrusts.

Vela noticed the feeling building up in her. No matter how hard she tried to hold back, it was to no use. His wings were just too wonderful and she was about to cum. Quickly.

“Oh, Flash, more,” she said silently, hoping he would get the message and just plunge his wings completely into her so she could cum hard.

He did no such thing. Instead, he slightly spread his primaries in her pussy, causing her to lose all restraint. Vela cried out, her tongue rolling out of her beak as Flash played with his wings in her pussy, alternating trusts and spreading his feathers to please her.

Quickly driving along her edge, Vela pushed back, trying to get more and more of that pleasuring wing into her longing, dripping snatch. Being fucked like this, it didn’t take long for her to cum.

“Oh, Flash, OH YES!” Vela screamed as a powerful thrust shoved her over the edge and drenching Flash’s wing and muzzle in her cum.

The young stallion blinked in surprise before retracting his wings. They were a mess of Vela’s sticky fluids, but he couldn’t care less. He licked as much as he could up from it, enjoying this sweet desert while Vela laid there, panting, head buried in the pillow and flank still high in the air.

“That… that was amazing,” she stated weakly before quickly catching her breath again. “For you at least. You’ve still got a lot to learn!”

He frowned at her. “Weren’t you supposed to start being nicer to me?”

“Nicer huh?” Vela said, then grinned as she looked down between his legs at his rock hard cock. “Mount me. That’s nice, no?”

“What?” Flash asked.

“You heard me, right here, right now, just like this. I want you to rear up and fuck me without me moving. C’mon Flash, make me yours.”

“Just like this?” Flash asked, making sure.

“You want a second invitation?” Vela asked, rolling her eyes.

He didn’t. The young pegasus moved over to her flank one more time. He took another whiff of her just because and then reared back and placed himself on top of her. It felt strange to the stallion to be in such a position. When they had sex before, they were facing each other, he had been able to look her in the eyes. This wasn’t that; this was him over her, him taking her. So it was strange, strange but strangely, in a way, natural. Like this is how it should have been. Still, he didn’t like it as much as he did the other.

“I don’t like this position,” he said. “I love to look into your eyes, to face you. It feels more loving.”

“Oh, Luna, don’t get sappy on me now and just fuck me already!”

He frowned at that. Reminder, get her a dictionary with the definition of ‘nicer’ bookmarked.

There was another issue with the position: While it was the normal way most stallions had sex, this was Flash’s first time using it. And getting a wobbly stick lined up with a hole he couldn’t see proved to be something of a challenge for the young pony. “Hang on, I-I…” Flash stated as he tried several times to line it up using nothing but what he felt from the tip of his head; his front hooves busy keeping his balance on her back.

To say Vela enjoyed being poked by his dick all over her flank and legs would be to say Luna preferred being awake during the day. “Would you just stick it in already!”

“I’m trying,” Flash growled.

“Ugh, You suck, let me do it.” At that, she reached her claw down and, a little rougher than she should have, guided his dick to her pussy.

Flash was about to put a stop to this until he felt it. He felt his head pressing against her wet snatch. He felt the moisture, the wetness, and the heat coming from her. It was like nothing else in the world. I think that conversation can wait… he thought as he pushed in.

His head felt amazing as her velvety folds wrapped around his cock. He pushed in, slowly, enjoying every inch of her one second at a time. It was like she was simply his home, the place where his dick belonged, where it was meant to go.

He pushed only a quarter of the way in before slowly starting to pull back out, then pushed in again.

Vela growled, “Would you just start rutting me and stop playing like a colt with his first toy?”

He ignored her, choosing to take this moment for himself. Flash kept his speed slow, concentrating on grinding, on the feeling of her accepting him like this. He kept his pace slow and steady, wanting the feelings more than the actions. He couldn’t explain why, but there was something about this position that was simply… controlling? That made him think he could get away with it.

Vela was in no such mood.

She reared back with him on top of her. Using her more powerful leg muscles to toss him back and onto the ground. He popped out of her in shock, his brain barely registering that he was no longer in her, in his home.

“Ugh, can’t you do anything right!” Vela complained as she turned around.

“Vela, what the buck‽” Flash shot back.

She glared at him, at his dick still coated with her juices standing straight up in the air. With a sigh she walked over and above him. “Since you suck at it, I’ll have to do it myself.”

“W-what?” he asked.

“You suck at fucking me!”

“Now you’re just trying to insult me,” he shot back, turning his head. “I hope you have fun being nasty to me.”

She grinned at that, confusing him. “Well, there is something fun about being nasty.” At that she locked her beak to his lips.

Flash wanted to be mad at her, to scream at her and deny everything, but he couldn’t. While his mind told him to quit while he still could, his heart ached for her touch and more.

She broke the kiss, seeing the both pissed and lustful expressions on his face at once. The hippogriff looked directly between her hind legs, seeing his rod still standing to attention and started to sit down.

Flash’s eyes went wide as he quickly figured out her new game plan. She was going to ride his cock, controling just how fast and hard they fucked regardless of what he wanted.

Not to say that he had a big problem with it. He was happy that he could look into her eyes again, to see his lover as they made love. Even if it, in this case, counted as a fucking massacre.

Vela wasted no time, in four second she had his head, his shaft, his medial ring, and was almost bottomed out. Flash couldn’t hold back his moans. She was so tight, so taking, so demanding. She was fucking him almost like he was nothing but a toy.

At least that was how she was using him, yet her eyes told a total different tale. For while her body moved like that, her face was glued to his, her deep green eyes locked upon his own.

She only managed two lifts before Flash felt himself starting to build up pleasure deep inside of him. He knew he wouldn’t last long, but for a thirteen-year-old, he couldn’t exactly complain. Still he raised a hoof up for her to take.

Vela did just that: She took his hoof in her claw and squeezed it. They never took their eyes off each other, not even to blink.

She could feel his shaft moving inside of her, twitching with a life of it’s own. She could feel herself hitting against his stomach a little when she bounced. But it was those sky-blue eyes that had her entranced.

When the inevitable happened after a whole thirty seconds of being like this, Flash finally had to break eye contact as his head shot back and he moaned his pleasure into the sky. Vela frowned a little, he had still finished way too quickly for her liking. Worse, she had just started to feel her own enjoyment coming up from it.

It took only that small, goofy smile of him to forget it and slip a smile of her own. After all, he did make me cum with his wings, she thought happily.

The two never stopped holding each other, claw to hoof. Flash looked up to see that smile on her face. The smile of that girl that showed her weakness when they first got together, the smile that he fell in love with. “You do know, I won’t always put up with you treating me like crap, right?” he asked.

Vela cocked her head. “We both got a lot to learn. Give me time, give us time and it will be alright.”

“It already is. Just try to be nicer,” he replied as he pulled her down to his chest.

Vela chuckled. “Nicer... yeah.”

Flash grinned at her words as she lay upon his fur. Her claw running small circles on his chest. He reached a hoof up and started to stroke her fur himself. “Hey V—”

“Just shut up, Flash. Just let the moment be before either of us says anything dumb to ruin it.”

He chuckled at that and shut his muzzle. Okay, she’s got a point there. Nothing either of us say could make this any better.

He was about to be proven wrong.

Vela hummed as Flash continued to stroke her mane; she felt safe and loved and her heart melted at his touch. Maybe it was too early, but she simply had to say it. To say it before he thought all she cared about was his body.

“Flash… I love you,” she mumbled softly, causing his ears to perk up. “But if you tell anyone about this, you’ll end up roasted on my spear,” she added, glaring at him and Flash gulped.

She wasn’t joking, with any of the things she just had said.

The next four words left his lips without him even thinking about it. As if they had a mind of their own.

“I love you too.”

The two held each other tighter. Doing their best to simply live here, now, and pretending not to hear the loud moans coming from Taz’s tent across the way.

***

Taz laid on his back, stroking Nighttide’s mane and back as she rested her head on his chest, smiling lovingly at him. He could lose himself in her eyes every time he saw them, every time it was almost like it was the first time he looked into her gorgeous eyes.

“You ready again?” Nighttide suddenly asked, breaking him out of his stare.

“W-what?”

“Are you ready for round three?” she asked, nuzzling his chest. “Your ten minutes are over.”

“Already?”

“You said ten minutes would be enough.And it’s not like it’s your backdoor getting broken in.”

He blushed. “So you really want to do this?”

“Of course!”

“It could hurt…”

“I’ve had worse, hell, we’ve had worse.”

Taz was taken aback before chuckling slightly. Well, she’s right, he thought.

“So can we start now?”

“Alright,” Taz said. “Any idea how to do this?”

“You get me wet and then you put it in, duh!”

“Sometimes you are unbearable. Alright, get up and on your back.”
“There’s my stallion!” she stated before rising to her hooves.

Taz watched with a grin as the dark-blue pegasus got up off him and laid down on the ground. The mare rolled over to her back and spread her hind legs, just for him. He looked down to see dried mare and stallion cum on her nethers, some still oozing from her pussy as she adjusted to the new position.

He grinned as his eyes moved up from the fun bits to her stomach. The small bulge he had mistaken for cute fat turned out to be something so much more. She was carrying his foal, his first of many foals. The stallion moved up and over her, peppering her muzzle with kisses.

Nighttide giggled as he kissed all over her muzzle, then, as he started to move down, she lightly grabbed his muzzle and licked him right across the nose.

“I love you, Nighttide,” Taz said with a smile.

“I love you too,” Nightside replied as she let his head go so the stallion could get back to work.

He smiled at that and started to kiss down her chest and stomach. The stallion knew there was no need for this right now, her anus wasn’t going to get any wetter, but it was the act that he enjoyed the most. Nighttide did too, she cooed in delight at each of his touches and licks.

He paused at her stomach, paying close attention to the small little bulge that represented his foal, his daughter. “I love you too, Nightshade.”

“What was that?” Nighttide asked.

“Nightshade, a name for our daughter. What do you think?”

“I love it,” she replied. Taz hummed, placing a soft kiss on the bulge of her stomach. He lightly kissed every inch of it before placing one more at the very tip of the bulge. Then he started moving down to the more fun parts.

Some stallions would be discouraged from doing what he did next. Nighttide’s marehood was a mess of his cum and her own. Some still leaking out. Taz didn’t even give it a second though. He started to lick her clean, tasting himself and her in equal measure.

After all, if she was willing to do it to him, who was he to say otherwise? And after all, he enjoyed it as much as she did.

Taz cleaned her up on the outside, saving the inside for last. Still, while some did drip out, he didn’t go deeper, not yet anyway. Only when she was fresh as a daisy did he stick his tongue inside, seeking not to simply lick her clean, but to coat his tongue for what was to come next.

When he was more than satisfied, Taz took his cum-coated tongue and moved it down to Nighttide’s backdoor. The puckered little hole that they had put off exploring until now. He licked around it, finding the taste mostly just of her, with only a slight, miniscule hint of bitterness to it.

He barely even noticed as he started to lick the hole itself.

Nighttide felt it as a wet poking against her anus. She cooed in delight at his actions. Her body quickly coming to enjoy this new feeling as she looked down at him. Taz’s magenta eyes were not looking up, rather, they were busy elsewhere, concentrating on making sure she was good to go as to best minimize the pain of what would happen next.

When he was satisfied, he started pushing inward with his tongue, making sure that she was nice and lubed up, inside and out. His nose was full of her freshly fucked pussy, his tastebuds still reveled in the mixture of their combined juices.

Nighttide laid her head back and relaxed, opening herself up to him in every way imaginable. It was starting to feel good, really good. But, just as the pressure started to build in her, he stopped.

“It’s time?” she asked, somewhat disappointed, but mostly eager.

“You still want to?” he asked, not able to keep out his own eagerness.

She gestured with a hoof for him to come closer. Taz walked up over her and she kissed him again, her tongue darting into his mouth with no hesitation whatsoever. When she pulled back, Nighttide smiled and nodded. She didn’t just want this, she needed this.

Taz nodded his understanding and looked down between them. His cock was already mostly hard and resting between the two, his tip almost reaching the small baby bump on her stomach. He pulled his hips back, and, with well practiced ease, guided it directly into her pussy for a few thrusts.

Nighttide watched him, seeing him fuck her a few times with the top portion of his dick. While pleasuring, although unneeded, she had no need to ask what he was doing for she knew that he was coating the tip for better lubrication.

After the third thrust, he pulled back. With care he moved his body slightly down as to see with his own eyes. With one hoof, he took the head of his cock and started to guide it down to the other hole.

She felt it, she felt the head of his flare press against her back door.

“I’m… I’m going to go slow, at first anyway,” Taz stated.

Nighttide nodded and did her best to relax, to simply let what was going to happen, happen. When Taz was happy with the positioning, he started to push ever so softly.

He went nowhere.

She was tight, so incredibly tight. He tried to go slowly, soft, but he simply couldn’t make any progress as her backdoor resisted.

“N-nighttide… damn. I have to do this harder…” he groaned while Nighttide whimpered, but nodded.

He tried his best to not cause her more unnecessary pain, slowly adding more pressure to her backdoor. Slowly—agonizingly slowly—it opened up, letting his cock slide in. She was so incredibly tight, squeezing his stallionhood hard.

“Oh, Nighttide,” he groaned, pushing more and more into her puckered hole while she squirmed under him, trying to adjust to the pain she was feeling. It felt incredible to him: The farther in he went, the better it felt. He could feel her gripping just the head of his dick, almost as if she were massaging just that part.

However much pleasure he was getting out of it though, his eyes were laser focused on her face, seeing her contort up as she felt herself penetrated like this.

We really should have built up to this, he realized, knowing it was far too late to stop now. She’d be pissed to no end if he stopped.

His jaw fell open when he felt his head pop inside. He was in her, he was in her ass.

Nighttide focused on breathing and relaxing, breathing and relaxing. However, even that didn’t help her with the pain. “Hold a sec,” she all but cried.

Taz paused in his movements. “Too much? We can stop, I’ll—”

“Don’t move, just… give me a moment.”

He looked concernedly at her before getting an idea. Slowly, he adjusted his position so he could lean more over her. Then he started to kiss and lick her fur, eliciting small cooes from her muzzle.

When he felt the tension leave her body, he started to push again. She gasped as she felt him move, but it didn’t hurt anywhere near as badly as first entry. Her eyes were wide as dinner plates as she felt more and more of the stallion she loved, all the while he never stopped his ministrations on her coat.

For the longest time she just felt his two inch wide stallion meat enter her, slowly and lowly every single inch made their way inside of her rear. Nighttide felt herself adjusting. Her body, whatever it was made up of, was moving and repositioning itself to take him inside of her.

Then, at last, she felt Taz’s medial ring hit her anus. He stopped, unsure what he should do at this point.

As the thought hit him to start pulling out, She quickly reached up and grasped his hoof. He stared in her eyes, for it was the eyes that spoke what she wanted. She wanted all of him, all of him and more.

He blinked, once, and then nodded his understanding. However tight she had been in accepting of him her body was, this would take it to new extremes, for even when the ring was inside of her, his shaft would start to grow in girth after that point.

“There’s no easy way to do this, it’s going to hurt, a lot,” he spoke.

“Do it, quickly.”

He nodded and prepared himself. This was it, his do or die moment. He’d either give her everything he had left and hurt her, or he’d pull back and disappoint her. Between the two, he really didn’t know which one was worse.

Thinking quickly, he leaned down and started to lick at her neck with soft subtle work of his tongue. She cooed in delight at his actions. When he felt that she was ready, he bit down on her neck as hard as he could and rammed his hips with all his might.

Even with the distraction from her neck, Nighttide screamed in pain as the last eight inches of her stallion was slammed home all at once.

Taz stopped there, waiting for Nighttide to adjust, freezing as he saw a small tear making its way down her muzzle. Without hesitating, he licked the tear up and nuzzled her gently with all the love he could muster.

Nighttide breathed deep, feeling Taz’s actions and the love he had for her, but unable to return it, not now. Now just hurt. She stayed perfectly still, feeling her body repair more than one tear inside of her. However, despite it all, there was a sense of accomplishment that made her happy. She had taken him, all of him, in every hole now. That meant they could build on this, their enjoyment of each other would become that much more.

Nighttide let Taz know she was ready by licking him across the muzzle. He glanced up from where he had rested his head upon her shoulders and stared at her, smiling.

“How’s it feel?” Nighttide asked.

“So tight, so hot, and so amazing. Just like you.”

“Start to move, but slowly, at first anyway,” she told him, smiling about his antics.

He did just that, Taz started to pull out, slowly, enjoying the feel of her sphincter clamped around his rod, refusing to let him go. The warmth, the tightness, and the strangeness of the situation was amazing to him. It felt like nothing he had ever done in his entire life.

That being said, if he had to pick one or the other, he’d still take the normal way over this. After all, they both enjoyed that way one hundred percent. Still, it was a unique feel he received from this, something that blew his mind, and so he hoped, hers as well.

The stallion kept his movements small at first, pulling out by only a few inches before moving back in. He knew she had to be sore and didn’t want to pull his medial ring out only to have to put it back in.

Nighttide laid her head back, she felt stretched, and not in a good way. Her ass felt like it was on fire, and her body conformed to the large protruding object moving inside of it. However, Taz was more than a generous lover, with his hip movements came little kisses around her neck and shoulders.

“I love you,” he whispered right into her ear, nibbling lightly on the tip with his teeth.

Nighttide cooed in response as she started to feel the strangest thing, it started to feel good. She felt relaxed in his grip, she felt his licking and touches up her neck and muzzle, and she felt loved.

While she did doubt that they would do that again soon, she felt herself slowly relax, allowing her stallion to take her as he pleased, taking her to new heights in this new form of their love.

He picked up steam, feeling more comfortable the more relaxed she got. The feeling on his rod was, beyond a doubt, amazing. She was amazing. Indeed, the only reason he had lasted this long was because of his worry about the pain she was in. But now, now her coos told an entirely different tail. She was actually enjoying it.

She raised her muzzle to his ear and whispered one word. “Faster.”

Taz did a double take to see if she was joking. Her expression was anything but. He smiled and picked up the pace, beginning to widen his strokes and pump into her even harder.

While there was indeed a small, even tiny amount of pain as Taz took her harder, Nighttide enjoyed it much more. Most of it, she counted onto the wonderful stallion on top of her, her soon-to-be-husband, the stallion she loved more than her own life.

“N-nighttide, I’m… I’m not going to—”

“Give it to me, inside, all three holes.”

Taz nodded; he had, at most, another two good thrusts in him. Her sphincter was just too tight, too hot, and felt too good wrapped around him like this. He resolved to make it count. “All the way?”

She nodded and prepared herself.

Taz pulled almost all the way out, leaving just the tip of his head inside of her ass, then, in one fluid stroke, he pushed and hilted himself in her.

Nighttide cried out in pain and pleasure, she felt herself pushed along the ground of the tent, her screams no doubt echoing to everyone in their party. But she just couldn’t bring herself to care.

Taz felt the first signs of an approaching orgasm. His dick throbbed, and his balls tightened as they prepared to unleash his third load for the night. He acted without thought, wanting to give her one more good push before he was spent.

Taz pulled back one last time, feeling his cock shooting off the first of several spurts of cum. With as much force as he could manage, he pushed in one last time, using his cum as a natural lubricant.

Nighttide’s cries joined his moans of pleasure. The feeling was incredible, indescribable. Taz panted as he felt wave after wave of jism shoot deep into the mare’s bowels.

Nighttide’s head fell back and her tongue rolled out of her mouth. And, more importantly, she now knew what is was like to be filled by her stallion in every place he could.

She knew, even in that state, this would not be the last time she felt this way. Far from it.

“How was that?” Taz asked, he could already feel himself softening, even buried in her rear like he was.

“Fan-fucking-tastic,” Nighttide replied, raising her muzzle to kiss him. “But I don’t think we can do this every day. I bet I’ll walk funny and feel bucking sore tomorrow.”

“I think you’d look cute walking a little bowlegged,” Taz replied with a kiss.

She bit lightly at his lip, “Only because you would get better looks from behind me,” she chuckled. “Not that I would complain about that.”

“As long as we’re together, we’ll face anything,” Taz said, yawning as he spoke.

“Time for my big, sexy, loving stallion to go to bed on his favourite pillow?” Nighttide asked, grinning.

“Is that a—yeah, I think it is,” he stated, about to ask if it was a good idea for him to sleep on her in her condition, but then stopping himself before doing so.

She smiled and lightly nibbled his lips. “I know what you wanted to say. But I’m fine and I would love to sleep with you like this.” “”

“Me too,” he stated, laying his head back down upon the nip of her neck. “You want me to pull out first?”

“Nah, it’d hurt to much right now. We’ll stay just like this.”

He chuckled a little as his eyes grew heavy, “You may need diapers if we keep this up.”

“Would you change me?” she asked, stroking his mane.

“As long as I’m at your side, I’m content with everything.”

“Goodnight, my sweet prince.”

“Goodnight, my love.”

Riddles and Theft

San Palonimon Desert

Rainbow Dash found herself twitching as she sat on the desert sand waiting for ponies—a lot smarter than her—to answer the first riddle of the sphinx. She itched to fly again, to have her wings back. She knew that regardless of what this sphinx claimed about being a match for Rainbow when she did have her power, it was a boast, nothing more.

Rainbow had never, never known defeat by any foe, not even a god. Just the opposite in fact: She had defeated a god, given, there had been extenuating circumstances, but those didn’t change the scoreboard.

“You okay, Rainbow?” Radiant asked.

“I’m fine,” she said.

“I can make it warmer,” Ataxia pointed out. The sun had set an hour ago, and only her magic was keeping them from freezing in the desert’s night.

“I said I’m fine!” Rainbow shouted, startling the group of ponies.

“Rainbow,” Twilight said from across the way. “Come over here.”

The cyan pony mumbled something under her breath, something that was was unheard by all save the sphinx, and she’d only tell if that was the question asked of her. “Rainbow, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked.

Rainbow glared over to Dayspring, a clear indication that her son should leave so she could talk to her wife alone.

Twilight nodded to him, Dayspring nodded back and left. Of course with him gone, their protection from the cold left as well. Rainbow instantly started to shiver, something Twilight soon copied. “Rainbow what’s wrong?” Twilight asked as she walked over to the mare and wrapped her up in a wing.

“This is what’s wrong, Twi,” Rainbow said as she looked in her wife’s eyes. “All of this!”

“This situation?”

“No, this delay, this riddle, this… ugh, everything! I should have my wings, you should have your magic, and this shouldn’t be an issue.”

“Rainbow, we’re going to fix this. I promise you,” Twilight said.

“Really? I mean come on, you’ve been thinking about this riddle for hours now, back when you were a nerdy librarian this wou—”

“Wait… what did you say?” Twilight asked.

“I said I can’t take all this waiting around.”

“No about me being…”

“A nerdy librarian?” Rainbow asked.

Twilight’s eyes went wide and she shot forward, grabbing Rainbow by the muzzle and planting one hell of a kiss upon her lips. “Rainbow, you’re a genius!”

“Um… okay?” Rainbow stated, looking confused to all Tartarus as Twilight ran over to her son.

“Dayspring, I know the answer!”

The sphinx watched in mild fascination as the ponies worked it out amongst themselves. It was always comical to her when ponies would come seeking her knowledge; even knowing the risks, it didn’t stop them from trying. She didn’t relish the horror on their faces when they realized they were wrong, though. It wasn’t something she wanted to do: eating ponies. Rather, it was just her nature to do it, her lot in life.

When she had been caught, and banished by Celestia, that was something the alicorn understood. Celestia had understood that the sphinx had no control in this, any of this; but as long as ponies sought her knowledge, it’d keep happening. So, rather than slay her, she merely put the sphinx out of reach of her little ponies, forevermore.

Or that had been the plan anyway. The death of Tartarus was simply too good an opportunity to pass up. Say what you will about doing the right thing, several hundred years locked in that place and you’ve gotta stretch your wings.

She grinned as she saw the two ponies approach: one, a miss Twilight Sparkle, the other Dayspring Gleam, her son. Both had long destinies in front and behind them. Well, provided they didn’t screw it up that is.

“We have your answer,” Twilight stated.

“Oh? You sure you don’t need more time?” Not that you have that much left.

“We’re sure,” Dayspring replied. “Your riddle was: If it’s information you seek, come and see me. If it’s pairs of letters you need, I have consecutively three. Who am I? The answer is…”

Twilight answered. “A bookkeeper. You go to one for knowledge, and the word has three consecutive sets of letters; two ‘o’ two ‘k’ and two ‘e’ letters.”

“That is correct,” the sphinx said with a smile. “Although I must admit, I had thought you, of all ponies, would’ve gotten the answer a lot sooner, Twilight.”

Twilight blushed. “It’s been decades since I was last a librarian. The demands of raising foals, and running a country, keeps me more than busy. Not that I’d change it for the world.” At those words she wrapped a wing around her son and kissed him on the cheek.

“First time a mare’s kissed you in a while, huh Dayspring!” Ataxia called out.

“Would you stop?” Radiant said.

“If Night can’t change me, what makes you think you can?”

Rainbow chuckled. “Oh I’d say she’s changed you quite a bit.”

Defensively, Ataxia asked, “What do you mean? I’m still the same-old me.”

“Ataxia, you haven’t been the same-old you since before Blood Dawn,” Radiant said.

That was the wrong thing to bring up. Mentioning that revenant’s name made Rainbow feel her back muscles twitch and spasm. Blood Dawn was a psycho killer that drank his victim’s blood and slaughtered her first grandfoal while he was still in Aurora’s womb. He was also—baring none—the toughest fight Rainbow had ever been in. She had won though, she had drop kicked his ass into the sun.

Nevermind that ‘that’ very act is what caused Red to get free; rather, it still brought back a smile to her muzzle every time she thought about it—even if it did crack the moon in half.

“I still say I’m me,” Ataxia snorted.

“Never said you weren’t,” Radiant said with a chuckle. “You’re just a more mature you.”

“Watch it buster, them’s fighting words.”

Radiant laughed at that, but said nothing more. Truly, he didn’t know if he could take her like this or not. Sure, in terms of pure skill, he was the superior unicorn; but skill implied some knowledge of what one’s opponent could do, and against a mare like Ataxia—chaos incarnate— assuming you knew what she could do would be your first mistake.

If she’d transform, it wouldn’t even be a challenge, but that was one fight Radiant never wanted to have, again.

“Are you ready to receive the next riddle?” the sphinx asked, her voice coming in a normal tone, but seemingly from everywhere and nowhere all at the same time. Needless to say, it grabbed their attention.

“No time like the present,” Dayspring said with a small chuckle.

If only you knew, the sphinx thought. She spread her wings and roze into the air, her voice becoming a booming sound as she spoke the words:

“I am at the beginning of the end, and the end of every place.

I am the beginning of eternity, and the end of time and space.

What am I?”

Ataxia froze. “What the buck? This sounds a lot harder than the first one!”

The Sphinx smiled. “Nothing is as it seems at first. You of all ponies should know that. And besides, what would be the sense of an easy riddle?”

“Great, now it’s gonna take even longer for this shit,” Rainbow said.

“While there is no deadline for answering these riddles, I must warn you, time is running out,” the sphinx said.

“What? What does that mean?” Radiant asked as he jumped up and ran to her. “Are you changing the rules?”

“No, swordmaster, but come the rise of the sun, you’ll find it too late, for either question.”

Ataxia felt like she was about to choke on her tongue. Tears started falling from her eyes in a unstoppable flow. “How… long… is… that…”

“Two hours,” somepony answered. She had no idea who.

***

Everfree Forest

A loud cry overtook the camp, one that Vela almost recognized instantly. She reached out, shooting up and grabbing her spear from where it lay along the side of the tent. The thin fabric never stood a chance as she cut the top away and leapt out, ready to kill whatever had caused her younger brother to start crying in the middle of the night.

Unfortunately for the pegasus she had been laying up against, her concern had not been for him at that moment. Flash was awoken to a huge amount of pressure suddenly put on his chest as Vela used him as a springboard. But before he could do more than grunt in pain, his ears picked up the sound of Dayspring’s crying.

“Who the fuck dares‽” Vela shouted as she waved the god weapon around her head, waking up anypony that might have still been asleep.

Blaze stumbled out of his tent with the young crying hippogriff held tightly to his chest. “It’s okay, he just had a bad dream!”

In a practiced motion, Vela sheathed the spear and ran over to retrieve her brother from Blaze’s grip. She held him tightly to her chest. “Shh, it’s okay, sis has got you.”

“W-what’s going on?” Taz asked as he crawled of his tent, walking a little bowlegged. Nighttide followed right behind him. If Taz’s walk had been bad, she was walking far worse, which was saying something, considering her regeneration.

“False alarm, just a bad dream,” Flash said.

A grey bat-pony landed right next to them. “Scouted the perimeter, nothing to report.”

Taz blinked. In the time she’d heard Dayspring cry, Echoside had managed a complete fly over to check for any enemies. Well, she is in the Night Guard, who’s to say she’d even been asleep yet, Taz thought.

Starlight teleported out of her tent. “So I take it we’re getting an early start?”

“I vote we go back to bed,” Nighttide said.

Taz was about to agree, he was about to until he saw the condition of Vela’s cut-in-half tent. “No, let’s get moving, who knows how much time we have left.”

“You heard him, pack it up!” Ana shouted, almost like she was playing at being a drill instructor.

Starlight giggled and turned her attention to Echoside’s tent. It took her a whole five seconds to tear it down and put it away, something most of the others were infinitely jealous of.

“Somepony really thinks he’s the boss, doesn’t he?” Echoside asked as she looked back at the large black stallion.

Starlight looked over at him. “Well… he kinda is.”

“Why?” Echoside asked.

“Why? Why what?”

“Why is he the boss? Did you all elect him, is he the oldest? Does he have the most power?”

“No on all of those accounts actually. Nighttide’s the oldest, I’d say Vela has the most power, and we never really elected him. He just kinda… I don’t know, stepped up?”

“I can make him step down again, quickly if you want.”

“Yeah, nevermind that, he’s a prince, and my uncle. And besides, Nighttide would skin you alive if you touched a hair on his coat.”

Echoside chuckled and sat beside Starlight as they watched the rest of the ponies break camp. “You respect him, don’t you?”

“I do,” Starlight replied as she watched Taz and Nighttide tear down their tent together. “He’s been through so much, and he’s done so much, all in the name of following what he believed was the right thing to do. How many of us can truly say that?”

“He’s kinda hot too.”

“Echoside!”

The bat-pony chuckled. “Hey, I’ve got eyes. Not that I’d personally be interested in him, but I can see why Nighttide likes him.”

“Your eyes better stay on me.” Starlight rolled her own eyes with a pout that Echoside found rather cute.

Echoside pecked the mare on the cheek. “Anyone tell you that you’re sexy when you get all pouty like that?”

“S-sexy?” Starlight asked. She had never heard of herself referred to like that before.

“Hey, if you’re done romancing my sister, we could use your help!” Ana shouted from behind them.

“Let’s just ignore the interpreter.”

Starlight nodded her head in agreement and rested it on Echoside’s shoulder. The older mare just giggled and leaned against Starlight’s head. “You know, I never imagined in a million years I’d ever be in this situation, but now that I am, I kinda don’t want it to come to an end.”

“Who said it has to end?” Starlight asked.

“In my experience: everything does, eventually,” Echoside replied with a regretful sigh.

“Yeah, well, I doubt you have much experience dating a princess. Else you’d know that we always get our way.”

“Your sister might disagree.”

“Echoside, shut up,” Starlight said.

“Yes, your highness.”

Ana huffed as she used her magic to finish tearing down her tent. Starlight could have done the entire camp three times over by now, but of course she had to spend her time making kissy faces with Echoside.

The mare groaned with the effort of pulling down her tent, and then helping Blaze with his. How earth ponies and pegasi accomplished this, she had no idea; but she got a good view of it as Vela simply bodychecked what was left of her tent down, destroying the rest of it without effort.

“That’s not how you put a tent down, Vela,” Flash said, trying to reason with the hippogriff.

“Then you can do it yourself!”

“Uhm… you know what? Your way is just fine… and… interesting on top.”

Velva grinned before moving on to help Taz with his.

All in all, it took the group five minutes to completely tear down their camp. It was another seven minutes of arguing and fighting, and then four minutes of looking around aimlessly before Taz got the bright idea to ask Starlight which way to go.

“Is it always like this?” Echoside asked her marefriend.

“Pretty much,” Starlight said with a smile as she pushed her head against Echoside’s coat. “Think you can get used to it?”

“Honestly?” Echoside said, her expression serious—for a second or two anyway. “I feel right at home.”

Starlight found herself doing something she never thought she’d ever do in her life, she purred at Echoside’s words. They were exactly what she wanted to hear.

“Where are we going anyway?” Echoside asked.

“She didn’t tell you?” Blaze replied.

“Nope, I pretty much just got a quick make-out session in the shower, and lets face facts, after that I didn’t really care.”

“Starlight, you dog!” Nighttide replied to the blushing blue unicorn.

“Why should you be the only one that gets to have fun?” Starlight replied sheepishly. “And it was just… touching, NOT sex.”

Taz chuckled. “Methinks thou doth protest too much.”

“Stop it. I don’t need that from you too. Besides, after catching you two rutting in the kitchen last week, you’re not in any position to judge.”

“I-I was trying to teach her how to cook,” he muttered weakly.

“Yeah, by licking whipped cream of my teats.” Nighttide laughed, making all others around them blush except for Vela and Echoside.

Blaze took over, quickly growing uncomfortable with where the line of questioning was going. “We’re going to the Tree of Harmony. It’s located under the former location of the Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree Forest.”

“I’ve never heard of this castle,” Nighttide replied.

“Doubtful you would. A titan kinda fell on it,” Starlight said. “Or on the remains of it anyway.”

“A titan?” Echoside asked.

Starlight filled her in. “Huge, rock-like monster. They use to rule the planet before the gods banished them to Tartarus.”

“Gods?”

Ana rubbed her temples. “Oh dear Luna, we’ll be here all day.”

Starlight gently bumped Echoside’s flank with her own. “I’ll explain to you everything, but not now.”

Echoside nodded. The group walked in silence—well, as quietly as a group of teenage mares and stallions can be—after that. Blaze took it upon himself to get a laugh from just about everyone in the group during their trip. The hardest was of course Vela, but that changed when he started to poke fun of Flash—in a nice way. She was quickly laughing and blushing at some of the more… personal stories he’d tell about his twin brother.

Flash really wanted to kick his brother’s ass. Especially when he told the story of his last bedwetting problem two years ago.

It was an hour into their journey when Taz stopped at a tall venue overlooking a chasm in the ground. “Is this it?” he asked.

Starlight walked up to stand beside him. What was weird was that she simply knew the answer, without casting a spell. It was as if some force had been pulling her here, a force she didn’t understand but simply knew. It had been like this all journey. She had made a show of directing them with her magic, but anyone with any real spell knowledge would have known she was simply casting a light spell around her horn. “Yes, it’s down there.”

Taz looked where she gestured. It was an old, dug out cave in the remains of what he assumed to be the body of a titan. It looked decades old. “So, we go.”

“Let me go first,” Echoside cut in.

“Why?”

“Because I’m the only one here with military experience, that’s why,” she growled back, but quickly stopped as Starlight nuzzled her.

“She’s right, you know,” Nighttide said, making Taz jump as she nudged him.

“I know,” he whispered back. “But I should go, because—”

“You’re not invincible!” Nighttide growled, her form wavering. “Echoside, you go. I don’t want to hear anything anymore.”

“Night—”

“Stop acting like you have to protect everyone from everything. My mom proved that others can bypass your ability to hurt you. So don’t say more, Echoside is going first.”

“Fine.”

Nighttide blinked. “Come again?”

“I said fine,” Taz replied before turning to Echoside. “Alright, you go first, give us a call if everything looks safe.”

Echoside nodded and smiled while Nighttide gently kissed her soon-to-be-husband.

The mare was quick: She dropped her bag, flew up, and darted to the top of the cave, electing for more of a stealth entrance.

“What was that about?” Flash asked Vela.

“I think Nighttide’s worried about him.”

“Yeah, but I’ve never seen Taz back down from something he thought was right.”

“Me neither,” Vela admitted.

“Maybe he’s taking his new responsibility seriously?” Starlight commented.

They both turned to her. Everyone in the party had lost track of the bat-pony as soon as she landed at the mouth of the cave. The primal aspect of being a bat-pony was that night was their natural habitat, something she more than took advantage of. While Nighttide had been able to follow her longer than the others, even she quit looking when Echoside entered the cave. Starlight, on the other hoof, had no desire to turn away. As she spoke she never took her eyes off the cave, the cave that told her to enter, that her marefriend had just entered.

“What do you mean?” Vela asked.

“He’s going to be a father. I think he’s slowly starting to learn that he has to be there for his foal, to be there for her and Nighttide once the time is ready.” Starlight smiled.

Flash turned to look at Taz who was standing right by Nighttide in a fully-erect sitting position. He could see the conflicting nature in him; Taz wasn’t passive; he wanted to be down there, to do everything he possibly could for them all. It was just his way to put himself in danger first. This was proof he was learning and maturing.

What if Vela was having my foal? Would I be that grown up? Flash asked himself as he turned to the hippogriff. She held a grip on her spear, her brother riding on her back. She looked ready to take on the entire world, and, he suspected, she would if given the opportunity.

“Yeah, I think I would.”

“What was that?” Vela asked, looking at him confused.

“Nothing, just commenting how beautiful you look in the moonlight.”

“Don’t make me hurt you,” she growled.

“Love you too,” Flash whispered as he turned back to the cave. Not that he could actually see anything, but it gave him something to do.

Starlight walked over to Vela. “Can’t you be nicer to him?”

“Why should I?”

“Because we all know it by now. Be nicer to your coltfriend, or do you want to be alone again?” Starlight asked with an raised eyebrow.

“I can do what I want.”

“So you want to be alone? What if he leaves you?”

Vela stopped dead in her tracks. “He’d never do that.”

“Because you’re threatening him and acting like he’s nothing? If you think you know anything about love, you’ll know that he will leave you if you don’t change.” Starlight looked sympathetic to her. “He’s a nice stallion, Vela. Most mares would be lucky to have him. But if you don’t show him the respect he’s due, he won’t stay around you forever. And that is a fact you will learn the hard way if you don’t start to appreciate him.”

As Starlight walked away, Vela was left in confusion and worry. He’d never leave me,would he?

Starlight walked up to Taz and Nighttide. “Any sign of her?”

Nighttide took another look at the cave. “No, not yet.”

“Starting to get worried?” Taz asked.

Starlight chuckled, then sighed. “Yes.”

“Ahh that’s sweet, my marefriend’s worried about me,” Echoside said as she all but appeared right next to them from the shadows.

“Echoside, you’re back!” Starlight jumped into her hooves.

“Woah there princess, not that I really mind, but I wasn’t gone that long.”

“She did say she was worried about you,” Taz said.

“Mhh, already grew that fond of me?” Echoside chuckled.

“You want an answer to that?”

“Yep.”

“Stop calling me princess or last night was a one night stand.”

“Sure thing, Starlight.”

“I love the way you pronounce my name.”

“Would love to do that every single time,” Echoside purred back.

“Okay, you lovebirds, save it for tonight,” Nighttide said with a giggle.

“Echoside, what’d you find?” Taz asked.

“Not much, just a big fucking magical tree growing out of the ground. Otherwise the cave was empty.”

“Let’s go then,” Vela stated as she flapped her wings, ready to take off.

“We go together, Vela,” Taz said, stopping her.

“Together,” Flash replied, rubbing up against her.

Vela huffed at him, but then stopped when she saw the look Starlight was giving her. “Fine.”

“Alright, let’s go,” Nighttide stated as she lead the way down. The others followed suit, trusting Nighttide to lead the way, which in and of itself was strange, especially for Ana, who found herself resisting the urge to go another way simply because Nighttide chose this way.

The path itself was rocky yet steady. Placing one hoof in front of the other, Nighttide found them the safest way down, something she had to do because the very next pony after her was her soon-to-be husband, Taz.

They reached the mouth of the cave without incident, and, less than a minute later, saw exactly what Echoside had reported.

The cave itself was massive, with huge crystals lining the walls in a purple hue. On either side of the cave, life itself seemed to be growing—lily pads and flowers the most abundant. But the ponies barely registered any of that. Rather, their attention was focused on the object in the center of the cave.

It was a crystal tree. A huge one at that, at least twenty ponies tall. The most obvious feature was a six pointed star dead set in the middle of it. It had twelve branches, each with flowers dangling from them. On its five most prominent branches were gemstones in different colors.

“The Tree of Harmony,” Starlight said in a gasp. This was her first time physically laying eyes upon it.

“It looks just like your cutie mark,” Blaze said.

Ana did a double take, and then a triple. “He’s right…”

“Starlight?” Taz questioned.

“I… I-I, I don’t… I never…” she tried to answer their inquiry, but she just couldn’t form the words.

Ana was the first one to really catch on. “Starlight, what have you been keeping from us?” She knew her sister well enough to know a half-truth when she heard one.

Starlight took a step closer. “It’s like it’s been calling to me. That it wanted me to find it. I-I…”

“This is what we’re here for, right?” Echoside asked. “What’s the problem?”

“Things never tend to work out that well for us,” Vela answered. “Especially when it turns out to be part of a greater plan.”

“No… this isn’t like that. We have nothing to fear,” Starlight said as she took another step. The tree itself seemed to radiate as she walked closer, as if it were responding to her very presence.

“Taz… it’s up to you,” Flash said, his eyes glued to Starlight, his wing tense and ready.

Echoside had to bite back a retort. She remembered that strange power the earth pony seemed to have. In a way, that one comment confirmed a lot of what had been obvious. They really do look to him to lead. Hmm… maybe I misjudged him? She took another look at the stallion. He was big, muscular, that’s for sure. If she had to guess his age, just from his looks and attitude, she’d put him at around twenty-three. But Starlight told me he’s only fourteen… her respect for him increased ten-fold.

“We go forward. Starlight says it’s fine, and I trust her.”

The group collectively walked forward. They followed behind Starlight as she got to within twenty hooves of the tree and stopped. She cocked her head back and smiled at them. “You all ready for something amazing?”

“You know what’s going to happen?” Little Dayspring asked.

“Didn’t you listen to the stories from Twilight and Rainbow? I do know what will happen, and trust me, it’ll be beyond your imagination.”

Dayspring hugged his sister tighter as Starlight turned back to the tree. She powered her horn and shot out a beam directly to the center of the tree.

At that one action her words were proven to be prophetic. Something amazing did happen.

The Tree of Harmony resonated with power. They all watched as, out of nowhere, Starlight was lifted up into the air. Taz’s every instinct shouted at him to stop it, to use his ability to prevent it. Instead he forced his instinct down and let what was going to happen, happen.

The center of the tree opened up and a bright purple six pointed star flew out, straight to the levitating unicorn in front of them. They all watched in a gasp as Starlight threw her head back and was overcome with bright light.

Flash was levitated next. His entire form overcome in much the same way as Starlight’s. He let out a small shriek in surprise as the red stone from the top of the tree did likewise to him.

Dayspring felt his pull next, albeit, to his credit, he didn’t gasp as Flash did. Rather he let out a small whimper as the purple stone flew to him.

Vela felt the pull soon after, she grasped her spear in a threatening manner.

“Vela, let it happen,” Taz stated.

She glared at him, but, in the end, relaxed, and let what was about to occur, occur. Much like the others, an orange stone soon flew to her.

Blaze, unsurprisingly, giggled and laughed as he felt himself levitated into the air. A blue stone flew out of the tree and to him.

Taz turned to Ana and smiled. Fully expecting the last stone, the pink stone to lift her into the air and go to her.

“Taz, what’s going on‽” Nighttide yelled out as she was pulled into the air.

Ana’s eyes widened as she saw Nighttide selected instead of herself.

Taz looked up at her, confused. “What the…”

The pink stone flew out and to his soon-to-be wife. A bright flash of light overtook the entire cave, almost blinding Echoside, and forcing the rest to hide their eyes. Before the first pony could recover, the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony landed. Flash and Blaze each looked down at their new golden necklaces, Flash’s in the shape of a red lightning bolt that matched his cutie mark, Blaze in the shape of a blue one.

Whereas the rest got necklaces, Starlight admired the dark-blue chest armor she had been gifted with. The six-pointed star was nestled nicely into the center, around it, an almost exact replica of the tree of harmony. However, the real strange part wasn’t the armor, rather, it was the two holes in either side of her barrel. “Are these… wing holes?”

Dayspring and Vela each looked at their necklaces. Being that they didn’t have cutie marks, their stones were unordained, save for the fact that they seemed to reflect each other, almost as if just being close to one another caused them to resonate.

Nighttide landed last. She looked down at the strange necklace around her. The pink stone around her neck was in the shape of a large heart. “W-w-why?”

They all looked around, seeing each other’s new accessory, new power. “You were right, Starlight. This is something amazing,” Blaze said.

“Why her?” a voice cut through.

All turned their heads at Ana, who scowled. “Why her, and not me?”

Taz looked at her. “M-maybe because your behavior lately?… That wasn’t kindness.”

“What about her behaviour‽” Ana shouted, Her voice echoed throughout the cave.

“She’s acted better to you, than you to her,” Vela said. “I really have to admit that.”

“No, she’s right, I’m not kindness, there was no reason it should have—”

“Y-you… You stole it from me,” Ana cried.

“Ana, no I didn’t.” Nighttide tried to plead with her.

“You did! You stole Taz, you stole my life, my foal, and now this. I-I hate you!”

“Ana!” Starlight shouted.

“I hate you!” Ana’s shout was leagues louder than Starlight’s. “I hate you, and I wish you were dead!”

“Ana!” Taz shouted. But it was too late. The dark-blue unicorn teleported to the mouth of the cave and ran.

“I’ll go get her!” Starlight shouted as she teleported after her; it was to no use though. As soon as Starlight appeared at the mouth, Ana had finished a long-distance teleportation spell.

Starlight paused as she gasped that her sister had just accomplished something so advanced. She concentrated, seeking out her location. Starlight got back nothing.

Taz ran up to her side. “Where’d she go?”

Starlight looked up with tears in her eyes. “I-I don’t know. She hid her location. Taz, she… she could be anywhere.”

He said nothing, he simply stepped forward and hugged her. “I never expected this. But I think that, for her, this was just the last straw.”

Starlight didn’t reply, she just cried.

Chaos Theory

San Palonimon Desert

Radiant decided that it was Ataxia’s pacing that he hated the most. The mare was beyond nervous, skittish, and annoying. In truth, she was starting to worry him. Ataxia nervous was always a bad things, and it wasn’t like she had the best reputation with anypony in Equestria.

Given she was, without a doubt, a loving wife, a devoted mother, and a great friend, but that’s not all she was; she was also a sociopath, or at least she had been. She had been a mare that did what she wanted, when she wanted, and how she wanted.

She hadn’t been that mare in years, decades even. But right now, pushed to the cusp of inactivity, with the mare she loved on her deathbed, Radiant was beyond worried that Ataxia would snap. He was worried that she would revert to her old self and try to use force to solve the problem. The white unicorn had no idea what the sphinx could do, but he knew what Ataxia could do. Memories of that horrible night that almost cost him everything still haunted him in his sleep, especially after the death of his wife.

“Rainbow,” Radiant whispered as he walked over to the cyan mare who was unusually quiet.

Rainbow turned her eyes from the sphinx. She had been eyeing the creature for the past ten minutes. Examining attack vectors and the threat radius of it’s attacks—just in case. “What is it?” she asked.

Radiant gestured with his muzzle to the pacing mare. Rainbow looked up at Ataxia, almost as if she were seeing her for the first time. “And?”

“What if she… you know, tries something?” Radiant whispered.

“Could you stop her?” Rainbow asked.

“W-what?”

“Could you stop her from trying something?”

“Um… no.”

Rainbow chuckled. “I couldn’t either. Heck, we’d be speed bumps—at most—to that mare. The only one here who might be able to hold her back is Dayspring, and even then I wouldn’t want to be within a thousand hooves of that fight.”

“So we just, what?”

“Let it be,” Rainbow said with a smile. “There ain’t shit we can do about it, so why worry?”

“That’s a horrible plan, Rainbow.”

“Who do you take me for, my wife? I’m a mare of action, and, honestly, if I had my wings, I’d be right there with Ataxia.”

Radiant fell back on his flank and huffed. Rainbow just shrugged turning back to the sphinx. The creature was sitting patiently on the sand, watching Twilight and Dayspring work out the riddle as best as they could.

“I do not wish to disturb, but your time is almost over to save your loved ones,” the sphinx spoke up, smiling slightly.

Twilight looked up and glared at the sphinx, angrily.

“Mom, we need your head in the game,” Dayspring chided.

Twilight looked back at her son, before blushing at her overreaction. “Sorry. Okay let’s start over again. I’m at the beginning of the end, and the end of every place.”

“I think…” Dayspring paused. “Maybe we’re looking at it too literally?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, the last riddle was referring to a word and a position. Bookkeeper being the name for something with three pairs of consecutive letters and the pony that keeps the books.”

“Yes, but…”

“So maybe we need a different perspective?” Dayspring asked.

“Are you really trying to say we’re too smart to solve this?” Twilight asked with a giggle.

“We need Rainbow for it.”

“Hey, she’s not dumb!” Twilight growled.

“No, I never said she was, but mother thinks in a way quite differently than the way the two of us go about it,” Dayspring said with a smile.

Twilight raised an eyebrow, then looked over Dayspring’s shoulder to her wife. To her amazement, Rainbow was just sitting patiently, almost like she didn’t have a care in the world. It was unusual to say the least. “Hey Rainbow. Come over here for a second.”

The cyan mare got to her hooves and walked over, a confused expression on her face. “What’s up, Twi?”

When she got close enough, Twilight asked, “What’s at the end of time and space?”

“E?”

Dayspring Gleam face-planted his muzzle right into the sand. “Oh Luna, I’m a bucking idiot!”

Rainbow looked confused. “What?”

Twilight laughed, walked over, and kissed her wife again. “Thank you, Rainbow. You continue to be the smartest mare I’ve ever known.”

“What?”

“Nothing, just thanks.”

The pegasus raised an eyebrow before turning around and heading back to rejoin the other group. Twilight walked over to her son and wrapped a wing around his barrel. “You know, she told me once that I was too smart, that because of that fact she could see things I couldn’t.”

“That was bucking obvious, and we wasted half an hour,” Dayspring mumbled into the sand.

Twilight kissed him on the side of the head before approaching the sphinx. The creature’s lion head raised up and looked at her, smiling.

“You already know we have the answer, don’t you?” Twilight asked.

“Yes.”

“Then do we really need to say it?”

The sphinx laughed. “Protocol, what can I say?”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Very well, the answer to your riddle of what is at the beginning of the end, and the end of every place, the beginning of eternity, and the end of time and space. Is, of course, the letter E.”

“That is correct,” the sphinx said with a smile as the group gathered around.

“I still can’t believe that it took us this long,” Dayspring bemoaned.

“A fact of life, resurrected, the higher your intelligence, the more uncommon the common is.”

“Thank you for the obvious,” Twilight mumbled.

“Are you ready for your third and final riddle?” The sphinx asked.

“No!”

Everypony and sphinx paused. All as one they turned to the speaker: Ataxia.

“Ataxia, what do you mean, ‘no’?” Radiant asked, more than worried.

“Ataxia, we need to do this,” Dayspring said.

“No, we don’t,” Ataxia said, smiling as she approached the sphinx.

For her part, the creature seemed unphased by her sudden reversal, leading Twilight to believe that she either knew what was going to happen, or that it didn’t really matter to her. “You’re going to go ahead and answer our questions, without asking us another riddle.”

The sphinx raised a paw and started to lick her claws. “And why would I do that?”

Ataxia grinned the sort of grin she’d normally have right before doing something really dumb. “You said we only have to answer three riddles of yours, correct?”

“Yes,” the sphinx replied.

“Ataxia, we can’t waste time like this,” Dayspring said.

Ataxia silenced him with a glare that all but said to shut the hell up. Dayspring gulped and did just that.

“So I have the answer to your third riddle. You asked Luna the riddle, closer than you expect but never seen, fighting for a love never known, older than eyes can see, what am I? The answer is Nighttide, her daughter. That’s a riddle from you, answered.”

The sphinx chuckled. “Technically, you are right. Fine, rules are rules. But you are wrong in one thing. I’m not answering your questions. I’m answering one.”

“Go, Ataxia!” Dayspring cheered at not having another riddle to pound his head against the sand over.

Radiant, Rainbow, and Twilight all went up to congratulate her. Ataxia felt like doing something other than being praised. “Thanks, guys.”

Dayspring spoke up. “Well, let’s get what we came here for. You want to take the honors, Mom?”

Twilight smiled. Even after all these years, I’m still the only one he calls mom. “Sure thing.” The others spread out, letting her face the sphinx directly. “Sphinx, what is the unicorn Red’s tru—”

“How do I save Shimmering Night?”

“What the hell, Ataxia?” Radiant asked, all but jumping on her.

Four sets of eyes glared at Ataxia with a look of betrayal and one with a look of amusement.

“Ataxia, how could you?” Radiant asked.

She cried as she spoke, “How could I not?”

“The question has been asked,” the sphinx said as her wings shot to her sides and she levitated in the air. “The answer to your question, young dragacorn, on how to save your wife’s life. The life of one who was poisoned by the magic of a dead god, is through the application of chaos magic.”

“Chaos magic?” Twilight asked.

“Chaos magic, the magic that is intertwined with your dragon fire.”

Ataxia’s eyes widened as she realized what she had to do. She took one more look at the group of ponies all around her and said, “I’m not sorry.”

A flash of white later, and she was gone. They blinked their eyes clear as the aftereffects of Ataxia’s teleport made itself known.

“I’ll get her,” Dayspring said and made to follow.

“No,” Twilight said, stopping him. “To be honest, I don’t blame her. I’d have done the same thing.”

“Me too,” Rainbow said.

“Me too,” Radiant said, looking down at his hooves in a frown.

Dayspring huffed. “Yeah, I guess that’s true of us all.”

“Indeed,” the sphinx said.

“This is what you meant, wasn’t it?” Twilight asked. “You said she had another question in her heart; you knew she’d do this.”

The sphinx smiled at her. “I did. I can see into all your hearts, I can see your true selves. Ataxia, her heart, it belongs to one mare and one mare only. You might have stopped your foe had you been able to ask your question. But it would have cost you your daughter, and in doing so, cost Ataxia her last measure of restraint.”

“So, is this for the best?” Rainbow asked.

The sphinx grinned. “So many questions, so few riddles answered.”

“But… you already answered my question. Does that mean you can answer if you want to?” Twilight asked.

“Not your true questions. I can have conversations with ponies, I can talk and make friends, I simply cannot tell them the answer their heart truly desires to know. Not without answering the riddles.”

Twilight considered that, then paused as she thought of one more thing. “Tell me, if you can. You sought out Princess Luna all those months ago to warn her, to tell her about her daughter. If I may ask, why?”

The sphinx grinned at that as magical energy started to surround her, preparing her for a teleportation of her own. “I overheard, what you might call, a joke question. Two ponies were talking in a restaurant, and one asked the other when the world would come to an end.”

“I-I…” Twilight stammered.

“In two hours,” the sphinx said as she teleported away to a destination unknown.

“She's joking… right?” Dayspring asked.

***
Celestia’s Palace

In a flash of white, a unicorn arrived in the courtyard of Celestia’s Palace. This, in and of itself, caused quite a stir. Being an hour before sunrise, the sudden magical teleportation alerted every guard on duty.

They all paused when they saw just who it was that teleported in the center of the courtyard. There wasn’t a pony in the Royal Guard or the Night Guard that did not know of Ataxia, and it would be an understatement to say she had a reputation.

The first thing the mare did upon arriving was puke. The few remaining contents of her stomach spilled out on the ground as she hurled it up. The effects of teleportation never sat well with her. With one hoof she wiped her muzzle clean and looked up in the location of her bedroom, where her wife would be woken up for the last time, to move the sun and moon for the last time, and then to die.

“No, I won’t let it happen!” She shouted into the sky.

“Princess Ataxia?” One of the guards asked.

“Stay back! Whatever you do, don’t come any closer!”

They were hesitant, but did as they were ordered.

I can do this, I own you, bucker. Where have you been hiding? She looked inward, feeling around to parts of herself that she had put to the side, that she had tried to forget about, parts of herself that she needed, now.

It didn’t want to be found, or, at the very least, she couldn’t find it. Not at first. It was like trying to grasp onto the lyrics of a song one hadn’t heard in years. Every time her mind thought she had it, it simply slipped through her hooves.

Bullshit, bucker, I will find you, I will use you, I’m bucking Ataxia, and I. Command. You!

Ataxia was a mare of chaos, the god of Chaos’s Avatar in the mortal realm. All she’s ever had to do in her life was to want something and focus on one thing enough to make it so.

That held true, even for this.

She found it buried deep inside of her. In her mind’s eye she saw it as a rabid creature of chaos, one with fangs, teeth, and claws that lashed at her, that fought against being caged for almost twenty years.

There you are. Now, come to momma.

She embraced it. Fangs. Teeth. Claws and all.

It laughed maliciously.

The guards overlooking the courtyard held their spears tightly. They grasped their bucklers and readied their spells as they watched the purple mare scream out in pain and agony.

Ataxia’s neck shot up, her head arched back, and her legs gave out from under her. Her tail fell out, each and every strand dropping to the ground as she was overcome in pure, unadulterated pain. A flesh-tail grew in it’s place. Purple in coloring, it simply… grew. Her muscles convulsed as her other form took over, as it sought dominance and control over her body.

She screamed a beastial roar that was impossible for a pony to make. Her muzzle extended as the fur on her face and body fell out, only to be replaced by scales. Her teeth fell out one at a time, replaced with sharper, longer, far more dangerous ones.

Ataxia’s legs doubled, tripled, and then quadrupled in size as they were overcome with pure growth. On her back, huge wings started to form; they were small at first but soon increased at an exponential growth rate that doubled in size every three seconds, until, at last, they were large enough to block out the moon’s light from the entire courtyard.

In the matter of minutes, the guards in the palace readied themselves for their soon-to-be death; as, for the first time in almost twenty years, the dragacorn was back in Equestria.

The dragacorn arched her long neck up into the sky and let a roar that echoed across Canterlot Mountain. She shot a long burst of chaos dragon fire that lit up the sky almost as if it were a second sun.

Her eyes focused, her hatred returned, and she looked at the palace as her natural instincts sought out what her body, what her very existence wanted. The death of every single alicorn in Equestria.

One was close, very close. And the fact that it was on its last leg, almost-dead, meant nothing. Almost-dead wasn’t dead-dead. And she wanted them all dead-dead.

Ataxia, the pony, screamed in anguish as years, decades of rage and suffering washed over her. The pain, the horror, the pure hate. It was all so much, too much. She felt fangs bite into her neck and throat. She felt claws lash at her face and head, she felt herself bleeding from hundreds upon hundreds of cuts and bites as the creature she thought she had tamed, that she thought she had put aside for the rest of her life, took it’s vengence.

All she heard—other than the sounds of her own cries of pain—was the sound of laughter. The laughter of something that existed long before the first soul on the planet. The laughter of something that took joy only in the pain of others, the laughter of something that wanted her pain.

And it was getting it, in truckloads.

“N-n-n-n-no!” Ataxia futilely screamed out as she tried to focus her power, her ability on something, anything. It didn’t matter what, as even a basic light spell that a little foal could do would be some measure of victory.

She felt the creature rip her throat out. She heard its laughter increase in volume. She felt her blood spilled by the gallons. She felt pain, pain far worse than anything she had ever experienced in her life.

No, that night was worse.

That thought wasn’t a pleasant one. It was the reminder of the worst night of her life. The night her mom died, the night her dad died, the night her love… This had been the first time in almost twenty years she had even thought about that night, avoidance being her go-to method for dealing with life’s problems.

But now that she had, it gave her something to focus on, something to grasp other than the pain, other than the laughter, other than the feeling of dying over, and over, and over again.

“That won’t help you.” The voice was a hiss and a curse all in one. She knew it came from the laughing voice, the creature that she had caged.

“You think so? Years didn’t just help your anger, it also made me stronger!” Ataxia yelled back.

“You? Strong? You’re nothing but a weakling!”

Ataxia felt a mountain slam against her side. The impact stole the air from her lungs and left her coughing up blood. “You’re nothing but a dumb, stupid mare trying to play with fate! Trying to change who you are!”

Ataxia picked herself up from the ground, coughing up more blood, but unsurprised to find herself still alive. She wasn’t a smart mare, but even she knew that she should be dead ten times over from what she’d already been through. This realm, wherever she was, it was one of pain, not death. Her wounds hurt and bled like any other, but they were only sensations, feelings, they didn’t actually cripple her.

“Yeah? Who the fuck caged who then, bastard.”

The darkness cleared and, in front of her, stood the largest dragon she had ever seen in her life. It roared and started walking to her, it’s intent clear: to cause her even more harm. “Yes, you beat me, once. That’s one times too many, stupid bitch. I’ll swallow you alive, and you’ll spend the rest of eternity being devoured in my stomach.”

Ataxia couldn’t keep the grin off her face if she tried, and she didn’t even bother. This creature, this dragon essence inside of her. It hated her; it wanted to cause her pain and suffering. Those were emotions she knew all too well. The mare forced herself to her hooves.

“Bitch, I’m Ataxia. Do you really think I’ll suck your dick that fucking easily?”

At those words a steamroller fell from the sky, aimed right at the dragon’s head. Without even looking, it batted the thing from the sky with one swipe of its huge claw. “You’ll have to do better than—”

Two anvils came swinging up from the ground and impacted on either side of the dragon’s head. Ataxia rolled to the side, already knowing what would come next.

The dragon roared in pain and rage. It shot a huge torrent of fire out of it’s muzzle, straight for the spot that Ataxia used to occupy.

Ataxia shouted out, “To think I was afraid of you… you’re nothing, I’m the fucking one in charge!”

The shout was a mistake. Sure Ataxia had the momentary advantage, but by shouting she gave away her position to the dragon. She felt herself hit by the dragon’s tail and slammed against the side of the wall. Ataxia cried out as she coughed up even more blood and viscera.

“No… You won’t win. Do you know why?” Ataxia coughed.

“Because you think you’re strong?” The dragon laughed. “That’s amusingly funny.”

“No… It’s because I have somepony to fight for. Because there’s somepony making me strong!” Ataxia roared, concentrated her magic, and fired shot after shot at the dragon.

The shots were imbued with chaos magic, shot from the Avatar of Chaos herself. Each of them would slay a lesser being, against most dragon’s they’d either have to flee or risk real injury. Against this dragon, they were nothing but beestings.

It reached down and grasped the mare in it’s claws. Ataxia didn’t stop firing, but even she could see that it was pointless. The growls of pain and anguish told her that she was hurting it, but she wasn’t stopping it.

“I wonder how all that defiance will taste going down?” the dragon asked, amused.

“You’ll choke on me for the rest of eternity,” Ataxia growled back.

“Amusing, but this is the end, little pony.”

Ataxia scowled as she was brought to the creatures large, opening mouth.

It was so cliche, but Ataxia really did see her life flashing before her eyes. Her memories flashed before her at the speed of light, until it stopped, suddenly, on one point. At that moment time seemed to slow to a crawl. It was an event only two days old, but it seemed to play through her mind almost like it was happening now.

“Mom, have you ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy?”

“Starlight, I think I’ve had my fair share of prophecies in my lifetime, I don’t want to hear another one.”

“Well, too bad, you’re going to hear another,” Starlight said as she hugged her mother tightly. “A self-fulfilling prophecy is when your pre-conceived belief that something will happen makes it happen.”

…

“If you don’t believe in her, if you don’t tell her you want her here, if you give up, she might quit fighting.”

“Don’t you see, Mom? If we don’t fight for her, she won’t fight to stay with us. We have to fight for her, we have to keep fighting to the very end. For that’s how we show her that we truly love her.”

The last words weren’t her memory, for they hadn’t happened before; instead, it was like… Starlight was speaking directly to her, from wherever she was.

The dragon’s hot breath played over her fur, it covered her from mane to hoof, causing her skin to boil and blister under the heat. Yet, as Ataxia looked down the gullet of what would now and forever be her new home, she did two things that came as a surprise.

The first thing she did was cry.

The second thing she did was smile.

***

Shimmering Night woke to a commotion she hadn’t heard since Twilight Night’s birth in Canterlot all those years ago. The alicorn demigoddess felt weaker than she had in her entire life. Her eyelids felt heavy, too heavy to open. Her mouth was bone dry, but she knew that even something as basic as swallowing was beyond her abilities right this moment.

She knew… she simply knew this was the end. This… this was the day she would die. Her body might have been that of an alicorn, but alicorn’s weren’t immortal. Far from it. The death magic she used in Tartarus had taken its toll, it had poisoned every cell in her body these last six months.

Had she been able to cry, she would have. For her last regret was that she wouldn’t be able to tell her family, her kids, and… her wife, one last time, how much she loved them. How much she would miss them for the rest of eternity.

Her body simply did not have enough water in it to produce tears.

Still, it could listen. She heard a ruckus outside, which, in and of itself, wasn’t that far from unusual around here. If the stories she had been told were true, little Vela had almost destroyed the palace just the other day.

How I wish I had seen it.

Still, this sounded… different. She heard roaring, she heard spell flinging, and the bark of orders demanding more and more of… something.

However, what really got her attention was when she felt the room itself shaking as something large and ungainly seemed to slam into the palace. She heard the sounds of something ripping and tearing at the very stone itself. She felt the palace shudder as part of the external walls were ripped away.

The sounds and vibrations grew louder and louder as it increased in intensity. On the outside of her door she could hear ponies running, scrambling to react to whatever it was that was attacking the palace itself.

The sound increased to a crescendo and the ripping and tearing of brick and steel coming from her room echoed about. It then grew quiet, the calm before the storm.

It was the sudden breeze that got to her though. She felt cold as the wind played over her fur. So much so that she struggled to try and grasp the blanket to pull it up over her fur.

Then, suddenly, the breeze became hot, taking on an acidic tang. The combination was strange. She had felt something similar but simply couldn’t place it.

Night struggled with all her might to open her eyelids. Her body didn’t want to, it didn’t have the energy to, but she forced it.

What she saw was something that would give most foals, and grown ponies, nightmares. A large, adult, purple dragon head was sticking into the room through a hole that had been torn in the side of the wall. Rows upon rows of teeth, each bigger than a pony, each strong enough to bite a mountain in half, greeted her as the dragon huffed each and every breath through its nostrils.

The creature looked at her, it’s green eyes staring directly at the lavender alicorn dying in bed. Shimmering Night locked her eyes on the creature’s. She saw the pain and anguish that was in those eyes. Out of her peripheral vision, she also made out one final detail of who this creature was, who this dragon was: she made out the large purple horn at the top of its head.

Not that she needed to see it. Shimmering Night would recognize her wife anywhere, regardless what form she took.

The alicorn opened her muzzle, a gesture that was almost as hard as opening her eyes. Her mouth was dry, her tongue felt wilted. Still, this was something she wanted to say, something she had to say, something she needed to say.

“A—Atax—xi-a… I-I lov—”

The room was engulfed in magical dragon fire.

The Final Fight

Chamber of the Sands of Time

Laughter.

Laughter chilled the spines of all who heard it. Laughter of a father mocking his son, laughter of a god amused over the struggling of one who sought his favor. It was the unkind, sarcastic laughter of the God of Death, amused at his son’s antics.

Red tried to kick him again, only to be stopped and thrown to the side of the chamber by a wave of dark magical force so powerful Twilight was worried it might shatter whatever the walls were made of and kill them all.

“Why would I tell you anything, you gnat?” Tartarus asked as he started to stand to his hooves. His body, his form was still changing shape, still gathering strength, still accepting that its new role was as a vessel for the reborn god. It was painful, beyond painful, but he was getting used to the pain.

“You’re nothing to me. You’re less than nothing. You’re an insignificant bug neither I nor your mother ever wanted! You’re weak and pathetic. An ant!”

Red spat out a mouthful of blood as he raised his head to look at his father. “Says the god that died.”

Tartarus frowned, then, as if for the first time, noticed that his killer was in the room with him. He cocked his head and stared Rainbow Dash dead in the eye. To her credit—or bullheadedness—she didn’t flinch. She met his gaze stare for stare. He chuckled upon seeing what power she had now, what power her entire group had access to now. “No worry there anymore.”

“Why I oughta…” Rainbow muttered, just for Twilight to hold a hoof in front of her.

“Not yet, there’s nothing we can do right now.”

The fear in her voice caused Rainbow to pause. She’s… she’s afraid, Rainbow thought.

“And if I’m such an ant, why are you afraid of me?” Red asked; a bloody grin on his face.

Tartarus didn’t take the bait. “I think I’ll finally remedy the mistake I made and simply kill you here and now, all of you. I must say, I’m disappointed. Of all your kin, I thought you were smarter than this.”

It was Red’s turn to laugh. He forced himself to stand to his hooves, ignoring his protesting body that was, even now, healing pulped organs and shattered bones. “Oh, I am.”

“No, you’re not. Did you really think I’d be so grateful to you for bringing me back from death, that I’d simply tell you your name? That’d I’d give the one destined to destroy the universe such a gift?”

“No, I never did,” Red admitted.

“So, what was your plan? What could’ve possibly made you think I’d tell you anything, that I’d give you anything?”

“Simple, self-preservation.”

“What?” Tartarus asked.

“Dear brother, you should have stayed dead.”

Radiant immediately felt it. It was the same feeling he had when his wife, Firestar, came to him in Tartarus. Save this time it was a hundred, no, a thousand times more powerful. A pony unlike any other in the entire world appeared by stepping out of nothing. A large pink hoof appeared, followed by another, then a head that instantly made him weep in joy at seeing something so beautiful. Her ethereal mane showed itself next, it was purple and yellow, reminding him of his deceased mother, Princess Cadance.

Her form soon followed: She was taller than Princess Celestia could ever hope to be. She radiated her namesake, her love to all of those around her. Anypony that laid eyes on her pink coat, purple and yellow ethereal mane could never mistake her power, or her namesake. For this… this was Eros, the Goddess of Love.

“Eros,” Twilight spoke without meaning to.

The alicorn goddess turned her head and smiled at the group of ponies. “I’ll take it from here, Twilight.”

“Eros,” Tartarus hissed.

“Brother,” she stated; her eyes harsh and cold. “Your punishment was already handed down. That this situation has come about—allowing you to sidestep it—is irrelevant. If your punishment must be repeated, I’ll do it myself.” Her eyes fell upon her son, and, just for a second, they were filled with sorrow.

As the Goddess of Love started to walk to Tartarus, Twilight saw something she hadn’t expected to see in the reborn God of Death’s eyes: fear. He was afraid of her.

“Tartarus, for trying to kill us all, for threatening the natural universe for your own selfish desires, you have been sentenced to death; all versions of you.”

“No,” he growled and shot several powerful magical blasts right at the pink alicorn. Dayspring knew, without a shred of doubt, that one of those blasts could destroy worlds.

They simply ceased to be when they got within five hooves of Eros. The goddess didn’t even take note of them, almost like they simply didn’t matter to her.

Eros waved her horn to the right and a wave of force collided with the red earth pony. Radiant could hear bones shattering and organs pulping. The off-white unicorn was afraid, and rightly so. “W-w-we should go,” he stammered. “We’re just going to die here.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Rainbow said with a smile. Her eyes locked onto the one-sided battle going on before her. The smile on her lips told how much she was enjoying this.

“Me neither,” Dayspring said.

“Day?” Radiant asked.

“What’s going on here is going to have repercussions throughout this world and every other. How often can we witness something like this? And should the situation turn, we may be needed.”

They all looked up as Tartarus screamed. Eros picked him up in a wave of pink magic and slammed him against the ground again and again. The sound was one of pure, agonizing pain.

The god fought back, but his attacks were weak, simply because he was weak. Tartarus wasn’t a slouch, his power was equal to that of any of his other siblings, but he had just died and been reborn. His power was attempting to return to him after having been dead for almost twenty years. That took its toll. While he was stronger than Red, faster than Rainbow, and more powerful than any mortal could ever hope to be, against his younger sister Eros, he didn’t hold a candle, at least not at the moment.

“What in the world would make you think we might be needed?” Radiant asked, his gaze staying on the two battling gods, or more precisely, the massacre of a reborn god.

“Because Tartarus is not the real threat here,” Dayspring spoke.

Radiant tore his gaze from Eros and Tartarus, just in time to miss Eros sending him a few hundred hooves in the air. Radiant stared at Dayspring as if to ask if he was kidding or not. It was then he realized something strange, Dayspring’s eyes were not on Tartarus or Eros, they were on an entirely different pony, they were on Red.

Tartarus landed on the ground, hard. He felt the rest of his ribs crack and shatter in his chest; and, just as quickly, felt them reknit and rebuild. His face became a frown, and then a scowl. “You bitch!”

A huge weight slammed down upon his back, cracking his spine in at least a hundred pieces and forcing him to cry out yet again, although there was no sound, just blood coming from his abused—still forming—body. “Brother, your death has already been decided, I’m merely your executioner. The short straw, remember?”

The magical energy she slammed into him was removed for a few seconds, granting him a short reprieve. “You think you’re fucking funny, don’t you?” Needless to say, hearing his own words tossed back in his muzzle pissed him off even more.

“I take no pleasure in this, brother. You’re nothing more than a rabid dog that needs to be put down.” At those words, Eros slammed her magical energy into him again, and again, and again. Tartarus cried out at each one, until at last, he no longer could.

In truth Eros had no idea how to kill Tartarus. With the exception of Cronus's Sickle; no god had ever died before. However that would not stop her from trying. Her brother’s form was weak, his power still returning to him. It would take hours, days, or even decades for him to get his full power back. There was no way to know for sure. She felt confident though that all she had to do was cause enough damage, to simply lay into him with everything she had, and that would get the job done.

“Is it wrong I feel sorry for him right now?” Twilight asked as she stared at Tartarus’s broken and crushed form on the ground.

“Yes!” Rainbow yelled.

Twilight turned to look at her wife. Rainbow was staring right at her, tears in her eyes. “Rainbow?”

“Twilight, the only reason I’m not right there skull-stomping his ass is that I’d just get in her way. He killed you; he stole you from me. I will never forgive him, I can never forgive him, and I will not let you feel sorry for him. He deserves all of this a million times over. Don’t feel sorry for him, never feel sorry for him.”

“Rai—”

The sounds of a bone cracking and flesh tearing interrupted them. Twilight and Rainbow’s heads snapped forward just in time to see Eros pick up Tartarus in her magic and rip off his front right hoof. She incinerated it with a magical blast, almost as if she were testing a theory.

The hoof didn’t regrow, or if it was going to, it would take its time doing so. Eros smiled as she brought her brother’s shattered and crushed body closer to her. “We’re about at the end, Brother. I know what to do now. You brought this upon yourself, you chose this fate, and you only have yourself to blame for it.” Her smile broke into a frown as she started at his pushed-in muzzle. “Any last words?”

In reply, Tartarus just spat blood right at her face. Eros scowled once more before tossing his broken and shattered form across the room. “I should’ve known better,” she lamented, wiping the blood from her face with a hoof.

Tartarus awaited the inevitable; he could feel his body trying to heal, trying to fix the damage that had been caused by his little sister. But it was like trying to plug a gushing water main with a Band-Aid. He was simply too weak, his form too broken, and his death too recent. He was going to die all over again, and he knew it. He couldn’t see, he couldn’t feel, and he couldn’t fight back. The only thing he could do was hear.

And that was more than enough, for Red anyway.

“You don’t have to die again, Dad. You can avoid that fate, you can win; you just have to give me what I want. Say my name, my true name, and we’ll defeat her, together.” The red unicorn whispered his promise like a lover whispers into your ear in the middle of the night.

“Stop him!” Dayspring shouted as he saw Red talking to Tartarus.

Eros glanced over to Dayspring before snapping her head over to Tartarus and her son. “No!” She shot out a magical blast that collided with Tartarus’s chest, blowing a hole through it and sending reverberations all throughout the large hourglass room.

She was simply too late.

“Typhon.”

The word was spoken from a body that shouldn’t have been able to speak, from lungs that couldn’t process air, from a throat that was crushed, from lips that were broken, and from a jaw that was shattered. It was a whisper of a whisper, a sound carried on a breeze that even breezys wouldn’t have noticed.

And yet it changed everything. They all heard it, they all felt it, and they could all see it. Red—Typhon—laughed as he finally got the last piece of himself; as his power—the power of the fifth, true god—was awoken inside of him. The god destined to kill the other four, the god with more power than all of them combined.

He howled out in victory as black magic surrounded his form. He could feel his legs double, and then triple in size. He could feel black bat-wings shoot out of his back, fangs grew in his mouth, and his mane became ethereal.

“Brother, even now, you’ve just proven yourself a fool,” Eros said with a shake of her head. “You haven’t stopped your death, you’ve just postponed it.”

“Did you give him any other choice, Mother?” Typhon asked. His voice was a bestial growl that would have sounded right at home coming from a dragon.

“This never should’ve happened.” She looked at him with regret. “But I guess it can’t be helped anymore. So I may as well take you both with me.”

The Goddess of Love extended her wings, pink magical waves shot from every single feather at near light-speed aimed at both of her opponents. She shot with the intent to finish them both, right then and there, using her full power.

Typhon laughed as he deflected her shots right back at her. The pink tendrils were returned to Eros will all the force she had used plus more. In the time it took Rainbow to blink it appeared that Eros had attacked herself, impaling herself with her own attack.

The goddess cried out, her sweet motherly voice echoing around the room in pain as she was impaled with her own attack. Her head hung limply as her body started to regenerate.

Laughter could be heard from Typhon as the Goddess of Love was forced to remove each of the hundred or so spears from her own body and repair the damage she had inflicted upon her own form. Had they been from anyone else, it wouldn’t have hurt half as much. But this was her attack reflected back at her.

Typhon stopped laughing as he walked up to his long-lost mother. “You know, Mother, there’s something I’ve always wondered, something that’s always confused me. How is it that the Goddess of Love, my own mother, could be so callous with her son? How is it that you could simply throw me away like spoiled meat? Tartarus? Sure I get him; he’s an asshole, the God of Death. But you? You I’ve never understood.”

Eros raised her head. “You already know the answer.”

He frowned at her. “No, no I don’t. Tell me.”

“Did you really think, after everything—after all the suffering you caused and death you’ve inflicted on others—that I could still care for you? You think you’re doing a favor for the world, but you are destroying everything that gets in your way. It’d take a sick soul to ignore this, and you definitely showed it more than once to me, and to the others,” Eros cried out.

Dark magic shot from him and wrapped itself along Eros’s right front hoof. He crushed it in his grasp, causing the pink alicorn to cry out once more. “You’re my mother! You’re the Goddess of Love! And you say you don’t love me‽ Your son‽ If I’m so objectionable to you, why didn’t you just kill me‽”

She glared at him. “Why didn’t you kill your daughter?”

Typhon growled and hit Eros with a wave of magic that shattered the rest of her spears and sent her flying against the wall. “You still alive, old man?” He asked.

“Y-yes,” Tartarus growled from his spot on the floor.

Twilight, Rainbow, Dayspring, and Radiant looked over to where Tartarus’s body had laid. The god was already starting to get back to his hooves. The time Typhon had bought him did wonders to help him heal, to help his own power return in greater strength.

“Let’s kill her together. We’ll make it a father-son bonding moment,” Typhon teased.

“Let’s face it”—Tartarus glared at him—“if she wasn’t about to kill me I never would’ve given you your power. So don’t talk to me like that.”

Typhon laughed. “Well, while we’re facing truths, you do know I will kill you, someday, so consider this a gift for doing what you should’ve done a millennia ago.”

“I don’t think this is a gift.” Tartarus spat in front of his son. “And the day will never come where I will just lay down in defeat in front of a bastard son like you.”

Typhon’s laughter increased even more. “Mom, I have no idea what you ever saw in this bastard.”

Eros got to her hooves, her broken one being held up tenderly under her. “What can I say? He was a good fuck.”

For the first time since his rebirth Tartarus smiled. Memories of those times—of being with the Goddess of Love—came back to him. “Likewise,” he stated the obvious. “I think we’ve all made some big mistakes. Ours was to create this fucking idiot.”

Eros sighed. “I don’t agree with your choice of words, but yes. As a matter of fact, I really have to agree. While I don’t regret us, I’ve never regretted anything more than him after witnessing his actions.”

“Agreed,” Tartarus admitted. “Still, the boy does make a convincing argument. And besides, you did try to kill me.”

“Indeed I did,” Eros said with a smile as she faced her two new opponents, powering up her magic.

Tartarus paused and sat on his haunches, smiling at Eros. “Wait.”

“Why should I?”

“Because I’m not your enemy,” Tartarus replied, crossing his hooves. “At least not anymore.” With that, he was gone, reappearing at the side of Eros. “I think we owe our son a small lecture.” The two looked at each other. There was confusion on Eros’s face, and then a smile. One that Tartarus was more than happy to reciprocate.

“You really are a fool,” Eros stated.

“I know, but I’d like to think I’m your fool,” Tartarus whispered.

“You were… once,” Eros said, her expression downcast.

“Did you ever stop loving me?”

“No, not ever, not even after you tried to kill us all.”

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“About trying to kill us?”

“No, about leaving you like I did.”

At that, Eros wrapped a wing around him and kissed him on the cheek.

“W-what just happened?” Rainbow asked, wide-eyed.

“Tartarus and Eros just ganged up to take on Red together,” Dayspring said.

“You mean Typhon?” Radiant looked more and more confused.

“That’s what I said, now shut your muzzle and look.”

Typhon actually looked amused at this turn of events. “This changes nothing, you’ve just accelerated my plans is all.”

Tartarus laughed. “Again, you prove to be a fool.”

“And that is why, dear Father?” Typhon mocked.

“You forgot something important, again. Your mother is the Goddess of Love. Now guess who's back at her side. And while all of you think we just hate each other, our bond still exists, and it will make us stronger than facing you alone.”

That clearly wiped the smile of Typhon’s face. For a second anyway. “You think this is going to help you? Love? Love is a joke! A silly jest I can only laugh about!” He hollered.

Pink energy radiated off of Eros in waves so thick it lit up the room. The sands themselves seemed to change color, the walls of the room glowed with it. For a moment, had someone in Equestria known where to look, they would have seen a new pink star appear in the sky. It only lasted for a second, but that it appeared at all was tantamount to its power.

“Love is the most powerful force in the entire universe, allow me to teach you that lesson, son,” Eros said as she took a step to him.

Tartarus smiled as he watched Eros at her best, at her full power. Some make the mistake of saying that Eros is the weakest of all the gods, but he knew the truth, Eros was by far the strongest. And this was her at her best.

“What‽ No!” Typhon shouted. “I’ll end this before it even begins!”

Several blasts of magic shot towards Eros, but before they could even reach her, Tartarus stepped in the way, his red magic shielding Eros from any harm. All the ponies gasped as his magic suddenly seemed so much stronger, pulsing with new life. The black bolts froze for a second on the wall of magic he placed up. For a moment they looked like they would destroy it, but just as quickly they were gone.

“No! I’m the most powerful god, I will destroy you all!” Typhon cried, shooting wave after wave of his black magic at Tartarus and Eros.

This time it was Eros who took a step forward. She shot her own magic forward, they collided with Typhon’s. The spot where black met pink burned like the sun, just before both colors faded away.

“This… this can’t be!” Typhon shouted.

Tartarus laughed. “That’s why I called you an idiot. Your plans are always impressive, but you always think they are perfect. What a shame, you could’ve been such a smart son.”

“You never gave me a chance!” Typhon yelled.

“We did, Son.” Eros’s voice was full of lament. “Your father was the only one that could raise you, the only one that could teach you some humility. Had you stayed with me, I would’ve lavished you with everything you ever could’ve wanted. You’d have become a monster. Tartarus could actually give you tough love, something I am incapable of.”

“How well did that plan work out?” Typhon asked with a snarl.

“We had no choice and you know it.” Tartarus shook his head. “You’re just lying to yourself, thinking your own truth would make it better.”

“Truth? Truth? I’ll show you both the truth!” Typhon shouted as his form was overcome with black energy. Magical shockwaves burst from him, waves upon waves, dispersing only hooves away from his body in rings so thick they blocked him out of sight.

Eros took her place directly by Tartarus’s side. “You know if he unleashes everything he has, we won’t stand a chance,” she whispered.

“Then we should give him our best, together.” He smiled. “I know it’s sappy, but I never forgot you. And I was being honest, the bond still exists. I do still love you. Maybe it’s not as strong as it was in the past, but it’s still strong enough.”

“I know, I’ve always known. I can see it, beloved.”

Tartarus laughed silently. “I was just too stupid to find the right way back to you.”

“Indeed,” Eros said. “Shall we do this now? Together?”

“Well, if I have to die, again, I couldn’t think of better company. Even if you did try and kill me just three minutes ago.”

Eros kissed him on the cheek before they both turned to face their son. Their power coalesced into one, red and pink bouncing off each other, their abilities mixed, the pink growing darker, the red growing lighter, and both increasing in power ten-fold.

It shot forth in blinding speed, heading straight for the source of their troubles, the son that they could never truly claim, the monster reborn.

It simply ceased to be at the next wave of Typhon’s dark magic release.

“I think it’s time for you two to die,” Typhon growled as he readied a blast himself.

“Get down!” Eros yelled at the four ponies.

The blast wave that was released almost shattered the unbreakable walls of the chamber of the Sands of Time. The last thing that could be seen was a small sun that was fed by black, red, and pink magic.

***

Ataxia pulled herself free from her crater. She shook her head, mad that she let her attention lapse against such an opponent. However even after learning the lesson once, she still found herself staring at her wife and daughter.

Ana was literally kicking Night when she was down. Ataxia watched as her fully-grown daughter laid into the alicorn over and over again, shouting her hatred to the heavens. Ataxia’s mind was torn, she couldn’t believe that Night would simply let Ana do that to her; but, on the other hoof, she understood. Ana was their daughter, and Ataxia doubted that she could ever raise a hoof against her, even in self-defense.

“Distracted again, dragacorn? Only someone as dumb as you would make the same mistake twice in a row!” Nightmare Moon shouted as she sent another blast of magic down into the crater.

“Only because you’re a sick fuck that would hurt her own daughter!” Ataxia grunted through blast upon blast hitting her back and neck.

The black alicorn laughed. “Family, such a weakness.”

“And that’s why I’m going to kick your ass!” Nighttide shouted as she slammed hoof-first into her mother’s side. Sending her flying to the ground and skidding to a halt.

Ataxia looked up in shock as she saw the dark blue pegasus hit her mother. “Nighttide? Where did y—”

“Over here,” Blaze said, grabbing her attention. Ataxia turned to see the others emerging from the woods. Taz, Blaze, Flash, Dayspring, and Vela were heading toward Shimmering Night and Ana. Starlight was being supported, her weight held up by a strange bat-pony Ataxia did not know.

The majority of them had on strange necklaces Ataxia had never seen before, Starlight had on armor plating decorated in a tree-like design that matched her cutie mark.

“No! You will not interfere!” Nightmare Moon shouted as she shot up at her daughter.

Next to Night and Ana, Blaze shouted, “Too late!” He laughed before wincing as Ana bit him while Flash and he tried to restrain her. “We need help here; let Nighttide deal with her mom!”

Vela tackled Ana, hitting her with more force than any of the others had done and knocking her off Shimmering Night. The two rolled in the dirt. Ana’s physical strength came as a surprise to Vela, who never thought any more of the mare than a weakling that needed coddling.

A hoof to the gut and another to the face taught her the error of that thinking. Vela was almost thrown from Ana, being forced to her side and knocked to the ground, hard. Flash shot to Vela’s side, helping her stand as the others approached the large mare that, less than an hour ago, they had all counted as a friend.

“Ana,” Taz said, mouth a gasp, “I—”

“No! I don’t want to hear anything. You’re still under her influence!” Ana cried out while kicking around.

Taz frowned and turned to Nightmare Moon who was trying to recover. “What did you do to her?”

“I gave her what she wanted, nothing more.”

Ana simply glared at Taz. “Even with me as a grown mare, you still stick to Nighttide? She really has her claws sunk deep into you.”

“That’s not it and you know it. Besides, you’re still the same filly I’ve always know, she just changed your body!”

Ana grinned as she powered her horn. “That’s not all she changed.”

“Oh bring it!” Vela said with a laugh as she pulled Siros’s Vengeance from its holster.

“Don’t hurt her, damn it! Let me deal with her!” Taz shouted. “We don’t want to kill her!”

“I wasn’t about to kill her,” Vela said. “Just rough her up a bit,” she mumbled.

“Like you didn’t want to destroy the castle?” Taz asked and the hippogriff immediately shut her beak.

“I have power, I have real power!” Ana said as she started to power up.

“So? You can’t hurt me with your magic,” Taz replied as he stood in her way. “And I doubt you will use Nightmare Moon’s trick to try and kill me.”

Her eyes went wide as she took in the situation. She saw Taz start to walk towards her. In her mind she could see the nullness that radiated from him. There was no way to stop him, not without killing him. Her power was useless against him.

“Taz, just take away her magic!” Flash shouted.

Ana’s eyes went wider as she realized that was indeed something he could do, and quite easily at that.

“No,” Taz replied. “She’s still Ana, she still my friend. We’ve just gotta reach her. Show her how much we care for her, how much we love her.”

“Love? Love‽ I’ll show you love!” Ana shouted as the ground beneath her hooves started to shake. Millions upon millions of rocks broke free and started to levitate threateningly behind her. “I’ll make you pay for your idea of love!”

“Taz! Now!” Vela shouted.

“No!” Taz shouted back as he kept walking forward. He kept his gaze right on Ana, his eyes locked upon her’s. “If you want this, if you want to hurt everypony that loves you, everypony that considers you a friend, if you want to hurt me, you’ll start with me. Hurt me, kill me. I don’t want to live in a world where you, Ana, the best friend I’ve had in my entire life, would do something like that.”

“I-I-I… I… Taz…”

“Kill him now! If you want his foal, kill him!” Nightmare Moon shouted from the sky, her voice echoing around the mountain, leaving no one that heard it any doubt about what she had said.

“M-my foal?” Taz asked, shocked, as he looked from Nightmare Moon to Ana.

The last Taz saw of Ana were the tears pouring in waves from her eyes as she teleported away.

“Ana!” Starlight shouted.

“There’s no time,” a voice spoke from the ground, grabbing everyone’s attention.

“Mom, we gotta go after her,” Starlight pleaded, her voice weak and horse.

“I want to, I want to with every fiber of my being, but we’ve gotta deal with Red first, and Nightmare Moon,” Shimmering Night said.

As if answering in reply, a yell of pain cried out and Nightmare Moon was slammed to the ground in front of of them. Nighttide flew down, her form cut and bloody, but there was a devilish smile upon her face as she looked over her mother’s body.

Nightmare Moon wasn’t defeated though, not by a long shot. She got to her hooves and looked up at her bragging daughter. “One lucky hit, don’t think you’ve won.”

“Oh, she won.”

The black alicorn looked over to her right to see all the kids gathered around. Shimmering Night stood in the center of the group, staring down at her. To her left, Nightmare Moon saw Ataxia approaching, cutting off any chance she might have had to escape.

“I’ll destroy the Nightmare the same way I did Grim Night,” Shimmering Night said as she started to levitate in the air.

They all watched as the black alicorn’s form was lifted out of the crater and a shadow cloud of pure black magic began to manifest itself from the black smoke coming from the alicorn’s body.

Nighttide stood next to Taz. “Is that?”

“Yes, the true form of the Nightmare revenant,” Taz answered. He didn’t know how he knew, he just… did.

Shimmering Night dropped the alicorn’s body softly to the ground as she held the magical cloud in her grasp, preventing it from escaping. “You’ve lost,” Night stated.

Echoside gasped at the pure power Shimmering Night was displaying. And she was simply… doing it, almost like it came as natural to the alicorn as breathing. Starlight pressed her coat to Echoside’s. “That’s my mom, that’s the other one by the way.” Starlight gestured to the huge dragacorn watching it all with a smile upon her muzzle.

Ataxia and Shimmering Night both shot a glance towards their daughter and the bat-pony, but quickly focused back on the revenant.

“It’s-s-s-s too-o-o late. He has-s-s-s already bee-e-e-en reborn. You’ve los-s-s-s-st…” the revenant hissed.

“Yeah, heard that before,” Night said with a grin as she destroyed the very magic that made up the Nightmare revenant.

A loud pop and a blinding flash later, the Nightmare revenant was no more. Whereas before, the destruction of magic in the universe had knocked out everyone present, this time Night controlled it better. Not that it did anyone’s hearing or eyesight any favors. Everyone present found themselves momentarily deaf and blind.

There was a long, pregnant pause as everyone tried to regain their senses. This was especially difficult for those with more enhanced senses.

However when the first voice spoke, there wasn’t a soul there that didn’t hear it.

“N-Nighttide. My… my daughter?”

The voice was from a very familiar pony, on that they had not heard from for almost six months. One that had been lost since their misguided attack on Tartarus.

“Princess Luna?” Taz asked as he started to make out shapes and colors again. He knew that voice; he had lived with her for his entire life.

He saw her standing to her hooves, staring directly at him, or, more precisely, at the pony that was standing right next to him. Taz looked over at Nighttide, the mare he loved, the one who was carrying his foal, she was staring back at Luna. The expressions on either of their faces was unreadable.

They looked at each other for what seemed like minutes, but suddenly Nighttide rushed forwards, directly into Luna’s open hooves, just to be hugged tight to her chest.

“Mom!” Nighttide cried. She cried in a way she hadn’t her entire life.

Luna smiled, her tears flowing as well. “My dear daughter. Don’t even believe for a second what that monster said, I’m glad that you’re here.”

Starlight walked up to Shimmering Night, only to be grasped in a hug as well as they watched.

“Forgive me, please forgive me, I didn’t I-I…” Luna started to stammer, her voice overtaken by grief as she was reborn once more, this time with her full memories intact; something that proved to be more painful than even losing her sister. The full horrors of what she had done to her own daughter were like knives shoved into her heart.

“Don’t.” Nighttide sobbed. “It wasn’t you, I know that now. But you should know, our family is not yet complete.” She waved to Taz, who walked over, confused. “Mom, meet my fiancée, and the father to your granddaughter, Taz.”

Luna’s eyes went wide before she grasped the colt into the hug the same depth as with her daughter. “Welcome to the family, Taz.” She smiled under tears.

In the meanwhile Starlight, Ataxia, and Shimmering Night were wrapped in a hug as well, while Echoside stood sheepishly aside, not daring to get close.

“Don’t you want to introduce us to your friend?” Ataxia asked.

Starlight gulped. “Mom… friend would be the wrong word to use.”

Shimmering Night’s lavender eyes darted from Ataxia, to Starlight, and finally fell on the bat-pony herself. “W—”

Before she could finish that sentence, Starlight and Night’s head snapped up as they both felt a huge release of magical power that would have been sufficient to destroy galaxies. In the sky a bright flair of pink, red, and black magic lit up the sky as a second sun.

“We’re needed,” Starlight said.

Shimmering Night could only nod, her daughter was right. “We’ll talk about this later.”

Luna looked over. “It’s Red, isn’t it?”

They all nodded.

“Good, I have a promise to keep,” Taz said with a frown as they started to walk to the tear that Red had made.

“Oh I don’t think so,” Nighttide said. “Taz you’re—” she paused, hanging her head low. “You’re going to go no matter what I say, aren’t you?”

“Eeyup,” Taz replied with a smile.

“Then… promise me you’ll stay out of the way, that you’ll stay hidden until it’s all over.”

“I can’t do that. But I can promise you that I’ll always be at your side; for you and our foal, for our family.” He smiled back before leaning in for a quick kiss.

Nighttide pressed her hoof against her stomach. “You’ll stay safe?”

“Of course,” he replied.

“Then let’s finish it,” she replied.

“Yes, let’s,” Luna stated.

“Princess Luna, are you sure you—”

“Shimmering Night, this bastard tortured my daughter for hundreds of years, I owe him this.” The way she said it made Night gulp.

“And besides, we have these now, Mom,” Starlight said with a smile as she gestured to the star stone in her armor.

“And we’re going to have a talk about that, young lady,” Night said. “That and a lot more.”

“I think we will, but not alone,” Starlight smiled and walked closer to Echoside touching her coat, an action that made the bat-pony gulp as Shimmering Night glared at her.

“Let’s go,” said Taz, causing Night to do a double take at being ordered around by her younger brother. Still, even she couldn’t deny that there was something… different about him right now, something that simply caused her to want to follow him.

You’ve grown up, little brother. Shimmering Night thought. Her eyes darted to Nighttide who was walking side by side with him. I suppose we have you to thank for that, don’t we?

“Together?” Ataxia asked.

“Together,” Shimmering Night answered as she followed all the kids into the tear Red had caused.

What they saw inside was a scene of utter carnage.

A Promise Fulfilled

Chamber of the Sands of Time

A war zone.

It was the only description that fit in Shimmering Night’s mind: It was a war zone. She had walked through the gateway Red had opened up using the Key of Ages and immediately thought that one phrase.

The chamber itself was massive, the walls and floor were made of some strange substance that reminded her of glass, but she knew it was anything but due to the simple fact that all the fighting would have shattered it. Up top she could make out a second chamber and knew that—if viewed from the outside—this entire place would look like an hourglass.

Dead center in the lower chamber was an hourglass that was ornately decorated and largely untouched, which was saying something as she took in all the damage that had been caused. The walls of the chamber were lined with blast markings. The floor, even more so.

It didn’t take the demigoddess of magic to know that an incredibly, exponentially large amount of magic had been unleashed here. It did take someone like her to know that that was an understatement by several thousand degrees.

“I-I-I’m scared, sis,” Dayspring said from atop his sister’s back. He had climbed back on right before they walked into the gateway.

“Yeah, me too,” Vela said absentmindedly as she looked around.

“What happened here?” Ataxia asked. The dragacorn’s body was far too large to fit through the gateway so she settled for just her head and neck.

“Twilight!” Luna called out. “Rainbow Dash, Dayspring, Radiant!”

“T-there, over here,” a voice spoke, one that chilled Ataxia’s spine, almost causing her to endure a heart attack.

“There’s… no… fucking… way…” That voice haunted Ataxia’s nightmares on more than one night. It was as if it came from the deepest recesses of her memories to pain her yet again. It was the voice of a god.

A dead god.

Every head snapped to the direction the voice came from. They all gasped as they saw a black shape pull itself from the wall and fall upon the floor. It was a pony… or at least, it had been. His form was mangled and mutilated beyond recognition. If it weren’t for his voice—and Ataxia recognizing it—nopony present would have known who it was.

Another form fell soon afterwards, right next to it. This one was in much the same shape: They all would have been concerned with who these two were if not for the fact that once they fell, four other forms were revealed to the group.

“Mom!” Shimmering Night yelled as she saw Rainbow and Twilight pull themselves away from the wall, their lives only spared by the other two taking the blasts for them. The group ran over, helping their comrades recover as they were reunited with the two princesses, Dayspring and Radiant. Relief reflected upon every face that saw them.

Well, almost every face. Ataxia’s eyes were glued on the black form on the ground. Her anger and hatred obvious to any soul that looked at her.

“He helped us, let him be,” a soft voice spoke, making Ataxia turn away.

Eros coughed as she tried to steady herself. Her body was hurting, but it was not as bad as Tartarus’s.

“We can’t trust him,” Ataxia growled.

“Later,” Twilight said as she got to her hooves, only to look around as she truly took in the situation. “Ataxia… you’re… you’re a dragacorn again?”

The dragacorn chuckled a little at that.

“Night. Y-you’re up?” Twilight asked as her eyes took in her daughter, they then fell to the rest of the group. “You all have the Elements of Harmony?”

Starlight blushed as she looked down at the star gemstone in her armor. “Yeah, we wanted to help.”

“If you want to blame someone, blame me, it was my idea. I convinced them to go,” Taz admitted, hoping to take the blame away from his friends.

“Help they did; they were all helpful in ridding me of the nightmare yet again,” Luna said.

“Even if it didn’t quite go according to plan,” Nighttide said.

“Looks like they’ve grown up a little,” Rainbow stated with no small amount of pride in her voice.

“I’m not mad, honey. I’m just surprised is all,” Twilight admitted. “But where’s… where’s Ana?” she asked, looking around.

A silence descended upon everypony before Night spoke up. “We’ll talk about her later, but for now, Mom, hold out your hoof,” Shimmering Night said.

Twilight looked at her in confusion but did as she was asked. Night smiled as she concentrated on the offending hoof with the essence stone wrapped around it and, with a wave of her horn, she surrounded the upper part of her mother’s hoof with her magic.

Twilight looked down in shock as her hoof started to grow on her. No, that wasn’t right, it started to shed itself, almost as if it were a snake shedding its second skin. The sight was disconcerting to say the least.

“Mom, calm down. You have to breath normally for this to work,” Night whispered.

Night’s words helped, but it was Rainbow wrapping a hoof around her that truly did the trick. The entire process only took a few moments, but soon a clanking sound could be heard as the stone fell to the ground. It was crushed seconds later by a black hoof slamming down upon it as Taz took that small vengeance for himself.

“I—” Twilight paused as her power—denied to her for six months—came flooding back. She could feel it returning to her, wave upon wave of it. It was as if by removing the stone, Night had destroyed the dam holding back an entire river of power, and now it was reclaiming what was rightfully its.

“You’re next, Mother,” Dayspring Gleam said.

Rainbow didn’t hesitate. She held out a hoof and watched Night do the same to her that she had to Twilight. The sensation made her skin crawl but this was beyond worth it. She smiled as the hoof shed itself, leaving her with one that was better than new. The stone that had been around her hoof suffered the same fate as the last one.

Taz smiled as he started to crush the remains of the stone. He only stopped when he realized that no one else was smiling. Not by a long shot. He looked around, seeing that everyone was staring at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow didn’t look back, she had her head down and her eyes closed.

“Isn’t she supposed to get her wings back?” Blaze asked.

The question reverberated around the room.

“Mother, I’m so sorry.”

“Rainbow, I…” Twilight stated, unsure just what words of comfort she could give.

Rainbow opened her eyes and looked up. And then, in a sign of maturity that gave true credence to her age and the life she had lived, said, “I think we all knew it was a possibility. I regret no—”

She paused as her eyes went wide and her back arched. Huge golden wings shot from her back: They were made of pure magic energy and expanded to the length of the entire room.

The frowns that had filled the space all become smiles of amazement and wonder at the sight of them all over again.

“Damn, that hurt!” Rainbow growled before looking back, flexing her wings. “Hah, now Typhon can kiss my flank with these babies back!”

“Typhon?” Vela asked.

“You called?” A dark brooding voice echoed from up high, stealing the attention of everyone in the room.

“Red!” Taz hissed and spit up in his direction.

“That’ll be the last time you ever call me that in your short life,” Typhon replied.

“Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Red!” Taz yelled out his name until he was blue in the face.

“What do you want‽” Shimmering Night yelled out.

“Ah, now that is the question. What is it the God of Gods wants? I have it all now, what could possibly be my objective? Well, other than to cement my place by killing those that might prove a challenge. Like my parents, Eros and Tartarus there. Or you, Gaia,” he stated looking at the two bodies still upon the ground, and then to Twilight. “Or even you, Chaos.” He smiled at the big dragon’s head still poking into the gateway.

“You’re dead meat,” Ataxia growled and went to eat his levitating form whole.

Typhon just laughed and, in a burst of power, slammed her head against the wall. They all cringed when it bounced off and landed on the floor, unmoving.

“Ataxia!” Shimmering Night yelled as she ran to the big dragon’s head.

“Mom!” Starlight’s cry joined in.

Twilight extended her wings and flew up at that. “You want to kill us? How about you start with me!”

“Well, it’s always nice to have a volunteer,” Typhon replied with a sickening smile. “But make no mistake, you’re first, not last.”

“We’ll see about th—”

Twilight’s words were cut off as a wave of dark magic shot from Typhon right at her. She didn’t blink. She didn’t have time to blink. Only her power warned her about it at all, and even then it wasn’t quick enough for her to respond.

Not quick enough for her to respond, but Rainbow was another story. When Twilight blinked her eyes clear, there was a huge golden wing wrapped around her, shielding her from harm. “I… Rainbow?”

“Wow, that was close,” Rainbow replied, her body seemed exhausted by that one maneuver. Which being that the flight was based on will, was saying something.

“Impressive, Rainbow Dash,” Typhon admitted.

“That’s it,” Vela and Luna shouted in unison. They sent up a blast of their own, each from a different direction.

“Vela, no!” Twilight yelled out. But it was too late. In much the same way he had deflected Eros’s attack back at her, the blast wave from Siros’s Vengeance was sent back at Vela. The shot from Luna he didn’t even seem to notice. Although he did look at her, the smallest glance of regret lingering his eyes, before it was gone.

The hippogriff looked up in shock as her own attack lashed back at her.

Four hooves in front of her it simply stopped it from being. She never saw it though: A white pegasus threw his body over hers and her brother’s, shielding them both from any possible harm.

Taz glanced up from the middle of his friends, his power radiating out as he said, “Looks like Red’s learned some new tricks.”

“That’s not my only new trick,” Red replied with a smile as he reached over and picked Radiant up off his hooves. In a grim parallel of the rock and Nightmare Moon, he tossed the stallion right at Taz.

They collided with the sound of something breaking. But from who, nopony could really say.

“Taz!” Nighttide shouted as she flew over to him, horrified that she could even fly at all. Something that should have been impossible with the stallion using his ability.

“You bastard!” Dayspring Gleam yelled as he shot out several attacks at Typhon’s underbelly while he ran away from the group.

They watched as Typhon simply took them. The new god didn’t seem to care, almost as if they were beneath his notice.

“You will regret attacking our family,” Luna growled, her voice more and more taking over the royal canterlot voice.

“Spread out!” Dayspring yelled. "That way he can’t turn our own attacks against us!”

“Good idea,” Shimmering Night said, flapping her wings and readying a blast of her own.

Her’s wasn’t the first to hit though. No, that honor went to Rainbow. The mare was pissed, beyond pissed that someone would dare hurt her son right in front of her. She lashed out from two different directions simultaneously. Her first attack was deflected back at her, but her second, that one landed a blow.

Typhon grunted as his form was cut by the magic of Gaia. That alone surprised him, but the real shock came from the tallest alicorn in the room. Shimmering Night lay down fifteen enhancement circles before shooting a blast aimed right at the back of his neck.

The magic energy, striking his head, rivaled that of what he unleashed on Eros and Tartarus moments ago. He cried out and snapped his head around, enraged.

Twilight responded next, choosing to go for a sustained barrage against the weak spot that Night had opened up for her. The beam of energy struck true, causing him to hiss further in pain as his flesh hadn’t healed yet.

“If we can wound him, we can kill him!” Vela said, flying underneath and lashing out with the spear again and again. Each and every cut left its mark, spilling his blood.

“That’s the way!” Luna said, flying underneath him with her, her own attacks striking moments after Vela’s, at where she assumed he might be weaker.

Little Dayspring watched in fear and trepidation when his sister left him in the hooves of Flash. She had departed their company with a kiss to each of them, and a knowing smile to her coltfriend. While she had asked Flash to watch her brother with his life, she hadn’t exactly promised that she’d come back from this.

“I love you,” Flash had said, his words still ringing in her ears.

Echoside looked, in a word, scared. Starlight walked up to her. “Hey, what—”

Echoside tore her eyes free from the battle and stared at the blue unicorn. “This is… insane. That power, they’re…” As if to emphasize her words, a blast wave shot out of Luna’s horn that caused a blinding explosion on the back of Typhon’s flank.

“Godly?” Starlight asked.

“How… I… I…”

“Welcome to my family,” Starlight said with a smile as she hugged the trembling bat-pony.

She only held her for a minute before Echoside asked her something that took Starlight completely by surprise. “How do we help?”

“We… we can’t. If we tried we’d just get in their way,” Starlight mumbled.

“Think again. In training they told us that there is always a way. Sometime it’s easy to find, other times you have to dig for a solution.”

Starlight looked at her confused, until she felt something glowing upon her chest. Looking down she saw the six pointed star, the element of magic. It was starting to glow with an inner fire all of its own. “We… we could try using these, but I doubt they’d do that much against someone like him.”

Echoside looked up at the pony they were all fighting. In spite of everything that they were throwing his way, Typhon looked annoyed. The minor damage that had been caused was skin deep at best, and even that healed far too quickly to truly matter. “I think those will have a part to play. Every enemy has an opening, even him… We just gotta wait for the right moment.”

“Assuming Vela doesn’t get herself killed,” Starlight added, watching as Typhon turned his attention to the hippogriff after suffering a slash across his right leg. Vela only lived through the next moment because Rainbow Dash swooped down and carried her off to safety.

Both mares’ eyes went wide as another blast was deflected their way. Starlight couldn’t even raise a shield as they faced certain death, only to be teleported away by the hairs on their coat. Starlight looked around to Dayspring Gleam, who was panting with the effort of having to cast a split second teleport, once again.

“Okay, that’s enough. On my back, it’ll give you time to catch your breath and think of a plan,” Echoside snarled.

“On your back? What‽” Starlight asked.

“You heard me!”

“Go with her,” Dayspring said as he shot out another blast, only to watch with a frown as it did nothing. He snapped his head to the left to teleport Princess Luna away from yet another attack that would have claimed her life. “I can’t even lay a scratch on this fucker, one less pony to worry about would help.”

“We have the elements!” Starlight protested.

Dayspring spared her a second's glance, seeing the star in her armor. “Yes, but you gotta wait for your opening to use them.”

“Just what I said,” Echoside replied with a smile as she bent her back to Starlight. “Now c’mon, hop on already.”

She frowned, but did as she was asked. Echoside lightly grunted with the extra weight on her back as she flew up to the second chamber of the hourglass. Seeing her intent now, Starlight smiled and looked down at the others. She surrounded Flash, Blaze, and little Dayspring in her magic as Echoside flew them up to the second chamber safely out of the blast radius of any attack that might come their way. As soon as they cleared the second chamber, Starlight teleported the others up there with her.

“What?” Blaze asked, scared and not knowing what he had just happened.

“We’ll be safer up here, until we’re needed.”

What about sis?” Dayspring asked.

Starlight took a quick look down to the first chamber. Along with Luna, Vela actually looked to be enjoying herself a little. “I seriously doubt she’d come, and if I forced her, she wouldn’t stay.”

“Taz?” Flash asked.

“Still unconscious. That bastard knew what he was doing when he knocked him out,” Starlight said, glancing to the side where Radiant and Taz lay. Nighttide was doing her best to protect the two of them.

“Yeah… why did he use that unicorn and not someone more dangerous? Like one of the alicorns?” Echoside asked.

Flash answered the question. “I think he wants this, he wants to truly test himself. That’s why he waited until we were all at full power before doing anything.”

“Oh, shit, get away!” Starlight yelled as a blastwave of chaos fire rocketed up to the second chamber.

***

Shimmering Night growled in frustration as, after twenty-five enhancement circles, she still couldn’t knock the bucker out of the sky. She really didn’t want to lay down any more. Each circle doubled the strength of the attack, anymore and she was worried that she’d be the one to kill them all.

Rainbow lashed out, her wings slicing into his neck from multiple angles. They dug deep, causing him to roar in pain as he turned his attention directly to the cyan mare.

“Big mistake!” Twilight yelled as she shot him dead in the eye.

“A telling blow!” Luna commented as she flew around to try and strike his other eye.

“I… have had… enough… of this!” Typhon yelled as he unleashed a blast wave of magic that threw everyone back against the walls. Dayspring’s shields and Rainbow’s wings were the only thing that kept them alive.

“They’re clear, Ataxia, now!” Shimmering NIght yelled out. She had been expecting this, she had planned it as soon as she felt most of the foals teleport away.

The dragacorn’s head shot up, and Ataxia roared out with all her might. Shimmering Night lay down fifteen enhancement circles right in front of her muzzle, just to make sure it’d get the job done.

The room was flooded with dragon fire. So much of it that it rocketed up to the second chamber in a fountain or pure, unimaginable heat. A loud, blood-curdling scream echoed around the room that came from only one pony, one god.

When it cleared out, the temperature in the chamber was easily twenty-degrees hotter and would stay that way forever. Twilight lowered the shield she had around Dayspring, Vela, Radiant, Taz, Nighttide, and the still healing bodies of the two gods. Rainbow removed her wings that had offered them all a second layer of protection.

Dayspring Gleam and Shimmering Night shielded each other with the help of Princess Luna. They glanced around, grateful that everyone was okay. Ataxia’s head was simply grinning as she looked down upon the charred remains of the newest god. “That’ll teach you, you bitch.”

“I’m… I’m not done yet,” Typhon coughed, much to their shock. Collectively their jaws dropped as his charred remains started to get to its hooves. They watched in awe as he stood back up.

“I must admit, you got me with that last attack. I was curious to see exactly what I could take and you didn’t disappoint, Chaos. But now that I know the best you’re all capable of, I think it’s time we put an end to this.”

“That’s not… Twilight… what do we do?” Rainbow asked.

“I-I-I…”

Typhon looked at the confused princess and laughed. “Yeah, Twilight. What are you going to do? Oh, I know, why don’t you offer to teach me the magic of friendship right before I’m about to destroy the entire universe. Won’t that be grand?”

“I think you forgot something,” Luna spoke up

“And that would be?”

“We’ll show you the real, true power an alicorn can possess if she controls an element like the night!”

“Oh Luna, you were so much more fun as my Nightmare. The nights we had together.” Typhon seemed reminiscent about that.

“We will break you for everything you did! The revenant might’ve controlled us, but we know everything. And we will break every bone in your worthless body for it,” Luna shouted before her eyes went dark, her blue magic surrounding her horn.

“What do you think you are doing? Using black magic against a god like me? You fool,” Typhon teased.

“We’re not using simple black magic. We’re using the same black magic that got banned by our sister eleven-hundred years ago. Let us tell you, it will hurt.”

Dayspring Gleam’s eyes went wide. He knew the spell she was about to use. “Luna no!”

“‘Tis a necessary evil!” Luna shouted as her eyes went black.

“Don’t do it, it’ll drain your own magic and you know it! Think about Nighttide, damn it!”

Luna lowered her head. “But she can survive if we can stop him.”

“But at what cost? We just got you back! We will defeat him, but we’ll do it together, and no one will die today!” Twilight shouted.

The alicorn’s eyes went back to their normal hue as she looked back at her daughter. Nighttide was still standing over her fiancé’s body, but she was looking up at her mother, a pleading expression on her face.

Typhon saw that look too. But rather than the heartfelt way Luna had seen it, he just laughed about it. “A pity. I wanted to see what this dark magic could do. Oh well.” At a wave of his hoof, black magic knocked the alicorn out of the sky and sent her flying into the wall with a sickening crack.

“Mom!” Nighttide yelled and threw caution into the wind. Her shadows emerged and sped for Typhon.

It wasn’t something he expected. He managed to avoid the first blow, but the second, the third and the fourth hit him from different directions.

“Now!” Twilight yelled. “Hit him with everything!”

At her words, Dayspring, Shimmering Night, Luna, Vela, and Twilight each shot a blast of magic at him, or in Vela and Rainbow’s case, it was a hard swing of Siros’s Vengeance or Rainbow’s wings. Ataxia joined in too, giving him a concentrated blast from her dragon fire.

They all kept it up as long as they could, each pushing themselves to the very brink of what they could manage. Twilight, Dayspring, and Night each tired out, their own magical supply dwindling. Ataxia’s breath continued longer, her huge body supplying more than her fair share. Vela ended with a swing and blast from Siros’s Vengeance.

It simply wasn’t enough. Typhon held himself against the attacks, deflecting or simply vaporizing them. As soon as the attack weakened, he collected his whole power and shot back. His main strike aimed for Night and Twilight, since their attacks had been the most dangerous.

Both alicorns hit the back wall with a thud. Rainbow raced towards her wife, and Ataxia turned her head to check on Night, only for her jaw to be impaled by a spike that shot up from the floor.

“Enough of that,” Typhon said with a smile as he started to walk towards the two downed alicorns. “It was fun, my little ponies, but the novelty has worn off.”

“No!” Nighttide shouted as she charged forward. The mare didn’t even make it into contact with her father. He caught her in a magical grasp, his magic holding her up by the neck. “Oh my daughter, my mistake. I wonder if how I feel for you is the same way that my parents felt for me?”

A pink and red blast shot him dead center of his body. Typhon was sent flying backwards, his grip on Nighttide’s neck broken by the sudden surprise hit from two beings of phenomenal power.

“Thanks, that time was more than sufficient,” Tartarus said as he stood side by side with Eros.

“Took your sweet time with it,” Shimmering Night mumbled.

Eros chuckled as she gave the alicorn a friendly smile. “My niece, always a wildfire.”

“Got that right,” Night said with a smile.

Rainbow helped Twilight recover, holding her up while she hobbled over. “Night, you… you planned this?”

“Well, no. They just said we needed to buy them some time though. That if we do they’d be able to help us,” Night said.

“Think Gaia will come out to play as well?” Tartarus asked as he looked back from Twilight to Typhon and then to Eros. “We could use her help, not to mention Chaos.”

Eros shrugged. “If she hasn’t, it means she doesn’t think she’s needed. Or that she’s got her own plans.”

As Tartarus stared back at his son, he said, “I’m not sure which of those scares me more.”

“I wouldn’t worry about me,” Twilight said, but her voice was different. “Twilight will do well. I would be more concerned about Chaos.”

“You should be concerned about me!” Typhon yelled from across the room. “Because now I’m pissed!”

“And why would I care?” Gaia asked before turning to Tartarus and Eros. In a flash of gold, a small little golden pegasus filly appeared right in front of Twilight. The alicorn looked down, confused as to who this was.

“Gaia?” Rainbow asked.

“Hello, my love,” Gaia replied with a friendly smile that left Rainbow a little creeped out. She turned to the large head of the dragacorn. “Chaos, you too, get out here!”

A flash of white later and the god Chaos was amongst them. His ever-changing form hurting the eye to look at for too long. “Ahh, I was hoping you idiots would deal with this one alone.”

“It changes nothing!” Typhon yelled as he gathered his full power.

“Together,” Eros said.

“Together,” the rest replied, as all four gods shot out against their would be killer. The dark energy of Typhon was by far the most powerful of them all, but it now faced four separate powers. The gold of Gaia, the red of Tartarus, the pink of Eros, and the white of Chaos. But that wasn’t all. The pink and the red power melted together, creating a far bigger blast than would be possible alone. They all collided in the middle, the melted, pinkish-red blast among the white and the gold.

Right where the Sands of Time stood.

The resulting implosion echoed around the chamber as the Sands of Time were destroyed. It tore a gaping hole in the fabric of spacetime that shocked all that saw it.

“Oops,” Chaos said with a chuckle.

“Brother, if I found out you did that on purpose, I’m going to…” Gaia growled.

“Hey, I just got here! Besides, I created the fucking thing, I can fix it when we’re done.”

“W-what happened?” Twilight asked.

“The Sands of Time have been destroyed. It’ll throw things a little out of whack until we put it back.”

“What does that mean?” Twilight asked.

“It means, sugarcube, that we get to say hi one more time.”

“AJ?” Rainbow asked, her eyes bugging out.

“She’s not the only one, darling.”

Twilight spun her head, looking all around her, seeing AJ, Rarity, Spike, Pinkie Pie, and even Fluttershy appearing in front of her and Rainbow Dash. “Girls…. I… I…”

“C’mon, let’s see that smile,” Pinkie said.

“They’re not the only ones, Twily.”

Her head snapped to the left to see her B.B.B.F.F. walk out with a smile upon his muzzle. Right next to him was his wife, Cadance. The pair walked over and nuzzled their son’s mane, helping him get back to his feet. “Mom… Dad?”

“And somepony else,” a sweet voice that still echoed in Radiant’s dreams called out.

“F-F-Firestar? Is that really you?” Radiant cried out.

“Hey, my idiot,” she chuckled.

“Guys… not that I’m not pleased to see you all, but how‽”

“Honestly, no clue, but we weren’t going to miss a chance to help you one final time. We will help you to bring harmony back to Equestria, and put an end to this,” Cadance said, smiling at her.

Twilight eyes were shedding tears as she looked around at all the faces she never thought she’d ever see again, “You guys… you… I—” she paused, seeing the pissed off look on Rainbow’s face. “Rainbow?”

The cyan mare bolted off and struck a certain griffin on the back of the head. “You jerk! You don’t just get to go off and die like that!”

Emperor Siros chuckled as he rubbed a hoof across the back of his head. “Sorry, sorry, jeez.”

“Same old Rainbow, always a firecracker,” Icarus said with a smile.

“Well, are any of you surprised that we’re still the same?” Rainbow laughed. “I’m always awesome, and I’ll stay that way forever!”

“I think she’s right with that,” Twilight smiled, wiping the tears from her muzzle.

“As much as I would love to let you all celebrate the reunion,” Eros spoke up, “we’ve still got a problem.”

Everyone knew exactly what she meant in the blink of an eye. Typhon coughed, but still laid alive in front of them.

“Can we defeat him?” Siros asked.

“No, not even with all of us combined,” Gaia said, her eyes never leaving Typhon as he stood up. “Not without a little more help anyway. Starlight, I think it’s time.”

Up top, Starlight gulped as the little golden filly looked dead at her. The stone in her chest armor was glowing hot against her fur. “Yes, my lovely granddaughter, that.”

She nodded and teleported everyone down.

“Oh, time for the Elements again?” Chaos asked. “It’s so nice to be on this side for a change.”

“I imagine it would be,” Gaia said with a smile. “Everyone, all at the same time. Give him everything you got!”

“W-what do I do?” Echoside asked. She gasped when a spear was tossed into her hooves.

“Lose it, and I’ll hunt you down and skin your hide,” Vela said with a smile as she felt herself starting to levitate, the magic in the elements starting to activate.

Echoside nodded her thanks. Spears weren’t her choice of weapon, but she had trained with them before. She could feel the power flowing off this one in waves. Waves that increased when an old griffin stood by her side. “That’s a mighty fine weapon,” Siros said.

Luna got to her hooves, she could feel that one was broken but she wasn’t going to let that stop her.

The living, the dead, and the gods each turned to Typhon as one. They glared at him, their combined power radiating off each other, coalescing into something far greater than the sum of its parts.

“You think that’s going to stop me? I’m supposed to rule over this world and kill everyone of you! The time for games is over!” Typhon yelled.

“But I like games!” Chaos and Pinkie Pie spoke at the same time.

Given the situation, it’s understandable that no one noticed the one pony missing from their group.

Typhon smiled as he taunted the group into attacking. He was still smiling as he slowed down time just enough in the area around him to do what needed to be done. He had tricked Eros with the exact same maneuver when their battle had started.

He took his time, setting up his deflections for each and every attack that was coming his way. Something that was only achievable because they all stood in one nice big group. Had the gods known, they would have told everyone to spread out. But they didn’t know, and they couldn’t have known. After all, he was new to this universe.

They wouldn’t know either. His deflection not only sent the attacks back to their sources, but also increased them in power by several magnitudes. In one fell swoop, they’d all kill each other.

Typhon laughed as he started to increase the flow of time. Only letting it flow by a fraction of a second at a time. He wanted to watch the moment that the spells, blasts, shots, wings attacks, and blade sweeps all went back to their respective owners. It was his reward to himself for engineering this moment.

They moved past his barriers like they weren’t even there. Typhon looked in confusion as he set up another set, only for those to disappear right before the shots would have been sent back passed through them.

“I promised I’d kill you.”

Typhon looked to his left, just in time to see a black earth pony focus on the next set of barriers he laid down. Taz extended his magic just enough to cancel Typhon’s deflection but not so much to cancel out his friends and family’s attacks. “And I always keep my promises.”

Taz nullified Typhon’s magic next, ending the bubble that slowed down time in the hourglass and removing the god from all the power he had gained.

Taz’s last sight of Red was of the stallion shrieking as his entire being was overcome with the pure power unleashed by everyone.

***

“Hey, Mom, wake up.”

Twilight forced her eyes open as she felt a hoof poke against her side over and over again. She raised her head, looking up into Taz’s face. “T-Taz?”

“Yeah, it’s me. It’s over, Mom, you all won.”

The mare raised her head and looked around. All around her ponies were starting to stir, each of them exhausted beyond belief and being awoken by lost loved ones. In the center of the chamber stood the four gods. They were musing over the shattered remains of the Sands of Time.

“Oh… did Twi and Dashie need a nappy nap?” Pinkie asked with a smile upon her face.

Rainbow ran a hoof over her head. “Yep, you’re Pinkie Pie.”

“Hello my big girl,” Spike said as he and Rarity nuzzled their daughter’s mane to help wake her up. Ataxia transformed back into a pony after she fell unconscious.

“And who is this?” Siros asked as him and Icarus looked down at the sleeping form of Vela. The hippogriff lay on her back, her tongue out in a very un-regal manner.

“This… this is my daughter, your granddaughter,” Icarus smiled.

The mare awoke. “D-daddy?”

They both chuckled at that.

Off in the corner, Firestar held her two boys as Cadance and Shining Armor tended to their son. He awoke with a start, momentarily surprised by seeing his parents again, but it didn’t come as a surprise when he rushed over to his wife. Firestar looked up at him and they kissed.

“I never thought I’d get to do that again.” Radiant said with tears in his eyes when they broke apart.

“I kiss you every day,” Firestar admitted. “You’re in my Elysium, at least a fake copy of you anyway. It’s just holding your place until you can join me forever.”

Tears fell down his eyes. “That’s cheating.”

“I think it’s fair, you get to hold these two every day.” She held her sons tighter to her breast. “The real ones.”

Radiant collapsed next to his wife’s form. He grasped her and his two sons in a hug, not knowing or caring if he’d wake them.

Firestar felt like she was going to melt into his touch. She felt tears of joy fall down her muzzle and onto his coat. “My boys. My precious, precious boys. All three of you.”

“I’ve missed you. I have. I’ve missed you every second of every day,” Radiant sobbed.

“D-dad?” Blaze asked as he felt himself squashed between two different ponies.

“Look who’s here, boys,” Radiant whispered with a smile.

Blaze blinked his eyes clear as he stared up at the face of somepony he never thought he’d ever see again. Somepony that they had all said was dead. “M-m-mommy?”

“Hello, my angel,” Firestar said, tears falling freely from her eyes.

“Mommy!” Blaze yelled as he leapt up and hugged her with all his might.

Radiant smiled as he watched Blaze hug his mom. It felt right to him, like this was the universe’s way of apologizing for taking her from him all those months ago. He looked down at the display and noticed that Flash was stirring. He also noticed a certain hippogriff standing in front of him.

“Is he alright?” Vela asked.

Firestar looked at her with a smile. “His marefriend is worried about him?”

“How do you know that‽” Vela asked.

Firestar smirked. “We can see everything that happens down here, you know.”

“E-everything?”

Firestar chuckled and invited her over with a hoof. The hippogriff was worried, but came over anyway. She sat down next to the mare, Flash starting to open his eyes. “Don’t worry. I think you two make a great couple. But… be nicer to my son. He’s got a strong heart, but it will break if you put too much pressure on it.”

Vela held out a claw for Flash to take. The pegasus raised a hoof and was helped up by his marefriend. “Flash, guess who’s here.”

Flash looked over and noticed the ‘other’ pony that was there. “M-mommy? I mean, Mom?”

Vela chuckled a little, as did Firestar. The latter of which took her son’s hoof from Vela, and pulled him into a hug to join his brother. “Mommy’s fine,” Vela stated with a kind smile as she watched the two embrace. “I think, given the circumstances, it’s okay for my coltfriend to show a little intimacy.”

Firestar kissed her boys on the tops of their heads before she felt Radiant nuzzle into her once more time. “This is… this is more than I could’ve ever dreamed about,” Firestar lamented.

“To me, you’re all I ever dream about,” Radiant said through his tears.

***

“How long will they stay,” Twilight asked Gaia.

“Not long. Even now, they’re start to fade. They don’t belong here, and the magic holding them is getting weaker and weaker,” Gaia replied before looking at the other gods, who all nodded. “But we can give you more time. We’ll each contribute a fraction of our power, it should be enough to hold them in this world, at least for a little while longer.”

“You would do that, for us?” Rainbow asked.

“Of course. After all, you deserve it, and we can see that they’re happy as well.” Eros smiled.

“You can keep them in a solid form?” Luna asked. “‘Tis very impressive.”

“We are gods after all,” Chaos said. “In fact, I think there’s someone else who’d like to say goodbye to you, Luna.”

“Chaos?” Gaia asked.

“If you’d be so kind brother, to let her out?” Chaos asked Tartarus.

He nodded and red magic flooded the room, just to be replaced by a soft, golden aura.

“Sister,” Celestia smiled softly as she walked out of the portal.

“Celestia,” Luna gasped with tears in her eyes.

“Celestia!” Twilight yelled as she ran up. “But I… why didn’t she come earlier?”

“The rift attached itself to bloodlines, Celesta simply didn’t have enough kin to free her,” Gaia admitted.

“We thank you,” Luna said as she nuzzled her sister once more.

The four gods poured their power throughout the room. Helping to extend this moment for as long as they could. As families and friends were reunited, Chaos turned to his sister Gaia. “This is something I might do, I thought you all were a little bit more of a stickler for the rules.”

“We have broken no rules, this place doesn’t exist so therefore there’s no transgression,” Gaia replied smartly.

“Speaking of transgressions, what about him?” Chaos asked, pointing a hoof at Tartarus.

Gaia, Eros, and Chaos all turned their heads to face their brother.

“Hey, I helped you! Eros, tell them!”

Eros smiled as she nuzzled him softly. “Technically, he’s right.”

“Were it not his own actions that caused such help to be necessary?” Gaia asked.

“Technically, she’s right,” Eros said with a devious smile upon her face.

“Hey, who’s side are you on?” Tartarus asked.

“Oh this is going to be good,” Chaos added in.

“Then his punishment stands, no?” Gaia said.

“Well... “ Eros started to say, trailing off.

“Let him be,” Twilight cut in.

“I don’t think you have the right to say something in this,” Gaia spoke gently but firmly.

“We do, we all do,” Rainbow said. “We fixed everything he bucked up, he even helped us. I say let him be, I’m sticking with Twilight in this.” She looked at Gaia. “And since Twilight is your Avatar, she might as well have a word in this.”

“This coming from the mare that said she would never forgive you, brother,” Chaos said, impressed.

Tartarus looked down, only for a muzzle to nuzzle him softly.

“All good points,” Gaia said firmly, “but it changes nothing. You may be my Avatar, but you are not a god, Twilight. His punishment is ours and ours alone to decide, and the seriousness of his crimes cannot be forgiven so easlly.”

“What about another option?” Eros asked.

Gaia turned to Eros with a questioning glare on her face. “What other option?”

“Probation. Leave Tartarus under my care for a few hundred thousand years. If I can’t shape him up, then we’ll sentence him.”

“Seconded!” Chaos said with a smile.

Gaia turned to a grinning Chaos, and then to her other siblings. Tartarus looked one part worried and one part excited.

“I think that might be a fitting punishment,” Gaia said with a smile.

“He’s bucked, isn’t he?” Rainbow asked.

“Oh yeah. I think he’ll enjoy it though,” Twilight said. “Plus, she’ll be able to keep him under control. I mean, as much as anyone can anyway.”

“Twilight, Rainbow, for what it’s worth… I mean, I…”

“I think he’s trying to say he’s sorry,” Eros said.

“You’re not forgiven,” Rainbow stated, causing everyone to turn to look at her. “I just owed you one, that’s it.”

“Rainbow, quit it,” Twilight said before placing a hoof on her shoulder.

Rainbow smiled at that, but not at Tartarus. She couldn’t even if she wanted to. Twilight just kissed her on the cheek before turning back to the gods. What she saw shocked her. They were all gone, save for Eros. The Goddess of Love levitated the Sands of Time hourglass and placed it right in front of Twilight. “When you’re done, return this to the pedestal in the center.”

Twilight nodded in understanding as the goddess beamed a smile at her. She looked down to the hourglass and back up to the goddess to find that she too was gone.

“Sounds like they’re letting us have all the time we want,” Rainbow stated.

Twilight looked around at all the families, the friends long dead, but reunited after such a long time apart, and the foals playing with their long lost parents.

She did the only thing she could do.

Twilight cried.

A New Promise

Celestia’s Palace

It was snowing outside. This in and of itself was a little off for this time of year, but because of a small issue in Cloudsdale, they weren’t able to start wrapping up winter on time.

As Prince Taz of Equestria laid out in one of the many common rooms in Celestia’s Palace, he found that he really didn’t mind the snow. Not right now anyway.

After all, since he was cuddled up to his five-month’s pregnant fiancé, who was drinking hot cocoa in front of a roaring fire, what was there for him to complain about?

He didn’t even mind his still healing hoof.

Taz rested his head on her nice sized baby bump. Nightshade was kicking now, something that made him smile every single time he felt it. “She’s going to grow up to be a scrapper,” Taz said with a smile.

Nighttide chuckled as she ran a hoof through his mane. “Just like her daddy. Although I think you’re wrong about that.”

“Oh? You can’t feel her kick?” Taz asked.

“Oh I feel it better than you. What I mean is I don’t think she’ll be a fighter, not at all.”

“Hmm?” Taz hummed as he looked her in the face.

“I think she’s going to be the kindest mare in all of Equestria.” Nighttide replied, grinning. “I don’t think the Element of Kindness was ever mine. I think I was just holding onto it, for her.”

“Nightshade, the Element of Kindness, I think I could live with that,” Taz replied, kissing her stomach again and again.

Nighttide cooed softly at his actions. “Keep that up and I won’t let you stop.”

“Who said I wanted to stop?” Taz asked with a grin.

“I sure don’t,” Nighttide replied, reaching her head up to steal a kiss before laying it back down and letting him get back to work.

Unbeknownst to the two, high up in the rafters, they were being watched. Their stalkers weren’t doing it for perverted reasons, and as soon as it became obvious what they were about to get started on, they both turned away, not wanting to watch them make love.

Again.

Dayspring Gleam smiled at his younger brother’s antics. In truth, he was a little jealous. While he had always been more of an intellectual-type pony, that didn’t mean he lacked in the physical lust deparment. But beyond a certain mare that was now spoken for, he had never been interested enough in anypony to pursue such a relationship.

His eyes glanced absentmindedly over to the other pony that had been watching the show. Nighttide’s mom, Princess Luna. The two locked eyes, trading a smile with each other. Dayspring Gleam had always treated Taz as he would his own son; and while Luna’s relationship with Nighttide had been… well, bad for most of her life, she was doing everything she could to make it up to her, to try and be the good mother now that she never had the option to be earlier.

Her eyes… they look so kind, Dayspring thought.Then a loud moan told them both that if they didn’t want to hear any more they had no choice but to leave. Both Luna and Dayspring blushed as they continued staring at each other a little longer than they should have. In parallel they both looked away, shaking their heads no.

Of course that didn’t stop them from looking back at each other one more time before getting up to leave.

***

Flying high above the clouds in the freezing cold of the night were Flash and Vela, playing a game of tag. Vela was, by far, the superior flyer. But Flash was keeping up like a champ. He even managed to surprise her by going through a large clump of clouds and tackling her from above.

“Ah ha! Gotcha!” Flash said with pride in his eyes.

In reply, Vela just reached up and licked him on the side of the muzzle. Flash felt his heart warming at that. He rolled over onto his side, taking Vela with him and having her end up on top. Right where they both like her to be.

Vela looked down at him and smiled. “You big dork.”

“True, but I’m your dork.”

“Damn straight,” she said with a grin.

Flash raised a hoof and ran it through her mane. “I’m happy we get to keep spending time together.”

Vela pressed her head into his touch. “Not as happy as I am. After all, I need my big Flash teddy bear to help me sleep.”

“I actually…” Flash started to say.

“What?” Vela asked.

“What if… what if I come with you?”

“Come with me where? To Warclaw?”

“Well, yeah. I mean my dad and brother went back to The Crystal Empire already. Aurora and
Dayspring went home already, so when you go home, why don’t I just go with you?”

“Flash, you’re talking about moving in with me, not just visiting, aren’t you?”

“Well… yeah?”

“I think…” Vela started.

“Yes?”

“That’s a great idea,” she ended and kissed him.

***

Everfree Forest

“And that’s the last of them,” Shimmering Night said as, with her magic, she finished scouring the Everfree Forest for all the thunder seeds that were planted almost eleven-hundred years ago.

“Well, we should have enough firewood to last… forever,” Ataxia said with a chuckle as she looked at the mountain of plants that had been growing under the forest.

“You’re right about that,” Night said. “I still can’t believe we didn’t think of this sooner.

Ataxia chuckled. “Leave it to Starlight to figure out the perfect solution to the Elements problem.”

Night’s mood turned grim at that. Something Ataxia picked up on. “Sorry, I know we can’t find any trace of Ana.”

Night looked up, her expression painful. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“How isn’t it killing you? I mean… it’s been four months, and there’s been no sign of her. I feel like my heart’s being ripped out of my chest.”

“It is, but since we still have Starlight and each other… I… well… I try not to think about, at least for the moment,” Ataxia replied and then, in a sudden one-eighty only a mare like her was capable of, grinned. “Besides, we still have the… problem with Echoside.”

“I still can’t believe you’re so cool with it!” Night snorted.

“She’s cool, so I’m cool with her. Besides, I saw her fight to protect our daughter, she doesn’t play games.”

“She…” Night said looking down.

“Yeah yeah, age difference, big whoop. I’m nine years your senior, remember?

“But she’s underage!”

“Night, I felt something for you the day Dayspring and Aurora broke their friendships off with me. You were five, remember?”

“Are you trying to cheer me up or creep me out?”

“Can’t I do both?” Ataxia asked with a smile.

When Night didn’t laugh, Ataxia sighed. “Oh, you’re just mad that everyone stood up to you on this.”

“Including you!”

“Duh? Have you met me? You think I’d be upset about our stuck-up daughter finally getting a little something-something?”

“Ugh, what did I ever see in you!”

Ataxia walked up behind Night and surprised her with a kiss. “I think you saw that in me.”

“You think you’re so cute, don’t you?” Shimmering Night asked.

“Bitch, I’m adorable,” Ataxia replied.

***

Celestia’s Palace

“I think Ataxia likes you,” Starlight chuckled as she laid her head over Echoside’s, enjoying the warmth of the bat-pony.

“Yeah, but your other mom doesn’t seem to like me at all,” Echoside said.

“They’ll both accept you, don’t worry. It’s just hard for Night to see us together.”

“The marks on your neck prove that you’re mine anyways,” Echoside purred.

“Says who?” Starlight asked, nipping at her ear.

Echoside hummed, but quickly retreated her head before it could go too far.

“Oh c’mon, it’s been four months!”

Echoside smiled. “I told you I would make you completely mine in time, but please, let us chose a perfect time.”

“As long as I’m with you, every moment is perfect,” Starlight said before smiling. “But I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am. I just want the best for you.”

They both looked into the sky, enjoying the warmth from each other. Starlight felt protected and cared for, she had never felt any better before. “Are we a… you know, tight couple now?” she whispered with a blush.

“Remember the night in the tent? The day I kissed you and left my marks on you?”

“Yes?”

“Then you know the answer. I won’t let you go,” Echoside whispered gently.

Starlight chuckled. “And if I have to use the restroom?”

“Nothing I haven’t seen,” Echoside joked.

Starlight looked shocked at her before giggling. “You’re nasty.”

“Oh just wait for what I’m going to do on our special night.”

“Can’t wait,” Starlight smiled.

“I… I love you, Stars’.” Echoside whispered.

“Stars?”

“Your new nickname. After all, it’s what I see everytime I look at you.”

“Okay, Echo.” Starlight grinned. “I love you too,” she added before leaning into the kiss.

Echoside didn’t really care that they hadn’t had sex yet. Starlight knew she was a little young for that and Echoside would wait for a moment until they were both ready. She looked forward to it, but at the moment she wasn’t about to change anything.

In her eyes, it was perfect.

Little did she realize, Starlight didn’t want to wait that long. After all, she had a birthday coming up.

***

Taz fell to his side, his job more than done as he panted in pure pleasure. The mare at his side was just as satisfied as he was, for if there was only one phrase in all of Equestria that could be used to describe him, it was: a generous lover.

“Hmm, that was wonderful,” Nighttide said with a smile as she rolled back over onto her side. She had started to take a liking to making love on her back, something that she no doubt owed to her large stomach.

“A-plus, just like always,” Taz said in a joke.

“Do you think my mom stayed around and watched us?” Nighttide asked.

“Luna? What? She’s here?” Taz asked, looking around.

Nighttide chuckled. “She was, she’s seen us a few times actually. Relax, she looked impressed.”

Taz looked at her with an ‘are you serious’ face, then closed his eyes and laughed. “You really don’t care, do you?”

“Not even a little,” Nighttide replied.

Taz laid down, his coat touching hers. “Well, if you don’t, I guess I don’t either.”

“Yeah you do, I see you squirm every time we make love in front of others.”

“Well, you are kinda kinky like that. I don’t think they really enjoy your behaviour though.”

“That mean you want me to hold back?” Nighttide teased.

“Well, I never said that,” he replied, grinning.

“Besides, do I look like I care what they enjoy?” Nighttide asked with a smile.

“Eenope.”

“I just care what you do, and I know all the things you like.”

“Eeyup.”

She chuckled at that as she extended a wing to wrap it around him. “Wow, you’re tense. Relax okay?”

He looked at her. “Sorry.”

“You know you have nothing to worry about. After all, you kept all your promises, no?”

Taz smiled as he nuzzled into her once more. “That’s true, I did keep all of my promises.”

“So relax.”

“I can’t,” Taz replied.

“Why?”

He smiled and nuzzled into her growing belly. “Because, now I have new ones to keep.”

***

Deep inside of Celestia’s Palace, behind several locked doors and bars, Twilight and Rainbow stood in the treasure room. All around them were boxes of bits, gems, and treasures that most ponies in Equestria would give their right hoof just to see.

Neither princess paid those boxes any notice, for their attention was on one thing and one thing only: The golden key sitting atop of a column.

“Why’d you want to come down and see this again?” Rainbow asked.

Twilight stared at the key as it floated on it’s own power. It was a legendary artifact that could open any door, that could unlock any lock, even one set by the very gods themselves. In the wrong hooves it could cause untold problems.

“I still think about it… seeing them all again I mean,” Twilight stated.

“It’s been four months, Twi.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“They wanted to go back, they were the ones who told you to put the Sands of Time back in its place.”

“I know.”

Even still, there was a pregnant pause in the treasure room. One that Rainbow broke when she asked, “Can I tell you a secret?”

Twilight looked over to her wife. “Of course you can.”

“I think about them too. Seeing Pinkie, Fluttershy, AJ, and Rarity again. I never imagined I’d be able to.”

“Was it a gift or a curse I wonder.”

“I guess it depends on your perspective.”

“I choose to believe it was a gift,” Twilight said.

Rainbow nuzzled up against her. “You know what, Twi? So do I.”

Twilight felt herself melt into the touch. “I’ll make it, as long as you never leave me that is.”

“I’d rip my way out of Tartarus itself to come back to you.”

“Again?” Twilight asked with a smile.

“As many times as it takes,” Rainbow said with a kind smile.

They paused as they stared at the key slowly rotating on the pedestal. Rainbow had a thought at that moment. “Hey Twi, I was thinking…”

“This can’t be good.”

“Funny, but seriously. I was thinking… what if we used this to, you know, go back?”

“Rainbow, you can’t change the past. Anything you do has already been done. I learned that lesson the hard way.”

“Yeah, but… I mean with yours and Night’s power, you don’t think you could even try? We could fix things, and maybe… save some of our friends?”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “You don’t like things as they are?”

“You know I do.”

“Even if it was possible, which it’s not, it’d drastically alter the present. Any small change would have a ripple effect that could make things better, but probably worse. And besides...”

Rainbow looked at her inquisitively before she heard something crunch and pop. She looked over and saw that the key had been crushed in a violet aura of magic.

“I wouldn’t change a thing,” Twilight said with a smile.

Heart Warming Heartbeat

Those we Love

Author's Note

Twilight is Magic read order

Those we Love

Celestia’s Palace

Nighttide frowned when she felt the stallion in her hooves pull away from her. Her fur bristled at the thought of him no longer being held close to her breast. His movements were subtle—as if he were trying to crawl out of bed and not wake her up.

Yeah, fat chance of that ever happening, she thought. It was the same every morning: He’d get up early and try to sneak out of her grip to let her sleep in. And today, just like all the days prior, it’d wake her up anyway.

Not his movements, Prince Taz was a restless sleeper on the best of nights, and he had a tendency to snore. Rather, it was him leaving that did it. It was the loss of the warm body pressed against her fur, the loss of the heat and the closeness that it would bring.

Nighttide opened her eyes, seeing the night-black earth pony stand on his hooves. She chuckled a little as she saw him throw back his long blue and purple mane. He looked back at her, locking his magenta eyes on her sky-blue ones. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Nighttide chuckled. “If that were true you wouldn’t have gotten out of bed.”

Taz blew her a raspberry in response, a gesture meant to be dismissive, but the things he could do with that tongue…

“Keep that up and neither of us are leaving this room today.”

“Last time we did that they sent Ataxia in to fetch us.”

“You mean yesterday?”

“I never said I regret it,” Taz said as he got to the mirror to do what he could for his mane. Nighttide smiled as she got up and pulled the brush from his hooves.

“Let me do it,” she stated, as, with her magic, she pulled the brush from his hooves and started to run it through his mane. Nighttide caught their combined reflections in the mirror and paused to admire the two of them. She was a dark-blue pegasus whose coat matched Taz’s shade, although hers was not as dark as his, but one could only know that when one stood in front of the other. Her sky-blue mane and tail were kept longer than Taz’s, she had matching eyes, and, unlike Taz: a cutie mark. Nighttide’s mark was a blue lighting bolt with matching fire.

Nighttide chuckled as the big tough stallion she shared her bed with pulled back in pain when the brush pulled at a matted spot in his mane. “You big baby,” Nighttide said with a laugh as she worked the knot out.

“That hurts,” Taz complained as she started in on his other side.

Nighttide laughed. “You enjoyed making the mess, I think you can handle cleaning it up.”

He chuckled and sat still. “I love you.”

“So you’ve said, about twelve times in the last twelve hours if I remember correctly.”

“Oh, is that right? I need to step up my game.”

“You’ll have to, soon,” Nighttide whispered under her breath.

“What was that?” Taz asked.

“I said I love you too.” At that, she kissed Taz on the side of the muzzle and started to clean up her own mane.

Taz gave the mare one last, questioning look. Nighttide simply smiled and hummed to herself as she kept working her brush with her magic; it was strange seeing a pegasus use magic, but he had quickly adapted to it. Nighttide’s mom was none other than Nightmare Moon herself, birthed during her thousand-year banishment to the moon.

Her father… well, there was only one pony Taz had ever sworn to kill in his life. He was that one. Nighttide’s father was a demigod. No, stronger than a demigod, he was a pseudo-god. The large red unicorn had haunted Taz’s dreams on more than one occasion.

Red was the name Taz had given him; he did it just because it pissed him off. His real name, not even Red knew that. And that was exactly the problem right now. All of this, all the heartache and pain they had to suffer through, it was because Red wanted to know what his real name was.

“I promise I’ll kill you for what you did to her,” Taz whispered as he renewed the vow to himself. He took one last look at Nighttide before leaving the room to head for breakfast. She had revealed everything to the stallion. Nighttide lived four hundred years of torture under her mom and Red. She had been torn limb by limb on more than once. Forced to suffer and endure, her only chance of relief was to grow more powerful. It was might-make-right in the worst kind of way.

As he saw her now, one would never know. She was smiling, laughing, playing, and so sweet; at least to him.

He took pride in knowing that was because of him; because of him her true nature was able to shine through. Despite her parents, her “family”, and how she was raised, she was still a diamond; just one that needed a chance to shine.

Every single time she could, she showed him just how much she loved him and vice versa. They renewed their bond as often as they could, simply not getting enough of each other. Taz felt like he would drown in an ocean of love every time they made eye contact.

With reluctance, he closed the door behind him as he heard her slightly complain from fixing her own matted mess. They had been… reminded—on more than one occasion—about keeping that door shut. After the third time Twilight walked by during their… activities, she’d threatened to wall it up with them inside if it happened again. Since then, they’ve both kept a closed-door policy.

Taz supposed he couldn’t really blame his mom; it must be difficult to adjust to your fourteen-year-old colt suddenly being very sexually active. Not only that, but living in the same room with his marefriend. But then again, with the number of times he had walked in on her and Rainbow together, he didn’t really think she had a right to bitch. Not that he had really given her a choice in the matter. Almost five months ago, he pretty much laid down the law that this was going to happen.

He could do that for one reason and one reason only. Taz is a blank. Magic, all magic, simply cannot affect him. Born from the unusual combination of three very different powers, Taz was born a null. He couldn’t be affected by magic, and over the last few years, he had even learned that he could extend this ability. Not only could he make the area around himself into an anti-magic area, but he could also remove his very presence from the perception of others.

Using these abilities, he had almost defeated Red himself, almost. Yes, Taz’s ability is absolute, being able to cancel out magic, even a god’s magic. But… beyond that, he was just an earth pony. Something, Red—with his greater bulk and physical strength—took great pleasure in reminding him of.

He sauntered down the hall and to the breakfast table. Today, just like every day, his family would be gathered to talk. And, just like all those times before, he already knew the topic of discussion.

***

Ataxia awoke to a tear-stained pillow. She had been crying again in her sleep. It really didn’t surprise her anymore, the number of days she woke up crying outnumbered the days she had woken up not crying.

Raising her head, Ataxia looked over to the alicorn on her left. Shimmering Night was back asleep after they had woken her up to raise the sun. The lavender alicorn was breathing, but just barely. For almost six months, she had been the sole alicorn of Equestria: Luna having been turned back into Nightmare Moon, Cadance dead, and while Twilight was still, technically, an alicorn, her power was cut off. It left the responsibility of raising and lowering the celestial bodies to her.

Even that wouldn’t have been a problem, if not for the poisoning Night underwent getting them all out of Tartarus that is. For almost six months, every library in the world had been scoured for a possible cure. None of them came up with a single solution.

How do you cure being poisoned by a dead god’s magic? Ataxia thought.

There was only one answer she could think of.

You can’t.

And that’s why Ataxia woke up to a wet pillow every single morning. In her sleep, she accepted what she’d never accept in the waking world. The bed she shared with Shimmering Night—it would be the alicorn’s deathbed.

More tears fell as she looked over her wife’s sleeping form. Shimmering Night, the first alicorn ever born, she looked like the perfect cross between her two mortal parents—Twilight and Rainbow. She had Twilight’s coat and build, with Rainbow’s mane. Her cutie mark was a dragon and a griffin holding up a crown, a cutie mark that symbolized her birthright, her power as the demigoddess of magic itself.

Night could barely breath. Every rise and fall of her stomach was labored. Even when they coaxed her awake long enough to change the celestial bodies and eat something, she only managed that with the help of a group of unicorns augmenting her power.

Ataxia had heard rumors of a cadre of unicorns training to do it themselves. They were getting ready for the day she didn’t wake up.

Ataxia was a unicorn of fate; one born to Rarity and Spike. She was the avatar of the god Chaos and his Occulous, Discord. In Warclaw, her true form was revealed: She could transform at will to a dragacorn; a dragon with a unicorn’s horn. Throughout her life, anything she wanted, anything she willed to be, simply happened.

Fifteen years ago, Ataxia was tricked into almost killing everyone she loved, everyone she considered a friend. Since that day, she found herself afraid of her own power. And then, six months ago, when her wife poisoned herself to save them all, she found herself facing her own worst nightmare.

She was powerless, completely helpless to what was happening around her. What she wanted was denied to her; and now she was faced with the reality of being about to lose everything.

She didn’t question why the tears were there; she only questioned why there were so few of them. The mare she had loved her entire life, ever since the day—some forty-seven years ago—when Night wrapped a wing around Ataxia to comfort her, was dying, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.

“H-how is she?” Starlight stammered.

The question caused Ataxia to do a double take on who had asked it: it was her daughter. The blue coated unicorn kept her rainbow mane and tail cut short. Everything about her, from her ears to her constellation-tree cutie mark, looked to be in sorrow. She looked up at her mom with piercing green eyes.

Night might have been Starlight’s birth mother, but neither her nor Ataxia held any such distinction when it came to their two foals. Starlight was as much Ataxia’s daughter as Ana was Night’s.

Starlight was a natural when it came to all things magic as her talent took after her grandmother, Twilight, in that regard. Yet, even still, six months ago the mare had been set on fire from head to tail. One would never know it by looking at her now though, for Night had gone out of her way to try and heal all their foals, something that no doubt took months off her life.

“S-she’s…”Ataxia wanted to lie—she wanted to tell Starlight that Night was getting better—but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. “She’s dying, Starlight. She’s dying and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.”

“You know that we won’t give up, none of us. Grandma Rainbow says there is always hope to change something,” Starlight whispered.

Ataxia fought the urge to kick and scream, doing so might wake Night, and that was something she didn’t want to do. “Tell me, tell me the difference between trying and failing, and not trying at all?” Her voice was subdued, defeated, un-Ataxia like in all regards as she got up off the bed.

“Why do you assume we’re going to fail?” Starlight asked.

Ataxia huffed and looked her daughter in the eye. “Do you honestly believe we’ll find a cure?”

“Mom,” Starlight pronounced the word hard. “We’re not failing and we will try until something comes up and works. I. Do. Believe. There. Is. A. Cure!” Starlight stomped on the ground.

Ataxia walked up and wrapped her daughter in her hooves. The sudden squeak she got from Starlight almost made her smile, something she hadn’t remembered doing in almost six months. “You’re a good daughter, Starlight. I wish I could share your confidence.”

Starlight felt tears fall upon her coat: Ataxia’s tears. “Mom, have you ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy?”

“Starlight, I think I’ve had my fair share of prophecies in my lifetime, I don’t want to hear another one.”

“Well, too bad, you’re going to hear another,” Starlight stated as she hugged her mother tighter. “A self-fulfilling prophecy is when your pre-conceived belief that something will happen makes it happen.”

“That sounds… totally asinine.”

“That’s a big word for you,” Starlight stated as she pulled back to look Ataxia in the eyes. The purple mare looked bad: Her long, dark-blue mane was matted to the side of her face and her green eyes looked defeated. Even the three question marks of her cutie mark seemed off.

“Starlight, I wish I could believe that everything will be okay. That everything will turn out fine. I just can’t. I’m at her side, every day and every night. I can see it and I know… I know that it might be the last time I get to hold her every time,” Ataxia whispered.

Starlight looked down at the floor, gathering her words. “But mom”—she looked up again at Ataxia’s face—“if you don’t believe in her, if you don’t tell her you want her here, if you give up, she might quit fighting.”

“What… what do you mean?”

“She’s fighting for us, to stay with us. If we give up on her, she may give up. Don’t you see? We have to believe in her, believe she’ll pull through, otherwise, there’ll be no hope.”

“I—”

“I’ve read all the stories about what happened all those years ago. Even as your mind was poisoned, she got you back to us and everything turned out all right. What makes you think that you can’t bring her back to us? It’s… hard for me to say this about my parents, but the others are right. Your love is strong and it can survive anything, you two just gotta fight for it.”

Ataxia lowered her head, letting her mane fall over her face, obscuring her features.

“I know the situation is grave, they try and hide it, but I know. I’ve heard the rumors. They talk when they think I’m not listening, I know her pregnancy is not helping things, and she’ll be lucky to last long enough to deliver. But I haven’t given up on her, I haven’t given up, despite the facts that say I should, that it’s hopeless. Let me ask, have you?”

Ataxia did the one thing she hadn’t expected to do today, she started to chuckle. “How did we get blessed with such a smart daughter?”

”I called dibs on Night’s genes,” Starlight said.

“Oh, you,” Ataxia scowled playfully, nudging Starlight.

“Now let’s go, you need to eat something,” Starlight said as she gestured to the doorway. “The doctors will watch mom while you’re gone.”

“Food sounds good,” Ataxia admitted as her stomach agreed. She looked up at one of the waiting doctors that were on standby twenty four seven. “You’ll alert me to the slightest change?”

“Yes, princess.”

Ataxia grunted as they walked by. She hated that title almost as much as Rainbow Dash did. “So tell me, how’s your sister?”

Starlight had bite back a moan herself. “Ana’s in a bad place.”

“A year ago I couldn’t go five minutes without her by my side. Lately, it feels like I go weeks between seeing her.”

“She still blames Night for Taz running away.”

“I know.”

“And for sending him back to Tartarus.”

“I know.”

“And for him getting with Nighttide.”

“I know.”

“And for—”

“I KNOW.” Ataxia chuckled.

“You asked. It’s not her fault that we have to drag you away from Night these days.”

“Is there anyway… in case, you know, she’ll forgive Night, before…”

“You still don’t think we’ll find a cure?”

“I do, but… in case of the slim, miniscule chance that we don’t, I don’t want this to hang over her head the rest of her life.”

“When did you get so mature?” Starlight asked her mom, sarcastically.

“When you have foals of your own, you’ll understand. I only hope they’re half as smart as you, at least then they’ll be twice as smart as me.”

“Insulting yourself isn’t complimenting me.”

“Who said it was an insult?” Ataxia replied. “Maybe I just think you’re that smart.”

Starlight pressed her blue coat up against her mom’s purple one. “Well, thank you, I think. But I don’t know if I’ll ever have foals.”

“Oh? Going to be too busy with your studies? Trying to be the next Twilight Sparkle?”

“Even Twilight had foals,” Starlight said with a huff.

“Exactly,” Ataxia added. “Whatever you do, Starlight, find the time for it. I promise you it’ll be the greatest decision you’ll ever make.”

“Was there a slight compliment there?” Starlight asked with a grin.

“That obvious? I’ll have to work on that.”

“Mom!”

“Oh, relax, let’s get your sister and join the rest in the dining room. Unless I need to go fish Taz out of his room, again.”

“Those two are fucking like bunnies.”

Ataxia laughed. Taz and Nighttide were two horny teenagers—or at least, Taz was, while Nighttide was a four hundred sixty-two year old mare in a sixteen-year-old's body. Neither of them had any qualms about acting on their physical lust for each other. Besides, it wasn’t like anypony could stop them. Had she had the desire, Nighttide could sweep through their forces with ease, the mare was crazy-strong. Of course she’d never, not now anyway, not with Taz by her side.

But if something happened to him… Ataxia shook that thought off. They had enough problems, no reason to tempt fate.

“I’ll tell you this, the kid has some moves in the sack,” Ataxia said with a smile as she remembered seeing them go full steam at each other yesterday. In a way, she kinda envied Nighttide. Taz was well endowed to say the least. It was little wonder Nighttide couldn't keep her hooves off him.

“MOM!”

“Hey, you’ll find a stallion that will make you happy someday too.”

“Or a mare.” Starlight chuckled.

Ataxia paused, before smiling and hugging her daughter again. “Or a mare. Who knows, maybe your first time will be like mine.”

“I don’t want to hear about the first time my mom had sex.”

“Twins they were.”

“MOM!”

“Oh and they knew how to use their tongues like—”

“That’s it!” Starlight said before taking off in a sprint to get out of hearing distance of her mother’s sordid tale.

“Where are you going‽ I hadn’t even told you the best part!” Ataxia yelled out as she chased after her, all the while laughing.

***

“Uncle, uncle, uncle!”

Dayspring Gleam grunted when Blaze crash-landed on his bed. He bowled over as the weight of the fourteen-year-old colt—who acted more like an eight year old, in his opinion—fell upon his stomach while asleep.

“Blaze, ugh… I told you I’m your first cousin, not your uncle,” Dayspring grunted as he lifted the colt up from the bed in his magic.

The white pegasus looked ready to pout while being held in his magic. Dayspring couldn’t help but groan as he stared into his cousin's light-blue eyes, Blaze’s matching mane hanging in front his face. “Fine, call me whatever you want.” Dayspring gave in and let him down. The spunky pegasus colt smiled the same toothy smile he always wore when Dayspring let him go and allowed himself to be hug-tackled again.

Dayspring knew—logically—they’d have to do something about Blaze one of these days. He was far—far too immature for his age, but, right this second, Dayspring kinda hoped Blaze would stay this way forever.

“Sorry about him, Dayspring,” Flash stated from the entrance to his room. Dayspring looked over to see Blaze’s twin staring at the two of them, just smiling over his brother’s antics. The two, Flash and Blaze, were identical twins. They both had the same mane, eyes, and coat, with identical builds. Indeed, if you would put them side by side, one wouldn’t be able to tell them apart, save for their cutie marks. Flash’s was a yellow lighting bolt, Blaze’s was a red one.

However, beyond their looks, the two couldn’t be more different. Blaze was a fun, loving soul that simply sought everyone around him to be happy. He’d play pranks and go out of his way to make one laugh. Flash, he was loyal to a fault. He’d stick up for anyone and everyone that was being treated unfairly, even placing himself at great personal risk to do so.

The twins had suffered more than almost any others these last six months. Their mind-controlled grandmother, Princess Cadance, had killed their mother, Princess Firestar. Cadance then took her own life when she was about to be used again to hurt her son, Radiant Star.

“There’s nothing to apologize for, Flash.” Dayspring said as he hugged the pegasus in his hooves tighter, even going as far as to nuzzle him playfully. “We’re just playing.”

“Bet you never thought you’d be doing that at almost sixty, huh?” Radiant Star replied as he walked into the room to gather up his errant sons.

“Speak for yourself, old man,” Dayspring said, blowing his best friend a raspberry. “Physically I’m closer to forty, you’re the one in his sixties.”

It was true, Radiant Star was born over sixty years ago. His off-white coat, teal eyes, and short red mane spoke of a life spent in combat. Not that his cutie mark of two swords clashing wasn’t a dead give away.

“I could still take you,” Radiant said with a grin.

“In your dreams,” Dayspring replied, placing Blaze back down on his bed.

That was true as well. Dayspring was, quite easily, the third most powerful magic user in all of Equestria. Only his mother, Twilight, and his sister, Shimmering Night, would beat him in a battle of bloodshed; although, not right this moment. Officially he was third, right now he was first. But even if that wasn’t the case, the only real toss-up was Ataxia, and that was only in her dragacorn form. A form she hadn’t assumed in fifteen years.

Radiant chuckled as he watched the light-purple unicorn with green eyes play with his sons. Dayspring Gleam’s mane and tail were an exact match for Rainbow’s; however, he had Twilight's love for studying, something that was apparent by his square academic cap cutie mark.

“You ever… you ever think about having kids yourself?” Radiant asked.

Dayspring paused. “I… after—”

“Grim Night wasn’t your fault.”

Dayspring shuddered at that name. They told him that, heck, he told himself that, but believing it was something very different. He lived with that… that creature in his head for longer than he cared to remember, the night revenant. He listened to it taunt him with everything it was going to do, everything it did do to his family.

At times, in his darker moments, he wished it had left him dead, that it hadn’t sacrificed the entire town of Appleloosa to bring him back from the dead.

“You okay, uncle?” Blaze asked, worried.

Dayspring shook it off. No, this is worth what happened.

“If the right mare comes around, I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” Dayspring said with a smile. “If not, well, I have these little guys to play with all day long.” At that, Dayspring jumped on Blaze, eliciting squeals of laughter from the colt.

“And however many nieces and nephews Taz and Nighttide will give you,” Radiant said.

“Yeah, that too.” Dayspring laughed.

“Can you two hurry up? It’s breakfast time,” Flash complained.

“Captain Buzzkill, to the rescue,” Dayspring said with a role of his eyes.

Flash blew him a raspberry and turned to leave.

“Flash, wait up!” Blaze said, squirming his way free of Dayspring and flying over to his brother.

Dayspring watched him go with a smile. He could have stopped him, of course, but there was no reason to. Besides, truth be told, he felt kind of hungry himself. “Let’s go eat,” Dayspring told Radiant.

Radiant cocked a smile at him, but it was a sad smile.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s… it’s, well, it’s good to have you back.”

“You’re not going soft on me, are you?” Dayspring asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Nah, I know I said it before; I just… I just wanted to say it, again.”

Dayspring walked up and pressed his coat to Radiant’s. It was about as emotional a moment as the two ever really had with each other, but to them, it meant more than words could ever describe. “It’s good to be back.”

Radiant cocked a real smile as the two quickly changed the subject.

***

Empress Princess Vela awoke the same way she always did. She woke up to her brother’s hind legs kicking out against her, almost like a cat.

However, rather than being mad, she simply rolled over and gripped him tightly with her claws. Little Dayspring was her precious treasure, the only soul she had ever truly cared about—well that used to be the case anyway. Now he was one of a few.

Emperor Prince Dayspring, the hippogriff; born to Princess Aurora Flash and Emperor Icarus, he had brown fur with blue feathers and cobalt eyes. Vela was a hippogriff just like her brother, albeit she had a dark blue body with pearl white feathers, her eyes were the deepest green.

Both had the body of a pony with a griffin’s head and tail and pegasus’s wings. Their back legs were hooves, their front, claws, just like a griffin’s. And they were both the apple of their mother’s eye.

Empress Princess Aurora Flash—the ruler of the Griffin Empire, and its capital city of Warclaw after her husband’s death—was the twin sister of Dayspring Gleam. Her life had been luxurious and decadent until reality caught up to her. Her death at the claws and teeth of shadowbeings woke her up in the worst possible way to what really matters, to what one should value in life.

And even the life of a supermodel didn’t make the list. In one go, she went from being envied by everypony in Equestria to intensely loyal about her family, which lead her to meet Icarus and, after an unusual courtship, the two were married and had two wonderful foals.

Although there was some resentment when Aurora's sister became impregnated with his third foal, she couldn’t exactly hold that against her.

Aurora raised her head and watched her daughter cuddle with her son. It was a mark of pride to the mare that Vela and Dayspring were so close. Dayspring was like a shot of morphine to the rather rambunctious Vela. He seemed to be the only thing stopping her from picking a fight with anyone she came across.

Vela was always a hippogriff with a temper; she got that from her father, Icarus. Her—often brutal—honesty would lead to more than one griffin wanting to rip her head off. However, Dayspring’s presence always calmed her down, mellowing her out to a point.

Dayspring, named after his former-late uncle, was the definition of generous. He’d give away anything and everything to anyone that needed it. At one point, it got so bad that Aurora was almost tempted to step in and forbid anyone from accepting his ‘gifts’.

She didn’t have to worry, for Vela laid down the law, she laid it down by almost killing someone that refused to put it right back into his room. Since then, an understanding was reached with everyone that spent time with Dayspring. They’d graciously accept whatever he gave them and put it back in his room later.

It kept Dayspring happy to help others, Vela happy that Dayspring was happy, and Aurora happy that Vela didn’t kill anyone.

When Aurora saw Vela starting to tickle Dayspring awake, she stretched her own long, dark blue legs. Her distinctive purple, blue, and orange mane fell into her dark green eyes. Yawning, the pegasus rolled over and got out of bed they shared.

After Icarus’s death, she had tried twice to sleep alone. Needless to say, it wasn’t a mistake she was going to make a third time.

Vela smiled at her mom as she watched her get out of bed. “Love you, mom.”

Aurora blinked twice. “Love you too, Vela.”

As Vela watched her mother spread her beautiful, dark-blue wings to give them a quick once over, she blushed, even after all this time the memories of their lessons still managed to bring a smile to the young hippogriff’s face.

She was about to ask if her mom needed any help, but Dayspring attacked her right before she could ask. “Dayspring!” Aurora yelled excitedly.

“Gotcha, sis!” Dayspring said back.

Their play was only interrupted when they were a little too rough on the bed. The bed hit the long golden spear that was resting by the side. With practice ease of one who trained every single day with the same weapon, Vela caught the spear in her claw.

“Oh, sorry,” Dayspring said in a whimper.

Vela stood up, holding her father’s spear, Siros’s Vengeance, in her claw. It was impressive in every definition of the word. It was a god weapon, enchanted with the full magic of Twilight Sparkle, Cadance, Shimmering Night, and even Princess Luna.

It was also the only reason she was still alive.

And when she was awake, it never left her person; after all, her father’s last act before he died was to toss the weapon to his daughter, saving her life and sacrificing his own in the process.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” Vela said with a tear in her eye as she spun the spear around with well-practiced ease. The blade cut through the very air in the room as it sung out.

It was an amazing weapon of destruction, but it’s true purpose was anything but. It was a weapon of protection. In the grip of those who would use it to protect the ones they love, they’d be all but invincible.

Icarus had tested that theory, and, when the time came to choose between his own life and that of his daughter’s, it turned out it wasn’t really a choice at all.

“C’mon you two,” Aurora said as she finished giving her wings a thorough once-over. Even though she was two years shy of sixty, the mare still looked amazing. “Let’s get something to eat.”

“Beckfist!” Dayspring said with a laugh.

“Breakfast,” Aurora corrected with a grin.

“Yeah, that!”

The eight-year-old hippogriff waited until Vela slotted the spear on her back before hopping on himself. “C’mon Vela, let’s go!”

“You know, you get much bigger and you’re not going to be able to do that anymore,” Aurora stated with a small smile.

“He’ll always be my little brother,” Vela corrected her mother with a raspberry.

Aurora only laughed as she held the door open for her two foals to walk out. She knew this couldn’t last. There were already a hundred things waiting for her back at Warclaw, which was effectively without a leader while she stayed here. And while Twilight helped as much as she could, eventually, they’d have to go back.

Not until we avenge your death, Icarus.

Aurora’s smile only became a frown for a second, she shook it away. Whatever hate she had personally, she had to stay strong, her kids were counting on it.

***

Rainbow and Twilight sat together at the long table as several serving ponies came by and placed plates and food out for everyone to enjoy. Normally, Twilight would have just done it all herself. Normally, she wasn’t barred from her power by the essence stone attached to her hoof. Her power, the power of a god, was denied to her. On the eve of their victory against Red, he had dropped his trump card, her son, Dayspring Gleam.

Against a foe such as Red, their momentary lapse was all he needed to seize victory. Attaching essence stones to both Twilight and Rainbow’s hooves, he blocked their power and sealed his victory.

Twilight looked down at her hoof. Specifically, the essence stone attached to it. It had absorbed the natural talent of her son, Taz, and started to radiate it when it was attached to her and Rainbow. In truth, she didn’t mind hers; yes it was a painful to go without her magic, but it was Rainbow’s that bothered her the most.

The pegasus was without flight. Rainbow’s beautiful magical golden wings were taken from her with the essence stone. She was a flier who couldn’t fly, a butterfly with its wings clipped. It made Twilight cry just to even look at her somedays.

Rainbow kept a stiff upper lip about it, but it was obvious to her wife. They had been married forever, and as such the two couldn’t keep secrets from each other anymore after so long. Twilight simply watched as she dove into her stack of pancakes.

Across from Twilight on the other side of the table sat Ana, Ataxia, and Night’s foal, one of Twilight and Rainbow’s grandfoals. She looked, in one word, pissed.

The dark-blue unicorn with red eyes and a cutie mark of a long mane with a golden hairbrush running through it was always pissed these days. Her permanent expression was a frown. They had all tried talking to her, but with the object of her hatred now living under the same roof as her, it was of no use.

A year ago, the words Ana and hated would never have been used in the same sentence. She had been the definition of kind hearted, always trying to help everyone she could, always concerned with the feelings and well being of those around her.

However, she loved a stallion, one that loved somepony else. Growing up with him, Ana always had a foal-hood crush on her uncle, Taz. Everypony assumed that one day, when she matured, she’d get over it.

She hadn’t, she didn’t, and she wouldn’t. When Taz and Nighttide’s relationship started going full steam. Ana’s crush turned into jealousy, her jealousy turned into anger, and that anger became hatred.

No words could heal a broken heart, for only time could do that.

Twilight’s attention was pulled away from Ana to the stairs behind them when she heard a ruckus coming down it. The source of the disturbance soon made itself known in the form of two white pegasi twins.

“Grandmas!” Blaze and Flash yelled out as they fully on charged the two mares sitting at the table. Rainbow leapt up and intercepted both, tackling them to the ground before they could reach Twilight—playfully of course.

Twilight just chuckled, she tried explaining that her title was great aunt and not grandmother, but with these two, it was just better to go with the flow at times.

Rainbow rolled and played with the two twins, enjoying this moment of family bonding. Twilight smiled as she watched her wife play with them. A long, long time ago, Twilight never would have seen Rainbow as a mother figure. But life has a tendency to change a mare.

Not drastically, but Rainbow was still Rainbow and had a more… liberal view of parenting, especially when it came to things like fun, sex, and the like. But seeing her now, it was hard to imagine what Rainbow would be like without her family.

Twilight was so distracted by it that she failed to notice Dayspring sitting down next to her, which is until the stallion wrapped her in his hoof for a hug. “Hey mom.”

Twilight smiled. “Love you, Day.”

“Love you too.”

Radiant Star didn’t say a word as he took one of the eight seats on the other side of the table, the seat directly across from Day. There was a time when the white unicorn would have teased Dayspring about public displays of affection right in front him, but, truth be told, he’d give anything to be able to hug his own mother one more time, or his wife for that matter.

“Dad, are you okay?” Flash asked as he managed to squirm his way away from Rainbow to join everyone at the table.

Rainbow released Blaze and stood up to see what the problem was. Radiant had a tear in his eye. “He’s fine, Flash. They’re just cutting onions in the kitchen.”

“Oh… okay.”

There were no onions being cut in the kitchen.

Rainbow took her seat right next to Twilight's left. Flash sat down one seat down from his father to left, Blaze sit between them. Between them the mood was… solemn after that, although the twins didn’t know why.

Blaze made to blow in his milk, a little trick that generally got a laugh out of at least Rainbow. He was stopped when Rainbow placed his hoof on his shoulder. “Not now, please.”

“Okay…”

On the other side of Radiant, Ana huffed, but said nothing.

“There you are!” A voice yelled out from the staircase. Every set of eyes turned to see a blue unicorn with a rainbow mane walk down the stairs. “Told you if Ana wasn’t in her room she’d be down here,” Starlight stated as she looked back up the stairs.

“Yeah, yeah,” Ataxia stated as she glared at the young mare.

“Hey… mom,” Ana said as she looked up at Ataxia, torn between wanting to simply be pissed and wanting to run up to her and hug her with all her might.

Ataxia’s eyes went wide at that. She smiled, and with a wisdom normally not known in the mare, simply walked over and sat down right next to her. Ana slowly started to lean over to her mother, that is until Ataxia got bored and simply pulled her in for a hug.

“I’m sorry, Ana. I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you as much as you needed. I swore I’d never do that to you, and... and I did.”

Ana shed no tears; Twilight could have sworn that she saw a smile upon the young unicorn’s face; a smile that went away when Rainbow opened her muzzle. “How is she?”

Starlight answered this one as she sat down next to Ataxia. “Seriously? You spent almost all day yesterday at mom’s side.”

“I meant is she doing any… better?”

Ana frowned and pulled away; Ataxia brushed her mane out of her face with a hoof. “No, no she’s not. But we… I haven’t given up hope.”

Starlight hugged her mom at that.

“I’m getting another shipment of books in today from Warclaw, apparently they found some old ones that have been lost. They might have something in them,” Dayspring added.

“You’ll be careful, right?” Twilight asked.

“I’m… well versed in the darker spells, mom. I know what to look out for and not to cast a spell without knowing exactly what it will do.”

“Ha, it took Twilight years to learn that lesson,” Rainbow laughed.

“I wouldn’t have become a princess if I learned it earlier,” Twilight replied, hitting Rainbow playfully in the gut with a hoof as she did so.

“And if you pull that same shit again, I’ll break into Hades and kick your flank up and down the River Styx,” Aurora said as she walked down the stairs with her daughter and son.

“Mom said a bad word,” Dayspring chipped in from on top of Vela’s back.

“She’s allowed to, she’s an adult,” Vela told him.

“How do you get away with it then?”

“Big sister’s prerogative.”

“That doesn’t seem fair.”

Before the two could go on, Dayspring Gleam interrupted. “I’d do it again in a second, even with the well-deserved flank kicking that’d come with it. After all, that’s the job of the older brother: to look after his younger siblings.”

“You’re five minutes older than me.”

“As I said, older.”

“Hey,” Twilight said as she placed her right wing upon Day’s back. “Don’t even joke about that. Please, it’s not funny.” There were tears in her eyes when she spoke.

Dayspring ran his hoof through his mane. “Sorry, I forget sometimes that this is still kinda new to all of you. I’ve had years to come to terms with it.”

“And you should’ve come back years ago,” Rainbow added with a scowl.

“I’m never going to live that down, am I?”

Aurora cuffed him over the head with a hoof as she took one of the seven seats on Twilight's side of the table, the one right next to her brother’s right. “You don’t deserve to, dork.”

Vela smiled as she saw her mom and uncle sitting together. She had never known Dayspring Gleam before his return. Of all the foals, only Taz knew him before six months ago. Still, from what she had learned of him in the last six months, he seemed, in a word, cool.

Not that she’d ever tell him that.

Her eyes looked at the empty seats left. There were a few empty chairs still to take, but only one near her mother. If she wanted to sit with her brother, she’d have to take the two empty seats next to Rainbow. Of course, that’d force Nighttide and Taz to divide up, something she didn’t really want to do.

Her eyes fell upon a certain white pegasus with a yellow lightning bolt cutie mark and the empty chair to his left. “Hey, Day, would you mind sitting with mom today?”

“Umm… okay?” Dayspring said as he jumped down from Vela’s back and took the chair to Aurora’s right.

Vela grunted a little as he jumped off. Her mom’s words proved to be true: the eight-year-old was getting bigger. She shook it off and walked to the other side of the table to take the seat next to Flash and across from her brother.

Flash cocked her a little smile when she did, something she was quick to return. He saw it even though she did her best to hide it from the others.

No pony or hippogriff saw when Vela grabbed Flash’s hoof under the table. The pegasus looked ready to jump out of his fur at the sudden act, but, wisely, said nothing.

Things had been… weird between them for almost six months, and he didn’t have a clue why.

“Told you we’d end up being the last ones down here,” Nighttide stated as they walked down the stairs.

“Hey, it’s not my fault you look so sexy in the shower,” Taz added with a grin.

“Who told you to come back into the bathroom?” Nighttide faked her complaint.

“What do you mean? I had to pee.”

Starlight chuckled as she saw Twilight all but bury her head in her hooves.

“Totally called it, morning nookie, in the shower!” Rainbow cheered. “Hey, Twi, you owe me two bits!”

“All. Day. Yesterday. And. Again. This. Morning.” Twilight moaned every word.

“Oh, please, it’s not like you two haven't done worse, or did you forget the two weeks you locked yourselves in your home?” Ataxia added with a shit-eating grin.

The blush on the alicorn’s face was rather cute.

“Maybe Taz has magic after all, it’s just all confined to his cock?” Rainbow asked.

“RAINBOW!” Dayspring Gleam, Aurora, Radiant, Ataxia, Taz, Flash, Blaze, Starlight, and Twilight all shouted at the same time.

“What?”

“It is,” Nighttide said with a blushing smile.

“I knew it!”

Taz had to resist the urge to hide his muzzle right now. Every face at the table was either blushing, envious, or pointedly looking someplace else. Every face but one that is; Ana was glaring at Nighttide with venom in her eyes.

Seeing those piercing red eyes glaring at Nighttide, Taz was worried she might actually try something. He wasn’t worried that Nighttide might actually be in danger, the mare was more than capable of handling herself, but he didn’t want either of them to be hurt.

“Let’s take a seat, I’m kinda hungry,” Taz whispered.

“Can’t survive on a diet of just my taco?” Nighttide whispered back, teasingly.

Taz laughed as the two made their way down to the end of the table, he took the seat next to Rainbow in effort to keep Nighttide as far away from Ana as he could. She simply kissed him on the cheek as she took the seat on his other side.

Rainbow wrapped her son in a hug and gave him a noogie. “Mom!” Taz exclaimed.

“Don’t ‘mom’ me!” she said, increasing her pace.

Nighttide giggled as she watched her love get noogied by his mom.

Dayspring Gleam smiled as he watched his little brother getting a well-deserved punishment. That smile faded as he saw the look of concentration on Twilight's face. He had spent many hours with Twilight and knew when his mom was lost in thought. “Mom, what’s wrong?”

“ Nothing.”

“C’mon, Twilight, just spit it out,” Rainbow said as Taz managed to pull away from her.

“Well, I just…”

“Ugh, she’s been wondering why Nightmare Moon hasn’t plunged the world into eternal night!” Rainbow spat out.

Most eyes turned to Nighttide when Rainbow said that. Nightmare Moon was the mare’s mother, or at least, she was the mare that gave birth to her. ‘Mother’ was a rather strong term to use.

She had been anything but motherly.

Nighttide looked down at her hooves; it was her fault Nightmare Moon was back, and that Luna wasn’t with them anymore. She couldn’t deny it. She had been tricked into believing that Nightmare Moon actually cared about her, and that Luna stole her mother from her.

I didn’t, I hadn’t; I don’t want to hurt anyone. I didn’t know that… her thoughts were like a broken record playing over and over again. The truth was: Luna was her mother, or the only real one she might ever know. If not for Mindsink’s interference, Luna would have been with her right now. Tears started to fall down Nighttide’s face.

It was Rainbow’s usual tact, IE none, that caused those tears to fall. Yet Taz couldn’t deal with is mom right this second, he had to deal with Nighttide. They had all been walking on eggshells around the mare for the last six months. Even bringing up the subject of Nighttide’s mother would cause her to break down and cry.

“If you want we can go back to our room,” Taz said in a whisper as he held her.

“No… I-I needed to face this someday.”

“Too bad you didn’t face it six months ago,” Ana spat out.

Radiant had to resist the urge to smack her upside the back of the head.

Ataxia had no such compunction about holding back.

“OWW, what in the…”

“You deserved it, young lady!”

Taz glared over the table. “I still consider us friends, Ana, and I don’t want you to get hurt. But I won’t let you attack my marefriend like this!” he stated, his voice dripping with venom as he held a scowl at her.

Ana’s eyes went wide and she opened her muzzle to reply something, but quickly shut it. She could see that he was being serious about it.

“I think Nighttide paid a price for it,” Taz continued. “She lost everything she was hoping for.”

“And yet I won something wonderful I never thought of before,” Nighttide whispered lovingly as her frown turned into a smile.

Most of those present smiled at the turnaround the mare showed. It was obvious to anypony that looked at them how in love they were, how much one being happy simply made the other happy. Indeed, there was only one that refused to accept it, the very same one Ataxia had smacked upside the back of her head.

“But… mom’s right,” Taz admitted. “It’s been almost six months since Luna was… changed. Last time Nightmare Moon returned didn’t she attack immediately?”

“She did,” Rainbow confirmed. “That was the day I met Twilight actually.”

“And I doubt Night could put up much of a challenge right now if Nightmare Moon fought to keep the moon up,” Radiant stated. Then turned guilty to Ataxia. “No offense.”

“You’re itching for a smack upside the back of the head too, huh?” Ataxia asked.

“It’s gotta be Red,” Rainbow stated. “It must be against his plan to do so right now.”

“Why would Red care if Nightmare Moon brought about eternal darkness or not?” Aurora asked.

“Maybe he really does love her and doesn’t want to risk losing her again?” Starlight asked.

Taz tried to hold back his laughter, he tried, but failed. “Seriously?”

“Well, they did have a foal,” Starlight said.

“My mom doesn’t… didn’t love anyone,” Nighttide stated.

“How can you know? She even fooled you, and it worked quite well. We wouldn’t face this mess now without you being…” Ana was silenced by Ataxia’s glare that could cut through steel and a tremble of her body. Ana gulped and immediately shut her muzzle.

“It’s a good theory,” Dayspring Gleam stated. “I mean, Nightmare Moon was locked in the moon for a thousand years with Red, maybe he really did fall in love with her?”

“So… he’s not letting her cause eternal darkness out of love?” Taz asked.

“Well, he might not want her to do it because of the amount of power it’d take. We’d be able to trace it to her location easy enough,” Dayspring Gleam stated.

“He doesn’t want to risk losing her,” Rainbow said aloud.

“Is she really that big of a threat?” Vela asked. “I mean, shouldn’t we just be focused on stopping the unicorn that foal-napped Taz?”

“You shouldn’t be focused on anything, young lady,” Aurora said.

“Hey, I can take care of myself, maybe even better than you sometimes, mom,” Vela snorted with a smile.

“Do you think we can use Nightmare Moon against Red?” Ataxia asked.

“I don’t think so,” Nighttide started and all eyes snapped to her. “In the last four-hundred years, my father never let himself get weak for anything. Not even if it was on the head of his brothers. He will continue, no matter what we do to the Nightmare. I have the bad feeling that he will ignore everything we do to it and just continue with his plans, whatever they might be.”

“If we could just cure Night…”

“We’re trying,” Twilight spoke up with tears in her eyes. “We have every library in every city in every country looking for a cure. We’re… we’re…”

Rainbow wrapped a hoof around Twilight. “We’re trying,” she repeated.

“He’s really doing all of this for a name?” Starlight asked, perplexed. She had heard the story before, but this just seemed cruel over something so small.

“He’s a god, or a wanna-be god anyway,” Rainbow stated.

“It’s a little more complicated than that,” Twilight added, “he is indeed a god, born to Eros and Tartarus, but it sounded like he wasn’t complete without his name. He said for gods, concepts like names and ownership are taken to extremes. He implied that without his name he's only a fraction of a fraction of what he should be. That’s why he’s trying to resurrect Tartarus.”

Ataxia noticeably shivered at the mention of him. As one of the three ponies that actually fought Tartarus, she didn’t relish a rematch.

Coming from Ataxia, that was saying something.

“You know…” Taz started to say, then stopped. “Never mind.”

“What is it?” Radiant asked.

“I… it’s dumb.”

“Spit it out, little brother,” Dayspring said with a kind smile.

Taz rubbed his chin with a hoof as he tried to remember what Red had told him. “Well… when I was in Tartarus, Red said that control is knowing what you have and what you want, and that power… power—”

“Power is having something someone else wants and cannot have,” Nighttide finished.

“Yeah, that. Maybe that goes double for gods?” Taz asked.

“So if we had Red’s real name, we’d have power over him?” Blaze asked.

“Great, so all we need to do is resurrect a dead god ourselves, and ask him to pretty-pretty please give us his bastard son’s name,” Ataxia chipped in with a roll of her eyes.

The Non-date Date

Celestia’s Palace

The mood had been solemn since the adults left. There was an aura of apprehension around those that stayed; almost as if they were waiting for something to happen; something that the nothing that actually happened just seemed to validate as going to happen.

After a while the group broke apart. Taz and Nighttide were off to their room; Flash, Blaze, and Vela went to test out the new armor, which struck Starlight as strange since Vela didn’t get a set of her own, but she didn’t press the issue. Aurora took her son to go eat.

That left Starlight and Ana by themselves, the latter of which decided that Starlight needed to look simply divine before her date, which was in ten hours away.

At the end of the ten hours, Starlight swore she’d shave her mane off before going through that again. Still, as she looked herself over in the mirror, she couldn’t exactly fault the results.

She had always kept her rainbow mane short since it was simply more practical; after all. It was easier to take care of, had low maintenance, and was quick to clean. That being said, somehow Ana had figured out how to take something pragmatic and turn it flamboyant.

Ana had styled her mane to be puffed up and over the side of her head. In the back, it almost stuck out at an angle. She didn’t stop there either. Ana went through Aurora’s room and borrowed a beautiful set of diamond earrings, plus a dress made from the finest silk. It’s coloring matched Starlight’s own with intricate designs and inscriptions running along the sides.

“I thought we agreed that this is not a date, but simply a dinner,” Starlight complained as she looked at her new accessories.

“You want to take them off?” Ana asked with a grin.

“Well… I never said that.” Even Starlight had to admit. She looked outstanding in these clothes. While she had never been the one to care about her looks before, this made her feel… pretty.

“Good; because she should be here any minute now,” Ana said as she glanced over to the clock.

Starlight looked too, it was six-fifteen. “Ana, she’s fifteen minutes late!”

“Bat-ponies,” Ana just snorted, “and a mare one at that, you gotta expect a little tardiness.”

Starlight glared at her. “That’s speciesist, and sexist, not all mares are late!”

Ana laughed. “You being the exception, right?”

Starlight wanted to retort, but almost bit her tongue when there was a knock at the door.

“Oh, your date’s here!” Ana said, giggling as she went to answer it.

“For the last time, it’s not a date!”

“Whatever,” Ana replied as she opened the door, seeing Echoside “Hello, Echoside.”

Starlight’s eyes locked on Echoside. The mare was sitting on her flank on the other side of the door. While Starlight was more dressed up than she ever remembered being in her life, Echoside’s attire was simply what she had managed to steal from her bunk when most of the ponies went to sleep. She was in plain grey sweater with a hoodie that had two white straps.

“That’s what you’re going to wear on my sister’s date?” Ana asked, shocked.

“Hello translator, nice to see you too,” Echoside said with a huff before locking eyes on Starlight. “Wow… I thought this wasn’t a date?”

Starlight just blushed madly, not knowing what to say. Echoside was just in a sweater, but still, she looked beautiful, and cute. “I-I… I mean... I um…”

“My sister says you look good too,” Ana said with a smirk.

Echoside rolled her eyes before replying, “Let’s get going, I’m starving and, maybe if we get out of your sister’s range of control, you’ll be able to complete a full sentence.”

Starlight nodded before heading out the door, she was more nervous than she’d ever been in her life.

“Enjoy your DATE you two!” Ana shouted when they were halfway down the hallway.

“It's not a date!” Starlight shouted back.

Echoside just chuckled as she led the way. It was… awkward having a unicorn by her side, but she had chosen this sweater on purpose. It—nicely—hid her bat wings. So, provided one didn’t notice her ears, eyes, or fangs, you could easily mistake her for an earth pony. Still, walking side by side with a blue unicorn that couldn’t figure out how her tongue worked didn’t exactly make for a good time.

“I hope you got bits,” Echoside commented when they left the palace. “We’ll need them where we’re going.”

“Where are we going anyway?” Starlight asked.

“You'll see it soon enough,” Echoside grinned.

Starlight kept silent while they walked. She tried to balance the space between them, keeping to just what she felt was appropriate; but every once in awhile they’d bump into each other, causing Starlight to blush. The bat-pony was lost in her thoughts while they walked. She was leading Starlight to the corner of the town, straight towards a bar.

When she saw it, Starlight snorted, “Echoside, you can't be serious, I can't go in there!”

“Why not? You thought I’d lead you to a fancy restaurant, fit for a princess?”

“It’d ruin my dress,” Starlight pleaded as she watched her walk forward.

“If you don't want to go out with me, just tell me,” Echoside replied, more than a little annoyed.

Starlight blushed at those words. She didn’t know why, but she really did want to go out with her today. The walk had been… awkward, but even still, she'd be lying if she said she didn’t—on some level—enjoy it. “And… um… I-I can’t.” She was… hesitant to say the real reason why.

“And why not?” Echoside asked coolly.

“It would, um.” Starlight nervously ran one hoof along the length of another. “Be illegal.”

“Princesses can go into bars,” Echoside scuffed.

“Not thirteen-year-old ones.”

Echoside paused at that. “You’re thirteen?”

Starlight stared down at her hooves, blushing as she meaked out, “Yes.”

“I can't believe it. I'm going out with a filly.” I’m so going to jail. Her mouth couldn’t help itself. “How can one... how can one look that beautiful at just thirteen?” Echoside asked.

That took Starlight aback. She had been called many things before, but that? She looked up, “Y-you’re not mad? I didn’t mean to lie to you or anything.”

“You never lied, so no I'm not mad. But this… This will make things complicated.” Echoside shook her head before grinning at the absurdity of this. “I'm twenty.”

“Oh. That’s only seven years difference. That’s not too bad. My parents are nine years apart, and Taz and Nighttide are like four hundred and forty-eight years apart.”

Echoside laughed. “Now I know you're shitting me.”

“No, I’m serious. Nighttide’s four hundred sixty-two; Taz, fourteen, do the math.”

“Wow,” Echoside whispered before blushing.

“Yeah,” Starlight replied.

I should take her home, apologize, and hope she doesn’t report me, Echoside thought. All I need to do is drink enough beer, and I’ll forget this ever happened.

“I know a place where we can go together.”

WHY DID I SAY THAT‽

Starlight actually found herself smiling at that. “You still want to? I mean… you still want to continue this… date?”

Echoside ran a hoof through her mane before saying, “Ah buck it, I’m already screwed, might as well have a good memory to keep me company in jail; so yes, let’s keep going.” Echoside stopped. “Wait… did you just call it a date?”

Starlight blushed as she glanced up into the mare’s lavender eyes. They were simply beautiful to her. She had denied it for ten hours, but now that they were out, now that Echoside had called her… beautiful, she simply couldn’t anymore. All the evidence pointed to only one logical conclusion: She was out on a date, her first date. “Yes. And they won’t arrest you, I’ll make sure they don’t.”

Echoside smirked. “Then let's go, date. We have a nice restaurant waiting for us.”

Starlight smiled and moved to Echoside’s side. She wasn’t sure just how close she could walk, but even though their coats were touching, she wanted to be that much closer to her. Her unspoken question was answered when Echoside bumped her flank with her own. Starlight laughed and recovered quickly enough. “So, if I may ask, that pony in the barracks, um… what did he mean by your grandmas anyway?”

Echoside smiled sadly. “My grandmas are kind of the most famous bat-ponies in history. I should feel good about that. But all the others say I’m just here because of them; that if I wasn’t related to them, I’d never have made it on my own. Like they’re giving me some bucking special treatment, even though I’m doing the same shitty work they are.”

Starlight shut her muzzle as she thought about that. In the end, she said, “I think I can relate to you on that one.”

“How come?” Echoside asked.

“My grandmas are Princess Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash. You want to talk about a big shadow?”

“Mine are General Night Watch and her wife, Blue Moon.”

Starlight’s eyes went wide. She knew little of bat-ponies, but everyone knew of the great general. “I guess we both got some big horseshoes to fill, huh?”

“Kinda.” Echoside chuckled. “Now let's hurry, If we wait too long it might fill up..”

Starlight did her best to keep up. She looked over at her date and saw Echoside in a new light, they both lived in the shadows of giants, shadows they’d never fill.

“What made you decide to join the Night Guard anyway?” Starlight asked.

“You ask a lot of questions, don’t you?”

“Thank you.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

Starlight looked down—a little put off, causing Echoside to sigh before continuing. “Well, if you must know, Luna basically forced me.”

“Pardon me?”

“Luna said that with whom my grandmas are, I should join; something about living up to the potential she sees something in me. She told me I could make it far if I tried… whatever that means.” Echoside started chuckling.

“Does ‘princess’ count?” Starlight asked before quickly shutting her muzzle.

Echoside blinked. “Uh, what?”

“Nothing!” Starlight shrieked.

“You’re weird, but funny, pri—I mean, Starlight.”

“Wow, you know my name?” Starlight asked playfully.

“I call the ponies I like by name.” Echoside chuckled before groaning at her unintended slip up and hitting her head at the object she saw: a street lamp.

Starlight quickly laid her hoof on her shoulder, making her stop. “Hey, relax.”

“What happened to the shy mare from a few minutes ago?” Echoside asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Change of heart?”

“You’re funny now that you found your tongue, you know that?”

Starlight found herself blushing. Echoside smiled and brushed past her as she continued to their destination. The young mare shook her head clear when she remembered what she was supposed to say. “Oh, I wanted to say thanks; for the armor, I mean.”

Echoside smiled. “Better late than never, huh?”

“I blame your beautiful eyes,” Starlight said under her breath before remembering that bat-pony hearing was a mark above even pegasi.

Echoside laughed. “I think you have to learn a lot about my kind. I heard that.”

“I don't want to learn about your kind, I want to learn about you.”

Echoside blushed this time, and her pace increased as she looked away.

Starlight cocked her head, confused as she watched the mare all but trot away now. It’s almost like she doesn’t like talking about herself… but why?

The unicorn teleported in front of Echoside, almost making the mare jump out of her sweater. “You know you can talk to me, right? I don’t bite.”

“I know. Because it's me that usually does the biting,” Echoside said before her obvious blush intensified, making it match Starlight’s.

Starlight had heard tales of bat-ponies’ unusual habits before. They were something her mom, Ataxia, informed her of one day, despite her protests not to.

“W-why are you blushing now? Please don't tell me you understood that dumb innuendo,” Echoside groaned.

“S-so, it’s not true?”

Echoside opened her muzzle, only to close it again when she saw her saving grace: a way to change the subject without either admitting something to a thirteen-year-old she didn’t want to admit, or lying. “Oh look, we're here!”

Starlight was perplexed. “The… The Seafresh?”

Echoside smiled. “Yeah, it's a famous restaurant for thestrals, my grandmas and parents used to visit it all the time.”

Nervously, Starlight looked at Echoside. “Does it have… salads?”

Echoside giggled. “Don't worry, they’ve also got dishes edible for ponies.”

As the two walked inside together, Starlight got a huge sniff of the place. It was stinky. It smelt like meat, something that didn’t sit well in her stomach. Unconsciously, she pressed her coat against Echoside’s for whatever support she could get.

“Everything fine? The restaurant looks mostly empty, but we can leave if you feel uncomfortable,” Echoside said, pawing at the ground with her hoof.

“No it’s fine, I just… umm…”—Starlight looked around for something to use as an excuse—“just feeling a little overdressed.”

“You can tell me the truth. Let me guess, you’ve never smelled or seen meat dishes before?”

“That obvious?” Starlight asked.

“Kinda, yeah,” Echoside said, before groaning and shutting her muzzle. “Not the first time I’ve seen that look on a pony’s muzzle.”

“Oh.” Starlight’s stomach started to churn violently at the aroma. Stupid, did you really think you were her first too?

“Starlight, I'm not going to lie to you, yes, I was with others before; three to be exact, mares as well as stallions. Please don't feel bad about it, because I really like you,” Echoside said, gently cupping Starlight’s muzzle with a hoof.

The young mare chuckled a little. “Sorry. Before last night I’ve never even thought about dating somepony, not seriously anyway. And then you just kinda… I don’t know, you were just… intriguing to me? And now here I am… on my first date.”

“Well, let’s make sure that it isn't our last, huh?” Echoside said, her voice soft, alluring, and sentimental.. She's not the stuck up princess I thought she would be. She is… Nice… more than that actually.

“Why, Echoside, are you asking Princess Stick-In-Her-Flank out on a second date?”

“If she’s willing to take the rude and uncivilized mare out on another, sure.”

“I’d say she’s inclined to acquiesce to your request.”

“Uh, what?”

“It means yes,” Starlight said with a smile. Who knew she would be that much different?

Echoside laughed. “I don't understand fancy, so just say it.”

It was Starlight’s turn to lead the way. She rubbed her coat against Echoside’s and walked up to a booth. Jumping in, she smiled for her date to do likewise. Echoside gave her a cocky grin before following her.

“Welcome back, Echoside. It’s been a while,” the waiter—a dark-blue bat-pony—said as he walked up with several menus in his bag. Pulling out two, he placed them in front of both mares, a smile upon his muzzle at the sight of the two. “Is this your new marefriend?”

“Blue Fire, that's just—” Echoside groaned, making Starlight chuckle.

“Yes, yes I am,” Starlight said with a smile.

Echoside snapped her head upwards so fast that Starlight could have sworn she heard her neck cracking. “What‽”

“Well, I mean, we’re dating, right?” Starlight asked.

“Y-yes, we are,” Echoside blushed.

“So that’d make you my marefriend and me yours?”

“I think she’s got you there, Echoside,” Blue Fire said with a grin as he watched the display. “Although I must say, this is the first time I’ve seen you in here with a normal.”

“Blue Fire, T-M-I, thanks!” Echoside cried.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean any offence, you have to understand we don’t get many no—day ponies in here, so we kinda get used to our own slang. Well, I’m going to go remove my hoof from my muzzle, I’ll leave you two to look over the menu and get back to you when it’s out.”

As Starlight watched Blue Fire walk away, she turned to Echoside to ask the burning question on her mind. “Normal?”

“You're not a thestral—bat-pony, so you're a normal in our speech.”

“Oh, so like a generic term for earth ponies, unicorns, or pegasi?”

Echoside frowned. “Yes, it’s just that some of my kind don’t mean it very... kindly.”

“Oh…” Starlight suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

“Hey, don’t worry, big Echoside is here,” Echoside said, a positive smile crossing her muzzle.

Starlight’s worried expression melted into a smile. “You truly are unique”—she giggled before opening her menu—“oh, so they do have a wide range of salads!”

“Yep.” Echoside blushed before cocking her head. “I hope you don’t mind if I order my usual.”

“What’s your usual?”

“This here.” Echoside pointed at one menu at the top. “Red seabream with a delicious topping of herbs and potatoes.”

“Oh, a fish,” Starlight mumbled, before raising her head as Echoside raised eyebrow. “I thought you’d order a really bloody steak or something.”

“I may not come across as fancy, but I do know how to behave on a date, and that’s why I took you here. It’s not bloody and the smell is less… potent. You can order any salad you want.” Echoside smiled.

Starlight blushed furiously. “You don’t have to hold back for me, but thanks. I think I’ll take the royal daisy salad with strawberry topping.”

“Excellent choice, both of you!” Blue Fire beamed, startling them both as he appeared at their table.

“Damn, Blue Fire, ten years out of duty and still that fast,” Echoside smiled awkwardly.

“You never forget some things if you keep your body in shape,” Blue Fire said before taking their menus under his wings. “I’ll bring you your meals as soon as they're ready!”

Starlight chuckled before turning to Echoside. “So, do you want to tell me a bit more about you?”

“Hmm, is there anything in particular you’d want to know?”

“Just tell me something. Where do you come from, what did you do before joining the guards?”

Echoside smirked. “Okay, but that might be a long story. Well, I was actually born in Las Pegasus; my moms had an equipment store there. You could buy everything from books specialized on rare topics, up to light bat-pony armor and other odd things.”

“You have two moms also?” Starlight asked.

Echoside blushed. “I don’t have a father. My parents are both mares. I don’t know much about how they did it, but it involved clinics, magic, and artificial something or another.”

“Artificial insemination?”

“Yeah, that.”

“Mine… used sex clones…” Starlight said under her breath, knowing Echoside would hear either way.

“You’re joking.”

Starlight shook her head that she wasn’t. Ataxia had just loved telling them that story.

“Wow, my story seems kinda boring now. My parents did it the mundane way.”

A voice behind them suddenly startled both mares. “And they have both paid the price for it.”

It was the big stallion from the barracks.

“What are you doing with the little princess here? On a date with a normal‽ Wow, I never thought you could fall that far.” He laughed.

“You better shut your muzzle before I bite it off,” Echoside growled, her fangs bared.

He smiled. “Oh really? You would lose in front of your little friend here?”

“Blue Fire!” Echoside yelled. “You better close early today.” She added the last sentence in a hiss, wings flared out.

“Not in here!” Blue Fire shrieked. But it was too late. The stallion rushed forward and served the first blow to Echoside.

That being said, being bigger is not always better. Echoside was much faster than him, allowing her to duck and dodge his blows. She knew that she was done if he served her a good hit. Starlight in the meanwhile sat still, her muzzle open as she watched Echoside.

She’s moving so fast and… elegantly… Starlight thought before mouthing a single: “Wow.”

Echoside was definitely a mover and a scrapper. She ducked low, seeming to respond to his blows like they were choreographed in advance to the mare. Whenever the larger, stronger pony would miss, Echoside would land two of her own.

In a way it was almost comical. That being said, Starlight could already see the problem. The old adage is true: You can’t hit what you can’t catch. However, the environment and terrain definitely favored the bigger pony. Between stalls like this, Echoside simply couldn’t maneuver. She couldn’t use her speed to its full advantage.

As the blows, launched from the bigger pony, came dangerously close to hitting Echoside, there was one in particular that caused Starlight to gasp. He tried to step down on her wing, pinning her in place. Echoside rolled to the left to avoid it, but only barely escaped.

I should help her, I could put an end to this, easily. But… would she hate me if I interfered? What do I do? Memories of bat-ponies and honor came back to the princess unbidden.

Her decision was made for her. For while Starlight had figured out that Echoside was at a disadvantage if the fight dragged out. Echoside already knew that. The mare let the larger stallion think she was tiring. He attempted to capitalize by body-slamming her into a support pillar. Echoside waited until he was fully committed before leaping back at the pillar itself, bouncing off of it, and then using her wings to flip herself in the air to land on the stallion’s back.

There, she extended her fangs and sunk them deep into the larger pony’s neck, viciously wounding him in the process and causing him to scream in pain as he tried to dislodge her.

Echoside was beyond pissed. This is for all the shit you and everyone else gave me! I’m NOT my grandmothers, I’m my own mare!

The larger pony slammed her back against a table three times, but each time his blows grew weaker and weaker as he failed to dislodge the mare.

Echoside grinned in victory as she knew she had won. This fool will need medical treatment after this. Ha, serves him right. She wouldn’t let go until the last possible moment between hurting him and killing him.

Then she saw Starlight staring at her, and the look of horror upon the princess’s face.

She let go. “Starlight, I—”

As the mare tried in vain to explain, the larger pony felt her teeth remove from his neck and roared back; finding the last of his strength, he squashed the mare between him and the very pillar she has used so effectively against him.

Echoside cried out as she felt something break.

He spun around as she fell to a heap on the ground. “Mediocre. Are you sure you’re Night Watch’s granddaughter? She must be rolling over in her grave.” At those words, he reared up his front legs, ready to break her wings.

The blow never landed. A magical aura surrounded his hooves, preventing them from falling.

“Yeah, enough,” Starlight said.

The large pony glared at her. “Oh, the little mare wants to join in too? Why don’t you go home, little princess, before you get hurt.”

Starlight growled at being so easily dismissed. Only a fool would underestimate my abilities. Ha, I guess he’d qualify.

“What’s your name?” Starlight asked.

“Darkstar.”

“Well, Darkstar, you’re right. I am a princess. I’m the DAUGHTER of Princess Shimmering Night—”

“What makes you think I c—”

“AND Ataxia.”

That caused him to gulp. “Ataxia, the crazy—”

“Yep, that one. Beyond the fact that you’re seriously pissing me off, something anypony who knew me would advise against, do you really, really, REALLY want me to tell my mom about this?”

“You think I’m scared of you and your bastard of a mother?” Darkstar snorted.

That was the wrong thing of him to say. With a growl, Starlight directed her magic, sending him flying through several booths, destroying them as he smashed through.

The young princess got to her hooves and started to walk to the dazed, large bat-pony. “I AM my grandmother’s granddaughter. I carry the abilities of Princess Twilight Sparkle, my grandmother, and my mother, Princess Shimmering Night, and you DARE talk to me like this‽”

Even Echoside looked up in shock as magical power radiated off Starlight in waves. The mare was strong, incredibly strong magic wise.

Darkstar’s eyes spoke of the fear he felt.

“Now I’ll give you two options, Darkstar. Leave and make sure I never see you again, or face your new opponent right here and now.”

The big stallion squeaked, a sound that was utterly amusing from his muzzle. “I’ll leave!”

“If you so much as lay one more hoof on Echoside, I’ll see to it that you’ll never see the darkness of the night again!” Starlight shouted, scowling him down. Starlight’s piercing green eyes watched him scamper away. She had let this happened because she knew honor was important to them, but nopony hurt her marefriend in front of her.

That being said… Starlight quickly looked to Echoside, shocked to see the mare lying on the ground, hard breathing, but looking wide-eyed at her.

“Echoside! Are you okay?”

“He, that bastard broke something,” Echoside choked out.

“I’m sorry I distracted you,” Starlight whispered as she kneeled down and nuzzled Echoside, who blushed furiously. “What’s broken? Your wings? Ribs?”

“I… I think some ribs,” Echoside whispered.

“Let’s get you to the doctors,” Starlight said as she held out a hoof for Echoside to take.

The bat-pony looked at it like it was a snake that was going to bite her. “You shouldn't have gotten in the way,” she growled but took Starlight’s hoof.

“But it was my fault you got hurt.”

Echoside used it to pull herself to her hooves. “Yeah, but… you could’ve been hurt.”

“Not in this or any other lifetime by someone like him,” Starlight said. “Now stop arguing with me. I’m your marefriend and you’re hurt, so we’re gonna get you to the doctors, now.”

As the mare tried to walk, she quickly realized that walking with a broken rib sucks, as does talking, and breathing for that manner. “Ugh, this is gonna be tough.”

“I might have an idea, if you’re willing I can just teleport us there.”

Echoside chuckled. “Teleport?” As she sat down, she grasped her side with a hoof. “You mean like what you did to get us out of your room a few days ago?”

“Yes, but this’ll be a bit different since we’re going a lot further.”

“Oh, what’s that like?”

“Well it’s… it’s easier to just do it then to try and explain.”

“Ahh what the hell, do it.”

“Trust me already, huh?” Starlight teased.

“Yes,” Echoside replied, earning a smile from the young mare.

“Hey, what about this mess‽” Blue Fire shouted.

“Send me the bill at the castle. I’ll replace everything,” Starlight replied before concentrating on her teleport.

“Castle…” Blue Fire’s eyes went wide as the two teleported away.

***

Echoside coughed when she reappeared in a strange, new location; partly from the broken rib, and partly because of the after-effects of the teleportation. She felt hot and… strange.

Although that could be because of the mare next to me.

Starlight wasted no time. The Emergency Room she took her to was practically empty. There were only two ponies waiting in the seats, one of which who did his best to hide his muzzle behind a magical lifted magazine when he realized a bat-pony was in the same room as him. The young princess ran to the reception desk. “We need a doctor, my marefriend broke her ribs!”

The reception pony, a brown unicorn mare, didn’t even look up. “Fill out these forms and we’ll see her when we can.”

“No!” Starlight growled. “Under my order, Princess Starlight, you will see her right now!”

Echoside was impressed, more than impressed when she saw the receptionist jump out of her seat upon hearing those words. “Yes, princess, right away.”

The next few minutes were filled with her getting practically shoved into a wheelchair, poked, prodded, X-rayed, and examined by more unicorns then she had seen since joint drills with the Royal Guard. In the end, they deposited her in an exam room with Starlight.

Something that didn’t happen easily; they had asked Starlight to wait outside, but after an enraged princess and a likewise pissed off bat-pony said no, they stopped arguing and simply let them stay together.

She blinked three times, seeing the unicorn with her sweater draped over her back. “W-what just happened?” Echoside asked.

Starlight blushed. “Sorry, I don’t normally throw my title around but…”

“Why not? Heck you could get anypony to do anything.”

“Which leads to ponies hating you. And makes you a very dull individual.”

Echoside blinked to clear her eyes. “So, you don’t do it, save for special occasions?”

Starlight smiled at Echoside. “Very special occasions.”

Echoside smiled, her heart felt… warm, light… she was… enraptured by her beautiful princess. Something she would’ve doubted the very possibility of happening just hours ago.

Starlight felt her eyes locked on Echoside’s. She blushed and tried to look away, but it was almost an impossibility, as if the mare’s lavender cat-like eyes were a strong magnet that magnetized her own back to them every time she’d look away. Without even thinking what she was doing, Starlight felt herself leaning closer to the mare. It was like the pull of those eyes were just drawing her in.

“Echoside, I—”

“Shh,” Echoside whispered as she raised a hoof and placed it on the back of Starlight’s head. The touch caused the young mare’s heart to leap into her chest. She opened her muzzle ever so and leaned in for—

The door smashed open, revealing a brightly grinning unicorn. “Good evening, my patient!”

And just like that, the magnetic pull was broken. Starlight yanked her head back and blushed furiously as she looked away.

“I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

“No doc, you’re not interrupting ANYTHING,” Echoside growled, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Oh good. Anyway, Miss Echoside, I have your X-rays and wanted to go over them with you as soon as I could.” He levitated several pictures up to an X-ray view box. With a flick of his magic, he turned on the light, revealing the bat-pony’s skeletal structure. “As you can see here, the ribs are in fact not broken, however you did fracture this one here and this one here.”

“W-what does that mean?” Starlight asked.

“It means we don’t need to do surgery or reset the rib; however, these things take time to heal. We’ll have to wrap you in bandages and you’ll have to take things easy for a while.”

“How long’s a while?” Echoside asked.

“Taking into account your species’ advanced healing, I’d say about two months, then a month of light duties just to make sure.”

“BUCK THAT!”

“Isn’t there another way?” Starlight asked.

He smiled. “Well, princess, there is. A way that needs one week of tender care from a unicorn with strong magic.”

Starlight looked at Echoside, her heart fluttering, then back at the doctor. “I’ll do it, just explain everything.”

“It’s very advanced, are you su—”

“Trust me, she’s the best at advanced stuff,” Echoside said with a smile.

“Hmm… Okay, I’ll teach you how to do it, if I feel you can handle it, then I’ll give the go ahead. However, we’ll still need to bandage her up. Nurse, if you’d come in here please?”

Starlight saw a white unicorn mare walk in with a heartbeat monitor cutie mark. “Follow me, princess.”

She took one look at Echoside. The bat-pony seemed annoyed, albeit Starlight couldn’t say if that was because she was being bandaged, or because Starlight was leaving.

Without realizing what she was doing, as soon as she saw Echoside turn to the nurse, Starlight planted a kiss on the side of the mare’s cheek. “Be nice while I’m gone,” she said before turning back to the doctor.

Echoside’s eyes went wide as she felt it. She turned to the unicorn that was already walking away while rubbing her cheek with a hoof in hopes of saving that feeling.

***

The two ponies walked side by side on their way home. Starlight had proven to be a natural with the spell, so much so that the doctor asked if she’d volunteer her time at the hospital once a week to help others. The mare had agreed to twice a week, for an hour a day.

Echoside immediately felt better after the spell was cast. She was told that her sides would hurt, as when healed. Doing it this way meant that she couldn’t be put on pain meds; but, after the spell was cast once a day, she’d feel better for a few hours.

“I’m sorry about this,” Echoside said, her eyes downcast.

“For what?” Starlight asked.

Echoside looked over to the young mare. The blue unicorn was in her grey sweater; Echoside said it looked better on her anyway. “Our date. I mean, it was kinda a crappy first date. We didn’t even get to eat at the restaurant; hospital food, yuck.”

Starlight smiled and hummed. “Well, as far as I can see, our first date just got extended by a week.”

Echoside chuckled. “You always do that, huh? See the good in everything?”

“Mhm, especially with my marefriend around.”

“Well, I am that awesome, aren't I?

“Don’t push it,” Starlight said.

Echoside laughed at that as they rounded the bend to the castle. “Well, princess, I have to say, I had a good night.”

“Back to princess?” Starlight asked.

“What can I say, I have a new… respect for princesses after tonight, well, one anyway.”

“You’re cute, you better watch out that I don’t keep you,” Starlight teased.

“Would that be so bad?”

“I love my cushions fluffy and warm.”

Echoside blushed as she sat back on her flanks, her cheeks turning a shade of lavender that matched her eyes.

Starlight paused, confused why the mare stopped there. “What’s wrong?”

“Well, I’m that way.”

“You’re fluffy and warm?”

“No, I mean I live that way, and you’re that way,” Echoside said, poking a hoof to the right.

“Aww, that was the wrong answer. I guess my bed stays cold tonight,” Starlight said, her voice saddened.

“W-what?” Echoside blushed even more.

Starlight looked confused, until she caught on. “You pervert! I meant for cuddling. But yeah, I guess that’s a bit far for a first date?”

“A little,” Echoside replied. “I mean, I’ve moved fast before, but with you… I kinda want to… do this right?”

“It’s not because I’m that young, right?” Starlight asked, worried.

“No!” Echoside shouted before stopping herself. “I just don’t want to lose you. I want to do things right. I know it sounds silly, but I just don’t want to rush it; I… like you, a lot.” She was looking right into Starlight’s eyes.

“Well…” Starlight said, keeping her eyes locked on Echoside’s. “Who am I to deny my new marefriend what she likes.” At that the mare started leaning in, going in for the kiss the doctor interrupted earlier.

Echoside responded wholeheartedly, leaning slowly in as well. As their lips finally touched; Starlight’s eyes went wide as a fire started in her chest and dozens of butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

That was until she felt a soft pain on her lower lip. But a pain that wasn’t all that bad. Pulling back, she noticed Echoside’s fangs and a bit of blood.

“Sorry!” Echoside blushed before licking the blood away and retracted her fangs. “I didn’t mean to— I mean, I don’t know why I—”

Starlight smiled. “I know what this means. That’s part of your species, right? You try to make somepony you love yours with this, right?” Echoside nodded and Starlight chuckled. “It’s no problem, but maybe it’s a bit early for that.”

Echoside blushed. “I-I…” she closed her eyes and signed.

“What’s wrong?” Starlight asked.

“I’ve actually never done that before.”

“Wait.. but you said…”

“I know, but I didn’t feel this way… with them, I mean.”

“You never tried to… with them?”

“No…”

Starlight licked her lips, tasting a bit of what Echoside must have tasted. To her it was nothing more than a slightly coppery taste, but to her marefriend… “Do you… I mean… do you want to do it again?”

Echoside’s eyes went wide. “Are you serious? Please don’t tempt me if you don’t mean it seriously…”

“You just… took me by surprise. Let’s do it again, but right this time.”

“By right… Starlight, you do know what right in this case means for me?”

Starlight smiled. “I know, my neck.”

Echoside’s wings went stiff behind her back. She felt like she was weightless, walking on cloud nine. Her hooves started forward on their own until she was inches away from Starlight. The blue unicorn extended her neck. She looked apprehensive and composed at the same time.

“Starlight…” Echoside whispered, “this is the last chance to say stop.”

“Do it.”

Echoside smiled, then growled as she took in Starlight’s beautiful coat and skin. She slowly closed the distance, taking a whiff of her sent before peppering her neck with soft kisses. Starlight cooed in response, and Echoside continued until she felt that the mare was more than relaxed. Then she extended her fangs and slowly sunk them into the young mare’s neck.

Starlight gasped as she first felt pain, but that feeling soon faded, replaced by something else. Something that made her hot, and crave for so much more.

Despite her wanting it, her giving herself willingly, Echoside fought against every instinct she had so she could hold back. She had chosen a minor vein on the side of the unicorn's neck. Her fangs instantly released pain dampeners into the unicorn’s skin.

But the taste… The taste was a divine nectar hitting her mouth. Starlight’s blood assaulted every sense she had, begging her to take more and more, to fill herself up with the taste of an endless bounty of flavors.

She gave herself a two count, one that turned into a five count before pulling her fangs out. It was the hardest thing she had ever done, like purposely pulling yourself away from the greatest pleasure you had ever experienced in your life.

Echoside looked down at the mare’s neck. The fur was matted from her saliva and two puncture marks penetrated her skin, leaking a small trail of blood as it sought to clot all on it’s own. She licked the wounds clean, ensuring that not a drop of blood was wasted until the bleeding stopped. The wounds would remain until they scabbed over, but even then, there would always be a scar, her scar.

Starlight only knew it was over when Echoside pulled back from her neck. “Oh… wow…” she grunted at the sensation. Her neck was stiff and slightly painful. But the feeling, the sensation of those five seconds Echoside had fed from her, that was something she would never forget; and if she was being honest with herself: it was something she wanted to experience again.

Echoside’s eyes were as wide as dinner plates when she saw the look on Starlight’s face. She had seen it before, she‘d had that look before, the unicorn looked: horny. “I… um… thank you,” Echoside said, knowing that if she stayed any longer, neither of them would be able to hold back, something she wasn’t a hundred percent sure why she was fighting against.

“A-anytime. So, I’ll um… see you tomorrow?”

Echoside smirked. “You won’t get rid of me, so yes, see you tomorrow.”

“Six again?” Starlight asked.

“Can’t wait,” Echoside said before leaning in and kissing her again.

Starlight felt herself melt into the kiss, the pressure, the heat, and that same taste of copper coming from the mare’s mouth. When they pulled back, she actually felt disappointed by the end, as this time Echoside’s fangs didn’t pierce her lips.

Echoside seemed to sense it and smiled. “Listen…”—Echoside pressed her forehead against Starlight’s, their mouths barely apart—“let this… develop further, and we can try it again sometime, okay?”

Starlight only nodded her head in agreement.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Starlight,” Echoside said with a smile as she turned away and walked to her barracks.

Starlight blinked her eyes a few times before calling out, “Your sweater?”

Echoside chuckled. “Keep it, it looks better on you anyway!”

As she rounded the bend that annoying voice came back to her head.

You know she’s only thirteen, right?

Oh, shut up, uhh... me.

You’re soooo going to jail.

She’s worth it.

Echoside smiled as that seemed to finally shut up the nagging voice inside her head.

The Beginning of the End

The Dead Woods

Several months ago, Shimmering Night and Twilight Sparkle had opened a portal to Tartarus in the middle of Whitetail Woods so they could launch a rescue attempt to retrieve Twilight’s youngest son, Taz. Shimmering Night directed the magic in the surrounding area to keep it open for however long it took them. This was only achievable by having it drain the magic from the surrounding woods.

When they were defeated, they limped back to where the portal should have been, only to find it completely closed off. They knew they had taken too long. The portal sucked the magical energy from the forest dry; leaving it completely and totally dead, barren, and empty.

It was in this ghost of what was, in this tribute to the cost of life, that Ana teleported to. She looked around with tears in her eyes before spotting something she needed, a place to cry, a small cave.

She ran to the cave with tears in her eyes. Her sobs were the only living sound that could be heard for miles around. Dry, dead branches crunched under her hooves, and dead tree limbs cut into her coat, tearing into her skin just enough to cause more pain, but not enough to cause her to bleed.

She cried for her hatred. She cried for her anguish. She cried for her lost friendships. She cried for how she could never ever face them again. How she never wanted to face them again, any of them.

“I hate you!” Her shout echoed around the cave and out into the woods themselves.

She truly did. Ana hated Nighttide for everything she was, everything she had stolen from her. She hated her sister for her lies, she hated Vela for getting someone, she hated Flash and Blaze for being so bucking stupid, she hated Dayspring for his innocence, and she hated Taz. For the first time in her life, she hated him with a passion for not being able to see the truth.

“What is it that I hear? The sweet sound of one’s hate growing so fast and strong.” Ana’s grief was interrupted by a voice, it was so sweet, but sent a cold chill up her spine.

She looked up to see a midnight-black alicorn walk closer, smiling at her. “Your friends left you alone. They betrayed you. They just used you and then set your own feelings aside.” There was a pregnant pause as the words settled before Nightmare Moon continued. “I can make you feel better. I can give you the power to make you better and them regret everything they’ve ever done to you!”

Ana looked at her in anger, rage, and hate. “Y-you… it’s… it’s… Nighttide, she’s your—”

“My mistake,” Nightmare Moon admitted sourly. “My daughter, my mistake. I never meant to have her. I never wanted to have her, I could never love her. I thought I had killed her, I failed there too.”

“I hate her… but I don’t want to kill her,” Ana replied.

“Oh? There you’re wrong.” Nightmare Moon grinned as she stepped closer, wrapping a wing around Ana. “Look inside yourself, search your feelings. Think about everything you felt when she betrayed you, when she tried to prove she is better than you. She. Is. Not! Everything she did was through cheating and lies. And with that, she took your stallion right out of your hooves and now your place at your friends’ side.”

“How… how is she using Taz like this? I-I don’t understand.”

“She is my daughter, I know her powers. If she wants to, she can control a pony with her shadows. They are a solemn toy in her hooves once she is done with them,” Nightmare Moon lied smoothly.

“So Taz doesn’t really love her?”

“He… thinks he does.”

“B-but, Taz can’t be affected by magic…”

Nightmare Moon laughed. “That’s true, but not only does Nighttide have her shadows, she has her… feminine wiles. She seduced him, as mares have done to stallions since the dawn of time. Just as she was ordered to.”

“What?”

“My dear husband ordered her to seduce him, to make him hers.” The alicorn laughed. “It worked perfectly, but not in the way we intended. He didn’t just lust after her body, he really clung to her.” Nightmare Moon smiled gently at Ana. “Everything Taz thinks he knows about Nighttide is a lie. And only you can stop it.”

“She… she admitted to that. About her orders.”

“Of course she did, it’s all part of her ploy. After all, the best lies are the ones interlaced with the truth.”

Ana looked up into the dark alicorn’s face. Nightmare Moon was smiling at her, the kind of smile one might expect from a corpse, but it was a smile nevertheless. “You’re just trying to use me, aren’t you?”

“Of course,” the alicorn said with a grin.

“What in the world could you possibly want from me?” Ana asked. “I’m nopony but a two-bit princess that can’t do magic to save her life. Unless you want your mane styled that is.”

Nightmare Moon grinned, her white fangs shining in the darkness. “I want nothing. But I’m giving you the chance to help me with something we both seek.”

“And that is?”

“Nighttide being gone. And then, then Taz will finally be yours.”

“He’s just a dumb colt, he deserves her!”

“Oh? Is that how you really feel?”

Ana looked down; she couldn’t bring herself to even look the alicorn in the eye. “N-no…”

“So tell me, why did you say you don’t want to kill my daughter?”

“S-she’s carrying his foal.”

The alicorn had to resist the urge to laugh. “That can be changed, you know. You could carry his foal.”

“W-what?” Ana asked. The thought was morbid, terrible, horrible, and yet…

“Magic, it can do a lot you know. I have it, I have it in spades. Red has it, your grandma has it, your moms have it, and your sister has it.”

“So?”

“Do you really think you were somehow left out? That everyone you’re related to has all this power, and you don’t?”

“I-I… I have power?”

“Yes, real power that, even now, is starting to wake up. If you assist me, if you help us, I will help you unlock it. With it, you can finally take revenge and get what should have been yours all along.”

“What are you saying?”

“We will bring my dearest daughter towards the last spark of her life, then we transfer her foal into you before finishing her off and freeing you and Taz from her continued existence.”

Ana looked up into the smiling alicorn’s face. She gave me a choice, but is it one? Really? If I said no she could just kill me now. But… what she said, I… can I even do that? Ana placed one hoof on her stomach. Imagining, just for a moment, what it would feel like, what it would be like to have Taz’s foal growing there. He’d hate me, even with her gone he’d hate me. He’ll never be mine, not in the way Nighttide has him. But… this way, this way I could have a part of him. But… that’s so horrible… I… I…

“I’m afraid there’s a time limit on this offer. I need an answer, now.”

“W-what would I have to do?” Ana asked, unsure if that’d be taken as a yes and not knowing why she kind of hoped it would be.

Nightmare Moon grinned. “All you have to do is stand there and open your mind and soul for what’s about to come.”

“You won’t kill me?”

“No,” the alicorn said. Not yet. “I’m using my power to extend yours, to make you more powerful than even Twilight Sparkle could imagine.”

Although Ana seemed hesitant, Nightmare Moon pressed the issue. “You will have power, real power, the type of power that hasn’t been seen for decades. You will be able to get revenge on Nighttide, Shimmering Night, and your so-called friends. The ones that lied to you, the ones that used you, the ones that belittled your love, that call you a freak behind your back.”

Ana looked shocked. Do I really want that? Do I want to become a Monster? No, in their eyes I’ve already been a monster… Just Starlight…

Ana glared at the alicorn. “I want a promise from you if I agree.”

“I will consider it. What is your condition?”

“You will spare Starlight, my sister.”

“And why should I do that?”

Ana grinned. “Because, maybe you noticed it, I just used my magic and powered a spell that will warn everypony, including Twilight about your plan if you do not agree, including my exact location. You don’t want that I assume?”

“Mhh, you’re a cheeky little filly. I like that.” Nightmare Moon laughed. “Consider it a promise, once you joined my side.”

There was a voice inside Ana’s head that told her to stop. It was screaming at her. Seeking to reach the little thirteen-year-old filly and tell her she was about to make the worst mistake in her life.

It caused her to hesitate.

For a second anyway.

“Let’s do it.”

Nightmare Moon, the dark alicorn, the revenant-possessed-Luna, smiled.

In a flash of magic, a huge cry of pain could be heard echoing around the remains of Whitetail Woods. It was a cry of hatred, a cry of rage, a cry of innocence forever lost, and a cry of agony. It lasted for a moment, a moment that would forever live in infamy, before it was followed by a different sound altogether. the sound of a roar, a dragon’s roar. A sound that echoing down from Canterlot Mountain.

***

The Everfree Forest.

Echoside heard it first. Her enhanced hearing picked up on the dual cries coming from locations both near and far. They were of different pitch, varying volumes and maturity, but one alone was enough to have every hair on her coat stand up on end. Both? That was simply overkill.

“W-what is it?” Starlight asked, still sobbing.

The sounds hit next. The dual cries echoed around the chasm and into the cave. Echoside dropped her chest to the ground and covered her ears with her hooves. Starlight, Taz, Flash, and Blaze gasped in surprise and amazement. Dayspring cried out in fear as Vela held him tighter to her chest. Their necklaces resonating with each other from being so close.

The sound lasted much, much longer than it should have. Taz had to do a double take before he realized that it had passed. He looked over to Starlight to see her trying to attend to her marefriend. “Starlight, what was that?”

Echoside responded. “That roar could only come from a dragon.”

“D-dragon?” Dayspring asked.

“And the other one?”

“It was close, but it sounded more like something crying out in... hatred.” Echoside shook her head. “To me it sounded like someone just got their life crushed.”

They looked around the cave at each other. No one wanted to state the obvious. Why those roars came at almost the same time, why they sounded so similar, and why they were all thinking only one name for that second one: Ana.

“Something’s going down, now, isn’t it?” Vela asked as she unsheathed her spear from her back.

“If I had to bet,” Blaze said. Flash and Nighttide just nodded in agreement.

Taz growled, “I don’t want to bet, I want to know. Starlight, I need to know. I need you to run a scan.”

“Scan? You want me to scan all of Equestria‽” Starlight asked. “Taz, that’s advanced magic, like… really advanced.”

“And pulling a pony from the shadows was what?” Vela asked with a smile.

“That’s different, I’ve never even stud—”

Echoside silenced her with a kiss. When she pulled back, the bat-pony was grinning at her. “I know you can do it, Miss Element of Magic.”

“Call me that again and your flank is mine,” Starlight whispered with a glare before concentrating on her magic.

“And you were worried,” Nighttide said with a smile as she walked up to Taz and wrapped her wing around the stallion.

“Yeah, yeah,” Taz replied as he melted into her touch. He saw it now, he saw how much Echoside liked Starlight, how much effect she was having on Starlight, how she was changing her for the better.

“I think… I think…”

“You think what, my love?” Nighttide asked.

“I think I’ll go to bat for them.”

“What?”

“When she tells Shimmering Night. I know Ataxia won’t care. Well, other than threatening Echoside if she breaks her daughter’s heart. But my sister is a different story. She’ll pounce on the age difference. But… if enough of us stand up to her, then she might just—”

Taz’s eyes went wide as Starlight began to channel even more magic into her spell. Here, right next to the tree of harmony, the Element of Magic around her chest, she had a near unlimited supply of it she could use.

The mare started to levitate. Her eyes were shut and her form was surrounded by magical energy. Her horn shown with the light of a sun. She stole the attention of everyone in the cavern; until, just as quickly as it begun, it ended.

The blue unicorn fell to the ground, hard. Echoside rushed to her side and wrapped a hoof around her as soon as she could.

The rest ran up and gathered around, alerted to something being very wrong by one simple fact: Starlight was crying.

“Starlight, what is it‽” Vela shouted.

“Starlight, what’s wrong?” Flash asked.

“Who hurt her?” Dayspring said.

“I’ll buck their teeth out,” Blaze said, earning gasps from those around him.

“I felt them… Ana… Ataxia, and Luna. But it was different.”

“My… mom’s presence feels different with Nightmare Moon controlling her,” Nighttide whispered.

“It’s not just her. Ana… she feels… her presence feels like Nightmare Moon’s, there’s just barely a whisper of her own self left,” Starlight choked out.

“Teleport us to her, we can talk to her, we ca—” Flash’s comment was cut dead when Starlight shot him a look.

“We can’t, my sister has to wait. That’s not the only thing I felt. Taz, Nighttide, it’s… it’s Red.”

Taz growled a bestial sound more at home from a timberwolf than a pony.

“What’s my father doing?” Nighttide asked, her voice dripping with disdain.

“He’s trying to use the Key of Ages. And he’s more than close to doing so,” Starlight replied.

“Then Ana’s got to wait,” Taz said.

“Taz, no, we’ve got to!” Blaze shouted.

Taz glared at him. “She’s got to wait, we can find her, we WILL find her, after, promise. But for now we’ve gotta deal with Red.”

“Taz...” Starlight stared as another tear fell.

“I know Starlight, I understand, more than you can know. Please, believe me when I say this isn’t petty vengeance on my part. All of this was to stop Red, and there’s no point going after Ana if we don’t stop him before it’s too late.”

“No, that’s not what I meant,” Starlight cried out. “Ana, she’s… she’s with Red, now. The last thing I felt was Nightmare Moon teleporting themselves to him.”

“What‽” All eyes stared at her in bewilderment.

“Teleport us there, now!” Taz growled.

“I-I I need a minute.”

“Starlight, we have to go there, now!”

“Give her a minute to breath!” Echoside growled at him, her wings flaring in anger.

Taz raised his hoof in defence. “Alright, alright, we wait a bit.”

“Good colt,” Echoside snarled before focusing back on Starlight, comforting her with small kisses.

Starlight leaned into Echoside’s comforting embrace, feeling more than grateful. Channelling the magic of the elements and learning all she had, it had taken a lot out of her.

“We’ll stop him, Taz, I know we will,” Nighttide said as she comforted her stallion.

“It’s just a question of whether or not we’ll be too late,” Taz replied, eyeing his niece.

***

Celestia’s Palace

Fire, the great equalizer.

Fire cares not for age, status, power, or wishes; it just burns.

Ataxia’s fire.

It’s flame is greater than any natural fire could ever hope to be. Embedded with Chaos Magic, it burned with an intensity and heat that was unmatched in all the land. Over the years of her using it, nothing had been able to extinguish the fire. It burned without regard to oxygen. Its only requirement was fuel.

The flame found its greatest source of fuel in the dying alicorn’s body. It latched on, chaos magic versus death magic. The very magic that had lead to the alicorn’s death served as the greatest challenge for the magic imbued in the fire. For once something is dead, it can no longer change, it will no longer be anything but dead, and yet, everything changes. Those are the two immutable laws of the universe, and they hate one another with a passion.

In Celestia’s Palace, in the room that used to belong to Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash—then was given over to their wounded and dying daughter, Shimmering Night—that battle was fought out yet again. And, just like all the times before, the two opposing forces, well, they simply annihilated each other.

For Shimmering Night, it was a trial by fire. She felt herself boiling alive, the pain of being incinerated as soon as the fire touched her. Then, just as suddenly, she felt more alive than she had ever been in her entire life. It was the equivalent of a soothing touch by a long lost loved one that suddenly returned. Her magic, Equestria’s magic, flowed back into her, responding to her will and her subconscious desires.

When the last of the chaos magic destroyed itself against the death magic in her room, Shimmering Night never felt more alive. She blinked her eyes open, unsurprised to see the entire room burnt and scarred, yet, her own body was untouched, pristine.

Her eyes locked on the dragon’s head still poking into the room. “A-ataxia… y-you did it.”

The dragon’s head started to shrink, to transform back to its… other form. The large body of the dragacorn all but disappeared, only to be replaced with a purple crying mare suddenly appearing in her room. “Night!”

Night held out her hooves and Ataxia jumped on top of her. The bed creaked in protest at the extra weight, but, at that moment, the two of them simply had no bucks to give about anyone other than each other. Ataxia’s lips locked themselves onto Night’s, her hooves wrapped around her wife’s body, and she, for the first time she could remember, cried. She cried openly and willingly, she cried and cried, not caring what the world thought. For right now, the world simply didn’t matter.

All that mattered was the mare each held in their hooves, the heat coming from one another, and the feeling of their lips pressed against the other’s. As such, Night didn’t even notice as her face was peppered with Ataxia’s free-flowing tears.

A loud crash resonated around the room as wave upon wave of unicorn guards blasted open the door and barged in, prepared for whatever fate had befallen the stricken princess, well, almost. They weren’t prepared for the sight of two mares making out on the bed.

“P-p-princess?” The lead pony asked.

Shimmering Night broke the kiss and looked over to the remains of the door, just to blush at being caught. Ataxia looked over with a very different expression on her face. “Unless we’re going to have a big fucking orgy, get the buck out!”

The guards looked at each other, most ready to bolt, some wondering if that was a real offer or a joke.

“Move before I transform back and burn your asses!” Ataxia growled.

They quickly left.

Night chuckled. “Never change.”

“As long as I have you, I have no reason to.”

“H-how did you do it anyway?” Night asked.

“Heal you?”

“Well, yeah, but I mean, you… you were a dragacorn again. You haven’t done that in almost twenty years.”

Ataxia closed her eyes at that memory. “To be honest, I almost didn’t. It had me, Night, it had me dead to rights. We… we hunted down the sphinx and I kinda… stole the question from everyone to learn how to heal you. She said chaos magic was the answer, my dragonfire. I teleported back and forced the transformation. It fought me… it fought me tooth and claw for possession, and it almost won.”

“Almost?”

Ataxia nodded. “Almost. Then, right at the end, something strange happened.”

“Oh?”

“I heard Starlight’s voice. Like she was there talking to me. Our daughters are so smart, so talented, I supposed I have you to thank for that.”

“You sell yourself short.”

“I don’t think so. Anyway, she reminded me why I was fighting, what—who I was fighting for. That if I really wanted you, if I wanted to help you, I had to fight harder, that I couldn’t lose, it just wasn’t an option. I found my… r-res—”

“Resolve?”

“Yeah, that. I let the bucker eat me, and from the inside, I kicked it’s ass. For you, all for you,” Ataxia replied, touching noses with her love.

Night responded kindly; she could feel herself growing more and more powerful with each passing second. The magic of Equestria was returning to her. It was healing the damage, fixing her body, and... informing her.

“W-what is it?” Ataxia asked. The look that had taken over her wife’s face was more than disconcerting.

“Red’s making his move,” Night said in all seriousness. Then something happened that took Ataxia completely off guard. The alicorn started to smile. “Want to kick his ass? Together?”

“I’ve never loved you more in my life then I do right now,” Ataxia replied with a shit-eating grin on her face.

***

San Palonimon Desert

“She’s joking... right?” Dayspring asked.

Twilight looked at where the sphinx was just seconds ago, “She’s anything but joking.”

“W-what can we do?” Radiant asked.

“One thing at a time,” Twilight replied. “First we have to know where he is.”

Dayspring smiled. “It shouldn’t be too hard to find out, right?”

“Then what you’re waiting for?” Rainbow cut him short.

They all jumped back by the typical sound of somepony teleporting, but whoever it was, it was gone in a blink again.

“What was that?”

“The sphinx?”

“No one is here!”

“Quiet!” Twilight yelled before rubbing her temples and turning around. She stopped dead in her tracks and snapped back as Dayspring gasped while the others laughed madly. “What’s so funny?”

“On your back…”

“What is it?”

“There’s a letter pinned on your flank!” Rainbow laughed.

“What the…” Twilight turned her head and ripped the pinned letter off with her teeth.

You should look at Foal Mountain.

—Kick Me!—

Not the sphinx.

Rainbow fell on her sides laughing as Twilight—on impulse alone—read the letter verbatim.

“Rainbow Dash! It’s not funny!”

“Y-y-y-yes it is!” Rainbow felt like she was busting a gut.

“Why I oughta…” Twilight mumbled.

“Are you sure she’s not a secret friend of Discord?” Radiant muttered as Rainbow continued to roll in the dirt.

“That’d… actually make some sense,” Twilight replied, rubbing her chin.

“Yeah, maybe those two used to date,” Rainbow said, laughing even harder.

Twilight just raised an eyebrow. “Nothing’s impossible, just look at us.”

The cyan pegasus rolled over to her stomach and shot her wife a friendly smile. Directly behind her the sun started to rise over the horizon. “You always did look beautiful in the sunrise, Rainbow.” Twilight said.

Radiant started to say, “Sunrise, isn’t that when it’s supposed to—”

“Found him. Foal Mountain, just like she said. What do we want to do?”

Rainbow looked at him strange. “What do you mean? Let’s go kick his ass!”

“Yeah, but…” Radiant said as he looked at Rainbow and Twilight’s hoof accessories. “I’m up for a good fight as much as anyone, but can we… win?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Twilight said. “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s that you tried. And we’re going to try.” At those words, she nodded to her oldest son.

Dayspring smile back, That’s my mom. Then, in a flash of his horn, all four of them were teleported across Equestria to Foal Mountain.

They appeared in a flash of magic. The four of them completely on guard for any threats that may present themselves. What they saw shocked them.

Almost in a perverted imagery of a family, a large red unicorn was standing side by side with a black alicorn in front of a magical gateway to another realm. Behind them was a white earth pony that was being dragged along the ground in black magic. Twilight recognized Timespire in an instant. He looked dead, save for the ever so slight rise and fall of his stomach.

“Just as you predicted,” Nightmare Moon said with a smile as she saw them arrive.

“Luna!” Radiant shouted, conjuring three blades and readying himself for a fight.

“Oh I’m just an observer in this one,” Nightmare Moon said with a laugh. “I won’t stop you at all.”

Rainbow growled, “I’d end both of you if I had my wings.”

“I’ll do it for you, mother,” Dayspring said as he started to channel power into his horn.

“Ah-ah-ah, as I said, I’m just the observer,” Nightmare Moon scowled.

“It’s me you want,” Red said dangerously. “And if you want me, you gotta follow me.”

“No!” Twilight yelled as they watched Red walk through the portal, his brothers mostly-dead body following him through it.

“Mom?” Dayspring asked, “What do w—”

“Charge!” Rainbow yelled as she took off in a sprint for the portal.

“We need a plan!” Twilight yelled.

“We are the plan!” Rainbow yelled back.

With no choice, the three ponies followed the brash mare down the slope and to the portal. Twilight kept an eye on Nightmare Moon. True to her word, she stepped to the side and let them through.

Somehow, that made Twilight feel far worse about this whole situation. But she couldn’t pause to truly consider it as they ran through the portal together to the chamber of the sands of time.

***

Nightmare Moon laughed as they disappeared. You truly did have everything planned out, didn’t you, beloved? The thought sent chills down her spine. What are you not telling me though...

Her head shot to the west as she felt something, she felt something coming. “The next wave of guests have arrived.”

“Princess Luna.”

Nightmare Moon growled as she turned to the new arrivals. The first one was lavender alicorn with magenta eyes and a rainbow mane. She would have been striking enough of a figure if not for the other one she arrived with. For the alicorn was standing on the head of a large, fully-grown, purple dragon with a unicorn horn on top.

“Princess Shimmering Night, Princess Ataxia, welcome to my parlor.”

“Let me burn her alive,” Ataxia growled, “It’d be so easy.”

“No need, I’ll take care of this in a snap,” Night said as she jumped off Ataxia’s head and started to walk to the night-black alicorn. “You don’t stand a chance against me.”

Nightmare Moon had to fight to keep the fear out of her body. Shimmering Night was the demigoddess of magic. The command of magic, all magic, fell to Night; and for a being of magic, that put Nightmare Moon completely at the princess’s mercy, regardless of how powerful she was.

However that didn’t stop her from smiling. “Indeed, but I’m not your opponent.”

“Let’s see if you can say that again once I bite your head off,” Ataxia growled.

“Now mother, you know that temper of yours is just going to get you in trouble.”

Ataxia and Night’s heads snapped left as they heard a voice. It was… different than how it normally sounded. It was lower in pitch, bestial, and primal; but even with the changes, neither of them could ever not recognize who it came from.

What mother could ever forget their daughter’s voice?

They watched a tall mare with dark-blue coat and purple mane walked out of the shadows, her piercing, red eyes staring right at them. She looked like their Ana, like their daughter, but at the same time, much older. She looked like a fully grown mare.

“Ana‽” Night gasped.

“Surprised?” Ana asked.

“W-what happened to you…” Ataxia trailed off.

Ana laughed. “Luna helped me grow up. Don’t you like my new look?”

Nightmare Moon laughed as she walked over and rubbed coats with the mare. “Poor little Ana, always taken advantage of, always treated with foal gloves, and always scowled upon for simply being in love. Her friends and her own mothers treated her with such scorn, such… patronizing behaviour. You never let her grow up, you never let her grow into her own.”

“We never!” Ataxia shouted as she reared up.

“Are you going to toast your own daughter?” Nightmare Moon asked.

“No, but I’m going to smash the insect trying to take her from me!” Ataxia shouted just before her claw came down, missing Nightmare Moon by barely an inch as the alicorn jumped to the side at the last moment.

“Well, I guess it’s time to play,” she said with a laugh as she took flight and started sending blasts at the large dragacorn. Ataxia responded with all the rage one might expect.

Shimmering Night stared at Ana, wide eyed. “A-Ana… we… I…”

“You hate me, you scorn me, don’t you, mom?”

“No! I love you! I’ve alw—”

“Oh, just like you loved your brother. Like when you drove him to try and kill himself? Is that your idea of love?”

“Ana, we’ve put that behind us, he’s forgiven me!”

“Well, I haven’t. I won’t. I can’t! You’re nothing but a bigoted bitch that treats her own family like crap! You don’t deserve forgiveness! You betrayed him, Mother! And you betrayed me!” Her voice sounded evil and demonic, much worse than Nightmare Moon’s voice.

“What did you do to my daughter?” Night screamed with tears in her eyes at Nightmare Moon who still fled from Ataxia.

“I just opened her eyes!” She laughed, just to curse as Ataxia flew over to bombard her with her own, more powerful spells.

Shimmering Night wanted nothing more at that moment than to rip the alicorn’s throat out. Night would do it with her teeth; a smile upon her muzzle at what happened to her daughter. But before she could so much as extend her wings, a voice whispered into her ear.

“So, you never did tell me, what was it like to have sex with your own sister?” Ana asked as a lover might whisper in one’s ear.

“W-w-what?” Night said, shocked that Ana knew about that.

“Oh yes, they told me, they showed me. What were your words to describe such behaviour? Sick fuck? Freak? Weren’t those the words you cursed your own brother with?”

“What I did with her was a sign of affection! Something I doubt you understand anymore after the talk with Nightmare Moon. She’s plaguing your mind!”

Ana laughed at that. “Really? Really? So when Taz wanted to have sex with Aurora, he’s a sick fuck, when you HAD sex with Aurora, it’s affection? That’s such a pathetic defence of your crimes, Mother.”

“I-I-I-I…”

“The great Princess Shimmering Night, my mother, the demigoddess, tongue tied. My, how the mighty have fallen.”

“Night! Nightmare Moon transformed her, don’t waste time talking with her! Tie her up and then when we finish Nightmare Moon, maybe that’ll free her!” Ataxia shouted, still shooting blast after blast at the panicking alicorn.

Night glanced up at the battle going on in the air and then back down at her daughter. Ana simply smiled. “Tell you what, mother. I’ll admit defeat and let you do whatever you want if you simply point out one thing. What did I say that’s a lie?”

“I never betrayed you!”

“Really? So when you sent Taz all on his own back into Tartarus to rescue her, knowing how I felt about him, that wasn’t a betrayal? You weren’t, on some level, happy that he had found someone else, you weren’t happy knowing that by doing that, I’d never have him?”

“And what do you think I should’ve done? Not sending him after the one he was truly in love with? We both know he doesn’t love you, so I did the right thing! You, however, you still think you can change it, that you can change him! The only one betraying somepony is you betraying yourself!” Night shouted.

What happened next at that moment came as such a shock to Shimmering Night that she completely failed to react to it. Ana slapped her, hard, right across the muzzle. The blow hit with such strength and such force that it knocked the alicorn onto her side. “He does love me! And I love him! That bitch just seduced him!”

Shimmering Night had to blink her eyes clear of that. It took her several seconds to process that Ana, her own daughter, had just struck her.

“An—” Before she could finish the word, several more blows started to fall upon her chest and head.

“Night!” Ataxia yelled so loudly her voice echoed down the mountain chain. She rushed down to help her wife, exposing the back of her head to Nightmare Moon.

The alicorn laughed as she struck out with a full powered dark magic blast straight to the back of Ataxia’s head. It wasn’t enough to kill her. Truly, she didn’t know if the dragacorn could actually die, but that wasn’t its purpose. It struck with enough kinetic energy to slam the dragacorn into the mountain chain, causing earthquakes and landslides for as far as the eye could see.

***

The Chamber of the Sands of Time

Twilight ran through the portal into a large circular room. She quickly took in her bearings: It looked like the inside of an hourglass, which she supposed was fitting. On the outside of the room it looked like Luna’s night sky. Indicating that wherever they were, they weren’t in Equestria. Dead center in the room set a large pedestal with a smaller, but no less important, hourglass. This one was made of solid gold, decorated with gemstones the likes of which would have impressed Rarity.

Next to the pedestal were Red and Timespire, the latter of which Twilight wasn’t sure was still alive.

“What’s wrong, Sunshine, don’t want to have another go?” Red asked with a laugh at the unicorn that was standing right in front of Twilight.

Dayspring and Radiant were standing right next to each other. The latter of which had ten blades conjured and his muzzle full of Rainbow Dash’s tail as he tried to hold her back.

“What do you hope to do with that?” Dayspring asked. “You can’t change the past, and he’s not going to give you your name.”

“Indeed,” Red replied, “the past is immutable, whatever you do to try and change it, it’s already happened, by trying to change it you only cause it. Isn’t that right, Twilight Sparkle?”

“Y-yes,” Twilight replied. Remembering her own attempt to warn herself not to worry about the future, only for that to be the very event that caused her to worry about it in the first place. “You’re not trying to change the past though, you’re trying to resurrect your father.”

“In a way,” Red replied. “My power, it is not like the others. Sure, Timespire here has—had”—he chuckled at that—“the power to control an object’s time. Mindsink had the power of memories, and even your own daughter has power over magic itself. But my power is on another level entirely.”

“It wasn’t that impressive,” Rainbow growled.

“To a simpleton such as you, probably not. But I can create and transfer life. I created the revenants, and while I’ve never used it like this before, I can recreate my father.”

“Y-you can recreate a god‽”

“Yes, and no. I can clone him. At the time of his death I can clone him using the body of one so empowered. That’s where this one comes into play,” Red said as he looked down at the dying body of his brother. “I told him and Mindsink to drink deep from my father’s magic, to empower themselves with it, to… saturate themselves with it. And they did, all too willingly.”

“He’s your own brother!” Radiant yelled.

“Like I care,” Red replied, smirking. “Given, we did make a… half-hearted attempt to acquire a different vessel. Call it… a moment of weakness on my end.”

“You’re talking about Shimmering Night?” Twilight asked.

“Indeed. Your kids are far more resourceful than I gave them credit for. Oh well, c’est la vie.”

“We won’t let you resurrect that bastard!” Rainbow shouted as she ripped herself free and charged at him.

“Rainbow, stop!” Twilight shouted.

Red just laughed before reaching out a hoof and touching the hourglass. A blinding light emanated from it and shot out in all directions, forcing the brash pegasus back up against the rest.

Red closed his eyes and opened them again. The scene he took in was entirely different than where he once was. He was in the ruins of Ponyville, almost twenty years ago. In the distance he could see the Titan Cronus fighting against a swarm of dragons and ponies. However, what really caught his eye was the battle going on a little closer than that.

He watched as a golden pegasus was slammed through the only standing building left in town. Her form crashed through the magical shield protecting the house, through all the walls, and out the other side. Amazingly the pegasus spread her magical golden wings and caught herself mid flight.

“I don’t know how you got so strong, but you still can’t beat me by yourself!” A voice yelled out. Red’s eyes immediately turned to the speaker. It was a huge red pony with bat wings. One he recognized almost immediately.

Hello, father. Red thought as he watched.

The form at his side twitched, once. He turned to it and smiled. “Oh shut up, brother. You were worthless to begin with, and you knew it. Feel proud your life has some meaning. Even if it’s just to serve as a cobblestone for me to step on.”

The pseudo-god turned back to the fight, just in time to see his father take flight. He watched as Rainbow attacked from one direction and Ataxia and Cadance attacked from another. With ease Tartarus simply shielded himself from the gnats and went after Rainbow.

It happened in the blink of an eye: Tartarus landed several telling blows upon the golden mare, forcing her to cough up blood as she was slammed into the ground, right next to her wife’s corpse.

Red smiled as he watched Tartarus’s mistake. The god assumed that was the end of Rainbow, so he turned his back on her to deal with Cadance and Ataxia. Foolish, Dad. So foolish.

While Tartarus was distracted, Red simply watched Rainbow. He watched her stand to her hooves, her gaze taking in the situation in an instant. He watched her whisper a quick few words, grab the sickle with her muzzle, and pull it out of her wife’s neck.

“Eat a dick!” Cadance yelled.

Red chuckled at that, he knew that his Dad was about to eat something far worse. The unicorn grasped his brother’s body and concentrated. He’d have a split second to respond, and it had to be timed perfectly.

He watched as Rainbow covered the distance in the blink of an eye, the sickle aimed perfectly for the back of his Dad’s head. At the last possible second, Red cast his spell. Timespire twitched and cried out in pain, his form under the effect of phenomenal magic at play. Even still, Red didn’t pay him a second glance. True, it was exactly what he wanted and needed, but he wouldn’t miss the scene in front of him for anything.

“I told you I would kill you, and Rainbow Dash always keeps her promises.”

Red grinned as he watched Rainbow Dash yank the sickle up through his father’s head, cutting his skull and brain in half just for good measure.

“That was worth it.” He said to nopony in particular. The unicorn finally looked down to the convulsing, pain-wracked body by his hooves as the form was remade to match the life he had copied.

“Well, better get you back home, father.” Red released the control he had on the sands, sending him and the crippled form of a reborn god back to the present.

“No!” Twilight yelled.

“Too late for no, Twilight. Far too late,” Red said as he reappeared. The four ponies were still facing him, but their eyes were not on him, they were on the form shifting and writhing at his hooves.

Dayspring Gleam was shaking as he felt the full magical power of a god pour into the form. It was unlike any other he had ever experienced in his life. “This… is a god’s power…”

“Stay strong, son,” Twilight said.

“I killed him once, I’ll do it again,” Rainbow Dash growled in rage.

“I highly doubt that,” Red said, then laughed as he kicked the form at his hooves. “Wake up, old man!”

“Who… dares….” the form growled. It was a bestial sound full of pain and hatred, the latter far more than the former.

“Your bastard son. And you’re finally going to give me what’s mine! You’re finally going to tell me my name!” Red screamed.