Herd Life

by Gentlehoof

Rating: mature
Tags: Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, Princess Luna, Drama, Gore, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other, Romance, Sex
Length: 305805

Celestia's early beginnings.

It is a savage time full of danger and loss as ravenous monsters roam the land. Young Celestia and her mother struggle to survive as her valiant father vows to fight back and make a place for his family to live and grow into the future. It won't be easy and some will fall as the three tribes clash during the Dawning of the Equestrian Age.
Character Sheet: https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/728920/herd-life-character-sheet
Contains: Violent mature themes at times. Graphic depiction of births. And of course mating.

I do not claim ownership of the cover art. It is publicly posted art. Artist for Celestia: alasou

Published 2016-08-29 04:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-01-09 06:35:43 UTC

Chapter Two

The snow had come down thick this year.

Struggling with each step, Dark Storm plowed his way through the thick snow drifts with his powerful legs. Sitting atop his back, he carried a strangely shaped log.

Earlier that year, the spring and summer had been wetter than normal, and the grasses grew thickly all throughout the shallow valley they called home for the past year. Seeing this, Dark Storm wondered if there was a way to store it for the coming winter when they would need it the most. Much like the squirrels he'd see storing their nuts. Can the same be done for grass?

This was a new worry for Dark Storm. Always before, a stallions job was to just watch over the herd and drive off predators that came to prey on unwary ponies and foals. But now he was taking on the responsibilities of caring for a pregnant mare and their foal. Never before had a stallion ever done this. A stallions job normally ended when he climbed down from the mare's back, leaving the mare to rise the foals.

This had always bothered Dark Storm. At first he had always followed along with what was expected. He had his small brood of mares he bred with when their heat came on. But then things happened that made him question as to whether this was the right way to do things. A few seasons ago, the same season that Celestia was born. A mare of his brood, Petal Puff, grew sick. Two days later he discovered that the herd had left Petal Puff and their young foal, Dew Flower behind when she was unable to keep up.

Ignoring the dangers, Dark Storm rushed back to try and find them. But once he arrived, all he found was a few scattered bones, with no sign of Dew Flower anywhere. This had hit him hard. Walking back, Dark Storm wept, and made a promise that he would not allow this to ever happen again. The old ways of the herd needed to change, and he was going to make it happen.

At first, he tried talking to the other stallions, urging them to get more involved with their mares and seeing to their needs, as well as helping out with the care of the foals. Many of them laughed at him, and mocked his idea. But there were a few who listened to him and told him in private, that they would try to get more involved with their mares.

Happy that at least some of them listened and were doing something, Dark Storm made sure to visit each of his mares to make sure they were doing well, as well as spending time to play with his foals. But this all ended when a plague spread through the herds young foals a season latter, and killed almost a third of them, including five of his own.

Dark Storm was devastated. He couldn't stand the thought of just leaving them to be picked over by scavengers, so he took the bodies of his foals and painstakingly dug a hole with his hooves. Ignoring the strange looks ponies were giving him, Dark Storm buried them all together.
Once he had finished the grim task, he wandered off dead to the world.

It was then that Meadowlark came to him. She stopped him and wrapped her hooves around his head, hugging him to her chest. Feeling her comforting embrace, Dark Storm broke down and wept, collapsing to the ground. Meadowlark stayed with him, and continued to comfort him, offering what sympathies she could.

Meadowlark had always been special to him. He had feelings for her he didn't have for any of the other mares. Last spring he finally made the big step by taking her as his only mate. Letting his other mares find new stallions.

Now that he was caring for a family, he was worrying for things he never did before. Last summer, he spent months gathering the long grass that was growing so bountifully, and storing it in a small cave he found nearby. Now that winter was here in all her great fury, he was glad that there was a store of food he had ready to bring back to his family. But their supply was dwindling and much of it had gone bad with mold. Only the grass that dried out when he let it sit in the sun for too long was still good.

Despite the worry and hardship he now faced, he didn't once regret his decision. Every day, he got to see Meadowlark grow a little larger with their foal, and every night he loved resting his head onto her belly to feel the little life inside her shift and move. Even now, as he trudged through the freezing snow, he smiled at the thought that once spring arrives, he will be a daddy to a new foal. Every day he spent with Meadowlark and Celestia brought him new joys that made his heart soar in the heavens. Without a doubt he loved being a daddy!

A sudden light flashed behind him causing Dark Storm to pause and look back with his ears alert for danger. Standing stock still, he rotated his head about and attempted to find the source of the flash of light. After a while, when nothing presented itself, he let out a relieved sigh and continued on.

He was almost back to their makeshift home. Already he could see the forms of ponies huddled under various trees and bushes for shelter, many of them standing or laying in small groups for warmth, tired from digging in the snow all day for the few meager mouthfuls of grass or roots that was found beneath.

Dark Storm had spent most of the day helping pregnant mares with their shelters, leaning branches against trees to create a small shelter beneath that protected them from the worst of the winds. While he worked on that, Meadowlark helped to gather lone mares together so none were alone for the cold nights. Dark Storm and Meadowlark didn't want a repeat of what happened last winter when ten ponies froze because they didn't have a shelter or anypony to be with to help keep them warm.

Brushing by a small pine tree, Dark Storm's hoof suddenly prodded into something soft that let out a startled yelp.

Taking a quick step back, Dark Storm looked down at what he had just disturbed. Huddled into a ball, a little charcoal brown colt looked back up at him from just under the tiny pine tree.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." Dark Storm said to the colt. Something about the colt was nagging at him, and it took him a moment to finally place him. "Aren't you Celestia's little friend? What are you doing out here all alone? Where's your mother?" Looking around, Dark Storm hoped that he wouldn't see a pony shaped lump under the snow nearby.

The colt's teeth were chattering so much, it was difficult for him to talk. "My mama said she had to worry about the new foal growing in her belly now, and couldn't take care of me anymore. She said I was old enough to care for myself now."

Dark Storm felt anger rise in his gut. This practice of kicking out a older foal to prioritize resources for a new foal wasn't new. Dark Storm had experienced it himself back when he was a little colt. He was lucky to have made it through that winter. Other colts and fillies weren't so lucky. When spring had finally arrived, he was more bone than skin. To this day, he's never forgiven his mother.

Looking down at the colt, Dark Storm suddenly made a decision. Reaching his head down, he grabbed the colt's mane and crest in his mouth and lifted him up out of his little hollow in the snow. The colt didn't say a word as he dangled down from the stallion's mouth. Stepping forward, Dark Storm headed for home.

Celestia's stomach grumbled. "What's taking Papa so long? I'm hungry." She complained.

"He'll be back soon. Just be patient." Her mother said, grabbing her anxious daughter in her mouth and dragging her back to her forehooves. "Now hold still, you have a snarl in your mane." Trapping her daughter between her forehooves, Meadowlark bit and worked at the snarl, trying to work it out.

Hoof steps could be heard approaching from just outside their shelter. Dark Storm had worked on it for many hours to get it just right, leaning branches and logs all around the large fir tree, and kicked out all the snow under it to create a very large and nice hollow beneath for them to stay in.

The hoof steps stopped right next to the shelter and suddenly a head poked through a section of wall made up of pine bristles followed by the rest of the stallion, as he carefully forced his way through the branches.

"Here you go, I brought you something," Dark Storm said around something in his mouth, before he suddenly dropped it into Meadowlark's forehooves, right atop of Celestia who let out a surprised squawk.

Meadowlark looked down at the frozen bundle sitting before her and and blinked in surprise. "A colt!?"

"Well yeah. Didn't you say you wanted a colt?" Dark Storm said, taking the strangely shaped log off his back and setting it down.

"I meant the normal way," she said, jerking her head towards her large belly.

Smiling, Dark Storm moved closer, "well, if you don't want him, I can just toss him back in the snow where I found him."

Meadowlark suddenly wrapped her hooves around the frozen colt and clutched him to her chest as she lowered her head over him. "Don't you dare!" She cried out to him. "Oh, you poor thing! You're half frozen. What were you doing in the snow all by yourself?"

"His mother put him out to fend for himself." Dark Storm explained. His face suddenly taking on a dark look.

Beneath her, Meadowlark could feel the colt shivering. "That's horrible. Well I won't allow that! You can stay here for as long as you need."

She felt the colt move closer to her and press himself up against her. "Thank you." The colt said in appreciation through his chattering teeth.

Celestia's ears suddenly perked up at the sound of the colt's voice. Leaping over her mother's leg, she shot up to a little gap where her mother's neck bent down. Poking her head into the gap she looked in at the colt. "Ash!" She cried out out suddenly when she recognized the colt's charcoal brown coat. Shoving herself into the small gap, Celestia managed to work herself close enough to hug the colt.

Lifting her head, Meadowlark looked under herself. "Oh, so it's you!" She said to the colt in surprise. "You're all skin and bones! When was the last time you ate!? Never mind that, its been too long." Reaching her head down, she grabbed the colt by his crest and took him out and set him against the side of her large belly. "Celestia, lay against him and keep him warm. Dark, give him something to eat, would you?"

Celestia quickly scampered around and plopped herself onto the colt, and nearly cried out at how cold he felt under her. Gritting her teeth, she held herself in place without complaint, as she shared her warmth with him.

Dark Storm bit onto a nob and removed a section of bark that covered a hollowed area inside the log. Reaching in, he took out a mouthful of grass and set it down before the colt."Here you go." He said. Reaching back into the log, he took out another mouthful and set it before Celestia. "And here's some for you."

Celestia moved her share over to Ash. "Here, you can have my share too." She said to Ash. Seeing the state the colt was in made her heart cry.

Her father smiled down at her before he turned and took out a larger portion and set it before her mother. "Make sure you eat all of it." He said to her sternly, before taking out the last portion, and setting it before Celestia. "It was sweet of you to give him your share, but I don't want you going hungry."

Smiling at her father, Celestia took a mouthful and chewed. "Thanks Papa."

Ash took a mouthful and quickly chewed and swallowed, before he hurriedly took another mouthful.

"Don't eat so fast, you'll get an upset tummy." Meadowlark said to the colt.

Ash's ears drooped down at the soft rebuke. "Sorry." He said, before taking another mouthful and chewed it more slowly.

Happy to see him again, Celestia snuggled herself into Ash's side as she ate. The last time she saw him was last fall, just as the leaves were turning. Celestia's mother had allowed her to go off a short ways to play with him. Being the energetic foals they were, they endlessly chased each other around until his mother got fed up and sent them over to run around Celestia's mother's legs for a while, which they happily did.

She was almost done with her meal when Celestia glanced over at her father, where something suddenly caught her eye.

"Mamma? What's that on Papa's butt?" Celestia asked, pointing her hoof.

Curious, her mother glanced over to see what Celestia was pointing at, and her eyes widened in shock. "Dark. Look at what you have on your flank!

"What?" He asked, bending his head back and looking. There, standing out prominently on his light-grey colored flank was a series of six little stars arrayed in a circle. "I... I have a talent mark!" He exclaimed in surprise.

Still eating his meal, Ash paused and looked over, wondering what they were excited about.

Celestia got up and ran to her father. Climbing up his flank, she looked closely at the marks. "Talent mark? What's a talent mark?"

"A talent mark or as some ponies call it, a destiny mark. Happens very rarely." Celestia's mother explained. Next to her, Ash got up and quietly stepped closer to look for himself. "It happens to a pony who discovers their special talent, or thing they love. So many ponies are struggling just to survive, not many discover their special talent."

Celestia rubbed her hoof over her father's mark. "I think it looks cute, it should be called a cute mark, or maybe a beauty mark." Turning she looked at Ash. "What do you think?"

Ash paused and blinked at her question. Scratching at his head, he thought about what she had said. "They're both good. How about you combine the two words." He offered helpfully.

Celestia scrunched her face as she thought about it. "A bute mark? No. That sounds stupid."

"How about ceauty mark?" Ash offered. Combining the first part of cute with the second part of beauty.

Celestia suddenly brightened and smiled. "That's it! Cutie mark! Papa has a cutie mark!" Hopping down from her father, Celestia tackled Ash and hugged him, smooshing her cheek into his. "Thank you Ash, you're so smart!"

Dark Storm and Meadowlark both laughed as they watched Ash's vain struggle to escape from Celestia's grasp. Turning, Meadowlark looked at her mate. "She's right, cutie mark does sound better."

Dark Storm's face took on a indignant look. "I am not telling ponies that I have a cutie mark on my flank! That would be embarrassing!"

Celestia suddenly released Ash, and he tumbled to the ground with a thump. Looking up at her father, Celestia started to pout. "Papa? You don't like it being called a cutie mark?"

Dark Storm looked down at his daughter, and suddenly knew he had lost. There was no way he could ever deny her when she looked up at him with that face. Letting out a sigh, Dark's head dropped down in defeat. "Okay,... Papa has a cutie mark."

Celestia's face broke out in a beaming smile, and she rushed forward to hug his neck. Now it was Dark Storm's turn to pout. Celestia has been getting all too good and getting him to do what she wanted.

Meadowlark reached out and nuzzled Dark's cheek as she smiled at him. "Its adorable the way she has you wrapped around her hoof."

"Papa! So what is your special talent?" Celestia suddenly asked.

Meadowlark nodded and looked at Dark. "She's right, what is it that you discovered about yourself?" She asked, looking at his cutie mark, trying to determine from it what it meant.

Dark Storm rubbed at his chin as he thought about it. When was it that he got his mark? He suddenly remembered the flash of light that had happened when he had been walking back. That must have been it! So, he asked himself, what was I thinking at that time? Running his thought through the moment, it suddenly came back to him. Letting out a groan, Dark suddenly turned red, and dropped his head down to the ground before he covering his head with his hooves.

Concerned, Celestia moved closer to her father and lightly touched him with a hoof. "Papa? What's wrong?" She asked.

Dropping his hooves off his head, Dark Storm slowly lifted his head up and looked around. He took in Celestia and Meadowlark, as well as Ash Cloud for a moment. With his face still beat red he let out a sigh. "I...I...thought about how much I loved being a daddy!" He said in a rush.

Meadowlark smiled and leaned in to lightly kiss Dark. "That's wonderful, and nothing to be embarrassed over."

"That's right!" Celestia chimed in. "I have a daddy with a special talent for being a daddy! That means I have a double special daddy!"

Dark let out a guffaw, and picked up his daughter and gave her a big kiss. Setting her down, he suddenly picked up Ash and kissed him too, before he blinked and looked at the startled colt. "Why did I just kiss you?" Dark asked, blinking at the colt for a moment. Suddenly Dark shook his head. "Doesn't matter, time for bed."

Setting the colt down, Dark moved over and laid himself down against Meadowlark and curled himself around so that she could rest her head onto his shoulder. Celestia, despite all the excitement she just had, let out a yawn and crawled into the hollow space next to her mother's chest.

Lifting her head up, Meadowlark looked over at Ash as he looked for a place to lay down. Smiling, she reached over and bit his mane and dropped him down down with Celestia. Lowing her head back down, she let out a little happy sigh as she closed her eyes.

With Celestia tightly curled up against him, Ash found himself both warm, and with a full belly for the first time since the snows had fallen. Closing his eyes, he was asleep almost instantly.

Chapter Three

Ash stretched as he lay blissfully in the sun. Winter was almost over and the snow was just starting to melt in places, exposing budding new shoots of grass and flowers. His time with Celestia and her parents had been some of the most wonderful times he ever knew.

Soon after he was taken in by them, Dark Storm started taking him out and showing him things. Things like what tree bark, or shrub was okay to eat, and what to avoid. Pointing out a bush with dark green leaves, Dark Storm told him that if he ate just one leaf off of that bush, he would be dead within a day. Ash shivered, and stared hard at the bush. Setting it to memory, so that he would never make the mistake of ever eating it.

After one of their long walks, where Dark Storm showed him some roots that were okay to eat if he didn't mind the horrible bitter taste. He took him to the nearby stream, and pawed his hoof at the ice until he cracked through. Stepping aside, he let the colt take a long drink of water, which resulted in the colt's stomach sloshing so much, that Dark Storm had to carry him home.

When Meadowlark discovered he didn't know how to count, she muttered angrily about how some mares shouldn't have foals. The next night she spread out some brightly colored pebbles and started teaching him how to count them. Starting with just three, he progressed all the way up to eleven. Now she's been making it harder by taking some of the pebbles away and asking how many remained without letting him count them all again. That was hard! But also fun, he now looks forward to when she pulls out the little gourd and starts taking out the colorful stones.

Letting out a contented sigh, Ash suddenly felt his tail get yanked and he found himself dangling upside down. A moment later, he was set down on his back and trapped between two large fore hooves. Then a tongue started to lick him on his belly in long strokes.

"No, mamma. I don't want to be cleaned!" Ash complained, trying to wiggle out of the mare's grasp.

A filly giggled nearby. "You did it again, you called her mamma!" Celestia said in amusement.

"I did not!" Ash denied quickly, even though he knew he did.

As Meadowlark pregnancy progressed she had been doing this more often. She would snatch up a random foal and start to groom them. When they told Celestia's father, he just laughed and said that it wasn't hurting anypony and to just let her.

"You did too! Didn't he mamma?" Celestia asked, turning to her mother.

Meadowlark paused to smile down at the trapped colt. "I like it when he calls me mamma."

Dark Storm suddenly picked up his daughter by her mane and walked over to Meadowlark, where he dislodged the colt out of her grasp with his hoof and depositing Celestia into his place.

"Excuse me Meadow, I'm taking Ash for a while." He said as he lifted the colt onto his back.

As they walked away, Ash turned and stuck his tongue out at the now struggling Celestia, as her mother happily started to groom her.

"Where are we going?" Ash asked, adjusting himself so he was comfortable.

"The stallions are having a gather to determine where we will move off to." Dark answered.

"But isn't that for stallions? Why are you taking me?" Ash asked.

Dark looked over his shoulder and smiled at the colt. "Because I wanted to, that's why." He then suddenly stopped and started to turn. "I can take you back if you don't want to go." Dark offered.

Ash quickly shook his head. "No! That's okay, I'll be happy to come." He said hurriedly, and was relieved when Dark turned and continued on.

Winter was definitely almost over. The nights were still freezing but the day's were warm enough to start melting the snow that covered the ground. And what snowfall that did come, came down as half rain. As he walked, Dark's hooves sank into the muddy soil with great slurping plops with each step.

Crossing the meadow, Dark rounded a small hill and came to a large group of stallions. Sitting up, Ash looked around at all the stallions as they stood in small groups talking among themselves. As Dark passed a group, one of the stallions broke away and trotted up to Dark, who stopped to wait for him.

"Dark Storm. I'm glad I was able to catch you before he got here." He said, emphasizing the word he with a slight sneer. "There is something I want to show you, when you have the chance."

Dark looked at the stallion quizzically. "What is it you want to show me, Brightstar?"

The stallion shook his head. "It'll be better if I just showed you." He suddenly looked at Ash, as he noticed him. "Oh, hello." He greeted the colt.

Ash lowered himself slightly before he gave the stallion a nervous smile. "Hi."

Suddenly many of the stallions quieted down, as they turned to look at a stallion that just walked into the group. Ash sat up higher to get a better look. When Ash saw the large stallion he recognized his dark blue coat and white mane. His mother had pointed him out to him once. He remembered she said his name was Thunder Step.

Thunder Step held his head up and looked around with hard eyes. "Attention stallions!" He cried out. "Once the snow melts, and the streams run freely, we will be leaving, and going east, back to the plateau."

Reaching over his shoulder, Dark grabbed Ash in his mouth and lowered him to the ground. "Brightstar, please keep an eye on Ash for me." His tone had lost all gentleness, as it became suddenly hard.

Stepping forward Dark Storm lifted his head up high. "Why should we go back to the plateau? There is no shade there and the only water was at the bottom of a long ravine." He said loudly, letting all the stallion hear him.

Thunder Step turned his head to look at Dark Storm, letting out a snort. "Because we'll find safety there. The wolves and monsters don't bother going there, and it will be safe for the mares to foal."

"The reason we left there in the first place, was because the stream dried up. And there is no guarantee that it is flowing again now!" Dark Storm retorted.

Ash listened as he danced around trying to watch what was happening, but his view was blocked and he couldn't see. Suddenly he felt himself get picked up and swung around, before Brightstar deposited him onto his back. Sitting up, he was able to now watch what was happening.

"At this moment, many of the mares are fat with foal. It would be sheer idiocy to march them all the way back to a harsh plateau, which we do not know even has any water!" Dark said angrily. "And what happens when one of the mares can't keep up with the herd? Will she just be left behind!? How many mares will you leave behind to go to a worthless place!?"

Thunder Step threw his head back and shook his mane as he stomped his hoof in anger. "You dare challenge my decision!?"

Dark Storm planted his hooves and met the stallions gaze. "Yes! I am sick of how things have been done! You drive us from one place to another, without any concern for any of the weak that fall behind. And I say No More!" Turning, Dark looked out at the other stallions and addressed them. "Look around, this land is fertile and lush with grass. There is pure clean water within easy reach and berry bushes all throughout the forests. This land is just what we need and its ours for the taking!"

The dark blue stallion stomped his hoof to the ground and stepped closer to Dark, his nose flared angrily. "It's not safe here! The wolves will come! They always come! They will rush in and clamp their jaws over all our throats and tear them out!"

"Then we will fight back!" Dark shouted back. "We will make this our home, and if anything comes to hurt us or our families, they will feel our might when we push them back, and smite them at the ends of our spears or upon the power of our hooves! We are PONIES! Not dumb animals. We can rise above, and build a future for our foals! And I say we do it here, and now!"

Dark Storm fell silent, as he turned a moment to look at Ash. Their eyes met, and Ash could see the passion that burned behind his eyes. A passion fueled by his love for his family and his fellow ponies.

"You get a destiny mark and suddenly you think you can challenge me! I am the alpha of this herd! I am Thunder Step! I can take any mare I want, and no stallion will stop me!" Thunder Step bellowed angrily. "You only have one mare left to you, and I can take her away! If you don't silence yourself this instant and beg my forgiveness, I will banish you from this herd, and cast you out into the wilderness!"

"There is no need to for that, because I banish myself!" Turning, Dark Storm addressed the gathered stallions. "I henceforth leave this herd and start a new one right here! If any pony, stallion or mare wish to join me, then meet me at the cracked rock, in the center of the meadow upon the day Thunder Step leaves. You will all be welcomed into my herd!"

Ash couldn't help himself. He suddenly dropped down from Brightstar's back and dashed forward. Racing through the legs of several stallions, he rushed out into the open area where Thunder Step and Dark Storm confronted each other.

"I will join you!" Ash exclaimed, rushing up to Dark.

Dark Storm looked down at Ash, and his face softened with a smile. "My herd grows already Thunder Step, and yours diminishes."

Thunder Step let out a snort. "You call gaining a runt of a colt a success?"

"I count him more of a stallion then you." Dark Storm answered back.

Thunder Step suddenly let out a enraged whinny, and lunged towards Dark Storm.

Dark Storm was waiting for this. He was surprised that Thunder Step had waited so long to answer his challenge. Laying his ears back, Dark Storm held his ground and met his charge. Their bodies crashed together and Thunder Step lashed out, striking his hoof painfully across Dark's shoulder. Shoving himself forward. Dark pushed Thunder Step back, his hooves sliding in the wet soil. Suddenly Thunder Step snapped his head around and bit Dark on the side of his withers.

Letting out a enraged neigh, Dark struck out with his hoof and connected with the side of Thunder Step's head, sending him staggering to the side. Taking advantage of the momentarily stunned Thunder Step, Dark whirled around and bucked his hind legs into his chest, driving the air from his lungs and knocking him back onto the muddy ground.

Panting for breath, Dark Storm stood over the defeated stallion. "I am the alpha of my herd, and you are on my land. When the snow melts, you will take whatever remains of your herd and leave, and never return."

Ash moved in and stepped up next to Dark. "And it's not a destiny mark, its a cutie mark." He said, correcting Thunder Step.

Dark Storm looked down at the colt and smiled. "That's right." He then turned and looked out over the stallions. "You all hear that? I have a cutie mark!"

Turning, Dark Storm with Ash by his side, walked through the crowd of stallions, who parted respectfully as they passed through. Some of the stallions showed hostility on their faces, while most looked shocked at what had just happened. A few openly smiled at him and bowed their heads down.

Once they were out of sight, Dark lifted Ash up and set him down onto his back, where the colt then hugged his hooves around Dark's neck and squeezed. "You are so amazing! There is no stallion like you!" The colt said, hugging Dark. "I want to be just like you when I grow up!"

What the colt just said, suddenly rang through Dark's mind like a thunderclap. When I grow up, not if I grow up. Dark smiled. Things were already changing! His heart leaped in his chest with joy. For his foals, and for all the foals. He will change the world! He will make it so that they will all see a future for themselves. And it will start right here.

With his blood still pumped with what happened with Thunder Step, and with the inspiring words Ash suddenly said to him, Dark found he really needed to be with Meadowlark.

Quickening his steps, Dark headed for home.

He found Meadowlark laying out sunning herself just outside their little home, with Celestia playing with a beetle she found nearby. Meadowlarks lemon colored coat shone under the bright afternoon light, and Dark's eyes ran down her smooth curves that rolled back over her large pregnant belly, as he admired her. She looked so beautiful.

Taking Ash off his back, Dark set him down. "Go play with Celestia, but stay close."

Walking up to his mare, Dark sniffed at her. Meadowlark lifted her head and looked up at him curiously as he drew in her scent. "What are you?..." She paused when he nibbled on her ear. Closing her eyes, she huffed out a breath as her heart suddenly quickened. Looking back up at Dark, her eyes widened when she saw his desire burning in his eyes.

With her large belly, Meadowlark struggled a moment to clamber herself up to her hooves. She saw the bite wound on Dark's withers and a hoof mark on his shoulder. Nuzzling her muzzle into his neck, she could smell his strong stallion musk. He had been in a fight, and she could tell that he had won.

Dark nibbled on her ear again, then spoke softly. "Let's go inside, I want to be alone with you for this."

Meadowlark gave him a parting nip to his chin as she turned. "Celestia, Ash. Please stay out here and play. Dark and I want to spend some time together, alone. Make sure you stay close, though." She said, as she squeezed herself through the opening.

Dark went through after her and pulled the branches shut behind him. Turning back, he found Meadowlark had already settled herself onto the bed of leaves and she was looking at him with her eyes half lidded. She knew what she wanted and she was looking at it.

Letting out a nicker, Dark moved to her. His penis was already dropping down, and everything in him was yelling for him to just mount her and take her now! But he resisted. This wasn't the heat of the rut, nor the need to sow his seed. This was his desire to share his love for his mare, and for her to do the same for him.

Laying down next to her, he sought out her lips. This was still a new thing, but every time their lips came together, Dark's heart felt like it was going to burst. Her lips were soft and warm, as they eagerly pressed to his repeatedly, making wet smacking sounds. Without knowing why, Dark suddenly shoved his tongue forward and pushed it into Meadowlarks mouth. She let out a surprised yelp, but quickly accepted his intrusion with a pleased moan, as her tongue learned the pleasures of tongue play.

Breaking from the sloppy kiss, Dark suddenly shoved his muzzle into Meadowlarks neck, as he panted for breath. He felt like he was about to lose control. His penis was jutting out under him rock hard, and it was screaming for him to rut her, but again he fought it down.

The scent of her was strong in his nose. Instead of nipping her, Dark gently kissed her neck, then again lower. Meadowlark hummed her pleasure as he kissed his way down her body. Dark paid especial attention her her large pregnant belly as he passed over, nuzzling and kissing it all over. As he moved further back on her body, he could see her sky blue tail was hiked up, as she lay ready for her stallion.

Moving all the way back, Dark shoved his muzzle under her flagging tail, and drew in the scent of her desire. Her lips were open and already dripping with her yearning. He always loved the taste of her. Reaching out his tongue, Dark eagerly licked her. Meadowlark let out a moan at his touch.

Shoving his mouth into her mare slit, Dark's tongue started to ravish her. Quickly, Dark discovered that whenever his tongue lapped over a little nub, Meadowlark would let out a pleased moan and buck her hips back into his mouth. Shifting his attention, Dark focused onto the little nub of flesh and soon, Meadowlark was panting for breath as she let out continuous series of moans. Her fore hooves dug at the ground as her hips pushed back into his mouth ever harder. Suddenly she let out a mewling cry and her whole body shuddered.

Pulling back, Dark blinked down at the sight in amazement. Meadowlark continued to let out pleased moans as her body shuddered. After a while, she finally settled down, and let out a pleased sigh. "I never had that happen before." She said looking back at him. "That was amazing."

Dark smiled, glad that he had pleased her. But there was still something crying out for release. "Do you think it's okay for me to...?" He asked looking down at his throbbing penis.

"I don't see why not, just take it slow and be gentle." Meadowlark answered.

Nodding, Dark stood and carefully climbed over her back, and placed his forehooves to either side of her large belly. Standing over her, he lowered his hips and began poking around. Meadowlark gave a jump when he prodded her in the wrong hole, but after he adjusted his aim, he felt his penis poke into her slit. After what he had done to her with his tongue, he found it easy for him to slide himself deeply into her, and soon he felt his hips press up against her rump.

Meadowlark let out a pleased sigh as she felt his full length inside her. Always before, they had done this during full rut when they were lost to lust and frantic need for release. Now he had control and he slowly slid himself back out. Just as he was about to slip out of her, Dark thrust himself back in, taking care to not do it too hard or to fast.

Soon he settled into a rhythm of slow retreats and thrusts, finding the feeling of his hips pressing firmly into her rump at the end of each of his thrusts gratifying. Meadowlark began to pant again. Her eyes closed as she savored each of his firm thrusts.

"Faster please. Just a little bit." Meadowlark said pleadingly, her panting moans became more urgent.

Dark was happy to comply to her desire. He was drawing close, as he felt a pressure build along his penis and throughout his pelvis. Bending his head down, he began to lick and kiss at her neck as he slapped his hips into her rump with each thrust. The pressure was building to almost painful levels. Never before had he ever gone this long!

Biting onto her crest, Dark readied himself. The pressure was now agony, and at any moment it was about to burst. Meadowlark suddenly let out another mewling moan as her body shuddered under him. Dark abruptly found his penis being clamped down onto, and everything became too much, as the end of his penis started to flare wide. Letting out a moan of his own, Dark bit down harder on Meadowlark's crest and buried himself until his hips pressed snugly against her rump. The agonized pressure deep inside him suddenly released and a flood of his seed spurted out deeply into Meadowlark's body. His hips flexed with each of his powerful releases, and soon his seed was dribbling down from where they were connected as it was forced back.

With a final few thrusts, Dark emptied himself fully, and he released Meadowlarks crest with a satisfied sigh. Kissing her neck, Dark withdrew himself with a slurping pop. Settling himself down next to her, they both began to nuzzle each other's muzzles affectionately.

"What do you think they are doing in there?" Ash asked, glancing at the shelter. The moans and occasional cries had stopped, and now things were quiet.

"Whatever it was, it sounded like fun." Celestia said, adding a pebble to a pony shaped pile of snow to make a second eye.

Standing, Ash moved off a little ways and squared his hooves as he prepared to pee. As he pushed, he felt his stallionhood dangle down, followed by relief as his pee started to flow out.

"What is that called?" Celestia suddenly asked from right next to him.

Looking over, he saw her bent over to look under him as he peed.

"What!?... what do you mean?" He asked awkwardly, as she bent closer to get a better look at him.

"I mean the dangling thing, what is it called?" She asked.

Feeling his pee start to peter out, Ash let out a relieved sigh as it stopped. "I asked my mamma once, she said it was a penis."

"That's a strange name." Celestia said, reaching her hoof out and touching it.

Ash suddenly jumped as he felt her run her hoof down his shaft. Pleasing tingling shocks ran up his penis and shot through his body. Leaping back, Ash looked at Celestia as his face blushed profusely. His penis started to feel really strange as it lengthened and hardened. His eyes roamed over Celestia as she watched him grow hard.

Ash didn't know what he was feeling. He wanted her to touch him again, but at the same time, it scared him.

Dark let out another sigh as he lightly groomed Meadowlark. He loved her so much. Feeling her body lay close to his, he felt a total contentment that everything was just perfect.

Suddenly a charcoal brown colt dived through the branches at the entrance to their shelter. A moment later a white little filly followed after as she chased him. Running around the space, the colt fended off the filly as his little penis flopped around below him.

"Come on, let me touch it!" Celestia cried out as she chased Ash around the tree in the center.

"No! Leave it alone!" Ash shouted back.

Meadowlark and Dark watched the foals with bemused looks on their faces.

"My, they grow up so fast." Meadowlark said in amusement.

"Isn't this backwards? Shouldn't he be chasing her?" Dark said shaking his head.

"Mamma! Tell her to stop!" Ash cried out to Meadowlark as he desperately dived between her forehooves and hugged himself to her chest.

Meadowlark smiled and shook her head. "Celestia, stop trying to molest little Ash."

Celestia skidded to a stop, and pouted. "Okay, mamma."

Chapter Four

Ash pawed his hoof across the ground, digging furrows into the soft rich soil. Glancing to his side, he saw Celestia doing much the same. Their eyes met and narrowed at each other, as they each glared at each other.

Looking forward, Ash let out a snort as he pawed his hoof across the ground one more time. His eyes looking out across the meadow.

Suddenly, Celestia leaped forward. "Go!" She cried out, racing off ahead.

She was already moving before she said go! Celestia was always such a cheater! Ash dug in his hooves and shot off after her. Stretching out his stride, Ash soon came up behind Celestia, his muzzle almost touching her tail as it streamed out behind her, with little clods of dirt peppering his face as it was kicked up from her hooves.

Swerving to the side, Ash kicked his hooves harder as he attempted to pass her, but Celestia suddenly veered into his way, blocking him. Such a cheater! Ash swerved to the other side, and Celestia again veered into his path, while letting out a giggling laugh.

Letting out a snort. Ash lunged to the other side, and just as Celestia moved to block him, he turned and moved back the other way and quickly pulled up next to her. Celestia scowled at Ash, as he gave her a grin.

Looking ahead, Ash could see the finish line. The large cracked bolder in the center of the meadow. Lowering his head, Ash quickened his speed and was surprised to see Celestia matching him stride for stride. With both their breaths huffing out from their shared exertion, they both shot forward towards the gap between the two boulders.

Neither pulled ahead of the other as they closed on the gap, their shoulders would bump as they jockeyed for position. The gap was only big enough for one of them to pass through at a time, and Celestia showed no sign of slowing or turning away. Ash glanced at her in concern. If one of them didn't pull ahead or the other slow down, they would likely run right into the bolder!

They were moments away, and Ash suddenly made up his mind and slowed his steps, and let Celestia pull ahead just as they both shot through the gap. Slowing down, Ash trotted to a stop as he caught his breath. Celestia was hopping around him in happy celebration, as her tail swished about.

Ash's eyes followed Celestia as she circled him, until she suddenly stopped just before him, and bent her head close. "You look grumpy, are you sore you lost?"

Ash let out a sigh, and shook his head. Even though Celestia cheated, they both still ran a hard race, and had fun with neither of them getting hurt. "No, it was a good race and you won."

Suddenly, Celestia leaned in and pressed her lips to his. Ash's eyes shot wide as he stared forward at Celestia face, while she pressed herself into him with her eyes shut. The shock of their lips meeting shot pleasant tingles all through his body, and as she pressed into him, he began to realize just how warm and soft Celestia's lips were. Letting his eyes drop shut, Ash leaned forward and returned the kiss.

The moment their lips parted with a smacking pop, Ash sagged weak kneed to the ground as he let out a satisfied sigh.

"That was a reward for being sweet." Celestia said, licking her lips.

Ash could only mumble as he tried to respond. His head felt like it was in the clouds, as everything suddenly became really warm.

"Why haven't I ever heard of this before!" Meadowlark exclaimed to Bell Flower. Sitting in the shade of a tree that bordered the meadow where Celestia and Ash played, Meadowlark chatted with a small group of mares that came to sit with her to enjoy the new spring air.

"We figured you knew. A lot of the mares do it when they feel the itch come on strong." Bell Flower explained. "Dove Song likes it when I give it a little nibble at the very end. She lets out the loudest whinny."

"Bell Flower!" Dove Song exclaimed blushing. "She doesn't need to hear that! Just as she doesn't need to hear about how you almost drown me, every time I get you to reach the shudders!"

Listening to the pair, Meadowlark's ears started to burn.

"So, what was it like when a stallion gave you the lickings?" Bell Flower asked, leaning in with a smile.

Meadowlark, nibbled her lip as she thought about it. "It... it was... amazing!" Meadowlark said with a happy sigh. "Dark was so tender. He held himself back, and only worked to please me. The feeling of his large tongue had me moaning in moments, and when he found my happy spot, I thought I was going to melt. It was all so wonderful." All the mares sat quietly as they listened, some began to shift themselves about as they flicked their tails about excitedly. "Afterwards, when Dark laid down with me, and softly groomed me. I felt so much contentment that I just wanted it to last forever."

There was a collective sigh from all the mares.

"You are so lucky to have him." Dove Song said enviously. "When my heat comes, Furious Charge shows up and without so much as a hello, he's on my back, poking himself around inside me for a good few pushes, then he's off to the next one. And I haft to spend the rest of the day with my tail stuck to my hind leg."

Several mares in the group nodded together knowingly.

Flicking her ear back, Meadowlark heard the sound of little hooves trotting up to her from the side. Meadowlark suddenly felt two foals pressing themselves against her pregnant belly. Turning she smiled back at the sight of Celestia and Ash pressing their heads against her belly as they both tried to feel the foal inside her move. For some reason, the foal in her belly was most active during the night.

"Did you two have fun?" She asked.

"We raced to the split rock." Ash answered.

"And I won!" Celestia chimed in, rubbing her hoof along her mother's belly. "When is the new foal coming?" She asked.

"Oh, very soon now." Meadowlark answered. "It should be around when the moon is full."

"Meadowlark... I think there are some mares to see you." Bell Flower said, pointing her hoof out.

Looking over, Meadowlark saw a large group of mares with their foals walking across the meadow towards her. A mare, Meadowlark recognized as Berry Shrub, one of Thunder Steps mates, walked just ahead of the group as she lead them up to her.

Curious about what was going on. Celestia and Ash quietly settled down next to her side, as they watched.

Berry Shrub came to a stop just before Meadowlark, with the rest of the mares standing just behind her.

"Good day, Berry Shrub." Meadowlark greeted her. "What brings you to me?"

Berry Shrub, looked nervously at Meadowlark for a moment before she finally spoke. "We... we all want to... ask for your help."

Meadowlarks ears perked up in surprise. "Help!? What can I do to help you all?"

Berry Shrub licked her lips as she glanced back at the mares behind her. Many of them looked somber, while the rest just mostly looked anxious. "We want to stay here, but our stallions are leaving with Thunder Step. If we joined Dark Storm's herd, they would see this as an affront, and most certainly attack Dark Storm to take us back."

"We heard how you and Dark Storm care for foals, even those not your own." A mare suddenly said, stepping forward with a filly not yet ready to be weaned by her side. "We want to leave our foals with you, to live here under your mate's leadership." She said, nosing the soft blue filly forward.

Other mares stepped forward, pushing their foals ahead of them. There were so many of them.

Meadowlark suddenly felt like the foal inside her just kicked her in the guts. "Do you know what you're asking!?" She asked, then turned her head to look at the rest. "Do you all know what you're asking?"

The mare nodded her head. "We believe they will live a better life here. We... we believe that with you and Dark Storm, they will... live."

Meadowlark looked out at all the mares as they held their foals before them. So many foals. Some were so young they still needed the teat. All of their mothers looked to her for hope, hope to save the future for their foals. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to do it. She wanted to take all their foals. But that would mean they would never see their mothers ever again. The thought of it made her want to cry.

Closing her eyes, Meadowlark thought about what Dark would do. It wasn't hard to know, that he would take them all. Even if it meant his life, he would do it. Meadowlark desperately racked her brain for some kind of answer. Then it hit her. Meadowlark opened her eyes as the solution came to her. Dark can't save them, but there is another pony that could. Her.

Meadowlark awkwardly clambered up to her hooves, and looked out at the waiting mares. "No. We will not take your foals from you." Meadowlark said with a firm authority that begged no argument.

All the mares suddenly looked dejected, with some of them looking like they were suddenly about to weep.

"What I will do, is take you all." Meadowlark continued. All the mares suddenly looked at her in confusion. Meadowlark ignored them, as she turned and looked at Bell Flower and Dove Song. "Spread the word among the mares that are staying, to meet by the bend in the stream, at first light tomorrow. All of them, leave no mare out. And make sure that they do not speak of this with any of the stallions, including Dark Storm. This is mare business."

Bell Flower and Dove Song, looked at her in surprise at her sudden change. But then they both respectfully bowed their head down, before moving off to do as she ordered.

Looking back to the gathered mares, Meadowlark lifted her voice up so they all could hear. "All mares who wish to leave their stallion and remain here, are to seek me out at the bend of the stream, at first light. I will be there waiting for them."

As the mares started to leave, Meadowlark turned to the mares that had been sitting with her in the shade. "I need a group of volunteers for an important job." Every mare in the small group rose and bowed their heads down to her. Meadowlark gave them all a grateful smile before she looked down at Ash. "Ash, do you remember where that cave is, where papa took you, when he had you help him?"

Ash gave a nod. "Yes, mamma. I remember."

Meadowlark smiled and set her hoof onto his shoulder. "Good. I have a job for you. I need you to show these mares here where that cave is. Can you do that?"

Ash stood a bit taller as he gave a nod. "Yes, mamma."

"Good." Turning back, Meadowlark addressed her volunteers. "Now. Tomorrow, this is what I want you all to do."

Dark Storm lifted his head and let out a yawn. It was going to be morning soon, and he needed to be at the split rock before any ponies started to arrive. Next to him, Meadowlark softly snorted in her sleep.

Reaching out, he gently, so as to not wake her, kissed her on her forehead. Careful to not jostle her, he lifted himself up. Pressed up against Meadowlarks shoulder, Celestia and Ash lay tangled together as they slept. Bending down, he gave Celestia a kiss, and without hesitating, he also gave Ash a kiss as well.

Stepping lightly, Dark quietly left.

As Dark's hoof steps faded away, Meadowlark lifted her head up, and nudged the two foals. "Wake up you two, it's time."

Dark could see his breath in the cold morning air. The stars were slowly fading as the sky gradually grew brighter. Standing just in front of the cracked stone, Dark waited. It wasn't long before the first of the stallions started to arrive. Three stallions, Dark recognized as some of his greatest supporters, Birch Bark, Evening Breeze, and Brightstar, walked across the field and greeted him before they stood with him to wait for others, who soon began to show up in ether small groups or just by themselves.

As the sun crept close to peeking over the horizon, Dark looked around and saw that he had a large group of stallions standing with him, but not a single mare. Even Meadowlark was missing. Where was she? Could she have slept in?

As the sun crested the horizon and cast its light through the crack in the stone, right onto Dark. It became clear that no mares had shown up. Many of the stallions started to mutter among themselves worriedly, that all the mares might have went to Thunder Step. Dark knew that this could not be true. Meadowlark would never leave him for Thunder Step. But one worry was eating at him. Could Thunder Step and his stallions have snuck over and herded the mares away with them? This seemed unlikely, as there was no way he could have done that without at least a few getting away and rising an alarm.

The rumble of many hoof steps suddenly came to them. Looking across the meadow, a large group of stallions lead by Thunder Step emerged from the trees, followed by a group of mares. As they drew closer, Dark could see that the mares that followed behind Thunder Step was much too few to account for all the missing mares.

Thunder Step and the stallions with him had their ears pinned back angrily as they advanced, with some of them brandishing spears. The stallions with Dark suddenly shifted worriedly as the obviously enraged group of stallion approached. Some of the stallions around Dark closed in protectively.

"Where are they!" Thunder Step shouted angrily coming to a stop. "You've taken them, and we will have them back, or we'll stomp you all to the ground!"

Dark shook his head, confused. "I don't know what you mean?"

"Our mares! A group of them vanished, and you've taken them!" Thunder Step snapped, as he stomped a hoof.

Suddenly the pieces started to come together. Meadowlark not coming, and all the missing mares. Meadowlark, what are you up to? Dark thought as he almost smiled.

"We have done no such thing!" Dark shouted back. "Look around, our mares are missing as well!"

"Liar!" Thunder Step roared. "You have hidden them somewhere!"

Dark let out an enraged neigh and threw his head back. "I am no liar!" He bellowed. "I am telling the truth when I say no stallion with me has taken any of your mares!"

Thunder Step let out a snort and took a step closer. He looked on the edge of charging Dark.

"Thunder Step, look!" A stallion near him exclaimed pointing off to the side.

Emerging from the trees, Meadowlark walked out. Followed by a large group of mares. Her large frame made it awkward for her to walk quickly so she took her time to approach the two groups of stallions.

As the mares approached, Dark noticed that Celestia and Ash were nowhere to be seen. In fact, he could not see a single foal among the group of mares.

Coming to a stop, Meadowlark let out a sigh as she shifted her stance to try to ease the weight on her hooves. Lifting her head high, she looked out over the gathered stallions.

"I am a mother!" Meadowlark suddenly said, projecting her voice over all the stallions. "Behind me, stands all my daughters!" She shouted out.

Many of the stallion in both groups looked around among themselves in confusion.

"As a mother, I care for my daughters, and I am very displeased with all you stallions for failing them!" Meadowlark continued. Many stallions on Thunder Steps side began to mutter angrily. "For your failures to care for my daughters, I have taken them all back! And I henceforth kick out all stallions from my herd!"

"How dare you!" Thunder Step shouted taking a few angry steps towards Meadowlark. "A mere mare speaking to stallions in such a way!"

Dark started to move forward to block Thunder Step, but paused when he saw a sudden shift of the mares behind Meadowlark, as they moved forward and placed themselves before the outraged stallion.

"Be very careful, Thunder Step." Meadowlark warned the stallion, her voice taking on a dangerous edge. "My daughters love me, and a mare will very easily kill anything that threatens her family. Even a stallion."

Thunder Step shied back a step at all the menacing glares, that many of the mares were now giving him.

Meadowlark looked out past Thunder Step, to the rest of the stallions. "As a mother, I need a worthy mate to be a father to all my daughters. Who here is worthy to be that father? Who here offers themself to me and my daughters to be judged?!"

Dark felt like he had been struck by lightning, Meadowlark was stealing the herd! Dark had thought he couldn't love Meadowlark any more than he already did, and now she does something like this. What a mare! Stepping forward, he paused next to a furious looked Thunder Step, and faced the wall of mares. "I, Dark Storm, offer myself to be judged!" He called out.

Meadowlark gazed out at him, her face unreadable. "Daughters! If you find Dark Storm worthy to be my mate and your father, let him pass. But if you find him lacking, then kill him."

Holding his head up high, Dark stepped forward to the wall of mares, and just as he reached them, they suddenly stepped aside letting him pass through.

Stepping into their midst, he felt a muzzle touch him lightly on his neck. "Father." A mare said with the touch. Another mare touched him from the other side. "Father." With each of his steps, a mare touched him with her muzzle in greeting.

"Father."

"Father."

"Father."

Once he passed through, he looked ahead at Meadowlark, who met his gaze lovingly as he stepped up to her. "I find you worthy, and accept you as my mate, to be the father to all my sons and daughters." She said, before she reached out and pressed her muzzle to his with a kiss.

For the first time ponies witnessed this, and a stir ran through all the mares and stallions at the new sight.

"My daughters are lonely and need mates to be fathers to their sons and daughters. Fathers who will care for and provide for their offspring!" Meadowlark called out. "Are there any stallions here who offer themselves to us?"

Birch Bark was the first to move. Stepping forward he stopped before the mares. "I, Birch Bark offer myself."

"Do any of my daughters accept him as a mate, worthy to be father to their foals?" Meadowlark asked.

A mare stepped out and approached Birch Bark. When she stopped in front of him she suddenly reached out and planted her lips to his as she imitated the kiss she witnessed just moment before with Meadowlark and Dark Storm. She then turned and lead him into he herd, joining a group of other waiting mares.

Another stallion stepped forward. "I, Brightstar offer myself." He said nervously.

Dark held his breath. Brightstar had always been pushed around by the other stallions, especially the ones closer to the top. And had never had a mare to be his mate.

At first, no mare moved forward. Then suddenly a mare walked out and pressed her lips to his and kissed him. "I Berry Shrub, accept you as my mate and father to our foals." She then turned and lead a stunned looking Brightstar into the herd, soon to be joined by other mares as they gathered around him.

One by one, stallions stepped forward and offered themselves, and one by one a mare stepped out and accepted them into the herd. None who stood with Thunder Step offered themselves, until a young stallion who looked like he was barely old enough to be considered a stallion, suddenly shoved himself out and rushed forward. He gave Thunder Step a fearful glance as he passed him.

"I...i...i, ah.. I Strongbuck o-offer m-myself." The young stallion said shakingly.

No mares presented themselves to take him in. Thunder Step glared down at the young stallion and smirked.

As the young stallion started to turn away, a mare abruptly stepped out and approached. The mare bent down and whispered something to the smaller stallion, who listened and when she finished he looked up at her and nodded. The mare then kissed him. "I Dove Song, accept you as my mate, and father to our foals." She turned and lead the young stallion into the herd, where Bell Flower moved over and joined them, whispering something to the stallion that suddenly made him blush red.

Meadowlark let out a gasp, then groaned. "They are going to eat that colt alive."

A few more stallions from Thunder Step's side came forward to try, but none were accepted. In the end all the stallions from Dark Storms side was accepted with only the one from Thunder Step's side.

When it was all done, a little over a half of the total stallions was now part of their herd, with a good one third of the mares choosing to go with Thunder Step.

"It is done! Those of you who have not been found worthy, depart now and never return! You are all banished from our land!" Meadowlark declared with a finality that rang out over the herd.

Suddenly a small shape darted past Meadowlark and Dark Storm. When Meadowlark saw the small shape she gasped. How did Ash get here!? He's supposed to be with the other foals, safe in the cave!

Ash rushed forward and stopped just before the wrathful looking Thunder Step. Looking up at the stallion, he took a breath. "Father!" Ash called up to him. "Please tell mother,... please tell mother, thanks, for raising me as much as she did. Goodbye father." The colt turned and rushed back to Meadowlark and Dark Storm.

Thunder Step scowled and turned, returning to his now much diminished herd. Passing through them, he walked out across the meadow and disappeared into the trees, the rest of his herd quietly following after.

Meadowlark let out a long tired sigh. "I need to lay down! My hooves and my back are killing me!" She turned and slowly waddled back home. "Dark, come with me and rub my back. Ash I don't know how you got here, but find Bell Flower and tell her that it's safe to bring down the mares and the foals that we hid up in the cave."

"Yes mamma." Ash said, then darted off.

Chapter Five

When she decided to steal the herd, Meadowlark had no idea it would be so much work!

It's only been a few days since the start of the new herd, and ever since then, she had been dealing with every relational conflict that kept cropping up. Who would have thought that giving mares the choice in choosing who their mate were, would cause so many problems! And now it was her job to sort it all out!

With the foal kicking her all night, and now dealing with all the mares that were coming to her for their problems. Meadowlark found herself completely exhausted, with throbbing pain shooting through her back and pelvis to add to her misery.

As Meadowlark slowly moved her bulky frame down to the stream to relax, a sudden thundering tan blur shot past her. "Leave me alone!" Strongbuck shouted back, his face panicked.

Suddenly two more blurs shot past. "Come on! Just one little tickle!" Dove Song shouted out to him.

"Yeah, you'll like it. We promise!" Bell Flower added, as they both chased after the young stallion.

Meadowlark paused for a moment then shook her head as she let out a sigh. The colt was doomed, it was only a matter of when. Putting the matter out of her mind, Meadowlark continued on to the stream, where several other very pregnant mares were already drifting around in the deeper water. Stepping down to the stream edge, Meadowlark slowly slipped into the chilly water, and gave a slight whuff when her foal suddenly jerked in her belly, and angrily kicked her in her lung, when she submerged into the water.

"Ow, that one hurt!" Meadowlark exclaimed.

Moving in deeper, Meadowlark let out a relieved sigh as she felt her weight lift of her hooves.

"Feels good, having the weight off your hooves, doesn't it, Mother?" A older mare said from nearby.

Ever since the morning she formed the new herd, many of the mares, and even some of the stallions, started calling her Mother. She knew they were doing it out of respect, but it was still strange having ponies twice or even four times her age calling her Mother.

Letting out a sigh, Meadowlark nodded. "It definitely does." She said. "I can't wait to get this foal out of me!"

"Oh I know what you mean." The older mare said with a knowing nod. "I have two of them in me, and they take turns between who's sleeping and who's kicking me." Her face flinched, as one of her foals made her point. "I'm extremely glad you had us pregnant mares stay up in the cave with the foals. I can't imagine what it must have been like standing out in that field all morning!"

"That was not the most pleasant time I ever had." Meadowlark said. "My back hurt so bad after, I had Dark rub it until he became frisky, and we... moved on to other things." She finished, with a little smile.

"But still, it must have felt great seeing Thunder Step put into his place!" A second mare, who's name Meadowlark remembered as Misty Valley said, moving closer.

"I've never seen him look so angry before." Meadowlark said with a giggle. "He stomped his hooves so hard when he left, it looked like he was trying to crack rocks.

"And a good riddance to that one." The older mare said, flicking her head to the side. "Why, I remember when he was a colt, he used to pick on my little Birch Bark all the time."

"Birch Bark? You're Birch Bark's mother?" Meadowlark asked in surprise.

The older mare's ears perked up. "Oh, I'm sorry, I never introduced myself. I'm Melodious Summer. Mate to Sage Brush."

Meadowlark suddenly had a frightening thought. "Oh! You were in the cave! What happened to Sage Brush.!? Please tell me he didn't..."

Melodious Summer smiled and shook her head. "Oh no, he's still with us. When you told us what you were planning. All of us who were staying in the cave talked with our sister mates, and we all chose mares to go forward and collect our mates back into the herd. At least the mates worth keeping.

"Oh, that's good." Meadowlark said with a relieved sigh. "Things happened so fast, I worry that I might have made a mistake."

"Oh, don't worry about that, dear." Melodious Summer said dismissively. "Sage Brush knew all the stallions, and he said that what was left with Thunder Step was nothing but a bunch of trouble makers and high hoof-steppers, hardly worth their seed."

Meadowlark felt better. That was one less thing to worry about. "That's a relief. Now I just need to deal with all the new problems caused from the intermixing of the herd groups. Stallions are suddenly being thrown into situations they never prepared themselves for, with some of the stallions handling it much better than others. And for some reason, mares are getting into jealous fights over stallions now!" Meadowlark exclaimed with a irritated shake of her head. "And this doesn't even get into the problem of keeping track of what foal got sired by what stallion, to prevent inbreeding, which brings me to the next problem of how five mares unknowingly joined a herd group with their own brothers, and one with their father." Meadowlark finished, with a sigh.

"My, that is a lot to have on your back. Especially for a mare as young as you." Melodious Summer said, nodding her head. She then moved closer and gave Meadowlark a friendly nudge. "Here's some advice from a mare that has seen a few things. Don't worry so much about all that stuff, almost everything you just said will solve itself in time."

Meadowlark looked over at the older mare. "Really?"

"Sure. There's nothing to worry about." Melodious Summer said calmly with a smile. " Everypony just needs time to settle down and work themselves out, that's all." She assured Meadowlark. "Now, the last problem you had, I can help you out with. I've been around a while, and I know every foal, and who their dam and sire is, all the way back to when I had my first heat."

"You can do that!?" Meadowlark asked, surprised anypony knew that much about all the births that happened over the years.

"It would be easy and my pleasure!" Melodious Summer said with a happy smile. "I've always enjoyed spending my days talking with mares about their foals. I even remember talking with your mother back when you were just a day old, and you still had that new foal smell about you." She said with a happy smile. "My, you were such an adorable little thing, and I knew, the very moment when I looked into your big green eyes, that there was something special about you. And I was right! You and that colt of yours, Dark, are going to change things! You two are going to bring us into a new future, and I want to help out however I can, and if what I love to do, can help you, then I'll be overjoyed to give you whatever assistance I can!" She said excitedly.

Suddenly there was a flicker of light just under the water, but neither of them noticed, as their attention was drawn to the shore.

"Mother!?" The mare called out to Meadowlark, with several other mares by her side. "We're sorry to bother you, but there's something we need your help with. If that's alright?" The mare asked nervously.

Kicking herself along the bottom, Meadowlark drew closer to the shore. "What is it you need help with?"

The mare glanced to the others as she appeared hesitant to say. "Our stallion, has a little problem..."

Meadowlark lifted her eyebrow. There were many stallions that had problems, what could be so bad that they would come to her for help? "If it's because of his smell, you're just going to have to get used to it. All stallions smell like that."

The mare shook her head. "No. no. It's nothing like that. It's just that he's..."

"He's afraid of foals!" The second mare cut in and finished in a rush.

Meadowlark blinked at the mares for a moment before looking over at Melodious Summer, who looked back at her with the same dumbfounded look. "He's afraid...!?

"Of foals. Yes." The third mare added. "When we brought our foals to meet him, he sort of froze up and well... fainted."

"When he came to, my little filly went up to him to see if he was alright, and he just... eeped and fainted again." The first mare explained.

"Oh my... I think you're going to need some help with this one." Melodious Summer said, moving herself towards the shore.

Meadowlark followed after her, and watched as the older mare laboriously lumbered out of the stream ahead of her. Meadowlark couldn't believe how large Melodious's belly was! It hung halfway to the ground!

Lifting herself out of the stream, Meadowlark gave her head a shake to clear it of water. As she started forward to follow Melodious to the waiting mares, something suddenly caught her eye.

"Melodious, I didn't know you had a cutie mark!" Meadowlark said in surprise. She thought the only other ponies with cutie marks was a stallion with hoof prints on his flank because he like to run, and the old nag, who had a purple flower on her flank from the herbs she studied wherever they went.

"A what?" Melodious Summer asked turning to look back at her with a confused look.

"A cutie mark..." Meadowlark suddenly realized she was using the name her daughter came up with. "Oh, I mean a talent mark." She corrected.

"A talent mark? I don't have a talent mark." Melodious said with a shake of her head.

Meadowlarks heart jumped a beat. Could things be changing this quickly!? Gesturing with her head, Meadowlark smiled. "You do now."

"What!? You're kidding!" Melodious bent herself around to look, but struggled to see around her belly. "I can't see it. What does it look like?"

Stepping closer, Meadowlark examined Melodious's new cutie mark. "It looks like a apple tree, with all the apples looking like little foals."

Tears started to fall from Melodious eyes as she wiped at them with her hoof. "I can't believe this happened. After all these years, I finally get a... what was the name you used? A cutie mark?" She asked. "I like that name. It sounds cute."

"My daughter came up with it." Meadowlark said with a smile.

"That's a adorably creative little filly you have there, to come up with that." Melodious said, with a happy sigh. "I can't believe I have a cutie mark." She said in disbelief, before giving her head a shake, and starting forward towards the waiting mares. "Well, despite how much I want to take my flank over to Sage Brush, and rub my cutie mark in his face. I believe we have a minor stallion issue to look into first." Melodious said with a lighter spring in her steps.

Meadowlark gave her sore hooves a weary shake, before she followed after the larger mare, at a slightly slower pace. Despite all her worries, her heart now felt light and cheerful. She had just witnessed a pony discover their special talent, and she now had a yearning to see more ponies discover who they are. Things are going to change. Things have already changed. And she was going to make sure that things continue to change! For her foals, and for all the foals, she promised to make a future for them all!

Now, she just has to figure out what to do about a stallion who was afraid of little foals, and she had no idea where to even start!

⚜⚜⚜⚜

With a slumbering Celestia draped over his back, Dark headed down to see Brightstar, who had been pestering Dark incessantly for the last couple of days, that he needed to come see something.

Next to him, Ash trotted along as he kept up with Dark's longer stride, showing a greater stamina than Dark's daughter, who had finally given in and toppled over in exhaustion. Flicking his ear back, Dark listened to Celestia softly snoring breath, as her face was pressed up against the side of his neck. Dark smiled as he felt her drool soaking into his coat.

During the morning and early afternoon, Dark, had been meeting with many of the stallions and a sizable amount of mares, to arrange for guard duties. As well as walking to several spots with Birch Bark and Hoof Strike to scout out good locations for guard posts. Many of the ponies were starting to get worried, when word started to get about that some ponies were seeing things moving around in the night.

The day before, Dark and Birch Bark walked the perimeter of their settlement and confirmed that there were wolf tracks all around. The wolves were out there, somewhere, but they were staying back and waiting. Soon it would be foaling time, when there was going to be many new and easy prey for them to grab, and Dark wanted to be ready. He didn't want a single foal taken this year.

"Papa?" Ash called up to him.

"Yes?" Dark asked, looking down at the colt.

"Would... would you help me make... a spear?" The colt asked hesitantly, giving Dark hopeful glances.

"A spear? What would you do with a spear?" Dark asked, pausing to consider the colt.

Ash kicked his hoof at the ground for a moment, before he answered. "I ah... want to use it to protect mama, and Celestia,... and the coming little foal. I want to use my spear to protect them all, because... because... I love them all!" Ash looked like he was about to cry as he met Dark's eyes. "And I love you too, papa. And I want to be just like you!"

Dark's heart swelled, and he had to fight to hold back the tears that threatened to fill his eyes. Why did Ash have to be so adorable. Letting out a sigh, Dark smiled down at the colt, as he placed his hoof onto the colts little shoulder."I would be happy to help you make your spear." Ash's face suddenly broke out in a smile that split his face in two. "But on one condition." Ash's face suddenly fell as he listened attentively for the condition. Bending his head down, Dark looked into Ash's face. "That you give me a kiss and a hug. Straight from your heart."

Ash blinked at him for a moment, then he abruptly smiled and lunged forward to wrap his hooves around Dark's muzzle, and plant a big kiss to the side of the stallions cheek. As the colt pulled back, Dark stopped him with a hoof and planted a kiss to the side of his muzzle, before playfully mussing up the colts clay red mane.

"Come on, let's go see what Brightstar's so eager to show me" Dark said, starting forward again, with Ash quickly falling in beside him.

Brightstar lived off to the edge of the settled area, near a small pond. As Dark, and Ash stepped out of the trees, they saw a strange sight. It looked like Brightstar had been busy since the last time Dark had been here last summer.

During his last visit, it had been Brightstar who gave Dark the idea of using branches and logs to make a shelter by leaning them up against trees, when he saw Brightstar's shelter for the first time. It so impressed him, he started his own for Meadowlark and Celestia the very same day.

"What is it papa?" Ash asked, looking at the new structure.

"Something new." Dark answered breathlessly, stepping closer to look at the new marvel Brightstar built. It was a bunch of long thin logs arrayed in a circle with their tops coming together at a point. Set out around the outside, stones had been stacked against the side of the structure to just above Dark's head, with what looked like mud packed in between the stones. Above that, it looked like Brightstar stacked a thick layer of pine branches, around the structure, all the way up to top, where it came to a point.

Circling around the structure, Dark found what looked like a opening in the side, but there was something covering it. Branches had been rowed up together, all the way from the ground to the height of a pony's nose. Lifting his hoof to it, Dark gave it a nudge and found it solid. How did the branches stay together!? He wondered.

Ash moved in, and poked his head at a seam where the branches met the stacked stone, and managed to swing it open enough to get his head in. "Wow, this is... wow!" Ash said in awe, as he looked inside.

Hooking the edge of the row of branches with his hoof, Dark pulled towards himself and swung the strange frame open. How did Brightstar do this!? Dark marveled, as Ash darted inside.

With Celestia still sleeping on his back, Dark carefully bent himself down enough to squeeze through the opening. Inside was a surprisingly large space that was free of any breeze or draft. The floor was clean, and free of small sticks and pebbles, and a thick bed of leaves was laid out on the ground opposite of the door, for ponies to sleep on.

"Hello!? Who's in my home!?" Brightstar's questioning voice came to them from outside.

Bending himself back down, Dark stepped out, quickly followed by Ash. "It's just us." Dark said, giving Brightstar, and the two mares with him, Berry Shrub, and Daisy Petal, a friendly smile.

Berry Shrub bowed her head down respectfully. "Father, we welcome you to our home." Daisy Petal also bowed her head down.

Two fillies, peeked their head out from behind Daisy Petal, and dashed over when they saw Ash, and said hello to him.

"Thank you, its a very impressive home." Dark complimented. "Is this what you wanted to show me? Because I am astonished at what you built here."

Brightstar gave his head a shake. "No, this is not what I wanted to show you." He said, a smile coming to his face. "No, what I wanted to show you is much better."

Dark blinked in surprise. "Better than this!?" He said gesturing to Brightstar's home.

Brightstar nodded. "Much better." He turned and started away. "Come and see. It's by the pond.

Berry Shrub moved up to Dark. "Here, I'll take your filly and put her down to rest." She gently nipped Celestia's crest in her mouth and lifted her up, before carrying her into their home, with the two fillies following after.

Dark followed after Brightstar, with Ash close by his side. Down by the pond, Dark saw a strange cleared out patch of ground, with a series of hollowed out gourds, filled with what looked like dirt, lined up together.

Scooping up one of the gourds, Brightstar held it up to Dark, on the flat of his hoof. "This is what I wanted to show you."

Furling his brow in confusion at what Brightstar was showing him, Dark stepped closer and looked closely at the gourd. It was filled with dirt, and poking out of the center of it was a tiny sprout, as it budded out.

"What is it?" Dark asked, giving up.

Brightstar smiled. "This is an oat." Turning he pointed with his head at all the gourds laid out on the ground. "These are all oats."

Dark looked around, and saw that all the hollowed out gourds had little shoots growing in them. "You're growing oats? Why?"

"You remember when you told me last summer, about how you were gathering grass and storing it for the winter? Well, that got me thinking. What else would be good to store for the winter, and when I looked around, I found this!" He held up the sprout again.

Moving over to the gourds, Brightstar carefully set down his oat sprout, and picked up another gourd and took some kind of cover off the top. Taking it back to Dark, he held it up for Dark to look.

Inside Dark saw that it was filled with oat grains.

"I found a patch of oats about a morning's trot south of here. I spent many days gathering all of these and brought them back here." Brightstar explained excitedly. "I had several gourds filled with them, and you know what!? They didn't rot or go bad! I took these last fall and they are still good enough to eat!"

Dark felt his heart start to race. Food that didn't go bad! And not only that, but it was also good food! Oats were always sought after, and whenever a patch was found, many of the top ponies like Thunder Step would quickly move in, and eat it all down.

"But what good does this do us? It would be impossible to find all the patches of oats out there, to gather enough oat grains for winter." Dark asked.

Brightstar suddenly jumped. "That it!" He exclaimed. "I thought the same things, but then I thought of an idea!" Turning he pointed at the cleared out ground. "I thought, what if I cleared out a piece of ground and planted just oats, I wouldn't have to go out looking for them! Think about it! Think about what this means!" Brightstar said fervently. "Think about growing only oats from one side of the meadow to the other! There would be no need to search around for patches of oats when you grow entire fields of it! We would have no shortage of food ever again! It's so simple!"

Dark felt like his heart was going to bust out of his chest. This was it! This was what he needed! This is what they all needed! A sustainable food source that lasted through the winter! All they had to do was work the land and grow it themselves. Wait for the right time and gather what they needed from it, then store it away!

"How long!?" Dark asked, looking hard at Brightstar. "How long will it take to get started!?"

Brightstar blinked at him as he leaned back from Dark's intense gaze. "Well, that's just it. I only have the little amount of oat grains I gathered from last fall. Even if I plant them all, we still wouldn't come close to what we would need." Brightstar said shaking his head. "So we are going to need to gather as much oat grains as possible this summer, if we wanted to get a start during next spring."

Dark nodded as he scratched his chin. "It's a pity we can't start this spring. We'll have to go with my first idea, and gather and dry out grass. If everypony helps out, we should easily gather enough to last us all through the winter. I don't want anypony to go hungry this winter, nor any winter ever again!" He exclaimed, stomping his hoof down.

Turning, Dark looked at Brightstar, a new smile coming to his lips. "Tell me, how good do you think your home is at keeping wolves out? And how many more do you think you can build if you had a lot of help?"

Chapter Six

Strongbuck wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his fetlock, before he levered another stone onto his pile.

Over the last couple of days, ponies have been busily working on the new structures that Brightstar designed, quickly erecting nine of these new homes within the first day, with more ponies coming forward and offering their help on the second day, where it was now believed that another twelve would be completed before the sun set.

Strongbuck moved over to another stone, and started to pry at it with his hoof. As he worked, Strongbuck felt a sense of satisfaction for what he was doing for the herd, and for Dark Storm. He hoped that it would make up for his weakness for giving into pressure, and failing to support Dark Storm when he needed it the most. The shame and remorse he felt whenever he thought about how he backed Thunder Step, and stood with those that mocked Dark Storm, drove him to work all the more harder, as he pushed himself to the very limits of his endurance.

Strongbuck admired Dark Storm, and his mate Meadowlark for what they've done for the herd in the short time since they ousted the previous alpha, Thunder Step. What they've accomplished so far, is beyond anything, any pony in the herd could have comprehended was possible. It was like a light had suddenly shined onto their lives, filling their hearts with hope.

Prying the stone loose, Strongbuck kicked it over to the rest of the stones he had piled up, and stood back, sizing up the pile. Figuring he had enough, Strongbuck moved to another clever creation of Brightstar's, and stepped between two long poles made from young aspen trees, and lifted it up.

The previous day, when Brightstar saw ponies carrying stones on their backs, he suddenly started muttering to himself as he paced, deep in thought. He did this for a short while before he gave a happy jump, and quickly began to assemble a new contrivance to allow ponies to move things around more easily. It consisted simply of two long poles strapped together on one end with long strips of willow bark. The back end that dragged on the ground, had a frame structure built across the two poles, to allow it to hold the stones in place.

Settling the poles into position along each of his sides, with the points up at his withers. Strongbuck leaned forward and started to drag the sled forward. The work he was doing also gave him a chance to be away from the mares for a while. Dove Song, constantly followed him around and liked to rub up against him, while Bell Flower liked whispered strange things she wanted him to do to her. Pausing, Strongbuck shook his head. Why would any mare want a stallion to do that, to her other hole? He'll never understand mares, especially those two mares.

Pulling the sled into the meadow, Strongbuck looked around and marveled at all the new homes that were being made. Many where already completed, while others where just being started, as ponies began to erect the long poles. Dragging his load forward, Strongbuck brought it to a large pile of stones, and lowered the poles off his back, setting his load down.

Ahead of him by the split boulder in the center of the meadow, Strongbuck saw a new structure was taking form that looked much larger then the others. What was that? He wondered.

Quickly he unloaded his stones onto the pile, before he set off to find out what the new structure was. As he approached, he saw that it was about thirty steps long, and eight steps wide. Already, long poles had been set up to lean against each other, as ponies strapped supporting poles with willow bark, lengthwise down the length of the structure to keep them together.

Seeing two foals dragging a pair of smaller sleds, walking by. Strongbuck held his hoof out to stop them.

"What are they building?" Strongbuck asked, indicating the large structure.

The charcoal brown colt looked up at him. "Papa wanted a place to store food for the winter, and he said it needed to be reeeely big!" The colt said, holding a hoof way off to the side to indicate size.

"And we're helping!" The white filly next to him added with a proud smile.

"That's right, and a wonderful job you two are doing at that!" A voice said from just behind Strongbuck.

Strongbuck knew that voice! Turning, he looked back at Dark Storm, as the stallion smiled down at the two foals. Panic suddenly shot though his body, and locked up his limbs. Quickly Strongbuck managed to bow his head down and look at the ground. "Father." He said, trying to show respect.

Suddenly a hoof came down onto his shoulder, causing Strongbuck to look up and see Dark Storm smiling at him. "Strongbuck right? I've noticed how hard you've been working over the last couple of days." Dark Storm said, lowering his hoof down from his shoulder. "You've gathered and brought back twice as much stone than any other pony, and I want you to know I appreciate the hard effort you've put into this."

"Th-thank you." Strongbuck stuttered out, shocked that Dark Storm had not only noticed him, but also knew his name.

"Celestia, Ash, I want you to take a break and eat something, and mama wants you two to come and visit her. She's been feeling lonely since she's been stuck, resting, in our new home." Dark Storm said to the two foals.

"Yes papa." The two foals said together, and as Strongbuck watched in stunned amazement, Dark Storm bent his head down and the two foals moved forward and kissed him affectionately, while Dark Storm kissed them both back, before they hurried off, dragging their little sleds off with them. It was a sight Strongbuck has never seen before. A stallion showing and receiving affection from foals. Is this what it meant to be a father?

"So, how are those two mares of yours, I hear that they can be a bit... wild in some ways." Dark Storm suddenly asked, turning back to Strongbuck.

Strongbuck's heart began to race in his chest, as his apprehension suddenly shot up. "I ah... they're good." Strongbuck replied, swallowing.

Dark Storm seemed to sense his trepidation, as he looked closer at the young stallion. "Is... everything alright?" He asked in concern.

Strongbuck looked around as he struggled to make some excuse, but when he looked back at Dark Storm and saw him looking at him with true concern, Strongbuck let out a sigh and shook his head. "I... don't know how to be a stallion to them. They whisper things to me and nip me in some sensitive places that make me feel really excited, but... I have never been with a mare before, and the things they want from me is just so... strange." The young stallion explained. "When they press in close to me and tell me all the things they want to do to me, and have me do to them, I get overwhelmed and scared, and I... I don't know what to do!" Strongbuck exclaimed hopelessly, as he flopped his rump down onto the ground.

Dark Storm blinked at the young stallion a moment before he nodded his head and sat down next to him. "I think I understand." He said. "Those two are coming onto you pretty strongly aren't they?"

Rather then answer, Strongbuck only nodded his head silently.

Dark Storm let out a long breath. "Bell Flower and Dove Song are passionate mares, and they are very close with each other, as close as two mares can be." He said, looking over at the young stallion. "When you stepped forward and offered yourself to the herd, they saw something in you that they valued enough to not let go, something none of the other mares saw."

Strongbuck shot a look over at Dark Storm. "What did they see in me?"

"I believe what they saw, was a young stallion willing to be brave enough to follow his heart." Dark Storm said.

Shaking his head, Strongbuck turned his head away as he was filled with bitter remorse. "I was a coward!" He exclaimed. "You were the one who was bravely following his heart! I just stood back and let them mock you, while I cowered amongst them!"

Feeling tears starting to come to his eyes, Strongbuck suddenly felt Dark Storm's hoof settle around his shoulder. The touch of Dark Storm's hoof sent waves of shame coursing though him, and he almost flung the comforting hoof off him, to run away.

"Strongbuck. You could have stayed with Thunder Step, but you didn't." Dark Storm said softly, to the young stallion. "You followed your heart and stepped out and stood right next to Thunder Step, and offered yourself to the herd, in complete defiance to Thunder Step. Dove Song and Bell Flower saw this and decided that you were worth keeping. They've never had a close relationship with a stallion before and this is all new to them, so forgive them, and be patient with their overenthusiastic affections, they are just trying to get to know you better. Just sit down with them, and talk with them honestly, let them know how you feel. I'm sure that once you all open up to one another, things will get easier."

Wiping his fetlock across his eyes to dry them, Strongbuck nodded. "Thank you. This really helps." He said gratefully.

"Anytime you need advice, just come to me." Dark Storm said, looking over at the young stallion.

"I think... I'll go look for them now, I've been avoiding them, and I think I may have hurt their feelings." Strongbuck said, feeling regret for the way he'd been treating them.

Dark Storm smiled and gave a nod. "That's a really good idea. Those two are special mares that deserves a good stallion to bring some added love into their life. Just remember to keep following your heart."

Strongbuck smiled and nodded. "I will." Standing he trotted away, to search for his two mares, and set things right with them. He had to admit, he did kind of like the attention they gave him, as well as they also smelled really nice.

After asking around, he was told by a mare, who kept smiling and looking at her cutie mark, that looked like a pair of shaped stones strapped to a stick, that Dove and Bell were off in the western woods, getting logs. Leaving the mare to continue to admire her new cutie mark, Strongbuck headed off to search the western woods.

Finding them turned out to be much easier than he thought it would be. He simply followed the sound of something repetitively striking a tree and soon found Dove Song standing alongside Bell Flower, who was holding something in her mouth. It looked like a pair of shaped stones strapped to a stick, just like the image of the other mare's cutie mark he had seen earlier. As Strongbuck watched, Bell Flower swung it against the trunk of an aspen, and with each swing of the sharpened stone, pieces of the tree was chipped off, slowly creating a notch in the aspen tree.

"Do you think he hates me?" Dove Song asked, as she watched Bell Flower work.

Strongbuck paused just behind a bush as he listened, with his ears perked up.

Bell Flower paused to look over at Dove Song. "Of course not! What is there to not like about you!?"

"He's been avoiding me so much, I can't help but think that there is something wrong with me." Dove Song said, dejectedly. "Do you think that its because he may have found out that I'm... that I'm.. barren." Her voice shook, as she reached a hoof up to rub at her belly.

Strongbuck felt a shock run through his body, when he heard her words. He had no idea she had been hurting so much.

Bell Flower spat out the tool she held in her mouth, and rushed over to Dove Song. "Don't say that! You're not barren! You've been with foal, twice!"

"But I've miscarried both times! What stallion would want a mare that can't carry a foal!?" Dove Song shouted back as she began to cry. "He hates me, I know it! He knows I can't give him a foal, and he's right to hate me! I'm a worthless, barren mare!"

Strongbuck struggled with his feelings, as his heart hammered in his chest. His gut felt like it had just dropped down to the bottom of his hooves. Taking a deep breath, Strongbuck touched his hoof to his chest as he thought about what Dark Storm had said to him. Follow your heart.

Letting out a breath, Strongbuck moved forward and stepped around the bush.

When Dove Song saw him she let out a gasp, and her tear streaked eyes widened in horror. "Strongbuck! How!... how long have you been there!?" She exclaimed, as Bell Flower whirled about to look back at him in surprise.

Now that he had revealed himself, Strongbuck didn't know what he should do. He opened his mouth, and found he had no idea what to say to her. No words seemed adequate for him to express his feelings to her. Giving up, he did the next thing that felt right. Stepping up to Dove Song, Strongbuck reached out and planted his lips to hers.

The moment his lips touched hers, he felt her draw back slightly, but then she paused and held steady as she let him kiss her. Her lips were warm, and trembled against his, as he pressed into hers a little harder.

Breaking from the long kiss, Strongbuck nuzzled her along the side of her cheek. "I don't hate you" He said. "I don't hate ether of you." He reached over and kissed Bell Flower, and was surprised to feel her meet his kiss eagerly.

"I'm young and stupid, and your attentions frightened me." Strongbuck explained. "But Dark Storm talked with me and opened my eyes, and I see now what a stupid fool I have been." He looked over at the two mares, meeting their eyes. "I made a promise to you Dove, back when you walked out to me, during that day. You asked me if I would do my best to make you and Bell happy, and I've been letting you both down, and I'm ashamed of myself for doing that. I want to see you happy, I want to see you both happy, and I will do my best to make sure that happens from now on."

Dove Song smiled, and nuzzled him on his cheek. "There's that brave stallion I was so attracted to, I was wondering where you went."

Bell Flower moved over and nuzzled him on the other side. "You know how to say the sweetest things."

Turning, Strongbuck brushed his hoof along Dove Song's cheek and met her eyes. "I want you to know that whether you give me a foal or not, I'll always be there for you, I'll be there for both of you, I promise."

Dove suddenly lunged herself forward and hugged him tightly, as she buried her face into his neck and cried. Her tears soaked into his coat as he gently held her with a hoof. He followed his heart, and now she was crying into his neck, was this supposed to happen? Strongbuck wondered, as he felt her shuddering against him.

Bell Flower moved in and kissed him on his cheek, before she wrapped her hoof around both of them.

They all stayed like that for a while, before Dove finally released him, and pulled back as she wiped at her eyes. "You really are the sweetest stallion. Please don't ever lose that."

Strongbuck gave her a smile as he shrugged his shoulders. "All I did was follow my heart." Turning he looked over at the tree, Bell Flower was chopping at when he arrived. "How would you two like me to stay and help?"

"That." Bell Flower said as she gave him a playful nip to his flank. "Would be wonderful." She then picked up the strange stick with the sharp black stone strapped to its end.

"What is that?" Strongbuck asked, eyeing the tool curiously. He remembered the mare by the settlement who had a cutie mark with a pair of them on her flank.

"This?" Bell Song asked, holding up the tool.

"Green Clover thought of it. She calls it a wood chopper." Dove said, stepping up to his side.

"Is she the one with the cutie mark of a pair of these wood choppers, on her flanks?" Strongbuck asked.

"That's her." Bell Flower said giving a nod of her head. "She noticed how a certain black rock, flaked off sharp pieces when she struck it with her hoof, and she strapped a stick onto it so it could be swung into a tree."

"And I was there to see her get her cutie mark, when she chopped down her first tree! It was amazing! There was a flicker of light on her flanks, and then there they were, a pair of wood choppers!" Dove said excitedly. "I wonder if I will ever get a cutie mark?"

Suddenly Dove moved over and planted a passionate kiss onto Strongbuck lips, and began to move her lips against his as he pressed in harder. Strongbuck's head felt like a swarm of bees had suddenly flown in and were now buzzing in circles. The sudden touch of her tongue as she slid it into his mouth to swipe at his tongue playfully, nearly made Strongbuck knees collapse under him. His body began to shiver with uncontrolled excitement, as Dove abruptly drew his lower lip into her mouth as she suckled it for a moment, before she released it with a wet pop. She drew her head back, and looked back at her flank and frowned. "Darn! I didn't get a cutie mark in kissing!"

Bell Flower stood watching, wide eyed at the scene as it played out before her. "Dove! By the stars! Watching you two made me ether ready for a good hard rutting! Or I just peed down my back legs!" She said, giving her hind legs a shake. "Look at what you've done to poor Strongbuck!" Bell Flower exclaimed, nodding her head at the young stallion, with heavy amusement in her voice.

"Oh my!" Dove said, her eyes traveling down Strongbuck's overly excited body, to his now fully erect stallionhood, that dangled down between his legs.

Strongbuck stood their awkwardly as the two mares openly ogled his aroused stallionhood. He felt his heart hammering in his chest, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop his body from shivering. The two mares were now looking at him with a lot more interest, as they both stepped closer.

Bell Flower began to nuzzle and nip at his side, as Dove licked the other side of his neck. The young stallion felt his stallionhood start to throb under him with a powerful need, as he turned his head and sniffed at Dove's neck, taking in her lovely scent. Bell Flower moved closer, and brushed up against him, as she turned herself and flicked her tail into his face.

Letting out a snort, Strongbuck reached his muzzle out and sniffed at Bell's dripping desire, before he gave her a strong lick up her aroused slit, that made her whinny with lust, as he tasted her juices.

The sound of rustling leaves and the tiny snap of a twig, suddenly caught his attention. Lifting his head up from Bell's rear, Strongbuck suddenly looked about as he sensed that something was wrong.

Bell let out a little whine as she noticed he was no longer licking her, and turned to complain, but upon seeing Strongbuck's sudden alert stance, and quickly retreating stallionhood, she wisely stayed quiet as she looked around too. "What is it?" She murmured.

As Strongbuck felt Dove press in close to him, he rotated his head around and looked all about. The forest was now deathly silent, as he noticed all the birds had gone silent. A flash of gray suddenly caught the side of his eyes, but when he looked nothing was there, another flash of brown drew his attention to the other side. Lifting his head higher Strongbuck sniffed the air, it was faint but he caught the scent of something. Something musty.

Panic suddenly shot though Strongbuck as he shoved his muzzle into Dove's side and pushed her. "Run!" Turning he rammed his shoulder into Bell Flower's side as he shoved her to follow after Dove. "Run! Now!"

Both mares didn't question him, as they both shot off, heading back towards the settlement. I was such a fool! Why didn't I bring my spear! Strongbuck berated himself as he followed after his mares. A flash of gray to his side relieved itself to be a wolf darting off to their side as the wolf followed along with them. To the other side, Strongbuck caught sight of several more white and brown streaks as more followed along.

The trees and bushes shot by the fleeing ponies as they bolted through the forest. More wolves started to reveal themselves as they closed in to their right side. Dove and Bell saw them and turned away, trying to keep their distance. Strongbuck noticed this and realized that the wolves where purposely forcing them to turn. They were diving them away from the rest of the herd!

"Dove, Bell!" Strongbuck shouted out to them. "They are driving us away from the settlement! We need to turn into them!"

"What!? Go into them!?" Bell shrieked, her voice sounded panicked.

"Trust me, and follow behind me! I will lead us through them. I will keep you both safe! No matter what happens, I will protect you both!" Strongbuck desperately shouted out to them. "Now, turn!"

Strongbuck turned back to his right, and surged forward ahead of his mares. The wolves were caught by surprise as the ponies suddenly charged directly at them. Many scattered out of the way, but one wasn't fast enough and Strongbuck let out an enraged stallion roar, as he bowled the wolf over, and trampled him under his hooves.

Flicking his ear back, Strongbuck risked a glance back and was relieve to see that both Dove and Bell still following behind him, but a moment later his heart sank when he saw wolves quickly closing in behind them.

"Keep going!" Strongbuck shouted as he swerved to the side and slowed, letting the mares pass. Striking out with his hoof, the wolves that followed, dodged to the side and avoided his strike. They were just to quick! Ahead of him, Bell lashed out at another wolf that ran up beside her, but that one too, quickly dodged away.

Strongbuck realized that they were not going to make it. There were just too many of them, and they were too quick. Looking ahead at Dove and Bell. Strongbuck let out a resolute sigh as he realized what he needed to do. I'm sorry, please forgive me. Strongbuck turned himself away, and ran off away from from his mares, as he headed deeper into the woods.

"Strongbuck! What are you doing!?" Bell shouted, when she saw him running off alone.

"Keep going, and get to safety! I'll lead them away!" Strongbuck shouted back, tears streamed down his face as he looked one last time at Dove and Bell and met their eyes. Goodbye.

A quick look showed that his plan was working, as he saw the wolves suddenly turned and followed after him. The wolves knew that a lone stallion would be a easier kill.

His breath huffed out in great puffing breaths as he swerved around trees. Wolves were now all around him, and closing in. Strongbuck knew that there would be no getting away from this, and in a very short while he would be dead. Thoughts of Dove and Bell, making it to safety and living a long life, lifted his heart, and kept his hooves moving.

Suddenly he felt teeth sink painfully into his right haunch, as a wolf bit down into him. Letting out a scream of pain, Strongbuck failed to avoid a tree and painfully slammed off of it with his shoulder and tumbled painfully to the ground. Before he could get back up, another wolf dashed in and sank his fangs into his shoulder. Reaching over, Strongbuck bit as hard as he could into the back of the wolf's neck and tore him free of his shoulder. Feeling the wolf's bones crack in his teeth, Strongbuck flung the mortally wounded wolf into another wolf, as it charged towards him.

Momentarily free, Strongbuck managed to climb back to his shaky hooves, but another wolf suddenly grabbed at his fetlock, causing him to stumble and fall back down, which allowed another wolf to dash in and clamped it's jaws around his throat, choking off his breath.

Struggling feebly, Strongbuck weakly kicked his hoof, trying to dislodge the wolf from his throat, but it was useless, he didn't have the strength. Everything was fading away, as his life was choked out of him. He could feel the wolfs fangs sink into his neck as the wolf clamped down harder. He could hardly see anymore, as the colors faded from the world. This is as far as I go. I'm sorry Dove, I'm sorry Bell. I wish... i...wish...

Suddenly he felt his throat get released, and he managed to draw in a shallow breath. There was something happening around him, as he felt a wolf scramble over him with its clawed paws scratched his ribs. He managed to hear a wolf let out a scream of pain, with more furious sounds of violence happening all around him.

Blinking his eyes, Strongbuck managed to make out a pair of shapes dashing around him as they attacked the wolves. Who would be crazy enough to attack wolves? Everything began to fade, and Strongbuck let out a breath as he felt himself fall into darkness.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Dark Storm heaved up another log and held it in place, as ponies moved in and began to wrap strips of willow bark around it as they tied the log into place. Stepping back, Dark wiped at his brow, and smiled all about. Everything was coming together as more and more ponies came to help. Word had already spread, that several ponies had gotten their cutie marks this day, and Dark couldn't be happier. If this continued, every pony in the herd would have a cutie mark before the first snows at the end of the year.

"Dark!" A distant voice shouted out.

Turning, Dark Storm looked out at Birch Bark, as he galloped as hard as he could towards Dark.

"Dark! Wolves have been spotted!" Birch Bark shouted as he skidded to a stop.

"Where!?" Dark exclaimed, feeling his heart suddenly start to race.

"The western woods. There were ponies in there gathering wood." Birch Bark answered quickly. "The wolves are howling and there are sounds of a struggle."

Dark felt his gut drop. "Hoof Strike!" Dark shouted out, to a large stallion standing nearby. "Gather all the pregnant mares and foals, and put them in the shelters with guards surrounding them. They must keep them safe at all cost!" Dark ordered. Hoof Strike bowed his head down and quickly dashed off. "Birch Bark, gather what ponies we can with spears. We are going into the west woods!"

"But it's too late, there's no way any pony could have survived a full hunting pack!" Birch Bark exclaimed, hopelessly.

Dark whirled about and glared right into Birch Bark's face. "We will teach those wolves what happened if you hunt ponies!" Dark snarled. "Now gather your spears!"

Turning, Dark marched down towards the western woods, his eyes burning in rage.

With his spear held in the crook of his leg, Dark waited for Birch Bark to signal that they were ready.

Next to him, a stallion shifted nervously as they looked out at the woods. "I think I just saw something!" The stallion exclaimed, pointing his hoof.

Dark looked out and indeed noticed something moving deeper in the woods. Shifting his stance, he brought his spear forward as he clamped it in his fetlock. "Ready yourselves!" Dark called out, and heard ponies shift as they brought their spears forward. Would the wolves dare attack such a large group of ponies in broad daylight?

Dark gritted hit teeth as he watched the woods. The movement appeared and disappeared as it moved closer, until suddenly two ponies stumbled out of the woods.

Dark felt his heart leap up into his throat at the sight of the two mares. Bell Flower was leaning wearily into Dove Song side, as she helped support her, as she carried Strongbuck's limp body over her back. They were all covered in blood.

Chapter Seven

Celestia wondered how much longer they were going to have to stay stuck inside their new home.

When Hoof Strike ran up with a group of spear wielding ponies, announcing that wolves had been spotted nearby, Ash snatched up his newly finished spear. He was about to dash off to join the wolf hunters, when Meadowlark quickly nabbed the colt up by his crest, and carried the protesting colt inside, telling him that she would not allow him to go gallivanting off, to chase wolves around the forest.

For a while, Ash sat alone brooding on the far side of their home, until Melodious, who was visiting with Meadowlark when they were told to stay inside, got tired of it, and grabbed the colt up in her hooves. Hugging him tightly to herself with a smile, Melodious said that he looked like he needed a really good cuddle.

As Ash suffered under the pregnant mare's affections, Celestia stepped over and pressed her ear into Melodious's large belly. Closing her eyes she could hear the strange gurgles and low thumps that emanated from the two little active foals, as they moved about within their mother's womb.

Suddenly, Celestia jerked her head back, as the portion of Melodious's belly quickly bulged out. "Ow! A foal just kicked me!" She exclaimed, as she rubbed at her cheek.

"They do tend to do that." Meadowlark said with a knowing smile, as she glanced over from where she was laying on a thick bed of grass, that Dark had placed in her favorite spot, so she would be comfortable.

Leaning her head back into Melodious's belly, Celestia rubbed her hoof over a bulge. "Your colts seem really happy. I think they sense that they'll be born soon." Celestia said with a smile, as she continued to press her ear into the mare's belly, to listen.

Melodious let out a guffaw. "Colts!?" She said in disbelief. "They could just as easily be fillies, you know."

Celestia looked up at her, and shook her head. "Nope. Mama's going to have a filly. You're going to have two colts." She said, with a oddly confident tone.

Melodious's smile dropped a little, at Celestia's earnest expression. "What makes you so sure that my foals will be colts?"

"I can feel it." Celestia answered simply, as she lowered her head back down and rubbed her hoof along Melodious's belly. Closing her eyes she allowed her senses to flow free, and she could feel two warm spots just under her hoof. They felt like two tiny suns that pulsed with life. Life that yearned to be free, and to experience all the new and exciting wonders they would soon discover, once they were born.

Ash moved over to Celestia, and set his hoof onto Melodious's pregnant belly. "How will they get out?" Ash asked Melodious curiously, looking up at her.

"The usual way. By being born." Melodious answered, with a smile.

Ash cocked his head to the side. "But I don't know what that means?" He complained in confusion. "How do they go from in here." He said touching his hoof to her belly. "To out here." Ash then moved his hoof away from her belly.

"Oh that's easy!" Celestia answered . "When the foal is ready to be born, the mama pushes really hard, and forces the foal to come out!"

Ash looked even more confused. "So, the mama poops the foal out!?"

Both Melodious and Meadowlark suddenly broke out laughing, as the young colt looked between them in confusion, not understanding what was so funny about what he said.

"Oh Meadowlark! He's so adorable!" Melodious said, wiping tears from her eyes.

Celestia turned away from Ash, and bent over. Flipping her tail up, she jabbed her hoof at her rear. "No, silly. The foal comes out of this!" She said, with her hoof pointed at her little pink slit.

Ash froze, as he stared at her exposed filly bits, with his eyes bugging out. Quickly, he turned red all the way up to the tips of his ears, before he abruptly dashed away, and hid himself on the other side of Meadowlark, trying to bring his oddly excited body back under control.

"Celestia! Stop presenting yourself to the poor colt! Save that for when your both older!" Celestia's mother chided her.

Celestia turned and sat her rump down. "Yes, mama." She said before she leaned over, and looked around her mother, at the obviously flustered colt and let out a giggle. She had no idea colts were so fun to tease, and she wondered what else she could do to him, to elicit an even better reaction.

Suddenly the wooden panel that covered the opening to their home, was pulled open.

"Careful now, don't hit his head." Celestia heard her father say, as somepony started to squeeze though the opening.

Celestia quickly moved over to her mother, as she curiously watched as Dove Song stepped in carrying a limp stallion on her back. Celestia gasped in horror and cringed back against her mother's side, alarmed at the horrible state, she saw the two ponies were in.

Dove Song had a deep gouge running down the side of her muzzle to her lip, as well as numerous scratches and small tears along parts of her peach colored body, leaving bloody trails running down her legs, and dripping off her belly.

The acorn colored stallion, laying limply on her back, looked much worse. He had large shredded wounds, on his shoulder and haunch, that left some of his skin hanging down, and his neck had numerous punctures running around his throat just under his jaw. Blood covered them both, as it seeped down from the young stallion wounds onto Dove Song.

Tears ran down from Dove Song's eyes as she carefully lowered herself, so she could lay the stallion down. Celestia's father, and Bell Flower entered next and hurried over to help lower the stallion off of Dove's back. Celestia saw that Bell Flower had also been injured. There were numerous bite wounds on her legs and one up on her withers, as well as some claw marks along the side of her ribs, and a partially torn left ear.

As she watched them gently lay the stallion onto the ground, Celestia suddenly realized that she recognized the stallion! She and Ash, had met him earlier that day when he asked about the new storage building that was being built. She remembered her father had talked to him, and called him Strongbuck, when he greeted him.

Ash dashed over and joined Celestia, as Meadowlark wrapped a hoof around them, to hold them to her chest."What happened, mama!?" Celestia asked, looking up at her mother in concern. The sight of the injured ponies made her want to hide her face into her mothers side and cry. "Why are they hurt!?"

"I was a fool!" Dark Storm muttered as he moved over to his mate. "I didn't expect the wolves would come in the middle of the day, at least not until the foals came!"

"What happened?" Meadowlark asked, clutching the foals to herself.

"A full hunting pack caught them out in the western woods. Strongbuck saw that they weren't going to make it back to the safety and used himself to lure the pack away from his mares so that they could get away." Dark explained glumly, sitting his rump down next to Meadowlark. His eyes looked both sad and furious.

He suddenly turned and gave Meadowlark a wry smile. "You were right when you said that a mare would easily kill to defend those they love. Those two turned back without hesitation, and defended their young stallion with such a ferocity and fearlessness, the pack's resolve broke, and they all wisely fled back to the safety of their den."

"Dark! He's still bleeding!" Dove suddenly cried out, her face was panicked. "What do I do!? I don't want to lose him!"

"I know somepony that may be able to help." Melodious offered. "Back when Birch Bark was a colt, he gashed his leg pretty badly on a rock, and a older mare named Magpie Cackle, chewed up some leaves, and spread it over his wound and stopped his bleeding. It healed up quite nicely after that as well. "

"I know of her!" Meadowlark added in. "She's dark gray with a white mane, and she has a purple flower cutie mark."

Bell Flower looked down at Dove Song. "Dove, stay with him in case he wakes up." She then bent down and lightly kissed Strongbuck lips as well as Dove's "If she can help Strongbuck, then I'll go find her." She said, before she hurried out.

"Hoof Strike! Go with her, and keep her safe!" Dark yelled out through the opening at the stallion, who quickly turned trotted off after the mare.

"I'm going to check on how Birch Bark is doing." Dark said, as he moved towards the opening. "He and a number of hunters are sweeping the woods to make sure its clear.

"Dark!" Meadowlark called out. "Stay safe."

He paused and looked back. "I will, don't worry." Dark said before ducking outside.

The wait for Bell's return with Magpie was agonizingly slow. Celestia managed to wiggle out of her mothers grasp, and hurried over to Dove Song, who sat anxiously next to Strongbuck as she fussed over him, constantly checking to see if he was still breathing.

Hesitating next to Dove, Celestia reached her hoof out and gently touched Strongbuck. Closing her eyes, Celestia could feel life under her hoof. It was weak and slowly fading, but it had a stubborn strength to it, that showed the young stallions strong will to live. Dropping her hoof down, Celestia turned and wrapped her little hooves around Dove's neck and hugged her, trying to give the distressed mare some comfort.

Celestia felt Dove wrap her hoof around her, as the mare murmured her thanks. She remained with Dove until Bell Flower finally returned, as she ducked back inside followed by a old grey mare with a black feather tied into her mane. As the two mares moved over to Strongbuck, Hoof Strike came in carrying a turtle shell upturned on his back, with a bunch of gourds stacked within.

Magpie Cackle stepped over to Strongbuck and muttered to herself, as she looked him over. Finally she gave her head a shake. "I'm afraid that there is very little that can be done for him. Even if we stop the bleeding, the fever that will be sure to come later, will undoubtedly kill him."

Dove stood and moved closer to Magpie. "Please! Even if its a small chance, we have to try!" She pleaded desperately.

Magpie pursed her lips for a moment as she considered Dove. "It won't be easy, and he'll need a lot of care. No pony has ever recovered from wounds this extensive before."

"Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it." Dove said, desperately.

"Me too!" Bell Flower added in.

Magpie looked at Dove and Bells earnest expressions, then let out a sigh. "You" She said pointing her hoof at Hoof Strike. "Put my stuff down, right here." She indicated a spot near Strongbuck.

Once Hoof Strike set down the turtle shell basket. Magpie started to root though her gourds, taking some out and setting them to the side. Reaching into one of her hollowed out gourds, Magpie lifted out a oval shaped leaf with her lips, and set it down on the flat of her hoof. "You." She nodded towards Bell Flower. "I am going to need a lot more plantain leaves. You will find them all about this area. They have small, greenish brown flowers with purple stamens. Gather as many of their leaves as you can and hurry back." She then turned to Hoof Strike and pointed her hoof at him. "You. Go gather as many spider webs as you can find. Mind you don't bring back the spiders or any bugs in the webs, I just need the webbing."

Hoof Strike stared down at her pointing hoof and gave a little snort. "My name is Hoof Strike."

"I don't care what your name is. Your wasting time, now go." She said, as she swished her hoof dismissively.

Folding his ears back in irritation, Hoof Strike turned and left with Bell Flower to follow her instructions.

"You." She said to Dove Song. "You look like you still have your teeth, go ahead and chew on theses leaves until they are thoroughly mashed up, mind you don't swallow them, they won't harm you, but it will do him little good inside your stomach." She pulled out more of the oval leaves from her gourd and held them out to Dove on the flat of her hoof.

As Dove chewed, Magpie moved over to Strongbuck's neck and looked over the punctures there. "Come here, and spit the pulp out onto your hoof." Dove moved over and did as she was told, spitting the mashed up leaves onto her hoof. "Now, carefully spread the pulp into his wounds around his neck.

Nodding, Dove leaned in and delicately smeared the pulp on her hoof into some of Strongbuck's wounds. Once she finished, Magpie brought out more leaves and held them out, for her to chew. This continued until Dove applied all the remaining plantain leaves Magpie had, onto all the wounds that ran around Strongbuck's neck.

Magpie carefully watched Dove as she worked, her eyes following her movements with interest. Once Dove was finished, Magpie took up another gourd and pulled out some new leaves that were yellow and waxy looking. "Place these onto the wounds you just applied the pulp into, and wrap these strips of willow bark around his neck to hold them on. It will keep the flies out of them and allow them to heal, hopefully."

Dove did as she was told without question. Working as quickly and carefully as she could, she placed the yellow leaves onto his treated wounds, and with Celestia's help, she managed to wrap strips of willow bark around his neck, binding his wounds. When Dove finished she let out a satisfied sigh as she leaned back and looked down at his wrapped neck.

"You did a very good job dressing his wounds." Magpie said, offering some rare praise. "You have natural healers hooves."

"Healers hooves?" Dove asked, glancing at one of her hooves.

"Yes." She said nodding her head with a smile. "You worked quickly and carefully, with a nurturers grace." Magpie explained. "I have tried my hoof at healing, but I lack the gentle touch that is needed, and instead I focused on my love of plants, and what I can learn from them."

Just then Hoof Strike stepped in carrying a small stick covered in a ball of webbing.

"Good timing." Magpie said to the stallion, waving her hoof for him to come closer. "Dove, take the webbing and lets get to the bigger wounds now."

Dove gingerly took the stick from Hoof Strike, and approached Strongbuck's wound on his shoulder, not sure what Magpie wanted to use the spider webbing for.

"Now, hold it next to the wound and carefully scrape off some webbing, and pack as much as you can into the wound." Magpie explained. "I discovered that spider webs are very good at sealing larger wounds when I couldn't find any plantain weeds to use a few seasons back."

Dove took a moment to take a calming breath, before she held the stick of webbing next to Strongbuck's gaping shoulder wound. Using the edge of her hoof, she carefully scrapped at the ball of webbing, and manged to work off a sticky chunk. Lightly dabbing it into his open wound, Dove was amazed at how quickly the seeping wound stopped bleeding. Moving back to his haunch, Dove repeated the process, and used the rest of the webbing.

Magpie then had her cover the two wounds with the yellow leaves, and secured them into place using strips of willow bark. At last she was done, and she let out a relieved sigh. Looking down at Strongbuck, she felt tears fall from her eyes. Whether he lived or died now, was up to him. She did what she could to give him a fighting chance, but she wished she could do more. She wished her hooves could have taken his wounds from him, and eased his pain. There was so much more she yearned do.

There was a flicker of light, and everypony gasped. Wiping at her eyes, Dove looked back and saw two red hoof prints set together at an angle, with blue sparkling stars set all around them, sitting on her flank. A healing hooves cutie mark. New tears suddenly sprung up in her eyes, as she buried her face into Strongbuck's side and wept.

She finally got her own cutie mark! So why did it make her feel so miserable!?

Art by me, using paint. It was the best I could do with what I had, sorry.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Dark Storm gripped his spear as he looked around. The ground was all torn up, showing a great struggle had just happened in the area. "Looks like we found the spot." He said out loud, before looking down at the body of a dead wolf, that had his head crushed in by a hoof strike. All around him, spear wielding ponies stood ready, just in case the wolves returned.

"Dark Storm! Over here!" Birch Bark called out.

Trotting over, Dark saw what Birch had found, and let out a low nicker. The body of another dead wolf sat crumpled up next to a log, with its neck bent in a odd angle.

"They managed to kill two, and they did it without spears." Dark said, looking down at the corpse. His thoughts turned to the gravely injured young stallion, and his worry for him.

"The air stinks of wolves and blood. It's a wonder, that any of them even survived." Birch Bark said, looking down at a patch of ground nearby, soaked in pony blood.

A orange colored mare galloped over. "Father! We found one still alive!" Morning Sky said excitedly, as she skidded to a stop.

Dark and Birch quickly followed the mare, and she lead them a short ways deeper into the forest. Ahead Dark saw several other mares and a stallion standing around something on the ground, with their spears held ready.

As they approached, Dark saw that the female wolf had been dragging herself across the ground, with her hind legs splayed out back.

"We think her back is broken." Morning Sky said, poking her spear close to the she wolf, who viciously snapped her jaws at the offending spear point.

"Remember this day, all of you." Dark said to the gathered ponies around him. "One stallion and two mares took on an entire wolf pack with just their hearts and hooves, and showed those beasts what true ponies are made of! From this day on, the hunters will fear the hunted!" Reversing his spear, Dark plunged it down into the wolf, killing her.

Chapter Eight

Strongbuck was in darkness. He drifted aimlessly within the void, without any thought or feelings, as time stretched on, devoid of any sense or meaning.

He felt cold, which was strange since he couldn't feel his body, and his thoughts came lethargically slow, as he struggled to string any thoughts together that made any sense. He felt that there was somewhere he wanted to be, or perhaps some ponies he wanted to be with, but he couldn't remember who, all he could recall was a pair of beautiful green eyes, and the scent of honeysuckle.

Drifting in the timeless dark void, Strongbuck became aware of a gentle sound that started to come to him. It was faint, as if it was coming from a great distance, and Strongbuck had to struggle, just to listen to it. It was the first thing to ever happen within the nothing he existed in, and he hungered for any sense of substance.

Slowly, as if the sound was coming to him, or perhaps he was going towards it, the sound grew stronger and more clear. Listening, he realized, that what he was hearing, was a melody, that was being sung with a sweet and gentle voice, that called out to his heart, and drew him ever closer. Never before in this place of nonexistence, had he ever experienced something so beautiful.

Struggling ever closer, Strongbuck suddenly started to feel heavy, as every part of his being began to feel like it was being pressed down on, by the weight of a mountain. Desperately, he fought harder to reach the tender voice, and with every part of his being, he strained forward. Knowing that if he let up his struggle, for even for just a moment, he would descend back into the dark void, and never know beauty ever again.

Strongbuck slowly cracked his eyes open, and his world was suddenly filled with light. Looking up, he saw he was inside something, but it was hard to make out what, everything was just too blurry. The melody that drew him out of the darkness was somewhere nearby. He tried to turn his head to look, but he found he lacked the strength to even roll his head to the side.

His tongue felt like dried bark. Smacking his lips, Strongbuck tried to work some moisture into his mouth, but found he was too thirsty to work up any spit. Blinking up at the logs set above him, Strongbuck tried to recall what had happened to him. He remembered being in a forest, and that there was two mares with him. One had beautiful green eyes, and the other smelled of honeysuckle. What were their names? No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't recall.

Opening his mouth, Strongbuck tried to call out to the soft, silvery voice, that was humming a lullaby near him, but all that came out was a disjointed croak, that racked his throat with searing pain. The melody abruptly went silent, as a blurry shape suddenly leaned over him.

"Strongbuck!?" He heard the shape say to him, in that lovely clear voice, that had drawn him out of the darkness.

Running his dry tongue through his mouth, Strongbuck blinked up at the shape as it leaned in closer. "Water." Strongbuck managed to rasp out painfully.

The figure moved back for a moment, then leaned in and pressed something to his lips. "Here, drink." The figure said, as Strongbuck felt cool water flow into his mouth, that choked him as he tried to swallow.

Working through the agony, Strongbuck managed to swallow the small mouthful, before the figure poured a little more into his mouth. It was a slow process that exhausted him, but he eventually managed to swallow all the water the figure gave him.

"Strongbuck, you have a bad fever." The figure told him with her sweet voice, as he felt something being pushed into his mouth. "Chew this and swallow, Magpie thinks that yarrow may help lower it."

Strongbuck weakly tried to chew, but gave up when the effort became too much. He felt weaker than a newborn foal, and he wanted to cry in frustration, but he lacked the tears to even do that.

The figure saw his struggle and leaned down plant her lips to his. Strongbuck felt her tongue push into his mouth and pull the yarrow out. She then pulled back and Strongbuck could hear her chewing for a short bit, before she dropped back down and pressed her lips to his once again, and he felt the chewed up pulp of yarrow get pushed into his mouth. With a bit of exhausting effort, Strongbuck managed to swallow the offering.

The figure put more yarrow into her mouth and chewed, before she lowered herself, to once again press her lips around his, and force more yarrow into his mouth. Choking a little, Strongbuck managed to swallow the mouthful.

What little strength he had was nearly exhausted, and his eyes were growing heavy again. Looking up at the figure as she leaned over him, Strongbuck managed to catch a glimpse of her beautiful green eyes, before he drifted off to sleep, where he dreamed of doves and honeysuckle flowers.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Dove looked down at Strongbuck as he drifted back into sleep. Her heart ached at the sight of him. His coat was slick with sweat, and his breath was shallow and uneven. Leaning down, she checked under his dressing and saw that his shoulder looked better. Moving back to the wound on his haunch, she found that it was still swollen and puss-filled, with a slightly foul smell.

Sliding over a large gourd filled with water. Dove reached in, and pulled out a ball of peat moss, and used it to carefully wash his wound out.
Once she finished, she set a empty gourd bowl in front of herself, and added a little bit of water into it before she packed in some plantain leaves, and meadowsweet buds into it. In desperation to get his infection under control, Dove began mixing some of the plants that Magpie had suggested might help together, with the hopes that she would find new treatments that would help him.

Taking up a stick in her mouth, Dove began to mash it down into the gourd, mashing the plantain leaves and meadowsweet buds together until they were thoroughly mixed together, into a pulp. This was the same treatment she did to his shoulder, and she was going to try it on his haunch.

Holding the gourd on the flat of her hoof, Dove carefully used her mixing stick to apply the paste into his wound. Covering it, she wrapped it in cattail grass, and sat back with a satisfied sigh. She found that cattail grass was easier to use then the strips of willow bark, and it worked just as well.

Reaching over, Dove gave Strongbuck a kiss to his forehead. "Please, keep fighting. You're almost through this." Dove then settled up against his side, and lowered her head. She was exhausted from watching over him during the night, and she felt that he was on the mend. Tucking her head up close to his, Dove closed her eyes and slipped off to sleep.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Ash ran beside Celestia, as he roughly shouldered a grey colt to the side. With a stick in her mouth, Celestia laughed as she dodged by a filly, as she dove at her. All round them, fillies and colts laughed at they chased Celestia, trying to tag her, while Ash was running guard for her. She was almost there! Swerving to the side, Ash blocked a filly from getting by, as Celestia dashed through two posts stuck in the ground, and dropped her stick into a pile.

"That's no fair!" Tulip Blossom said with a pout. "Celestia and Ash shouldn't be allowed to team up!"

"Why not!?" Ash challenged back, as Celestia moved over next to him.

"Because! ... because you two are too good together!" Tulip Blossom said, petulantly. "We can't catch you, when you two play together, and that's not fair!"

"Its plenty fair!" Strawberry Zest cut in, moving herself next to Ash to confront the filly. "You're just upset, because you're a sore loser!"

"Am not!" Tulip returned, stomping her hoof.

"Are too!" Strawberry Zest shouted back, stepping closer with a smirk.

The two began to bicker back and forth as the rest of the foals moved in to watch. With the wolves being a bigger danger now, they weren't allowed to play beyond the settlement anymore, so they had to be inventive with the games they created. Today was Stick Run. The two teams had ten sticks piled up on each of their sides, and each team tried to steal the others sticks and run them across to their side without being tagged. Celestia and Ash managed to run seven of the ten sticks across to their side, for the final win.

"Celestia! Ash!" Bell Flower called out to them, waving her hoof for them to come to her.

Breaking away, the two ran over to her, as she waited for them.

"Come with me, your mama wants you two to meet some ponies," Bell Flower said with a smile, as she turned.

Ash's eyes flicked over Bell Flower's injuries as he looked up at her. Dove had treated her wounds, but it was still quite obvious that she had been partially mauled by wolves. He felt in awe of the mare for what she did for Strongbuck, the courage she and Dove showed under that dire situation, was beyond that of normal mares and stallions. Ash hoped he would be just as brave, if he ever found himself facing such a desperate moment as they did.

"Who is it?" Celestia asked, falling in beside Bell Flower.

"That would ruin the surprise! Now, no more questions and hurry along," Bell Flower said with a smile, quickening her step.

Ash wondered who it was that mama wanted them to meet, as he fell in beside Celestia.

The two foals followed Bell Flower through the forest of homes. Every day, more were being built, with the goal of having one for every herd family before the moon turned full. Further out beyond the huts, ponies were working on ways to create a barrier around the settlement to add even more security. They were coming up with idea's and building small sections to see how well they worked, before they settled onto one. Many ponies were hoping that such a barrier would be able to keep bears and chimaeras out, maybe even hydras.

Suddenly, Bell Flower paused in front of a hut and turned to them. "Now, when we go in, its important that you both stay quiet, we don't want to scare them."

Ash furled his brow in confusion, as his curiosity for who they were going to meet grew.

Stepping inside, Ash blinked his eyes as he adjusted to the darker interior. Within moments, he caught sight of Melodious laying across from the opening. She was looking down, and smiling at two little foals that were nuzzled up against her side.

"Oh my stars! You had your foals!" Celestia exclaimed, in an excited whisper, as she began to hop in place.

"Celestia, Ash. Come here. I would like you to meet Summer Rain and Winter Snow," Melodious said, nodding her head for them to come closer.

Celestia quickly moved forward, while Ash blinked at the sight in surprise. Sitting to the side, Meadowlark watched the scene with a smile while she idly rubbed at her belly.

Ash stepped forward hesitantly, and moved around, next to Celestia, as he approached the two newborn colts. The two tiny foals were curled up together, against their mother's side as they slept. One was a soft orange with light blue mane and tail and the other was soft blue with light orange mane and tail.

Reaching back, Melodious lightly nuzzled the soft orange one. "This is Summer Rain." She then moved to the soft blue one and nuzzled him. "And this is Winter Snow."

"They're so adorable!" Celestia whispered, leaning down. She looked like she wanted to snuggle with them.

As he looked down a the colts, Ash felt a sense of wonder. Just the day before, he felt them moving about within their mother's belly, and now they were laying next to her, looking so very tiny and new to the world. Bending down lower, Ash smiled, as he had to agree, that they certainly were very adorable.

Summer Rain came awake, and lifted his head up to blink his eyes up at Ash. The little colt reached out, and lightly touched Ash's nose with his as he sniffed at him. The foals scent was sweet with a hint of milk breath.

Suddenly, Summer Rain let out a surprised sneeze, blasting Ash right in his face.

The foal flinched back and started wail, as Ash glanced worriedly at Melodious, not knowing if he did something wrong.

"Oh you silly thing, you scared yourself," Melodious said softly, to the crying colt, as she nuzzled him and gave his some comforting grooming licks, before she nipped his crest and picked him up. She then deposited him up against her large udder, where the foal began rooting around until he found his mother's teat and quickly clamped on, and noisily began to suckle.

Wiping the back of his hoof over his face, Ash wiped the foal spittle off, as Celestia giggle at him.

"Celestia, tell me, how did you know I was having colts?" Melodious asked, looking over at her with a curious interest.

Ash saw Celestia nibble her lip as she considered Melodious's question. He'd asked Celestia very much the same thing, back when she first became positive that mama was having a filly. Her answer to his question still confused him. How can you feel something you can't see or touch?

"I don't know. I just felt it." Celestia answered with a shrug.

Melodious pursed her lips as she tapped her hoof on the ground thoughtfully. "Bell Flower. Would you be so kind as to fetch my daughter Misty. She's living in the next hut over."

Bell Flower slipped out, and after a short wait, returned with a pregnant, light sandy mare with a yellow mane and tale.

"Mama, you don't need to keep calling me over to show me your new foals." The mare said irritably to Melodious.

"That's not why I sent for you." Melodious said shaking her head, as she waved her hoof for the mare to come to her. "Come here Misty, I want to try something."

Misty gave a sigh, as she shook of her head, and did as her mother asked. Stepping closer, she looked down curiously at Celestia and Ash.

"Celestia, this is my daughter, Misty Valley. I want to see if you can tell if she's carrying a filly or a colt, just like you did for me and your mother," Melodious said, nodding her head to her daughter.

Celestia looked up at Misty nervously for a moment, before she stepped away from Ash, and walked up to Misty's side. Misty turned her head and watched, with a curious expression, as Celestia pressed her hoof into her large belly and closed her eyes. She stayed like that for a short while, before she then smiled and lowered her hoof down, as she turned to look up at Misty.

"Your filly's really shy. I don't think she wants to come out." Celestia said with a little shake of her head.

Misty blinked down at Celestia with a bemused expression, as she watched the filly walk back to Ash and sit down next to him.

Melodious turned to Meadowlark, who was watching her daughter with a surprised look. "I think your filly has a very special talent."

"I always thought she was special," Celestia's mother replied, giving her daughter a smile.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Dark walked around the wall as he looked it over. Several other walls of different designs were set out next to each other.

"So, what do you think?" Dark asked Brightstar.

"Well... I think they have come up with several good idea's." Brightstar replied. "I especially like this one." He stopped by a wall of logs, that were buried in the ground so they all stood up in a tight row. "But it would take much too long to make, so I think we should go with this one." He then nodded to a shorter wall made with two posts stuck down into the ground with a series of thinner logs strapped lengthwise between the two.

"You sure?" Dark asked, stepping up to the structure to look it over. "It doesn't look as sturdy as the others."

Brightstar turned and bucked his hind hooves out, striking the wall with a solid thunk, that barely shook it. "It will do nicely, and it will be much faster and easier to make." He explained with a nod.

Dark looked it over as he rubbed his chin. "So, how long would it take to build it all the way around the settlement?"

"Well..." Brightstar said thoughtfully. "We don't have to surround the entire settlement. We can start it over there by the stream edge, and run it around the settlement, and back to the stream above it. That way, we can always have access to water whenever we need it."

Dark saw his point. The stream would make a good barrier on one side. "Good. I'll talk to Birch Bark and Hoof Strike, to have guards posted with your work crews. The faster this is done, the better for us all. Once we have a safe place to live, we can focus our efforts to drive the wolves out for good."

Brightstar walked over and lifted a strange woven thing and set it down onto his back.

"What is that?" Dark asked, looking the strange thing over. It was constructed from woven plant stalks, that was woven into a shape that sat over Brightstar's back, with two bins on each side.

"This?" Brightstar asked turning himself to show off his new carrier. "A few of the younger mares started making these just the other day. They use willow branches and weave them into useful shapes, that ponies can use to hold things." Picking up his wood chopper, Brightstar bent around and set it into one of the bins on his side.

Dark had to admit that it was a clever idea. The two woven bins that sat on both of Brightstar's sides, looked really useful, and he'll have to remember to talk to these clever young mares, and see about having one made for himself. Taking his spear he had propped up against one of the walls, Dark fell in beside Brightstar.

As they both started walking back across the field towards the settlement, a sudden wolf howl rose up out of the forest behind them.

Dark felt a shock of fear shoot through his body as he quickly looked back at the forest, and he held his spear ready, while Brightstar danced around behind him. Looking carefully, Dark managed to catch slight glimpses of grey and brown within the forests undergrowth as wolves moved about.

Behind him, Dark could hear ponies shouting, as they hurried into prearranged defensive positions. Turning he gave Brightstar a nudge. "No need to stay here, and offer them something to attack."

Brightstar turned and started to run, but Dark quickly called out to him. "Don't run! It will only make them chase you. Walk next to me and show the ponies in the settlement your bravery."

Brightstar stumbled to a stop as Dark calmly walked up to him. As he approached, Dark could see Brightstar's body shivering as his hooves danced in place.

"How can you be so calm?" Brightstar asked breathlessly. "I think I just peed down my leg a little!"

Falling in beside him, Dark walked on, calmly back towards the settlement without looking back at the forest. "I am scared, just not for myself. Those wolves out there, aren't here for two stallions. They sense that the mares are starting to foal and they are looking for some easy meals to grab.

"They are going to try for the newborns!?" Brightstar exclaimed, in outrage.

Dark let out a sad breath, as he looked down. "You've never had foals of your own before, so you've never experienced what it's like. They'll wait until it's dark, when they have the advantage, and dash in. They will ignore stallions and groups of mares and find those lone mothers who just had their foal. They will come in fast, and several of them will bite and snap at the mother, to hold her attention. When she is busy holding them back, a wolf will dash in from behind and snatch the newborn away." Dark paused, as a tear fell down his muzzle. "You have no idea how horrible it is to hear a foal being torn apart by a pack of wolves, out in the darkness."

Brightstar looked over at Dark and saw the grief on the stallion's face. Knowing that Dark was talking about personal experience, Brightstar thought about the two new fillies he has been getting to know. Bumblebee, the daughter of Berry Shrub, liked to laugh and run about, while Soft Step, who was Daisy Petal's daughter, was a quiet and thoughtful little filly, who had been expressing a desire to spend more time with him, while he worked.

They weren't his by blood, but Brightstar didn't feel that it mattered. Those two were taking a special place in his heart now, and he found the thought of them being hurt, scared him. Straightening his shoulders, Brightstar stood taller as he let out a snort. He walked the rest of the way back, right next to Dark, and not once did he look back over his shoulder at the forest.

"Birch Bark, Hoof Strike." Dark greeted the two stallions as they closed on the settlement. "Are you two ready? We are going to have some busy nights for the next moon cycle, and I aim to not lose a single foal to those beasts."

"We'll be ready, don't worry," Birch Bark said assuredly, while Hoof Strike simply stomped his hoof eagerly to the ground.

Dark smiled and gave them a nod. "Good. Now, how many spears have the new stone tips on them now?"

"We have a couple of ponies with the skills to shape stone, working on them now." Birch Bark answered, hefting his spear, showing that he's already had a new stone spear point already attached. "They've done a couple dozen so far, but it takes time."

Nodding Dark turned to Brightstar. "Perhaps it would be best if you had your mares and foals stay within the settlement. At least until the wolves are gone."

Brightstar thought about it, he had made his home quite strong, but if anything went wrong, and the wolves got in... "You're right, I'll go bring them in," Brightstar said, as he turned to hurry back to his home by the pond.

"Hoof Strike, take some ponies and go with him. See that they come back safe," Dark ordered. Hoof Strike gave a quick nod and pointed at several ponies standing nearby and they quickly followed after Brightstar.

Turning, Dark looked out over the ponies that were gathered about, and saw that some of them looked worried. "Stand tall ponies, and keep your eyes and ears open! An attentive herd is a strong herd, and I aim to deny those vile beasts the taste of any of our precious young!" Dark shouted out, as he looked over at all the ponies. "Never again, will a mother shed tears at the loss of her foal to the night!"

Chapter Ten

Ash watched as Celestia left his side to dash to her mother. Wiping at his tearing eyes, he watched with a breaking heart as she ran up and stood over the still form of her sister. With a strangely determined look, Celestia took a deep breath, set her hoof onto her sister's body and closed her eyes. Ash wondered what she was doing when suddenly her body began to glow as her mane and tail billowed up like it was caught in a breeze.

Dove and Strongbuck both gasped as they watched, while Meadowlark turned herself to look back, with her red rimmed eyes wide with astonishment. Waving tendrils of intense light, drifted out of Celestia's chest and into the foal below her.

Ash held a hoof up to shield his eyes as he struggled to step closer. He didn't know what was happening. Celestia's face was contorted in pain as more light poured out of her into the foal. Blinking his eyes, Ash thought he saw for just for a flicker of a blinking eye, what appeared to be two misty looking wings on her shoulders, and an indistinct horn set onto Celestia's forehead, but the next moment they were gone, and Ash was left wondering if he even saw them in the first place.

The light that was coming from Celestia suddenly died down, plunging the hut back into the dim light of the glow flowers. Everything became absolutely silent for a short moment, when suddenly the room was filled with the wailing cries of a newborn foal. Ash quickly moved closer, and saw Celestia smiling down at her crying sister before she wobbled on her hooves, and toppled over limply, onto the ground.

Meadowlark let out an elated cry, as she snatched up her newborn daughter and kissed and snuggled her, before kissing her over and over again with happy tears falling from her eyes. Ash quickly dashed over to see to Celestia, and found her laying on her side with her eyes shut. A flash of color caught his eyes, and he glanced back at her flank and saw that she now had a cutie mark of a golden yellow sun with rays of light radiating out in every direction.

Dove appeared next to him, and bent over Celestia to check on her. "She's only asleep," she said with a relieved sigh.

Ash sat back confused, and looked up at Meadowlark and the new foal, who was still screaming her little lungs out. What did Celestia just do?

Ash's ears swiveled back when a scratching sound came from the door. Turning his head, Ash looked at the door, unsure that he had actually heard something. The door suddenly shook as something on the other side began digging at it. Ash felt a cold chill run through his body as his gut suddenly knotted up in sudden fear as he realized what was trying to get in!

He was moving before he really thought of doing so, and dashed to his spear. "Wolves!" he shouted as loud as he could. Snatching up his spear, Ash turned to stand before the door and the wolves that were trying to get in.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Celestia was scared. She didn't know where she was.

Spinning herself around, Celestia found that she was absolutely alone in some kind of fog that surrounded her in every direction. Drifting throughout the fog, a multitude of sparkling and shining stars of every color imaginable, dazzled her eyes as she looked around.

When she noticed she could not see any ground below her, Celestia's heart began to race in a panic as she feared she was about to fall. After a few moments, Celestia's panic eased a little when she found she was still very much perched where she was.

Taking a slow step forward, Celestia tested the firmness of the unknown surface her senses couldn't detect and found whatever she was standing on to be somehow firm and unmoving under her hooves. Gathering her courage, she took more steps, and discovered that her hooves didn't make any sounds on whatever she was walking on.

As Celestia looked around, she wondered if she was somehow up in the sky. One of the little stars that was floating about, drifted close to her. Curious, Celestia lifted her hoof and watched as the little red star touched her outstretched hoof.

There was a flash of light and suddenly Celestia found herself walking through a dark cave with a strange red light shining just over her head.

"Astral is not going to be happy about this," a mare said, from beside her.

"It's just an eclipse," Celestia heard herself say in a voice that wasn't hers while her eyes looked over to the worried looking orange mare that was walking next to her.

"But it was not caused by any of us unicorns!" The orange mare exclaimed, the light that surrounded her horn on her forehead flickered with her anxiety. "Control of the sun and moon is our domain and the fact that some unknown magic that's as powerful as our own, caused the eclipse to happen is going to make Astral absolutely furious!” The mare gave her head a shake and looked back at her with eyes wide with fear. “And you know she'll end up blaming us for allowing it to happen!"

Celestia saw other ponies with glowing horns walking by as the mare she was viewing everything from and the orange mare talked. "We'll tell Astral that it was those pesky flying pests, the pegasi. That will get her to focus her wrath onto something other than us."

"But the pegasi don't have that kind of magic!" The orange mare pointed out, in her whiny voice.

"Who else can we blame? Those lowly dirt ponies?" Celestia heard herself say with a scoff. "From what I heard, they don't even have any magic! She'll believe that it was them even less than the griffons!"

With a bright flash of light, Celestia blinked as she suddenly found herself back in her own body as the little red star drifted away from her hoof.

She didn't know what had just happened, nor what those strange ponies with horns where. Looking around herself, Celestia flinched back when another star drifted too close. She didn't like this place. It was strange and scary and she wanted to go back home! Turning about, Celestia did the only thing she could think of, and ran away.

"Mama!" Celestia cried out desperately, her panicked breath coming in great huffs. "Papa!" Her frantic cries disappeared out into the strange fog that appeared to continue on for what seemed like forever. Where were they?! Never had she ever felt this lost and alone before. She wanted the comforting feeling of her parents’ embrace to make everything better again. She wanted the reassuring feeling of Ash back by her side.

Celestia ran on for as long as she could, until she finally stumbled to a weary stop. Plopping her rump down, she wept in despair of ever finding her way out of this strange place and getting back to her family. With her head bowed down, Celestia's tears ran down her muzzle and dripped off her nose.

"Why do you cry, little one?" a soft voice asked.

Celestia gasped and whirled around in surprise. Standing only a few steps away was the most beautiful mare Celestia had ever seen. The mare's silvery coat sparkled along the full length of her elegant body, while her mane and tail shone with every color Celestia had ever seen, including many she never knew existed. And despite the still air, the mare's mane and tail flowed back in an undulating motion, as if it was being blown by some unfelt wind.

Celestia felt a strange kind of warmth emanating from the mare that made her feel comforted by her presence, and her fear and anxiety melted away.

"I... I'm lost, and I can't find my way back home," Celestia answered. Looking up at the mare, she suddenly noticed a long elegantly shaped horn protruding from the mare's forehead, just like the ones she saw on the ponies when she touched the red star. She didn't remember her having a horn a few moments ago. How could she have missed that?

The mare smiled, and gently brushed her hoof down Celestia's tear streaked cheek. "There is no need to weep little one. I have found you, and I will see you returned back to your family."

Celestia sniffed and wiped the back of her leg, across her runny nose. "Who... who are you?"

"I am the Mother of All Things," the mare answered with a soft voice that somehow echoed out into the white misty void.

What a strange name, Celestia thought, looking back up at the kind mare, and blinked in surprise when she saw the horn on the mare's forehead was no longer there! Instead, she now had a pair of beautiful feathered wings folded at her sides!

The mare stepped closer and sat down next to her. "When I said I would return back to your family, I noticed that you looked sad," she said, looking down at Celestia. "Why would that that sadden you?"

Celestia stared down at her hooves."I... I'm worried about my sister. I tried to save her... and I don't know if she..." Celestia's voice failed her as fresh tears started to come to her eyes. Celestia felt soft feathers settle over her back, as the mare draped her wing over her. Wiping her hoof across her eyes, Celestia looked up and met the mare's warm gaze.

"There is no need to worry for your sister," the mare said, looking down at her with a kind smile. She then held up her hoof, and a little dark blue star drifted down and stopped just above her hoof. "Because of your most generous gift, your sister’s life now burns bright and strong," she said holding the star before her.

Celestia gazed in wonderment at the little dark blue star that sat just about the mare's hoof. "Is that...?"

The mare smiled, and nodded. "It is," she answered, as she lowered her hoof down so Celestia could see more clearly.

It was tiny, but as Celestia watched, it pulsed with a soft warm light that caused tears to blur her eyes as unbridled joy filled her. Her sister was alive!

She suddenly wanted to leap up and hop about in happy celebration. It had worked! Whatever she had done had worked!

The mare's wings were now gone and her horn was back on her head as the mare turned and held her hoof out to let her sister’s star float free. "You showed a great love of life for what you did for your sister, and that marks you as very special little pony. I'm looking forward to seeing what other wonders you will accomplish in your time," The Mother of All Things then bent down, and touched her lips to Celestia's forehead, and kissed her. "Your time here ends. Go now, my little pony, and be with your family. Let your time here fade away like a dream."

Celestia abruptly felt heavy, and a wailing cry suddenly came to her ears. Blinking her eyes in the now dim light, Celestia looked down at a deep blue wailing foal that lay at her hooves. She realized that she was somehow back in her home, and the wailing foal she was looking down on was her very much living, newborn sister.

Celestia smiled down at her new sister as she suddenly felt her strength give out, and she found herself falling into darkness.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

The moon was completely dark, and Bell Flower was having trouble seeing anything. Occasionally she would catch a brief glimpse of something dashing by, but she had no way to tell what it was. Nearby, she could hear Morning Sky and Dark Storm following along with her as they searched through the settlement.

"I can't see anything!" Morning Sky complained after having walked into yet another hut.

"The eclipse will pass soon and the moon will return," Dark replied. "Just do the best you can in the meantime."

Morning Sky suddenly let out a scream as she tripped over something and fell down. Bell Flower let out an irritated sigh at the clumsy mare.

As Dark Storm moved in to help Morning Sky back up, a lone foal's wail could be heard off in the darkness. All around them, wolves began to yelp and howl as Bell heard them move off towards the wailing foal.

"They are going for the foal! Come on, we have to stop them!" Bell shouted as she took her spear in her teeth, and rushed off.

"Wait! Don't go off alone!" Dark shouted out as he helped Morning Sky back up.

Bell ignored his warning as she ran. She knew what it was like to be gnawed on, and the thought of those dirty wolves doing the same to an defenseless foal made her hooves run all the harder. A sliver of the moon was starting to come out, and the little light it gave off was enough to let Bell Flower avoid running herself headlong into a hut as she recklessly ran through the hamlet.

The sound of the foals cries grew louder, as she drew nearer the center of the settlement. She wondered if it could it be one of Melodious' twins she was hearing? The moon glinting off yellow eyes to her right, alerted her just in time to slam her hooves down and slid to an abrupt halt as she slashed her head to the side. The spear she held in her teeth whipped around and she felt the sharp stone tip hit resistance as a wolf yelped in pain.

Panting around the shaft in her mouth, Bell Flower watched as the wounded shadow quickly dashed off, leaving the scent of fresh blood behind. Bell let out a snort, then turned and hurried off to find the source of the foal's cries.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Ash stood ready just before the door. Behind him, Meadowlark was trying to quiet the foal's cries, but the filly was proving to be rather stubborn and headstrong on the matter. Dove had taken the unconscious Celestia over to Strongbuck and set her down with him. Standing over them, Dove readied herself to defend them.

The wolves had given up on trying to get through the door and was now digging at the earth below it. Ash could see their paws as they scooped at the dirt, and he knew that it was only a matter of time until they got in. Stepping closer, Ash readied his spear. The moment a wolf's head appeared under the door, Ash stabbed at it, just barely missing when the wolf quickly jerked his head back to avoid it.

Another wolf tried to crawl under and Ash thrust at it but also missed when it pulled back out of the way. Another wolf snapped it's jaws at his spear and grabbed it in his teeth. Ash struggled to reclaim his spear when another wolf started to wiggle himself under the door.

Ash knew he needed to get his spear back before the wolf made it all the way in. Grabbing the shaft of his spear in his teeth, Ash lifted his hoof and smashed it down as hard as he could into the wolf's face, causing the wolf to let out a squeal of pain before he angrily bit into Ash's leg before he could pull back out. Despite getting bit, Ash’s plan worked, and he regained his spear.

The other wolf had worked his way all the way up to his shoulders, and was only moments away from pulling the rest of his back end inside the room! Ash knew he couldn't let that happen! Ignoring the searing pain in his leg, Ash turned and thrust his spear at the larger beast as hard as he could. He felt the shock travel up his spear shaft as the point sank into the wolf's neck. With blood pouring out of the wolf's wound, Ash struggled to hold the mortally wounded wolf back as it bit and snapped at his spear shaft!

He was not going to let any wolf get at those he loved! Not if he was there to stop it! Gritting his teeth, Ash threw all of his weight and strength into his spear and he felt a sickening crunch, as it sank in further with a jerk. Blood bubbled and spewed out of the wolf's mouth.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

When Bell Flower found the source of the foal's cries, she was surprised to find that it was at Meadowlark's and Dark's hut. Her heart leaped in panic when she saw dark shadowy forms excitedly running around it, with several digging at the door. Heedless of her own safety, Bell Flower wildly charged forward into their midst.

At first the wolves were surprised when she rushed in kicking and swinging her spear around, and they scattered away as she forced her way to the door, and held herself there panting for breath.

Standing before the door, Bell turned to face out as she panted for breath. "Is everypony okay!?" Bell Flower shouted out at the hut behind her.

"Bell?" Dove called out.

"Yes, its me!" Bell shouted back. "Are you all okay? Is any pony hurt?" Bell was alarmed at the sight of the rear half of a dead wolf laying out from under the door.

"Ash got bit in the leg, and he won't leave the door so I can see to it, and Meadowlark had her foal, as you can probably hear." Dove answered.

Bell gave a smile. "Yeah, it's kind of hard to miss a pair of lungs like hers."

"I killed a wolf!" Ash shouted out in excitment.

"That's great! Dark is going to be so proud of you!" Bell's smile faded when she saw the shadowy forms of wolves closing in from all around her. Kicking her back leg back, Bell quickly shoved the rear half of the dead wolf to the side to block the rest of the hole under the door. "Hold tight in there, things aren't done out here yet!"

Bell dug her hooves into the dirt as she took her spear in her teeth. This was definitely not looking good. All around her she could see the wolves closing in on her with their teeth bared and snapping.

Folding her ears back, Bell lowered her head and widened her stance. "Come and get me you filthy wolves," Bell growled out from around the spear shaft in her mouth. "Because that is the only way you're getting by me!"

Just in front of her, in the center of the pack that had her surrounded, was the largest wolf she's ever seen. His snarling teeth shone under the half moonlight as he stepped closer to her. Gripping her spear shaft harder, Bell prepared herself.

The sudden thunder of hooves was the only warning the wolves got when a host of ponies abruptly charged in on them. With Dark Storm leading the way, a dozen mares following in his stead as they descended on the pack with their spears held out. Two wolves were run through before the rest of the pack could react, and in a panic they all bolted off into the night.

Bell Flower watched the pack quickly melt away, but not before seeing the large wolf pause to turn and look back at her to meet her gaze. A moment later, he was gone, and Bell let out a relieved breath as she sagged down. She had thought that she was about to meet her end, at the end of a bunch of snarling fangs.

Dark wiped his bloodied spear onto the body of the wolf he had just killed, and looked over at her. After a quick look around, he stepped over to her. "Are you okay?" He asked, his voice filled with concern.

Bell Flower let her spear fall to the ground, and lifted a shaky hoof to run across her face. "I'm alright, thanks to you. Your arrival could not have been more welcomed."

Dark lifted his hoof and lightly whacked it across the back of Bell's head. "Next time, listen to me and don't go off alone!" He glared at her for a moment before he lowered his hoof to her shoulder and smiled. "You did a good job tonight. Things would have been much different if you hadn't had been here."

Bell gave her head a nod, before she turned to look back at the body of the wolf under the door. "More than you think."

Dark let out a gasp. Shoving himself past her, Dark grabbed the dead wolf in his teeth and hauled it out and tossed it to the side. Quickly he pulled the door open. "Meadowlark!" he cried out, his face contorted in worry and near panic.

Just inside, a bloody looking Ash stood, still holding his spear. "I did it, Papa. I did as you told me. When they stuck their heads in, I gave ‘em the sharp end of my spear!"

Since he was the first one he came to when he rushed inside, Dark quickly snatched up the colt and crushed him to his chest. "Ash, you have no idea how proud of you I am!"

"Dark," Meadowlarks voice gently called to him. When Dark looked over, Meadowlark smiled and nodded her head down to the deep blue little filly, that was snuggled up against her side. "Come meet your new daughter. Luna."

Bell watched, as Dark released the colt, and slowly cross over to Meadowlark, and his new daughter. With tears welling up in his eyes, he lowered his head down and took a long sniff of his newborn daughter, to take in her scent. He then gently nuzzled her before he turned and kissed Meadowlark. "She's so beautiful, just like you."

"Always the flatterer," Meadowlark answered with a smile.

Dark paused and looked around. "Where's Celestia!?"

"She's over here with me," Strongbuck answered, gesturing with his head down to the still unconscious filly, whom he had tucked beside himself.

"What happened!?" Dark barked out as he rush over to her. "Did she get hurt!?"

"No," Dove quickly answered. "She's not injured in the least."

Dark looked up at her from his daughter. "Then what happened to her!? Why is she asleep!?"

"Dark, there's something I think we need to tell you," Meadowlark said, giving both Bell and Dark a strange look.

Chapter Eleven

When Celestia woke up, she could hear birds singing outside.

Blinking her eyes open, Celestia looked around, and found she was lying on a bed of straw, inside her home. Ash and Strongbuck were murmuring quietly to each other, on the other side of the room, while they tossed pebbles at a bowl.

Her memories of what happened during the night were vague and fragmented. She remembered running to her sister’s still form, and the pain she went through, giving some of her light over to her. After that, things got really foggy. She remembered being somewhere else, but she couldn’t remember where, or even what it even looked like. She could recall that there was somepony there, who was kind and comforting to her, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't recall what that pony looked like, nor what her name was.

Sitting up, Celestia set her hoof to her chest. Something felt different inside. The light within her seemed stronger somehow, and it pulsed in a slow, steady beat that seemed kindred to something she could sense above her. Looking up at the ceiling, she knew, somehow, that right at that moment, the sun was standing at its highest point of the day, and she was sure she could point her hoof right at it, even though she couldn't see it.

"Celestia, you're awake!" Ash exclaimed, when he saw her looking up. Celestia watched as he hurriedly limped over to to her.

"What happened to your leg!?" Celestia asked, alarmed that Ash had somehow gotten injured, during the night..

"The colt's a hero," Strongbuck answered, with a smile as he looked over at her. "His leg was bit, when he stopped a wolf from getting inside, by stomping on the beast's face, before turning and killing another one with his spear!"

"You did all that!?" Celestia exclaimed, giving Ash a surprised look.

Ash just shrugged his shoulders at her. "I just did what Papa told me to do."

"Papa did not tell you to stomp on a wolf's face!" Celestia said, in a slightly mocking tone, while giving him a level gaze. She loved Ash. He was her brother, and best friend, and possibly much more. So when he does something as stupidly brave, like stomping on a wolf's face, it made her feel a confused mix of pride and mortification, for what he had done.

Ash, to his credit, didn't wither under her level gaze, instead he gave her that infuriating crooked grin, that Papa sometimes used whenever he did something stupid. "It seemed like the right thing to do at the moment."

Celestia laid her ears back, as she considered him and his brave idiocy. What was she to do with him? She thought to herself, as she felt a complete sense of hopelessness for him.

With a sigh, Celestia suddenly made her decision, and hooked a hoof around the back of Ash's head to pull him close enough to plant her lips to his. She didn't make the kiss short or quick. Oh, no! She wanted him to suffer! With her lips mashed against his, she held him there, until she felt his body begin to shiver against hers, and his breath began to huff out of his nostrils.

With a remarkably loud pop, Celestia broke the kiss, and watched as Ash wobbled weakly on his hooves, while looking like he was about to fall over with a smile.

"Wow!" Strongbuck exclaimed from across the room, watching the pair with wide eyes. "That was... wow!" He gave his head a shake. "Is it getting hot in here? I ah... yeah, I think it is. I'll just ah... scoot over here where I think it's a bit cooler, and ah... just... stare at the wall for a bit."

Celestia licked her lips as she glanced around the room, "I'm starving! What is there to eat?"

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Standing on a hill, Dusty Stride looked back at the distant settlement, and was amazed he had traveled so far in such a short time!

The dust-yellow pony knew what he was doing was stupid and foolish, but he felt that he had to do something to prove that he was a stallion, and not just a colt. It wasn't fair! Just because, his mother’s sister’s colt, Strongbuck was born a half season before him, he gets two mares to choose him as a mate, while he gets stuck, up in the cave with all the little colts and fillies, while the Herd Mother and Herd Father, Meadowlark and Dark Storm, formed the new herd.

He'll show them all he was no colt! A stallion didn't just hide under his mother, and wait for everything to be alright again. No! He did something! Just as Dark Storm did when he stood up to Thunder Step, Dusty was going to do something by finding where the wolves’ den was! And that would show every pony what kind of stallion he truly was, including his mother, Pebble Stream!

He had lied to his mother, in order to slip away from her today, when he told her that he was going to help out with the new longhouse. He felt bad about lying to her, but he felt it was his only recourse. His mother had always treated him like a little foal, by constantly keeping him close by, and never letting him go off to play with the other foals, when he was younger. He was older now, and he knew he could take care of himself!

Rolling his shoulder, Dusty adjusted his willow packs across his back. He had to spend two days gathering willow branches for Dew Sparkle, and Dandelion Fluff, before they would make him one, and now that he had it, he never took it off. Stuck under the straps that ran over his back was the spear that Dusty had to keep hidden from his mother, who would have been absolutely mortified if she knew he even had one.

It had taken him longer to sneak his way out of the settlement then he had thought it would, and now that it was just past noon, he was growing rather thirsty. Glancing back at his pack, he suddenly wished he had remembered to bring some water along. All he had in his packs was a small wood chopper he had gotten for helping out the wood workers one day, six small apples, some short scraps of the new rope he had picked up, and a sharp flake of stone that was given to him by one of the stone knappers.

Standing on the hilltop, Dusty looked around, as the breeze blew his dark mane back. He knew that the stream curved south a little ways east of the settlement, so that would probably be the best place to get a drink. The problem was, it was completely opposite of where he thought the wolves’ den might be, somewhere in the west woods.

His thirst making up his mind for him, Dusty set off for the stream to the east. It wasn't far, but his need for water was becoming quite unbearable by the time he walked through the thin veil of trees that grew along the sides of the stream. Rushing up, Dusty happily dipped his muzzle into the cool clear water and began to eagerly gulp it down.

The rustle of a nearby bush suddenly startled him into swallowing water down the wrong tube. Coughing and spewing water out of his nose, Dusty struggled to get his spear out. After spinning himself in circles three times, Dusty managed to grasp the shaft of his spear in his teeth and yank it free, before holding it out towards the bush with a shaky hoof.

With his heart hammering in his chest, Dusty carefully stepped closer to the bush. With a great act of bravery, he suddenly lunged forward with a cry, and thrust his spear into it. Keeping his eyes shut, Dusty waited for something to cry out, as it died on the end of his spear. When nothing happened, Dusty cracked his eyes open to peer carefully into the bush's interior, but found nothing within.

Letting out a relieved sigh, Dusty sat back, and started to chuckle to himself. Setting his spear to the side, Dusty slipped his pack off, and rummaged around until he found one of the small apples he'd packed earlier, and held it out on the flat of his hoof, to admire its bright green color, as he licked his lips.

When he felt something touch his right shoulder, Dusty quickly looked around behind himself to see what had just touched him, and found nothing there. Figuring that it was probably just a butterfly, Dusty shrugged, and turned back to his apple, where, much to his surprise, he found it gone!

Blinking at his now empty hoof, Dusty quickly looked down, and around himself for where he had dropped it, but, oddly, no matter how much he searched, he never found his missing apple. The only explanation he could come up with, was that it had somehow rolled into the stream.

Letting out a snort of annoyance, Dusty went to his pack and took out another apple, he was about to toss it into his mouth, when he suddenly felt something tap his left shoulder. Quickly turning his head, Dusty found nothing behind him that could have tapped his shoulder. He knew it wasn't his imagination. Something had definitely touched his shoulder.

Looking back at his hoof, he found that, once again, his apple had gone missing. Like last time, a quick search around turned up nothing. What is going on? He asked himself, completely vexed with having lost a second apple.

Taking out a third apple, Dusty walked over to a nearby log, and set it down onto it. Backing up, Dusty set his rump down, with the small river just behind him, and watched the apple to see if anything happened to it. Swiveling his ears about, Dusty listened for any telltale sounds of anything that might be moving about in the foliage.

After a while, Dusty began to grow bored of staring at the apple, and let out a yawn. Suddenly there was a splash from just behind him, and he was abruptly doused in cold water. Whirling himself about, Dusty glared out at what had just splashed water on him, and found nothing there. How could something have gotten behind him without him noticing!? And how did it get away!?

Looking back at where the apple was, Dusty was dismayed to find that it was gone. Letting out a snort, Dusty stomped his hoof in anger, and glared all about, as he attempted to find the culprit.

As he looked around, something suddenly bonked off the top of his head. "What the!?" Dusty exclaimed, as he looked down at what had just hit him, and found a partially eaten apple laying a few steps away. Something was definitely playing with him!

"Okay! Who's out there!?" Dusty called out in irritation.

The only answer he got was a very feminine giggle, that came from a nearby tree. Snatching up his spear, Dusty stepped closer, and peered up into the branches. At first he didn't see anything, until he caught sight of a pair of sky blue eyes, that were peering down at him, which vanished into the foliage a moment latter, followed by more giggles.

Leaning his head all about, Dusty continued to peer up into the branches, as he continued to try to catch sight of the mysterious creature that was up there, until he felt something jab his rump, from behind.

Whirling himself quickly about, Dusty came nose to nose with the most beautiful filly he ever laid eyes on. His nose was touching hers as he stared into her sky blue eyes. The filly let out another giggle, as she suddenly lifted up into the air and flew around him. Dusty blinked in disbelief at the sight of a filly flying around with wings! Staring up at her, Dusty felt his spear drop out of his grasp, into the grass, next to him.

The filly flew around him in a quick circle, before she abruptly dropped down, and landed just before him, where she then tucked her wings against her sides. Looking at her closely, Dusty saw that she was either his age, or a season older. Her coat was light grey, and her mane and tail where both white; with little streaks of blue, that matched her eyes.

"Ah... hello," Dusty greeted her. The moment he spoke, she suddenly shot up into the air and fluttered there for a nervous moment, before she settled back down. Tucking her wings away, she took a few nervous steps closer, and stretched her head closer to curiously sniff at him.

Not wanting to scare her off, Dusty stood as still as he could, while she stepped ever closer, as her curiosity overcame her nervousness. She walked around to his side, as she speculatively sniffed at him. Her soft nose brushed up against his neck and sides, as she moved back along his body, and he nearly yelped out in surprise, when she abruptly stuck her nose under his tail, to give him a good sniff there too.

"My!... my name is Dusty Stride,... what!... what's yours?" He asked, as her soft nose tickled his dangling bits. Her strange, intimate attention was making him feel weird, as a funny tingle ran down to his loins.

Finally she seemed satisfied, and pulled her nose out from under his tail, with a soft snort. "I'm Sky Twirl," she said, stepping back around to the front of Dusty. "You're from the ground ponies that are nesting nearby, aren't you?"

Dusty figured she meant the settlement. "Yeah, I guess I am" he answered, as he admired her beautiful wings. "How do you have wings?" he asked, holding himself back from trying to feel them.

"Wings?" Sky Twirl unfurled one of her wings, and held it up, as she glanced back at it. "I was born with them. All pegasi are born with them," she answered simply.

"Pegasi?" Dusty asked, cocking his head in confusion. Is that what she was? "Does that mean you're not a pony?"

Sky Twirl laughed, and fluttered up a little into the air. "Of course I'm a pony!" she said, settling herself back to the ground again. "Haven't you've ever seen a pegasus before?"

Dusty shook his head, "We've only run across other herds like ourselves, although, there was a rumor that winged ponies were seen flying around in the sky once, but nopony really believed it." Sitting his rump down, Dusty scratched at the side of his head. "I guess there are more types of ponies than we knew of.”

Sky smiled and nodded happily as she fluttered up. "Oh yes, yes! I was taught that there are three types!" She then pointed her hoof at him, "There is you, the ground pony. There is me, the sky pony, and there are the unicorns, the star ponies."

"Unicorns!?" Dusty was feeling a bit overwhelmed. Not only were there flying ponies, but there were star ponies as well!?

"I was told that they always keep their noses held high, like they smell something bad. And I was told that they never want to have any fun and play." Reaching her hoof up, she touched her forehead and extended her hoof upwards, "They have a horn up here, and with it they move the heavens, to make day and night."

Dusty didn't know how much of this he could take. It was all just so unbelievable. "They can really do that!?"

Sky quickly nodded, "Oh, yes, yes! And Mommy says that it's the horn sticking out of their heads, that makes them all so grumpy, and mean!"

Dusty looked around. "Where do you live? Is your family nearby?" Where would flying ponies live? On top of rainbows? Were there lakes and fields of grass up on top of the clouds? Sometimes it seemed like when you gaze at clouds from the side, they look just like hills and mountains.

Sky's expression darkened, as her wings drooped down. "They are all gone now. I am the last of my flock." Her gaze lowered to the ground.

Dusty's heart wrenched in his chest, as he realized the meaning of her answer. "What happened!?"

Dusty could see Sky's body start to shiver. "My flock liked to nest in the trees. We enjoyed being where the birds nested, and it had always been safe before. But that all changed when they came." Her voice quivered as she spoke, showing her fear and grief quite openly to Dusty, as he listened to her. "When they came, they made no sounds, as they climbed up the trees, and many of the flock was taken, before any of us even knew that something was happening. Once the alarm was raised, many pegasi took to the air, to fly to safety, but something unseen grabbed them, and held them in place, as the shadow crawlers moved in, to collect them.

"Mommy saw this, and took me to the hollow that was in our tree and shoved me into it, telling me to go down, as far as I could, and to stay absolutely quiet, no matter what." Tears began to drip down Sky's nose as she spoke. "I did as she said, and stayed down at the bottom of the hollow, and waited.

“Only when morning came, did I finally decide to come out. When I did, I found that my entire flock had vanished during the night, including my mommy. None of them ever returned. That was a season ago."

Sky broke down and started bawling. Dusty didn't know what to do. His heart felt like it had been twisted in his chest and stomped on a few times, and that was only from listening to her heart wrenching story. Not sure if his action would be welcomed, Dusty moved over, and sat next to Sky so he could put a comforting hoof around her shoulder. The moment his hoof settled around her, Dusty was surprised when Sky suddenly turned herself, and buried her face into his neck, to let out muffled wails, as she wept into him.

As Dusty sat there comforting Sky, he thought about his own mother. When he had last seen her, he had been so angry with her for how she was still treating him like a foal. His idea to go out, and find the wolves den, suddenly felt stupid and foolish. Doing such a stupid thing would most likely have him ending up as food for the wolves. Sky had lost her mother, and her herd that night, and Dusty couldn't imagine what it would be like if the same had happened to him. Her story had opened his eyes with how petty his anger had been.

After a time, Sky's weeping settled down, and she pulled away. Dusty couldn't believe how wet his neck now felt, when Sky leaned herself back, to wipe the back of her leg across her dripping nose. When she saw what she had done to his neck, Sky gave Dusty an embarrassed look.

Dusty smiled at her and shook his head, "Don't worry about it, I'm fine with it." Turning, Dusty hurried over to his willow pack and rummaged around until he came up with two more apples, and quickly returned to Sky, to hold them out to her. "Here, have some apples."

Sky blinked at his offering in surprise. Her eyes quickly looking back to him as she seemed to seriously consider something about him. With a strange smile on her lips, she reached out and took the apples from him, and ate them both. When she finished, she then bent down and picked a flower, and stepped close to Dusty, before she reached up, and slipped the flower into his dark mane, just by his ear.

"I accept your gift," she said with a strange smile, as she rubbed her cheek against his. "I find you worthy to sire my foal."

Dusty's thoughts suddenly lurched back a few mental paces, as he attempted to understand what had just happened. "Wait, what!?... what do mean!?"

Sky continued to rub her cheek and neck against him, as she let out pleased humming sounds. Turning she gave Dusty a light nip on the edge of his jaw. "Among the sky ponies, when a stallion brings a mare fruits during her heat, it means he's asking to sire her foal. I'm in heat. I accept your offering, and wish for you to sire our foal."

Dusty felt his body begin to shiver with excitement, as his brain tried to understand what was happening. The pleasing feeling of her body was making it a struggle to think straight.

"But!... but I'm too young! I'm not a stallion yet!" Dusty managed to exclaim, around the pleasing feelings her tender touches, were sending through his body. His heart was racing, and he was finding it hard to form coherent thoughts, as she nipped, and rubbed her cheek down his side.

Pausing, Sky lowered her head under his belly, and Dusty felt her sniffed at his now stiffened colthood. Or was it a stallionhood? He wondered, before her tail swiped at his face, and drew his attention to other things.

He had noticed when he had first met her, that there was a pleasing scent coming off of her. As he reached his muzzle closer to the base of her tail, he found that her pleasing scent grew thick and heavy to his nose, and made his head feel fuzzy. Was this the scent of a mare in heat!?

He wanted more of it! Shoving his muzzle under her lifted tail, Dusty took deep sniffs as he took in her sweet musky scent, and as his nose came closer to her winking marehood, Sky abruptly let out a stream of pee, that nearly caught him in his muzzle. The powerful scent that was sending his mind into a fog, suddenly redoubled in strength, while a multitude of new and enticing smells assaulted his senses, as he brushed his nose along her marehood.

He found he needed more than just smell her! He needed to taste her! Licking his tongue into her opened marehood, Dusty lapped at her, and took in her sweetness, on his tongue. All resisting thoughts about being too young, suddenly vanished out of his lust ladened mind, as he savored each lick of her marehood.

As his tongue delved into her, Sky panted for breath as she let out pleased little whinnies, as her body began to hunch up. At one point, his tongue rubbed up along a little nub that lay at the bottom of her slit, and Sky let out a loud and very pleased moan, as her body suddenly hunched up and quivered for a short while, as her slit frantically throbbed against Dusty's busy tongue.

Whatever was happening to Sky soon passed, leaving her panting in place, as she suddenly pushed her rump back into him, and turned her head to look around at him with pleading eyes. "Please, my stallion! Claim me and plant your foal within my womb! I am ready!"

Dusty managed to question for a brief moment if he was really ready for this, but any doubts he held suddenly vanished, as he felt her rub her rump against his chest.

He had seen other stallions breed their mares before, so he knew what he needed to do, as he reared up onto her back. Sky had her wings partially opened, and she fluttered them in excitement, as Dusty gripped her sides to pull himself over her back.

Thrusting his hips, Dusty poked his stallionhood around, as he tried to find his way into her. He felt it bump and flop all around her rump, and Dusty was panting in frustration by the time he finally felt the tip of his stallionhood press into something incredibly warm and wet. Shoving his hips forwards he felt his stallionhood plunge a short ways into Sky, who let out a pleased whinny, as she finally felt him moving into her.

The feeling along his stallionhood was incredible, as her warmth encompassed him. He couldn't take much more of this. His heart was hammering in his chest, as he delved his stallionhood deeper within Sky. As her warm inner walls pressed tightly around his stallionhood, Dusty found he could feel her heart racing against his shaft, as she moaned and panted under him.

He was almost all the way inside her, when he felt an intense tingling feeling, along his loins. His stallionhood began to twitch, as he felt his tip begin to flare wide, and everything inside him, was now screaming for him to plunge himself as deeply as he could into her. Gripping her sides tightly, Dusty thrust his hips forwards, until his hips smacked into her rump, as Dusty plunged himself fully into her.

An intense rush of pleasure surged through his loins, as he gripped Sky's sides. Reaching down Dusty bit her crest, to hold her under him, as he gave her a few powerful thrust, before he pressed his hips into her rump as hard as he could, as a surge of intense pleasure rushed along his stallionhood, as he felt his seed spurt out deeply into Sky, in gushing torrents of intense pleasing surges. Sky’s wings flared wide open, and she let out a piercing whinny, as her stallion bred her.

The gushing waves of his releasing seed, quickly began to ebb down to a few final spurts. After a short while, Dusty released Sky’s crest, as he felt his body sag down, while he panted for breath.

Beneath him, Dusty could feel Sky was also panting for breath, as she turned her head to nuzzle at his cheek and muzzle, as he did the same to her. Pulling himself back, Dusty felt his stallionhood slip out of Sky, followed by the sound of their mixed fluids being released, and splattering onto the ground below them.

Once he was off her back, Sky stepped a few paces forward and settled herself into the grass along the stream's bank, and turned her head to wait for him to join her. Still in awe of what they had just done. Dusty stepped up to her, and settled himself down next to her, and cuddled up against her side. Dusty felt Sky’s wing unfurl, and settle over his back, as she started to hum happily to herself.

Dusty couldn't believe he had just mated with a mare, especially one with wings! The thought of becoming a father next spring terrified him, but also excited him, as he thought about what his foal was going to be like. Would it have wings like it's mother?

Turning, Dusty nuzzled Sky behind her ear, as he listened to her hummed melody, as a sense of absolute contentment settled over him.

Chapter Twelve

Dusty Stride wiped the back of his foreleg across his sweaty brow, before lowering his head back down, to nip the stock of the bulbous root that he had just dug out of the rich soil, and tossed it over his shoulder into his heavily loaded pack.

Today he was out with a foraging group gathering something he was told was called a radish. The root plant had been found growing copiously within a shallow valley in the distant eastern hills just a few days ago. Despite one of the mares within the forager group telling him that they were quite delicious, he hadn't tried one of the red hued roots yet. Opting instead to save that for when he meets with Sky again, Dusty moved over to the next radish and began to dig at it with his hoof.

It had been six days since he had met Sky, and he still couldn't think of how to bring her into the settlement. He was scared of what would happen when his mother finds out about her. Would she accept Sky, or drive her away for being some strange freak-pony with wings? His imaginings about the meeting often ended in disaster, with Sky being driven off by his mother or by a mob of ponies lead by his mother.

A new idea came to him. Perhaps living out in the wilds with Sky was his answer. He knew that there was no way he could live up in a tree with her, but he had learned enough that he would be able to build a home out there for them. A home he could snuggle with Sky in.

Dusty paused, with a radish still dangling from his teeth, and smiled. The memory of their time together, of her soft body moving under his, sent warm, pleasing tingles throughout his body. He had found the snuggling she liked to do after they were done was also highly pleasurable. He suddenly found he really wanted to be with her.

"What are you smiling about?" Sky suddenly asked, snapping him from his daydream as her head appeared next to his with a mischievous smile on her lips.

Dusty spat the radish out with a loud exclamation, as he whirled about in surprise to look at Sky, who was looking back at him with a amused look in her eyes. What was she doing here!? “How did you…?” Dusty started to ask, before giving his head a shake. Of course she would be able to find him. She could fly.

Holding his hoof to his hammering heart, Dusty stared at Sky in disbelief. She was standing next to him in the open, where everypony would be able to see her! Dusty’s eyes quickly scanned around the area where he saw that, due to his loud exclamation, many of the nearby foragers were curiously looking over at them, as well as some of their spear-wielding lookouts.

Disaster! Now he had no choice! He was going to have to run off and live somewhere in exile, and never again see his own kind ever again. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad. Sky would be there with him.

After a short moment, Dusty became aware that none of the ponies around him had made any excited exclamations, nor did any of them come running over to look at Sky and her wings. In fact, many of them were going back to work digging out radishes. Why was no pony reacting to Sky!? Looking closer, he saw the reason slung across her back.

She was wearing a willow-woven gatherers pack, and they were doing a wonderful job of covering her wings from view. Relief flooded Dusty. He wasn't going to have to exile himself. At least not yet.

“Where did you get that pack!?" Dusty asked, while struggling to keep his voice down. He knew the moment he asked the question, he wasn’t going to like the answer.

Sky blinked at him, wondering why he was sounding angry. "I found it," she answered simply.

"You found it?" Dusty growled at her. "You stole it, didn't you!?" He knew it! He was going to have to exile himself.

"It was just sitting there. Nopony was using it," Sky said in her defense. She didn't understand why he was so troubled by her using it. In fact, she thought he would be happy that she found a way to hide her wings.

Dusty let out a sigh, and ran his hoof through his disheveled mane. Perhaps if he returned it before it was noticed, everything would be okay, and he wouldn't have to send himself into exile.

"Hey! You, there!" a voice called out to them.

Sky gave a little eep, and dove behind Dusty, where she then guardedly peeked out over his back at the approaching mare that had just called out to her.

Milkweed, the lead mare of the foragers, paused in her approach for a moment to consider Sky's strange behavior, but quickly resumed while giving her head a slight shake. "We're here to work, young mare, not to play around. I have something I want you to do. So come on out here and follow me." Milkweed started away but paused to wait for Sky to follow.

Seeing that Sky was nervously frozen in place, Dusty quickly nudged Sky and urgently gestured for her to follow Milkweed, who was now scowling with impatience at the pair.

Dusty gave Milkweed a awkward smile. "Sorry, she’s a bit shy," he assured her, before he gave Sky an even more forceful nudge. Why was she being so bashful now? She wasn't like that when they first met. Letting out a sigh, Dusty stepped forward, and was relieved when Sky followed closely after him.

Sky nervously looked around as they moved through the foragers. She quickly trotted up, next to Dusty and leaned in close. "What are they doing?" She asked, keeping her voice low, as she gestured with her head to the foraging ponies that were digging out radishes.

"Gathering radishes," Dusty whispered back.

"Ohh..." Sky said, giving a knowing nod, despite her still confused look. Suddenly she gave him a jab, and pointed over to Milkweed, "What’s that on her butt!?"

Dusty glanced over at Milkweed, as he wondered what she meant, and saw the budding milkweed blossom on the mare's flank. "That's her cutie mark."

"Ohh..." Sky said, nodding thoughtfully. "What's a cutie mark?"

"It's a mark you get when you discover your special talent." Dusty whispered back.

"Ohh..." Sky then glanced at his flank, "So where's yours?"

Her question caught Dusty off guard, and he stumbled over a misplaced hoof. His lack of a cutie mark as a bit of a sore point with him. He had been trying to get one, but despite trying as many things as he could get away with from his mother, his flank was still blank.

Luckily, he was saved from answering her when Milkweed stopped just before a set of small dirt filled gourds that had some young shoots planted in it.

"Since your bins are empty, you can carry these back to Greenhoof. She'll be very interested in getting some radish sprouts so she can try her hoof at cultivating them.

Sky lifted her head and looked over Dusty's back. "You want me to carry some weeds?" She asked with distaste.

Milkweed's ears suddenly folded back as her eyes hardened. Dusty knew he needed to do something before anything unfortunate happened, and he really would have to go into exile.

Letting out a loud, boisterous laugh, Dusty spun around and shoved Sky toward the gourds. "Of course she would be happy to carry the sprouts back! Here let me help you put them into your packs!" Dusty gathered some of the young shoots and carefully began loading them into Sky's packs.

Milkweed seemed satisfied that her instruction was being followed, and started calling out to the others that it was time to go back to the settlement.

"Why am I carrying a bunch of weeds?" Sky asked, as she watched Dusty load the last few into her pack.

"They are not weeds, they are food." Dusty replied. "Food we hope we can grow ourselves so we won't have to search for them."

"Grow your own food? I’ve never heard of such a thing," Sky said with a befuddled look. "Nature grows food, not ponies."

"Well, things are changing. We are beginning to learn the secrets of nature, and we plan to grow entire fields of food, enough to feed us all for many seasons," Dusty explained with a note of pride, as he settle the last seedling into her bin. "Hunger will soon become a distant memory. The Herd Mother and Herd Father have opened our eyes to these new possibilities, and at last we can feel the power in our hooves to shape the very world."

"The magic of nature!" Sky said in awe, her eyes going wide as she looked at him with new eyes. "You are learning to control the magic of nature! Ponies that can wield earth magic, are no mere ground ponies. No, no, no. They would be something more akin to the Earth. Such ponies would be Earth Ponies!"

Dusty blinked at her in astonishment. Sure, what they were learning to do was pretty amazing, but he didn't think it was all that magical.

"Hey, are you two finished yet, or are we going to have to leave you both behind?" Milkweed called out to them.

Gathered not far from them, the rest of the foragers stood waiting as they prepared to head back to the settlement.

Dusty waved his hoof, signaling that they were ready. With Sky walking close by his side, Dusty felt his gut twist in worry that Sky's wings would be discovered. The packs she wore did a wonderful job of covering them, but it wasn't perfect. In several spots from behind, you could see some feathers poking out from the back of the pack, and occasionally, Sky would adjust her wings, causing the packs to shift around strangely, but luckily no pony seemed to have noticed yet.

With Sky staying by his side, Dusty followed just to the rear of the group, as they walked back. How was he going to get Sky out of this, without being found out!? He started to concoct some exotic and detailed plans on how to get her out of the settlement without being noticed, when he began to feel like it just wasn't right to do that to her. She wasn't some monster, she was a beautiful young mare who was all alone.

He needed to tell the Herd Mother and Father about her. They would know what to do.

The whole way back, Dusty felt sick with worry for how things would end up. He knew for sure that his mother would freak out in some way, and all the other ponies would most definitely be excited, mobbing around her to have a look at her wings. Sky was a bit timid. Dusty knew that such attention would frighten her, and he didn't want Sky to run away.

Finally, they crested the last rise and the settlement came into view. The sickening, anxious feeling in his gut suddenly worsened as they approached. Sky, on the other hoof, had a kind of nervous excitement about her, as she constantly swiveled her head about in an attempt to look at everything and everypony at once.

South of the settlement, just outside the now newly finished walls, sat a small cultivated area with a short stacked stone wall surrounding it. A dirty brown mare with green mane and tail, stood on a patch of newly cleared ground, and was dragging some new tool, like a spear with it's stone point bent down, through the soil.

"You, ah... I'm sorry I don't remember your name," Milkweed said to Sky.

Sky looked around nervously as she was suddenly addressed, but after a short breath, she gathered her courage. "My... my name's Sky Twirl."

"Sky Twirl, come with me," Milkweed said, turning into the cultivated area.

Dusty and Sky followed after her. Inside, they saw neat rows of new sprouts growing on either side of the path as they approached the dirty brown mare. Stepping carefully, Sky looked around at what was being grown here by ponies with obvious awe. To her, what was being done here was magic.

"It's strange. I don't remember that young mare coming with us when we set out," Milkweed mused out loud, as she glanced back at the pair.

"She, ah... was in the back, and her smaller size keeps her from being noticed," Dusty quickly answered. That was one of the things he had noticed about Sky. Her body was more lean and delicate looking than was normal for—what was that name she used? Earth Ponies?—who were more stocky and sturdy looking in comparison to her.

"Hmm, that's probably why," Milkweed said with a thoughtful nod. "Greenhoof! Come and look at what we brought for you!" she then called out to the mare ahead of them.

Greenhoof paused and lifted her tool, to plant it butt-down into the soft soil next to her. Looking more closely at the strange new tool, Dusty saw that it had once been a spear, but the stone spearhead had been reattached at a sharp angle to allow it to be dug through the soil.

For a mare, Greenhoof was very large, standing just as tall as most stallions. As she stepped closer, Dusty saw a fine cloud of dust drift off her coat with each of her heavy steps. As well, her legs appeared to be completely caked in dirt, all the way up to her barrel. On her flank was a cutie mark of a little green sprout.

Sky stared wide-eyed at the mare as she approached. "An Earth Spirit," she murmured in reverence.

Greenhoof heard this and let out a boisterous laugh. "Earth Spirit! I like that! What's your name little one?" Despite her size, her voice held a firm gentleness that was surprising.

"I... I'm Sky Twirl." Sky answered with a timid smile.

"Well that's a pretty name, for such a pretty, little mare" Greenhoof commented, as she stepped up to Sky to look into her pack. "So what did you bring me, eh?"

"I h-have radish sprouts." Sky answered, as her wide eyes gazed up at the large mare.

"Radish sprouts! That's great!" Greenhoof exclaimed happily, as she stuck her muzzle into Sky's pack. "These will be wonderful! I've always loved radishes," she said, while taking one out to look it over.

It only took a few moments of work for Greenhoof, Milkweed, and Dusty to unload all the radishes from Sky's pack. Greenhoof stood over the sprouts and smiled down at them. "Milk, you always bring me the best things."

"What are sisters for?" Milkweed answered with a smile.

"And now for our helpful young little mare." Greenhoof said as she walked over to the short stone wall and picked up a gourd with a large leaf tied over its top. Bringing it back, she set it into Sky's pack with a smile. "There you go, thank you for your help."

Sky looked back at her pack in confusion, wondering why Greenhoof put something inside. Dusty saw this and knew she didn't understand that Greenhoof was giving her something in return for her help.

Stepping up next to Sky, Dusty smiled at Greenhoof, and gave Sky a nudge. "Thank you. We'll go now and unload my pack at the storehouse." Turning, Dusty began to lead Sky out.

"Excuse me, but did you know you have feathers under your pack?" Greenhoof commented.

Dusty paused with his heart hammering in his chest. Was Sky just discovered!? Turning his head, he saw that Greenhoof and Milkweed, didn't seem alarmed or disturbed about it. Perhaps they just thought they were feathers, Dusty desperately hoped.

"Oh, yes. The feathers help to stop the packs from rubbing her sides." Dusty said as he put on his most convincing smile. "Come on Sky, let's get to the storehouse." Dusty practically held his breath the entire time it took to leave the enclosure and walk over to the settlement gate.

During the day, the gate was left open, but as the sun set, a series of large logs were slid across the opening, and secured into place with a pair of posts on each side. Stepping through, Dusty let out a long relieved sigh. At last, they were inside. Now all they had to do was drop off his load of radishes and go see the Herd Mother and Father. Easy.

"Dusty Stride!" a voice furiously shouted at him, and Dusty felt a chill rush down to his gut. Turning, Dusty's ears wilted down as his livid looking mother marched up to him. "What did I say about going out with the foragers!?"

"But, Mama, they needed some help, and I'm old enough to choose for myself," Dusty retorted weakly.

"I don't want to hear it!" his mother shouted back. "You knew I didn't want you going out there and you disobeyed me! I knew I should have had you return that pack when you got it! It's only caused trouble the moment you got it!" Reaching out, she nipped his ear in her teeth, and started pulling him. "Now come along. You're going to sit at home and think about what you did!" She said around his ear.

As he was dragged along by his mother, Dusty desperately told her that he needed to go and unload his pack at the storehouse, but she ignored him as she continued to usher him back home.

Suddenly, the light grey form of Sky, appeared in front of Dusty's mother, and barred her way. Her sky blue eyes glared up at his mother with a fury that Dusty had never seen from her before.

Releasing her son's ear, Pebble Stream blinked down at the smaller mare, who was blocking her way, "Who are you!? Dusty who is this filly!?" Her tone was mystified, but also irritated that she was being interfered with.

Dusty rubbed his hoof over his aching ear as he blinked in amazement, as Sky moved forward to shove herself in between Dusty and his mother, and planted her hooves to glare up at the larger mare, with her ears folded back.

"What do you think you're doing!?" Dusty's mother exclaimed in outrage.

"I will not allow you to take him!" Sky declared, pawing her hoof across the ground. "He's my stallion, now!"

"What are you talking about!?" Pebble Stream snapped back. "I'm his mother!"

"And I am his mate!" Sky roared, almost touching her nose to Pebble's.

Dusty's mother reared back a few steps and clutched her chest in shock, as her eyes snapped back and forth between the pair. "Don't be absurd! Dusty's still much too young to have a mate! He's still just a little colt!"

Dusty watched the two as they confronted each other, his chest feeling like he had been bucked by an angry stallion. He loved his mother, but as he watched Sky standing up to his mother to claim him with such ferocity as hers, he finally felt something snap inside.

Stepping forward, Dusty stood next to Sky and met his mother's angry gaze. "I am not a little colt anymore Mama, and I will not allow you to talk to Sky like this!"

His mother looked like he had just slapped his hoof across her muzzle. Her eyes were wide in shock, as she looked at the couple. "Don't tell me you two have...?"

"Dusty has claimed me, and filled my womb with his seed many times now," Sky answered back, with a very pleased look as she touched her hoof to her belly.

Dusty's mother's face suddenly twisted in anguish, as she looked over at her son. "How could you!? I'm your mother! I birthed you, and nursed you. Don't you love me!? How can you betray me for the first filly to flick her tail at you!?"

"Mama!" Dusty said pleadingly. "I’m not a foal anymore! I’m my own stallion now!"

"But I love you, and I don't want to lose you!" his mother reached out to touch his cheek, but Dusty stepped back. And as he felt his heart twist in his chest, he turned away from her.

With Sky following along by his side, Dusty walked away with deliberate measured steps, as he felt tears flood into his eyes. It hurt. It hurt so much to do this to his mother, but with Sky's comforting presence by his side, he managed to keep his steps going. Behind him, the sounds of his mother's agonized wails broke his heart.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Standing at the edge of the west woods, Dark watched as Happy trotted over to him. It had been several days since they last saw any signs of the wolves, and many ponies were sure that they had been driven off for good, but Dark wasn’t certain. Their sudden and strange absence left Dark with a bad feeling.

Their bitches would be whelping around now, and the need for food would be great. Driving them off during the eclipse would certainly have made them more wary of ponies, and sure enough, whenever the pack saw any pony they quickly moved off the other way, but that didn’t explain the total lack of any wolf sightings over the last couple of nights.

Happy, a grisled silvery blue stallion who never smiled, slowed to a stop just before Dark, and shook his head. “The freshest tracks I was able to find was about two days old.”

“Perhaps they all left,” Birch Bark offered.

Dark wasn’t convinced that that was the case. Something about this wasn’t sitting right with him. Turning, Dark looked at Hoof Strike. ”Put the word out that I am looking for volunteers. Tomorrow I want to find their den, and see if they have truly left, or if something else has happened to them.”

Chapter Thirteen

Dusty stood outside Strongbuck's hut, anxiously waiting for him to return. He needed to talk to somepony, and he knew that Strongbuck could be trusted with everything Dusty needed to share.

Their mothers were sisters that never really got along with each other. Later, their conflict grew so bad, Strongbuck's mother ended up leaving the herd to join another just to get away from her. Despite their mothers’ bad blood, Strongbuck managed to stay close to Dusty, treating him like a little brother, offering an ear as well as advice whenever Dusty needed it.

He felt terrible for what he had done to his mother. The pain he had caused her, and the heartache he knew she must be going through right now ate at him. Why did it have to be like this? Why couldn't she understand that he just wanted to be his own stallion? It was only because of Sky that he had been able to finally stand up to her, and now that he had, he felt absolutely horrible for doing so. How was he ever going to face her again? She must absolutely hate him.

"Are you sure you don't want any? These taste amazing!" Sky was laying in the grass next to him, happily munching on some of the strawberries that Greenhoof had given her for helping bring back some radish sprouts. Holding one up on her hoof, Sky admired the strawberry's bright red, succulent color, before tossing it into her mouth and letting out a pleased hum as she chewed.

Dusty couldn't bring himself to eat anything right now. Even strawberries. He just didn't feel hungry. Sitting his rump down, Dusty languished in his misery.

Idly, Dusty watched as a charcoal brown colt and white filly with a blazing sun cutie mark went running by as the two playfully chased each other about. It was hard to tell who was chasing who, but it seemed it didn't really matter to the two, they were just having fun. Scratching his chin, Dusty tried to place the filly. Something about her seemed oddly familiar. As the two foals went romping by Sky, the filly suddenly skidded to a stop right next to her, and gazed at her with a rather strange, and interested look.

"Hi," the filly greeted Sky with a friendly smile.

Sky blinked at the filly in surprise at having been unexpectedly greeted. "Um... hello," She answered back with a little smile. Glancing down at the strawberry she held on her hoof, Sky then held it out to the filly, "Would you like a strawberry? They're really good!"

"Thank you, I love strawberries," the filly said, accepting the strawberry and eating it with a happy smile. "My name is Celestia, and the colt over there is Ash." She nodded briefly to the colt standing nearby, before looking back to Sky. "I like your mane, it's really pretty."

Dusty couldn't help but smile at the sudden flustered look that came over Sky, as she sheepishly reached up to brush her hoof through her white and blue streaked mane, "Really? I never thought it looked all that great," she confessed, brushing her hoof through her mane.

"It's true, you do have a pretty mane, but I think your eyes are much more beautiful," Dusty cut in, not really thinking what effect his honest words might have on her.

Sky's ears abruptly shot up straight and quivered excitedly, as she stared at him with those lovely sky blue eyes of hers. Letting out a high pitched squeak, Sky suddenly dropped her head down to the ground and covered herself with her hooves to hide herself under them.

Celestia let out a giggle at Sky's amazingly flustered response and poked her muzzle into some gaps to try to peek in on Sky's mortified face. Sky in turn was forced to bat one of her hooves at the overly curious filly in an attempt to fend her off, as she sought to hide her embarrassment further under her other hoof.

Ash walked over and sat down next to Dusty, where he then looked up at the young stallion, who was still looking at Sky with amazed bewilderment at what his complement had caused. "Fillies are weird," Ash commented, as he looked back at Celestia, who was now giggling uncontrollably as she continued to pester Sky mercilessly.

Dusty gave a slow nod, as he agreed with the colt, "You're absolutely right. Fillies are definitely weird."

"What is going on here!?" Bell Flower said around the handle of a large basket she held in her mouth, as she walked up on the scene and looked around.

Celestia abandoned her teasing of Sky, to happily hop over to Bell Flower, and pointed her hoof at Dusty. "He embarrassed Sky when he said her eyes were beautiful."

Bell Flower only lifted one of her eyebrows as she looked over at Dusty. "Oh really? How very sweet of him. Strongbuck could do with giving a bit more of that himself," she said with a smile, while she stepped closer to Dusty. "Hello, Dusty, are you here to see Strongbuck?"

"Ah... yes I am. I need to talk to him about something that's kind of important. Do you know when he will be back?" Dusty asked, standing up.

"He's been taking walks to try and get the limp out of his leg. He should be back shortly," Bell Flower answered. "You can wait for him inside with me and the twins, where it will be cooler in the shade."

Celestia gasped when she heard this, and dashed forward to lean up onto the basket to peek in. "You're watching the twins!?"

"Shh, keep your voice down or you'll wake them,” Bell warned Celestia. "Melodious is busy visiting some of the new mothers, to see their newborns, and she needed somepony to watch after them for a bit," Bell Flower explained, as she opened the door to her hut and slipped inside.

Celestia quickly followed Bell Flower into the hut, leaving Dusty to collect Sky and usher her in after them.

Settling herself down in a bed of straw, Bell Flower set the basket containing the twin colts down next to herself where Celestia quickly leaned her muzzle in to happily nuzzle at the two drooling foals.

"How's your sister, Luna?" Bell asked Celestia. "I haven't seen her since we moved into our own hut.”

"She sleeps a lot, and when she's awake she's always crying or eating. When Papa's home, he can't stop kissing, and snuggling with her." Celestia answered, as she reached into the basket to gently pull Winter Snow's ear out of his brother's mouth.

Once Dusty got Sky inside, she cautiously stepped around to gaze at the hut around in nervous amazement. It was the first time she'd ever been inside one, and she looked a bit overwhelmed at the structure the ponies had managed to devise.

Ash entered last and moved over next to the door, and sat down to patiently wait for Celestia to finish ogling over the little colts.

Inside the basket, one of the colts let out a mewling whine that caused Sky to suddenly become absolutely alert towards the basket, with her ears pinned up. Dusty watched her curiously as she took a slow, cautious step closer to the basket so she could sniff at the air.

The colt continued to let out little whimpering whines, as Celestia made soothing murmuring sounds, while giving the complaining foal comforting touches with her muzzle, in an attempt to sooth the colt back down to sleep.

"Here, let me try." Rolling onto her side, Bell Flower reached her hoof into the basket and gently began to rub the colt's belly as she made gentle shushing sounds. Sky attentively watched as Bell comforted the foal with intense interest, as a strange kind of yearning came over her.

As Celestia sat back, she noticed something, "Bell? Why are your teats dripping?" Celestia asked curiously, gesturing to Bell Flower's partially exposed udder.

Bell glanced down and saw milk slowly dripping from her teats. "Oh, they do that sometimes whenever I'm around little foals. They never really dried up since I had my filly."

Celestia looked up at Bell in surprise, "You had a foal!? I didn't know that, where is she?"

Bell Flower's ministrations on the foal paused, as she scrunched her eyes shut with a look of pain crossing over her face. Taking a breath, Bell let it out slowly, to regain a bit of her composure before she could answer. "It still hurts to talk about, but last spring I lost her to a fever a few moons after she was born."

Celestia gasped and covered her mouth, "I'm so sorry."

Dusty felt his heart wrench at hearing this. He remembered that he himself had almost died from a fever when he was a little foal. His mother described it as one of the most horrific experiences she ever went through, as she slowly watched him suffer through it. She had been absolutely convinced that he was going to stop breathing at any moment. Saying that every strained breath he managed to take was a shallow gasping wheeze that sounded like it was to be his last, and he was so weakened from his fever, she couldn't even get him to nurse. Even now, she had a hard time talking about it. Again, Dusty felt the pain of what he had done to his mother. She had been there for him when he had been sick, and what did he do to her? He abandoned her. How could he have been so horrible to his mother?

Reaching down, Bell nuzzled Celestia for a moment. "It's alright, these things happen in life." The fussy foal suddenly let out a louder contemplative whine as he kicked his little hooves about, seriously threatening to wake his brother.

"Well, it's been a while, but perhaps this will calm you down," Bell Flower said, reaching into the basket. "Come here you, I don't know how much milk I've got, but go ahead and have whatever you'd like." Lifting out a soft orange colt, Bell bent around and set him against her soft udder, where the colt began to sniff around one of her teats until he found it and latched on. Once the colt began to suckle, Bell gave a little shudder and sighed with a pleased smile. "Oh, I forgot how good that feels."

Dusty watched Bell with the foal, with a strange feeling rolling around inside, that felt like a mixture of excitement, apprehension, and outright fear. Glancing at Sky, Dusty wondered if she was now carrying his foal within her. Next spring, were they going to have a whinny, drooling, suckling foal of their own to care for?

"Yuck!" Celestia complained, waving a hoof in front of her nose. "Winter just poopied."

"Did he get it into his tail?" Bell asked.

Celestia shook her head. "No, I don't think so. He just missed it."

"Good." Bell turned to look at Sky, who was still looking down at the foal with a strange kind of intensity. "Your name was Sky, right? Would you please take Winter out for a few moments so Celestia and Ash can clean out the bedding?"

Sky was obviously surprised by the request, but after a brief hesitation, she nodded. Stepping up to the basket, Sky gingerly reached in and gently nipped the foal by his crest and lifted him out. Glancing around, she spotted a nice spot to settle down, and walked over to a nearby bed of straw. Pausing with the foal dangling from her mouth, Sky glanced back at the packs still sitting on her back with a irritated look.

With a roll of her back, and a flick of her wings, Sky dislodged her pack from her back, and allowed it to fall to the ground, before climbing into the bed of straw and turning herself a few times before settling down. Once she was comfortable, she bent around and carefully tucked Winter Snow under her wing, and settled him into place. Smiling happily to herself, Sky let out a strange thrumming purr, as she turned to her other wing to preen it.

Every pony sat staring at Sky with wide eyed shocked gazes, while Dusty collapsed to the ground and covered his head. So much for trying to ease the news out gently.

"Dusty..." Bell murmured, not looking at him. "By any chance, was this what you wanted to talk to Strongbuck about?"

"It's one of the things, yes." Dusty replied, still not taking his hooves off his head.

"One of the things!?" Bell exclaimed breathlessly, looking over at him.

Letting out a breath, Dusty gave in to the inevitable. He might as well let it all out. Slowly, Dusty stood up and walked over to Sky, where he then sat his rump down next to her, and looked back at Bell. "Sky Twirl is ah... a pegasus, and ah... we sort of... well...," Dusty struggled to come up with the words. Why was this so hard?

In the end it was Sky who broke his stalemate. "Dusty has gifted me with his foal."

Celestia leapt up, and happily and clapped her hooves together at the news, while Bell gasped in shock as she blinked her wide eyes at the young mare.

Letting a long breath out, Bell shook her head. "Oh, Dusty. Why couldn't you have just used that log with the hole in it the older colts like to use down by the stream to relieve their urges." Turning, Bell looked at Sky. "Tell me, did you two breed during your first heat?"

"Yes we did, and it was wonderful." Sky bent her head around to nuzzle Dusty's neck.

A strange look of concern crossed over Bell's face. "Sky, didn't your mama warn you about how dangerous it is for a young mare to be bred at such a young age?"

Sky blinked at Bell, and mutely shook her head.

Dusty felt alarmed at the seriousness of Bell's words. He never once considered what kind of risks were involved with what they had done. Why wasn't he told about the dangers earlier? "Sky lost her mama, and her entire herd, which she calls her flock, sometime last spring. She's been all alone since then, so there was nopony to tell her."

Bell looked sympathetically over at Sky, and nodded her understanding. "I see. Well, I'll just explain it to you both then. It's not an easy thing to make a new pony. It puts a huge strain on the dam's body, especially a dam that is still not fully matured herself. Miscarriages for mares your age are common, and if the foal is born, it may be smaller than is normal. There's also a higher chance of complications during the foaling, complications that often result in the death of both the dam and foal," Bell said looking between the pair. "During this foaling season alone, three foals didn't survive, with one dam dying along with her foal. That dam wasn't that much older than you."

Sky let out a whimper and buried her face into Dusty's side. Swallowing, Dusty felt a little sick as he felt Sky shuddering against his side. He never knew any of this. How could he have done something so stupid?

"I didn't tell you this to scare you, but to prepare you both for what may happen." Bell continued. "Many young dam's don't experience any problems during their foaling, and have beautiful normal foals in the end. Dove is learning what she can to help out dams with their birthing, especially the younger dams. She'll do her best to help you through this."

Celestia nodded in agreement, and looked over to the pair. "Dove is amazing! She was there for my mama when she had trouble birthing Luna! Dove grabbed Luna's legs and quickly pulled her out!"

Luna! Dusty remembered his mother talking about a foal named Luna with a friend of hers. Luna was the Herd Mother's new foal, born during the moon's eclipse. Dusty's eyes went wide as he realized why Celestia seemed so familiar. She was the Herd Mother's and Father's young daughter!

"Did I hear somepony saying my name?" Dove asked, stepping in through the opened door, followed by Strongbuck. Looking at Bell, Dove gave her a funny look. "Bell, why are you nursing Summer Rain?"

Bell smiled and glanced back at the foal still suckling at her teat. "Oh, he was being fussy and I thought it would calm him down a bit. I'm pretty sure he drained whatever milk I had a while ago, and he's just dry nursing now."

Strongbuck froze at the sight of Bell, with the nursing foal hanging off her teat, and blinked down at her for a moment as he admired her. He had never seen her like this before, and he found he liked it. In fact, he liked it a lot. He had always thought she was beautiful, but now, as he looked down at her, he found she looked absolutely ravishing.

Dove noticed his interested gaze, and leaned in close, "I can tell by the look in your eyes that you want to do some things," She whispered into his ear. "But that activity is going to have to wait until later. We appear to have some guests."

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Strongbuck brought his mind back to less fun things, and looked around. He noticed Dusty sitting off to the side, with a pretty young mare, lying half hidden, close to his side.

"Ash, would you please go get Meadowlark and Dark please? I think they should be brought in on this too," Bell asked, turning to the young colt, who quickly nodded and dashed out.

"Brought in on what?" Strongbuck asked, curiously looking over at Dusty. "What's going on?"

Bell glanced over to Dusty and nodded her head. "Go ahead and show them."

Dusty felt his gut twisting in apprehension as he prepared himself.

"Strongbuck, Dove," Bell said, as Dusty stood, and stepped back to reveal Sky's wings. "I would like you to meet Sky Twirl."

The two gasped in open shock, as they both stared at the young winged mare.

Sky looked back and ruffled her wings awkwardly, as she suddenly found herself being the center of attention, before sticking her muzzle under one of her wings to check on the slumbering colt she still had safely tucked under it.

"Oh my stars," Dove said in awe.

"What... what is she?" Strongbuck managed to ask.

"She's a pegasus." Dusty answered as he sat himself back down next to her. "And she's my... mate."

Strongbuck's jaw dropped down as he stared at Dusty in disbelief. Dusty had mated with her!?

Dove stepped closer, as she looked Sky over. "Your mate!? Dusty, did you breed her while she was in heat!?" Dove asked Dusty, giving him a hard look.

Dusty lowered his ears when he heard the disapproval in her voice, and quietly nodded his head, as he looked down at the ground.

"I already explained to them a bit about the dangers," Bell cut in. "The deed is already done, so yelling at them further won't help things."

Dove let out a sigh, and sat down as she nodded her understanding. "She's a pegasus huh…?" Dove mused as she scratched at her chin thoughtfully. "I wonder if a foal is even possible between the coupling of a pony and a pegasus."

"I don't see why not, she looks just like a pony." Strongbuck said. "But with wings."

Dove had a thought, and turned to look at Celestia. "Would you be able to tell if she is with foal?"

Dusty wondered why Dove was asking the filly something like that, as he watched Celestia stand and start over towards him and Sky. Stepping around to Sky's side, they all watched as she reached her hoof out and lightly touch it to Sky's belly. Closing her eyes, Celestia stayed like this for a time.

What was she doing? There's no way she would be able to tell if Sky was pregnant... was there? As Dusty and Sky watched Celestia closely, they saw tears start to slip out of her closed eyes as she started to smile.

Opening her eyes, Celestia turned to look back at everypony. "It's there, I can feel it." She said wiping at her eyes. "The very beginnings of a brand new life. There's no way I can describe how beautiful it is." Turning she looked at Sky and Dusty in turn. "You're going to be a mama and papa."

Dusty felt his heart leap a few beats at her words. He didn't know how she could possibly be able to tell, but as he looked into her eyes, he felt she was somehow looking back into his very being. Her gaze held some kind of strange power that laid every part of his deepest self bare to her scrutiny. His bitterness and anger at his mother, his cowardice and fear, every part of his deepest shame was revealed for her to see, with nothing hidden away.

He blinked and suddenly Celestia was just a normal filly again, who was giving Sky a happy hug. What just happened!? His heart was hammering in his chest like he had just finished a hard race. Was what just happened real!? As he tried to put his confused thoughts together, he felt the filly move over and hug him too.

As her hooves tightened around his neck, Dusty felt a strange warmth grow inside him, and all his worries and fears suddenly melted away, to be replaced by a serene happiness, as a new thought came to him. One that made him feel absolute joy. He was going to be a father.

Ash opened the door and stepped in. Behind him Meadowlark and Dark Storm, who was carrying Luna in a basket, followed him in.

"So, what's this really important thing you need to see us about?" Dark asked, glancing at Strongbuck and Bell.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Bell yawned as she made her way down to the gate. It was early, and the sun was still just under the horizon.

It had been a late night. Once Meadowlark and Dark had been introduced to Sky, they had all talked with her for hours, learning all they could from her. It was strange to think that there were three different types of ponies in the world. Sky Ponies, Star Ponies, and Earth Ponies. During their discussions, Melodious came to collect her offspring, and when she saw Sky she hardly batted an eye, as she simply commented that Sky had pretty wings. Did anything ever faze that mare?

When it came to what happened to the rest of the pegasi of her flock, Sky suddenly had trouble talking about it, constantly pressing herself against Dusty's side as she sought out his comforting touch, which Bell was pleased to see that he openly gave her without any reluctance. Sky's description of the dark creatures that crawled up the trees and took the pegasi greatly disturbed Dark, and, Bell had to admit, herself as well. That night, the only way she was able to get to sleep was when she crammed herself in between Dove and Strongbuck, and had them both hold her.

The gate came into view, and Bell was able to make out a group of ponies already gathered there, waiting to search out the wolves den. Dark was already there, standing just before the gate while looking back at the group, as Bell hurried in. Just as the sun began to crest the horizon, Dark signaled for the gate to be opened.

"Thank you all for coming." Dark's voice said out over the gathered ponies. "I want you all to keep together and watch each other's flanks, and make sure you report anything that might be strange. There may be things out there that are more dangerous than the wolves."

"Like what?" Mustard Seed asked.

Dark shook his head. "We're not sure what they are. We've only had one pony see them, and all she was able to describe is that they are dark, and are about the same size as a pony. They can apparently climb trees with ease, and, somehow, they can trap ponies in place."

Bell shivered at hearing Sky's description repeated by Dark. Whatever these creatures were, they gave her the creeps.

"If anypony wants to change their mind and stay behind, do so now," Dark stated, looking around the group. When no ponies left, he continued. "Then let's go." Turning, he marched out the door with Happy running up next to him.

Bell swallowed her nervousness, and checked to see if her spear was securely tucked into her pack. Satisfied that it was all in place, she followed after Dark.

Chapter Fourteen

Bell lifted her water filled gourd and took a long drink out of it. It had been a long, tiring morning of searching through the western woods, and they still haven't discovered where the wolves’ den was.

This was the first time she'd been back in the western woods since the terrible attack that she, Dove, and Strongbuck had just barely managed to survive. Bell's ear was still notched from the snapping jaws of a wolf that had recklessly jumped onto her back, and would likely stay that way for the rest of her life. The moment she felt the wolf's fangs snap onto her ear, Bell's rage had surged over the terror she’d felt at the time, and she wildly bucked the wolf off before savagely stomping her hoof down onto its back.The sickening sound of bones being crushed under her hoof still haunted her. It was a sound she wished she could forget.

The gouge that Dove received on the side of her beautiful muzzle on that horrid day had healed into a scar. Dove assured them that it didn't bother her and continued on like nothing happened, but one day, Bell found her sitting alone, weeping, as she gazed at her reflection in a bowl of water.

Strongbuck was healing, but slowly. He wanted to come with Bell today to help find the den, but his back leg still wasn't fully healed and he had trouble walking on it for extended periods. Fortunately, Meadowlark thought of a job for him to do this morning, to keep him busy.

Bell let out a sigh as she put her water gourd back into her pack. So many scars now marred them from that day, both on the outside and on the inside.

Ahead of her, she saw Happy pointing his hoof in several directions as he talked with Dark and Hoof Strike. He had been scouting around looking for tracks, and it looked like he might have found something. Sure enough, when he finished, Dark waved at the gathered ponies and pointed in the direction he wanted them to go.

Pulling her spear free, Bell shook out her tired hooves before moving off with the rest of the ponies following after Dark. With Happy scouting around ahead of them, they moved in a north westerly direction until Happy returned to speak to Dark, who suddenly called a halt. After speaking quietly with Happy for a time, Dark had them all gather around him.

"Happy says that the wolves tracks are converging in this area," Dark said, keeping his voice low, "but they are all days old. I want you all to pair up into groups of three and search the area. If any of you find the den, come get either me or Hoof Strike."

"What should we do if we find a wolf, or any of those tree climbing things you mentioned?" Mustard Seed asked nervously.

"If you encounter either of them, just back away without turning your back, and call out for help. Do not attack them or try to face them alone," Dark answered sternly, looking around the group to see if they were all listening. Satisfied that they all knew what to do, Dark split them up and sent them out to search the area.

Bell ended up pairing up with Mustard Seed and Morning Sky, both of whom glowered at each other in annoyance at finding themselves in the same group with each other. Moving off with the two to start their search, Bell let out a annoyed sigh. Those two never seemed to ever get along with each other, and constantly bickered about the littlest and stupidest of things. It was strange how often they got paired up together.

"Hey, stupid. You think you'll find the wolves in a log?" Mustard Seed snidely remarked to Morning Sky when he noticed she was looking into a hollowed out log.

"I'm just looking for whatever remains of that shriveled up thing you call a stallionhood." Morning Sky quickly quipped back with a sneer.

For a moment, Mustard Seed laid his ears back with an angry snort. "It would be best if you didn't go looking for something you can't even fit into that tiny, puckered, moss-filled crevice that you enjoy sitting on so much."

Morning Sky's eyes flashed angrily, and she snatched up a chunk of moss from the nearby log and hurled it at Mustard Seed's head. Sniggering uproariously, Mustard Seed ducked under the errant throw before turning himself around and bending over. Flipping his tail back, Mustard Seed waved his posterior at Morning Sky, as he made rude sounds at her.

Scooping up some more moss, Morning marched towards the taunting stallion with her teeth bared. "Hold still a moment, and I'll show you a puckered, moss-filled crevice!" she growled as she closed in with a menacing smile.

Bell shook her head and let out another sigh. Why did she have to get paired up with these two idiots? Mustard Seed was hooting with laughter as he danced around Morning Sky. They were putting up such a racket that if there were any wolves or shadow creatures around, they certainly knew they were here by now.

Turning away from the juvenile antics of Mustard Seed and Morning Sky, Bell pushed her way through a bush that was in her way. As she stepped through Bell's hoof suddenly stepped onto nothing, and with a panicked cry, Bell tumbled into a black hole she hadn’t seen, and vanished into its dark depths.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Celestia idly watched as Skye played with Luna. They were in Celestia's family hut, waiting to be summoned to the longhouse so Skye could be introduced to the Mares’ Circle. Celestia's mother called the circle together that morning to tell them about Skye and the existence of the pegasi and unicorns, as well as some of what befell Skye's herd last season.

It would be up to the Mares’ Circle to decide to accept Skye into their herd, or to be turned away, which Celestia fervently hoped wouldn't happen. She really liked Skye, and she wanted her to stay.

Nearby, Dove sat with a bundle of cut willow branches as she attempted to make a simple basket. She scowled and muttered to herself as she angrily undid a part she had been working on for quite some time only to start over again. She said she was going to learn how to weave one of the simple baskets that Dandelion Fluff and Dew Sparkle make so easily, but so far she was not showing any skill in the craft.

The well-made basket that Luna was laying in was set between Skye's front hooves so she could reach in to tickle Luna. She was still too young to really laugh yet, but whenever Skye blew or nibbled at her belly or neck, Luna would squirm and let out some excited huffing breaths that was close to a laugh.

"What is a Mares’ Circle?" Skye asked curiously, glancing over at Dove.

Dove paused, and looked up from her tangled mess of a basket. "Um, well let’s see," she said thoughtfully. "The Mares’ Circle is a group of mares that the Herd Mother formed to help decide how things within the herd should be handled."

Skye pursed her lips as she thought it over. "So they decide everything?"

Dove shook her head. "No, not everything. They only consider important things that affect the herd."

"Like taking a pegasus into the herd?" Skye surmised.

Smiling at Skye, Dove nodded. "That would be one of the things, yes."

Glancing down at Luna, Skye saw the filly was starting to nod off. With a yawn that left her tongue draped out her open mouth, her eyes slowly drooped closed. "So the mares control everything in the herd then?" she asked, lowering her voice so she wouldn't disturb Luna.

Again, Dove shook her head. "When the Herd Mother and Father formed the herd, they divided their responsibilities. The Herd Mother and the Mares Circle keep order within the herd, and the Herd Father looks after the well-being of the herd." Dove explained.

"Are you in the Mares’ Circle?" Skye asked, looking back to Dove.

"No." Dove answered. "Only mares with foals that have grown up to have foals of their own are in the Mares’ Circle."

As Celestia listened, she remembered when her parents had debated about what they felt was best for the herd a little while after it was formed. "Mama and papa talked about how they wanted things to be done and who would take care of different things for several days with each other, and in the end, they decided that they would split things between themselves. Mama would look after what happens within the herd and settle any problems that may crop up, while Papa would handle the safety and food for the herd," Celestia said, cutting in.

"Mama was having trouble trying to do it all by herself, and she went and spoke to Melodious about it. Melodious thought of the idea of bringing the older mares into a group that would be able to help her with this." Celestia continued to explain, "Not long after the group was formed, ponies started calling it the Mares’ Circle, because when they all gathered together, they all stood in a circle."

"Papa didn't form a group like what mama did with the Mare's Circle. Instead, he put certain ponies in charge of things. Bright Star was put in charge of building things, while Birch Bark was put in charge of making sure everypony had food, as well as filling the storehouse before winter came. Greenhoof was quickly put in charge of farming when she showed a clever skill at learning how to make things grow," Celestia listed out as she made marks in the ground before her, "and Hoof Strike was put in charge of the Spear Bearers, and now he keeps us safe. Papa makes sure everypony has the help they need and are doing things right.”

Staring down at the now slumbering Luna, Skye seemed to be deep in thought. "You Earth Ponies are a remarkable race. Strong, resilient, and so in-tune with the earth, you bring the balance of nature into your very way of life."

Celestia moved over and laid down near Skye. "What are the pegasi like?" she asked curiously.

Skye ruffled her wings for a moment as she adjusted them, and settled them back into place as she thought about her answer. "Well, we lived... free," Skye answered simply. "You see, Pegasi live without any plans or preparations for the future, not like you earth ponies, and just did whatever we wanted, or seemed fun at the time. We moved about, living wherever we found new fruit trees growing, and just ate and played to our heart's content.”

“When winter came, we would go south where it was warm and food was easier to find." Skye paused and looked down at Luna, her gaze becoming distant. "I remember my mommy would carry me on her back when my wings grew tired during our migration south. She always somehow knew where to find the perfect spot on a cloud to make our nest so we could snuggle together up at night... I miss her so much."

Seeing a slow tear work its way down Skye's cheek, Celestia moved closer and pressed her side to Skye's, offering her what comfort she could. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Skye looked down at Celestia, and smiled as she blinked the tears from her eyes. "It's okay. It hurts to remember, but I also don't want to forget about those special moments either." Opening her wing, she draped it around Celestia. "I learned a lot after... I lost them. For the first time in my life, I was all alone and I didn't know what to do. I was completely unprepared for living on my own. I moved down here closer to the river so I could be safe from whatever those... creatures were, and ate from the plentiful fruit trees that grew throughout this area.

"Despite being alone, I was doing well," Skye continued. "When summer closed in, I watched as you earth ponies moved in and settled nearby. I was unsure of you, and I hid so I could watch you. I didn't know if the earth ponies would be as grumpy and unfriendly as what I heard the unicorns were like.

“When winter suddenly closed in, I was left with few choices. I could try flying south and risk being picked off by a roving band of hungry griffons, or stay here and likely starve. There was something about how all you earth ponies steadfastly faced the coming winter that gave me heart to do the same."

Celestia felt Skye's wing tighten around her. "It was hard. Much harder than I thought it would be. I survived for a time by eating nuts a squirrel had hidden lower down in my tree. When that ran out, I was forced to venture out to find more food. It was at this point that I watched you earth ponies, and learned how to survive by eating roots and bark. What I learned from you earth ponies let me survive until spring came.

"It had been a whole season since I lost my flock, and I was growing tired of being alone." Skye explained. "I watched as some of the earth ponies left to go off by themselves, and the rest of you settled down and started building strange things, like these huts. You were all so interesting to watch, everywhere I looked, ponies were busy doing strange and intriguing things. When danger came, you all gathered together and faced it as a strong, unified front to protect the vulnerable.

"Then one day, Dusty suddenly appeared under my tree." Skye said with a smile. "I was so lonely, and I was in my first full heat. I couldn't help myself, I just had to go to him." Skye gave a little laugh, "I teased him at first, and found him to be absolutely adorable, so I decided to say hi. Things progressed pretty quickly after that," she said with a little smile.

The sound of the door opening drew their attention to Strongbuck and Ash as they both walked in. Strongbuck had been asked by Meadowlark that morning to ward the Mares’ Circle and to keep any curious ponies away while they deliberated over Skye.

Before he left that morning, Strongbuck snatched Ash up and recruited him to help him out, which the colt was overjoyed to do. He really looked up to Strongbuck, which Celestia thought was strange since she thought the stallion was just a big goof.

From they way Ash stood next to Strongbuck with a rather firm expression on his face, Celestia could see that he was taking his new duties very seriously. She thought his new stiff demeanor looked positively adorable on him.

"The Mares’ Circle is ready to see you now," Strongbuck said, looking at Skye and giving her a friendly smile.

Celestia felt Skye's body stiffen up at his words, but after a deep, calming breath, Skye gave a quick nod and stood. She walked to the door, while Celestia quickly moved to join her.

Skye paused for a moment at the door to let Strongbuck set a gatherer's pack onto her back to cover her wings. Once she had it settled properly, she followed Strongbuck out, Celestia staying close by her side.

The walk over to the longhouse wasn't far, and, in a short few moments, they were approaching the large set of doors where Dusty sat waiting. When he saw Skye approaching, a smile suddenly came to his face as he rushed over to greet her.

"Skye! I'm glad I was able to see you before you went in," Dusty said, in obvious relief as he gave Skye a quick nuzzle. "I just want you to know that no matter what they decide, I will be there for you," Dusty said in a rush, stepping in close to Skye.

Celestia couldn't help but smile at the pair; They were so adorable together. She just wanted to hug them both.

"Ah, there you are my dear," Melodious said, stepping out of the longhouse. "Come, come, they're absolutely dying to meet you!" she said to Skye, as she gently began to usher her inside. Celestia quickly followed with her as she moved towards the doors.

Dusty also moved to come with them, but Strongbuck suddenly blocked his way.

"Sorry Dusty, but you'll have to wait out here until they're done." Strongbuck said with a firm voice.

Dusty looked like he was about to argue, but after seeing Strongbuck stern expression, he realized Strongbuck wasn't going to back down, and decided not to push it. Turning, Dusty looked over at Skye and met her nervous gaze. "Don't worry, I'll be right here waiting for you. I promise," he said giving her a reassuring smile.

Skye, swallowed and nodded as she gave him a brave smile. Turning back to Melodious, she started for the door.

Celestia followed along until, suddenly, Ash stepped into her way and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but you’re going to have to stay here too."

Lowing her ears back, Celestia narrowed her eyes as she lifted her hoof and jabbed the colt in his chest. "You will step out of my way, or I will walk over you. I am going in with her and neither you, nor Strongbuck, will stop me," Celestia said in a commanding voice that expected to be obeyed. "Now step aside."

Ash’s ears flopped down and took a hesitant step back at the glare Celestia was giving him. "What should I do?" Ash desperately asked Strongbuck, giving the stallion a uncertain look.

"You'd better listen to her and get out of her way, before she stomps you into the ground," Strongbuck quickly answered the frightened colt.

Celestia watched as Ash hastily scrambled to the side to let her pass. Lifting her ears back up, Celestia smiled brightly at Ash as she passed by. "Thank you," she said cheerfully.

The colt watched as Celestia disappear into the longhouse with Skye and Melodious. His knees felt a little shaky as he looked back at Strongbuck. "She’s scary."

Strongbuck looked down at the colt and shook his head. "No, that filly is terrifying."

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Bell's head was killing her. Blinking her eyes open, she slowly sat up with a groan. What happened? Turning her head slowly, she looked around and found she was laying in a dark cavern. Well above her, she could see the opening she had fallen in through. From the height of the opening, it was a wonder she didn't break her neck from the fall.

Standing up, she was surprised she hadn’t broken any bones, though she did feel a twinge in her ankle that told her she twisted it a bit in the fall. Looking around, she found her pack laying a few steps away next to her broken spear. Checking her pack, she discovered one side looked a bit crushed with her water gourd being completely destroyed inside. She figured she had probably landed on it. Picking up what remained of her spear, she saw that it was broken right in half, but luckily the tip was intact and still firmly attached, so she could at least use it in its shortened form.

Looking up at the opening above her, Bell felt a wave of vertigo that nearly made her fall down. Steadying herself, she waited until the dizziness passed, and she let out a relieved breath. Reaching her hoof up, she touched the side of her head and felt a stab of pain, which caused another short bout of dizziness. Once it passed, she looked at her hoof and saw that there was blood smeared onto it. She must have banged her head pretty good falling down into the cavern. Dove was going to kill her for being so clumsy and getting hurt when she got back home.

She wondered how long she had been laying down here. Looking back up at the opening she could see that it was still light out, and since her head hadn't stopped bleeding yet, she figured it had only been a short while since she fell in. Perhaps those two idiots were still around.

"Hello!" Bell flinched as pain shot through her head at her shout. "Mustard Seed! Morning Sky! Can you hear me?! I need help!" she called up at the opening above her.

She waited, looking up, hoping a head would appear or a voice would respond to her desperate call, but after waiting a long moment, nopony came. She tried again several more times, but got the same disappointing results. Even if Morning and Mustard failed to realize she was missing, she was sure Dark would notice she was gone and start a search for her.

Seeing no way to climb up to the hole she came in through, Bell looked around to see if there was another way out. The cavern air smelled dank and the sound of water slowly dripping into dark pools echoed throughout the chamber she was in. Seeing a cleft running down the far wall, Bell gathered up her pack and settled it onto her back. Grabbing her half-spear in her teeth, she tucked it under her pack's back strap and went to investigate the crack to see if it lead somewhere.

It was smaller that she thought and she had to get down on her knees to look in. It was dark, but surprisingly she could see a dim light further in. Looking back at the opening in the ceiling, Bell wondered if she should stay here and wait for Dark or the others to find her, or see if the tunnel would lead her out of the cavern.

Nibbling her lips, Bell mulled it over options and decided to go a short ways in to look around, if she didn't see anything she would just come back. Crawling forwards, she squeezed into the tight-fitting tunnel, and worked her way deeper. Her bags scrapped along the stone sides as she slowly moved forward, the soft light ahead of her grew brighter the closer she advanced towards it.

There were spots where the tunnel opened up a little and she had an easier time making headway, but about midway, she came to a choke point where it grew so tight, she had to take her pack off and shove it ahead of her as she crawled on her belly. She was huffing with exertion, but with one final wiggle she made it through the tightest portion and she was able to crawl more easily. Snatching up her pack in her teeth, she moved forward until she came out into a much larger chamber.

The light shone through a tunnel on the far side of the chamber. It was dim, but she was able to make out a bit of the room. Sniffing the air she could smell the musky scent of wolves all around her. Quickly, Bell snatched up her spear and held it ready as she scanned the chamber. It was large, and the ground was uneven, but after a hasty search, she failed to spot any wolves.

Letting out a relieved breath, Bell carefully moved around to more closely examine the chamber. She could see wolf prints everywhere, and numerous spots where one had scratched at the ground to make a bed for itself. It looked like she found the wolves den, but without any wolves in it, thankfully.

As Bell made her way around a large stone, her hind leg touched something that suddenly stuck to her and held her leg in place. Pausing, Bell looked back as she tugged at her leg, she could see a large gooey translucent strand stuck to her leg. Tugging harder, Bell struggled to free her leg, and after a good yank, her leg jerked free of the strange strands, and she stumbled back. When she tried to catch herself, Bell felt a painful twinge in her ankle and, suddenly, her leg gave out.

With a muted exclamation, Bell fell onto something surprisingly soft and fuzzy, and rolled off. Leaning up, Bell rubbed at her ankle, while she looked over at what she had fallen on. Laying next to her she found the still body of the large wolf she faced against, on the night of the eclipse.

Letting out a squeal of surprised terror, Bell scrambled back against a loose rock and held her spear out towards the large wolf. When he didn't move to attack her, Bell lowered her spear and took a closer look, and saw that he was clearly dead. Part of his neck had been slashed open, and there was some strange, bloodied puncture marks along his back and side. In his jaws he held a strange stick-like object.

Why would he be holding a stick? Reaching out, Bell tried to pry the stick like object from his jaw, but even in death, he wouldn't relinquish his prize. Giving up, Bell stood and looked around for any clues as to what had killed him. Turning, she looked back at the loose rock she had been leaning against and her heart froze.

Bell's spear fell from her petrified mouth and dropped to the ground as her body became paralyzed in terror. What she thought had been a loose stone was in fact a spider almost as large as she was. It was laying on its belly with seven of its legs splayed out, with the eighth leg looking like it had been viciously torn out.

Bell was struggling to draw breath as she stared at her nightmare. She hated spiders. Everything about them sent shivers down her spine. It was obviously dead. It's head had been partially ripped off, and was now bent at an odd angle. Taking some steps back, Bell began to breath as she gained some distance from it. Glancing down at the large wolf's body, she now knew what it was he held in his mouth: the spiders missing leg. The two must have killed each other.

Why didn't the wolf just run away? Bell wondered. Was he fighting to defend something? Moving around behind the large wolf's body, Bell searched around near the wall and found a dug-out spot. Not seeing anything there, Bell was about to turn away when she suddenly heard a yowling squeak that made her ears shoot up.

Looking down into the dug-out area, Bell saw something move. She almost leaped back, afraid it was another spider, but another plaintive yowl came from it, making Bell pause. Carefully, she reached her hoof down and brushed at the moving mound and dislodged a partially buried soft lump that let out a series of yowling whines as she moved it out. It was a newborn wolf pup. Another mound next to the first one started to move, and with a careful scoop of her hoof, Bell pulled out another one.

Two newborn wolf pups were now squirming around on the ground at her hooves as they whined out hungrily. Glancing back at the large wolf's body, she now knew what he was fighting to defend: his pups.

Looking down at the two pups Bell wondered what she should do with them. There was no way they would survive without their mother. In fact, it was a wonder they were even still alive. They must be absolutely starving! If nothing was done, they would likely be dead by nightfall, if not soon after.

Letting out a sad sigh at the sad fate of the two newborn wolf pups, Bell retrieved her spear and moved to go out through the tunnel with the light. The hungry sounds of the wolf pups diminished behind her as she stepped down the tunnel toward the daylight she could see in front of her. Just as the stepped out into the sunlight, Bell paused and stared down at the ground. She felt horrible for those pups. She wondered if perhaps she should go back and end their suffering.

She stood there with indecision. The thought of leaving the pups to slowly die twisted at her. Lifting her hoof, Bell began to take a step away from the den, but found she couldn't get her hoof to move forwards. Why did it bother her so much? They were just wolves. Her body and those she loved were now scared because of them.

With an angry shake of her head, Bell turned back and re-entered the den. Making her way back she found the pups just where she left them. She looked down at them not sure what she was going to do. Lifting her hoof, she prepared to stomp it down on them to quickly end their suffering. Holding her hoof up, she stared down at them, with her heart pounding in her chest. For a long moment she stayed like this, as she struggled to bring herself to do it.

Finally, she let out a breath and lowered her hoof back down. She couldn’t do it. They were just puppies. She couldn’t bring herself to kill a newborn, even if it was a wolf. Reaching down, she picked them up and dropped them both into her pack. Turning, she left the den.

Walking out into the daylight, Bell moved over to a tree. Taking her pack off and setting it onto the ground.Reaching in, she took out one of the pups and set it down, before doing the same with the other.

"What am I going to do with you two?" she asked as the two pups cried out in hunger. She moved, not thinking about what she was doing. Laying down on her side, Bell reached out and nipped one of the pups in her teeth, bringing it to her teat. As she held the pup up to her, she saw milk slowly starting to drip from the end of her teat. The scent of her milk alerted the pup to food, and it hungrily latched onto her. Taking the second pup, Bell brought it to her second teat and let it latch on as well.

Leaning back, Bell looked down at the two pups as they nursed together and she let out a sigh. "What am I doing?”

Chapter Fifteen

Bell's limp was growing worse. Her ankle had only bothered her a little when they left the wolves’ den and started back for the settlement, but after steadily walking on it for nearly the entire way back, her ankle was now swollen and extremely painful to put her weight down on it.

The two pups she had found, were safely tucked away in her pack. After she finished nursing them, she had put them there to sleep off their full bellies. Thankfully, they had remained quiet during the trip back, but Bell didn't know how much longer that was going to last. She knew the other ponies wouldn't understand her saving the wolf pups, and she worried about what they would do to them if they were ever discovered.

She didn't even know how Dove or Strongbuck would feel about the pups. Considering that they intimately knew what it felt like to have wolves tearing into their flesh, and now here she was saving a pair of newborn wolf pups. There was no way she was going to be able to hide this from them—not that she wanted to. If she was to have any chance to save the two little pups, she was going to need their help.

After Dark's search teams found her, Bell brought Dark back to the wolves’ den to show him what she had found. As Dark and Hoof Strike carefully examined the spider’s remains, Bell kept herself as far back as she could from the vile thing. They poked and prodded at the disgusting creature for a time, even going so far as rolling it over to look at its underside.

The sight of its hairy, bulbous body rolled onto its back sent shivers down her body, and she had to look away from the sight as the two stallions excitedly talked to each other. Bell shuddered. No matter what age colts were, they were still foolish, immature, disgusting colts.

Dark decided to take the spider’s remains with them back to the settlement in order to examine it more carefully. He had Mustard Seed and Morning Sky carry it on a litter between them, telling them it was punishment for losing Bell. They didn't look very happy about it, but they didn't complain as they hoisted the corpse onto the litter.

Holding her injured leg up, Bell was forced to walk using her other three, which she found extremely awkward to do. Dark was worried for her and wanted her to be carried back on a litter as well, but Bell refused the offer and assured him that she was fine with walking on her own. Besides, she didn't want to be seen being carried back. Thankfully, Dark accepted her request and let her have her way, though he didn't look too happy about it.

When the sight of the settlement came into view, Bell let out a relieved breath. Soon she would be able to lay down and get some rest. Not to mention, she wouldn't have to look at that disgusting spider anymore, which Morning Sky and Mustard Seed were carrying just ahead of her.

Not wanting to be cornered and endlessly asked questions about her discovery of the spider, Bell made sure she was the last one through the gate when they arrived at the settlement. She watched as many of the ponies gathered and gaped in fear and awe at the sight of the creature while it was walked through the hamlet to the longhouse.

Bell didn't follow the group into the longhouse with the spider's remains, but instead broke off midway from the group, to head back to her home. She thought she had gotten away cleanly without anypony noticing, but she only hobbled a short ways before Celestia and Ash suddenly dashed up to her.

"Bell!" Celestia exclaimed in worry at the sight of her holding her injured leg up. "What happened to your leg!? Did you fight that giant spider or something? Where you the one who killed it!?"

Bell smiled and shook her head. "No, nothing that grand. I just fell down a hole and twisted my ankle a bit, that's all," she assured them as they followed along beside her. "So, how did things go with Sky Twirl?"

"Oh, it went very well!" Celestia said happily. "They talked with her for a long time, and they asked her a lot of questions, but in the end they all decided that she was welcome to join us. Later today, they want to introduce her to the rest of the herd. Melodious has even asked Birch Bark to bring some yummy food from the storehouse, so the entire herd can eat together and welcome her with a good meal."

"Told him, more like it," Ash cut in, only to have Celestia shoot him a hard look.

Ahead of them, her hut came into view. She was almost home. "Sounds like it's going to be an interesting evening. I'll be looking forward to it, but, right now, I need to get off my hooves and get some rest, so I'll see you then." Bell said in parting, as she turned to go into her hut.

Just then, one of the pups let out a loud shrill bawl that made the two foals jump in startled surprise.

"What!?... what was that!?" Celestia asked stepping closer to the side of Bell's pack to curiously poke at it with her hoof.

Letting out a sigh, Bell shook her head. It wasn't ideal, but she needed help with them anyway. "Well, I'm surprised they stayed quiet this long." Bell said with a smirk. "Come on in you two, and I'll show you both what I brought back." With that, she stepped into her hut.

Bell crossed her empty hut as Celestia and Ash curiously followed behind her. Taking her pack off, she carefully set it down. "Now, what I am about to show you needs to stay a secret from the rest of the herd. They may not like what I am doing, and they may try to hurt them if they found out."

"We won't tell anypony. We promise. Right Ash?" Celestia said, turning to Ash to see him nodding in agreement with her.

Bell knew she could trust them. She just wanted to stress the seriousness of the matter with them. Reaching her muzzle into her pack, Bell felt around until she found one of the pups. It let out a little squeak as she nipped the back of its neck and lifted it out, setting it down onto the ground.

Celestia and Ash both gasped as they moved in closer to look at the squirming fuzzy little pup. "What is it? Some kind of gopher, or squirrel?" Ash asked, cocking his head to the side.

Taking the second pup out of her pack, Bell set it down next to the first. "No, they are not gophers or squirrels. They are wolf pups."

"Wolves!" Ash exclaimed as he stumbled back a few steps before he suddenly reversed himself and lunged forwards to place himself between Celestia and the pups. "Celestia! Get back, they're dangerous!" he shouted as he forced her to back away from the pups.

Celestia sputtered in confusion at Ash's crude actions, until she had finally had enough. Folding her ears back in irritation, Celestia lifted her hoof and soundly whacked Ash across the back of his head. "Stop pushing me, you doofus!"

"Ow!" Ash exclaimed as he rubbed the back of his head. "Why did you hit me!?" he asked, looking back at her with a slightly hurt expression.

"Because you're acting stupid, that's why," Celestia answered sternly, as she moved around him to get closer to the pups. "They're just babies. Look, their eyes haven't even opened yet," Celestia explained to Ash. "The only danger they pose is by being too fuzzily adorable!" she said as she nuzzled one of the puppies, only to abruptly sneeze from the dust that covered the pup.

"Oh, they're still a bit dirty," Bell said apologetically. "I found them half dead and buried in the dirt. That's probably what saved their lives."

"Buried in the dirt! How horrible!" Celestia exclaimed in outrage. "Ash, please bring over the water and help me wash the puppies," she requested over her shoulder.

Ash looked like he was about to argue the matter, but the level gaze Celestia was giving him as she waited for him to do as she asked seemed to make him think better of it, and he wisely stayed silent as he turned to do as she asked.

"They're hungry. I'll need to feed them again," Bell added, as she helped Celestia set out the largest gourd bowl they had.

Despite the pups’ continuous and loud complaints at being bathed, the process took only a few short moments, and the instant they were put to Bell's teats, they immediately quieted down as they greedily latched on to nurse.

"So what are their names?" Celestia asked, looking down at the freshly washed wolf pups.

"I have to admit, I've been worrying so much about other things, I haven't even thought about giving them names," Bell sheepishly confessed.

"Well, maybe we can think of names for them!" Celestia offered happily. Lifting her hoof, she started to tap her chin as her face scrunched up in thought.

Ash was sitting next to her, and he gave her, and the pups a quick glance. "Shouldn't you know if they are colts or fillies first, before you start naming them?"

"Oh, right!" Celestia said with a nod. Turning, she looked at Bell. "So, what are they?"

Bell realized that she had never even thought to check. Reaching her hoof down, she nudged a pup over so she could look under it. "They are... umm... I'm not sure," Bell answered with an uncertain look. She was finding that puppies weren't as easy to sex as foals. She could see a small raised lump in the middle of it's belly just below the remains of its umbilical cord. Checking the other she found the same thing. "I think they are both... boys."

Celestia nodded and mused for a bit, before she clapped her hoof against her other one. "I got it!" She then pointed at one of the pups, "That one is a light gray and," she then pointed at the other, "that one is almost black. So how about Gray and Black?"

Ash sniggered behind her, "Naming them from their colors? How unimaginative," Ash said with a shake of his head. "It would be like naming one North and the other South, just because of the direction they were laying at the time."

Bell's eyes widened at his words when it came to her, "No, wait!" she exclaimed as a idea came to her. "The dark one will be Sentry for the ever watchful northern star, and the gray one will be Chaser for the ever wandering southern star."

"Why did you name the dark one Sentry instead of the gray one?" Ash asked curiously.

"Because that one is lying north of the other one," Bell answered with a smirk. She began to laugh at Ash's sudden, bewildered expression, with Celestia joining in soon after. Ash's ears flopped down at suddenly being the focus of their laughter, but after a moment, his ears perked up when he started to grin and laugh as he joined in.

"What's so funny?" Dove Song asked as she stepped in, followed by Strongbuck. When her eyes fell on the two nursing pups and her eyes shot wide in shock and alarm.

Bell's laughter abruptly cut off as she look at the two she loved and the sudden, hard gazes they were giving her. "I can explain this!" Bell hastily exclaimed as she tried to swallow her sudden sense of apprehension.

"I certainly hope so." Strongbuck replied in a stern voice that practically shouted that he was not happy about what he was seeing.

Dove drew her lips into a hard line as she sat her rump down. "Oh, I'm looking forward to this."

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Ash listened to Luna lightly snoring in her basket next to him, with Celestia sitting on the other side of her. They were both watching over her while mama welcomed Sky to the herd and introduce her to everypony. At the moment, Sky was surrounded by a large group of young mares that were excitedly chatting with her and asking her questions. At one point, Sky showed off her wings by flying around the settlement a few times and giving all the ponies a good show by spinning and looping herself around in a fancy aerial display that amazed all those present.

Glancing about the gathered ponies, Ash still didn't see Bell Flower, Dove Song, or Strongbuck anywhere around yet. They must still be talking things through. It wasn't long after Bell had started to explain things to them, when Dove turned and asked Celestia and himself to give them some time alone.

The festive mood suddenly heightened when Silverglint, a mare who, due to a foalhood accident, couldn’t speak, lifted a set of reeds strapped together to her lips and started making sweet musical tones that soon had pones skipping around her in joviality. Others quickly came forward and joined her by tapping or beating sticks against logs to play along with Silverglint's lively music.

Laughter could be heard all around him now, as ponies talked and played. Birch Bark, with the help of others, carried in large, heaping baskets of food to be shared and enjoyed by all. Ash had never seen anything like this before. In fact, he was sure no pony had. It was likely the first event of its kind in all of ponykind. His hooves itched to run out and join the fun, but he held himself back. He didn't want to disappoint mama or papa when he had been entrusted to watch over Luna until mama returned.

Just then, Meadowlark came walking back with Melodious following along with her. "Thank you two for your help," she said with a smile. Despite viewing the giant spider earlier that day, mama looked she had gotten over her shock and alarm at seeing it. Her mood now seemed much improved, and she looked to be enjoying the festive events that were taking place around them. "You two can go off now and have some fun."

Before dashing off, both of them paused next to Meadowlark so she could give each of them a kiss. Finally free, the two hurried out to find something fun to do. Moving through the crowd, Ash couldn't decide what to do first. There were just too many things to do. He saw fillies and colts lining up to have Vibrant Blush draw colorful patterns with the paints she had been making on their coats, and in the distance, he also noticed a group of colts gathered in the cleared out area near the gate, kicking a coiled ball made from tightly wrapped rope back and forth as they tried to get it between two sticks on each side.

Before he could decide, Celestia dragged him over to try some tasty food. Taking a sheet of bark, Ash and Celestia moved through the food baskets loading themselves up with as much food as they could. Suddenly, they came to something they weren't expecting.

"What is this?" Ash asked holding up what looked like a slice of shriveled apple.

"I don't know, it looks like they left it out too long and it's gone bad." Celestia answered, holding up what appeared to be a thin dried out piece of a strawberry.

"I assure you that they are perfectly fine to eat," a mare with a cutie mark of a basket full of various fruits, said to them as she walked up. "I've been testing ways to get food to last longer, and I discovered that if you slice up fruit and set it out in the sun to dry out, it seems to not go bad, well, at least not yet," she admitted with a shrug. "I'm still testing how long they can be stored before they go bad. Go ahead and try some. They're good, I promise."

Ash lifted the slice of apple and gave it a sniff. Not finding any foul smells, he tossed it into his mouth and chewed it. He found it harder than it would have been fresh, but it still tasted good.

Seeing Ash smile as he chewed, Celestia ate her slice of strawberry and blinked in surprise. "Amazing! It's still good!" she said, happily tossing another into her mouth.

When they finished, Ash and Celestia went to get painted by Vibrant Blush. Ash had spirals and swirls run down his neck and along his sides and legs in yellow and red, while Celestia had wings painted on her sides in black paint, which made them really stand out against her naturally white coat.

They were about to head off to join the ballgame by the gate, when they noticed Sky pushing a cloud in front of her as she flew down. Placing it on the ground, Sky smiled down as a group of foals all dashed inside. Once they were all in, Sky gave the little cloud a little kick which caused it to crackle. Squealing in laughter, foals dashed out with their manes and tails all sticking straight up.

"Oh, wow! That looks amazing!" Celestia exclaimed excitedly. "Come on, let's go try it!" she shouted happily as she hurried off.

Ash was about to follow when a large shadow fell on him from the low hanging sun. "There you are!" Dark said as nipped Ash on his crest and lifted him up and set him back down on his back. "Come on, I need you."

Dark trotted off so quickly, Ash had to wrap his hooves around Dark's neck to keep from falling off. "What do you need me for!?" Ash asked breathlessly as he was carried along.

Without pausing, Dark turned his head and looked back at the colt with a hard seriousness that was alarming. "I need you to help me defend my standing as the Father of the Herd." he answered.

Ash swallowed nervously. How was he supposed to help him with that!? He wondered. It wasn't long until Dark trotted out to where the settlement met the river where a group of stallions stood waiting, with a colt by each of their sides.

In the front, Birch Bark stood with his colt Mighty Oak. "I see you found him," Birch Bark said as Dark trotted up to him.

Hopping down from Dark's back, Ash looked over at the group of stallions and colts and noticed that every colt was standing with his sire.

"Are we all ready?" Dark asked, meeting Birch Barks gaze.

"We've been waiting for you, so whenever you two are ready, let's go," Birch answered with a sweep of his hoof.

As the stallions and colts moved forwards to a line scratched in the dirt a little ways off, Ash looked up at Dark. "Papa? What is going on?" He asked, as he followed along by his side.

"We've been challenged to a race." Dark answered with a smile. "All the stallions are pairing up with their colts to race together."

Ash abruptly stopped in place, while Dark continued a few steps before he noticed Ash was no longer following along next to him. Turning Dark looked down at Ash. "What's wrong?"

Ash looked up and shook his head. "But I'm not your colt... not really. My sire is Thunder Step."

Dark gazed down at Ash for a moment as he took a breath and let it out. Stepping closer, Dark softly set his hoof onto Ash's shoulder. "As far as I'm concerned, you're my colt." Dark said honestly, meeting the colt’s eyes. "Thunder Step had his chance to be your father and he walked away from it like it was a worthless thing. I made a choice that night when I picked you up out of the snow. A choice that helped lead me to getting my cutie mark. A choice to be a father to you."

Ash felt his throat tighten up as his eyes blurred with unshed tears. Dark may not have sired him, but that still didn't stop him from loving him like a real father. Ash suddenly found himself lunging forward to bury his face into Dark's chest, where he felt Dark wrap a affectionate hoof around him.

He loved Dark. He knew that. He also loved Meadowlark. She was the mother he had always wanted. A mother who had nursed him when he had been hungry, and who had held him close and comforted him when he had been in pain. Dark and Meadowlark had been a Papa and Mama in all things that mattered. What more could a colt ask for in parents like them?

When he was ready, Ash pulled back and wiped at his eyes. Dark smiled down at him. "You ready to face our foes together, as a family?"

Ash smiled and gave Dark a nod.

"Good, then let's get in our places. They're waiting," Dark said with a nod.

"The rules are simple," Sage Brush shouted out to the gathered stallions and colts, once Dark and Ash stepped up. "The colts will go first. They are to run west along the river to the wall and follow it along the inside all the way around the settlement until they come back to the river. They will then follow the river back up to the start point here, where they will touch their father. The moment a stallion’s colt touches him, he will run around the same course as the colts did, and the first to cross the line will be the winner."

Word had spread about the race, and already a crowd was starting to form. While Ash lined up with the colts with their fathers behind them, he could hear Celestia calling out to him and waving, while next to her, Meadowlark stood, smiling at him.

Off to the side, Sage Brush edged in with his colt, Summer Rain, as he appeared to be trying to join the racers with his little foal, but Melodious quickly moved in and nabbed the colt back before giving Sage Brush a sound whack across the back of his head, for his attempted idiocy.

Ash hoofed the line as he waited for the race to begin, his heart hammering in his chest with excitement and nervousness.

Smiling, Meadowlark stepped in from the side. "Are you all ready?" she called out to the racers as she lifted her hoof.

Letting out a snort, Ash lowered himself and dug his hooves into the dirt.

Meadowlark looked out over the colts and met Ash's eyes. Giving him a wink, she abruptly dropped her hoof down. "Go!" she shouted as she started the race.

Ash's hooves dug into the dirt as he bolted off the line. The race around the settlement was going to be long, so Ash kept his pace even and let the others pass him. Some of the colts followed his lead and kept a better pace, and by the time they reached the wall they were passing some of the first runners to tire themselves out.

Ponies were now lining up and cheering as they raced by, and as he drew closer to the gate, Ash noticed Strongbuck, with Dove and Bell by his side, waving at the racers. As he galloped past them, Ash was relieved to see they were all smiling, and laughing together as they shouted encouragement to the all the young colts.

The river came into view ahead of him and Mighty Oak was still with him, with many of the others falling further back. The only other colt keeping pace with them was Glum Drollery, who had stayed just behind the pair the entire race.

Occasionally, Ash felt Mighty Oak's shoulder bump into his as they both charged forwards at ever increasing speed. Racing around the turn, the stallions came back into view ahead of them. Letting out a hard snort, Ash pushed harder and slowly began to edge ahead of Mighty Oak. Step by thunderous step, Ash increased his lead until Mighty Oak's nose was even with his flank.

Ash couldn't help but feel elated. He was going to finish first, and Papa and Mama were going to see! Suddenly, a elderberry colored colt surged past him. Blinking his eyes in amazement, Ash watched as Glum Drollery moved off just ahead of him. How can this be!? Glum had been behind him the entire time!

Lowering his head, Ash charged forward as fast as he could. His lungs were burning, and a painful knot was forming in his sides as he bound ahead as fast as he could. Slowly, he closed the distance until he was just even with him. Ahead of him, Papa stood waiting. Locking his gaze on him, Ash pushed himself as hard as he could until he shot past Papa. With a flick of his tail, Ash whipped it across papa's leg as he passed.

Almost immediately, Papa shot past him as he thundered off with Glum Drollery's sire, Happy, just at his side, while Birch Bark was forced to followed just behind the pair.

Huffing for breath, Ash walked off to the side as he looked around for Celestia.

"You were amazing," Strawberry Zest said, as she stepped up to him.

"Oh, ah, thanks." Ash replied sheepishly to the filly, as he rubbed the back of his head.

"I was wondering about something." Strawberry Zest said, stepping closer to Ash. "Later, when we all go to the longhouse to eat a meal together to celebrate all the good things that have happened to us here, and I was wondering if you would like to sit with me?" She asked, her large deep blue eyes meeting his.

Ash blinked at her, not knowing how to answer her request. He had been planning to sit with Celestia and their family, but he was afraid that if he turned Strawberry down, he would end up hurting her feelings. Before he could come up with an answer, a pair of hooves suddenly wrapped around him and lift him up.

Ash nearly shouting out in terror as he was carried up into the air. Looking up, he found the smiling face of Sky looking back down at him, with Celestia leaning over her back.

"Don't fear, I won't drop you." Sky assured him as she flew higher.

"We're flying! Isn't this amazing?!" Celestia cried out to him as she leaned over to look down.

Ash had to admit, it was kind of exhilarating to see everything from high above. Diving down, Sky flew them over to the racers, where they saw Dark still fighting to stay in the lead. Happy was sticking close to his side, and Birch Bark was still hot on their hooves and looking like he was waiting to make his move.

Ponies now lined the way, and all were now cheering as the racers shot past. Kicking his dangling feet in excitement, Ash yelled down encouraging words with Celestia as they cheered for their papa. Rounding the turn to follow the river to the finish line, Happy lowered his head and smoothly began to pull ahead of Papa.

Papa wasn’t going to accept this and tore forward with a vengeance that just managed to match Happy stride for stride. Ash was now hollering so much Sky was struggling to hold on to him. Flying off ahead, Sky took them to the finish line where she landed next to Meadowlark so they could watch the racers as they approached.

Papa and Happy were neck and neck now, their hooves tearing at the soil as they hurtled forward towards the finish line. Birch Bark fell further and further behind as the two continued to battle for first. As they drew close to the finish, Happy suddenly stumbled as a look of pain crossed his face.

His left leg began to falter as the stallion struggled to keep from falling. Seeing his opponent floundering, Papa slowed and used his shoulder to help steady Happy, which allowed Birch Bark to shoot by and cross the line ahead of them. As Happy limped on his left leg, Papa continued to help him as they both crossed the finish line next.

Once through, Papa helped Happy moved off to the side, where four mares rushed forward to surround the scruffy stallion so they could take his care away from Papa. Relieved of his burden, Papa turned and approached his mate and foals as they moved in to hug him.

"You should have won!" Ash said with an angry pout.

Papa smiled and wrapped his hoof around the colt and pulled him in. "I did win. I have a wonderful family," he said before scuffing up Ash's mane.

Turning, Dark looked over at Birch Bark. "Hey! That was a good race. Let's do it again next spring."

Birch Bark smiled and gave him a wave. "You got it, and next time, hopefully Happy's trick knee won't give out again."

The day was late and ponies were starting to head to the longhouse for the big meal that had been planned. Tossing Celestia and Ash onto his back, Dark stepped in close to Meadowlark as they all walked together. Before going to the longhouse, they paused a moment to collect Luna from Melodious' daughter, Misty Valley, who was watching over a small herd of little foals. Set into a pile, Luna was deeply entrenched between the twins, Summer Rain and Winter Snow, with Misty Valley's daughter, Sparkling Brook, finishing off the end of the adorable foal pile.

It was a tricky process that almost ended in total disaster, but in the end they managed to collect Luna without any unfortunate mishap. With Luna back in their possession, they all made their way to the longhouse. Walking in through the large opening, they were met with the view of ponies sitting lined up in the newly finished building. The ground had been meticulously swept clean of leaves and debris, and set under each pony was a newly made woven grass mat.

Moving through the gathered ponies, they made their way to a reserved place at the far end of the structure, where they settled down onto their new floor mats. Not far off, Ash noticed Dove was sitting alone with Strongbuck. He guessed that Bell was off seeing to her new charges, and would hopefully return before they started bringing in the food.

Next to him, Mama got up and walked over to Sky Twirl and Dusty Stride, who were standing together nearby. After speaking for a time, Mama returned and sat down, with Sky and Dusty coming over and joining them.

Papa stood and raised his voice to be heard down the length of the longhouse. "Thank you all for coming," his booming voice easily calling attention to himself. "Today is a special day. Today we welcomed the first pegasus into our herd. I am proud and heartened with how open and warm you have all been to her," Dark said as he touched a hoof to his chest. "I also want to thank you all for your hard work. In the time we have settled here, we have faced and overcome danger, as well as gathered more food than ever before. Our stores are already full and we'll likely need to build a second storehouse for the food that is being grown by our talented ponies, like Greenhoof." At this Dark had to pause as many of the ponies started to cheer.

When things quieted down Dark continued. "Everyday ponies come up with new and ingenious ways to do, or make things that enrich our lives in some way. We now have homes where our families can be safe, plentiful food and water, and brave ponies that stand before danger and keep it at bay." A new wave of cheering interrupted him, but with a patient wave of his hoof, Dark soon had them quieted down. "We have grown in our time here, and we are learning the secrets of nature that have always been beyond us until now. We are no longer just mere ponies, we are Earth Ponies. From the land we will draw our magic, a magic that is ours and ours alone. The pegasi have sky magic, the unicorns have star magic, but we... we have earth magic. With it, we can accomplish anything! Even moving mountains is within our reach! We have a strength that we have only just begun to tap into, and there is no telling how great we will become!"

This time, every pony erupted in boisterous cheering. The sound of their thunderous cheering was overwhelming and Ash had to cover his ears. Never before had he ever seen such pride and passion in the the gathered ponies than he saw in them now. The fervor lasted a surprising amount of time, but when Meadowlark stood and patiently waited to speak, ponies soon began to quiet down.

"To all my sons and daughters gathered here, I want you all to know how proud I am of each and every one of you," Meadowlark said looking out at all the ponies. "Let us all give thanks for all the blessings that have come to us. Never before have we ever looked out to the future and seen the hope we now hold for it."

Turning, Meadowlark gestured with her hoof for Sky to come to her. "My newest daughter is in need of a mate to look after her and the foal she now carries. Is there a stallion here who offers himself to her?"

Dusty stood and walked up to Sky. Meeting her eyes, Dusty swallowed nervously before he spoke. "I Dusty Stride, offer myself to be your mate and care for you and our foals."

Sky smiled and stepped closer. Reaching out, she kissed his lips. "I accept you as my mate and father to our foals."

The gathered ponies suddenly cheered at the union, while many of the younger stallions looked a bit jealous of Dusty. Ash smiled, so that's what they were speaking to mama about earlier. Sitting unseen, a lone mare stared out at the young couple with eyes filled with pain and betrayal. Letting out a sob, the mare turned and silently slipped out.

"Bring out the food!" Dark suddenly shouted, with a beaming smile. "Let’s all celebrate and give thanks!"

Chapter Sixteen

Strongbuck laid back into the grass and let out a sigh. The food and festivities had been amazing tonight, but there comes a time when you've just had enough and needed to get away from all the noise and crowds to get some air. In the distance, he could still hear music and laughter as ponies continued to celebrate late into the night. Strongbuck smiled as he looked up at the stars. This had been an amazing night. It seemed like every pony had come and joined in the joviality of the evening, with some even gaining a cutie mark in the process. Who would have thought you could get a cutie mark by waving your rump around and hopping about like an idiot to music?

At one point in the evening, Dove had been called away to see to a stallion who had managed to somehow hurt his leg while showing off to some mares. Apparently it wasn't a good idea to try to jump over five ponies in a row, especially when you were an idiot. Bell had slipped off not long after that to check on her wolf pups again. She had been doing that a lot during the night, worrying over those pups like they were her own two foals. Strongbuck had to admit it was kind of cute to see her that way.

Letting out a sigh, Strongbuck wondered what were they going to do with those pups. Many ponies would see them as a danger, especially to the foals. Wolves had the habit of eating things like foals. At first, he wanted Bell to take the pups out into the woods and just leave them there, but even Dove seemed appalled at that idea, asking how he could be so heartless to a pair of little defenseless little babies. Strongbuck had quickly dropped the idea and apologized profusely for even suggesting it.

Dove brought up the idea of trying to find another wolf pack somewhere to leave the pups with them, but Strongbuck told her that it probably wouldn't work, asking her where they would even find another wolf pack, let alone get them to accept a pair of orphaned pups they would most likely ignore, if they didn't just simply kill them the moment they came across them.

The best plan they could come up with was to raise them to a point where they could live on their own and just release them back into the forest, where they could hopefully find a pack to join. Bell seemed a bit saddened at this, but she accepted their reasoning and agreed that when they grew old enough, she would let them go. Now, they just had to convince Dark and Meadowlark, and hopefully they would allow them to keep them until then.

"See, I told you he’d be by the river." Bell's voice said, as she limped through the soft grass with Dove by her side. Just like always, the arrival of the two mares brought warmth and joy to his heart.

Turning his head, Strongbuck smiled up at them. "I just needed get some air and some time to look up at the stars. Would you two like to join me?" he offered, patting the grass next to him.

The two mares glanced around at the beautiful nightscape around them as they thought about his charming offer. "You know, that does sound rather nice," Dove answered, stepping up to Strongbuck so she could lay down with him. "I've been dealing with a whiny foal of a stallion with a sprained leg for longer than I wanted, and a good cuddle right now would be absolutely amazing."

"Oh, yes indeed," Bell added with a smile. "A little air and a bit of stargazing would be a wonderful way to end the evening." She moved around to join them.

Strongbuck smiled pleasantly as he felt the two mares settle down along his sides. Reaching his hooves around, Strongbuck held them as they nestled their heads comfortably onto both of his shoulders. Gazing up at the stars, Strongbuck smiled to himself as he felt their warm bodies pressed closely to his. The night was clear, and the stars sparkled beautifully above them. It was easy to see how somepony could get lost in their elegance, but now that Dove and Bell were with him, everything seemed just a bit more wondrous to him.

Feeling a vast sense of loving affection for the two, Strongbuck bent his head down and kissed the top of Dove's head before he turned and kissed the top of Bell's. In response, both mares snuggled in closer to him as they let out little contented sighs of their own. Strongbuck wanted this moment to last forever. Dove and Bell began to let out little pleased sounds as Strongbuck tenderly stroked and caressed them, giving them both little love kisses to the various parts of their heads he could reach.

During his time healing from his wounds, they never got back to the intimate moment they had been so close to sharing when the wolves had so rudely interrupted. Now that he was feeling better with the two mares he loved being so close to him, he was starting to feel the urge to revive some of the affections they had all been holding off since then.

"Dove, I do believe Strongbuck has something on his mind," Bell commented, looking over at Dove with a sudden look of hopeful yearning.

"Oh, I certainly hope so, Bell, because I absolutely have something on my mind right now, as well," Dove replied, letting out a pleased moan when Strongbuck nibbled on a particularly sensitive spot near the base of her ear.

Both mares turned and looked up at Strongbuck with intensely hungry eyes. Not that long ago, Strongbuck would have been frightened of the looks that Dove and Bell were currently giving him, but now it only made his heart beat all the harder with carnal excitement.

He had grown closer to Dove and Bell since the attack, and he now knew he loved them both very much. Dove was a kind and sensitive mare, who often thought about others before herself. Strongbuck treasured her gentle touches, and her soft, soothing voice whenever they were together. Bell on the other hoof, is both stubborn and headstrong, with a powerful sense of protectiveness that has put her into danger on more than one occasion, including the time she turned back to save his hide from the wolves. Both mares were very special to him, and he didn't know what he would do without them in his life.

Turning themselves, Dove and Bell suddenly climbed up along his body. Strongbuck attempted to sit up, but the mares firmly pushed him down and restrained him so they could lean over and smile down at him.

"Bell, we have captured ourselves a stallion! What do you think should we should do with him?" Dove asked, licking her soft lips.

Bell gave Strongbuck an appraising look, her eyes burning with a strange heat. "He looks tasty. I say we eat him up."

Before Strongbuck had a chance to do anything to defend himself, Dove and Bell both leaned down and simultaneously mashed their lips against his.

Within moments, both their tongues invaded his mouth, battling it out with his tongue for dominance. The sloppy sound of their messy threeway kissing filled the air, and Strongbuck found he was quickly becoming overwhelmed by their dual assaults. Clutching his hooves around his two mares, Strongbuck embraced them and allowed them to have their way with him. Dove shifted her attention to tugging the side of his lip out and nibbling on it, while Bell entertained herself by sucking on his captured tongue.

The air around them grew thick with the heavy, musky scent of desire. Bell released his tongue and lifted her head up, allowing Strongbuck to nibble at her sensitive throat. Straddling his hip, Bell ground her wet need into him, as she desperately sought to relieve her deep lustful itch against him. Not wanting to be left out, Dove ran her hoof up Strongbuck’s inner thigh so she could softly stroke his now fully-emerged stallionhood.

Leaning his head back, Strongbuck let out a groan as he felt Dove slowly slide her hoof up the full length of his stallionhood before she ran it back down. While she was doing that, Bell was busy grinding herself into his hip with ever-increasing urgency. Bending her head down, Bell buried her face into his neck to peck little kisses along his throat and jaw while her breath came in quick heaving gasps as her pleasure mounted.

Dove was amazing, Strongbuck had never been touched like this before, and her stroking hoof was sending pleasing tingles throughout his body. Why had he been so afraid of this before!? Suddenly, he felt Dove abruptly stop stroking him with her hoof and was about to let out a little whimper in complaint, but then he felt something warm and moist run up the full length of his stallionhood, as she started to use her tongue.

The feeling of her warm, wet, and oh-so-very-soft tongue sliding up the full length of his stallionhood made Strongbuck gasp and moan out. He couldn't believe what she was doing to him.

Without pausing in her needful grinding, Bell glanced back at what was causing Strongbuck to twitch and moan against her. "Oh, wow, Dove, I didn't mean for you to literally eat him!"

Dove only smiled as she slid her tongue up his stallionhood again. This time, when she reached his tip, she opened her mouth and took his stallionhood deep into her mouth. Feeling himself being enveloped, Strongbuck let out a particularly loud moan and bucked his hips at the sensations that suddenly assailed his senses.

Dove withdrew her head to the very tip of Strongbuck's twitching member, only to plunge herself back down his shaft again. Watching this, Bell felt her shudders coming on quickly. Every time Dove descended down Strongbuck's stiff member, he would give a little buck, causing his hip to crush into Bell's grinding need, sending a sudden shock of pleasure shooting through her body.

Strongbuck moaned with every plunge that Dove took down his length, while Bell grasped at him ever tighter as she gasped for breath. Suddenly, Bell cried out as she clutched at him, her body convulsing in pleasure. Where Bell’s marehood was grinding into his hip, Strongbuck felt a gush of warm fluids suddenly come pouring out of her to soak into his fur.

Dove pulled her mouth off Strongbuck's stallionhood with a pop to watch as Bell lay shuddering and gasping against him. The slightly sweet scent of Bell's mare-fluids was now heavy in the air and Dove let out a sigh as she shook her head in irritation. "Bell, why do you have to make a mess whenever you get the shudders?"

Rolling off to the side, Bell let out a satisfied sigh. "I can't help it. It just happens," she replied as she laid back to enjoy the warm, pleasant feelings that was washing over her as she caught her breath.

Strongbuck felt his entire hip and leg completely soaked in her fluids. He didn't know that mares did that.

Seeing her chance to have Strongbuck to herself, Dove climbed up over him, bringing her lips to his as she yearningly kissed him. Instead of a frenzied mashing of lips and tongues, this time it was more tender and affectionate.

Wrapping his hooves around her, Strongbuck savored each of her long and luscious kisses. Her lips were soft and warm against his, and occasionally her tongue would slip in to lightly swipe at his playfully. With Dove straddling him, Strongbuck felt something warm, wet, and oh-so-very-soft touch the end of his stallionhood. Unable to hold himself back, Strongbuck thrust his hips up and suddenly he felt something incredibly hot envelop his tip. Dove broke from their kiss to give a surprised gasp. For a moment, Strongbuck panicked, thinking he had just hurt her.

Bell glanced over at the sudden noise. "Did he just...?"

Closing her eyes, Dove bit her lip and nodded. "Oh, he sure did," she purred out with a pleased smile coming to her lips. After a quick glance at where the pair had joined, Dove looked back up and met Strongbuck's worried eyes.

"I'm sorry! Did I hurt you!?" Strongbuck said in worried concern. "I didn't mean to, I just couldn't help myself!"

Bending down, Dove lightly pecked a kiss to his lips. "There's no need to worry, you didn't hurt me. I was only surprised." She then gave him a smile and bent down to whisper in his ear. "You’re a bit big. I think this is going to be very interesting."

With a firm push, Dove started to lower herself down his stallionhood. Strongbuck gasped in amazement as he felt himself plunging deeper into Dove's slick marehood. He had thought that her licking and mouth-work had been incredible, but it paled in comparison to what he was now feeling as he moved ever deeper into her burning sanctum. Above him, Dove had her eyes closed tight as she nibbled on her bottom lip as she strained to take him in.

Strongbuck felt her inner walls flexing and clamping down onto his stallionhood, as Dove let out some tense groans. It came as a small shock when Strongbuck felt her rump come down firmly into his lap as she filled herself with him.

Pausing a moment, Dove began to kiss Strongbuck for a time, adjusting herself to having him in her. He was a bit bigger than the worthless stallion she used to mate with, and already Strongbuck had lasted longer. Stonechip could barely make it halfway in before he would blow his seed out; it was a wonder he was able to sire any foals at all with how much of his seed would end up just running down her back legs after he was done.

Breaking from the kiss, Strongbuck looked up at Dove and met her eyes with a strange, tender seriousness that caught her attention. "Dove, before we... mate," Strongbuck paused to glance down at their unusual position. Who ever heard of the mare being on top of the stallion? "Will this make me a father?”

Dove blinked down at Strongbuck as the sudden thought of what might happen came to her. She had been pregnant twice before, and both times she had miscarried. It had been heartbreaking and she didn't know if she could go through it again, but with Strongbuck she wanted to try again and have his foal.

Swallowing down her apprehension, Dove smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "The best answer I have is, ‘Maybe.’ Spring is here, and there is no telling when my heat will start. There’s a chance that I am at the start of it now and I just can't tell yet." Leaning down she kissed, him again before hugging herself to him. "It would make me so happy to have a foal with you. I just don't know if I can..."

Strongbuck heard the worry in her voice and cut in before she could finish. "Don't think about it. Let's just see what happens," he said softly into her ear. "I love you, and whatever happens, know that I will continue to love you."

Bell slid in and kissed Dove on the side of her muzzle. "And I love you too. Now get with the foal-making! I want to make fun of you when you get fat and start to drag your belly on the ground!"

Dove let out a giggle and slapped her hoof at Bell, who rolled away just in time to miss the playful swipe. Turning her attention back to Strongbuck, Dove shifted herself and marveled at how deep he was in her. The thought of how he must be pressed right up against her womb sent a excited thrill through her body and set her heart leaping.

Leaning herself forward, Dove felt Strongbuck's stallionhood slide most of the way out of her with a wet shlick that left her feeling so very empty. Reversing her motion, she dropped herself back down and let out a pleased moan when she felt herself wonderfully refilled by Strongbuck. Closing her eyes, Dove let the pleasurable sensation roll over her as she proceeded to work Strongbuck in and out of her marehood. With each slap as she bottomed out, she felt the delightful pressure of his stallionhood pressing into something deep inside her.

Strongbuck was groaning beneath her as his forehooves came up to grip her waist. Dove felt a tightness growing in her as she rocked herself along his stallionhood, her movements becoming more urgent as she started to slam herself down with greater force.

As the tightness within her grew into a euphoric pressure, Dove wondered if what they were doing was indeed going to lead to a foal. Strongbuck’s hooves gripped her sides with ever increasing strength as his hips now thrusted up to meet her. Dove knew he was not going to last much longer. Already, she could feel his stallionhood flaring wide deep inside her. The pressure she felt was growing to unbearable levels as she drew ever closer to her own release.

With a few more frantic plunges down his shaft, Strongbuck suddenly let out a loud moan as he suddenly gripped her harder and slammed her down onto his thrusting hips, forcing himself as deeply into her as he could.

Dove felt a slight sting as Strongbuck's flared tip pressed right up against something deep within her. With him seated deeply into her, Dove felt his stallionhood throb as Strongbuck let out a drawn out groan, filling her willing womb with his young, virile seed.

Strongbuck's pelvis rhythmically thrust up as he pumped his seed deep into her. Feeling his stallionhood pulsing inside her as he filled her, Dove suddenly threw her head back and whinnied loudly as she felt herself explode in pleasure, her inner walls clamped and rippling along Strongbuck's twitching member.

Thrust after thrust, Strongbuck filled her womb, his flare ensuring his seed stayed deep within her. Dove’s body rocked in rolling waves of pleasure until her strength gave out and she collapsed onto his chest in a panting heap.

Never before had she ever felt such pleasure, or such fulfillment. In her heart, she hoped that this would finally give her the foal she always wanted, and, if not this time, then the next, or the time after that. She didn't care how many times it took, she was going to be a mother. She wanted the foal she’d been denied twice before! She wanted to look up as see the joy and love in Strongbuck's eyes as he looked back down at her and their foal.

Laying spent on Strongbuck's heaving chest, Dove felt him twitch under her a final few times as he gave her the last bit of his life giving essence. Smiling to herself, Dove rubbed her hoof through Strongbuck's fur as she happily hummed to herself, his powerful scent filling her nose. Wrapping his hooves around her, Strongbuck kissed the top of her head as he hugged her tightly to himself.

The night air started to feel cold to their sweat-slicked coats. Feeling the chill, Dove tried to cuddle in closer to Strongbuck so she could savor the warm tingles running throughout her body. She was happy.

"Wow, I think some ponies heard you all the way over at the gate," Bell said from next to them.

Dragging her head around, Dove glared at her best friend for rudely interrupting her special moment with Strongbuck.

Laying next to them, Bell made a funny face as she lifted her hoof and waved it before her nose. "Phew! The air reeks of rutting ponies and sweat. Let's hop in the river and wash the smell off, shall we?" With that, Bell got up and trotted over to the nearby riverbank and wadded in.

Letting out a sigh, Dove turned her attention back to Strongbuck and lightly kissed him on the lips. "You were wonderful," Dove affectionately praised him as she lifted herself up, pulling his softening member out of her with a wet pop. With his stallionhood falling free, a cascade of fluids suddenly started to pour out of her. Acting quickly, Dove shifted her body to let it fall into the grass.

Pulling himself up, Strongbuck watched in amazement as Dove stood with her hind legs splayed out as a surprising amount of their mating fluids spilled free of her marehood.

"I didn't know that that happens," Strongbuck remarked as he watched Dove give her rump a little jiggle to get the last bit to fall free.

"Oh yes, it's quite normal," Dove answered, glancing back up at Strongbuck, "you put a lot in me, so there's bound to be a bit that will spill out," she said, stepping closer to him. "You were wonderful," she praised, giving him an affectionate peck on the cheek.

"Come on you two, the water's great!" Bell impatiently hollered at them as she happily splashed about.

They both smiled at Bell's exuberance and went down together to join her in the river. The water was colder than what Strongbuck would have preferred, but, after wading in it for a few moments, it started to feel kind of good as his body adjusted. Dunking himself under, Strongbuck rinsed himself off. Shaking his head, Strongbuck threw off the water and blinked his eyes clear. Looking around, he saw Dove was working to clean her tail, but Bell was nowhere to be seen. Wondering where she got off to, Strongbuck turned around and found himself suddenly being doused in a deluge of water that was splashed right into his face.

Sputtering in surprise, Strongbuck rubbed at his eyes to clear them as Bell giggled a short ways away. Blinking his eyes back open, Strongbuck turned to Bell in annoyance. "Bell! What do you think you're...!?" he started to say before she abruptly did it again. Shaking his head, Strongbuck flung the water off and went to glare at Bell, only to suddenly find her standing right up close to him as she blinked up at him with her large lavender eyes.

"Say, Strongbuck, you said that you loved Dove but you didn't say that to me." She said, pouting up at him. "Does that mean you don't love me?" she asked, blinking up at him as her bottom lip quivered.

Strongbuck paused as he gaped down at her. She was right! He told Dove that he loved her but he didn't say the same to Bell. How could he have been so thoughtless and hurt her like that!? She must absolutely hate him!

"Bell, I'm so sorry!" Strongbuck anxiously exclaimed. "Of course I love you! I love you as much as I do Dove! I love Dove for her sweet gentle disposition that makes her so special, and I love you for your strong fierce spirit that makes you the wonderful mare you are!"

Bell moved in even closer as she ran her hoof down his chest. "Really? You really love me?" she asked, tilting her eyes up to look up at him through her lashes.

"Yes! I love you!" Strongbuck replied honestly, hoping that she would forgive him for not saying it sooner.

Unseen by Strongbuck, Dove smirked and rolled her eyes at how well Bell was leading him on. She could be such a tease sometimes.

Lifting her head up, Bell brought her lips so very close to Strongbuck's. "Say it again," she whispered to him breathlessly.

"I love you. I love you more than my own life," Strongbuck answered, bending closer to meet her ready lips.

Just as he was about to join his lips to hers, Bell smiled and splashed a deluge of water right into his face before dancing back out of his reach.

Wiping water from his eyes again, Strongbuck gaped at Bell as she pranced around him, singing about how much he loved her. Had she been teasing him!?

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go get her!" Dove shouted out with laughter.

Strongbuck grinned. So she wanted to play? He'll show her what it was like to play with a stallion. With a quick lunge, he charged at Bell.

Letting out a shriek of laughter, Bell scrambled to escape. Dodging back and forth she splashed water at him a few times in a desperate bid to distract him from his prey, but it was no use. Strongbuck was bigger, and even with his injured haunch, he was still able to plow through the water a bit faster. Seeing that she was about to be caught, Bell decided that if she wasn't able to flee, then she must attack. Turning abruptly, Bell lunged out and tackled a surprised Strongbuck.

Falling over backwards, Strongbuck managed to hold his breath as he plunged under the water with Bell tangled up in his limbs. Feeling his back bump into the sandy bottom, Strongbuck noticed Bell pulling herself close to him. Wondering what she was doing, Strongbuck was surprised when she suddenly pressed her lips to his. Kissing was always a pleasant and enjoyable activity, but kissing while underwater added a whole new and exciting aspect to the action.

Holding his breath, Strongbuck's lips meshed tightly with Bell's as their bodies came together. With their lips locked together, Bell slid her hoof down to rub at his sheathed organ. His heart was racing in his chest as Strongbuck felt his stallionhood eagerly respond to Bell's touches and slip out to its full hardness. With his lungs burning for air, Strongbuck finally had to break for the surface to gasp for air. A moment latter, Bell joined him and smiled seductively as she moved in close.

"My, my. I think you're ready for some more," Bell purred at him as she licked the side of his muzzle. “I know I am.”

Despite the coolness of the water, Strongbuck started to feel rather hot. Bell was giving him all the signs that she was wanting to be bred, and Strongbuck's instincts were screaming at him to do just that.

Bell gave his neck a quick nip as she turned and moved up onto the shore. As her flank came free of the water, Bell looked back at him as she flicked her sodden tail to the side to let him have a good view of her winking marehood. "Come my stallion, breed your mare. Make me your broodmare and fill me with your seed!"

Strongbuck let out a eager nicker before he rushed up to Bell to shove his muzzle into her dripping marehood. Taking in her aroused scent, and tasting her sweetness, Strongbuck's member throbbed below him, demanding that he do just as she wanted and breed her.

Dove stepped up onto the shore nearby and gave herself a good shake to shed off the water before she settled down onto the soft grass to watch. Bell was doing a find job of driving Strongbuck wild with rut. It was kind of rousing to see their usually sweet stallion turned into such a wild beast. Seeing the full length of his dangling stallionhood, Dove was amazed she was able to fit him all in.

Strongbuck couldn't hold back anymore. Throwing back his head, he let out a frenzied whinny as he moved to mount his mare. Standing firm, Bell nickered her readiness as she felt Strongbuck rear up onto her back.

Pulling himself forward over her, Strongbuck gripped Bell's sides as he wildly thrust his hips forward until he felt his eager stallionhood become enveloped into her sweet warmth. Biting her crest to keep her steady under him, Strongbuck thrust forward until his pelvis slammed up pleasantly against her rump. Pulling his hips back, Strongbuck started thrusting furiously, with his groin making a wet smack against Bell's marehood every time he drove himself fully into her.

Bell quickly began to pant for breath as her tongue hung out. She had never been rutted like this before. Her forehooves dug deeper into the soft soil with every one of Strongbuck's powerful bucks as her head was pulled back from his strong grip to her crest. Already, she felt the tightness inside her growing as Strongbuck's member drove deep into her body. The tightness grew into a pressure that quickly built to unbearable levels. Strongbuck's thrusting member began to flare deep inside her as his motions became more frantic and uneven.

Drool dribbled out of her open mouth and she let out a needful moan as her legs threatened to buckle under her. With a sudden groaning cry, Bell felt the pressure deep inside her suddenly burst into rolling waves of pleasure as a deluge of her fluids forced its way past Strongbuck's flare to drench their furiously slapping groins.

Strongbuck felt Bell’s inner walls clamping down powerfully onto his furiously pounding stallionhood and he finally reached his limit. Biting Bell's crest a little bit harder, Strongbuck tightened his grip around her sides as he thrusted in as far as he could. With his pelvis pressed so tightly into Bell's rump, her hind legs were lifted off the ground. Strongbuck groaned in satisfaction as a torrent of his seed flooded out of him, as he finally bred his mare.

With each flex of his hips, he released another jet of seed deep within Bell's womb, claiming her as his. If she was in her fertile cycle, she was sure to become pregnant. The thought of siring a foal in her made Strongbuck give Bell one more powerful thrust that made her cry out in pleasure as he released the last of his seed within her.

Releasing her crest, Strongbuck relaxed his stance as he let Bell's quivering legs touch the ground. His mind was a little foggy, but reason was once again returning to him. Never before had he been so out of control, so lost to his instincts, becoming wild like an animal.

Panting for breath, Strongbuck licked and kissed at Bell's neck. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me," he apologized, fearing he had hurt her.

Bell turned her head and smiled euphorically at him. "Oh, don't be sorry. I'll probably be walking funny tomorrow, but that was definitely the best rutting I’ve ever had."

"I'll say," Dove cut in with a laugh. "I've never seen her look so satisfied."

Strongbuck grinned stupidly as he felt a bit of pride well up in him. Pulling back, Strongbuck was ready this time for the deluge of fluids that would escape as he pulled his softening member out. Hopping down from her back, Strongbuck walked around to nuzzle and kiss Bell.

"It's late and I think we've all had enough fun. Let's get back home and get some sleep," Dove said with a yawn as she walked up to them.

Strongbuck couldn't agree with her more. He had just rutted both of his mares and now he just wanted nothing more than to snuggle up to them and sleep the rest of the night away.

"Hold on a moment, I need to go wash myself again." Bell said as she walked on wobbling legs back down to the water with her tail held up out of the mess that was now running down her thighs.

The next morning, after they ate their morning meal together, Strongbuck and Dove walked with Bell as she carried a covered basket in her mouth over to Melodious' hut. They found her door open as she appeared to be airing out the inside.

Walking up to the opening, Strongbuck reached out and knocked on part of the wood frame. "Hello? Melodious, are you home? We have something to ask you about," he called out as he ducked his head to look inside.

"Strongbuck, is that you? Please, come on in. What can I do for you?" Melodious answered from inside.

Ducking through, Strongbuck entered with Dove and Bell following just behind. Melodious kept her hut meticulously tidy. Her floor was swept clean and had been smoothed out. Along one side, a thick mat had been laid out to sit or lay on, and, on the far side, another mat had been laid out with a larger basket set out on it, with her twins sleeping in a pile of straw inside. Behind the twins were several tall baskets filled with straw to help change their bedding whenever they made a mess.

Melodious was lying on the mat, busy using thin willow branches to weave something that was just starting to take shape. "All three of you came!? Well this should be interesting. Come on over and have a seat and I'll see what I can do for you." She said, setting her project to the side while gesturing with her head to an area just before her on the mat.

As they all sat, Bell set the basket she had been carrying down just before her.

"We ah... we have something we kind of need your advice on." Strongbuck said with a nod towards Bell.

"Oh?" Melodious murmured as she shifted her attention over to the nervous looking mare. Gazing at her for a moment, Melodious eyes suddenly brightened as she smiled widely. "Oh! I see. Are you here because you have a little one growing inside you now!?"

Bell ears suddenly shot up and quivered in place as she quickly shook her head. "No!... no, it's not that."

Melodious cocked her head in confusion. "Oh? From the ruckus that was coming from the river last night, I would have thought you were the whinny'er, unless..." Pausing, Melodious slid her gaze over to Dove who only smiled back at the suddenly surprised Melodious.

"What can I say? Strongbuck can really please a mare," Dove said with a shrug.

Melodious smiled and nodded her head. "Indeed he must have been, to get you to wake the twins like that," she replied with a chuckle.

Strongbuck felt his face burning up listening to them speak about what they had done last night. Some of the stallions in the herd still mated their mares in the open, but Strongbuck felt better keeping such an intimate and special act private. Clearing his throat, Strongbuck cut in. "Ah yes well... what we are here for is this."

Reaching over, he lifted the cover off the basket that was in front of Bell. Inside, the two pups, Sentry and Chase, were curled up together in a bed of straw.

Bending down, Melodious looked in and smiled. "Oh, my! Aren't they just the cutest!" she gushed, moving the basket closer to herself.

With Strongbuck's urging, Bell explained to Melodious the entire story of how she discovered the pups and her decision to act to save them by bringing them back with her. She then shared her fears about how many of the ponies may not see the pups in the same light and would want to hurt or kill the pups just because they were wolves. She then shared some of their idea's that they came up with for when the pups got older.

Holding Sentry up in her hooves, Melodious bumped him with her nose as she let out cutesy sounds. "How can a pony even think of hurting something as adorable as this!" She gasped and bent her head down a bit to look closer at Sentry. "Oh look! His little eyes are starting to open!"

"That's just it. They’re not going to stay as adorable pups forever. They will grow up to be wolves and a lot of ponies will see them as dangerous," Bell answered.

"Grow up to be wolves, huh..." Melodious lowered Sentry down as she suddenly became thoughtful. After a time, a smile began to grow on her face. Strongbuck didn't know what to think whenever Melodious got a look like this, but he knew what to expect. A sudden and inspired idea that would change things, and by the way she was looking at Bell and them, it likely would be them who would be at the center of it.

Behind them the door darkened as Sage Brush came in. "I'm back my lovely little honey-dipped dew blossom snoodlebum," he announced before he noticed his mate wasn't alone. "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't know we had visitors."

"Sage," Melodious said, turning to him. "Go and find Meadowlark and tell her I need to see her."

"What!? But I just got here, and I wanted to take my late morning nap. You know I had early watch this morning." Sage complained.

"Just do it Sage!" Melodious snapped at him irritably. "I have an idea she needs to hear."

Grumbling to himself, the dusty green stallion turned and slipped back out as he did as she wanted. Lifting Sentry back up, Melodious smiled at the pup as she bumped her snoot into the pup's. "So, tell me, Bell," Melodious said turning her suddenly serious attention to the young mare, "how badly would you like to keep them?"

Chapter Seventeen

Are you out of your mind!?" Meadowlark exclaimed in shock, her shout startling the twins awake. "This is the most outrageous idea I have ever heard from you!"

"Calm down and just listen for a moment," Melodious patiently said over her wailing twins, "if they’re raised right, then they won't be a danger at all."

Seeing that the twins needed to be soothed, Dove hurried over to the wailing pair to quickly lift Winter Snow out of his basket. Unable to handle both foals, Dove passed the bawling Winter over to a startled Strongbuck so she could lift his brother out as well. Rocking her body, Dove began to make soothing, shushing sounds as she attempted to calm the distressed foal.

"They’re wolves! They will always be dangerous!" Meadowlark turned to Bell, causing her to flinch from the hard gaze she settled on her. "And you! How could you bring them here!? You know how much grief their kind has brought to us over the seasons! How so many of our precious young were taken by those beasts!"

Melodious suddenly moved forward and jabbed her hoof into Meadowlarks chest. "That is quite enough of that!" she snapped, raising her voice in anger for the first time. "I will not allow you to start berating her for following her heart. She was only doing what she felt was right!" She pointed her hoof to a spot on her mat. "Now, sit down and let's talk this through. I believe we have an opportunity here to get something really good from this, and I won't allow your hostility for them ruin it! Now plant your rump down, right now!"

Meadowlark looked startled for a moment at Melodious' uncharacteristic outburst. Blinking her eyes, she contemplated Melodious for a time, her expression unreadable. Taking a few calming breaths, Meadowlark finally nodded her head and sat down.

Having calmed Summer down, Dove was now trying to help a panicking Strongbuck with Winter. With gentle encouragement, Dove quietly talked him through what he needed to do with the colt. Following her instructions, Strongbuck's movements became less awkward and clumsy, and his voice took on a less gruff and stiff tone with the colt. Smiling, Strongbuck's movements became more relaxed as his confidence grew.

Watching him, Dove felt a warm feeling of pride for her stallion. It was obvious that Strongbuck had never handled a foal before, but, with a little guidance and patience, he was turning into a natural. She felt assured that he would make a good father someday.

Settling herself back down, Melodious let out a sigh as she regained her calm composure. "Now, as I was saying before, wolves and ponies share many common traits. They hold a great loyalty towards their pack, just as ponies do for the herd. They look after and protect each other and their young, just as we do. I believe that this trait can be very beneficial. If the pups are raised with ponies, they will assuredly imprint on us and see us as their pack."

"Even if that is true, what use would it be to have a pair of wolves running around thinking they were ponies?" Meadowlark asked, not sure where Melodious was going with this.

"Perhaps the very answer to our problems," Melodious answered with a nod. "The discovery of those giant spiders have many ponies greatly worried. Myself, very much included. And despite Happy's best efforts, he has been unable to track the spiders beyond the edge of the Deep Woods in the north." Bending forward, Melodious lifted Sentry out of his basket and held the puppy up in her hoof. "Wolves are natural trackers. They can sniff out a trail many days old, and follow it right back to its source. These little pups are absolutely perfect for what we need."

"Are you suggesting that they could track the spiders back to their nest!?" Meadowlark gazed in shock at the pup Melodious was holding. Could they really be used in such a way? She had to admit, she’d thought of wolves as nothing more than a menace that needed to be destroyed. But if what she was saying is true, that wolves could be turned into a useful aid to the ponies. Perhaps she should consider Melodious's idea.

"Wolves are very clever. I'm confident that Bell, here, can train them to do simple things like tracking," Melodious said, giving Bell a nod of confidence.

Pursing her lips thoughtfully, Meadowlark shifted her attention to Bell. "Well? You've been awfully quiet. What do you have to say? Can you do it? Can you teach them to sniff out the spiders?"

Bell swallowed nervously. She had been giving that very thing some thought ever since Melodious shared her grand idea with her earlier. It wasn't going to be easy. She would have to figure out how to teach them what she wanted them to do. It was definitely going to be a challenge, but the idea that she would be doing something no other pony has ever done, nor even thought about doing before, was kind of exciting. Meeting Meadowlarks gaze, Bell gave her answer."Yes. I believe I can do it."

The moment her answer left her mouth, a warm sense of rightness settled over her as a sudden flicker of light at the corner of her eye caught her attention. Hearing Strongbuck and Dove both let out a gasp in surprise from behind her, Bell turned and looked back to find that she now had a cutie mark. Emblazoned on her flanks was the images of a wolfs paw print.

Meadowlark gave Melodious a shocked glance at the sudden appearance of Bell's cutie mark. To say she was surprised would be an understatement, but with all the various talents that ponies were recently showing they were capable of, she guessed that it shouldn't be all that shocking to see a pony show a talent in training wolves.

Letting out a sigh, Meadowlark smiled and shook her head. Hooking her hoof onto the edge of the basket, she brought it closer so she could look in at their old, hated enemy. With a careful hoof, she lifted out the wiggling, light-gray pup and held him up. He was tiny, a little less than half that of a newborn pony foal. Bending in close, Meadowlark could see that his little eyes were barely open as he gazed up at her with an unfocused gaze that just melted her heart.

If Melodious was right, then these little pups could be their answer to this newly discovered threat. They had proven several times before that they could easily entrap their prey when they took Sky's entire flock as well as a full pack of wolves, leaving these two orphaned pups as the only two survivors. In a way, they were just like Sky, left behind with no home or family. "Very well. I will allow them to stay. But only so long as they never pose a threat. The moment they do, the moment they ever attack a pony, I want them put down." She looked up and met Bell's gaze. "Understood?"

Bell quickly nodded. "Yes, I understand. Thank you for this chance."

Meadowlark set the pup back into the hay-filled basket and stood, "if Melodious is right about them, then this will be well worth a try. I'll wish you good luck." Stepping closer to Bell, Meadowlark wrapped her hoof around her neck and hugged her. “Congratulations on your cutie mark, by the way."

⚜⚜⚜⚜

With Luna nestled comfortably into her carrying basket, Dark hummed to himself as he walked through the settlement. With Meadowlark having been called away by Sage to see to something that Melodious just absolutely needed to talk to her about, little Luna had been left in his care, and Dark couldn't resist taking her out for a little walk around with Papa to see to some things.

First, he went to speak to Juniper Rose about her sun-dried fruit. After sampling some of her dried apples and strawberries, Dark promised to have a word with Bright Star about constructing some larger drying racks for her, and finding some ponies that would be able to help her. The more fruit she could add to their stores, the more bearable the long winter would be for them all.

Meeting with Birch Bark. Dark had a long talk with him about how they were going to keep rodents from getting into their newly-made storehouse. It seemed they were going to be a big problem, and they needed to be taken care of before winter came or they’d be back to scratching roots and dry grass out of the snow.

The next thing Birch Bark brought up before Dark could leave, was how to best keep a tally of what the working ponies had earned for their labor to fill the storehouse. At the moment, they were being given a portion of what they had brought in, or what others had brought in, as compensation for their work, but that didn't always work for everything. There was also the problem of how to reimburse those who were working in the new fields. Greenhoof was making due using strands made from ponies tails with knots tied along their length to denote days of work for each pony, but that had it's own limitations. Dark didn't know what to do about it, but he assured Birch Bark that he would try to figure something out as best he could.

Snatching up Luna, Dark hurried away before Birch could bring anything else up. He meant well, but Birch did tend to over-worry about things. With her basket swinging about from his mouth, Luna made happy babbling noises as she swung about. Moving through the settlement, Dark waved or nodded at ponies as they passed by. Despite the late night of food and dancing, many ponies looked happy as they moved about their daily tasks. Dark had been surprised at how festive the night had gotten, and how much the ponies had enjoyed themselves. He would have to make sure to arrange for more of these festivals throughout the rest of the season, as well as for future seasons.

As he neared the edge of the settlement, his destination came into view. Magpie Cackle didn't like staying close to the other ponies, preferring her hut being built right up against the outer wall. Most of the other ponies huts were rounded, but Magpie had hers built with straight walls that leaned into each other at a sharp angle. Stepping up to her door, Dark tapped his hoof against a log beam to announce his presence.

"Whoever it is, go away," Magpie's harsh voice snapped out at him.

Magpie had always been a bit gruff and blunt at times. Dark found it to be part of her charm. "Magpie, its me."

"Dark?" she asked, her voice losing none of its gruffness. "Here to check up on me, already?"

Dark stuck his head through her door, "I just wanted to see if you discovered anything as of yet."

"We just started last night! What do you expect to be done in such a short time?" Magpie didn't even bother turning around to look at him as he entered.

Set out on the ground was a large mat with what remained of the spider’s body sitting on it. It had been opened up and much of its organs had been removed for careful examination by both Magpie and her new assistant, Sunflower Patch. The young mare had shown an intense curiosity and talent for studying bugs and other creepy crawlies that normal ponies would stay clear of. On her flanks she had a cutie mark of a sunflower with a bumblebee on it.

Setting Luna down onto a cut log that ran along the side of Magpie's hut, Dark looked over the gruesome scene that lay before him. The spider had been laid on its back, and, with sharp cut-stones, the two had opened it up and pulled out almost everything that was inside it, laying it all out in neat piles on the mat. The smell of spider entrails was gut-wrenchingly horrible, and Dark wondered if he would need to find a dung pile later to stick his nose into in order to rid himself of the stench. He was glad he had set Luna close to the door where the smell wasn't so bad. But, still, he should keep his visit here short for her sake at least.

Getting as close as he dared, Dark observed as Sunflower and Magpie poked at a strange blue blob. "I'm telling you, I think this is what it uses to breathe with." Sunflower said.

"But why would its lungs be so far back in its body, instead of nearer its mouth?." Magpie asked dubiously.

Sunflower took a cutting stone and sliced into the blue mass to look inside the fibrous organ. "I don't think they breathe the same way we do."

"Oh? And how do you think they breath? Through their legs?" Magpie shook her head in exasperation at the young mare.

"From what I see on how this thing is put together, I wouldn't dismiss that possibility."

Watching the two bicker over what the organ they were looking at was, Dark wondered if the two had been at this all night. Seeing a strange framework of small branches tied together with a rabbit trapped within, Dark walked over to see what she was doing with it. The rabbit was laying on its side as it appeared to be either asleep or dead. Tapping a hoof on the side of its entrapping framework, confirmed to him that it was quite dead.

"You think he's dead, don't you?" Magpie said, appearing next to him. "I assure you that he is quite alive. If you look closely, you’ll see his chest slowly rise and fall, and he's still warm and limber."

Bending down, Dark closely watched the rabbit, and, sure enough, he noticed its chest slowly moving. "What's wrong with him?" Dark asked.

Magpie pointed at a gourd sitting nearby with a milky fluid inside. "I managed to extract a fair bit of its venom, and I tested a tiny portion of it it on the rabbit. I was surprised at how quickly it affected him; within a few moments, he had fallen into a deep sleep that was very much like death."

"Can he be awoken from it?" Dark asked, wanting to know if a pony could survive a venomous bite from one of these things.

Magpie thoughtfully rubbed her chin with her hoof. "Hmm, that would be very interesting to know. I'll try some things on him and see what happens."

Giving the rabbit a last look, Dark nodded. "Good. Please let me know if you come up with something that works."

Magpie was already across her hut looking through her collection of herb-filled gourds, sniffing at their tops and muttering to herself as she searched through them.

Seeing that the two were once again engrossed in what they were doing, Dark crossed over to Luna and picked her up. Leaving the malodorous hut, Dark set out to find a nice smelling manure pile to stick his nose into.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Laying in the shade of a tree with a small group of fillies, Celestia worked at braiding Strawberry Zest's light-green tail while Strawberry braided hers. Ash was off with the other colts, trying to catch frogs near the river, leaving Celestia to play around with the other fillies. Pausing in her work, Celestia picked up a blue flower out of a small pile she had next to her and worked it into Strawberry’s braid. She was almost done and Strawberry's tail was now wonderfully festooned with brightly colored blue flowers all throughout its length. Celestia thought that the blue flowers went really nicely with Strawberry's red coat and light green mane and tail.

Glancing back at her own tail, she saw that Strawberry had worked in a lot of yellow flowers into it. "Yellow?"

Strawberry glanced up and smiled. "What? You don't like yellow? I think you look good with yellow; it goes wonderfully with your cutie mark."

Giving herself a good look over, Celestia had to agree that Strawberry was right; yellow did look good on her. Nearby, Tulip Blossom was braiding Misty Grove's mane. Instead of using just one color like they were, Tulip was using every color she had gathered in Misty's rather dull brown mane in order to try and add some color to the flat-gray filly.

Not counting Celestia, Misty was one of the few fillies their age who already got her cutie mark. On her flank was a wispy grey cloud encompassing the base of a small tree. She had an amazing talent for being hard to notice. With her drab coloring and soft steps, she was practically invisible wherever she went, oftentimes startling ponies who failed to notice she was standing just next to them until she spoke. It was no surprise she got her cutie mark in anonymity.

Tulip Blossom was her best friend. In almost every way she was the opposite of Misty. Her bright yellow coat and orange mane and tail stood out wherever she went, and she was as chatty as a songbird, and being just as flighty as one too. Sitting still was something that seemed to go against her nature, and boredom was her greatest enemy.

"Celestia? Which colt do you like the most?" Tulip Blossom suddenly asked, breaking Celestia out of her thoughts.

"Ash, of course." Celestia didn't even have to think before she answered.

Tulip shook her head. "He doesn't count. He's too much like a brother or something."

Celestia was about to respond when Strawberry suddenly cut in. "That's not fair, they're not even related," she retorted strongly.

Tulip blinked at Strawberry’s unusually strong vehemence in surprise. "Okay, fine, I'll allow it, I guess," she said, giving in. "So, what about you?"

"Me!?" Strawberry exclaimed back, surprised that the question had been turned on her. Nibbling her lip nervously, she glanced at Celestia with an uncertain look. It seemed like she was reluctant to answer.

"Oh, come on, Strawberry, you can tell us." Tulip said with a eager nod. Even Misty was looking over with interest.

"I, ah... I also like Ash," she finally answered.

Celestia felt a strange anger suddenly rise up in her. Her heart started to hammer painfully in her chest, and she felt a twisting in her gut. She didn't know why Strawberry's confession about her feelings towards Ash was affecting her so strongly. She didn’t like this feeling at all.

"Ash, again!?" Tulip said with a sigh. "I don't get it. Really, what do you two see in him? His coat is as drab as Misty's here." She waved her hoof towards Misty. "Now, Mighty Oak, that's a good looking colt if I do say so myself."

"Tulip! Tulip!" a younger, dark-orange filly shouted as she rushed up to them. "I did what you said, but I didn't get my cutie mark!"

With a look of irritation, Tulip let out a sigh. "Pine Blossom. I already told you, I don't know how you can get your cutie mark. I only told you to walk backwards all the way around the settlement to keep you from bugging me over it."

Pine Blossom ignored her as she continued on. "Oh come on Tulip, you’re older and you know so much more than me. I'm sure you can think of something I can try. I came so close last time, I thought I felt it starting to happen!"

Tulip let out another sigh, then nodded. "Okay, how about you try hopping around for awhile and see if that does it."

A big smile split Pine's face. "Ooh, that's a good one!" She suddenly turned and started to hop away. "I wonder what a hopping cutie mark would look like? Oh! Oh! Maybe it will be a bunny!"

The group watched as the younger filly hopped away.

Strawberry gave Tulip a disapproving look. "Why are you so mean to your sister? You know how much she looks up to you."

"It’s because she's a giant pest, and I'm glad we're only related with just our father." Tulip said with a snort.

Irritated at her insensitive attitude towards her sister, Celestia angrily folded her ears back and tossed one of her flowers at Tulip. "That's no excuse to be mean to her. You should go apologize to her."

Tulip looked like she was about to argue, but after a moment she seemed to change her mind, instead, opting to turn away to silently brood to herself as she slowly shredded a flower of its petals. Celestia decided to leave her be to think things over herself, and hopefully she'll decide to listen her them and start treating her sister a bit better.

Celestia was working on Strawberry's mane when Bumblebee and Soft Step suddenly dashed up to them. "Celestia! You need to come! It's an emergency!"

Hearing the urgency in Bumblebee’s voice, Celestia quickly jumped up. "What is it!? Did something happen!?"

"It's Pine Blossom!" Soft Step shouted. "She needs to be stopped before she hurts herself!"

"Pine Blossom?" Tulip said turning back. "What kind of trouble can she get into hopping around?"

"When Autumn Leaf and Sparkling Night saw her, they thought to have a bit of fun with her by telling her that she could get her cutie mark by walking across that log that crosses the river where the water’s all rough!" Bumblebee answered.

"What!?" Tulip exclaimed with alarm. Jumping up, Tulip dashed off towards the log.

"Misty! Go get my papa. Quickly!" Celestia shouted out as she ran off to catch up with Tulip, Strawberry following along with her.

The log wasn't very far, and in a few moments, they arrived at the base of the fallen tree where a small gathering of fillies and colts stood watching. Looking out, Celestia could see that Pine was standing at the middle of the log, right over where the river was most turbulent. The bark under her hooves was old and flaking off. Each shivering step Pine made, sloughed off a bit more of its outer covering, dropping it down into the waters below.

"Pine!" Tulip exclaimed in panic. "What are you doing!? It's dangerous out there, get back over here, now!"

"I'm going to get my cutie mark!" Pine shouted back, her voice quivering in fright. "Autumn Leaf said that if I show my bravery by crossing, I was sure to get it!"

"Don't be stupid! She was lying. She only said that to have a bit of fun with you! Please listen to me and come back before you get hurt!" Tulip pleaded desperately.

"Listen to her! Please come back!" Celestia added her plea's to Tulip's.

Pine paused to look back. Her eyes filled with fear, and she looked like she was about to listen to them and come back, but after a moment her brows furled down in determination. Turning back, she took another step. As her hoof came down on the rotting trunk, it suddenly slipped out as the bark broke away under her hoof.

With a terrified scream, Pine slipped off the side of the log and tumbled into the river below.

"Pine!" Tulip screamed as she desperately dashed into the river’s edge. Acting quickly, Celestia grabbed Tulip's tail to hold her from going deeper with Strawberry quickly joining her to help hold her back. "Let me go! She can't swim!"

In the tumbling waters, they could see Pine frantically splashing around as she attempted to keep herself at the surface. Celestia frantically tried to think of something she could do to save Pine Blossom. Only one thing came to her, but it would be really dangerous. "Strawberry! Keep a hold on her!" she shouted, releasing Tulip so she could run over to the log.

Before she could move more than a step, a thundering flash of charcoal brown suddenly shot by her. Blinking her eyes in amazement, Celestia watched as Ash boldly leapt up onto the log ahead of her and recklessly galloped down it's length. Reaching the center, he suddenly vaulted off the log with a great leap toward the flailing filly.

With a splash, Ash plunged into the water, appearing moments later as he paddled towards Pine. Celestia felt her heart hammering painfully in her chest with worry. Papa had taken them a few times to the calm shallows in the wide river bend to teach them a bit about swimming, but never before did they ever go any deeper than where they could reach the bottom.

Dashing along the banks as best she could with Tulip and Strawberry, Celestia followed along as Ash paddled for Pine. Ash struggled in the swift flowing waters to reach the filly as she weakly thrashed around. He was almost there. Just a few more lengths and he would have her.

Abruptly Pine disappeared as she slipped under the water. "Pine!" Tulip wailed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Pine! Don't give up! Ash is almost to you!"

For a moment, Pine reappeared, but her movements were weak and she quickly slipped under again. This time, she didn't come back up.

Ash paddled himself over to where he thought he last saw her and dove under. Celestia was having trouble catching her breath, and Tulip was whimpering beside her as they trotted along the riverbank. After what seemed like forever, Ash reappeared without Pine. Taking a few breaths, he dove under again to search for her.

Celestia felt so helpless. She wanted to be out there with Ash, helping him to search for Pine, but she knew he was a stronger swimmer than her, and he would have the best chance of bringing her back. If he could only find her. A sudden thought came to her. Perhaps there was something she could do. She didn't know if it would work. She never tried it without actually touching somepony before.

Racing ahead, Celestia ran as hard as she could until she was well ahead. Skidding to a stop, Celestia closed her eyes and planted her hooves firmly into the soil. Letting her senses flow free, she stretched them out from herself. Through the air and through the ground, she let her senses flow outwards. Life. She could feel the life all around her. The grass and the trees all glowed brightly in her mind. A vast multitude of tiny spots of life flooded her senses from all the various insects that thrived along the river. Racing towards her, she could sense Strawberry and Tulip shining like bright stars.

Turning her attention to the river, Celestia pushed out into the water. Ignoring the fish, Celestia quickly located Ash's strong familiar life sense as he searched blindly along the bottom of the river for Pine Blossom, who Celestia sensed was only a few lengths from him. Pine’s life pulsed weakly and every moment it grew even weaker. She was almost out of time. She needed to be rescued and fast!

Turning her attention back to Ash, Celestia moved in close and allowed her life to touch his. It was a strange sensation. It was like a piece of her had been found and she was now whole. Doing her best to keep her mind on task from the flood of sensations that now coursed through her being, Celestia focused on Pine's location and hoped that with them touching in this sense, he might feel where she was as well.

Ash paused in his searching as he shifted himself around as if he became aware that something was happening. Focusing as hard as she could on Pine Blossom's ever fading life, Celestia imparted everything she could to Ash. Hoping beyond hope that he would feel it. After a moment, Ash suddenly turned himself about and set off straight for Pine Blossom.

The moment he grabbed Pine, Celestia let out a great breath and collapsed to the ground in exhaustion. She was distantly aware that Strawberry and Tulip had rushed up to her. Batting their hooves away, Celestia managed to clamber back up onto her hooves to look out and watched as Ash towed Pine back to shore.

Tulip quickly waded out to help Ash take her the rest of the way in. Setting Pine down on the shore. Tulip bent down and listened. "She's not breathing!" Letting out a wail, Tulip bent and wept over Pine. "It's my fault! If I wasn't so dismissive of her and actually helped her, she’d still be alive!"

Celestia set her hoof to Pine's chest and let her senses flow into her. It was weak, but Pine's life still pulsed within her. "She's still alive."

"She needs to breathe! Celestia, do you remember what Dove did when Luna wasn't breathing?" Ash exclaimed.

Celestia locked gazes with him, sudden hope welling up in her. "Do you think it will work?"

"One way to find out." Bending down, Ash put his mouth over the end of Pine's muzzle and blew. Pine's chest rose as his breath entered her. Releasing her mouth, Ash inhaled and tried again, but he felt resistance with the second breath. "Its not working anymore, she needs to breathe out!" he said.

Seeing what needed to be done, Celestia quickly placed her hoof onto Pine's chest and pressed down to force her breath out. Bubbles and water suddenly came out of Pine's mouth as Celestia pushed down. "She must have breathed in the water when she was in the river!" With Ash holding Pine's head to the side, Celestia pressed down as much as she dared, getting as much water out as she could. When she lifted her hooves from her chest, Ash quickly put his mouth back over Pine's and breathed back into her. They both continued like this, Ash would breathe in and Celestia would push the breath back out.

Hope swelled up in Celestia whenever she pressed down. She could feel Pine's life growing a little stronger each time she did. "It's working! Keep going!" Celestia exclaimed in excitement.

Ash put his mouth over Pine's and breathed into her once again. Suddenly, Pine gave a jerk and more water came out of her mouth as she started coughing and gasping for breath. Sitting back, Ash glanced over at Celestia and smiled. They did it! They saved her! Tulip let out a happy cry and moved in to hug Pine to herself.

"Celestia! Ash!" Papa exclaimed as he rushed through the gathered foals. "Misty said that there was an emergency! Is everypony alright? Did anypony get hurt!?"

"It's Pine Blossom, Papa! She fell into the river!" Celestia answered.

Rushing over, Dark checked on Pine Blossom and found her breathing. “I'm going to take her to Dove. She needs to look her over." Picking Pine up, Dark carefully set her over his back. "Every colt and filly get back to the settlement. None of you are allowed near the river until further notice." Dark ordered the gathered foals. "Ash, Celestia, come with me. I want you to tell me what happened here."

****

Unseen by any of them, two figures stood on the surface of the river, watching them. One was a silvery earth pony mare with an elegantly long mane and tail of every color. Next to her stood a golden earth pony stallion with a mane and tail made of billowing fire.

"Very interesting. The filly shows a wonderful potential," the stallion said, watching the scene.

"Indeed, she does," the mare answered, her lips forming a soft smile. "The colt also shows some remarkable potential. Together they altered Pine Blossom's fate and set her on a new path."

The stallion nodded as his mane and tail changed into a crackling thunderstorm."Agreed. They make a remarkable pair."

Turning, the two silently walked away, crossing over the river's surface to vanish on the other side.

Chapter Eighteen

Celestia ran, her pursuer following closely behind her. She didn't know where Ash was. The last time she saw him, he was being chased by the other one. A flicker of motion to her right allowed her to react in time to avoid being taken by the second one as he dashed in on her from the side. He must have finished with Ash and now she had them both on her tail!

As she rounded a hut, Celestia checked behind her and saw only one of the slobbering beasts still chasing her. Where did the other one go!? Looking ahead, Celestia let out a scream as she saw the second one coming around the hut right in front of her. Desperately, Celestia swerved to the side and bolted as fast as she could, but it was no use; they were now on both sides of her and she had nowhere to go. It was only a matter of time before they got her too.

Ahead of her, Celestia noticed she was closing on the split rock. Smiling, she thought up a desperate idea that might just work. Lowering her head, she bolted for the crack. Her sudden dash for the rock caught her pursuers by surprise and they fell a little behind as she shot into the crack.

Letting out a laugh at her cleverness, Celestia darted out of the crack, free and clear of her chasers. Suddenly, a weight dropped down on her as something pounced from the side. They must have circled around! Letting out a scream, Celestia tumbled onto the ground as her attackers closed in over her.

"No!" Celestia screamed as her assailants moved in for the kill. "No! No! No! Ahh!" A pair of tongues began to slobber and lick at her face as she desperately attempted to defend herself from their relentless assault. It was no use. There was no defense. Not from a pair of merciless puppies.

"They got her!" Tulip shouted.

"They did!? How bad?" Strawberry asked running over.

"Oh, they’re getting her good!" Tulip laughed, sounding like she was thoroughly enjoying Celestia's plight.

"Sentry! Chase!" Ash's voice called out.

Immediately, the two wolf pups broke off and happily ran over to Ash as he approached the scene.

Celestia sat up with a sigh. It was getting too hard to get away from those two now. In three moons, the two had grown so much. Bell had recently weaned them, and now fed them fish and rabbits, with the occasional rodent the pups could sniff out around the storehouse. Already Birch Bark was praising the two pups for pretty much eradicating the irritating pests that had been plaguing him there.

Not all the ponies felt so happy having the wolf pups running around. There were still those that still harbored harsh feelings for the pair. So far, the complaints had been minor and frivolous at best, but that still didn't stop the angry and hostile looks that were directed at the pups as well as at Bell Flower, Strongbuck, and Dove Song for harboring them.

Despite the uncertain feeling many had for the pups, all the foals just loved them. They were as friendly as they were playful. Bell had been reluctant at first to let the pups play with the foals, worrying that something bad might happen, but, after some time, when the pups proved that they had an amazing ability to integrate themselves with the foals as well as easily making friends with them, she found it was a wonderful way to socialize them to others, and to gain a bit of trust with the ponies.

Wiping her hoof over her wolf-slobbered face, Celestia glanced at Ash and saw that his face had also gotten the puppy treatment. Sentry and Chase happily loped around him with their tails wagging as Ash walked up to her.

"I win! Chase got you first!" Celestia exclaimed with a laugh.

"Yeah, but you got it much worse than me!" Ash retorted with a wave at Celestia's extremely slobbered up face.

"That's only because I had both of them on me! You only had the one!" Celestia wiped her hoof on Ash's neck to clean it of puppy spit.

Pine Blossom came dashing over. "Is it over!? Did I miss it!?" she asked breathlessly.

Smiling, Tulip nodded. "Yep. It's all over."

Pine looked disappointed at having missed the play chase. "Aww, I wanted to be here. Why did you all start without me?" she asked. "Who won!?"

"The wolf pups, of course," Strawberry answered with a nod toward Ash and Celestia, pointing out the sloppy state the two were in.

"Come on. Sage Brush promised to tell us another story today," Strawberry said. "Let's go see if he’s there."

"Oh! I love his stories!" Pine exclaimed with a series of excited hops. "I hope he tells us the one about how the mountain fell in love with his own shadow!"

Tulip let out a sigh and tussled up Pine's mane. "He told us that one yesterday because you kept bugging him to. We want to hear a new one today."

"Fine, fine. Let's hear a new one then," Pine muttered, fixing her mussed mane.

Ever since Pine had nearly drowned, the two had grown much closer with each other. During the half moon after her accident, Pine had suffered through a terrible, racking cough that left her weakened and in pain. Staying with her throughout it, Tulip helped to keep her spirits up and to help her pass the time by playing little games with her. Many of the other foals also stopped by from time to time to keep her company until she was fully recovered.

Passing through the settlement, they all headed toward the western side. Sage Brush liked to sit in the shade of a small tree there during the late part of the day to enjoy the breeze. One day, when he was resting there, he called over some of the passing foals to tell them a story. Soon, foals started coming by to hear more from him, with it eventually becoming a semi-regular event.

Arriving at the tree, they found Sage already sitting under its shading branches with Mighty Oak, Toadstool Ring and Glum Drollery, who were apparently also there for a story.

"Oh my, a lot of you have come today," Sage commented in mild surprise, looking over at the new group that was approaching him. "Well, there's plenty of room for more. Find a comfortable spot and have a seat, everypony."

Finding a spot, Ash settled in, Celestia sitting on one side of him and Strawberry sitting on the other.

Seeing Strawberry sitting with Ash, Celestia once again felt a stab of irritation and a sudden desire to move over and place herself between the two. Why was she feeling like this? Strawberry was her friend. She should be happy that she wanted to be close to Ash. Who was she to keep him all to herself anyways? Many stallions had several mares in their family herd, so shouldn't she expect the same for Ash as well?

Swallowing her feeling down as best she could, Celestia focused her attention back to Sage Brush, who was looking like he was about to start his story.

With Sentry and Chase curling up next to him, Sage looked around and smiled as he absentmindedly petted the pups. "Well, you all ready?" Seeing them all nod, he started his story.

Long long ago, in seasons past, there once lived a very unusual fox who made a very usual friend. The fox lived alone along the edge of the forest next to a large meadow. He was lonely and wished to make friends, but no woodland creature would trust him, calling all foxes tricky, sly, and altogether not to be trusted.

One day, when the fox was walking along the edge of the meadow, he came across a rabbit that was weeping by herself. Seeing her crying all alone, the fox's heart went out to her and he approached her to see what was the matter.

"What troubles you so?" he asked her.

"I lost my little sister. We were out in the meadow when a hawk chased us away," she explained, wiping at her eyes with her little paw. "We both ran as fast as we could, but, in the confusion, I lost her, and I can't find her anywhere!"

The fox was moved by her plight and wanted to help her. "Please. Let me help you find her. I'm sure that with both of us looking, we will find her."

The rabbit looked up at him with sudden hope. "Thank you," she said gratefully to him.

Together, they searched all about the meadow, from the beaver-pond in the south to the rocky hills to the north. Rabbit was starting to despair that they would ever find her lost sister.

Fox noticed her disheartened look and spoke up. "Don't give up. We have only discovered where she is not. There are still places to search, I'm sure we will find her there," he said in an attempt to lift her spirits.

His encouraging words seemed to help her, and they went over to the west side to search for her sister there. After an exhausting examination of the area it became clear that her little sister wasn't there. Rabbit looked devastated that they had failed, and looked like she was on the brink of crying again. Fox wanted to say something, but could think of nothing to say to make her feel better.

Suddenly, his sharp eyes picked up something. Scuffed in the dirt before him were some rabbit tracks leading out of the meadow. Bending down, he sniffed at them and got the distinct scent of rabbit. Calling out to his companion, he showed her his discovery. With their new lead, they followed the tracks away into the woods. Soon, they came to steep drop-off. Looking down, they both spotted Rabbit's little sister below them, perched precariously on a small ledge of rock. It appeared that, in her panic, she had tumbled off the edge and now was stuck with nowhere to go.

"How are we going to get her up?" Rabbit worried out loud.

Looking down, Fox saw that Rabbit's sister was in dire trouble. She was too far down for him to reach down and lift up, and, if she slipped off the little ledge she was on, she would tumble down the sheer side to smash into the rocks below.

After thinking about it for a while, the fox suddenly came up with a clever, if risky, plan. "If I was to hold onto your back legs and dangle you down, you could grab onto your sister and I can lift you both back up," Fox offered.

The fox's daring plan required Rabbit to trust him with her life as he dangled her down over sheer drop to a certain death if he should release her leg. She struggled with whether she could trust him with something like that. After all, he was a fox and it was always said that you should never trust a fox. Hearing her sister’s fearful cries down below, Rabbit made up her mind and held her hind leg up for the fox to take.

Taking her leg, Fox lifted Rabbit up and lowered her over the edge. Rabbit’s heart hammered in her chest as she felt the fox's teeth biting into her leg, but she held strong to her faith that he would not let her go. She never expected that she would ever willingly let a fox do this to her. Standing right at the very edge of the drop-off, Fox crouched down and held Rabbit as far down as he could. The moment Rabbit came within reach of her sister, she wrapped her little paws around her and held her close as Fox lifted them both back up to the top.

Settled once again to firm ground, Rabbit and her sister hugged each other in happiness. Fox watched them, feeling a warm sense of pride for what he had done to help bring these two sisters back together.

Glad that he had done some good, the fox was about to leave when Rabbit suddenly moved over and surprisingly gave him a hug. "Thank you! Thank you! You have been a good friend to me," she said into his chest as her little paws tightened around his neck.

The fox felt like crying. She had called him a friend.

From that day onward, they remained friends for the rest of their days. A fox and a rabbit, the most unlikely of friendships to ever be.

The End.

At the conclusion of his story, all the foals began cheering and happily stomping their hooves. Sage Brush smiled, happy to see the foals had enjoyed his story.

"Did that story really happen?" Pine asked.

Sage Brush blinked over at the young filly. "Why of course it really happened. I would never tell you a made up story!" he said with a slightly offended tone. "Now, off with you all. It's getting late."

Many of the foals let out disappointed moans. Sometimes, Sage would tell several stories before he would call it a night. Celestia stood, and she was about to head back home when she saw Dove standing just a little bit away.

"Oh! Hello, Dove," Celestia greeted her, surprised to see her there. "Did you listen to Sage Brush's story?"

"Yes, I did," Dove answered with a smiling nod. Looking over to Sage Brush, Dove waved at him. "Thank you for the wonderful story."

"Oh, you are quite welcome," Sage answered back, looking rather pleased with himself.

Dove stepped closer. "Would you please remind Melodious to bring the twins over? I've been studying the foals and I'm trying to get a normal standard for foals at certain ages so I can identify possible problems early," Dove asked.

"Why, yes. Of course," Sage said nodding. "I'll pass it onto her when I get back."

"Thank you," Dove said gratefully. "By the way, I like your cutie mark. When did you get it?"

Sage Brush blinked at her in surprise before glancing back at his flank. "Huh... when did I get that?" he muttered, scratching at his head. On his flanks were partial rainbows that ended in bursts of glittering stars. Giving his head a shake, Sage Brush gave Dove a departing wave. "I'll have to ask Melodious about that. Perhaps she noticed when. Well, anyways, have a nice night."

Waving at the departing Sage, Dove turned to Ash and gestured to the wolf pups. "Ash, would you please take the pups home? It's time for them to be fed."

Nodding, Ash turned and called out to the wolf pups. When they came running over, he set off for their home.

Celestia was about to follow along with Ash, when Dove touched her on her shoulder. "Celestia, please stay for a moment. There is something I would like you to do for me, if you will."

Celestia nodded and let Dove direct her to where they would have some privacy.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

A short time later, Dove walked back home. Her hoofsteps where slow as she tried to deal with her wildly whirling emotions. She didn't know what she was feeling. One moment, she was happy beyond belief and the next she felt like hiding somewhere to cry. The only constant she had was a cold pit of fear and worry in her gut.

Approaching her home, Dove paused next to the enclosure Strongbuck had built alongside it for the pups, to try to get her turbulent feelings under some kind of control. Inside the enclosure, Sentry and Chase were already curled up together in their own little hut, asleep. Bell had done a wonderful job with those two. She had only recently begun to train them, and already they were picking things up, but they were still puppies, and, because of that, they wanted to play, more than anything. Bell was trying to get as much training with them as she could before her pregnancy grew to a point where she would have to stop.

When it had been discovered that their night by the river had resulted in Bell becoming with foal, Dove had been happy for her, at least at first. After it became clear that she herself had not been so blessed, Dove became angry at her best friend. She hated herself for feeling that way towards her. It took some time, but she managed to come to terms with it, even sharing her feelings with Bell, who understood and forgave her for feeling that way.

Taking a few long breaths to calm her nerves, Dove stepped to the door and entered. Strongbuck and Bell were sitting together, talking as she walked in. Pausing, the two turned and greeted her with warm smiles.

"Ah, you're back. We were just about to go out and look for you. Did something happen?" Strongbuck asked.

Dove felt her gut twist with anxiety. Taking another deep breath, she let it out. "I ah... I have something I want to tell you both..."

Bell's face fell as she noticed Dove's anxious expression. "Dove? What's wrong?"

"You both know how I've not been feeling very well for a little while now." Dove saw them both nod. It had started with her feeling tired all the time, with frequent headaches. A few times she even threw up because it got so bad. "Well, I started to suspect what it meant, but I wasn't sure. It took me a while to work up the nerve to finally find out if I was right. I was afraid what the answer would be. I was terrified that I would be wrong." She didn’t say that she was also scared that she might have been right.

Strongbuck and Bell moved closer with concern on their faces. "What is it? Are you sick!?" Strongbuck asked worriedly.

Dove shook her head. "No. I just went to Celestia and she confirmed it." With her hoof, she tenderly touched her belly. "I'm pregnant."

Strongbuck blinked in surprise then let out a loud whoop of happiness as he grabbed Dove in a sudden fierce hug. A moment later, he abruptly released her with a worried look. "Oh! I didn't mean to grab you so tight! I didn't hurt you, did I!?"

Dove let out a laugh. Strongbuck had done exactly the same thing when he found out that Bell was pregnant. Bell moved in and gave Dove a hug. "I'm so happy! Now we get to go through this together!"

Dove felt her gut twist again as the fear she was holding deep inside reared up. She was overjoyed that she was going to share her pregnancy along with her best friend and herd sister, but there was still a part of her that worried that what had happened to her first two pregnancies would happen again. She didn't know if she could go through it again. Losing a foal was like having a piece of her innermost self ripped away.

Dove hid her worry behind a happy smile as she suffered through Strongbuck rubbing his cheek against the side of her belly, speaking to the foal within her with a really stupid doofy voice. He had been doing the same thing to Bell for a while now, so now it looked like it was her turn.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

The next morning, Ash was laying in the grass just outside his hut with Meadowlark, Celestia and Luna, who was currently stumbling around on her short stubby legs as she explored the grass around her mama. As they all watched, she stumbled to a stop to blink up at a butterfly that was fluttering around her head until it landed right on the end of her nose.

Ash snickered as she crossed her eyes to look at the butterfly. A moment later, it fluttered off and flew to a nearby flower. Luna's lip puckered as she prepared to start crying at the loss, but Celestia quickly moved in and held her hoof out. "Look at this, Luna," she said holding up an insect she had perched on her hoof. "It's a grasshopper."

Luna let out a happy burble as she bent in to look. Suddenly the grasshopper leapt away with a great bounding leap that startled Luna. Immediately her face scrunched up and she started bawling as she stumbled over to mama to be comforted.

"Oh! You poor thing. Did the nasty grasshopper scare you?" Meadowlark said gently to Luna as she held her close. "Well he's all gone now. He won't bother you anymore."

After a short time, Luna settled down enough to move around to seek out Meadowlark's teat so she could start suckling.

"Mama? Why does Luna go to your teat when she's not hungry? You just fed her not that long ago." Ash asked curiously.

"It comforts her." Meadowlark replied with a gentle smile, glancing back at her suckling daughter. "It makes her feels safe and secure that all is right in the world, and that Mama is here for her."

"Oh! I can't believe I almost forgot," Celestia suddenly exclaimed. "Dove's pregnant."

"Ohhh, that's wonderful news!" Meadowlark said with a wide smile. "I must go congratulate her! Celestia, go get Luna's travel basket please.”

As Celestia hurried into their hut, Ash stood. "Greenhoof says the radishes are ready to be harvested, I'm going down to see if I can help out," Ash said as he prepared to leave.

Reaching out her hoof, Meadowlark drew Ash in close and hugged him before she kissed the top of his head. "I love you. Stay safe."

"I will, Mama," Ash assured her before hurrying off.

Chapter Twenty

Ash rushed forward and forced Soft Step back from the tiny flame. "What are you doing playing with something like this!? It’s dangerous!"

Soft Step moved back a pace and leveled a harsh glare at Ash. "But it's not dangerous! I learned how to trap it!"

"What do you mean you trapped it!?" Ash asked confused. "I was taught that it destroys everything, and it can’t be stopped!"

Soft Step shook her head. "I've been studying it and I've learned that that's not true." She then stepped closer and pointed her hoof at the tiny flame. "Just look. It can’t pass the stones I put around it." Reaching down, she lifted a gourd up. "And look," she then tipped the gourd and water flowed out onto the fire, dousing it and putting it out with a hiss. “Water can kill it!” she said plunging the room into darkness.

Ash stood, looking down at the smouldering remains of the flame, lost in thought. Did she do it? Did she really just harness another aspect of nature? Fire. He remembered being told about how fire would rage completely wild through entire forests, burning everything in its path, including entire herds that were unlucky enough to be caught in its path. But here she had a tiny piece of one, completely trapped and in her control. Like the wolves, can fire be tamed? Can it be harnessed to help ponies?

"How?" Ash asked, turning to look back at Soft Step. "How were you able to make it?"

Stepping over to the side of the small room, Soft picked up a small grey stone. "I used this. Papa found it and thought it felt strange. It was heavy for its size. He examined it for a time, but couldn't discover what it was so he gave it to me one day for me to study. I struck it against a rock to try to break it open and see what was inside and much to my amazement, little sparkles of light flew off, like little fireflies."

"Sparkles of light?" Ash asked, confused by her description. How did little grey rocks have fire in them?

"Here, watch," Picking up a piece of flint, she held it clamped between her hooves. Taking the grey stone in her teeth, she struck the flint's sharp edge with it and a shower of tiny sparkling lights were flung out, vanishing within moments. "I spent a whole moon trying to catch them and see what they were. No matter how many times I tried nothing seemed to work, but then one day, it finally happened! A spark fell onto some wood chips and it began to smoke! I did it! I caught a sparkle on the wood chip! I soon discovered that my breath somehow made the spark glow brighter, so I continued to blow onto it until it suddenly, and much to my amazement, burst into flame!"

Her excitement was so palpable she was practically hopping in place as she told her story.

"It was tiny, and its sudden appearance scared me and I jumped back, but after only a few moments it went out with no harm having been done. Since then, I have created it many times, and each time I learn something new." She held her hoof up and showed Ash the inside of her foreleg. A patch of her fur was missing and her skin there was red and slightly swollen.

"See! It's dangerous!" Bumblebee exclaimed. "Sister, you need to stop before you hurt yourself or other ponies!"

"It was only a little accident! And I’ve learned so much since then. My discovery can be really important!" Soft Step shouted back at her sister.

Moving closer, Ash gently touched Soft Step's shoulder. "She's right. You need to stop before you hurt somepony. Most especially, yourself."

Soft Step blinked at him with hurt in her eyes. "But..."

"Don't argue with me on this." Ash said as sternly as he could while meeting her eyes. She gaped at him for a moment, then lowered her eyes with a pout. Softening his voice, Ash smiled at her, "Don't feel bad. You're also right."

Her eyes snapped up to his in sudden surprise. "I... I am...?"

"Yes. What you have discovered is as amazing as it is incredibly dangerous," Ash explained. "I think you should show this to your papa. This is something he should see."

"But I wanted to learn it all on my own without any help," Soft Step protested, "to prove to him what I could do!"

"And you've done it!" Ash answered back. "Just look at what you've done! He gave you a simple grey stone and you found the fire within it! Come on. Prepare your things and I'll go fetch Brightstar, so you can show him what you have done."

Soft Step considered him for a moment before she finally nodded and went to gather what she needed together. Ash felt a sense of relief wash over him. He couldn't help but wonder at how strange this day has been. Not only did he lead in the capture of a group of mares in distress, he now helped to rectify a situation that could have been very dangerous.

As he turned to go, Bumblebee blocked his way and wrapped her hooves around his neck in a hug. "Thank you. I knew you could help." She then, much to his surprise, kissed his cheek. Flushing with embarrassment, Ash hurried off to find Brightstar.

After asking around, Ash found him helping Juniper Rose with her drying racks. It only took a few moments to convince him to come back home to see what Soft Step wanted to show him. When they arrived they found Soft Step and Bumblebee waiting for them in Brightstar's work area.

"What's wrong? Ash told me you needed to see me." Brightstar asked.

Soft Step shifted nervously as she prepared herself. "Papa... there's something I need to show you."

"Couldn't this have waited until later?" Brightstar asked, "I was helping Juniper Rose with her drying racks. It's important that they’re done early enough or we won't have any fruit for the winter."

"Please. You need to watch what she has to show you," Ash said, looking up at Brightstar. "It's important."

Brightstar glanced down at Ash, noticing the strange seriousness in his tone. "Well, okay. What is it you want to show me?"

The middle of the dirt floor had been swept clear, and Soft Step had set a ring of stones with a small pile of sticks set inside down. Next to that, she had a large sheet of bark with wood chips piled on top with what looked like a piece of tree fungus.

Picking up the grey stone Soft Step held it up. "Papa, do you remember this stone you gave me?"

"I do." Brightstar answered, his voice sounding curious.

"I've been studying it like you wanted me to and I've discovered something... surprising." Bending down, Soft Step set the grey stone down and used a sharp piece of flint to start scraping at the tree fungus until she had a pile of shavings gathered together in its center. Setting the piece of flint down next to her small pile of shreddings and bracing it with her hoof. Picking up the grey stone in her teeth, Soft Step began to strike it against the edge of the flint, shooting off a shower of sparkling lights onto her pile of tree fungus shavings.

Brightstar leaned forward with sudden interest as he watched his daughter. After a series of tries, Soft Step suddenly stopped and set her grey stone down. Bending down over the tree fungus, she began to gently blow on it. From where he was standing, Ash was able to make out that there was a tiny glowing spark inside the fungus shavings, and each time Soft Step blew into it, it glowed brighter.

Smoke started to waft up from the fungus she was working on, and Brightstar's eyes widened in amazement. Suddenly a tiny flame appeared and Soft Step quickly began setting the wood shavings into it. Soon the flame began to grow larger.

Brightstar took a sudden intake of breath as a look of alarm came over his face. Ash was ready and he quickly placed himself before Brightstar and held his hoof to his chest to hold him back from doing anything. "Wait! Please, trust your daughter and watch."

Brightstar looked like he was about to brush Ash aside so he could rush forward, but something seemed to forestall him from doing so. He watched in awed wonder as his daughter lifted the sheet of bark and moved it over the the ring of stones. With a careful hoof, Soft Step deposited the burning wood chips within the pile of sticks. A few moments later the fire grew as it started to burn the sticks.

It was now that Brightstar rushed over to Soft Step. Taking her hooves, he checked them for any burns. Next, he began to check the rest of her body.

Letting out a giggle, Soft Step batted Brightstar's hooves away. "I'm fine. It didn't hurt me."

"Are you sure? Perhaps you just don't feel it yet,” he said, trying to examine her again.

Fending her papa off, Soft Step moved over to the fire to check on it. Seeing that it was burning evenly and within the confines of her stone ring, she looked up at her papa. "I did it, Papa. I made fire."

"I see that, Sweetie," Brightstar said. Walking closer to the fire, he bent down and admired it. "You have done something quite wondrous, and you have no idea how proud I am of you for it."

Soft Step beamed up at Brightstar, ecstatic that he had praised her.

His smile faded into a frown. "But I am also very disappointed in you for handling something so dangerous without coming to me the moment you discovered it," Brightstar said with a stern voice. "That was very unsafe, and I expected better of you."

Soft Step suddenly looked down, abashed at his abrupt criticism of her. "I'm sorry, Papa."

Wrapping a hoof around her, Brightstar drew her in for a hug. "You're still an amazing little filly and I love you all the same."

Ash felt a warmth in his chest as he watched the tender scene, though, it might have been the fire he was feeling. Next to him, Bumblebee sniffled and wiped at her nose before rushing over to join in the family hugging.

Releasing the two fillies, Brightstar looked back at the fire. "So, how about you teach me how you did that."

Smiling, Soft Step started to gather her things back together as she explained what each one did. As she did, a flicker of light momentarily shimmered on her flanks as a pair of flames appeared there.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Dove shifted herself and rubbed at her belly as she worked to clean and treat their guests’ wounds. Most of their injuries were just minor scrapes that just needed to be cleaned and treated with mashed plantain leaves. Only one of the mares, Dainty Mane, had anything more serious. She had a gash that ran along her ribs that looked swollen, with a slight scent of rot. Dove cleaned and treated it like usual, but she feared that she would have to cut away some of the diseased tissue later and retreat it.

Flinching, Dove paused to rub at her belly again as she let out a breath. Her cramps had started a little while ago and they felt like they were getting worse. It would still be a few more moons before her pregnancy would start to show, but already her udders were starting to feel sore.

Laying on a mat near her brother, Mirage Shimmer told of what happened to her and the other mares as she ate hungrily from a wooden bowl. She had already devoured several helpings of radishes, and it appeared that she was not going to stop anytime soon.

"We were moving through the mountain range on our way to the high meadows where we like to summer, when we stopped to rest for a few days in a tiny hidden valley we found by chance," Mirage explained. "The valley was very small with shear walls on all sides. In the back, there was a tiny spring that fed into a tiny pond. We stayed there for several days to let the foals and their mothers rest before we attempted the arduous trek up to the high pastures. When our herd stallion, old Gravel Biter, decided that it was time to go, he sent the six of us out first to make sure it was safe." Mirage's tone became somber as her eyes became distant. "We were out for only a short while when, suddenly, there was a horrible, cracking boom that shook the earth under our hooves. A section of the mountainside had sheared off, and, as we watched with horror, came crashing down right onto the narrow pass into the valley, blocking it up completely. We tried everything we could to find a way back in, but we failed. The valley was sealed tight.

"There was nothing else we could do. We didn't know how far back into the valley the slide had gone, or as to whether the herd was even still alive in there. In the end, we did the hardest thing we ever had to do." Her voice broke, and it took her a few moments to continue. "We left them behind."

Dove felt her heart ache with sympathy for the mares. She couldn't imagine leaving loved ones behind like that. Not knowing if they were dead or alive. Without thinking about it, Dove rubbed her belly.

"This all happened three days ago." Mirage said, before looking over at her brother. "And, Darkie, Mama was in there."

Dark looked like somepony had bucked him in the gut. With a troubled look, he stood and walked off to the other side of the room to stare out one of the openings at the setting sun.

"That's terrible," Dove said, looking after Dark. "He must be absolutely devastated."

Mirage shook her head. "His feelings towards her is a bit more complicated than that. You see, he's never forgiven her for abandoning him when she was pregnant with me," she explained, looking over at Dark with sorrow. "Mama tried to reconcile with him later, but that only drove him further away." Mirage continued gazing after her brother. "One day, he decided to leave. I tried to talk him out of it but he had his mind set. I was the only one he said goodbye to when he left." Mirage dropped her gaze. "Until today, that was the last time I saw him."

"Mirage," Meadowlark said, calling her attention back to her. "Do you think you would be able to find your way back?"

"Back? You mean back to the valley?" Mirage asked, scratching at her head. "I think so. Why?"

Meadowlark didn't answer as they turned to look over to Strongbuck. "Strongbuck, please tell Brightstar, Hoof Strike, and Sky, if you can chase her down, to come see me."

Strongbuck gave a quick nod before hurrying off. Melodious looked over at Meadowlark thoughtfully. "You're thinking of trying to rescue them, aren't you?"

Meadowlark nodded. "Brightstar has some of the most unique and inventive minds working along with him. If they can't think of a way to get them out, I will be very surprised."

"But we don't know if they’re even alive in there," Mirage said.

"I guess that’s where Sky comes in," Melodious surmised out loud.

Birch Bark smiled as he suddenly got it. "Oh! She could just fly over and check on them!"

"Right," Meadowlark said as she tapped her hoof to her chin. "We'll need to act fast. We don't know what state they'll be in. They may be injured." Turning, she looked to Dove. "Dove, would you be willing to go?"

Dove smiled and nodded. "Oh course I would. I'll gladly do anything I can to help."

"Good," Meadowlark said, giving Dove a appreciative smile. "Now, we need somepony to lead the rescue. I think Hoof Strike would do nicely with that."

"No." Dark's voice cut in as he turned back from the opening. "I will lead the rescue."

Meadowlark looked over at him, her expression filled with concern. "Are you sure you want to do that? Hoof Strike can do it."

"I will lead it." His tone made it clear that his decision was final.

She considered him for a time. "Very well," Meadowlark submitted. "When will you want to leave?"

"Tomorrow morning. Just before sunrise," Dark answered.

"Well then, that means I need to get my stuff ready," Dove said, standing. Suddenly, a sharp cramping pain shot through her gut that doubled her over with an agonized groan.

"Dove!" Meadowlark exclaimed, rushing over to her.

Gasping for breath, Dove fought to bare through the pain. What was happening!? Her mind whirled around in frightened concern for her foal. A new wave of pain sent her collapsing to the ground.

"Dove! What's wrong!?" Meadowlark asked, her voice sounding frightened as she tried to help her. Suddenly, Dove heard Meadowlark gasp in horror. "Oh no. Dove. You're bleeding!"

Through her fog of pain, Dove could feel it: a wetness running down her hind legs.

"Dark!" Melodious shouted turning to him.. "Go get Strongbuck! Now!"

****

Brilliant Dawn labored up the steps of the Pillar of the Heavens. Her breath came in heaving grunts as she struggled to haul her great bulk up the steep earthen and stone ziggurat steps. It had taken the unicorns nearly a century to complete the ziggurat, with many lives being lost to its construction.

Occasionally, the foal in her womb would shift and kick her in her bladder, or poke her lung with its stubby little horn. Just ahead of her, Brilliant Dawn could see the top of the ziggurat drawing close. She'd climbed to the top many times in her life, but, now that she was heavy with foal, it was a massive ordeal that strained her to total exhaustion. Her hooves ached and her back felt like it was about to crack in half. All in all, she felt absolutely miserable.

Having a foal wasn't something she wanted to do yet; even though she had been through her first few heats, she felt that she was still too young, but her mother, Astral, demanded that it was her duty to produce powerful offspring as soon as she could, to insure their supremacy over the rest of the lower unicorns. When her next heat came, her mother brought her a young virile stallion she had carefully chosen for the task of siring a foal with her. With her blood raging in carnal lust, Brilliant Dawn was unable to resist the stallion’s advances. With her mother watching to insure that it was done, Brilliant Dawn allowed the stallion to breed her.

Climbing up the last few steps to the top of the ziggurat, Brilliant Dawn let out a relieved breath as she looked around. Unicorns were already lined up along the two sides of the large, flat-topped ziggurat. In the center, she could barely make out her mother's near-black coat standing within a series of very large standing stones that was arranged in concentric rings around her in very precise astrological alignments to the heavens. The sun sat low to the horizon in the west, its light shining through a very narrow gap right onto a mark in the very center of the ring. Marking the time of the summer solstice.

It was almost time. It had taken her longer to reach the top than she had expected. Hurrying forward, Brilliant Dawn took her place just outside the stone ring in the center.

"I'm please to see that you've finally arrived." Her mother said, turning to look back at her.

"My apologies, mother." Brilliant Dawn said apologetically. "It's getting very difficult for me to climb the stairs now."

Astral pursed her lips as she considered her daughter, her expression unreadable. "Please endure your condition a little better from now on, dear daughter. I will not stand for any of the lowers seeing weakness from any of my progeny. Understood?"

"Yes, mother. I understand," Brilliant Dawn answered with a bow of her head. "I will do better from now on."

"See that you do," Astral replied evenly, before she turned her attention away. "It is time. Let us begin."

Brilliant Dawn summoned her magic and her horn glowed with a light emerald color. All around, the Patrons horns began to glow as they also drew on their magic. Reaching out, Brilliant Dawn began to link their magic together. One by one, she drew the Patrons magic to her until all one hundred were linked to her. She struggled under the strain of the power she was drawing in. Most unicorns’ horns would shatter under such strain, but Brilliant Dawn carefully modulated the stress and held it carefully in balance. She couldn't describe how good it felt. The amount of power she now held made her feel like she could do anything. At that moment she was sure she could crack the very world under her, if she so desired.

What she was doing was very dangerous. Many mares had died or been terribly crippled doing this task over the centuries. Her mother, Astral, had been very proud that her eldest daughter had been skilled and powerful enough to take on such an important, and prestigious duty as the Focus. There were less than a dozen mares capable of filling the role, and none of them could do it as efficiently or as consistently as Brilliant Dawn did.

Turning her attention to her waiting mother, Brilliant Dawn lowered her head and pointed her horn at her, sending all the power she had gathered to her in a stream of magic. Astral's face began to smile in euphoric bliss as her horn glowed ever brighter with power. It quickly grew so bright, it would hurt the eyes of any who looked upon it. Lifting her head, Astral cast her spell and the sun began to drop to the horizon.

As she worked to feed the accumulated magic to her mother, Brilliant Dawn felt a sudden gripping pain in her stomach. Gritting her teeth, she managed to bare through the cramping pain that rippled through her body. It wasn't the first time she had experienced cramps. Recently, they had been growing worse as her pregnancy grew more advanced. Sometimes they kept her up for half the night, leaving her exhausted in the morning, when she had to help with the raising of the morning sun.

The sun slowly settled under the horizon and the sky dimmed to a rosy twilight. Another cramp suddenly shot through her as her mother started to raise the half-filled moon. Letting out a grunt of surprise at the intensity of the cramping, Brilliant Dawn redoubled her focus on feeding the vast surge of magic to her mother smoothly and evenly. It was a struggle. She balanced on the very edge of losing total control as her focus wavered.

Quickly, the cramps passed and Brilliant Dawn steadied herself. It was almost done. A few more moments, the moon rose up clear of the horizon and she released the magic she was drawing from the Patrons with a relieved gasp. The top of the ziggurat plunged into darkness as the magic faded. With a crackling pop, Astral vanished as she transported herself away. Brilliant Dawn wished she could do that as well, but it was too dangerous with her pregnancy.

As ponies began to file off the top, another cramp rippled through her body, forcing Brilliant Dawn to pause to lean against one of the standing stones to wait for it to pass. With the last unicorn disappearing down the stairs, Brilliant Dawn began to worry that she may need some help. The cramping pain wasn't fading like usual. In fact, it was growing much worse.

Letting out a groan, Brilliant Dawn slowly collapsed to the ground and huddled around her large belly as the pain grew to agonizing levels. Suddenly, she felt a popping sensation followed by a gush of warm fluid run out of her, down her hind legs.

Panic shot through her as she realized what was happening. It was time! She was having the foal! When the pain subsided a bit, Brilliant Dawn attempted to stand. She needed to try to get down the ziggurat. A moment later, she cried out as she collapsed back down onto the cold, hard, stone ground. Never before had she ever felt such pain.

Her body contorted with each cramping pain as she writhed on the ground. It was happening so fast! She started to feel pressure as something began to push out of her. Gasping for breath, Brilliant Dawn gritted her teeth as she bore down and pushed. The pressure she felt only increased and she screamed in agony.

Time and again, Brilliant Dawn pushed with each of her tortuous contractions, and, slowly, she felt something start to come out. With another hard push, she suddenly felt a searing pain. She felt like something was tearing and she screamed out in pain. Glancing back as best she could, Brilliant Dawn noticed blood start to puddle out from her across the stone ground.

Letting out a cry of agonized fear, Brilliant Dawn desperately bore down as hard as she could and pushed. For a moment the pressure and pain was beyond anything she had ever felt before. Then suddenly something shifted and the pressure abruptly vanished as she felt something push all the way out of her.

Letting out a cry of relief and joy that her foal was finally out, Brilliant Dawn turned herself and saw a small, light-lavender filly lying partly in her torn birthing bag on the ground. Her little head moved about, as she started to cry. Brilliant Dawn never heard anything so beautiful in her life. As carefully as she could, she gathered her newborn daughter up in her magic and tucked her against her side so she could nuzzle and clean her.

As she licked and rubbed her foal in loving attention, Brilliant Dawn couldn't help but admire how beautiful she was. Her coat was a light-lavender color, and her mane and tail were a dark, plum purple. Licking the foal along her little cheeks, Brilliant Dawn saw the her foal’s eyes come open. Looking into her eyes, Brilliant Dawn gasped in sudden horror when she saw that they were milky white! Her newborn daughter was completely blind!

Letting out a whimpering cry of despair, she clutched her daughter to herself. She needed to hide her somewhere safe! There was no way her mother would allow a foal with such a defect to live! Gathering her hooves, Brilliant Dawn attempted to stand, but her legs were too weak and she fell back. What was wrong!? Why did she feel so weak?

She tried a couple more times, but failed to make it up to her hooves. Laying back, Brilliant Dawn clutched her daughter to herself as she gazed up at the stars. A chill was creeping through her body as she felt her eyes start to fall shut with heaviness. She was just tired. She just needed to get a bit of sleep. That's all. After she rested, she’ll find a way to keep her foal safe from her mother. She just… needed… to… rest...a bit...

Tucking her head about her foal. Bright Dawn closed her eyes and drifted off to darkness.

****

"I tell you, I heard somepony screaming up here," a young unicorn mare said, topping the ziggurat with an older mare accompanying her.

"Well, I don't see anything," the older mare said, looking around.

"No! Wait!" the younger mare exclaimed. "What's that over there?" she said, pointing her hoof.

The older mare's horn lit up with a flickering glow, and she cast its wavering light toward where the younger one was pointing.

Lying against one of the standing stones, they saw a light-emerald colored mare huddled up on herself.

"Hello?" the older mare called out. "We heard screaming. Are you alright?"

When they got no response, they both approached the mare. Soon they saw a large puddle of blood surrounding her. Letting out a gasp, the younger mare dashed forward and checked on her. The moment she touched her limp body, she knew that she was dead.

"I know her," the older mare said, looking down at the body. "She's the Matriarch's daughter. Brilliant Dawn."

"We should go before we're caught here with her. They'll think that we did this to her!" the younger mare exclaimed in fright.

Before they could turn to go, they heard a tiny, mewling cry coming from the dead mare.

Letting out a terrified cry, the younger mare hid behind the other. "What was that!?"

"I’m not sure," the older mare said, stepping closer. "It came from under her." Using her magic, she moved Brilliant Dawn's head to the side, revealing a tiny light-lavender filly huddled up under her neck.

Bending around the older mare, the younger one peeked out. "It's... it’s a filly."

****

"No! This isn’t happening!" Dove's voice was wracked with panic. She clutched at Strongbuck's neck as he carried her on his back. Over and over again she whimpered and pleaded out loud. "No, please no. Not again, please."

Strongbuck felt his heart ache with worry. Blood continued to seep out of Dove, and now it was running down his flanks as it dribbled down onto him. Dove's tears soaked into his neck where she had her cheek pressed into him. Her pleading whimpers never stopping.

Around him. Dark, Meadowlark, Bell, and Mirage Shimmer hurried along with him. Worry was prevalent on all their faces. Ducking through his hut opening, Strongbuck carefully lowered Dove down onto the bed of straw. Once she was down, Dove curled around and protectively hugged her stomach.

"Please. Please. Please no. Please." Dove sobbed.

Strongbuck sat back in worry, not sure what to do as he looked around. A hoof came down on his shoulder as Dark stood over him. "Come. You shouldn't be here for... this."

"But she needs me. I want to stay with her." Strongbuck answered back.

"She needs you to love her and to be strong for her." Dark answered meeting his gaze. "You won't be able to do that if you... see what happens next. Bell is here and she'll stay with Dove. Come. Let's give them room to work." Dark lead Strongbuck out of the hut.

Sitting out in the low hanging sun. Strongbuck kept his attention focused solely on his hut and the sounds from within.

Ash dashed over and looked up at Dark. "What's the matter, Papa?"

Dark looked down and mutely shook his head to the colt. Seeing the serious look Dark was giving him, Ash kept quiet from any further questions and silently sat with Strongbuck.

A short time later, Melodious came hurrying up with Celestia by her side. When they stepped inside, Strongbuck heard Dove start whimpering louder. "No! Don't touch me! Please, no! Stay back!"

"Dove, please," Melodious said as she tried to reason with Dove. "We need to know for sure."

"No, no, no. Please, no. Don't..." Dove's plea's lost strength as her voice became weak and woeful until she fell silent. A moment later she suddenly cried out in agonized, heartbroken grief and started sobbing uncontrollably.

Celestia suddenly dashed out of the hut and ran away as fast as she could, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Ash!" Dark called out to the colt hurriedly. "Go after her and hug her as tight as you can until she stops crying! Go now!"

Ash immediately shot after Celestia.

Strongbuck couldn't hold himself back any longer and made to rush inside, but Dark blocked his way. "Strongbuck. Just remember your feelings for her and be strong. She will need your strength and love more now than ever." With that, he let the young stallion go inside. Letting out a sad sigh, Dark looked up at the newly-risen moon and let his own tears fall.

Chapter Twenty One

Astral, sovereign of the Heavens, Matriarch of the greatest and most powerful Unicorn tribe in the world, leaned back against the warm rocks and let out a contented sigh. There was nothing she enjoyed more than a good soaking in a hot spring at the end of a day. Deep down, toward the heart of an old, extinct volcano, water pooled in vast, heated chambers that the Unicorns found to be a perfect place to relax and soak in the mineral rich waters. In other, much larger chambers, Unicorn mares were already gathering in the heated pools to exchange the latest gossip and pass on pleasantries with each other.

The sour feeling she felt in her stomach was slowly ebbing away as she soaked in the warm water. The food the gatherers had brought back today had been most unacceptable. Two half-rotten apples and some dry grass. She would have to have some of them punished again. They were getting lazy and not searching out far enough for some proper food. Or worse yet, they were probably keeping the choice bits for themselves.

Insufferable lowers. Always complaining and griping about the dangers that are out there. It had grown so bad she had been forced to send Casters out with them to ensure they brought back food.

Cracking her eyes open, Astral looked over to Glittering Crystal who stood silently by the cave wall. “Glittering, go and find what is taking my dear daughter, Brilliant so long in returning. Her incessant tardiness has grown most vexing.”

Glittering Crystal nodded her head before she quickly trotted off down the old lava tube to follow her order.The cave system they lived in was quite extensive. Old lava tubes and open chambers honeycombed the entire mountain, making it a wonderful home for a tribe of such immense size and power. For centuries, they used their magic to carve out new passages and chambers to expand into.

Closing her eyes again, Astral let her mind wander as she let the warmth soak into her. All of her careful plans were coming along just as well as she had hoped. Soon, her oldest and most talented daughter, Brilliant Dawn, will birth the next powerful member of her family. Of all the high bloods, her family will be the most powerful to ever exist! All Unicorns will bow their heads down and worship her!

The sound of clopping of hooves approached her pool. Flicking an ear back, Astral frowned. It was about time Brilliant Dawn arrived. Cracking an eye open, she glanced to the side and was unpleasantly surprised to see Glittering Crystal approaching her pool with an anxious expression.

"What is it, Glittering Crystal? Why is my errant daughter not with you?" Astral asked the mare with a hard edge to her voice.

"My... my apologies, Matriarch," Glitter Dust said, her tone sounding oddly tense, "but something dreadful has happened."

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Higher above, in the old volcano, within the expanded warren of corridors and chambers, Radiant Sunset sat in her family quarters holding Brilliant Dawn’s light-lavender foal, with her two younger sisters, Dazzling Evening and Vivid Midnight, fawning over her.

The two low blood mares that had found Brilliant Dawn and her foal sat nervously near the entrance to their quarters with two hard eyed Casters watching over them. They had been found descending the Pillar of the Heavens with Brilliant Dawn’s newborn foal, and the pair had been quickly brought in so the Matriarch could see and question them.

The older mare, Grand Vista was silvery-blue with a deep purple mane and the younger mare, Tranquil Charm had a russet coat with a golden-orange mane. They stared about in nervous amazement at all the magically charged light crystals that sat about the chamber. To them, any more than two or three was a luxury that was unknown to lowers like them.

Summoning her magic, Radiant Sunset fed power into a nearby light crystal, making it glow brighter so she could make out the foal better. At the moment, she was asleep and her eyes were closed, but Radiant had already seen what was under them. Foals with such deformities were often time abandoned in the wilderness by their mothers or cast down from a clifftop as soon as they were born. Radiant worried for the filly, for what their mother would do to her.

"What's going to happen to her? Are we going to keep her?" her younger sister, Dazzling Evening asked.

Little Vivid Midnight, her youngest sister sniffled her nose as she nodded. "Yeah, can we keep her?" Her eyes were red from crying.

Radiant didn't know how to answer them. The truth just seemed too cruel. Looking up at her sisters, she shook her head. "I'm not sure. Mother will know when she gets here." She answered as best she could. Turning her head, she nodded toward the sleeping chamber. "It's late, I want you two to go to sleep now."

"Aww, but I want to be here when mother meets the new foal," Dazzling whined with a pout.

Radiant knew that it would be a horrible mistake to let them stay. "No. You can see them tomorrow morning." She didn't like lying to them, but she didn’t want them there when their mother arrived. Now that Brilliant was gone, it was up to her to look after them. "I'm the elder sister now, so do what I tell you and go to sleep," she ordered with the best authoritative tone she could manage.

Thankfully her sisters relented and went off to their sleeping quarters. Letting out a relieved breath, Radiant rocked the filly who was now letting out little whimpering complaints at having been roused from her quiet slumber. Summoning her magic, Radiant cast a spell that was her own little invention on the passageway to her sisters sleeping quarters. With a glow around the walls, her spell was set and the passageway was warded to prevent sound from passing through. She may not have the raw power or the fine control that Brilliant Dawn had, but Radiant had other skills that were just as useful.

After an abortive attempt to talk to the two terrified mares, Radiant sat quietly and listened to the filly's slow drawn breaths as she slept. Gazing down at her, Radiant couldn't help it. Her heart went out to the filly. She was so tiny and just starting out in life. She didn't deserve this fate.

A familiar light appeared at the corridor outside. Radiant's heart started to race as her mother stepped into the chamber with her horn glowing with power, while Glittering Crystal followed behind her. Her mother's eyes quickly settled onto Radiant and the foal she was holding. Radiant cringed back from her mother's gaze and she was glad she had sent her sisters to bed before they saw their mother like this.

Ignoring the two mares, Astral marched over to Radiant. "Let me see!" she growled out. "I want to see that creature's eyes now!"

Radiant protectively tightened her hold on the filly as her mother approached, afraid that her mother would harm the foal. Instead, Astral used her magic to flip open the sleeping foal's lids so she could look at her colorless eyes. Letting out an enraged howl, half of the light crystals suddenly exploded around the chamber as her magic surged out uncontrolled.

The two mares cowered back in fear as the two Casters gazed at Astral with sudden worry, looking like they wanted to be somewhere else. The foal startled awake at the ruckus and started bawling in fright.

As her mother turned away with a snarl, Radiant knew that this was her only chance to try and save the foal. "Mother! She didn’t do anything wrong! She’s still family! Brilliant would want her to live!”

"Brilliant is dead," Astral roared out as she spun about and pointed a hoof, "and that deformed thing killed her!"

"No she didn't!" Radiant shouted back over the waling foal. "You did!" She couldn't believe what she had just said to her mother. Despite her shock, she knew that what she had said was true. "You were the one who forced this on her! You just couldn't wait, could you? You just needed to show them all how superior we are to them! Your reckless desire to be worshiped is what killed Brilliant! Not this little foal!"

Her mother’s eyes grew very wide with fury and her horn crackled with power. Radiant swallowed fearfully as she clutched the foal to herself.

"How dare you!" Astral screamed in outrage. "I am your mother, and I will not be spoken to like this from you!"

"Or what, Mother!?" Radiant challenged back. "You'll drag me down to the breeding stables to be mounted by all the stallions until I beg you for forgiveness or die in foalbirth like sister did?"

Magic suddenly shot out of Astral's horn, striking Radiant. Agonizing pain racked her body as she collapsed to the ground, the foal almost falling from her grasp. Magic snapped around her body for a few more moments until it suddenly faded, leaving her gasping for breath on the ground. This was the first time her mother had ever used a shock spell on her. She had no idea it would hurt so much! The foal in her hooves was shrieking now, her little voice cracking with the strain of her howls. Suddenly she was ripped out of her grasp by her mother's magic.

"Don't test me, you disobedient whelp!" she snapped at her daughter as she floated the foal over to herself.

Radiant struggled to get her twitching hooves gathered under her as she looked up at her mother, "Mother no! Please! Don't hurt her!"

Astral's horn grew brighter as she drew on her magic. Bending her head down, she touched the foal. The air surrounding the tiny foal crackled with Astral’s intense power, and Radiant desperately crawled forward, trying to get to her mother before it was too late. With a sudden flash and crackling pop, the terrified wailing foal vanished.

Letting out a whimper, Radiant collapsed back down as tears flooded her eyes. She failed. Brilliant Dawn's little foal was gone. Sent to some far flung wilderness somewhere to die alone.

Turning from her weeping daughter, Astral approached the two frightened mares. "You two. Were you the ones who found my daughter?"

The two mares both cowered back as they clutched each other, obviously terrified. The older one managed to nod her head to the impatiently waiting Matriarch.

“Did either of you speak to any other pony about what you found?" she demanded of the pair, fixing them both with an intense gaze.

Radiant managed to get her quivering hooves under some control and was able to sit up and wipe at her eyes.

"Well did you!? Answer me!" Her mother shouted at the two mares, her horn glowing brighter.

Cringing back in terror, they both began to fervently shake their heads at her.

Astral gave a pleased nod to their answer. "Good."

Her apparent satisfied response to their answer made the two mares let out relieved breaths, but Radiant knew from her mother's tone that they should still be very afraid of her.

Sure enough, Astral's horn flashed as she cast a spell. The two mares suddenly jerked and shuddered in place as their eyes started to bug out. This only lasted a moment before both their jaws suddenly went slack and they stared forward with vacant eyes that glowed from within. This went on for a brief time until her mother seemed satisfied and released her hold over them.

The two mares suddenly crumpled to the ground. Glittering Crystal moved over and checked on them. "What did you do to them?" she asked as she worriedly looked them over.

"I removed the last day out of their minds,” she answered. Looking over to the two Casters she gestured down to the two drooling mares. "Take them down to the lower tunnels and leave them. I don’t care where. They will not be able to remember nor tell anypony what has happened this night.”

The two Casters quickly followed Astral's order and lifted their two comatose charges up in their magic and carried them out.

Astral turned away, already forgetting about what she had done to the two unfortunate mares and approached her horrified daughter. Setting her hoof onto Radiant's cheek, Astral looked into her daughter's eyes. "You must understand that everything I do is for the betterment of my family. That includes you my dear daughter." She said with a soft voice. "Sometimes I must do things that are harsh or even cruel to protect what is precious to me. Someday you will understand the sacrifices a mother has to do for her foals."

Radiant felt sick. She had just witnessed and experienced some very disturbing acts from her mother. Is this the mother that Brilliant knew? Would she, now that she was the eldest, have to face this side of her mother from now on? Would she have the strength to endure?

Blinking her eyes, Radiant looked down from her mother's gaze. "I understand, Mother. I'm sorry for the shameful way I've acted."

Her mother drew her into a hug. "Oh, my dear daughter. You were only trying to protect that poor, defective foal. I am proud of you, that is a good sign that you will be a good mother someday."

"Yes, Mother. Thank you." To protect her two sisters, she would have to endure.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

The sky was still dark as the rescue party gathered near the longhouse. Birch Bark had worked all night to ready the supplies they would be taking with them. When word had gone out that they were heading out on a rescue mission, there was no shortage of volunteers that Dark was able to choose from.

Ash suppressed a yawn as he made sure his pack was in place before grabbing his spear and rushing out. Celestia and Meadowlark were already out saying goodbye to Dark and his sister, Mirage Shimmer. Dashing through the settlement, Ash quickly arrived at the bustling longhouse.

Ponies busily worked to get ready. Packs were being checked and filled, and families and loved ones were saying their goodbyes. What they were about to do was something that had never even been attempted before. To go out and rescue another herd in distress. Many ponies were excited by this new chance to help others and explore new ways of doing things.

Ash found Dark and Mirage standing by the large cracked stone with Meadowlark and Celestia. Dark was holding Luna and busily kissing the giggling filly quite thoroughly. Rushing up, Ash stopped next to Dark as he passed Luna back to her mother.

Glancing down at Ash with his pack and spear, Meadowlark frowned as she looked back to Dark. "I'm still not happy you're taking him with you."

Dark smiled at her over-concern for the colt and placed his hoof on his back. "Don't worry about him. He'll be just fine, I'll see to it."

Meadowlark narrowed her eyes at him as her lips tightened in disapproval, then her face softened as he stepped in closer and nuzzled Dark's cheek. "Make sure you do. I want to see you both returned to me."

As the two nuzzled each other, Ash suddenly caught a flash of red as he felt a pair of soft lips pressed onto the side of his muzzle near his lips. Blinking in surprise, Ash glanced over to see Strawberry Zest stepping back with an embarrassed look on her face.

"I’d like you to come back safely as well, okay?" she said with a smile before rushing off.

"Well, that was sweet of her," Mirage said, giving Ash an amused look.

Celestia scowled at the departing Strawberry with a stormy look. Ash was confused as to why she appeared to be so upset at Strawberry. Weren't they friends? Before he could ask her what was wrong, he was suddenly enveloped in a tight hug that smooshed him with Luna in Meadowlarks hooves, she began kissing him several times all over his head, cheeks and muzzle.

"I want you to stay close to Papa and listen to him at all times. Okay?" Meadowlark said, looking him in the face.

Blinking at her, Ash nodded. "I will Mama." He said before he kissed her and turned and kissed the gurgling Luna he was mashed up against.

Once he was set down again by a weepy Meadowlark, Ash looked for Celestia, but discovered she was missing. He felt a bit disappointed that he didn't get to say goodbye to her. The night before, he had held her as she sobbed uncontrollably over the grief of Dove’s lost foal. The anguish she felt when she sensed nothing where she had once felt a bright spark of new life in Dove’s womb absolutely devastated her. Ash had no idea Celestia could cry that much.

Ash noticed that ponies were starting to join up as they all readied to go. Following along with Dark and Mirage, Ash saw Soft Step and her sister Bumblebee approaching. Pausing Ash waited for them.

"I'm glad I caught you before you left," Soft Step said as she stopped just before him. Reaching back into her pack, she took out a little grey stone and held it out to him. "I wanted to give you this. I broke it off of mine. I thought it you might find it useful."

Ash took the grey stone on the flat of his hoof and saw that it was a piece of the same grey stone Soft Step used to strike sparks from, what she started to call her sparker. He felt touched that she had given him a piece of it. "Thank you. I know how much this means to you. I'll treasure it."

Saying his goodbyes, Ash put the stone into his pack and rushed off to catch up with Dark, who was now standing in the lead of a group of nineteen ponies. Sky Twirl was with her mate, Dusty Stride, who was carrying a heavy pack filled with food and water. Many other ponies were also carrying various supplies that Birch Bark had provided for the trip.

In the back of the supply ponies was a grayish-green mare with a vibrant blue mane, who kept an attentive eye on Dusty and Sky. Pebble Stream had quickly volunteered when she had heard her son was going, and despite the dark look he had given her when he saw that she was there, he made no move to have her removed from the expedition and instead seemed to have chosen to just ignore her.

Dark looked over his twenty volunteers and saw that they were all ready. Calling out the order to go, he turned and lead them out the gate.

Ash followed along right beside Dark, his hooves feeling like they were floating above the ground. Ahead of them, he could see the sky growing brighter as the sun approached the horizon.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Dove lay staring out blankly at the wall, her hooves wrapped around her empty womb. She had no more tears left to cry. Everything in her felt hollow and barren, a desolate wasteland of despair. Strongbuck and Bell had stayed with her all night, trying to comfort her, but in truth, all their kind loving words and tender touches only seemed to hurt her further.

The sun was up. She knew this but didn't care. Bell had left to hunt down food for the two wolf pups, leaving Strongbuck to be with her. She could hear him not far from her, shifting around occasionally. She felt that she didn't deserve the love Strongbuck and Bell showed for her.

Strongbuck had given her something wondrous and precious to care for and her useless body allowed it to wither and die. She hated herself, and she hated her body. She felt nothing but vile revulsion for what her body has done to Strongbuck. She didn't deserve his love. Bell was much more deserving of his love than her.

"Dove? Would you like me to get you something to eat now?" Strongbuck suddenly asked, breaking the long silence. "You haven't eaten since yesterday."

At first, she was about to refuse again but then she realized that he would probably just keep asking until she said yes. Opening her mouth, she finally answered him. "If it's not too much trouble," she said softly without turning to look at him.

"No, no. No trouble at all," Strongbuck answered back quickly with a hopeful note in his voice. This had been the first time she responded to anything. "How are you feeling?"

"I hurt," she answered back, tightening her grip around her abdomen.

She heard him move in close and he softly touch to her shoulder. After a moment he stepped away. "I'll... go get you some food. How about some strawberries?"

"That sounds fine," she replied. After a moment, she heard him step out.

Laying there in silence, Dove stared at the wall as her mind wandered. Suddenly, she heard a foal crying. It lasted only a moment and her head shot up to look around. The foal had sounded close, almost like it had been inside the hut with her. Deciding that it must have been a pony passing by with a fussy foal, Dove lowered her head back down. Suddenly the foal’s cries started up again. Sitting up quickly, Dove looked around again but found no source to the crying. A moment later it stopped again.

What was going on? Clambering up to her hooves, Dove moved to the door and stepped out. Walking around the hut, she looked around for the passing mother and foal, but found nothing. She could only see a pair of older mares sitting together before their hut, talking together over some early breakfast.

Scratching at her head, Dove turned to go back into her hut when she heard the foal’s cries again. Perking her ears up, she quickly focused her head to the north. It was coming from over there. As she listened, Dove felt a strange tugging, as if she was being pulled toward it somehow. Slowly, she began to walk, as she let it draw her forward.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Strongbuck ducked back into his hut with a basket of strawberries held in his mouth. "I'm back," he announced. "Birch Bark was nice and gave me a double helping when he heard it was for you..." Strongbuck froze when he saw that Dove was missing. Dropping the basket, Strongbuck rushed back out and looked around. "Dove?" he called out.

"What's wrong?" Bell asked, approaching with Sentry and Chase.

"Dove's not inside," Strongbuck answered looking around worriedly. Where would she have gone? "She left when I went to get her some food."

"You left her alone!?" Bell exclaimed, giving Strongbuck a disapproving scowl.

Strongbuck's ears wilted under Bell's hard gaze. He knew that he had messed up and Bell would make sure he would regret it later. "Where do you think she would have gone!?"

Bell spun herself about as she pursed her lips in thought. Finally, after turning herself around several times, she shook her head in defeat. Suddenly she smiled when she thought of an idea. "The pups can find her. She's been helping me teach them to track!" Turning to the two pups she called to them to get their attention. "Sentry! Chase! Go find Dove!"

Immediately the two pups started sniffing around with their tails wagging. To them it would be just another game, but Strongbuck and Bell saw this as a serious test of their ability. After sniffing around, the two started trotting off through the settlement. Strongbuck and Bell followed behind the two pups. They moved unerringly together as they seemed to follow Dove's scent north through the settlement to the river, right where the log spanned over it.

"She crossed over to the North Woods!?" Strongbuck exclaimed in worry as he looked over to the other side. “Why would she go there!?”

"Strongbuck. Hurry and get our spears," Bell said with a note of distress as she shot a look over to him. "We need to find her before..." She couldn't bring herself to finish but Strongbuck knew what her worry was.

Dangerous things lived in that forest.

Chapter Twenty Two

Dove moved through the dark trees of the North Woods. She could still hear the foal’s cries ahead of her. Desperation to find the lost foal drove her onward without heed to the danger that she was moving into. Crooked, rough barked trees surrounded her and their bent gnarled branches shrouded her in shadow. The air smelled heavy and fetid from rotting vegetation, and an oppressive silence hung over her like a thick fog. No birds sung in the branches nor did any squirrels skitter around searching for nuts to store away.

She didn't know how long she had been traveling into the North Woods’ dark depths, nor did she care. The sounds of the foal’s wails constantly drove her on, deeper into the forest. Nothing. No matter how many teeth or claws stood in her way, nothing would stop her from finding the hapless foal.

Her throat burned with thirst and her sides were cut and scrapped by sharp thorns. Working her way around a large root, half as tall as she was, Dove stopped when she saw a large web set out before her. It appeared to have been set to capture anything that may try to happen through.

Glancing warily up into the trees around her, Dove swiveled her ears about trying to catch any sound of spiders that may be around. Hearing and seeing nothing, Dove moved cautiously around the web. Soon she came to another when she almost walked into it, stopping just one step away from it.

The sound of the foal's wails continued to draw at her. Looking through the webbing, she could hear it coming from deeper within. Moving around, Dove pressed on. The deeper she went, the thicker the webs became. Soon, they were everywhere and Dove was having trouble making her way further in.

The foal sounded like it was just ahead of her. She was so close! Stepping over a lone string of webbing, Dove accidentally jostled it with her hind hoof. Immediately, there was a strange flurry of clicking and rustling sounds as she saw dozens of spiders start descending from the trees. They were smaller than the one that had been brought back, most of them about the size of a rabbit or smaller.

Panic seized her chest, and she wanted to flee from them as fast as she could. If she tried to continue on, she would surely die. The sound of the foals cries was tantalizingly close. She felt the foal was calling to her, begging her for help.

Folding her ears back, Dove snorted out her nose. Nothing will stop her from reaching that foal! Nothing! Not even a swarm of ravenous spiders! Bucking out her hind hooves, she smashed a spider climbing down a tree. With a quick lunge, Dove stomped another spider into the ground, its insides splattering out from under her hoof with a crunch.

Ducking around, Dove surged forward. Almost recklessly, she swerved and wove her way around the giant webs. At times she would stomp or buck a spider that drew too close.

Suddenly, she felt one fall onto her back. Quickly, she lunged to the side and knocked it off with a low hanging branch before it was able to sink its fangs into her. Running off, she felt a shiver run down her spine.

Breaking free of the swarm, Dove dashed across a clear area until she was forced to skid to a stop. Just before her was a solid wall of webbing with no gaps and no way around. Dove's heart sank with despair. She was trapped! How could this be!? She was almost there!

Looking around desperately, Dove spotted a dead tree that was leaning precariously above the wall of webbing. Glancing back at the approaching spiders, Dove ran for the tree. Whirling herself about, she bucked her hind hooves out and struck the tree. It shook and she heard a cracking sound, but after that nothing happened. Glancing back at the spiders, she saw they were getting much too close! She was running out of time!

Trying again, Dove bucked out as hard as she could against the trunk. This time it let out a louder cracking sound as it began to topple over, smashing down right through the webbing, clearing out a large gap in it. Dashing through, Dove shot out into a bright, sunlit glen.

After running a few dozen steps in, Dove looked back and saw that none of the spiders were following. They milled about at the glen’s edge, unwilling or perhaps unable to cross into the glen’s bright, airy fields.

Letting out a relieved breath, Dove looked hurriedly about for the foal. She could feel the foal's need pulling at her, tugging her to go on, into the glen. Trotting forwards, Dove gazed about at the beauty that lay about her. Flowers bloomed in every color amid the grasses, and the few trees that were about, looked healthy and full.

Soon she began to hear the foal’s cries coming from just ahead of her. Hurrying her pace, Dove rounded a large tree, filled with white blossoms, and found a light-lavender filly nestled in a thick bed of soft moss at its base. Rushing to the foal, Dove hurriedly gathered her up into her hooves and began to croon to her as she gently rocked her.

The filly gazed up with her sightless white eyes and her wailing cries died down once she felt Dove's comforting touches and soft voice. Dove wondered how the filly came to be out here, apparently all alone. Could it be because of her eyes?

Glancing up at the foal's forehead, Dove felt a shock of surprise to see a little stubby horn sticking up from it. She... she was a Unicorn! There was no doubt about it, she was just as Sky described them to be like. Was that how she was able to call out to her? Did she use her star-magic in some way? She noticed the filly’s little horn flickered and glowed in spurts, as the foal squirmed in her grasp.

A flicker of motion caused Dove to look up. Stepping softly toward her with an elegant, fluid stride through the field of flowers, was the most beautiful doe Dove had ever seen. She had the most unusual and exquisite silvery coat that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight as she walked. Her large eyes gazed with such warmth and tenderness, Dove felt immediately at ease with her.

Approaching, the doe looked down at her and smiled. "Welcome, my little pony." The doe greeted her with a surprisingly strong musical voice. Dove was amazed, she never knew that deer could talk. "The filly has been very impatiently waiting for you to arrive."

Dove blinked at her in bewilderment. "I’m sorry, I don't know what you mean. You must have me confused with another mare. Perhaps her mother?"

The doe continued to smile as she shook her head. "I am not mistaken about this, Dove Song. It is you she has been calling out to all morning and now I see she is very happy that you have finally arrived."

"Calling to me!?" Dove asked, glancing down at the blind filly. "I don't understand. How could she have called me? She's just a filly."

The doe's eyes dropped down to the foal. "She's a very special filly with special magic. When her mother died and she was abandoned, her heart cried out in pain and fear at being alone with none to love her. In the darkness of her despair, her heart managed to find yours. She sensed in you the same pain and loss she felt and she called out to you." The doe looked back up and met Dove's eyes. You heard her, and you came."

Dove felt her heart flutter in her chest. How could the doe know all of this? Did she also have some kind of magic of her own? "Who are—? How do you know these things?"

"I am just a mother," the doe answered simply. "A mother who wants to see you both healed from your pain." Stepping closer, the doe looked down at the filly in Dove's hooves. "She is a very extraordinary filly who needs a special mother to care for her. Will you be that mother to her?"

"Me!? Be her mother!?" Dove exclaimed in surprise. She didn’t know anything about unicorns or how to raise them, let alone a blind unicorn!

"Yes, of course you," the doe said, smiling at her again. "She likes you."

Looking down at the filly. All of Dove's protests faded away. What did it matter if she was blind. She would be her own little filly. She knew that Strongbuck and Bell would love her just the same no mater where she came from. Tightening her grip around the filly, Dove made her decision. "I would like to be her mother."

The doe's smile broadened, as she nodded with a pleased look. Stepping in close, the doe leaned down and kissed the top of Dove's head. A strange, pleasant warmth spread all throughout her body and for a brief moment, Dove thought she saw herself glowing.

Giving her head a slight shake to clear it, Dove looked up at the doe. "What did you do?"

The silvery doe stepped back with a warm smile. "Your filly looks hungry. The grass here is thick and soft. You’re welcome to lay down so you may feed her," she offered.

Dove was about to point out that she didn't have milk when she noticed that her udders felt almost painfully full. Glancing down, Dove saw that they were round and swollen with milk. How!? The only thing that made sense was that she must have used some kind of magic on her!

The filly started to squirm in her hooves and cry out in hunger. Dove could actually feel the filly's tummy rumble and she wondered how long it had been since she had last nursed. Settling down in the soft grass, Dove set the filly to her udder. She watched as the filly sniffed around until she found her teat and latched onto it. Gasping out a breath at the intense, pleasant sensations she felt as the foal began to suckle, Dove closed her eyes and relaxed.

"Now that you are her mother, what will her name be?" The doe asked.

Dove's eyes shot open at the question. A name!? Naming the foal hadn’t occurred to her! Looking down at the nursing foal, Dove racked her mind for an appropriate name. After staring down at the foal for a short while, it suddenly came to her. It was perfect! Looking back up to the doe, Dove smiled.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Strongbuck stared anxiously ahead at the mass of webbing that blocked their way. He suddenly felt stupid for not taking the time to get help. A few more spears would be really useful now.

Sentry and Chase had done a wonderful job following Dove's trail up to this point, but Strongbuck felt that this was as far as they would be able to take them. Gazing around at the spiderwebs, Strongbuck felt his gut tighten with worry as Bell pressed herself against his side. Dove was in there somewhere.

Looking down to Bell, Strongbuck made his decision. "Bell, I want you to take Sentry and go back to the settlement. I will go in with Chase and find Dove."

Bell shook her head with a fierce look in her eyes. "No! I won't turn back! Not without Dove!"

Strongbuck understood her feelings. She and Dove had been best friends since they were foals, and turning back would be like abandoning her, but there were other things to consider now.

"Bell, you're pregnant," Strongbuck said. "It's much too dangerous for you to go in there. Think of our foal."

He could feel Bell stiffen against his side as she prepared to argue back. She was as stubborn as an old tree and just as loyal to those she loved. Bell grumbled to herself in irritation as she mulled over the risks to their foal if she got bit by one of the spiders. Magpie was still trying to figure out a way to cure victims from their venomous bites, but so far all the test rabbits have died within a few days as their bodies slowly dissolved from within.

Finally, Bell let out a long stiff breath. "Sometimes, I could just bite you, you know that?" she snapped to him with a hard scowl.

Strongbuck felt a sense of relief come over him. Even if he died inside there, which was very likely to happen, at least Bell and their foal will be safe and live on. That was the important thing. "I know. Believe me, I know," he said, rubbing a mark on the side of his neck.

Reaching over, she wrapped her hoof around him in a hug and kissed him. "Come back safe, and bring her back with you."

Strongbuck didn't know if he could do what she asked but he nodded to her anyways with a smile. "Don't worry. I'll get her back home," he assured her as he kissed her back.

Strongbuck felt Bell pull back as she began to leave when a flicker of color caught their attention. Stepping out of the trees was the most magnificent stag either of them had ever seen. His golden coat sparkled in the dim light, and the majestic antlers that sat atop of his proudly held head had moss dangling down from them. He stepped toward them with a strong and steady stride. Strongbuck felt that he should be alarmed at the stag's approach, but for some reason he felt that he was not there to harm them.

Sentry and Chase dashed forward to run circles around the stag who only glanced down at the pair of gallivanting pups with a tiny smile. Stepping up to them, the stag drew to a stop.

"I warmly greet you, Strongbuck and Bell Flower," the stag said to them with a strong resonating voice. "I was asked to tell you that your wayward mare, Dove Song, is safe and very happy at the moment with my dear mate." The stag looked the pair over with his oddly penetrating gaze. "If you both wish, I will take you safely to her. She is eager to introduce you both to someone."

Strongbuck was relieved at the stag's sudden news that Dove was safe, while Bell gave a happy little hop and wrapped her hoof around his neck for a quick hug. "Thank you," Strongbuck managed to say back to the stag. "That would be very kind of you."

Turning himself, the stag started to walk back into the woods. "Then follow me and don't wander off. You'll be safe as long as you stay close."

Strongbuck and Bell hurried forward to stay with the stag’s long stride. Moving through the spider infested forest, they wove their way along a trail free of spiders and their webbing.

Strongbuck gazed around with a bit of worry but he did his best to show a brave face. "Why don’t they attack us?" he asked.

"Because they dare not, lest they anger me for trying to assault those who are under my care," the stag answered, turning his head to glance back at Strongbuck. "They may be stupid, but they are not that stupid," he said with a soft smile.

Strongbuck felt a shiver run down his spine. There was something very unusual about the stag. He spoke with such certainty and authority, that he had no doubt that what he had said was true. "If I may ask? Who are you?"

The stag considered him for a moment, his eyes looking like they were peering deep into him. "I have many names. Most of which you will not understand," the stag answered finally, before he then bent his head thoughtfully. "But if you were to put my name into the simplest of terms, it would be Eternal Age."

The stag then started forward again and Strongbuck and Bell had to hurry to keep up with him. Soon they emerged out of the forest into a bright glen filled with flowers. The two pups dashed out and started racing around and leaping playfully at butterflies. Following with Eternal Age, he lead them deeper into the glen until they came to one of the most massive trees Strongbuck had ever seen, its wide set branches filled with white blossoms that smelled of honey.

Laying in a bed of soft moss at the base of the great tree, Dove smiled up at Strongbuck and Bell as they walked up.

"Strongbuck, Bell. I'm so glad you came." Dove said, without standing. "I'm sorry for running off like I did but there is a good reason." Turning her head, Dove nuzzled a tiny sleeping light-lavender foal that was curled up against her side. "She's been calling to me, and I just had to go to her."

"Oh my!" Bell exclaimed softly as she rushed forward to look down at the foal. "She's so adorable!" Suddenly she gasped as she lifted a surprised hoof to her mouth. "Oh! By the stars! She has a little tiny horn on her head!"

"Congratulations," Eternal Age said, looking over to a stunned Strongbuck with a smile. "You're a father."

Strongbuck felt lightheaded and for some reason he was struggling to catch his breath. "Father!?"

"I do believe that the young stallion may faint," a silvery doe said, with a note of amusement as she walked up to stand next to Eternal Age.

"Strongbuck." Dove said, softly calling out to him. "I would like you to meet our foal, Twilight Aurora."

“Please care for her with as much love and happiness as I am sure she will bring to you,” the silvery doe said, looking over at him, “for the future of the world will depend upon it.”

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Strongbuck still didn’t know how he felt about suddenly becoming a father. So far, Dove had kept Twilight Aurora all to herself, refusing to let either Bell or himself hold her. The doe, who said that her name was Bountiful Wellspring, said that she just needed a bit of time to adjust. Strongbuck was relieved that Dove was looking so happy now. She practically glowed with motherhood.

Bell was off gathering willow branches so she could start weaving a carry basket for the foal. Standing off to the side, Strongbuck gazed down at Dove and the foal in silent thought. There was no denying that Twilight Aurora was adorable, but he was still unsure that he was ready to raise a foal, especially one that was magical as well as blind.

"You look troubled," Eternal Age said, stepping up next to Strongbuck.

Strongbuck glanced over to the stag, surprised that he had somehow walked right up next to him without his noticing. Letting out a sigh, Strongbuck looked back to Dove and the foal. "Just look at her. She's so happy. I just don't know if I am ready for fatherhood. This came up on me rather fast and I'm a bit... frightened by it," he confessed.

"It's quite natural to be scared," Age answered back with knowing nod. "Becoming a father is a huge change for any stallion to go through. The responsibilities, and demands can be very overwhelming and it would be easier to just walk away than deal with a whiny, sniveling foal. After all, raising foals is mares’ work, not worthy of a stallion’s time or effort. It must make you want to go back to how it used to be, where your job ended as soon as you climbed down from a mare's back, right?"

Strongbuck could see his point but it definitely felt wrong. "No. That's not right," he said, giving his head a shake.

"Oh? How so?" Age asked, lifting his eyebrow.

"I admire Dark Storm for how he has chosen to be a father," Strongbuck explained. "Everything that has happened, everything we now have and learned is all because he wanted to build a better life for his children. Being a father makes you a better stallion. It makes you learn, grow, and strive to be more than you are for the sake of your foals."

"I see," Age said thoughtfully, giving Strongbuck a appraising look. "I believe that you will do well."

"What do you mean?" Strongbuck asked.

Instead of answering, the stag gestured to Dove. "How about you go and hold your new daughter for a bit, get to know her."

Strongbuck gave Dove an uneasy look. The last time he had been close to her and the foal, she looked like she might bite him if he got any closer.

"There is no need to fear your mate," Age assured Strongbuck. "She will relinquish the foal to you."

Taking a breath, Strongbuck walked over to Dove. She was humming a lullaby to Twilight, who was peacefully slumbering up against her chest. Seeing him approaching, Dove stopped humming as her head came up to watch him. Carefully stepping up to her, Strongbuck gave her a soft nicker to reassure her as he bent down to nuzzle her cheek.

Dove relaxed into his affectionate touches and nickered back to him. Bending his head down, Strongbuck sniffed at the foal and took in her scent. Dove began to hum again as she lifted her head higher to allow him to take Twilight Aurora from her. Nipping the filly's crest, Strongbuck lifted her up and deposited her into the crook of his leg. Aurora let out a contemplative murmur at having been disturbed but soon settled down as she accepted her new place.

Smiling down at Aurora, Strongbuck bent down and nuzzled her chubby cheek. Moving his head up, he kissed her forehead over her stubby little horn. With a crackling snap, Strongbuck felt a jolt shot through his body.

Dove stopped humming and looked at him with concern. "Are you alright!?" she asked, climbing up to her hooves.

Strongbuck's skin felt weird, like it was tingling. "I think so. What happened?"

Dove didn't answer. Instead she held her hoof to her mouth as she started to giggle. Strongbuck blinked at her in confusion as her giggles turned into laughter.

"What's so funny?" Bell asked, walking around the large tree. When she saw Strongbuck, she came to an abrupt stop and dropped the basket she had just completed, and started laughing herself.

"Why are you laughing at me? What is it?" Strongbuck asked in total confusion, but neither Dove nor Bell was able to answer him as they both clutched at their guts. While holding the foal in the crook of his leg, Strongbuck carefully walked over to the nearby pond to look down at his reflection and blinked his eyes in surprise. His coat and mane was sticking straight up in the air! Looking back over his shoulder, he saw that even his tail was fanned straight out in every direction!

Looking back at his two mates, he saw that Dove was wiping tears from her eyes while Bell rolled around on the soft mossy ground, pointing a hoof at him as she laughed uncontrollably. Strongbuck looked between the two and grinned. Soon he began to laugh along with them.

Walking up to stand next to Age, Wellspring watched the ponies laugh. "And now they show the final element. Laughter."

"Indeed." Age agreed with a nod of his head. "They will be wonderful parents for her. She will have everything she will need to be happy and grow into a fine mare."

When Dove reached her hoof up to try to brush Strongbuck's mane down, her own mane suddenly crackled and shot out straight in every direction just like Strongbuck's. Seeing this, Bell rolled onto her belly to pound her hoof into the ground as she gasped for breath from her laughter. Dove quickly turned her attention to her own mane and tried to flatten it back down. The commotion they were causing from their laughing caused Aurora to wake.

Kicking her little hooves about, she started to cry. Glancing down with a smile, Strongbuck sat his rump down and started to rock the filly as Dove gave up trying to get her mane back down and sat down with him. Bending in close, she started to sing to the foal with Strongbuck's deeper voice joining in with hers as they both sang a simple lullaby together. Bell quickly moved over to join them, adding her voice to theirs.

With his two loving mares sitting in close with him as they all sang together to little Aurora, Strongbuck felt his heart soar with happiness. He wanted that moment to last forever. On each of his flanks, a red heart appeared with a pair of white wings unfurled off each side.

Smiling, Wellspring and Age turned together and walked off into the woods, leaving the family to enjoy their time together.

“With what you did to Dove, young Strongbuck is going to be a very busy father,” Age said, giving Bountiful Wellspring a sly glance.

“As it should be,” Wellspring answered back with a hard nod. “I think Aurora deserves to have lot’s of brothers and sisters.”

The two faded like mist and vanished together.

Chapter Twenty Three

Ash's hooves were killing him. His back and sides were burning from where his pack was rubbing raw spots into it. When they started out that morning, he had felt like he could run the entire way there, but now he found his hooves dragging wearily with each step. Dark kept glancing down at him with an amused look until he finally asked him if he wanted to ride on his back.

With a stubborn shake of his head, Ash refused Dark's offer and quickened his steps for a time, but eventually he slowed back down and started dragging his hooves again. It had been a long day. They had made their way through the west woods until they came to a long stretch of grass covered hills that seemed to run on all the way to the horizon, and crossing over it had eaten up most of the rest of the day. As the day began to fade and the sun dropped close to the horizon behind them, they came to a wooded area that had a creek running along its edge.

"Let's stop here for the night," Dark said, coming to a stop next to the creek to look around. "Mustard, Morning. I want you two to scout around the area and see if you can spot any tracks or signs of anything we should be worried about. I'll expect you two to be back before the sun sets with a report of your findings."

Ash let out a relieved breath as he dropped his pack off and sat his rump down to the soft grass near the creek. All around, ponies were taking off their travel packs and refilling their water gourds in the clear water while Dark arranged for a watch scheduled during the night.

In a little while, the sun would be set and it would grow rather dark and hard to see. Ash glanced down at his pack and remembered the sparker stone that Soft Step had given him and an idea came to him.

Climbing back up onto his tired hooves, Ash started to look around for what he would need. Scratching around the dirt bank next to the creek, Ash managed to find a sizable chunk of flint. Cracking it against a large stone flaked off a piece with a good edge. Searching around the trees he failed to find any tree fungi to use to catch any sparks.

Soft Step said that she had tried many things besides tree fungi and a few seemed to work. Finding a cedar tree, Ash pulled off some of its bark and brought it back to his pack, next he went to the stream and gathered some stocks of cattails he saw growing there and some stones from its bank and formed a ring just as Soft Step had shown him and Brightstar to do.

"What are you doing, making a tiny wall?" Sky asked curiously, as she and Dusty Stride walked over to look at what he was doing.

Ash knew that what he was doing must look rather strange. "In a way, I am," Ash answered with a grin and a shrug of his shoulder. Taking his spear, he used its sharp edge to cut the cedar bark into tiny chips and set them out on a flat stone.

Sky and Dusty glanced at each other as they watched Ash work, their curiosity growing. "Do you want any help with whatever you're working on?" Dusty offered with Sky nodding with him.

Ash thought about his offer, if what he was doing was going to work, he would need a few more things. "Yes. Please gather some branches for me, and break them small enough to fit inside the stone circle," he accepted with an appreciative nod.

Dusty and Sky both went off to gathered what he needed. Finding an old fallen tree a little ways down the creek with plenty of dead branches they could easily snap off. They quickly had a rather sizable pile of branches sitting next to where Ash was working. Other ponies were pausing in their conversations to watch what they were doing.

Taking one of the cattails, Ash pulled its bulbous end apart to gather the white, fluffy material it was made of. Back home, Dove had started to use cattail fluff to pack over cuts and gashes when she discovered how well it worked to halt bleeding. Soft Step had told him that she tried using cattail fluff early on in her trials to make fire but found it burned too well, usually burning itself out before it had a chance of catching anything else and growing.

Ash hoped that the fluff would work if he packed enough of it on top of the cedar chips. Next he swept up the area of dead leaves and piled it into his stone circle, then he took some of the branches that Sky and Dusty had gathered and set some right on top of the leaves. Once he finished, Ash sat back and looked around to make sure it was all ready.

Taking a breath, Ash bent down and took up his piece of flint and set it down on another stone he had placed next to the flat one that held the cedar chips and cattail fluff in a small pile. Placing his hoof onto the piece of flint to hold it in place, Ash took the sparker in his mouth and carefully struck it across the flint edge.

Tiny sparks shot out, but to his disappointment it failed to make it to the pile of fluff. Trying again, Ash struck it harder and more sparks shot out with a few falling among the cattail fluff. After a moment, smoke started to waft up but when Ash tried to blow on it much like he had see Soft Step do he ended up blowing the fluff all off.

Grumbling at himself for his stupidness, Ash took the fluff off another cattail and set it back out on the cedar chips. He tried several more times, nicking his lip once, until he got a spark to land onto the fluff and start to smolder. Being careful this time, Ash lightly blew until it suddenly erupted into a tiny flame that quickly grew as it consumed the pile of fluff. When it all burned up, Ash checked the cedar chips and saw that one was just barely burning on its edge.

Using the edge of his hoof, Ash moved other cedar chips closer, allowing the tiny flame to spread to them. Soon, he had a nice little flame going and he carefully lifted the flat stone and moved it to the leaves he had inside the stone circle. Sky and Dusty watched with a kind of alarm and wonder on their faces as the flame began to take to the leaves and grow bigger.

"Ash! What are you doing!? Get away from that!" Dark roared in alarm as he rushed toward him and his newly created fire.

"Papa, no!" Ash cried out, worried that Dark would attack the fire. Rushing over to stop him, Ash shoved both his hooves into Dark's chest in a valiant attempt to stop the charging stallion from destroying what he had just worked so hard to create. "Stop, Papa, please!" His hind hooves slid in the dirt as Dark continued to try and get at the fire. In desperation, Ash shoved as hard as he could, feeling a strange surge run through his body as he did so. Dark gave a deep grunt as he came to a sudden and surprised halt.

"What the!?" Dark looked down at Ash. "What are you doing?"

"Please, just stop a moment and listen to me!" Ash pleaded, still holding Dark back. "Everything is fine! I started the fire. Soft Step showed me how!"

"You!? You made this!?" Dark asked, still confused. Around them, ponies were rushing over to watch what was happening.

"Yes, and everything is fine, I promise," Ash answered quickly. "It's under control. Nopony will get hurt by it. Look." Ash relaxed his restraining hooves to gesture back at the fire, which had now grown to the edge of the stone ring, but had gone no further.

"Soft Step showed you how to make this?" Dark asked, looking from the colt to the fire.

"Yes. She worked on it for a while, learning what she could of its secrets, and just yesterday she showed it to me and her papa, Brightstar." Ash explained quickly.

"Brightstar knew about this!?" Dark snapped out angrily. "Why didn't he tell me!?"

Ash wasn't sure if the question was directed at him or not but he decided to answer it anyways. "He didn't have time! With what happened with Dove last night, and with all the commotion and hurry to get ready, he had no chance to see you before we left."

This seemed to give Dark pause, as he suddenly blinked in thought. Relaxing back, Dark looked down at his foster colt as he rubbed at his chest where the colt had held him back. "You've gotten pretty strong. It feels like you might have bruised one of my ribs."

Dark's remark surprised Ash. He never meant to hurt him. In fact, he didn't even know that he could hurt him. "I'm sorry, Papa. I didn't mean to." Ash apologized hurriedly, feeling horrible for what he had done.

Shaking his head, Dark grinned down at the distressed colt as he reached out and ruffled his mane. "Don't worry about it. I'll live," he assured him. Looking back up to the happily burning fire, Dark moved around Ash to step closer to it. "So tell me. Is this going to go wild and kill us all?"

Ash moved over next to Dark and shook his head. "No, Papa. Soft Step taught both me and Brightstar all about how to keep it trapped and under control," he assured him. Taking a branch, Ash tossed it into the fire. "As long as no pony tries to touch it or moves the stones that surrounds it, it will stay safely where it's at and nopony will get hurt."

Ponies were starting to gather in closer to look at the entrapped fire in their midst. Some of them appeared a little frightened of it, but the rest all gazed at it with wonder on their faces. Dark watched as ponies moved in from the dark to stand in the fires warm light. The sun was set and the darkness was closing in all around them, everywhere except where the fire cast its light.

Dark blinked around himself as ponies began to settle themselves down around the fire, to either talk among themselves or just quietly gaze into the flames. As he watched all this, his sister stepped in close to his side.

"What's the matter? You look like you accidentally swallowed a frog," Mirage said, looking over at him.

"Look at them," Dark said, gesturing to the ponies sitting all about them happily chatting with each other. "The night in closing all about, and we're far from the herd in a land with unknown dangers," Dark shared with a perplexed look, "and here they sit together, happily talking with one another completely unafraid of what may be out in the darkness around them."

"I know what you mean," Mirage added. "I feel it myself. There is something about being in the firelight that makes me feel... safe and secure."

Dark continued looking about before he nodded his head in agreement. Focusing his attention down to Ash, he said, "Ash. From now on, I want you to make one of these... camp-fires, whenever we stop for the night. Alright?"

Ash smiled happily and nodded his head. "Yes, Papa. I will."

Dark settled himself to the ground with Ash and Mirage laying alongside him. "Well then..." Dark said to any pony listening. "Who wants to sing some songs?"

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Strongbuck let out a sigh of relief when Dove finally settled her hooves onto the firm soil on the opposite shore. Gripped in her mouth was the basket that held little Aurora, who had been quietly sleeping through much of the trip home. It was amazing how deeply the filly slept once she had a full belly.

Crossing back over the river had been a trying experience for Strongbuck, especially now that they had a little foal to keep safe. One little slip and Dove and Aurora would have fallen into the river. Dove had assured him that she would be extra careful crossing the log and if she did end up falling in, she was a very good swimmer, so there was nothing for him to be worried about.

Once Dove and Aurora was safely on the other side, the rest of them followed. The wolf pups easily scampered across, while Bell took her time, placing each hoof firmly in place before stepping forward again. Once it was Strongbuck's turn, he hurried across at such a pace he nearly fell when he misplaced one of his steps. Catching himself just in time, he continued on at a more reasonable pace.

They had returned just in time. The sun had just set and it was growing rather dark. Spending the night in the North Woods was not something Strongbuck wanted to experience. Stepping down from the log, he rejoined his two loving mates.

The vibrant red feather Dove had tied in her mane, just behind her ear, stood out in the dim light of the night. She had found it when it had drifted down and settled down onto her head when they were about to leave the glen. Dove felt that it was a parting gift from Bountiful Wellspring, and tied the gift into her mane. Strongbuck thought it was just a feather from a passing bird that had just happened to fall on to her but decided to keep his thoughts about it to himself and let her have her gift. Besides, he thought it looked good in her mane.

Walking into the settlement, they made their way to Meadowlark’s hut first. They needed to tell her what had happened to them in the North Woods as well as about little Aurora. When they arrived, they found her hut empty. Figuring that she and her daughters must be at the longhouse, they decided to head there to look, stopping at their hut just long enough to lock the pups away in their pen, they made their way there.

The hamlet was unusually quiet as they made their way through it. Approaching the longhouse, they noticed a strange flickering glow coming from inside as well as excited talking. Stepping inside, they paused in astonishing.

The long room was filled with ponies. Sitting in the center of the room was the source of the strange light. A merry looking fire was burning in tall stone-walled ring set in the center of the floor. Brightstar moved around the fire with his daughter, Soft Step, perched on his back as he loudly praised her to all the nearby ponies about her remarkable discoveries.

Strongbuck very much wanted to go over and look closer at the fire, but he knew it would have to wait. The room was rather crowded and it was hard to make their way through. Staying close to the outer wall, they found a clear pathway that allowed them to approach the raised dais that sat on the far end of the longhouse.

Meadowlark sat there with her two daughters as she appeared to be speaking anxiously with Hoof Strike. She kept frowning and waving her hoof around as she spoke with him.

"What do you mean you had to call off the search!?" Meadowlark shouted out to the imposing stallion. "They’re still out there somewhere!"

"Please be reasonable, Meadowlark," Birch Bark interjected, stepping up next to Hoof Strike. "Hoof Strike has been out with the search teams all day looking for those three. They have been scouring the entire area, and it's grown too dark to continue. Let them rest so they can resume fresh in the morning."

Strongbuck paused when he heard what was being said. They had been searching for them!?

"What about the sighting that Dove was seen heading north toward the river? Did you send any searchers into the North Woods?" Meadowlark asked.

It was then that Celestia noticed them standing off to the side. "Mama, look! They came back!" she shouted out, pointing her hoof towards them.

Dove passed the basket with Aurora in it, over to Strongbuck before hurrying forward to meet with Meadowlark.

"Oh! I am so happy to see that you are all alright!" Meadowlark exclaimed as she rushed forward to hug Dove in relief. "I was starting to think that something horrible had happened to you all!" Meadowlark released Dove to hug Bell. "Where did you all go!? We've been searching all over for you!" She said, turning back to look at Dove.

Dove shuffled back as she awkwardly glanced around. She had been preparing for this moment since they left the glen but now that they were here, she suddenly looked like she wanted to run away. "I... I'm sorry." Dove finally said looking around from Meadowlark to Hoof Strike. "I didn't mean to cause so much trouble, I'm sorry."

"We're sorry too," Bell jumped in. "When we found that Dove was gone, we were in such a hurry to find her we didn't even think of telling anypony before we left."

"What happened? Why did you leave and where did you go?" Meadowlark asked, looking at Dove.

Swallowing, Dove looked between Bell and Strongbuck as she thought about how to answer her question. They had been through a lot, and some of what they went through would be hard to explain. They still didn’t know who Bountiful Wellspring and Eternal Age were. Strongbuck had a strong suspicion that those two weren't normal deer.

"I ah... It's hard to explain but I'll do the best I can," Dove answered, struggle to put her experience into coherent words. "I was at home when I... felt that I was being called."

"Called?" Meadowlark asked, with a confused bend of her head.

Dove reached up and touched her hoof to her chest, right over her heart. "I felt it in here. Something was calling to me. Pulling me to go to it."

"To go to what?" Celestia asked with sudden interest, cutting in from where she sat holding her burbling sister, Luna.

"To... go to her. The one whose heart had been crying out to mine." Turning, Dove gestured for Strongbuck to bring Aurora to her. "She was alone. Left abandoned by the rest of her family." Lifting Aurora out of her basket, Dove continued, "In her anguish and fear she called out to me, and I heard her."

Everypony gasped as Dove held the filly up for them to see. Aurora's little stubby horn was quite visible in the firelight.

With eyes wide in shock and wonder, Meadowlark stepped closer and lifted her hoof so she could lightly touch the fillies horn. "By the star's. She's... a Unicorn."

"You probably shouldn't touch..." Before Strongbuck could finish his warning, Meadowlarks hoof lightly touched Aurora's little horn.

Much to their surprise, nothing happened. Strongbuck lifted his hoof up and just as Meadowlark did, and lightly touched the filly’s horn. With a crackling pop, a shock ran through his body that left him feeling tingly all over.

Meadowlark blinked at him in surprise, then she snorted into the back of her uplifted hoof as she tried to hold back a laugh. Letting out a sigh, Strongbuck shook his head in befuddlement. "I don't get it. Nothing happened to her when she touched her horn!?"

Dove let out a giggle as she stepped closer to Strongbuck. "I think it's because she really likes you." Bending in, Dove kissed his lips. The moment her soft lips pressed against his, there was a crackle and her mane shot out and stood on end.

Meadowlark chortled into the back of her hoof until she couldn't stand the sight of them anymore and broke out laughing. Meeting Dove's eyes, Strongbuck grinned with her as they both thought of the same idea. Reaching out they both touched Meadowlark, causing her mane to suddenly spring up in end like theirs.

Celestia laughed at her mother's absurd look as she fervently tried to flatten her mane down. Pointing her hoof at their mother, Celestia called Luna's attention. "Luna, look! Mama looks silly." Luna gave a happy squeal before she started blowing spit bubbles.

Birch Bark and Hoof Strike both glanced at each other in bewilderment at the situation that was playing out before them. With a shrug, they both grinned as they began to laugh along.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Radiant Sunset held a series of small brightly colored stone in her magic. Standing before her, her little sister, Vivid, stood ready with her face screwed up in concentration. They were outside in the early morning sunlight practicing magic. Vivid had been bugging her to help her out for a while, and Radiant felt that a little time out in the sun tossing small stones around would be a good way to get recent tragic events out of their minds and bring a bit of fun back into their lives.

Radiant lightly tossed five stones over to Vivid and watched as her little sister's magic enveloped them, halting their flight before they hit the ground. Radiant smiled at her sister's success. This was the first time she managed to catch them all without missing one.

Vivid joyfully hopped in place as she let the stones she caught fall to the ground. "I got them, I got them all!" she cried out happily.

"Very good!" she praised Vivid. "You're getting much better."

"About time," Dazzling Evening muttered from where she practiced off to the side. She had close to a dozen stones whizzing around her in a intricate pattern as she worked on her fine control.

Radiant was about to berate Dazzling for her sour attitude towards their little sister’s improvement when she noticed Glittering Crystal approaching them. Letting out a sigh, Radiant turned to face her. Ever since the terrible night where she watched her mother send Brilliants little filly off to the wilderness to die, Radiant had been doing her best to avoid her mother as much as she could, but with Glittering Crystal's purposeful appearance, it was evident that her peaceful days away from her mother was now at an end.

"Radiant Sunset," Glittering Crystal said, as she came to a stop and stared down her long nose at her. "Come along with me. Your mother would like to see you."

Radiant thought about defying her mother's summons but she knew that it would be pointless. There was nowhere she could go that she would be able to escape from her mother's reach.

Following Glittering Crystal, Radiant purposely kept her pace slow to show a bit of defiance to her mother. She knew it would only make her mother more irritated with her, but she felt that her little rebellion would be well worth her mother's anger.

They traveled down a wide pathway that lead out from the old volcano toward the Pillar of the Heavens that lay to the south. Radiant had traveled this path many times over the years and knew it well. During special events like the solstices and eclipses, all the Unicorns would gather under the Pillar of the Heavens to watch as the day started and ended. She was once told that they used to celebrate those days with food and games, but Radiant had trouble believing that such a thing was ever true.

Ahead of them, the Pillar of the Heavens came into view. It was a large and imposing structure that sat in a large clearing in the forest. It had once been a hill, but after a century of work, shaping the earth and stacking stones, they formed twelve tiers up its sides to represent the twelve moon cycles throughout the year. She couldn't see them but on the east and west faces of the ziggurat, stones had been carefully placed to provide steps all the way to the top where the raising and setting ceremonies were held each morning and evening.

Sitting in the shadow of the Pillar of the Heavens was something new that Radiant had never seen before. It was a large flat stone that must have taken at least a dozen Casters to lift into place with their magic. Why was that brought here? She wondered.

Radiant saw her mother standing just before the large flat stone, with a group of Casters gathered just before her. As she drew closer, Radiant noticed that there was a light yellow pegasus mare with a soft green mane, being restrained in the magical grasp of one of the Casters. Picking up her pace, Radiant hurried over to see what was happening.

Radiant's mother loomed over the pegasus, her horn glowing with power. Her eyes bore down on the hapless mare who was shivering before her in fear.

"For far too long, you Pegasi have been enjoying the rewards of our great works!" Her mother raged at the captive pegasus, "and it's time you started to return to us what we deserve."

"I don't know what you mean," the Pegasus said with a frightened squeak, her eyes kept shifting around as she desperately searched for some kind of help, and for a moment, her eyes fell on Radiant. There was nothing but sheer terror in them.

Astral turned her head and looked up at the sun. "Look up at my glorious sun. Isn't it beautiful?"

The Pegasus blinked at her in confusion, not sure what she was asking.

"Well!? Answer me!" Astral barked out when she lost her patience with the hesitant mare.

Flinching back, the yellow mare quickly nodded. "Yes! Yes, very beautiful!"

Astral nodded with a pleased smile. "Good. Now, answer me this. Wouldn't it be a shame if the sun was just taken away one day?"

The Pegasus’ eyes flickered about nervously as she carefully considered her answer. "Umm... yes. I think that it would be bad." She finally answered.

Again, Astral nodded, still giving the mare an eerily pleased smile at her answers. "Yes. Indeed you are very right. For without my sun, you and all the other Pegasi will wither and die. Right?"

The Pegasus nodded mutely.

Astral's smile suddenly vanished as her gaze bore down on the frightened mare. "Then tell me! Why am I not shown the respect that is due to me for raising and setting the sun and moon each and every day and night!?" Her horn crackled viciously with a sudden spike of power.

The Pegasus squealed in terror, her hooves digging furrows in the dirt as she futilely attempted to bolt away. The Casters that surrounded her laughed at the sight of the hapless mare as she struggled against their magical restraints. Radiant felt sick at what her mother and the Casters were doing to the poor winged pony. The mare finally gave up trying to escape and huddled herself into a ball with her wings wrapped around her head in an attempt to hide herself.

Astral snatched up the mare in her magic and hauled her right up before her. "Listen to me you insignificant bug! If you and the rest of you winged pests want to continue to see my glorious sun, then you will need to appease me! From this point on, during every full moon, the pegasi will present to me an offering of food upon my altar. If you fail to present me my due offering, you and the rest of your selfish kind will forever wallow in darkness as punishment for your disobedience!"

The mare looked ready to faint. Her entire body was shivering uncontrollably in the matriarch’s magical grasp. With a startling abruptness, Astral suddenly released the mare, dropping her to the ground.

The matriarch gazed down at the shivering pony with a level gaze. “As proof of my power, tomorrow, I will withhold my sun’s glorious light from the land for the entire day!” Her mother then flicked her hoof at the mare, looking as if she was flinging mud from her hoof. “Go now. Tell the rest of the feathered vermin what I expect from them. Go on, shoo.”

Stumbling up to her shaky hooves, the mare scurried away as fast as she could with her body low to the ground. Watching her go, the Casters all laughed and jeered at the departing mare, some calling out to her some rather descriptive and foul names.

It was then that Radiant’s mother noticed her presence. With a casual wave of her hoof, she dismissed the Casters from her. As they all left, one remained behind. She was a dark purple mare with silver and blue mane and tail. She stood with her mother looking down at her with a stiff expression that showed no softness to it.

“Radiant, this is Starburst,” her mother said, nodding to the mare next to her. “She will be in charge of training you in becoming a Caster from this day on.”

Chapter Twenty Four

"Something's wrong."

Ash woke up. Sitting up, he rubbed at his crusty eyes before he looked around, blinking. He saw that it was still night. The fire was freshly filled with wood so it was burning brightly, casting its light in wide circle around their camp. Not far from where he lay, he saw Dark standing with Happy, who kept pointing up at the sky and waving his hoof about as he muttered about something not being right. Dark gazed about at the star filled sky with a look of concern on his face.

Nearby, Mirage was still sleeping soundly as she snored loudly through her gaping mouth, drool dripping down the side of her face. Wondering what had Dark so worried, Ash got up and quietly walked over to him.

"I see what you mean, but I don't understand how this can be," Dark said to the perpetually surly stallion next to him.

"What's wrong?" Ash asked, looking up at the night sky, trying to see what had their attention.

Dark shook his head as he stared up in confusion. "I'm not sure." Bending himself down to Ash's level, Dark pointed his hoof up at a cluster of stars. "Do you remember what that constellation right there is called?"

Gazing up at the stars that Dark was pointing out, Ash nibbled on his lip as he searched his memory. Dark had him and Celestia stay up with him a few nights as he taught them both what he knew about the stars and their shapes. The constellation that Dark was pointing at was about the size of his hoof held out, and it formed a curved line with a cluster of four bright stars at one end. "I... think it's the Turtle," he answered finally when he thought he had it. "Am I right?"

Dark gave him an impressed smile as he nodded. "Yes, indeed you are correct. That is the Turtle."

Ash smiled at having gotten it right but then he frowned in thought as he looked back up at the constellation. Why was Dark and Happy so worried about the Turtle constellation? Squinting his eyes up at the stars, Ash carefully examined the constellation. "Is there something wrong with it?"

"Aye, lad. It shouldn't be there" Happy cut in gruffly.

Shouldn't be there? Ash was confused. Examining the area around it he saw nothing unusual. The Hare was just ahead of it, and the Snowy River that flowed across the night sky, cut through just behind it. "What do you mean? I don't see anything wrong with where it's at."

Dark shook his head. "Look again. It's the mere fact you can even see the Turtle is what is wrong. The morning was supposed to have broken before it was due to rise."

Ash blinked in befuddlement, not sure what he meant. How could they have missed the morning? "Did the sun forget to wake up?"

Both stallions turned their heads to look down at the colt. Ash glanced between the two as he wondered if he had somehow said something wrong.

"Well," Happy said, breaking the silence, "that's probably the best explanation I’ve heard so far." Strangely, Ash noticed that he had an unusual curl to his lip that looked strangely like a smile. Surely he was just seeing things. There was no way he had just seen Happy smile.

Dark blinked at Happy with a surprised look. Giving his head a little shake to clear it, he turned his attention back to Ash and playfully mussed his mane. "Okay, smarty colt, how about you think of a way to wake it up while I get everypony up, okay?"

⚜⚜⚜⚜

"What are we going to do!?"

"Will the sun ever return!?"

"What will happen if it doesn't come back!?"

"Something should be done!"

“Somepony do something!”

"This is the end! We're all going to die!" a mare with a pansy cutie mark shouted out before she fainted.

Celestia watched as her mother desperately tried to calm the panicked ponies. They had all started to gather in the longhouse when it was discovered that the sun had failed to rise that morning, and now ponies were milling about in a panicked mob. The fire that had been put out late during the previous night had quickly been restarted so ponies could huddle under its warm light.

Celestia held Luna close to herself. She wished that Papa and Ash was there with them. Papa always had a way of making everything alright again, and Ash was always good to lean against when she was scared, to make her feel safe. She missed them both.

An anxious looking Strawberry Zest wandered over and sat down next to her. Her eyes kept glancing around the room at all the worried ponies that filled it. "Celestia?” she asked breaking the silence between them. “Do you... think the sun will ever come back?" Her voice quaked with barely suppressed terror.

Celestia had been avoiding Strawberry ever since she saw her kiss Ash on his cheek, but hearing the quiver in her friend's voice just now caused her to suddenly realize how much she needed to hear a comforting word from a friend. The cold anger that she felt for her suddenly evaporated as she reached out and laid a comforting hoof over Strawberry's.

"Strawberry, I’m positive that it will come back soon. Just you wait. Before you know it, its light will break over the horizon just like it's always done before," Celestia assured her, giving her her most confident smile.

"You really think so?" A voice suddenly asked from behind them. Looking back, Celestia saw Tulip walking up with Misty Glen, Pine Blossom, Soft Step and Bumblebee, all following along with her.

Celestia glanced around at all her friends and noticed that they were all looking back at her with hopeful expressions. She had only been trying to comfort Strawberry and make her feel better, but suddenly seeing all her friends looking to her for hope caught her by surprise. Glancing around the room, she saw saw how much turmoil filled the room. Her mother was surrounded by members of the Mares’ Circle as they all spoke with her about what to do to calm the panicking ponies.

By the fire, Bell sat with Dove, who was holding her new filly close to herself. Strongbuck stood protectively over them as he glared about the room with menace in his eyes. Celestia had never seen him looking so scary before.

Earlier, some of the ponies suggested that the cause of the long night was because Dove took in the abandoned Unicorn filly, saying she must have angered the Unicorns, who Sky had described as having control over the heavens. A small group lead by a stallion named Nettle Bush tried to take Aurora, but Strongbuck quickly jumped in and viciously attacked the group and forced them to retreat back.

Hoof Strike, with several of his more trusted spears, were now stationed around the room to suppress any more attempts that might crop up as well as to keep an eye on the surly looking group of bloody-nosed and swollen-eyed ponies, that just learned how fierce a stallion can become to protect his family. More than a couple of them had earned their wounds from Bell, with the stallion, Nettle Bush, now having trouble sitting comfortably due to a well placed buck from the usually peaceful Dove to his more sensitive region.

Seeing all the anxiety, fear, anger, and worry around the room, Celestia felt that something needed to be done. Hugging Luna close to herself, Celestia closed her eyes and took a breath. She let the words flow out from her as she began to sing

Everypony stopped what they were doing to turn and listen to her. Unnoticed, Aurora's horn began to glow with magic.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Gaze at the night
And stand close to me
Hold your head up
And have courage to see
The evening is glittering
With moonlight tonight.
That's what you'll see if you try

I know you have strength
Hidden deep inside.
You just have to have faith
And trust in your heart
Giving you guidance
From your fear of the dark.
That's what I know resides,
The courage you keep inside

Deep in the night,
Our hearts will be strong.
Deep in the dark,
We'll all stand as one.
Together we face out
To protect those we hold dear
And with hope and love to cherish this night,
Dawn will shine forth and bring us its light.

I see the starlight shining down from the heavens.
I know there are those with the courage to stand with me
And I can feel the love of those that surrounds me
Breaking every boundary
And show us the strength
To be warriors of the night.

Gaze at the sky,
You'll see the light.
With all of our courage,
We'll withstand the night,
And we'll finally see clear,
The coming of the morning sunrise.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

As Celestia's clear voice rang out across the longhouse with her hope inspiring song to all the ponies gathered there, Twilight Aurora's horn continued to grow steadily brighter. Concerned, Dove met Bell’s gaze as they both wondered what was happening with her.

Ponies were absolutely still as they all listed to Celestia’s beautiful voice singing out to the packed room. Many ponies moved closer to their loved ones, where they then nuzzled with them or put their hooves around each other as they cuddled close to one another. The palpable sense of fear and worry that filled the room just moments earlier was now gone, replaced by a warm sense of hope.

Little Aurora’s horn had grown so bright now, it nearly filled the entire room, and as Celestia reached the conclusion of her song, her horn suddenly burst out with with a radiant light that momentarily dazzled all the ponies with its intensity, lasting only moments before fading back down. Finished with whatever she did, Aurora yawned and snuggled her head into Dove before falling back to sleep.

The longhouse was now completely silent as every pony stared over at the Unicorn filly in amazement. "Dove?" Meadowlark called out as she blinked her dazzled eyes clear. "What did…? What did she just do?"

"I don't really know," Dove answered, giving her head a mystified shake. "She sometimes lifts things up, or throw things with her magic, but this is the first time I’ve seen her do something like this."

"I think she really liked Celestia's singing," Bell added thoughtfully with a nod towards Celestia.

Celestia blinked in surprise as everypony suddenly turned their gaze to her. Throwing out a sheepish smile, she shrugged her shoulders.

"Fire!" a pony screamed, bolting into the longhouse in a panic. Seeing Meadowlark, he raced over to her and skidded to a stop. "The sky! It's… it's on fire!" he shouted out breathlessly.

At his shouted words, the room suddenly erupted in pandemonium. Meadowlark desperately waved her hoof and called out for ponies to calm down, but she was having little effect on the panicked ponies.

Melodious, seeing that Meadowlark needed help, stepped up next to her and let out the loudest, and most shrill whistle Celestia had ever heard before. It was likely ponies heard her on the far side of the settlement, if not in the western woods. Luna, as well as almost every other foal in the room, started bawling. The ponies quickly quieted down as they all rubbed at their pained ears.

Rubbing and patting Luna’s back, Celestia shushed at her in comforting tones, working to quiet her back down. By the time she had Luna settled, most of the ponies, including her mother, had gone outside to look up at the sky.

Holding Luna as best as she could with one hoof, Celestia hobbled to the door and stepped out. Everywhere she looked she saw ponies staring up in the sky. Looking up, Celestia gasped. The sky really was on fire! A red glow swirled and shimmered across the sky.

"It's been a long while since I last seen one of those," Sage Brush commented over to her, as he sat nearby with both of his colts, Summer and Winter, sitting on his back.

"Last seen one?" Celestia repeated out loud as she tried to puzzle out what he meant. Suddenly, it hit her. "You've seen the sky do this before!?"

Sage continued to gaze up at the heavens as he smiled and nodded. "Aye, that I have."

"What is it!?" Celestia quickly asked. "Is the sky really on fire!?"

Sage Brush let out a chuckle and shook his head. "No, the sky’s not on fire." Turning, Sage nodded towards Dove, Bell and Strongbuck, who were all sitting together looking up at the sky. "She did well naming that filly what she did."

Celestia was confused. "Aurora? What do you mean naming her well?"

"Aurora, in the old days, meant the dawn," Sage explained. "Later, ponies started to use it to describe the lights that would sometimes appear in the night sky, especially up north where it was cold."

Celestia looked back up at the sky. "Is that what this is then? An aurora?"

"That's right" Sage answered with a smile. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

Celestia nodded as she continued to gaze up. "Yes it is, but also... a bit scary."

Suddenly, streamers of green rippled across the sky. Everypony gasped, watching the red fade down as the new color took over. Staring up at the beautiful lights that played across the sky, Celestia dropped her eyes down to look over at Twilight Aurora. Did she do this? Is that what she did inside with her burst of magic?

⚜⚜⚜⚜

"Which one of you did it!? Who? Tell me!" Astral screamed in a fury, spittle flying from her mouth. Above her the aurora shimmered brightly in the dark sky. She tried to dispel it several times now, but every time she tried, her spell was repulsed back from it, which was impossible. It would mean the caster was stronger than she was! It had to be several Unicorns working together!

Arrayed out on top of the Pillar of the Heavens was every Patron and High Blood Unicorn who was capable of accomplishing such a desecration that was happening currently in the sky above them. Astral marched along the gathered ponies, glaring into their midst, trying to deduce who would have the audacity to touch her beautiful heavens with their dirty, foul magic!

Spying a young mare with a rare destiny mark on her flank, Astral came to a stop. Astral had always been proud to have her own destiny mark of a moon eclipsing the sun, having received it when she first acted as a Focus for her own mother. "You!" Astral exclaimed, yanking a young mare with a constellation mark forward with her magic. "You did this, didn't you!? Admit it!"

Astral's Destiny mark (cutie mark)

The young mare huddled herself up in fear and quickly shook her head in denial as a puddle of urine spread out from under her when she lost control of her bladder.

With a sneer of distaste, Astral released the terrified mare and resumed her search. Who? Who? Who would have done it? So many unicorns with strong talents, it could have been any of them, or... perhaps all of them. The thought of all of them working against her, possibly to replace her with one of their own ran through her mind. She wouldn't put that past them. Many of the Patrons came from powerful bloodlines that would just love to get their hooves on what was hers.

Her eyes traveled over Twinkle Night, who had taken over her daughter, Brilliant Dawn's, duty as Focus. She was quiet and efficient, though not as efficient as Brilliant Dawn of course, and she came from probably the most talented bloodlines outside of her own. It was no secret that Twinkle Night's family had high aspirations, and had been extremely pleased that Twinkle had been chosen to be the new Focus. Doing something like this would almost be expected of them.

She let her gaze settle on the young mare for a lengthy time as she considered what to do about her. She could be a danger to her and her plans and there were others that could replace her. In fact, her daughter, Dazzling Evening, looked like she had enough talent to become a rather skilled Focus someday. Perhaps in a year or two she could take her rightful place by her side.

Finally, Astral turned away and moved on. Behind her she could hear Twinkle Night let out a sigh of relief as she moved off from her. They were all working against her. There is no doubt in her mind that they were obviously jealous of her.

Standing stiffly before the gathered ponies, Starburst stared out over them with a cold hard eye while Astral's daughter, Radiant, stood attentive behind her. Starburst came from a branching family that still had close ties with hers, so Astral felt confident that her loyalty would stay with her blood.

Coming to a stop next to Starburst, Astral met her unflinching gaze. "Starburst, I want you to remain here and question each and every one of them for who is responsible. I don't care what you have to do, just find who it is." Without waiting for a response, Astral focused on her quarters in the mountain and Teleported herself away.

The biting cold of the neither sank into her skin as she waited for her transport to finish. Around her was absolutely nothing, no light, no sound, nothing, just an intense cold that froze any traveler that passed through the space that was neither here nor there, when they teleported long distances. The only sound she could hear in this realm of nothing, was the sound of her heartbeat as it pounded loudly in her ears.

With a sudden pop, Astral appeared in her spacious and will lit quarters. Glittering Crystal had always made sure to have all the light crystals in the chamber fully charged with magic for whenever Astral teleported home.

“Welcome back,” she said in greeting. “I have your meal set out for you in case you're hungry.” Sitting out on a raised slab of stone that stuck up out of the floor, were three discolored pears, some nuts and a small pile of dried grass.

Ignoring the distasteful excuse for food, Astral marched past it as she headed for the door. “Come with me,” she ordered.

With her horn lit up brightly, Astral lead the way through the maze of corridors that lead through the mountain, Glittering Crystal staying close behind her. Deep into the core of the old volcano they traveled, right to the very heart of the mountain.

Walking down a long winding corridor, Astral came to an arched opening with two Casters set guarding it. Seeing Astral, the two guards bowed their heads down and let her pass. Glittering Crystal paused as she came to the opening, unsure as to whether to follow her in.

“Don’t dally Glitter,” Astral snapped over her shoulder causing the mare to jump and quickly follow her in.

The chamber they entered was enormous. With a flick of her horn, Astral sent magic to the mass of light crystals that surrounded the large chamber, quickly illuminating the large space with their soft light. Stepping out onto a large, thick plug of cooled magma that made up the floor of the chamber, Astral approached a massive crystal set in the center of the chamber.

Their hoofsteps echoed out into the huge chamber as they walked over to the large crystal. Strange flickers of motion seemed to play within its clear depths as the drew near. Glittering Crystal swallowed nervously. She didn’t know what it was that they were approaching, but the sight of it made her shudder for some reason.

Stepping up to the crystal, Astral stopped and looked up at it as she appeared to be waiting for something to happen. Glitter stood shivering behind her as she gazed into the large crystal. There was something about it she didn’t like and she had to fight the urge to run away. Suddenly something within it caught her eyes. Deep in the crystal something moved. Something large. Glitter blinked in amazement as a figure moved closer from within the crystal’s depths. Like a fish swimming to the surface of a clear pool, a form flowed right up to the surface of the crystal and looked out at them.

“My, my. What a surprise to see you here,” said a distinctly feminine voice. “From how you left the last time you visited my lovely confinement so many years ago, I thought I would never see you again.”

Glittering had never seen a creature like it before and grimaced from the horrid hodgepodge of parts that comprised it.

The creatures had what looked like a donkey left leg and a deer right. Her left arm appeared to be that of an owl with her right being that of a leopard paw. Her head was at least that of a pony, but with a moose antler sticking out of the top of the left side of her head, with an antelope antler on her right. Her long neck and body had stripes like a zebra with the short black mane that stood upright along the crest of her neck. On her long sinuous back, she had a large butterfly wing on her left side and a moth wing on her right. Her tail was that of a porcupine.

“The last time you were here, you called me a foul, grotesque monstrosity that never should have been allowed to exist.” The creature held up her leopard paw and examined her claws with a raised eyebrow. “You know, I’ve never been much for flattery, but that kind of made me blush.”

“I am not here to reminisce about the past,” Astral growled with a distaste. “I am here to make a bargain with you, Avarice.”

The creature who Astral had called Avarice, looked up with sudden interest as she reached out and pressed her owl talon to the inside surface of the crystal. “Oh really? A bargain you say? Oh how I do so enjoy a good bargain,” her voice purred at the end as she eagerly licked her lips. “What is it that you desire?”

Astral gazed up at the grinning monstrosity without flinching or looking away. “I want the Gemstone.”

The strange creature lifted one of her eyebrows while she gave a sneering smile. “Oh… so she told you of that before she died, did she? How very surprising.” Lifting up her paw, a blood-red, faceted gemstone the size of a sparrow’s egg appeared over it. “Did your grand-dam also tell you why she gave this up to me?”

Astral looked like she wasn’t going to answer, but then she let out an irritated sigh when she saw that Avarice was waiting for her to answer while she held the gem up. “She told me she traded it to you so she could have a foal.” Astral answered.

Avarice smiled a toothy smile. “Indeed she did. If it wasn’t for me, she would never had had your mother, and, in turn, you.” She pointed a claw at Astral.

“If you are wanting a thank you, you won’t get it from me.” Astral growled irritably.

Avarice floated back from the edge of the crystal with a hurt expression on her face. “I never get any gratitude for all I’ve done for you ponies. The sun and moon are yours because of me! And do I get one thank you? No! I get locked away in here, all alone, away from my family. My little Discord must be driving Strife crazy by now!” Avarice turned and crossed her arms as the red gemstone floated over her shoulder.

Astral let out a snort. “You stole the sun and moon for your greedy self and broke the magic that controlled the heavens’ motions! Your actions created so much havoc to nature and time, the Great Spirits had to step in and seal you inside that crystal to keep you from causing any more harm to the world!” she exclaimed in irritation. “Do you even know how many unicorns died learning the magic to fix what you had wrought!? And you want a thank you for that!?"

Avarice turned and smiled brightly as she bowed her head. “You’re welcome.”

Glitter wavered on her hooves as her mind rocked with the astonishment of what she had just discovered. Unicorns were not always controlling the sun and moon? And this grotesque creature was the one responsible for disrupting its natural order in the first place? Why was this not openly known?

Astral didn’t look amused at the creature's mocking antics and she scowled. “Enough of this. I told you I want the gemstone. Give me your price.”

“I see your tact has improved over the years,” Avarice commented with amusement in her voice. Moving closer to the inner surface of the crystal, she brought the red gemstone to rest just above her paw again, “are you sure you want this? Do you remember what nearly happened to your grand-dam during the time she used it?”

“I know of the danger, so save me you're overly concerned warnings,” Astral snapped. “State the price!”

“Very well, then.” Avarice pursed her lips as she considered Astral thoughtfully. “I want you to bring me the one who was responsible for coloring the sky.” She finally answered pointing a claw upwards at the chamber's ceiling, to the aurora that still played in the sky above the mountain.

Astral blinked in surprise before her eyes narrowed in anger. “How do you know of that!? There’s no way you could have known, unless…?” Astral suddenly looked angry enough to chew stone. “Somepony told you! Who!? Who’s been talking to you!?”

Avarice reared herself up with a gasp and placed her paw to her chest. “How dare you accuse me of seeing other ponies! I assure you I am not that kind of draconequus!” She bent down and smiled smugly at Astral. “Besides, what would be the fun in telling?”

Astral glared mutely at the draconequus, looking like she wanted to bit her. “Why do you want this mysterious caster?”

“That,” Avarice stated with a toothy grin, “is for me to know, and for you to never find out.” She reached her paw out and pressed her pad against the inside surface of the crystal. “So, do we have a deal? I give you the gemstone you want, and you bring me the mysterious caster that I want.”

Astral considered the draconequus for a time, her eyes never leaving her. Finally she slowly stepped forward right up to the side of the crystal. Lifting her hoof, Astral placed it against the crystal, right over Avarice’s paw. “I agree to the deal.”

“It is done! The bargain is made!” Avarice declared in open glee.

Astral gasped when she suddenly found she couldn’t pull her hoof from the crystal. “What are you doing? Release me at once!” She ordered.

Avarice bent her head down so it was level with Astral’s, her gleeful smile becoming menacing. “Not before I collect something first.” Extending one of her owl talons she slowly slid the sharp tip along the inner-surface of the crystal, as she did so, a thin red cut appeared on Astral’s leg just above where her hoof was stuck against the side of the crystal.

Astral grimaced in pain as she struggled to pull her hoof away from the crystal. “How dare you!? This was not part of our deal!” she shouted in outrage.

Avarice ignored her complaints as she lifted her talon from the crystal and held it out toward Astral’s cut. The blood that now seeped from her injury flowed along her leg and dripped not down onto the stone ground as would be expected, but instead, dripped forward right onto the crystal surface! Holding her clawed talons over the pool of blood, Avarice drew the essence into her crystal and formed it into a ball right over her open claws. When she was satisfied that she had enough, she took her leopard paw off the crystal, releasing Astral, who stumbled back in surprise at having been let go.

Smiling at the floating ball of Astral’s blood, Avarice cupped her paw and talons around it. With sudden flash of light, the ball of blood suddenly turned into a shiny black orb that looked like it was made of polished stone.

Astral lifted her injured leg and cast a spell onto it to stop the bleeding. “I demand to know what you just did!”

Closing her paw around the orb, Avarice smiled out at a infuriated Astral. “Oh, I just needed a little collateral before I handed the gemstone over to you.” Opening her paw, she held the orb out so Astral could see it. “You see, if you fail to bring me the one I desire, or if any harm comes to my prize,” with a light touch with the tip of her talon, Avarice lightly scraped it across the orb. Astral suddenly gasped and clutched a hoof to her chest in pain, “our bargain will be broken and I will claim you instead.”

Glitter rushed forward to help her matriarch.

“I have not been known for my patience, so I would not take too long if I were you. Find my prize and bring it to me. If you fail me,” she then closed her paw around the orb and squeezed. Astral cried out and crumpled to her knees, gasping for breath, “it will be you who will be mine.”

Avarice opened her paw and Astral gasped out in sudden relief. Slowly, with Glitter’s help, she clambered back to her hooves to glare up at the smirking draconequus.

The blood-red gemstone floated down to Avarice’s talon. Taking it, she held it out and passed it through the crystal surface, dropping it down onto the stone ground where it came to rest right before Astral’s hoof. “Take it and go. Remember to keep our bargain and bring me what I desire.”

Astral snatched up the gemstone in her magic and held it to her chest. Turning away, she let Glittering Crystal help her cross back to the passageway they entered from. Behind them, they could hear Avarice’s chilling laughter following them out.

Chapter Twenty Five

Astral stormed into her chambers, Glittering Crystal following behind as she struggled to keep up with her matriarch’s hurried pace. Crossing through the main chamber, Astral made her way down another long tunnel that wound off at an angle. Following it for a short way, they rounded a bend and saw light ahead of them through an opening. As they drew closer, they could see the colored lights of the aurora playing off the rock face.

Stepping out of the opening, Astral walked out onto a large ledge that ended with a sheer drop off, and looked up. Astral frowned and held the gemstone up with her magic. Her grand-dam had explained that it needed to be touching a unicorn in order for them to use it. Pressing it to her chest Astral smiled as she prepared her dispersion spell. With a flash, she sent her spell shooting up into the sky, smashing it into the other spell. At first it resisted her spell and held against her, but her spell soon overcame it and tore through, shredding the other caster's spell into useless ribbons that quickly began to disperse into the ether. Above them, the shimmering green and strong violets that played across the sky broke apart and slowly vanished to nothing.

Staring up at the darkening heavens, Astral began to laugh maniacally. She had done it! It was hers again!

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Little Aurora suddenly jerked awake and started bawling, her little voice piercing the night with her wailing cry. Sage Brush paused his story as Dove snatched the filly up from her basket to croon to her as she moved off to settle the filly back down.

Sage Brush reached over and tossed another log onto the fire. "Well then, where was I?" he asked, looking back to the gathered crowd of fillies and colts.

Tulip quickly clamped her hoof over Pine Blossom's mouth to keep her from answering with her usual request, while Misty just sighed and shook her head at the two. Celestia glanced over and giggled with Strawberry as they watched Pine struggling with her sister. Mighty Oak was busy quietly plotting a prank with Toadstool while Glum Drollery sat silently, watching the moths fly around the fire. Bumblebee was waiting for her sister, Soft Step, to return from talking to their papa about some idea of hers about safely putting fire into ponies homes.

"You were about to tell us the story of Daring Horizon, and her adventure to find the edge of the world," Journey Stomp quickly reminded the stallion as he leaned forward with intense interest.

Sage thoughtfully scratched at his chin before finally nodding. "Oh, that's right." Clearing his throat, he started his story.

Long long ago, in seasons past, there lived a young mare named Daring Horizon. She was always adventurous and loved exploring the new lands her herd traveled too in their long wanderings. Always, she was driven to see what lay beyond the next hill. One day, she decided that she wanted to see the edge of the world and what was beyond it, so after she said her goodbyes to her mother and all of her friends, she started out on her long journey to see what lay over the world's edge.

For many days, she got up each morning and traveled toward the rising sun until she came to a river that was so broad, she could not hope to swim across. Standing on the shore, she stared out across the river and wondered how she would be able to cross something so wide. It was then that she noticed a group of beavers struggling to move a very large tree they had recently fallen. She noticed that it was lodged against the side of a large rock outcropping and no matter the pushing and tugging the beavers could do, they would have no hope of dislodging it. Moving herself around to the other side of the log, she gave it a mighty buck that shook the tree and dislodged it from the rocks, allowing it to roll free down to the bank.

The beavers were happy, and joyfully slapped the water with their tails in celebration, for no matter how hard they tried, they had been unable to shift the massive log. "Please," Daring Horizon called out to the beavers, "your river is much too broad for me to cross. Would you please use your wonderful tails to paddle me across?"

The beavers agreed that without her help they would never have gotten the log free, so two of them swam forward and offered their backs for her to hold onto. Once she was in place, they used their powerful tails to propel her safely across the broad river. Once she was on the other side, she said goodbye to her new friends and continued on her journey.

Next, she came to a great mountain range that extended to each side for as far as she could see. Daring Horizon gazed up at the massive snow capped peaks and feared that she would not find a way over. For days, she searched for a way through, but without any success. Then she came across a mountain goat that had his horns stuck in a bramble bush. Seeing that he needed help in escaping his plight, Daring used her teeth and hooves to untangle the ram from the thorny bush.

Freed, the ram leapt about in joy for no matter his struggles he was unable to free himself. "Please," Daring called out to the ram, "your mountains are much too tall and steep for me to cross. Would you please show me the way through?" she asked.

The ram knew that if he hadn't have been set free, he would have surely perished. There were paths through the mountain that only mountain goats knew of, and with gratitude for saving his life, the ram showed her safely through one of them. Once on the other side, Daring thanked her new friend for his help and set off to continue on her journey.

Her travels then took her to the edge of a vast desert that stretched far off to the horizon. Studying it for a time, she decided to wait for night before trying to cross. Despite starting out right at sunset, she was still deep in the desert with no end in sight when the sun reappeared in the morning. With no shade to be found, Daring decided to continue on. The sun beat down on her relentlessly as the day wore on, and her throat quickly felt like she had been swallowing sand.

Her hooves were dragging in the sand when she suddenly caught sight of something huddled at the base of a sand dune. It was a little camel calf, and he was crying his heart out.

"What's wrong?" she asked him, concerned as to why he was crying out here all alone.

"I'm lost, and I can't find my mama," the little calf answers her back.

Daring Horizon mused about what she should do. She wanted to help the lost calf, but she wasn't sure how. She was in the middle of a scorching desert. Spying a tall sand dune a ways off, Daring thought of an idea.

Wiping the calf's tears dry, she picked the exhausted calf up onto her back and carried him all the way over to the large dune. Struggling up its slope, Daring managed to climb all the way up to the top where she then gazed all around in the hopes that she would see the calf's mother.

Spinning her gaze about a few times, she failed to spot anything that looked like it could be the calf's mother. She was about to give up and head back the way she came, when the calf suddenly cried out.

"Mama! Mama!"

Fixing her gaze towards where the calf was looking, Daring squinted in the bright sunlight and saw a figure of a camel topping a dune in the far distance. It seemed she saw them too and with a remarkably swift pace, the camel rushed over to them. She was so grateful at getting her lost calf back, the camel showed Daring where a nearby oasis was so she could drink her fill of water. After that, she guided Daring safely across the vast sea of sand back to land filled with grass and trees on the far side. Giving a farewell to her new friends, she once again set off on her journey.

After many days and nights of travel, Daring Horizon finally arrived at something that dwarfed everything she had seen so far in both vastness and scale. Sinking her hooves into the sand, Daring stood on the shore of a great sea and looked out at the endless, rolling waves. It seemed that her journey had come to an end, for she saw no way for her to cross over such an expanse. Suddenly, she noticed a giant sea turtle that had been somehow rolled onto his back. With his great, flippered feet, he flailed helplessly in the air as crabs and gulls gathered around him to start to feast on his flesh.

Alarmed at his plight, Daring rushed over and chased off the gathered scavengers. Turning her attention back to the sea turtle, she saw that he was massive, so Daring thought about what to do. She tried bucking the side of his shell, which only hurt her hooves. She then tried to push him down to the water, but only got her hooves to sink into the soft sand. Lastly she tried to lift him by stacking driftwood logs under the edge of his shell but all to no avail. What was she to do?

Spotting a large clam shell sticking up in the serf, Daring had an idea. Taking the clam shell, she began to dig out one side of the sea turtle and pile the sand onto the other. It was exhausting work but over time she noticed that the sea turtle had shifted down into her hole. Working all through the night, she managed to shift the sea turtle all the way over to its side. Walking around to the hill she had built on the other side of the turtle, Daring reared her hind legs back and bucked into his shell as hard as she could, causing the sea turtle’s whole body to wobble in place for a moment before he slowly toppled over onto his belly.

Once he was righted back into place, the sea turtle scooted himself back to the sea. Daring was happy that she had saved the beautiful creature from a grisly fate and watched him splash his flippers in joy.

Stepping out into the surf, Daring called out to the jubilant sea turtle, "Please, I have come a long way to find the edge of the world. Would you please carry me upon your fine shell across the sea?"

The sea turtle swam back to shore where he then allowed Daring to climb up onto his shell. Once she was in place, the sea turtle set off, and soon the land fell away behind them as they entered the open sea.

Every day, for a full moon, the sea turtle would stop at an island to let her drink and eat before they would continue on. Gradually the water became more clear and warm as they traveled ever onward. Below them, Daring could make out the sandy bottom as well as all the sea life that lived there. One time, a herd of whales passed under her, and Daring had to resist the urge to dive in and swim with them. A curious little whale calf paused for a time next to them to look up at her, probably wondering why a pony was traveling on a sea turtle's shell. When another whale, probably its mother, called out to the calf, he shot off with a splash of his tail to rejoin her.

A few days later, the sea bottom had climbed up so much, she could make out every detail on its pearly, white, sandy bottom. The sea turtle no longer stopped at any islands, for their were no more islands for him to stop at. At first, this alarmed Daring until she discovered that the seawater was no longer salty, but instead tasted sweet and fresh to her tongue, and for food, the sea turtle would dive down to the bottom to nab up sea grass for her to eat.

One day, while sitting on the sea turtle's shell, Daring was eating her morning meal, she gazed down into the clear waters and saw something amazing! Grazing below her in the seagrass was a herd of what looked like ponies! They had fins and swam about the grasses as they grazed. There were stallions strutting their fins at some young sea-mares as they tried to impress them, while older mares with foals tucked up by their sides talked among themselves, likely about the day’s latest sea-gossip, while they nursed their foals. A few of these sea ponies noticed her looking down at them and an unheard alarm was raised. Within moments, they all vanished as they all quickly swam away.

Daring was saddened to see them leave, and continued to search the waters to see if she could see more, but despite staring down into the water for the rest of the day, she never caught sight of any more undersea ponies.

Eventually, the sea bottom rose up to just under the surface, and the giant sea turtle had to skim his shell along the sandy bottom to continue forward. Ahead of them, a shoreline appeared that stretched to either side all the way to either horizon. Coming to a stop, the sea turtle allowed Daring to hop off into the shallows to make her way up to the beach.

The pure-white sand was soft under her hooves as she walked forward up onto the dry land. Behind her, the distant sun was just setting, casting her shadow far ahead into a rising moon that looked like it was close enough to reach out and touch. All around, stars glittered brightly in their multitudes as she stepped ever closer to the edge that was just ahead of her. A star suddenly shot by her as it streaked across the sky. The beauty that lay all about her took her breath away.

Daring Horizon felt her heart hammering in her chest as she drew right up the the very edge of the world. She had made it. At last, she could look over and see what lay beyond her world to the place where stars were born. Taking a deep breath, Daring prepared herself to take the last step forward to look over the edge… and she found she didn't want to.

The answer was there, a mere step away. All she had to do was step forward and look. Gazing out at the breathless beauty that lay about her, a passing comet tickled her nose with its tail. She didn't want to do it. She didn't want to know what lay beyond. She wanted to keep the mystery, and the magic alive in her heart. She had made it this far, and she had made many friends along the way, each a precious memory and experience that added to her life and enriched it even more.

Taking one last breath, Daring Horizon turned and walked back to the shore, ready to find her next adventure.

Sage Brush finished his story and looked around at all the wide eyed fillies and colts sitting around him.

"That's it!? She just left!?" Journey Stomp exclaimed in outrage. "Why did she leave!? She was right there! All she had to do was look!"

"Don't you get it! She did it so she wouldn't know!" Celestia explained with a sigh. Sometimes colts could be so thickheaded.

This seemed to confuse Journey more. "But why wouldn't she want to know? That's why she traveled all the way there!"

"Because, she wanted to keep one thing always a mystery," Strawberry said, "so there would always be something she didn't know."

Journey shook his head. "That's just stupid. I would have looked."

"Oh, really?" Bumblebee cut in. "Then how about you go to the edge of the world and do just that."

Journey stood and confronted Bumblebee. "You know what, I'll do just that! Just you watch and see! I'll go and explore every mystery that is out there!"

A flicker of light appeared on Journey's flank and a wandering trail of hoof prints appeared. Every pony gasped at the sudden appearance of his cutie mark.

"Well," Sage said with a happy smile, "looks like we have ourselves an upcoming explorer, just like Daring Horizon!"

All the fillies and colts rushed around Journey Stomp to congratulate him.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Dusty Stride held his torch up and cast its light ahead. It had taken them many tries to finally come up with a way to carry fire with them to light their way through the dark.

At first they tried to carry the fire on a sled but that soon ended in disaster when it quickly began to burn the sled. Next, they tried to drag it in a sled covered in stone but that was much too heavy and cumbersome, often times allowing the burning logs to tumble out onto the ground. They tried to just carry the burning branches along with them, but they failed to stay lit, and went out easily.

It was a young stallion named Grass Stem who finally solved their problem. He took a long branch and wrapped the end in a thick coil of rope they had brought along. When lit, it proved to burn quite steadily and reliably, even in the wind.

Resuming their journey, they made their way west, toward the mountains. At one point, they were startled by the sudden appearance of a manticore that roared at them before fleeing off into the night, apparently afraid of their torches. Taking warning from their encounter with the manticore, Dark arranged ponies into a more defensive formation with torch bearers set at the front and rear to give warning.

Dusty was in the lead with Happy, who constantly scanned the ground for any tracks or signs of danger. Occasionally, Happy would point out some flattened piece of grass and tell him that a fox had stepped there, or point at a scratch mark in the dirt and say that it was made by a passing chimaera a few days before.

Despite being right up front where it was most dangerous to be, Dusty continued to worry for Sky. He knew his worry for her was unfounded; she was right in the center of the entire party and for any creature to get at her they would have to get through twenty determined spear-wielding ponies and a fearless wolf-slayer colt first.

Using the constellations in the sky, Dark and Happy kept track of the day and had them rest and eat at what they determined to be noon. Some of the ponies used their rest time to work on making more torches, they didn't want to use up all the rope they had, so they tried wrapping branches with various other things like tightly bound dry grass, which seemed to work almost as well as the rope.

Once again, Dusty was in the lead as they traveled westward, crossing over creeks and moving through thick forests of giant pines. Keeping his torch held high, Dusty moved through a clearing when Happy suddenly threw his hoof over and stopped Dusty in his tracks.

"What's?..."

"Shh!..." Happy held his hoof up. His eyes scanning the ground with alarm. "Stay as quiet as you can and back yer rump up." he said in a hushed voice.

Dusty froze, not sure what had Happy so worried. Looking around at the ground, all Dusty saw was a series of small holes that were probably made by gophers. Doing as Happy wanted, Dusty began to back away. Suddenly one of his hind hooves sank into the ground as it dropped into some kind of underground chamber. He felt things squirming against his leg. Living things, and a lot of them!

With a startled oath, Dusty yanked his hoof back up out of the hole and quickly shuffled away as he heard a strange hissing sounds coming from the holes. Happy rushed over and examined his leg. "Did'ja get bit!? Le’me see."

Dusty shook his head. "No, I don't think so. What did I step in?"

"Good, we need ta' go! Now!" Happy exclaimed, turning to the ponies behind them, "turn back, we need ta’ get out of here fast!"

"You all heard him! Move!" Dark exclaimed.

Shadowed things started to shoot up out of the ground around them.

"Watch yer’selves!" Happy exclaimed, "they're come’n out!"

"What!? What are they!?" Dark asked, swinging his head about trying to catch sight of what was flying about them.

"The young lad stepp'd into a Winged Serpents nest!" Happy shouted back.

Dusty looked over when he saw something flapping by and caught sight of what looked like a snake with bat wings! Ponies were starting to panic when they saw that they were already surrounded by a swarm of angry looking winged vipers.

"Gather together and light more torches!" Dark shouted. "Don't let any of them bite you!"

Seeing a flying serpent swoop down at him, Dusty waved his torch at it, causing It to let out a high pitched squeal when its wing got singed by the flames and it tumbled to the ground. Torches were quickly passed around and lit, casting a wide light to the surrounding area. It became clear how much danger they were in. The sky around them was filled with angry, flying snakes! Unlike the other creatures they came across, the winged serpents were apparently unafraid of their torches, in fact they seemed attracted to them, they constantly dove down to strike at them. Dusty noticed this after the second time he scorched a serpent's wings.

"The fire! I think it's attracting them!" Dusty exclaimed, waving his torch at another passing viper, "just like moths!"

"We can't stay here!" Happy shouted. "We haf'ta move!"

"Dusty, Mustard, and Morning!" Dark shouted, whacking a viper from the air with his spear haft. "Go and drag that old log onto that slab of rock over there and light it on fire! Hopefully it will draw them away and allow us to make our escape!"

Dusty shot a quick look over to Sky and met her eyes. He could see that she was terrified as they locked gazes. Hoping that this won't be the last time he ever looked upon her beautiful face, Dusty gritted his teeth and ran out with Mustard Seed and Morning Sky. Crossing through the clearing, Dusty stumbled a few times as the numerous holes that dotted the ground caught at his hooves. Reaching the fallen log, Dusty and Mustard set their shoulders to a pair of branches that stuck up from it and pushed together as Morning stood over them, waving her torch around to distract the serpents.

Heaving themselves forward, the two stallions shoved the old fallen tree onto a barren slab of rock. Once it was in place, Morning held her torch to the wood, quickly igniting it. As the tree burned brightly, the surrounding area was suddenly swarmed by hissing vipers.

Looking around, Dusty saw that the only way out would be through the swarm! "We'll need to leave our torches and rush through them!" Dusty shouted to the pair with him.

"Run through them!? There is no way I'm doing that!" Mustard said, shaking his head.

"Mustard, you are such a foal!" Morning snapped. "They’re just snakes with wings."

Mustard glared at the mare. "You know how much I hate snakes! Just the thought of one of those slimy things touching me..." A serpent with scorched wings suddenly bounced off of Mustard's side, falling to the ground before the stallion. Mustard dropped his torch and backed away from the dying viper with a very un-stallionlike squeal. Around them, more vipers were diving down to strike at the flames, only to scorch their wings and tumble out of the air.

Dusty felt one bounce off the side of his neck and land next to him, with a quick stomp of his hoof, Dusty dispatched the creature before it could strike his leg. Morning Sky did the same with another that was trying to slither up to her with ruined wings. Mustard danced in place as he looked about in terror. When another viper, its wings fully seared off flopped down right onto Mustard Seed's back, the stallion suddenly let out a shrill scream and dashed off in a blind panic into the darkness, alone.

"Mustard! You idiot! You're going the wrong way!" Morning shouted at the panicked stallion as she tossed her torch down and rushed after him.

Dropping his torch onto the burning log, Dusty lowered his head and ran. Dashing through the dark, Dusty could hear the flapping of wings all around him, and once, he felt something brush the tip of his ear. Ahead he could see the distant torchlight from the rest of the party as they made their escape. It appeared that Dark's plan to lure the swarm away had mostly worked, now there were only a few that followed along with them. Occasionally, Dusty would see a torch wave about as it fended off an occasional attack.

Rushing in from the dark, Dusty looked over the group to check on Sky, and was relieved to see that she was safe. Just next to her, Dusty noticed that his mother was looking back at him with obvious relief.

"Where's Mustard and Morning?" Dark asked, seeing him coming in alone.

"Mustard ah... got confused and ran off in the wrong direction," Dusty explained, keeping the fact he had run off because he had been scared to himself. "Morning went after him."

"Well, we'll just go look for them later. Look out!" With a swing of his spear shaft, Dark knocked a winged serpent away from sinking his fangs into Dusty's exposed neck.

The serpent tumbled through the air until it landed onto Sky's back, right between her wings. With a cry of alarm, Dusty lunged forwards. It was like things had slowed down for Dusty as he tried to rush to Sky. The serpent on her back collected itself and coiled itself back to strike out at her exposed withers. He was too far! He wasn’t going to make it! The winged serpent sprung forward and opened it's mouth wide and sank its fangs into the fetlock of a pony leg that had suddenly cut across its path.

With the serpent attached to her leg, Pebble Stream swiped the serpent off Sky's back and flung it down to the ground. "YOU WILL NOT HARM MY FILLY, YOU DIRT EATING VERMIN!" With a quick and vicious stomp of her hoof, Pebble killed the snake and looked back up to Dusty. "I… I'm sorry. I've been such a fool. I was blind to the fact that you were becoming a stallion, I just... want you to forgive me..."

Dusty watched as his mother crumpled to the ground. "Mother!"

Chapter Twenty Six

"Mother!" Dusty exclaimed with panic, rushing over to her collapsed body.

With his heart hammering in his chest, Dusty carefully rolled his mother's limp body over. Her eyes were shut. Dusty quickly pressed his ear against her chest to listen to whether or not she still lived.

Happy stepped over to the dead viper and nudged it with his hoof. "The beastie was one of the wee ones. She may still have'ah chance. It’s venom isn’t as strong as the larger ones, yet"

Dusty shot a look up, his eyes wet with tears. "Will she live?"

"Won't know 'til we get out of here," Happy replied, giving his head a shake. "Just pick her up and take her along. We still be in danger."

"He's right!" Dark exclaimed, swinging his spear haft at another passing viper. "Pick her up and lets go."

Skye helped him shift his mother onto his back. Once she was in place, they all moved off at a hurried pace. It was awkward carrying his unconscious mother, but Skye was there next to him to always help and shift his mother back into place whenever she started to slip off.

Dropping down into a small valley, they crossed another creek, and entered a small glen. Calling a halt, Dark set ponies out as guards before moving through the party to check on the rest. Other than some cuts and bruises, the only serious condition was Dusty's mother. Her breathing was so shallow it was hard for Dusty to make out.

Feeling Skye's comforting touch, Dusty sat by his mother's side and watched over her. He didn't know what to do. Happy had said that there was a chance, but failed to say how much of a chance. He felt horrible for how things had become between him and his mother. He knew that the confrontation between them had been unavoidable and necessary, but he wished that it hadn't had come to something so drastic and painful.

The sound of hoofsteps drew Dusty's attention and he was relieved to see Happy walking over to him with Dark.

"How is she doin’, lad?" Happy asked.

Dusty glanced down at his mother. "Her breathing is so shallow, it's sometimes hard to... tell if she's still alive," Dusty had trouble finishing his sentence. He never thought he would face a moment when she might be gone.

Bending down, Happy used the edge of his hoof to pull back Pebble's eye lid to peer into them. Letting out a thoughtful hum, he then checked her tongue before laying his ear against her chest to listen.

"Your mother is lucky that Happy is here," Dark said to Dusty. "When it comes to snake bites, he's probably the pony with the most experience with them."

"Yeah, Papa said that Happy must have been bitten by every snake there is," Ash added, walking over to join them.

Happy sat up from examining Pebble. "Tis' true. Ah've nev'r met ah snake who didn't like ah little nibble'n of me every once n'ah while."

"You've been bitten before?" Skye asked, with a surprised look. "How did you survive?"

Happy looked at Dusty and Skye. "There's an old trick my family learned. There's ah bush with dark green leaves with white undersides called Worm’s Tongue. Its leaves are incredibly poisonous, but if you dig out its roots and drink its sap. It'll cure most snake bites."

"Most?" Dusty asked.

"T’won't do noth'n with Basilisk bites, and other magical venoms,” Happy said, standing back up. "There should be ah' few Worm’s Tongue around here so I'll go out and find some. Perhaps find those two we lost as well."

"I know of this bush as well, so I'll gather some ponies together and we'll search for it too," Dark said.

Dusty quickly stood. "I want to come, too!"

Dark shook his head. "I'm sorry, Dusty. I know how much you would like to help, but you would be most useful right now if you stayed with your mother and watched over her." He set a hoof onto Dusty's shoulder. "She needs all the help she can get right now, and having her son by her side will do wonders for her."

"What about me? I remember that bush when you showed it to me, Papa!" Ash called out. "I can help look!"

"No. I need you to stay here and tend the fire. Keep it well lit so we can find our way back. Okay?" Dark looked down at the colt.

Ash furled his brows with a stubborn look.

"Don't argue with me on this," Dark warned the colt, "I'm giving you an order. I need you here to watch over things while I'm gone."

Ash let out a frustrated breath, then sat his rump down and nodded.

"Good." Dark gave Ash a pat to his shoulder, before turning to Happy. "I'm going to take a few spears with me and go south to look."

"And I'll be head'n north." Happy agreed, before heading off with Dark.

Dusty sat back down next to his mother. Skye quickly moved over next to him to drape a comforting wing over his back. He felt so frustrated that he wasn't being allowed to help. She needed him and he was doing nothing but sit by her side, being useless.

He didn't know how long he sat there, lost in his misery, but he was surprised to notice a small campfire had been set up nearby. Feeling its warmth, Dusty tried to take solace in it. Over the last few moons, Dusty had started to understand his mother a bit more. Within the body of the mare pressed up against his side, was a little pony they had created together. His foal wasn't even born yet, and he knew he would do anything to protect and care for it, just as his mother had done for him.

He couldn't stand just waiting here any longer. Turning, he nuzzled Skye's cheek and kissed her before standing up. "Watch over her for me."

As he started to walked away, Skye called out to him. "Be careful and come back safe. I love you."

Pausing a moment he looked back, his eyes traveled over her body. Her pregnancy wasn't showing yet but he could definitely feel something there when he caressed her belly. She, and what she had growing in her was his everything, just as he was for his mother. "I'll be back. Don't worry. I love you too."

He found Ash teaching some ponies how to properly strike a sparker stone when starting a fire. Pulling him away, Dusty took him a little ways off so he could talk to him privately.

"Ash. You said you knew what this bush looked like." Dusty said, "please, describe it to me."

"You want to go out and look for it yourself, don't you?" Ash asked, raising an eyebrow to the young stallion.

Dusty knew it would be hopeless to try and hide this fact so he nodded to the colt. "Yes. Will you tell me what it looks like?"

"No," Ash answered him giving his head a shake. "But I’ll show it to you when we find it."

Dusty blinked down at the colt in surprise. "But your papa told you to stay here at camp, and tend the fires."

"Your mother's life is in danger. I think that this is more important than tossing logs on the fire that any of the other ponies can do." Ash answered. Walking over to a pack, Ash took a spear and tossed it over to Dusty, before taking out one of the unused torches. Lighting it in a nearby fire, Ash returned to Dusty and stood ready.

Since Dark was searching south, and Happy was to the north, Dusty and Ash went westward, with Ash leading the way with his torch held up. Bush to bush, Ash would pause and look it over before quickly moving off to the next, muttering that the leaves looked wrong or it shouldn't have flowers.

Dusty followed after the colt, holding the spear ready for anything they may come across. For a full hoof length, the constellations moved across the sky during their search. Dusty was beginning to fear that they wouldn’t find one before it was too late, when Ash suddenly cried out in excitement as he stood before a bush with wide, dark green leaves with white undersides.

Sticking their nearly spent torch butt first into the ground, Ash began to quickly dig at the base of the bush with his hooves. Dusty moved in and helped, and together they managed to swiftly clear out a section of the roots. Using the edge of the spear, Dusty cut a length of its root off. With it oozing green sap, they took their prize and started back toward their camp.

They had barely gone a few dozen steps when their torch sputtered out and died.

"What do we do?" Dusty asked, looking down at the smoldering torch.

Ash tossed the torch down and kicked dirt over the smoldering end. "We go on without it," he said, taking the spear.

Dusty couldn't believe how calm the colt was. They were out in the wild, alone, without a torch and with only one spear between them, and the colt sounded like there was nothing to worry about. Following after the colt as they moved through the dark forest, Dusty felt stupid for not keeping track of how far they had traveled from the camp.

Breaking from the trees, they began to cross over a clearing when a very large shadow started to move toward them from the other side. Through the dim light of the stars, Dusty could make out that it was a manticore!

"Run!" Dusty shouted. Reaching back, he nabbed the root off his back into his mouth and bolted into the trees. He could hear the manticore crashing through bushes behind them as they both dashed as fast as they could through the trees. Dodging around the branches as best he could, Dusty risked a quick glance back and was terrified to see that the manticore was still on their tail, and closing on them quickly!

Looking forward again, Dusty suddenly saw a low branch that he had no time to avoid! With a painful impact, his shoulder smacked into the branch and knocked him off to the side. The root falling from his mouth. With a grunt of pain, Dusty staggered to a halt and looked back to the root he had dropped. Behind the root, he saw the shadowed form of the manticore lunging across the ground at him! There was no time to run! It was only a few paces away! He was going to be eaten by a manticore! Closing his eyes to the inevitable, Dusty thought of Skye and their foal.

As he waited for the end, the patter of hooves suddenly galloped by him! Opening his eyes, he couldn't believe what he saw! Ash was running right towards the manticore, with the spear held in his mouth! What was that fool colt doing!? He was going to get swallowed whole!

As Ash closed on the beast, Dusty noticed a strange soft glow suddenly surrounding the colt. Blinking his eyes in disbelief, he watched as Ash bound up into the air with a great leap. With a twist of his body, he brought the spear shaft down onto the manticore's head with a shattering crack! The blow drove the manticore's head down into the ground!

Lifting his head up, the manticore spat out dirt as he shook his head. Fixing his enraged gaze onto the tiny colt, the great cat roared right into Ash's face. The colt stood unshaken by the beasts rage. Dusty didn't know what he was watching, he had never seen such bravery! His own legs were stuck in place like he was standing knee deep in mud.

Ash spat the broken spear shaft out of his mouth and met the cat's gaze with unflinching eyes. "I am Ash Cloud, slayer of wolves. I do not fear you!" The soft glow that had enveloped his body grew a little stronger. The manticore suddenly flinched back from the colts hard gaze, finding he was unable to meet his eyes. "There is a mare back at our camp who needs our help." With a steady step, Ash began walking toward the manticore, who backed away from the colt’s approach. "I warn you, beast. I will not allow you to stop us from helping her." Ash continued to advance, forcing the manticore to continue to back away. "Right now, you are standing in my way. If you value your life, be somewhere else," he stated with an authoritative tone that expected to be obeyed.

Dusty felt a shiver run down his spine from the pure menace he heard in the colt’s voice. The manticore looked terrified of Ash. His eyes were now downcast and submissive to the colt. Finally, the manticore made his decision and he turned and fled, his scorpion tail tucked down between his legs as he vanished back into the woods.

The strange glow that surrounded the colt suddenly faded away. Rushing over to him, Dusty gaped down at the colt. "How...!? How did you do that!?"

Ash suddenly wobbled on his hooves, and had to catch himself. His breath was now coming in great heaves as his legs shook under him. "I... don't know. I saw that you were in danger, and... I just acted. I felt strange, all warm and tingling all over, and when I was standing before the manticore, he just looked so... tiny and... weak."

Normally, he would have thought that the colt had hit his head on a rock or something for thinking that a manticore was somehow tiny and weak, but after what he had just witnessed, he didn't know what to think. When he saw the colt standing before the manticore, it truly did seem like for a moment, he was towering over the beast.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Mustard wanted to run head first into a tree. He felt so stupid.

"Hey, stupid! There's a stick here that looks just like a snake. Do you want to run away from that too?" Morning Sky broke down and started laughing again.

Mustard sighed and hung his head down lower. It didn't help that she was here to keep reminding him how stupid he was. He knew that well enough already.

When he had finally panicked and ran, he didn't know how far he had gone until Morning tackled him to the ground. She then thoughtfully sat on him until he regained his senses.

"If I need your help with feeling more miserable, I'll let you know. Otherwise, just shut it!" Mustard snapped at the laughing mare.

Sitting up, Mustard looked around. It looked like they were next to some kind of rock outcropping. Standing, he brushed the grass off his coat. "So. Which way do we go to get back to the party?"

"Last I saw, they were heading west, so they should be somewhere over there." Morning vaguely waved her hoof off in the direction of the stone outcropping.

The stone outcropping looked pretty extensive, but luckily, Mustard saw what looked like a gap that ran through it. "Fine. Let's get going." Without looking to see if Morning was following behind him, Mustard began walking toward the gap.

Unfortunately, it wasn't long until he noticed that Morning was indeed following along with him. She kept a lively step with him, as she happily hummed to herself.

Mustard tried to ignore her as he focused on his misery. Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes with wings? He had always had a problem with snakes. The thought of one touching him sent shivers down his spine. When the flying serpents erupted out of their burrows, Mustard had managed to keep his panic under control. Only when they were cut off by the swarm, and they were falling down all around them did he begin to lose what control he had, until that one bounced off his side and landed right before him. That was his breaking point. He needed to get out of there, and he ran.

Just as they came to the gap between the stone outcropping, the two ponies stopped by a large pool of water. Standing on a shelf of rock, Mustard looked out and saw that they would have to cross the pool to get through the gap.

"Mustard?"

The orange stallion let out a sigh. "Yeah? What is it?"

"Why have you never taken a mate?"

Mustard shot a startled look to Morning. "Who told you that!?"

Morning sat her rump down and gave him an amused look. "Well you see, Dandelion Fluff and I were talking and it just kind of came up."

Letting out a groan, Mustard rubbed his face with his hoof. "Of course my sister would yab about that. She always had trouble keeping things to herself."

Seeing that he wasn't going to answer her, Morning reached out and nudged his shoulder. "Well? Why haven’t you found a mate, huh? The only reason you were able to stay with the herd during the split was because your sister went out and claimed you. And that was only because your mother told her to do it." She nudged him again. "Well?"

"No."

"Oh come on," Morning said, nudging him again. "You can tell me."

"No."

"Why not!?" Morning asked. "Why won't you tell me? Is it embarrassing or something?"

"No, I just don't want to talk about it!" Mustard knew he made a mistake when he answered her so quickly. Morning was bound to be even more curious.

"It is something embarrassing!" She exclaimed with a smile, "isn't it?"

"No!" Mustard shouted before turning his back. "Now stop asking and leave me alone!"

"Tell me!"

"No!"

"Tell me!"

"No!"

"Fine!" Morning said with a huff. "I'll just have to go ask your sister then. I'm sure she would be happy to tell me."

"Don't bother. She doesn't know," Mustard said with a smirk.

"Then tell me."

"No."

Morning suddenly let out a frustrated breath, then she tried something she never tried before. "Please?" she asked, blinking her large, soft brown eyes at him.

She was not going to let this go. Mustard knew she would keep at it for days. On and on she would pester him until she got her answer. Letting out a long breath, he looked over at Morning. "Fine, I'll tell. But only if you promise to never tell another pony. Ever."

Morning nodded. "I promise."

He couldn't believe he was going to tell her his biggest secret. The one thing that no other pony knew. "It's... it's because..." Mustard swallowed. "It's because I can't ... get it to work."

Morning looked confused at his answer. "Can't get it to work? Can't get what to work?"

Mustard felt his face heating up with embarrassment. "My... stallionhood. I can't get my stallionhood to work! Alright? You happy now?"

Morning's eyes traveled down to look at his sheathed stallionhood. Her eyes grew wider. "You mean!?"

"Yes!" Mustard exclaimed in frustration. "No matter how excited I get with a mare, it remains limp and useless!"

"Nothing gets you up, huh?" The dark blue mare suddenly stood and turned herself away. Flipping her tail up, she waved her marehood at him. "You mean this does nothing for you?"

Mustard gaped at the sight of her exposed marehood as she practically waved it into his face. His heart began to race as he fought the urge to reach his muzzle out to sniff at her soft pink slit and lick at its sweet juices. Giving his head a shake to clear it, Mustard reached out and shoved Morning’s rump to the side.

"Of course that does something to me you idiot! I'm not blind!" Mustard shouted. "The problem is I can't do anything about it!"

Morning turned and considered him. "I imagine that can be very frustrating."

Closing his eyes, Mustard shook his head with a sigh. "Oh, you have no idea."

Morning sat quietly for a moment as she seemed lost in thought, then smiled and flipped herself back around and wiggled her rump back at him. "Maybe you just haven't tried hard enough! How about you hop on up, and give me a good dry humping. Perhaps feeling a mare under you is all you really need!"

Mustard was feeling irritated with her again. She just didn't seem to get it! His stallionhood just didn't work!

"Would you stop that!? It's not helping!" He shoved her rump away a little harder than he was meaning to. With a startled squawk, Morning's hind hooves suddenly slipped over the ledge that overhung the pool.

Seeing her going over, Mustard reacted quickly and reached out to wrap his hooves around her neck. Holding onto her as hard as he could, Mustard felt his hooves skid along the stone slab as he was dragged to the edge. Morning slipped off, taking Mustard with her. They both plunged down into the dark water.

Mustard was surprised. He had expected the water to feel cold, but instead he felt warm all over. Opening his eyes, he noticed that he was surrounded by a strange light. He didn't know what was happening and he desperately started to search around, trying to find the surface. The water was growing very hot around him, and his body tingled all over.

There was a story he had heard once. Back when the herd was crossing a stream, a stallion had suddenly cried out and disappeared under the water. When other ponies rushed over a few moments later, all they found of him was some tattered bones and some fat sharp toothed fish. That was what was happening to him right now! He was being eaten alive! All the sharp stinging pain all over his body was just them stripping his flesh from his bones! In a few moments, there would be nothing left of him!

Suddenly, the stinging feeling vanished as the light that was around him faded away. He wasn’t being eaten alive? Mustard was now able to make out the starlight through the pool’s surface. Kicking his hooves, Mustard swam up and broke the surface to gasp for breath. Nearby, he heard Morning breach the surface.

"You okay?" he asked, shouting over to Morning. Strange. Why did his voice sound wrong?

"Yeah... no thanks to you," Morning answered sullenly.

At least, Mustard thought it was Morning. Her voice also sounded wrong. It was deeper than it should have been. Mustard figured that it was probably just water that had gotten in his ears, and it was making him hear things all funny.

"I tried to save you, you know," Mustard said, swimming for the shore.

"Yeah, and you failed at it," Morning replied. "I can't believe you pushed me in." Mustard noticed that she seemed a bit hurt about it.

"I didn't mean to," Mustard snapped back. "You shouldn't have been waving your rump in my face."

"Most stallions would have liked it and accepted the offer, but no! You just had to push me away," she said angrily.

He considered turning around and holding her underwater until she stopped kicking. It would be easy. No pony would know. It would just be a happy accident as far as they were concerned.

Feeling the bottom under his hooves, Mustard walked out onto the shore and sat down to catch his breath. Behind him, he could hear Morning doing the same as she flopped down nearby.

"Look, I'm sorry for pushing you in." Mustard confessed truthfully.

Morning let out a sigh. "No. Don't be. I shouldn't have been teasing you like that."

Glancing over to Morning Sky, Mustard was surprised to see a stallion looking back at him.

Leaping up in surprise, Mustard turned and charged the strange stallion, tackling him to the ground. "Who are you!? Where is Morning!?"

"What are you talking about!? I am Morning," the stallion replied, before forcing Mustard over and pinning him to the ground. "Who are you? And what did you do to Mustard!?"

"I am Mustard!" Mustard shouted as he struggled to push the stallion off. Why did he feel so weak?

The stallion stared down at him, his eyes going wide. "What did you say your name was!?"

"Mustard! My name is Mustard Seed! Now get off!" Mustard was relieved to feel the stallion climb off of him.

The stallion stepped back a few steps before flopping his rump down. His face looked confused and stunned by something. "This is impossible," he muttered out loud.

"What are you going on about!?" Mustard growled, climbing back up onto his hooves. "Where's Morning? What have you done with her?"

The stallion blinked up and met Mustard's gaze. "I’m Morning Sky."

Mustard would have laughed, but he was too concerned for Morning. "Do I look that stupid!? Morning's a mare! You're a stallion! Try again."

The stallion stood and planted a hoof to his chest. "Look at me, you idiot! It's me! Morning! The pool did something to us! I've turned into a stallion and you,” he pointed a hoof at him, “are a mare!"

Mustard was about to scoff at the stallion, but suddenly he realized what it was that seemed wrong about his voice. It was higher pitched and softer than it should be. Sounding like that of a mare's voice.

It was impossible! Licking his lips, Mustard slowly bent his head down and looked back under himself. There, where his sheathed stallionhood should have been, two soft looking mounds now sat in its place. Blinking his eyes in disbelief, Mustard reached his hoof around to feel for his stones, and found nothing there but a squishy void.

Looking back up, Mustard met the stallion's eyes and realized that they were indeed Morning's, and screamed.

Art done by:SoSweetnTasty

Chapter Twenty Seven

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter Twenty Eight

Author's Note

This Chapter is packed full of the feels.

Some readers may not like it. Sorry. Other readers may love it! Yeah!

Chapter Twenty Eight

Skye paused to sit on a cloud and rest her wings while she looked down below. She thought she saw something moving through the trees, but wasn't sure. Sitting silently, she carefully scanned the treetops with a sharp eye until she caught a flicker of light yellow moving below. A bird? Again, the flicker of color moved, but this time she caught a clear sight of a light yellow Pegasus mare flitting from one tree to another.

Curious, Skye watched her moving from tree to tree. She looked like she was searching for something. After stopping in a tree for a while, she suddenly flew out to a large rock and set something down in a cavity and went back to searching the trees.

Wondering what the strange Pegasus was doing, Skye flew down and looked into the hollow, where she saw a small pile of various overripe and shriveled fruit and berries. Some of them stank of rot and mold. Grimacing at the smell, Skye flew up to a nearby tree and waited for the mare to return.

A short time later, the light yellow mare flew back and deposited what looked like a half, worm-eaten pear. Before she could fly off, Skye dropped down from the tree.

"Hello," Skye said in greeting, trying to sound as friendly as she could.

The mare let out a frightened little scream and immediately dove into a nearby bush. Skye blinked in amazement. She didn't expect the mare to react in such a way.

"I'm sorry for startling you. I didn't mean to do that to you." Stepping closer to the bush, Skye peeked in and found the light yellow mare huddled up in a shivering ball. She felt terrible for the frightened mare, she was absolutely terrified! "Please don't be frightened! My name is Skye Twirl, I'm a friend. I won't hurt you."

The mare carefully peeked her eyes out from under her hoof. "You... you aren't one of those meanie Unicorns are you?"

"Unicorns!?" Skye said back in surprise. "No, I'm a Pegasus just like you. Look." She unfurled her wings and held them up so the yellow mare could see.

Looking like she was expecting some kind of trick, the mare carefully looked her over. Reaching out, she even poked at her held out wing to see if it was real. When she was satisfied that she really was a Pegasus, she let out a relieved sigh and climbed out of the bush. "I'm sorry. I thought you were one of those terrible Unicorns coming to take me away again."

"What!? Take you away!?" Skye asked shocked. She had never heard of Unicorns taking Pegasi before!

The mare flinched back at Skye’s sudden outburst. "The.. Unicorns have been coming around, taking Pegasi," the mare explained hesitantly. "They took us up to this really scary place." She looked over her shoulder to the northwest. "I didn't like it there. It was full of mean Unicorns that scared me."

Skye could see that she needed to be careful with her questions. The mare looked like she was ready to bolt away and hide at any moment. "It sounds like they treated you very badly. You must have been very brave to have gotten away."

The mare shook her head. "They released me. She commanded me to tell the Pegasi what she demands from us as tribute to keep the sun in the skye."

"She?" Skye asked."Who's this ‘she’ that’s demanding tribute from the Pegasi?"

The mare's eyes became distant as her face contorted in fear. "She is the one who is as dark as midnight. Her power shrouds the sun to cover the land in darkness. She is the horrible Night Mare!" The mare's eyes became wide with terror and she huddled herself up into a shivering ball, hiding her head under her hooves.

Skye was alarmed. The Night Mare!? Was she the one who made the long night happen? Reaching out, Skye rubbed the mare's back. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she said trying to comfort the distraught mare. Glancing back, Skye looked at the rock the mare had hidden the food in. "Is that why you’re gathering that half-rotten food? To bring it back to the Unicorns?"

The mare peeked out from under her hoof and nodded. "We are to bring them food every full moon, or else she will plunge the world into everlasting night."

What the mare had shared with her was extremely concerning. Skye knew that Dark needed to hear it too. "There's somepony I would like you to meet. If you come with me and talk with him, we'll give you food. Good food, not this rotten food you've been gathering."

The mare's ears quickly perked up with interest. "Really!?"

Skye smiled and nodded. "I promise. Just come and talk with our Herd Father. After that, you can leave with enough food to fill your stomach for a full moon. What do you say?"

The mare nibbled her lip with uncertainty as she thought about her offer. Finally, she looked up and nodded her agreement.

Skye felt relieved, she feared for a moment that the mare might refuse. "Good. Thank you. He's with a group of Earth Ponies not far from here."

The mare quirked her head to the side in confusion. "Earth Ponies? What are Earth Ponies?"

Skye almost laughed. She had forgotten that the term would be new to her. "Oh! You’d know them as ground ponies."

The mare brightened as she nodded her understanding. "Oh! Just like those mares I saw coming out of the valley over there." She nodded her head to the southwest.

Skye ears shot up in surprise. Was she talking about Mirage and the other mares when they left the valley? "How long ago was this!?"

The mare nibbled her lip again as she thought about it, then she began to scratch lines into the ground. "About this long ago."

Thankful that Meadowlark had taught her how, Skye counted the lines she left in the dirt "Six days ago? Are you sure?"

The mare nodded again. "Yes. It was the same day those nasty Unicorns took me."

Skye felt elated. There was no need to search anymore! The mare could tell them what valley they came out of! "Oh! This is wonderful news! We have friends up there we've been searching for who need our help! This can help us so much! Let's hurry and meet up with my party. They'll want to hear this, too." She smiled at the mare. "By the way, what's your name? You haven't told me yet."

"Oh! Um... my name is Flutter Fly," she answered shyly.

“Well, Flutter Fly. I am very pleased to meet you,” Skye said with a smile.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Mustard looked down at the radish she held perched on her hoof, eyeing it carefully. As far as she could tell, it looked completely normal. Sniffing at it told her the same. Everything told her that it was a perfectly normal radish. Taking another bite, she chewed for a moment before she spat it out with a disgusted grimace. Why did it taste so bad?

Earlier, Skye had returned, accompanied by a young Pegasus mare. After quickly talking with Dark for a short bit, he took Skye, Happy, and his sister, Mirage, to the side with the new mare to talk in private. Meanwhile, the rest of the party took the time to eat and rest while they waited.

It was strange seeing another Pegasus. They had all grown so accustomed to Skye being the only one, that seeing the new one coming back with her sent a stir through the ponies in the group. Mustard thought it was curious that Skye had looked excited when she had gone to Dark with the Pegasus. Did she learn some good news?

"What's wrong with your radish? You're glaring at it like it told you your flanks were fat," a voice asked from her side. Glancing over, she saw that it was Mirage Shimmer who had addressed her. Apparently, she was no longer part of the private meeting Dark was having.

"My flanks are fat. They jiggle when I walk," Mustard answered with a weary sigh. "The stallions can't seem to keep their eyes off of them."

"One of the hazards of having a shapely posterior," Mirage said with an amused grin. "You mind if I join you? I wanted to see how you were doing."

"You mean, how I'm doing since I was changed into a mare? Well, let me think." She tapped her hoof to her chin. "My emotions are a complete mess. I feel like laughing one moment to crying the next. I feel bloated in places I never knew about. My back hurts. All my organs have been completely rearranged and stuffed into strange places. And I need to pee all the time now. So... I guess I would say that I am doing fine," she said giving Mirage a sour smile before frowning back at her meal. "I just don't understand why my radish tastes so bad."

Mirage considered Mustard and her radish for a moment before she sat down next to her. "Perhaps with your change of gender also came a change in your tastes?"

Mustard thought about it for a moment, then felt stupid for not thinking of such a simple thing herself. Letting out a sigh, she took another bite and forced herself to chew. "So, why aren't you at Dark's meeting with the Pegasus?"

"Dark and Happy set off with Flutter Fly, that's the Pegasus’ name by the way, to scout out where the valley is," Mirage explained. "They wanted to look it over before we all went in. I decided that I didn’t want to go, so I stayed behind."

"Ah, so you saw me sitting over here and you thought to see how the latest curiosity is doing?" Mustard tossed the last bite of her radish into her mouth and chewed distastefully.

"Don't call yourself that!" Mirage rebuked.

"Why not?" Mustard answered back. "Up until we took that little tumble into that stupid pool, I was living life as a stallion."

"And Morning was a mare," Mirage snapped back. "During all of this, have you ever considered how she... I mean he, is feeling about what has happened?"

"Morning has been annoyingly fine about all this," Mustard answered back flatly. Morning's lack of feeling on the matter had been really getting on her nerves.

"That's... very worrying," Mirage said with concern glancing over at the stallion as he sat with a group of other stallions chatting.

"What is?" Mustard glanced over to look at Morning. Nothing seemed to be wrong with him. He looked like he was enjoying himself.

"There was once a mare I knew named Cherry Red," Mirage said. "She was always friendly, and smiling. She loved to listen to the birds sing while sitting in the afternoon shade. When she became pregnant, she was over the moon happy about it. She told everypony who would listen what names she had chosen if it was a colt or a filly. Then the day arrived when she went into labor and delivered a colt. The poor thing never drew breath."

Mustard gasped. "Stillborn?"

Mirage nodded sadly. "The next day, Cherry was completely back to normal. She was smiling and happily chatting among her friends like nothing had happened. Whenever her lost foal was brought up, she would smile and say that it was just meant to be. She never wept, not once. Everypony thought she was taking it really well. This went on for a while, until another mare had her foal. When Cherry saw the new foal, alive and with his mother, she went completely wild! She screamed and attacked the mother, when others came to stop her, she snatched up the foal in her teeth, and ran. She didn't make it far when her way was blocked by some of the stallions. It took all of them to wrest the foal away from her. She screamed and bit at them the whole time. When it was all over, it was decided that she was too dangerous to have around and she was put out of the herd. After that, I never saw her again.”

"Why did she do that?" Mustard was shocked at the story she had just shared. “Why did she go wild all of a sudden?”

Mirage was silent for a moment before she finally answered. "There are those that when something tragic happens to them. They bury it deep down inside themselves and do everything they can to pretend that everything is alright again. They will seem to be like their normal selves, joking and laughing. All will be well until something happens that brings the tragedy right up into the light of day. When this happens, when they are forced to confront the event that they have done everything they could to hide away in the deepest darkest part of themselves. Their minds sometimes can’t bear it.”

Mustard felt her gut twist with sudden apprehension. Was this what Morning was doing? Pretending that nothing was wrong? Her eyes traveled over to Morning. She had known Morning their entire lives. Their mothers would tell stories of how they had often nursed them together when they were foals, and how they endlessly played under their mothers’ hooves until they both collapsed with exhaustion and curled up together to nap away the day. Later, when he had started to notice how pretty the fillies around him were, Mustard discovered that there was something wrong with his stallionhood.

When he got older, he came to understand that he was never going to be able to fulfill his duties as a stallion to any of the young mares around him, most especially Morning. It was then that he had decided to start distancing himself with her, hoping that she would find another more worthy of her.

His plan at first seemed to be working. Morning looked hurt that she was being ignored by him. He even caught her crying off by herself once. But then, things changed with her. From then on, Morning was always showing up wherever he went. He increased his efforts to push her away, but that only seemed to get her to cling to him even more. He yelled at her, called her all sorts of names, and she returned them back at him with equal, if sometimes more clever insults. It seemed that they were both stuck at an impasse. He couldn't drive her away, and she couldn't have him.

Was that what Morning had done during that time? Pretend that nothing was wrong?

"What am I to do?" Mustard asked, glancing back to Mirage.

Mirage pursed her lips in thought then shook her head. “I think the best thing you could do for Morning is to be there for him. He’ll need you to help him through this. You must be patient and caring with him, no matter what, for you are the only one that truly matters to him." She looked over and met her gaze. "You do know that Morning is in love with you, right?"

Glancing back to Morning, Mustard nodded mutely, . "I've known for a long time now. Just as I know that I’ve always been in love with her..." Letting out a sigh, Mustard shook her head. It’s going to take a while to get used to how things are now. "Him. I know that I am in love with him," she corrected herself.

"How do you think the changes that happened to you both are going to affect how you feel towards each other?"

Mustard stared down at the ground as she thought about it. There was so much to get used to now. Everything’s been completely turned upside down and she was feeling completely lost and confused about a whole lot of things. But her feelings for Morning were very much still the same. Unless they find a way to change back to their normal selves, they’ll just have to get used to how their lives are now.

“We’ll be fine,” Mustard assured her. “We’ll work through this somehow.”

Her thoughts roamed to what her and Morning’s future could be like, now that they were this way. As far as she could tell, she was a perfectly healthy young mare. And Morning definitely was a normal healthy stallion. With her heart hammering in her chest, Mustard placed her hoof to her belly as she let her thoughts truly understand the total ramifications of what their changes really meant.

"Mirage... what is it like to have a foal?"

Mirage blinked in surprise at the sudden change in the topic. "I don't know. I've never had one myself."

Glancing up, Mustard looked the soft blue mare over. It didn't look like there was anything wrong with her. "If you don't mind me asking, why haven't you?"

Mirage smiled and shrugged. "My herd is small. It’s been declining for a while now, and the stallions in it are growing old. Many mares have already gone off to join other herds. I stayed to be with Mama. She's been getting sick each winter and it's getting harder for her to recover each time. I've been putting off having a foal so I can help take care of her and help guard the herd with some of the other younger mares." Glancing up, Mirage smiled when she spotted a certain mare passing by. "Ah! Just the mare to see. Skye! Come over for a moment. Mustard here was wondering what it's like to have a foal."

Sky's eyes shot over to look over at Mustard with a kind of hopeful excitement. "Are you thinking of...!?"

Mustard was quick to shake her head. "No! Nothing like that!" Mustard felt her face heating up with embarrassment. "It's just... well. When I was a stallion, I ah... can what I say just stay between us?"

"Of course!"

"You can trust us," Mirage added with a nod.

"Well... when I was a stallion," Mustard licked at her lips nervously, "I was unable to sire a foal." The two mares listening both gasped. "Now everything has changed and the possibility now exists. It's just... I never once imagined in my whole life of ever having one grow inside of me."

"I think I understand," Sky said with a soft knowing smile. "A filly grows up with the expectation that someday she'll be having a foal, and so she prepares herself. A colt never has to deal with the idea of actually growing a whole new life inside his own body. I can't imagine how strange this must feel to you."

"And frightening!" Mirage added.

"I thought I was ready for it myself," Sky continued. "But I can tell you there is no way any mare can truly be prepared for such an enormous event to be happening inside her body." Sky leaned back and rubbed her hoof over her slightly distended belly with a happy smile.

Mustard let her eyes drift down to Sky's belly. Would this be happening to her too, someday? The thought of it was terrifying, but in a strange sense, it was also kind of appealing. "Would... it be okay if I felt it?" she asked, gesturing to Sky's belly.

"Of course!" Sky answered with a nod. “Go right ahead.”

Reaching out, Mustard touched her hoof over the slight bulge along Sky's stomach. She marveled at what she felt. It wasn't soft as she had expected it to be, but instead it had a kind of firmness to it that gave proof that there was indeed something precious held within. Without thinking about it, Mustard lowered her head to set it against Sky’s belly. Closing her eyes, Mustard held her breath and listened. She could hear Sky's heartbeat as well as the various gurgles of her gut. Nothing that was unsual, but then she thought she noticed something. A light rhythm that she was just barely able to make out.

Mustard smiled. "I can hear it! I can hear it's heartbeat!" She couldn't believe it. Just inside Sky was a brand new life, and she was able to hear its little heartbeat.

Mirage let out a happy squeal. "Oh! I want to hear too!"

Lifting her head up, Mustard let Mirage press her ear to Sky's belly too. After a little bit, the mare let out a giggle. "Oh wow! Its so fast!"

They all giggled together. Mustard was amazed that she was laughing with such joy over such a simple thing as hearing a foal's heartbeat. She never imagined ever doing something like this when she was a stallion.

"So, is it going to have wings like you? Or be big and burly like Dusty?" Mirage asked, sitting up.

Sky looked uncertain. "I'm not sure. As far as I know, this is the first foal between a Pegasus and an Earth Pony. I asked Dove about it and she doesn't know either. She said that we'll just have to wait and see."

“Oh! I am so excited for you!” Mirage squealed happily. “I can’t wait to see the little fella! I just know that it’ll be absolutely adorable like its mother!”

“I’ll just be happy if it’s healthy,” Sky said, rubbing her belly with a warm smile.

They all continued chatting for quite some time after that. Mustard had no idea it would be so fun to be involved in such mare-ish conversations. Sky and Mirage both helped explain some things about being a mare. Cleaning and general care of a mare’s body was apparently very important. Then they moved onto rumors of who liked who. Mustard was shocked to discover that Grass Stem was apparently interested in her very own sister, Dandelion Fluff! Eventually, their conversation came to the subject of the making of foals, and Mustard felt her ears burning from what she heard from them. Especially from Sky. She didn’t hold anything back. In the end, Mustard knew things about Dusty she never wanted to.

When Dark returned, he called all the ponies together. "As you all may already know, this is Flutter Fly." He nodded back to the shy mare hiding behind him. "She has shown Happy and myself to the valley Mirage came out of when she and the mares with her left. There are only a few hoof-lengths of sun still remaining, so I would like to camp here for the night and head up tomorrow. Flutter Fly has warned us that Rocs live in the mountains, so, Sky, I don't want you flying around while we’re up there."

Sky ruffled her wings in sudden agitation and stepped up close to Dusty's side. Rocs were giant raptors that lived high up in mountain ranges. Normally they never bothered with anything as small as a pony, but some of the younger ones would certainly be happy enough to snatch up a hapless Pegasus if it happened across one who was not paying attention.

"Another thing. There is a small lake near the mouth of the valley," Dark continued. "Flutter Fly says that the animals seem scared of it and they seem to keep their distance. I want us to do the same. I don't know if there is anything dangerous there, but I want to stay on the safe side, so we'll give it a wide berth when we pass by tomorrow.”

After that, he broke up the meeting and ponies got to work setting up camp. A pack was given to Flutter Fly, and filled with fresh food for her to take. At first she was dubious of the dried fruit, but after trying one, she fluttered several lengths up into the air in happy surprise, and munched down several more in quick order.

That night, when the campfire was lit and burning, ponies sat themselves around it to quietly talk among themselves in small groups, while Flutter Fly spied down in frightened awe, on the strange actions of the Earth Ponies from the branches of a nearby tree. Dusty had his mother laid out near the fire so she could enjoy the warmth. She had awoken during the day, allowing Dusty and Sky to talk together with her and work some things out with each other.

Mustard sought out Morning and found him lying alone, staring sightlessly into the fire. Without asking, Mustard laid down next to him and leaned against his side. She was surprised at how nice his body felt against hers

Morning glanced down at her, obviously confused by her actions. "What are you doing?"

"I don't know what you mean," Mustard said.

"This," Morning said, gesturing her head down at her. "What are you doing snuggling against me like this?"

"If you don't like it, I can always find somewhere else to lay," Mustard retorted. "Perhaps with Grass Stem."

Mustard felt Morning suddenly stiffen against her side, apparently affected by what she had said. "No!... it's fine. You can snuggle up against me all you want. I don't care."

Mustard nearly smiled. "Fine, I will."

Sitting quietly together they both stared off into the fire. They were sitting so closely, Mustard couldn't help but smell Morning's scent. It was different now, but still the same. Before, Morning had a soft, sweet scent. Now, it was stronger and more earthy in some way. Leaning in, Mustard lightly touched her nose against Morning's neck and sniffed at him.

Morning glanced back with a curious look. "What are you doing?"

Mustard drew in more of his scent. "I'm smelling you," she answered simply.

"Why are you smelling me?"

"Because I like your smell, that's why," Mustard said, drawing in one last sniff before looking back to the fire with a pleased sigh. There was something about feeling Morning's body against hers with his strong scent fuzzing up her head that made her feel... secure. It was an oddly pleasant feeling. Morning seemed befuddled at her strange behavior, but didn't voice any further complaints about it.

A few moments later, Mustard felt a light touch just behind her ears as she heard Morning sniffing back at her. With deep even breaths, he took in her scent, and Morning noticed that his body was beginning to tense up with a kind of eagerness. Giving her a little nip, Morning let out a light knicker into her ear.

"Control yourself," Mustard warned the stallion. "We're having a moment, now, so don't ruin it."

Morning let out a snort, and a shiver ran through his body as he struggled with himself. "Sometimes... it's just so hard," he said with a sigh. "I had no idea that stallions had such strong desires. It's almost a constant thing. I'm a bit surprised that stallions can get anything done."

"It can be a bit distracting, but you learn to put your mind onto other things," Mustard explained.

Falling silent, the two stayed that way for a time. Mustard noticed that Sky and Mirage were off to the side, talking closely with each other. They were giggling and glancing over toward them with amused interest. Mustard felt her face begin to heat up. Shaking her head, Mustard returned her attention back to Morning and what she really came to him for.

"Morning?" she said, suddenly breaking the silence between them. "I've been meaning to tell you something."

"Oh?"

"I want you to know that I’m sorry for pushing you away. I thought I was doing the right thing." Mustard said. "When I discovered that I was incapable of ever fathering a foal with you, I wanted you to find another to give you the happiness I couldn’t." Mustard took a breath and let it out. "I know that what I did hurt you. And I am sorry for that."

Morning was silent for a long time. So much so, that Mustard was growing concerned.

“I hated you for what you did to me," he finally said, breaking the silence between the two.

Mustard felt a twist of pain in her chest. She expected to hear something like that from him, but it still hurt.

"You broke my heart," Morning continued. "We were best friends and you treated me like I meant nothing to you."

Mustard felt the ache in her chest tighten as tears came to her eyes. "If you hated me, then why did you stay with me?"

"Because, you hollow-headed idiot! I was in love with you!" Morning snapped at her. "Despite how angry I was with you, I couldn't stop loving you."

"I'm sorry," Mustard apologized again, wiping tears from her eyes. "I'm so sorry for what I did to you. It’s okay to hate me. I deserve it."

Morning let out a long sigh. "It's okay... I know now why you did it. I just wish you came to me sooner. I would have understood. I'm sure we could have figured out a way. I heard that there’s a little blue flower that can help with something like that."

"It didn't work. I tried," Mustard said with a tired sigh. It was strange. Why did it take a gender-swapping enchanted pool to finally get them to start working out their personal problems with each other? "I guess this explains why you never accepted any of the other stallions’ advances during your seasons."

"Well... that's not the entire reason why,” Morning added. “There was something else."

Mustard glanced up with sudden curiosity. "Something else?"

Morning nibbled at his lip. "It was stupid, really. I knew it was, but I couldn't stop feeling that it would happen."

"What?" Mustard perked her ears forward.

Morning gazed forward into the fire. "It started during my first heat. It woke me up screaming in the night and left me shivering. My mama told me in the morning that it was just a dream, that it wasn't real. But I couldn't stop feeling that it would come true! Every time I went into heat, I would have the exact same nightmare. Over and over again, every night until my heat passed."

"What was the nightmare?"

“The nightmare was always the same. It would start with me being happily pregnant with our foal. You were always there with me in the dream. We were both happy and joyous at our coming foal. Then the pain comes as I go into labor. I don’t know how long I would writhe on the ground, but it seemed like days. You would be standing there over me, helpless to do anything but wait.” Morning paused to stare down at the ground. “And as you watch over me, my heart finally gives out from the strain of my lengthy labor, and both I and our unborn foal, perish together. You, in your grief, take my lifeless body onto your back and walk down to a lake where you then sink yourself into its dark depths to follow us into death.”

Mustard felt a chill run down her spine. She could imagine doing something like that if she ever lost Morning. Against her side she could feel Morning start to shiver from the memory of the terrible nightmare.

"I knew it was just a bad dream, but it just kept returning," Morning continued. "It terrified me. I felt a strange certainty that the dream would come true! That it would actually happen to us someday!”

Mustard reached out and nuzzled Morning's neck. "Shh...shh... it's okay," she murmured softly, trying to calm him.

After a while, Morning’s breathing evened out again, and his shivering stopped. Bending his head around, Morning surprised Mustard when he pressed his lips to hers and kissed her. Mustard felt a flash of heat run through her body as their lips meshed together. A kiss filled with tenderness and love for one another.

Sitting together on the other side of the fire, Sky and Dusty smiled and turned from the scene to speak quietly with one another. Off to the other side, Mirage let out a big sigh as she leaned her head onto her upraised hoof and smiled a goofy smile. Dark only glanced down at her and then up to see what she was looking at, and rolled his eyes.

Chapter Twenty Nine

Dark wanted an early start that day; every pony was up and ready to leave before the sun cleared the horizon. The fires had been put out, and the gear had been checked and packed back away before setting off for the pass. Working themselves cautiously around the lake, the party made it up into the pass without any problems. The way ahead seemed clear. To be on the safe side, Dark ordered that Sky was only to take short flights to look ahead, but otherwise she was to remain on the ground for the rest of the time.

Ash kept an alert eye out for any dangers, especially from the air. He'd never seen a Roc before, having only heard of them in stories. They were described as being so big, their shadows would stretch far across the land below them. Mustard and Morning were once again tasked to keep an eye on him and Dusty as they traveled up the pass. It appeared that Papa wasn't going to let them off after just a day.

As they traveled, Mustard and Sky were off to the side, talking quietly with each other while Flutter Fly floated just above them with slow flaps of her wings. It had been a surprise that Flutter Fly had decided to accompany them up into the valley to help them.

Dusty had tried to walk next to them, but Sky and Mustard leveled flat gazes at him until he wisely decided to walk over by Ash and Morning.

"I don't get it," Dusty complained. "If I try to talk to them, they glare at me like I just stepped on their tails."

Morning glanced over to the two mares with an almost pained look on his face. "I wouldn't take it personally," Morning said, his face returning back to normal. "They're just having some private mare talk with each other. Stallions aren’t welcome."

Dusty glanced over to Morning. "You were a mare before. You would know what they’re talking about, right?"

"Nothing that would be a stallion's concern, that's for sure," he said gruffly. "Just accept that there are things a stallion shouldn't stick his muzzle into."

Ash glanced over to the giggling pair of mares and thought about trying to listen in on what they were saying, but decided to listen to Morning about staying out of it.

The mountains that surrounded them were tall and despite it being late summer some of the peaks still had snow on them. After a while, the party came out into a wide gently sloping valley.

In various spots along the valley, large piles of enormous boulders lay piled atop each other along sheer rock walls. It was clear to Ash as he looked about, that rockslides were not totally uncommon here.

Mirage seemed excited when they came to the midpoint of the valley and hurried over to to a tall, narrow crevice, that was hidden off to the side of the valley. A short ways in, they could see a large section of the rock wall had sheared off and blocked up the passage with huge slabs of stone.

"This is it!" Mirage exclaimed in excitement looking up at the pile of rocks and boulders blocking their way. "This is the canyon we came out of. Oh, I hope they’re still safe in there. I've been so worried!"

"We'll soon find out," Dark said softly, setting his hoof onto his sister's shoulder. "Listen up, ponies. I want the crafters to start devising a plan for how to best get the ponies over this blockage. Mosswood, you will be in charge of that. Pack carriers, I would like you to set up camp back out in the main valley. Grass Stem, you will be in charge of that. Make sure you find an area that is sheltered. Some of them may be injured. Spear Bearers, I want you all to scout out the area and set up a protective perimeter. Ground Pound will be in charge of that. Sky Twirl, Flutter Fly. I would like you two to fly on over and see how they are. Let them know that help is here."

"They've never seen a Pegasus before. We may frighten them when we fly in," Sky said, stepping closer.

Dark thought about it and his eyes settled onto Ash. "Take Ash with you. When they see a colt is with you, they'll probably feel more at ease."

Ash felt his heart beginning to race with excitement as he moved next to Sky. Papa had a job for him! He knew that Papa was still angry with him, but he hoped that when he showed him how well he’d do with this, he would earn a little bit of trust back with him. Sky bent down to let him hop up onto her back. Once he was set into place. Sky lifted off and flew up with Flutter Fly.

Below them, the ground fell away as the sheer rock face along each side streaked by. As they climbed higher, it became clear how big the rock slide had been. An enormous section of the cliff face along one side had cleaved off completely and fell down into the narrow valley below. It was lucky that Mirage and the mares with her had passed by when they did, for there would have been no hope of their surviving had they been beneath it when it came down.

Flying over the top, Ash and the two Pegasi got their first view of the sheltered valley beyond. What they saw was alarming. Mirage had told them that there had been a small stream running through the valley, but now that it had been blocked by the slide. The valley beyond was slowly beginning to flood. After eight days, just over half of the valley had already been submerged in water!

"Over there! I can see them!" Sky shouted, pointing her hoof to the far side of the new lake.

Arrayed out on a raised portion of land, Ash could see a small herd of just over twenty ponies gathered together. They weren't expecting ponies to come out of the sky, so none of them saw them approaching until they came in to land.

Letting out terrified screams, the mares shied back from them in alarm as some older stallions rushed forward to see what was happening. With a light touch, Sky and Flutter Fly set their hooves to the ground. Hopping off of Sky's back, Ash jumped forward to stand before the stallions.

"Don't be afraid!" Ash shouted. "We're friends! We won't hurt you!"

"What the!?" a grey-green stallion exclaimed stopping to look down at the colt. "Who are you? And what manner of creatures are these... winged mares with you?"

"My name is Ash, and this is Sky Twirl and Flutter Fly," Ash said pointing to each as he named them. "They are Pegasi."

"Pegasi?" the stallion said, looking the two winged mares over. "Never heard of them. How do we know you are friends?"

"Mirage found us! She and the other mares are safe." Ash explained. "She asked us for help."

"Mirage?" A silvery-blue mare asked stepping closer. "They're alive?"

Ash nodded. "Yes! And Mirage brought us back to help you."

"How!?" Another mare asked. "How can two winged mares and one colt help us to get out of here?"

"In the valley on the other side of the slide, twenty more Earth Ponies are working on a way to safely get you all out," Sky said

"Earth Ponies?" The stallion asked.

"That’s what we are," Ash answered, setting a hoof to his chest. "They are Sky Ponies and we are Earth Ponies."

"How do we know you’re telling us the truth?" Another stallion asked.

"What would they gain by lying to us?" the grey-green stallion said back to the skeptical stallion behind him. "We are trapped here in a flooding valley with no way out." He looked over the rest of his tiny herd. "I lead us into this place believing that it would be safe. I was a fool. My mistake lead us to our deaths. But now there is a chance that we can be saved from my foolishness and I won't let it pass us by." He turned to look back to Ash. "We'll accept any help you can give us."

"Please," a mare said stepping forward with a young filly following close to her side. "Save our foals. Even if you have to leave us behind, take them with you."

"Yes!" another mare said carrying another filly forward, held up in her teeth. "Please, save our younglings."

Ash helped to settle some of the foals onto Sky and Flutter's backs. Once they were in place, the two Pegasi took off. Ash held on to a drooling colt that let out a happy squeal when they flew out over the lake. Next to them, Flutter had one of the older fillies, Moon Lily, settled onto her back. Cresting over the landslide, Sky and Flutter looked for the camp that was being set up and spotted Dusty waving up at them by one of the old landslides.

When they landed, Dusty and other ponies moved forward and collected the foals from them. The camp that Grass Stem had chosen was a covered area, made by enormous boulders that had come to rest against each other, in one of the old rock slides.

Ash rode Sky back as she and Flutter returned to Dark.

"How did it go?" Dark asked when they landed. Mirage stood anxiously by his side.

"They’re scared, but are doing as well as can be," Sky answered.

Mirage let out a relieved sigh at the news.

"They have been so brave," Flutter added. "I would have been so frightened if I had been in their place."

"The valley is slowly flooding on the other side," Ash said. "If we can't save them, they'll drown."

Dark glanced down at Ash for a moment then back to Sky and Flutter. "I know this would be asking a lot of you two, but is there any way you can carry them all out?"

Sky thought about it for a moment. "We can get the foals out just fine. They're not too heavy. But the adults are another thing. I might be able to lift a mare up for a short flight, but flying them across the lake would be much too far for me. And the stallions would be much too heavy to lift up even for a short trip."

Dark looked to Flutter and saw her nod her agreement. Taking a long breath, Dark scratched his chin as they thought about the problem. "What about if you both lifted together? Could you fly a pony across the lake and over the barrier?"

Sky thought about it. "I'm not sure. How would we be able to lift together?"

"Just like how we use rope to let a pair of ponies drag a large log together. We can do the same with you two to lift a pony," Dark said. "I'll get Mosswood to work on it. In the meantime, go ahead and collect the foals and bring them back to the camp."

"Some of their foals still need the teat," Sky added. "If we’re unable to bring their mothers over with them, they'll need to be fed somehow."

"Rose Petal still has milk from her last foal," Mirage said, indicating one of the craft mares. "I'll have her go down to see to them."

"Ash," Dark said looking down to the colt. "Good job over there. Now I want you to stay with Mirage, and don't leave her side."

"Yes, Papa," Ash said and rushed after Mirage.

By the time Sky and Flutter returned from bringing the rest of the foals to their camp, Mosswood had devised a harness system with the ropes that he thought would work. Using Dark to test their rigging, they strapped him in and Sky and Flutter Fly lifted together and managed to lift him clear of the ground. After flying him around for a short while, they both set him back down, safely to the ground, before they both landed to catch their breaths from the exertion.

"Still too heavy," Sky panted. "I think we could lift you to the top of the rockslide, but not much further than that."

Dark considered the two and nodded, "I understand. We'll have to come up with something different for them. Lets see how this works with a mare." Turning he looked over at his sister. "Mirage? Would you like to give it a try?"

Mirage looked at the rope harness and then up into the air. "I... don't know about this. I don’t think Earth Ponies were meant to leave the ground."

"Don't worry! It’ll be fun!" Ash assured her with a smile.

Mirage closed her eyes and let out a groan. "Oh, I know I am going to regret this, but if it will help..."

Ash helped to fit the rope harness around her. Once it was all in place, Sky and Flutter took off and started to lift Mirage up. Mirage had her eyes clamped shut the entire time they flew her around. This time they didn't seem to be struggling as much and stayed up for much longer. Taking her across the valley and back. When they finally set her back down, Mirage let out a relieved breath and collapsed to the ground.

Sky and Flutter Fly both were out of breath but not as badly as with Dark. "I think it will work," Sky declared happily.

Dark smiled. "Good. At least we can get the mares out. We'll just think of another way to get the four stallions out as well."

When they were ready, Sky and Flutter Fly lifted off and disappeared over the rockslide. Ash sat down next to Mirage to wait for them to return.

"Mirage?" Ash said, looking over at her. "What happened between Papa and his mama? He doesn't talk about her at all."

Mirage gazed forward for a time, her face set in deep thought. "Mama told me what had happened. What she had done to Darkie was one of her greatest regrets. Darkie was younger than you when Mama became pregnant with me. She cared for him as best she could, but the season was harshly dry, and the fresh grasses were scarce to find. When winter set in, it became clear to her that she needed to make a choice. She told me that it was the hardest thing she had ever done." Mirage looked out at Dark, watching him argue with some of the craft ponies as they all worked on a way to rescue the four remaining stallions. "Darkie was always so strong. That was something I admired the most in him. He never gave up. Whatever problem came up, he would meet it head on and work through it until he solved it. Mama knew that she was unable to care for him anymore. Not while she was having me, and she had to push him off onto his own."

"A choice she shouldn’t have made," Ash muttered angrily.

"It was a necessary and heartbreaking choice," Mirage continued. "Out of all the mares who tried to care for both, none made it through that horrible winter. Mama knew that Dark was strong and resilient. She knew he could make it. And she was right. That cold, hard winter changed him. It hardened him into a stallion, able to stand on his own hooves." Mirage's eyes fell to the ground. "It broke her heart whenever she saw the cold gaze he gave her whenever he looked at her. All the warmth he had for her was gone." Mirage paused to wipe at her eyes. "It's wonderful to see what his strength has driven him to accomplish. He’s done so much with his herd. No longer does a mare have to make the same terrible choice my mama had to."

"Or my mama," Ash added, causing Mirage to look down at him with a curious lift of her brow. "My mama did the same to me. Dark found me buried in the snow, frozen half to death. I don't know if I would’ve lived through that winter had he not stumbled over me when he did. He took me and carried me to Meadowlark. She was pregnant, just as my mama was, and she had Celestia to care for too. Despite this, she took me in without a second thought. To me, Dark and Meadowlark are the greatest ponies ever, and I would do anything for them. I love them, and I love Celestia and Luna too. They’re my family and I would protect them with everything I have, even at the cost of my own life."

Mirage smiled as she gazed down at Ash. "I believe you would. I see in you the same strength that Darkie has."

Above them, Sky and Flutter Fly reappeared with a terrified mare dangling below them. Lowering her down, they carefully set her to the ground. Mirage rushed over and hugged her. "Oh, Tender Vale! I’m so happy the plan worked! How is everypony doing in there!? How is my mother?"

"It was horrible in there, Mirage," the mare gasped in relief at feeling the firm ground beneath her hooves again. "We all thought we were going to die!"

"What about my mother?" Mirage pressed. "How is she?"

"Her illness has grown worse. She's coughing a lot now, and none of us could get her to eat much the last few days. Where's my little colt?" she asked looking around. "I don't see him."

"He's down at our camp. I'll bring you down to him," Mirage said and turned to Ash. "Ash, please help me take the harness off her."

Once Tender Vale was free, Sky and Flutter gathered up the loose lines and took off to collect the next mare. Doing as Papa told him, Ash stayed with Mirage as they showed Tender Vale down to their camp.

Things were going well and Sky and Flutter Fly managed to collect three more before the sun began to disappear behind the mountaintops to the west. They wanted to go for one more, but Dark told them that with night setting in, it was too dangerous to continue.

They were halfway back to the camp and the shadows from the mountains had already stretched to the far side of the valley when they heard a strange rhythmic rumbling coming from further down in the valley.

"Look!" Mosswood exclaimed pointing her hoof. "That tree just shook!"

Sure enough, as they watched they saw another tree suddenly shake, as if something had struck it. Then they saw a third tree abruptly topple over followed by a cracking sound that reverberated up the valley.

"What is that?" somepony asked nervously.

Ash was wondering the same when he suddenly saw two ponies come dashing out of the trees, followed a moment later by a giant, horrible creature Ash had never seen, but had heard described in some of the most scary stories he had ever heard Sage tell. Some of the foals had been so scared by the story, they ran to their mamas to cry. Melodious had to come and swat Sage across the back of his head, telling him to stop scaring the foals with his monster stories.

The creature was enormous. Its two heads nearly cleared the tops of the trees, and its short, stubby legs, propelled its great, ungainly bulk forward with surprising swiftness as it pursued the two ponies. No. There were three ponies! The second pony that followed after the first had a pony on its back, and it was clear that the pony was growing tired and would soon falter. When that happened, the hydra would have its pony meal.

"Everypony who doesn’t have a spear, get back to camp and hide yourselves as far into the safety of the rocks as you can!" Dark shouted out. "Ground Pound, and everypony else who has a spear, come with me! We’re going to save those ponies!"

"Dark! You can't help them!" Mirage shouted in distress. "There is no way you can face a hydra! It'll kill you!"

"Mirage! Take Ash with you. Go!" With that, Dark took his spear into his mouth and charged down the slope.

Ash's heart was racing with worry and panic as he hurried with the rest of the ponies back to the camp. Papa was facing something that could eat a pony in one bite! When they arrived at the camp, Mirage quickly explained what was happening down below. When she finished, several of the spear bearers ran off to help their Herd Father. Mustard and Morning grabbed their spears and went to go as well, but Mirage was quick to stop them.

"No! You two are to stay here and protect the ponies here," Mirage shouted at them. "Help me get them all as far inside as we can, where it's safe!" she said, indicating a deep cavity that was left by a massive leaning slab of fallen rock resting against another.

Ash struggled with whether he should help Mirage or go to Dark. His heart was torn. Dark had told him to stay with Mirage, and he knew that he would want him where it was safe, but he had made a promise too, to protect those he loved! Knowing that he was disobeying Dark again, Ash snatched up a spear from the packs.

"Ash! What are you doing!?" Mirage shouted out to him.

Ash glanced back and met Mirage's frightened eyes for a brief moment before he turned and rushed off down the slope. Behind him, he heard Mirage shouting for him to come back.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Dark gripped his spear tightly in his teeth as he ran. He hoped feverishly that they were going to be in time. Breaking out of the trees, they came out into the long meadow that ran along the center of the valley. Ahead of them he could see the three ponies still running from the pursuing hydra, but the second pony that was burdened with the third pony on its back was lagging further behind.

Pausing, Dark stuck his spear into the ground. "Hurry! Over here!" he shouted out, waving his hoof.

The pony in the lead turned her head at his shout and looked over at him. They were now close enough for him to tell that they were all mares, but not only that, but he also noticed that they all had horns on their heads! They were Unicorns!

The lagging unicorns struggled to follow after, as the lead mare ran ahead to Dark and the other Earth Ponies. Why wasn't she helping the other two? Dark wondered. The hydra was closing in on the pair and it was licking its lips in eagerness as it prepared itself for a tasty meal.

“Ground Pound and I will draw the hydra’s attention. The rest of you, help get those unicorns to safety!” Snatching up his spear, Dark charged out. Behind him, he heard the thundering hoofsteps of the rest of his ponies following after him.

The light-grayish blue unicorn mare blinked in astonishment as they all passed her by, charging themselves courageously right at the pursuing hydra. Passing the second set of mares, Dark gazed up at the towering form of the hydra that was bearing down on him.

Seeing Dark coming right at him, the hydra lowered one of its heads and opened it maw to snatch him up. With a quick turn, Dark dodged the over eager strike and rushed around behind the hydra.

One of the hydra's heads turned to follow after him as the other head reached out to try and grab Ground Pound as he swerved the other way. Avoiding the hydra's thick, stubby tail, Dark leveled his spear and drove it into its tough hide. The sharp stone spear tip pierced deeply into its thigh.

Letting out a pained roar, one of its heads swung around to bite at Dark. Releasing his entrapped spear, Dark bucked out his hind hooves and managed to catch the hydra's lower jaw with a solid blow that stunned it enough for him to gain some much needed distance!

On the other side, Ground Pound rushed in and slashed his spear around and sliced open the second head's nose with the sharp speartip. With blood running down its face, the hydra snapped at the stallion, just missing him as he barely managed to dodge the strike.

Dark took a chance to look around and saw Holly Hock and Mulberry Surprise helping the two unicorns. They just needed a few more moments more to make their escape! Without his spear, his options were more limited. Seeing that both of the hydra's heads were now tracking in on Ground Pound, Dark scooped up a stone and tossed it up into the air. Quickly turning himself, Dark bucked his hoof. With a crack, he sent the stone flying right at one of the hydra's heads, striking it just over its brow.

Shaking its head, the hydra quickly focused onto Dark. Running around, Dark forced its head around to the side so it wouldn't be able to strike at him. Glancing back, Dark saw that Holly and Mulberry had vanished safely into the woods with the two unicorns.

"Ground!" Dark shouted scooping up another stone. "Get back to the camp!" He tossed the stone up and bucked it into one of the hydra's faces.

"What of you!?" Ground asked, circling around to dodge another clumsy snap.

"Don't worry about me! Just go!" Dark ordered.

"I won't leave you behind!" Ground shouted back before rushing in and stabbing his spear into the hydra's stomach.

"No! Don't try to pull it out!" Dark cried out when he saw Ground pull to remove the stuck spear. His warning came too late when the hydra stepped back so both its heads could snap down at the hapless stallion below it.

In a desperate attempt to save Ground, Dark rushed forward and bucked his hoof right into the butt of his own stuck spear, driving it deeper into its thigh. Letting out an agonized roar of pain, the hydra jerked its body around, and whipped its tail right into Dark, sending him flying.

The impact of its tail had driven the air out of Dark's lungs, and he felt his body tumbling through the air. Closing his eyes, Dark gritted his teeth when he felt his body smash painfully into the ground, where he rolled to a stop. He needed to get back up! But the world around him was spinning too much as he struggled to draw in a breath. The ground rumbled under him as the hydra stomped closer to claim its prey.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Ash dashed out into the clearing just in time to see Dark get knocked to the ground. Seeing his papa laying lifelessly as the hydra closed in on him, Ash felt something inside him suddenly rise up. His legs were moving before he even thought about it, and his hooves tore at the soft soil as he raced down into the valley as fast as he could. Everything seemed to be moving slowly around him. He could see Ground Pound clamping his teeth onto the hydra's tail and dragging his hooves through the dirt as he futilely tried to halt the beast’s advance.

His blood felt like it was on fire, and his ears roared with the thunderous clap of his heartbeat. Every part of his body tingled like he’d been struck by lightning. He could feel a power welling up inside himself in response to his need to save the one he loved.

The hydra stepped up to Dark and reached one of its heads down to the prone stallion’s body, its mouth eagerly opening wide to taste the flesh of a pony.

With a last burst of speed, Ash made it to Dark just before the hydra closed its mouth around him. Bracing his hooves to either side of the hydra's mouth, Ash held its jaws open with a new strength that raged through his body. Blinking in surprise, the hydra struggled to clamp its mouth shut but Ash held firm and kept its jaws locked open.

Below him, Dark's eyes blinked open and he looked up to meet Ash's eyes. "Ash!?"

"I'm sorry, Papa,” Ash said. “I didn't stay with Mirage like you told me to.”

Suddenly the hydra lifted his head up, carrying Ash up with it, and shook it viciously as it attempted to dislodge the colt. Losing his grip in its slippery mouth, Ash was hurled out and tumbled onto the ground a fair distance away. Behind the hydra, Ground Pound was swatted away when the hydra flicked its tail.

Climbing back to his hooves, Ash turned and faced the enraged hydra and met its gaze unflinchingly. Just like with the manticore, he now saw the hydra for what it was. A tiny insignificant creature that was no more than a worm. The air around him crackled as he drew on the power of his love and devotion for Dark. The ground beneath his hooves trembled as he stepped forward.

The hydra’s eyes on both of its heads widened in terror as the colt approached it. The trees and every blade of grass cast a shadow from the brightness that now surrounded Ash's body. Ponies watching from the edge of the forest had to shade their eyes from the sight. Closing on the hydra, Ash’s gaze bore into it with eyes that burned like flames.

When he spoke, his voice thundered out across the valley. "I will not allow you to eat my Papa!"

Rearing up, Ash drew his hoof back and struck the beast as hard as he could. The moment his hoof impacted the hydra, a great surge of power exploded out of him. With a deafening boom, the hydra was hurled back through the air across the valley, where it impacted the cliff face with a wet thump that shook the mountain.

With a deep, thunderous crack, a large section of the cliff broke loose and crumbled to the ground below with a roar. In moments, the hydra's remains were buried under a mountain of stones as it all crashed down atop it.

Everything disappeared in a flash of light as Ash felt himself falling.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Starless Night gazed out in shock as the colt collapsed to the ground. She had never witnessed such a display before. A lone, magic-less, dirt pony colt had just killed a hydra! What kind of ponies did she just find herself being saved by?

Tranquil Charm and the other surviving low blood, Grand Vista, rested nearby as a dirt pony checked over her broken leg. Ponies started to arrive bringing burning branches to light the area. Starless Night gazed at them in wonder. They controlled fire!?

Just then, the most handsome, light grey stallion she had ever seen, stepped into the firelight and stopped to examine her and the other two for a brief moment. Laying draped over his strong back was the charcoal brown colt she had just seen killing the hydra.

“Greetings. My name is Dark Storm,” the stallion said, his voice both strong and warm. “The danger is passed. You are all safe now.”

His intelligent, deep blue eyes met hers and she felt her heart suddenly racing in her chest. Opening her mouth, she attempted to reply, but only just managed to let out a croak before everything turned to darkness as she fainted, collapsing on the leaf-strewn forest floor.

Chapter Thirty

Ash had no idea where he was. Everywhere he looked, all he saw was an endless, star-filled mist that stretched on for what seemed forever. Celestia had told him once of a dream she had of a place much like this. A place where she spoke with a beautiful, silvery mare who had been kind to her. Choosing a direction at random, Ash began to walk.

Thinking back, Ash tried to remember what had brought him here. He remembered some ponies running out of the trees in the valley below while being chased by something. Then later, he remembered running away from the camp to go down into the valley. After that, everything became a muddled blur of half remembered images.

A sound suddenly caught his attention. Pausing, Ash turned his head as he sought out what the source could be. It reminded him of ice crystals as they tinkled against one another when the wind blew through the trees during winter. Hearing the sound again, Ash headed toward it.

Ahead of him, something became visible through the misty void. At first, it was hard to make out, but as he drew closer, he was able to see that it was a tree. Strange, finding a tree growing here. Approaching it, he noticed that the tree was made entirely of crystal! Its trunk, branches, and its leaves glittered in the colorful starlight.

Walking up to it, Ash set his hoof to the trunk and felt it grow warm under his touch. It began to glow with a beautifully soft radiance under his hoof.

"Hello," a clear voice suddenly greeted him from behind.

Jumping in startlement, Ash spun himself around and found a soft-lavender filly with long, wavy, lilac colored mane and tail, standing just behind him.

She let out a musical giggle at his startled reaction, then stepped closer and leaned in to look him over. "Who are you? I've never seen you here before."

Leaning back as their noses almost touched, Ash blinked at her. "I, ah... I'm Ash. Who are you?"

The filly sat back and smiled at him. "I'm Cherished Ties. Do you want to play? My sister has been too busy to play with me much anymore, and I’m bored." She turned and began happily skipping around the crystal tree, disappearing behind it.

"I'm lost. Do you know where I am?"Ash asked as he leaned around to look at the backside of the tree.

"Of course I do, silly!" Cherished said from right behind him. Ash spun around to look at her, surprised that she had somehow gotten behind him without his seeing. Cherished Ties leaned in and touched her hoof to his nose. "You're right here," she answered with a giggle.

Ash shook his head. "But I don't know where here is." Suddenly, he noticed that Cherished wasn't there anymore. Turning himself about, he searched for where she had gone.

"How do you not know that you are under me!?" her voice said from above him. Looking up, he saw that she was just above him, hanging down from a branch by her hind legs. Reaching out, she bopped his nose again and giggled.

How did she keep doing that? Ash wondered as he watched her climb up onto the branch and skip along it. "Please just tell me where this place is."

Cherished skipped out from behind the crystal tree's trunk and stopped just before him. "This place is everywhere, silly. It's above," she hopped into the air, "it's below," she flopped down to her belly, "it's to the side," she rolled over, "it's in front," she stood and bopped his nose again, "and it's behind," she finished by pulling his tail, somehow getting behind him again, without his notice.

Ash was thoroughly confused by her answer. How could this place be everywhere? "I don't understand. Why won’t you just answer me straight?"

"I'm tired of these boring questions. Let’s play, now!" Turning, Cherished ran to the shore of a lake that was suddenly there, and picked up a stone, skipping it across the water. Turning back, she laughed as she waved for him to join her.

Gazing around, Ash saw that the crystal tree was now sitting in a grassy field next to a small lake. Swans and ducks paddled slowly along its surface as dragonflies buzzed around to land on the blooming water lilies. The sun was high above them, and he didn't see any mountains anywhere around.

"Where are we?" Ash asked. He was sure that he had been in the mountains before arriving in the strange mist.

Cherished gave him an angry scowl. "Why are you always asking that silly question?! We are here!" she said with a firm stomp of her hoof to emphasize her point.

Picking up another stone, Cherished skipped it across the water. "My best is six times. How many can you do?" she asked, her smile returning.

Ash was rather good at skipping stones in the river back home. His best count was ten. Figuring that he wasn’t going to get much more in the way of answers from Cherished unless he played with her, Ash picked up a stone. Winding his hoof back, Ash tossed it out onto the water and got three skips before it vanished under the water.

Cherished giggled and snatched up another stone and tossed it out after his, managing four skips, beating his three. Grinning, Ash took up another stone and took up his throwing stance as he accepted her challenge.

Ash’s worry and confusion slowly vanished as he continued to play with Cherished. The filly was full of boundless energy. When she grew bored of skipping stones, Cherished challenged Ash to a race around the field next to the lake. After that, they hunted frogs in the reeds and lilies along the shoreline. When Ash managed to catch a large bullfrog, he brought it to Cherished to show her and found that she had caught a turtle. Releasing the two back into the lake, they watched as the two swam off together.

Suddenly, a blast of cold wind ruffled his mane, and Ash shivered. "What the?" Turning, he found that he was standing hock deep in snow. Blinking in surprise, Ash turned and looked all about and saw that the lake and trees were no longer there, but instead, a thick field of snow covered the land all about them.

Giggling, Cherished began scooping snow into a pile.

"What happened to the lake?" Ash asked.

"Come on, let's make snowponies," Cherished said, patting snow into place on her pile. "How about you make one right here next to mine! They can be friends, just like us!"

Ash glanced around, whatever was happening seemed impossible. Somehow, they were traveling around without actually moving. He would have been sure that this was just all a dream he was having, but for the fact that he could feel the cold bite of the winter air with every breath he took, convinced him that this was somehow real.

Perhaps there was a way she could take him back to Papa. His memories of just before he arrived here was still fuzzy, but he was starting to remember some things that had him worried.

"Cherished?" Ash said. "I want to go back to my papa. Can you take me to him?"

"But I thought we were having fun!" Cherished said with a hurt look. "Why do you want to leave!? I thought we were friends."

"I'm sorry, but I need to find my papa. I think something bad happened and I’m worried he may be hurt." There was an image he couldn't shake of Dark laying on the ground with something massive standing just over him.

Cherish's face softened. "You really care for him a lot. I can tell," she said. "I can see why my sister approves of you so much."

Ash was confused. Hardly anything she said made any sense to him. “What do you mean?”

Instead of answering, Cherished stepped closer and set her hoof to his chest. Ash gasped when he felt a warmth spread out from her touch. Suddenly, like a shadow being cleared from his memory, he remembered everything that happened with the hydra. He remembered the power of his love and desire to protect Dark raging through his body like a wild thunderstorm. The hydra stood no chance against him.

"Cherished, you little thief!" An infuriated voice suddenly shouted out. “How dare you steal him!”

The snow that surrounded them suddenly vanished, replaced by the star-filled mist once again. A beautiful, silvery mare with a vibrant, multi-color mane and tail approached, bearing a stormy look. Her angry eyes bore down onto Cherished, who gave a frightened little yelp and disappeared behind the crystal tree.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, the mare turned to look down at Ash as her eyes softened. "I apologize for my little sister. She can be a bit of a hoof-full sometimes."

There was something familiar about the silvery mare. Ash remembered seeing her before, but he couldn't place where.

The mare shot a hard look at her sister, who was peeking around the crystal tree at them. "She does tend to take things a little too far as well."

“Please don’t be mad at her,” Ash said, stepping between Wellspring and Cherished, who was sticking her tongue out at her sister from around the trunk. “She only wanted to play with me.”

"It’s her nature to want to make friends, Wellspring," a golden-colored stallion said, stepping out of the star-filled mist. "You know that. You can’t blame her for being curious."

"But it's still too early for her to get involved, Age," Wellspring said, turning to the stallion. "If our enemy discovers her true power before she has all six of her elemental bearers, she’ll be in even more danger!"

“That is why the colt is here,” the stallion said, looking down at Ash. “He is the bearer of the Element of Guardianship after all.”

“But he is still much too young,” Wellspring complained, looking down at the colt.

“He has taken his first steps into harnessing the magic of his element,” Age pointed out. “It is time he starts learning what his task is.”

The mare looked torn, and her gaze settled onto Ash with a deep sadness set to them. Again, Ash was struck by how familiar she was. He was positive he had met her before.

Stepping over to him, a pair of colorful wings appeared on Wellsprings sides, and a horn was now perched on her forehead. Reaching her wing down, Wellspring gently covered Ash's back. "Come with me, my brave little colt. There are things that you need to learn to prepare yourself."

Ash allowed her to guide him out into the misty void. More crystal trees began to appear out of the mist around them as they walked, each one glittering with a different colorful hue from the next. All of them were unique and beautiful beyond compare.

“Where are we?” Ash asked, looking around.

"This is the Forest of Harmony," Wellspring said, gesturing out with her wing to the glittering grove that now surrounded them.

A strange rumbling boom suddenly caught his attention. Turning, he looked out and saw part of the star-filled mist open up before him to reveal great, seething cloud of darkness, looming unimaginably far off in the distance. It rolled and swirled about as great forks of lightning flashed ceaselessly all throughout its dark writhing mass. The sight of it sent a cold wave of terror through his body.

Gritting his teeth, Ash forced himself to step a few paces closer to the violent storm and stared out at it defiantly. He didn’t know how, but he knew that there was a dark will behind that evil storm. An evil that was filled with hate and absolute madness.

His heart was hammering in his chest and his blood began to burn hot. Whatever that thing was, he knew it wanted to hurt everypony he loved. It hungered to rip and tear their bodies apart and crush their bones to dust. To taste their pain on its tongue, and savor their endless screams. Papa, Mama, Luna, Celestia, all the ponies of his herd, and all the living things in the entire world from the smallest insect to the largest monster. It wanted to destroy them all. Utterly and completely. Forever.

The power he had felt before when he faced the hydra suddenly roared through his body. Scuffing his hoof across the ground, Ash lifted his head up high and whinnied a challenge to the storm of raging insanity.

Suddenly the golden colored stallion stepped before him and blocked his way. “Peace, young colt and stay your hoof. The time is not right to face this evil yet.”

Wellspring stepped forward and waved her wing to close the mist back together, before draping it back over Ash to comforted the quivering colt.

“What was that?” Ash asked.

“An evil that is older than this world,” Wellspring answered.

“I commend you for facing it so bravely,” Age added. “Though, I was a bit surprised when I saw you were about to attack it.”

“That things wants to hurt the world and all the ponies I love.” Ash said. “I won’t ever let that happen!” Dashing forward towards the mist, Ash stopped and looked out. “You hear that! I’m not afraid of you! I will stand in your way and I will do everything I can to stop you from hurting the ponies I love! I make this oath on it!”

On his flanks, a softly-colored mist, filled with a vast host of stars of every imaginable color appeared. Sitting prominently in the center, a single golden star with four long points radiating out, with four additional stubby points angling out of the center.

As if in answer to the colt’s defiant declaration, a deep rumble suddenly came out of the mist and rustled the branches on all the crystal trees, causing them to tinkle loudly.

Wellspring and Age glanced at each other in startlement.

“I told you that that stallion was going to be a bad influence on him.” Age said.

“Oh, hush,” Wellspring said, glancing back to the colt with a smile.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Starless Night couldn’t figure out these dirt ponies at all. When she had woken up, she had found that she was laying on some kind of strange woven-grass bedding that kept her out of the dirt. Nearby, food set out in a strange thing made of tightly woven thin branches, and a gourd sat next to it filled with fresh clear water. Looking the food over, she was amazed to see that it was free of mold and rot, and when she tasted it, she couldn’t believe how fresh it was! Before she knew it, she had scarfed it all down in a matter of moments, and was saddened to see the woven container was empty.

The dirt ponies had taken her up, and placed her into a large sheltered cavity that had been created by massive boulders that had tumbled together in an old landslide. Cave-like pathways wove through the boulders all over, connecting various chambers to each other. The two lowblood unicorns that had been following her up the valley, were also placed into the same chamber as her, both of whom, she noticed had also been given grass woven bedding to lay on as well as food to eat. They had even wrapped the low blood mare’s broken leg in something to keep it immobile.

A safe place to rest, good food to eat, fresh water, and their injuries had been cared for. Why were they being so kind to them? They were just dirt ponies. Hardly more than animals.

“I’m happy to see you’re awake at last,” a granite-grey mare said, limping into their chamber with a smile.

Starless noticed that the mare’s smile actually reached her eyes, and she showed no cruelty or malice in them, instead there was only kindness and openness in her gaze as she smiled down at her.

“My name is Pebble Stream,” the mare greeted them. “I came to see if there was anything you needed.”

Needed? She was offering to do more for her? No pony could be this nice for nothing. These dirt ponies must want something from her. Why else would they be doing this? “No. My needs have been met,” she said with a shake of her head.

“Oh, well, how about you two?” she asked, turning to the two lowbloods, who mutely shook their heads to her. “Very well, then. If you change your minds, just let me know.”

The mare turned to go, but Starless was curious about something, or rather she was curious about somepony in particular. “Excuse me. That stallion who faced the hydra so bravely. Dark Storm. Can you tell me about him?”

The mare paused to turn back to her. “Dark Storm? Well, he’s one of the greatest stallions of our herd. He inspired us to become more than we were and learn our true strength as Earth Ponies.”

“Earth Ponies?” Starless asked. She had never heard the dirt ponies being called that before.

“That’s what we are,” Pebble replied with a proud lift of her head. “We are Earth Ponies.”

“I see,” Starless said thoughtfully. Learn their true strength as dirt ponies? What did that mean?

“I like that thing you have on your neck,” Pebble said, looking down at the Unicorn’s neck. “What is it?”

Starless reached her hoof up to touch the object hanging from around her neck. “This?” she asked. Sitting, wrapped around her neck was a thin golden ring, with a green stone set at the base of her throat. “Its called a necklace. Some of the Casters who have talents working with metal fashion pretty things to wear using a golden metal that can be found in our streams.”

“Casters?” Pebble asked curiously. “What are Casters?”

Starless Night smiled and drew herself up. “I’m a Caster. I just became one just this spring. Casters are Unicorns that show greater talents for magic than the lower bloods. We go through many years of hard training to become a Caster. And if we impress the highbloods with our skills and power, some of them may offer their stallions to breed with us, so we can have strong foals of our own.”

Pebble looked confused. “What do you mean by allowing their stallions to breed?”

Just then, an orange mare stepped in, carrying a long stick with some kind of sharp stone stuck to the end, in the crook of her leg. Starless remembered seeing ponies carrying the same long sticks when they saved her from the hydra. Dark Storm and that other impressively large stallion used them to stab the hydra.

“The Herd Father would like to speak with them now,” the orange mare said.

A dark blue stallion entered and helped to lift the injured mare onto his back. Walking along with Pebble Stream, Starless couldn’t help but notice her limp, and how her leg looked a bit swollen.

“Are you wondering about my leg?” Pebble asked suddenly, noticing Starless Night’s curious glance. “I was bitten by a Winged Serpent when we wandered over their nest.”

Starless gave a start and shot a surprised look at the mare, “you were bitten by an Ophies Pteretoi!? How did you survive!?”

Pebble gave her a confused look. “If that means Winged Serpent, then the answer would be I almost didn’t. Our tracker knew of a curative to use against snake venom, and they just managed to save me. My leg still hurts, but Happy thinks it will get better over time.”

“Interesting,” Starless said thoughtfully. “I would like to see this tracker and learn this secret as well. Those pests have been a bane to our foraging teams.”

Winding their way through the web of confusing channels between the massive boulders, they arrived at an unusually tall chamber made of leaning quartz blocks that sparkled with the slanting sunlight that shone through the gaps in the stones. Stepping in, Starless saw a turquoise mare standing in the center, waiting for them. Off to the side, Dark Storm sat next to a charcoal brown colt, who lay sleeping on woven-grass bedding.

Starless gazed settled onto the sleeping colt and noticed that he was the same one as from the night before. Was it just a dream? she wondered. The colt looked like a completely normal, average colt. How could he have done what she thought she remembered him doing to that hydra? Could he be the one that Matriarch Astral is looking for?

Two days prior, Matriarch Astral gathered all the senior and junior Casters together for something important. Waiting for her to start, Starless noticed that she was now wearing a silver necklace with a strange blood red gem set to her throat. The Matriarch had always disdained necklaces before, and Starless wondered why she would start to wear one now.

Once she was ready, the Matriarch told them of a new rising danger she wanted them to find: a new powerful magic that needed to be brought under their control. During the course of their normal tasks, if they should ever come across an unusual magic, they are to immediately return and report it straight to her without delay. After that, Matriarch Astral hoof-picked ten of her most senior and skilled Casters for a special task she wanted them to do, and took them away somewhere secret to discuss it with them. It all struck her as being all very strange.

Was this colt the magic she was supposed to look out for? She couldn’t see how, he was just a simple dirt pony. Every unicorn knew that they had no magic.

Dark Storm didn’t look up as they entered. Sitting closely next to the colt, he continued to gaze down at him with worry etched on his face. Lifting his hoof, he brushed an errant strand of mane out of the colt’s face as he fussed over him.

The dark-blue stallion that carried the injured lowblood gently lowered her down onto another woven-grass matting that was set out on the ground and the other low blood was given a spot next to her. Why would they show such kindness to them? They were just common lowbloods.

Looking at the turquoise mare standing before them, Starless saw her resemblance to Dark Storm. She had the same warm deep blue eyes, and strong cheeks as him. Stepping up to her, Starless bent a hoof and bowed her head down. She didn’t bow as much as she would have to a highblood, of course, but she did bow down enough to show respect.

“Greetings, Matriarch. I am Caster Starless Night,” she said in greeting. “I thank you for the aid your stallions have given in stopping the hydra. They showed great courage in facing such a terrible and fearsome beast.”

The mare blinked at her with a oddly surprised look. “Matriarch? My stallions? What do you mean by that?” she asked.

Shooting a quick glance over to Dark, Starless looked back to the mare. “Am I mistaken? I saw the resemblance. Are you not kin to the mighty Dark?”

“I’m his sister, yes,” the mare answered. “My name is Mirage Shimmer.”

“You would be his matriarch then, right?” Starless continued. “You dirt… err... Earth Ponies are remarkably free with your stallions. We keep ours under proper control.”

“What does that supposed to mean?” the orange mare Pebble had called Mustard, suddenly asked.

“Every mare knows that stallions are simple creatures that are driven by instincts and carnal needs,” Starless explained. “We can’t leave such wild beasts left uncontrolled. No mare would be safe! So when a colt grows into the right age, he’s put into breeding stables to keep him from causing anything unfortunate.”

“That’s horrendous!” Mustard said in outrage. “How can you do that to your stallions!?”

“If we didn’t, there would be no control over bloodlines! High blood stallions would breed with low blood mares, and low blood stallions would breed high blood mares, filling them with their dirty brood. Completely outrageous!”

“Stallions aren't monsters!” Mustard growled back angrily. “They shouldn’t be treated that way!”

“Mustard, please,” the dark blue stallion said in a hushed tone, touching a hoof to the young mare’s shoulder. “You’re being an idiot.”

“I am not!” Mustard snapped back.

“Morning,” Mirage cut in evenly. ”I heard that the young foals were going to be taken for a bit of play in the sun. Why don’t you take Mustard out and watch over them?”

When it looked like Mustard was about to argue, Dark suddenly spoke up. “Yes. That’s a good idea.” Standing, Dark approached them. “Go and play with the little foals. It’ll help cool your temper.”

Mustard gaped at him for a moment before she gave in and allowed Morning to lead her away. Starless was amazed, a mare was obeying a stallion!?

Turning to Starless, Dark focused his attention onto her. Starless felt her cheeks suddenly flushed as she met his deep blue eyes. There was something about his gaze that made her heart quicken in her chest.

“My apologies. Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable,” Dark said, gesturing for her to take a grass-mat that Pebble had just set out for her.

Starless felt a little strange allowing a stallion to direct her, but the way he spoke to her with his warm strong voice made it hard to resist. Seating herself, Dark sat down on another grass-mat to face her.

“So, let's begin with proper introductions,” Dark said looking the three over. “My name is Dark Storm, Herd Father to the Earth Ponies and mate to Meadowlark, the Herd Mother. I, and the twenty ponies with me are currently helping out a fellow tribe in need.”

“I am Starless Night. The two lowbloods behind me are Grand Vista, and Tranquil Charm,” Starless introduced. “We’re part of a foraging team that was out searching for food when we came to the small lake at the bottom of this valley. Pausing there to rest and drink, we were surprised by the hydra when it attacked us out of the lake. Most of the foraging team scattered and ran, but I foolishly tried to fight it,” Starless said with a shake of her head. “All of my spells had little if any effect on it. When it snapped at me, Grand Vista knocked me to the side and took a glancing hit that broke her leg. I used a dazzle spell to momentarily blind the hydra so Tranquil Charm could collect her injured friend and we made our escape up the valley. The hydra recovered quickly and pursued us.”

“What a harrowing tale,” Mirage said.

“Indeed,” Dark said thoughtfully. “It appears that we have the answer to what was scaring the animals around that lake.”

Pebble quietly slipped in and set small baskets of something just before Vista, and Charm, then she placed another one before Starless.

Using her magic, Starless levitated up what looked like a piece of shriveled apple. It appeared that even these dirt ponies couldn’t find good food, she thought. Starless was still hungry so she tossed it into her mouth and quickly chewed. She felt a sudden surprise at how good it tasted. It was dry and crunchy but also pleasantly flavorful. More and more these dirt ponies were surprising her.

“Starless Night,” Dark said, bringing her attention back to him. “Putting aside the current subject for a moment, I would like to discuss a matter that has been very disturbing to hear. Recently, we have heard stories from the pegasi that the unicorns have been capturing them. Is this true?”

Starless nearly choked on her treat, her eyes snapping to Dark. The dirt ponies were talking to the pegasi!? When did this start!? Starlight noticed that the warmth had left Dark’s eyes as he waited for her answer. “We ah… only wanted to talk to them. They were let go without any harm being done!”

“The Unicorns only wanted to talk to them,” Dark repeated back with a thoughtful look. “As I understand it from the Pegasi’s telling, they were terrorised and threatened by the Unicorns.”

Dark didn’t raise his voice nor did he move any closer to Starless, but she still felt him somehow looming over her. Without thinking about it, Starless summoned her magic to her horn as she readied to defend herself from the stallion. Dark’s gaze lingered for a moment on her horn as it shone with her magical aurora.

“I take it from your reaction that the Pegasi’s account is true,” Dark said meeting her eyes. He was a full head taller than she was, and his eyes gazed steadily into hers without fear. This was a stallion who could not be intimidated.

“Our methods may seem a bit harsh, but it's necessary for the greater good!” Starless exclaimed hurriedly. “Something killed many of the fruit trees that grew in our forest and we’re running out of food! Using magic greatly taxes our energy and grass is not enough. We need richer foods to sustain us and our magic. If our magic fails, we can’t keep the sun and moon in their cycle!”

Starless shifted awkwardly as Dark sat there silently considering her, his eyes unreadable. Starless felt strange. She never had a stallion looking at her like this. She had only been in the stables a few times to help settle disputes over breeding agreements and all the stallions she saw there were properly submissive to the mares. Not at all like the stallion sitting before her now.

“I can understand the desperation that that can cause,” Dark finally said, breaking the long silence, “but threatening others to do your work is still not right. Did you even try offering to trade with the Pegasi for food? I am sure that there are many services you could do for them.”

Starless couldn’t help but scowl at the thought of treating the pegasi as equals. “Our dealings with the pegasi have always been troublesome. They are flighty little thieves that would steal all the fruits out of our trees whenever they had a chance. We’ve been zapping and chasing them out of our forest for centuries! They are nothing but pests!”

Darks gaze hardened. “I see,” he said thoughtfully. “And how do the Unicorns view us?”

Starless gaped at him in surprise. Her mind raced with some kind of suitable answer that wouldn’t anger the stallion.

“It seems the manticore’s got your tongue,” Dark said. “What about you two? Grand Vista, and Tranquil Charm was it? Would you two like to answer my question?”

The two mares who, up to that point, had been happy sitting to the side and quietly watching, now suddenly found Dark looking right at them as he waited for them to answer.

It was the older mare, Vista, who managed to speak. “We ah… we’ve always been taught that dirt ponies were just a bunch of dirty grass-eaters that weren’t much better than simple animals.”

Starless felt her heart leap up to her throat, and she shut her eyes in mortification. There will be no getting out of this! Dark was going to call for those stallions she saw outside to come and start jabbing their sharp sticks into her! Or worse yet, to be forcefully taken by him, over and over again, filling her with his foals as he uses her as his broodmare. Oddly, the second part didn’t seem that horrible of a thought to her.

“Thank you,” Dark said, his voice was oddly gentle. “I appreciate your honesty.”

Letting out a breath, Starless sagged in her seat in relief. “You're… not angry?”

Dark shook his head. “No. I’m just disappointed.” Dark fell silent as his face suddenly became thoughtful. A funny smile started to come to his lips as he looked back up at Starless. “It has come to me that there is an intriguing opportunity here.”

“An opportunity? What opportunity is that?” Starless asked hesitantly. There was something about the way the stallion was looking at her that made her feel uneasy.

“Oh, we don’t need to get into that right now.” Dark said with a flick of his hoof. “What is important for you to know right now, is that you are all now my prisoners.”

The chamber was dead silent. Mirage was staring at her brother like he had just turned into some kind of monster, while Starless wondered what it would feel like to have those sharp sticks poked into her.

Just then a dirty-green mare stepped into the chamber. “Excuse me for interrupting, but I thought you would want to know.”

Dark turned to look at the mare. “What is it, Mosswood?”

“Sky and Flutter Fly just brought over a mare who is asking to see Mirage. She says that she is her mother.” Pausing she met Dark’s eyes. “We haven't told her that you’re here yet.”

“Pebble, would you please take our prisoners back to their chamber and bring them some more food. Their ribs are showing entirely too much for my liking. Mosswood, would you please help Pebble carry Vista back?” Standing up, Dark turned his attention to Starless. “If you don’t try to escape, I won’t have to hunt you down and poke holes in you. There’s no way you can elude our tracker if you try. We’ll easily be able to run you down. Do you understand?”

Starless quickly nodded, positive that he was telling her the truth. “I promise we won’t try to leave.”

Dark smiled warmly at her. “Good. Then enjoy your time with us.”

Chapter Thirty One

Mustard felt a strange kind of nervousness as she stared down at a small group of little foals. Their exhausted mothers had left the three fillies and one rather rambunctious colt in her and Morning’s care while they napped in the shade of a nearby tree. Looking very much like a proud father with his foal, Morning was smiling to himself as he rocked a sleeping filly in the crook of his leg.

How did this happen!? Mustard asked herself in panicked bewilderment as she looked down at the other three foals. She didn’t know anything about foals!

An orange filly, a few shades lighter than she was, was happily burbling to herself as she played with a blue flower she had been given. Sitting next to her, a blueish-pink filly kept trying to stand onto her hooves but kept flopping back down onto her rump. The light-tan colt happily gamboled about in the grass. Mustard found she had to constantly nab the little colt from just dashing off.

The bluish-pink filly who had been struggling to stand up, flopped over forward when she lost her balance and fell face down into the ground. Letting out a scream, she began to bawl her eyes out. Moving over quickly to the distressed filly, Mustard hovered over her in panicked indecision as she wondered what she was supposed to do!

“Don’t just stand there looking like the filly is going to grow a second head,” Morning snapped at her. “Pick her up and comfort her.”

Mustard was terrified that she might accidentally hurt the filly. Gingerly she reached her hoof around the wailing filly and hesitated with worry.

“What are you doing? Just pick her up!” Morning said firmly.

Taking a quick breath, Mustard quickly scooped the filly up into her hoof. Holding her awkwardly up, the filly continued to cry. “Okay, I picked her up, but she’s still crying. What do I do!?” Mustard asked in a rush.

“Don’t hold her away from you like that,” Morning instructed harshly. “Hold her close to yourself. Let her feel that you are near.”

Moving the filly in, Morning carefully set her against her chest, and held her there as gently as she could. To her dismay, the filly continued to cry. What was she doing wrong!? Mustard desperately searched her mind for what she should do. Why didn’t she pay more attention to mares when they were comforting their foals!?

Failing to come up with something, Mustard gave into instincts and did what she felt was natural. Holding the filly a little tighter against herself, Mustard began to slowly rock her body back and forth as she murmured soothingly to her. This seemed to work as the filly began to settle down into her embrace. Heartened, Mustard smiled as she relaxed at last. Closing her eyes, Mustard felt a pleasant feeling of contentment come over her and she began to hum a simple melody to her.

The little filly was soft against her chest, and her breathing evened out as she slowly began to fall asleep. Mustard was surprised at how good this felt. Her heart swelled with a strange warmth that made her feel like she had crawled into a campfire. Letting out a happy sigh, Mustard snuggled her cheek against the top of the filly’s head.

Was this what it feels like to be a mother? Mustard wondered to herself as she listened to the filly’s soft even breaths. A strong desire of wanting to keep the filly came over her. She felt the urge to curl herself around her and tuck her in close to her body. To nuzzle and kiss her. The desire grew so strong her heart ached with the need.

These strange and powerful new feelings Mustard was having would have frightened her not that long ago, but after spending time with Sky and feeling the new life she carried inside her, as well as listening to her talk about her experiences with being pregnant and her excitement for the day when she finally gets to hold and kiss her foal. Mustard found that she was growing interested in her new maternal desires, and she was even fantasizing about what it would be like to have a foal growing inside her. To feel it moving around and kicking in her belly. And later, to finally see and hold it for the very first time and look into its eyes. To feel her foal’s soft lips latching onto her teat to suckle milk from her.

“You look happy,” Morning voice suddenly said, breaking her out of her private moment.

Cracking an eye open, Mustard saw that he was looking at her a strangely amused look. "If you even try to ruin this moment for me, I won't even try to hold back when I make you regret it," she growled at him, careful to not disturb the sleeping filly.

“I’m serious,” Morning said hurriedly. “You’re practically glowing with happiness. I've got to say, you're looking very beautiful right now.”

Mustard felt her face suddenly begin to flush with embarrassment. She had never been called beautiful before and hearing Morning calling her that was very oddly pleasing.

Glancing down, Mustard saw that the orange filly had grown bored of her flower and was now playing with a pair of brightly colored rocks as she tried to set one atop the other. "Where did the little colt go?" Mustard asked in alarm, noticing that he was missing.

Morning let out a chuckle, and nodded behind her. "Oh, he's having fun playing in your tail."

Looking around over her shoulder, Mustard saw a lump shift under her tail as it darted to one side then to the other.

Letting out a giggle, Mustard looked back to Morning, "He's so adorable. I want one," she said, before nuzzling the filly in her hooves. “I want one of these, too.”

Morning’s ears suddenly shot up in surprise as he blinked at Mustard for a long moment. His gaze turned troubled and he looked away to stare out in deep thought. Mustard didn't notice this, as she happily snuggled her cheek against the filly’s head once again.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Ash lay on his grass-mat looking back at his newfound cutie mark. A large, golden, eight-pointed star, set before a host of smaller stars of every shade of color. It was proof that what he had seen while he had been asleep had indeed been real and not just a dream.

Gazing back at his cutie mark, Ash knew what it meant. It meant that his talent was to protect others from danger. That's why he dove into the river to rescue Pine Blossom when she had fallen in. And why he stood before the door and held the wolves at bay. And just like what he did a few days ago, when he stood before that Manticore and faced it down with his gaze.

There were so many things he was told that he didn’t understand. There were ponies with special magic that would need his help someday. Ponies that were destined to return harmony back to the world. Before he departed that strange place, Wellspring told him one last thing: “Protect the Element of Light. For she will bring them all together.”

"What's wrong? You look troubled," Mirage asked, stepping into the chamber.

Ash glanced up at her and gave her his best smile to try and reassure her. "I'm fine. I'm just thinking about things."

Mirage pursed her lips as she looked down at him. "Well, you've been thinking about things ever since you woke up, and I think it's time you got out and stretched your legs."

"But Papa told me he wanted me to stay here so I would stay out of trouble," Ash complained.

"I spoke with my dear brother and I managed to convinced him to let you out for a bit," Mirage said, giving the colt a warm smile.

Ash looked up at Mirage in surprise. "Really!? You did?"

When he had woken up, he had discovered that he had slept for almost two days. And during all that time, Dark had been sitting closely by his side. Seeing him awake, Dark quickly swept him up into a mighty hug that crushed the breath out of him.

When Dark finally released Ash and set him back down, he sat down with him to have a talk with him. He never yelled, or even raised his voice at him, but Ash still felt like he was. Dark spoke to Ash of being disappointed in him, that he had thought he could trust him to do as he was told and stay with Mirage were he was safe. Ash felt horrible, and his heart sank into his guts as he stared down at his hooves, finding that he was unable to meet Dark's disappointed gaze.

When he was done, Dark surprised him when he picked him up again and hugged him with a kiss. Holding him, Dark then surprised him again when he thanked him for what he did when he saved him from the hydra.

After that, Dark left him there, telling him to stay there and to keep himself out of any more Monsters' mouths. Food and water had been brought to him, but otherwise he remained alone until Mirage arrived telling him he could go out.

"She did," Dark answered as he walked into the chamber behind Mirage. "She made such a complete nuisance of herself on your behalf. I finally had to agree so I could get her out of my mane. But only with a condition." Taking a length of rope he had coiled on his back, he tossed a loop of it over Ash head so it settled around his neck, he then took the other half of the rope and slipped it over Mirage's head, tethering the colt to her.

Ash looked down at the short length of rope that now attached him to Mirage in surprise. "You're tying me to her!?"

"If you don't like it, I can have you tied between Mustard and Morning," Dark replied evenly.

There was a chance that Dark was just joking, but Ash knew that Dark thought things were funnier when they were also true. "No! I'm fine with staying with Mirage."

"I thought you might be," Dark answered with an amused nod of his head. "Now, you will stay with Mirage at all times and you will not take the rope off for any reason, even if you need to relieve yourself. Understood?"

"Yes, Papa," Ash quickly answered, stepping up next to Mirage. Being tied to her was embarrassing, but Ash was willing to endure it if it meant that he could start to earn some of Dark's trust back. He may have saved his life, but he disobeyed him to do it, and worse yet, he endangered himself. Dark had promised Mama that he would keep him safe, and if he so much as gets a single scratch before they returned, Meadowlark would strip Papa’s hide right off his bones! At least that is what Papa said. He actually looked a bit scared about it. Funny. Why would papa be more scared of mama than the hydra?

Sky and Flutter Fly had finished getting all the mares out, and now the others were trying to come up with a way to rescue the four stallions. They thought they were close to something, so Papa went off to see how it was going. Following along closely with Mirage so as to not tug on the short rope lashing them together, they went to visit with the mares who had been rescued and see how they were doing.

Moving along, Mirage introduced Ash to practically every mare of her herd. At one point, Ash found himself surrounded by a rather sizable group of mares who gushed over him, congratulating Mirage on catching such a fine adorable colt as they nuzzled his cheeks and tickling his chin. Ash began to rethink his choice for not being tied to Mustard and Morning.

Finally as they walked toward an older mare, resting in the shade of a rock ledge, Mirage paused to lean down to whisper to Ash. "Please remember, don't mention Dark by name. She doesn't know about him yet. Her health is very frail right now, and I don't want to over-strain her."

After he nodded, Mirage led him over to the mare. Ash was surprised to see that she was the exact same light-grey color as Dark. She was resting against the side of a rounded stone with her head set over the top which had been softened with a bed of moss. She was gazing out at the nearby little foals as they played under the watchful eyes of Mustard and Morning.

"Mama?" Mirage said, calling to the mare. "How are you doing this afternoon?"

The mare slowly lifted her head and looked around to Mirage and him. "Ah, Mirage," she said giving them a weak, if warm smile. "So good of you to come and see me." Her body was then wracked with a series of coughs that left her gasping for breath when it subsided.

Mirage rushed up to her mother to rub at her back, her face etched with concern.

Mirage's mother waved her daughter off. "I'm fine, dear. You know how this is."

"But you're not fine," Mirage complained. "You've barely been eating, and you can hardly stand without somepony to help you."

"You worry too much, dear," her mother said before looking down at Ash. "And who is this fine young colt?" she asked.

"Ah... hello. My name is Ash," he answered politely. "I'm pleased to meet you."

"Oh my. Such good manners," the older mare replied with a soft smile before glancing up to Mirage. "Please tell me you stole him for your own," she asked hopefully.

Mirage gasped, then shook her head with a sigh. "I didn't steal him, mama. I'm just keeping an eye on him for a bit."

A look of disappointment settled onto Mirage's mother's face. "That's too bad. I would have liked to see you as a mother before I go."

"Mama, don't talk that way," Mirage complained. "You're going to get better now. There's plenty of food to eat, and there is fire to keep you warm on those cold nights."

"You worry too much for me," her mother said with a scowl. "You should be looking for a strong stallion to fill you with foals. Not bothering to care for a old mare. You should have had at least two by now with a third on the way."

"Mama, we've talked about this before, and I'm tired of explaining myself," Mirage said firmly. "Most of the stallions were old and tired, and the only one that is even close to my age is as ugly as a log."

"You're just being too picky. It doesn't take looks to get the deed done," her mother pointed out.

"But it sure helps!" Mirage quickly snapped back.

"It's an attitude like that, that is what is keeping you from being caught by a stallion," Her mother said with a scoff.

Mirage smiled coyly. "Oh really? I'll have you to know that a very handsome stallion has already caught me!"

Her mother paused with an incredulous look. "Who is this stallion? I’d like to meet him."

Before Ash knew it, he found himself suddenly swept up by Mirage into a tight hug to her chest. "This young stallion captured me and my heart the moment he captured me in the forest."

Mirage's mother blinked in surprise, then she began to lightly laugh. "Oh, you win this one. There is no denying that he is handsome." Her laughter suddenly changed into a racking cough.

Dropping Ash back down, Mirage quickly moved to her mother's side to rub at her back. Ash stood awkwardly nearby as he watched Mirage minister to her mother until her mother’s coughing fit subsided.

Leaning back into her moss covered rock, Mirage's mother smiled down at Ash as she caught her breath. "Come my handsome young stallion. Sit with me and share the story of how you captured my dear daughter."

Sitting down, Ash told of the events that lead up to his capturing Mirage and taking her back to the settlement. After that, he continued telling her of their journey out here. She seemed really impressed at how he stood up to a manticore, though by the way she praised him over it, Ash wasn't sure she really believed him.

Suddenly, a voice cried out in alarm. "Mustard!"

Looking quickly over, Ash saw Morning rushing over to a prone Mustard, who looked like she had just collapsed to the ground. Mirage jumped up and hurried over to Mustard, taking Ash along with her. Rolling her over, Mirage placed her ear to Mustard's chest and listened for a moment before she used the edge of her hoof to draw back one of Mustard's eyelids. "Morning. Did Mustard say anything before she collapsed?"

Morning was anxiously standing over Mustard, with worry all over his face. Mirage had to ask him again before he finally seemed to understand what she was asking. "Oh! She ah!... we were watching over the foals when she suddenly felt a little queasy. When she got up to go lay down in the shade, she suddenly just collapsed!" Morning said in a rush. "Is she okay!?"

Mirage smiled and looked up to the worried stallion. "She's fine. She just fainted," she assured him. "Ash. Help me put her on my back and we'll take her inside to rest."

"I'll carry her in." Morning quickly offered.

Mirage quickly blocked him from picking her up. "Ah... no. It'll be best if I carry her. I promise you she's just fine. Just give her some time to rest and she'll be back on her hooves in no time. I'll stay with her until she's awake. Now shoo, and go find something to do, and leave this to me."

Once Mustard was settled onto Mirage's back, Morning watched as they disappeared into the rocks.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Morning felt anxious as he watched them go. He wanted to do something but was unsure what he should do. Mirage assured him that Mustard was just fine but he couldn't help but feel that her fainting was somehow caused by the changes that happened to them. Perhaps there was something that had gone wrong in some way.

Morning had noticed that Mustard had been acting differently over the last couple of days. She was behaving more like a mare. When Dark sent them out to watch over the foals, Mustard just seemed to fall in love with them. Morning liked foals just fine. They were fun to play with and hold, but Mustard, once she got over her initial anxiety, took to them naturally and lavished love all over them.

Morning thought it might just be his imagination, but he also noticed that he himself was also acting and feeling differently. He didn't like it when a stallion got too close to Mustard. Often times, Morning would move himself to stand between her and any stallion who got too close to her for his liking. At night, he would sit over her as she slept and keep watch until exhaustion finally forced him to sleep. More and more, his memories of being a mare was growing hazy as it became more natural to think of himself as a stallion.

Morning couldn't stand not knowing anymore. He couldn't keep pretending that everything was okay. It was time he got some answers and there were a some magical ponies nearby he could ask. Hurrying through the confusing web of corridors through the piled boulders, Morning arrived at where the unicorns were being kept. Looking large and imposing like his father, Hoof Strike, Ground Pound stood guard outside their chamber.

"Please, I would like to talk to them," Morning said. "It's important."

"Go ahead," Ground Pound answered him. "I'm just here to keep an eye on them so they don't go running off."

Entering the chamber Morning saw the unicorn with the broken leg and her friend sleeping on their mats while the third, Starless Night, stood looking out a narrow gap between the stones at the ponies outside. Hearing his hoofsteps, Starless quickly turned to look back at him.

"I ah... I'm sorry for disturbing you but I needed to ask you something." Morning said.

The mare eyed him curiously. "You're that stallion with that angry orange mare the other day, are you not?"

"My name is Morning Sky. I'm sorry for Mustard Seed, she does let her mouth run loose sometimes," Morning said apologetically.

"I've been known to do that myself," Starless said, stepping a little closer. "It was interesting that she was so passionate about our males and how they are treated."

"It would be more understandable to know that she was once a stallion herself," Morning Sky offered, carefully watching Starless for her reaction.

Starless froze as her eyes shot open in surprise. "Surely you are joking," she said with disbelief. "You would have to be for something that's impossible like that."

"I'm not joking," Morning said shaking his head. "I myself was a mare until Mustard and I fell into an enchanted pool together and our genders were switched."

"That's not possible..." Starless suddenly paused as her expression became thoughtful. "Did you say you fell into an enchanted pool?"

Morning nodded, "Does that mean something?"

Starless sat her rump down and scratched her chin. "It has to be. It's the only thing that makes sense," she mused out loud.

"What?" Morning asked stepping closer. "What makes sense!?"

"Have you dirt... er... Earth Ponies ever heard of a Draconequus?" Starless asked, looking back up at him.

Morning shook his head. A Draconequus? What was that? Some kind of weed?

"Draconequus’ are creatures born of fragments of Chaos magic," Starless explained. "The origin of this chaotic magic is unknown to us nor do we know when the first Draconequus appeared. We just know that one day they were here and spreading havoc wherever they went."

Listening, Morning sat down. Creatures born of chaos!? What would such a thing look like?

"We believe that fragments of the same chaotic magic that created the Draconequus also scattered all over the world, imbuing other things with its strange powers. Some unfortunate foragers found an odd, blue flower at one time that would strike its victims with random and rather silly afflictions. The enchanted pool you mentioned falling into is another one of these Chaos imbued things as well. The changes the pools cause can be as simple as altering color, or as complicated as changing a creature into a completely different type. Like turning a dragon into a butterfly."

Morning let out a shudder at the image that jumped into her head of being turned into a slug. "Sky mentioned these pools before," Morning said. "She said that the changes can't be reversed. Is that true?"

"Unicorns have studied these pools whenever they were found, and very little has been learned from their magic," Starless explained. "Our Harmonious Unicorn magic is just too different from Chaos magic. When we try to change a rock into an apple, it just becomes a rock that looks like an apple, or when we change a frog into a orange, it's just a frog that looks like an orange. We are unable to change their true essence with Harmonious magic. No matter how much magic is used, their true nature doesn't change. The rock is still a rock and the frog is still a frog, and the changes that we do make don't last long. Some of our strongest casters are unable to make the effects last for much more than half a day or so before it reverts back. Chaos magic can somehow break this rule and change a thing’s nature completely."

Morning felt his heart sink down. "So there is no way to change back?"

"I can look to see if there is anything I can try." Starless stepped up to him and her horn lit up with a warm glow. Touching her horn to his forehead, Morning felt a tingle rush through his body. After a few moments, Starless drew back and her horn stopped glowing.

"I'm sorry. I don't sense any magical trace in you," Starless said softly with a shake of her head. "There is nothing for me to dispel."

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Mustard was confused as she blinked her eyes open. What happened? Last thing she remembered was feeling ill and going off to rest in the shade.

"Ah good. You're awake," Mirage said from next to her.

Sitting up, Mustard saw that Ash was sitting next to Mirage with a short length of rope tying the two together. Mustard looked around and found that she was laying in one of the large open chambers many of the mares used to sleep in.

"What happened? Why am I here?" she asked.

"We carried you here after you fainted," Ash answered.

"I fainted?" Mustard said in surprise. "I remember feeling funny, and I thought I was just getting too much sun."

"Can you describe how you were feeling?" Mirage asked.

"Well, ever since I woke up in the morning, I've been feeling funny," Mustard explained, rubbing the side of her stomach. "I've been getting little cramps in my side, and I feel unusually tired."

"Anything else?" Mirage pressed.

Mustard looked slightly embarrassed, "I ah... also noticed that my... ah... udders felt sore and a bit swollen for some reason. Then later when we were with the foals, I started to feel queasy. That is when I decided to go lay down." Mustard looked to Mirage with concern. "Is there something wrong with me!? Am I sick?"

Mirage smiled and shook her head. "No. Nothing is wrong with you. You're just having an usually strong reaction to going into heat for the first time."

Mustard sat there for a moment then gasped in sudden horror. "Heat! I'm going into heat! But it's too soon!"

Mirage smiled and laughed lightly. "Going into heat is perfectly normal for a young mare your age."

"But... but... but... I'm not ready!" Mustard complained. "I thought I would have more time!" Suddenly her eyes widened in horror. "Did... any of the stallions...!? Did Morning...!?"

"No. None of the stallions bred you while you were asleep," Mirage said with a sigh. "Have a bit of trust in them. They would never do that to a mare while she's unconscious."

Mustard relaxed with a relieved breath. "I know. I'm sorry. It’s just this is all so new." She felt bad for thinking that Morning might have taken advantage of her. In fact, just earlier when they were playing with the foals, she was just thinking how nice it would be to have a foal of her own. Now that her body was readying itself for the act of making new life, and she suddenly felt really scared at the reality of it. "What do I do?"

"Well, if you don't want something small and adorable to snuggle with next season," Mirage said with a shrug, "then don't get too friendly with any of the stallions."

Mustard nibbled her lip nervously, "I ah... what if I ah... do want... ah possibly... something small and adorable to snuggle with next season?"

Mirage gasped in shock, then smiled. "Really!?"

Mustard lowered her eyes down at the ground. Anxiety, fear, excitement and nervousness all tumbled around inside her, each one vying for dominance over the others. "I... I'm not sure," she confessed. "I feel really confused and scared about it. On one hoof, I want to have a foal, but on the other, I am terrified of not knowing what I should do when I have one! Motherhood was not something I was expecting to ever happen to me."

"Have you talked to Morning about this?" Mirage asked.

"I have a little, but he didn't respond to me," Mustard answered. "He seemed happy when we were with the foals and even helped me get over some of my anxiety, but after I spoke about it, he got all quiet."

Mirage nodded thoughtfully. "I see. If motherhood was not something you were expecting, I would think that Morning feels the same way about fatherhood. He's probably just as afraid and confused about the matter as you are."

Mustard wiped at her eyes, she didn't know why she was tearing up. "You think so?"

Standing, Ash suddenly walked over and snuggled himself into Mustard's side. Mustard felt her face flush as the colt looked up at her. "My mother abandoned me to the winter, and my sire didn't even know I was alive. I never knew what it was like to know the love of a mother or father until Meadowlark and Dark took me in. I can tell you that no matter how a parent raises their foal, as long as they love it, that's all that truly matters."

Mustard couldn't stand it. Her eyes quickly misted up and she started bawling, her tears pouring out. Why did the colt have to be so cute?!

Chapter Thirty Two

It started raining that night. Skye and Flutter Fly tried to break it up, but the storm had built up too much force for them to stop and they were forced to return back to the safety of the rocks.

Ponies had quickly sealed up the cracks and seams in the stones above as best as they could to keep some of the larger sleeping areas dry. Fires had been carefully set around to help warm and dry out ponies coming in from the harsh weather.

Mustard felt miserable. Her joints ached and her body couldn't decide if it was hot or cold from one moment to the next. Her thoughts kept dwelling on things that she wanted Morning to do to her, while a certain body part of her’s incessantly twitched and throbbed with carnal need. She kept imagining what it would feel like to have his weight settle onto her back and to feel his strong hooves gripping her sides as he firmly invaded her very being right to her core.

Being in heat was annoying! How could mares stand it!?

Laying on her grass-mat, Mustard listened to the rain as she dozed in one of the smaller chambers used by mares. A funny tugging feeling followed by a strange smacking sound roused her from her light slumber. The tugging feeling quickly grew into a sharp stinging and Mustard lifted her head to look back at what was pulling at her udder. There, tucked under her hind leg, was the rear half of a very familiar light-tan colt's rump.

"What the!" Mustard exclaimed as she slid her leg back to reveal the rest of the colt. He was attached to one of her teats and was very enthusiastically trying to nurse from her! "Acorn Shell! How did you!?..."

A sniggering laugh suddenly caught Mustard's attention. Shooting a look over, she saw Skye holding a hoof over her mouth as she attempted to hold back her laughter.

"You!" Mustard exclaimed accusingly at her. "This is your doing isn't it!?" she said, gesturing down at the colt. She could feel his little tongue pressing up into her teat rhythmically every time he suckled, followed by a strange, intense tingle that would shoot through her body . It was kind of pleasant in a strange sort of way.

Skye couldn't hold it in and she laughed out loud as she clutched at her gut. Reaching back, Mustard attempted to pull the colt from her, but Acorn Shell had her teat firmly clamped into his mouth.

"Skye, I can't believe you did this! Help me get him off!" Mustard pleaded with the laughing mare.

Skye shook her head, still laughing, "I didn't do it! He wandered over on his own."

"And you just let him?" Mustard snapped back. She tried shifting the colt to the side and working him off that way, but he seemed absolutely determined to get milk from her and would not release her teat no matter what. More giggles caught her attention and Mustard looked up to see the group of mothers all giggling to each other as they watched her struggle with the colt.

Letting out a sigh, Mustard stopped trying to remove the colt and let him keep her teat. He wasn't hurting anything, and he'd grow bored eventually. Settle herself back down, Mustard glared at Skye who was wiping tears from her eyes. "It's not that funny."

"Oh, if only you saw the way that little colt stalked you!" Suddenly, Skye threw her stance wide as he lowered her head down close to the ground to gaze right at Mustard. "First, he located his prey." With her rump sticking high up into the air, Skye slowly began sneaking closer. "With the stealth of a mountain lion, he approached his quarry."

The nearby mares watched in amusement as Skye slowly began to stalk Mustard.

"Any moment, his presence may be noticed, so he moves in carefully, trying to not draw attention to himself." With a funny prancing like shuffle, Skye wobbled nearer.

Mustard couldn't help herself and she giggled at the funny sight Skye was making. She wondered if the colt really did stalk her like that.

Stopping, Skye lowered her front half close to the ground with her rump still sticking high up in the air. "Now that he is in striking range, the colt readies himself for the kill." Licking her lips, Skye wiggled her rump back and forth as she prepared to pounce, her sight set on Mustard's second teat.

Mustard suddenly grew alarmed as she noticed how focused Skye looked as she gazed at her. She wouldn't! Would she!? "Ah... Skye? You're not really going to...!?"

With a quick lunge, Skye pounced forward and shoved her muzzle into the soft part of Mustard's belly and blew loudly. Gasping in sudden shock, Mustard let out a squeal of surprised laughter. Her body shook so much with her mirth, the colt nearly popped loose of her teat, but he managed to stubbornly hold tight throughout it.

After she had finished attacking Mustard, Skye suggested that they play a game. Gathers some sticks and some colored stones. She set the sticks into two pairs of parallel lines that crossed over each other, Skye explained that the rules to her game was that they each of them were to take turns placing their stones, and the one who goes first is to try and get three of their stones to sit in a row while the other tries to block it.

Mustard went first and lost. The next game she played, she went second and still lost. Mustard steadily grew better as they played and even began to win a few. The colt had fallen asleep with her teat still clamped in his mouth. Mustard thought the colt's tenacity was adorable. Occasionally, she’d feel him start suckling again in his sleep.

Morning appeared at the entrance to their chamber and looked in. "Skye! Dark needs to see you..." Morning suddenly started making a funny gurgling sound as his eyes stared down at the colt that was still snuggled up against Mustard's side. "Mustard! What are you...!?"

"What?” Mustard asked evenly. “Do you see something that bothers you?"

"What does Dark need to see me about?" Skye asked, standing up.

Dragging his eyes from the slumbering foal at Mustard's udder, he looked over to Skye. "Flutter Fly just reported that the rain is quickly filling the valley behind the rockslide." Morning answered "The stallions don't have very much time left. Dark's getting everyone together to try and get them out"

Letting out a gasp, Skye rushed out.

"Wait! I'm coming too!" Mustard shouted. Reaching back, she grabbed the colt's crest and with a tug, pulled him free of her teat with a pop. Hurrying over, she gave him back over to his mother before rushing out after Skye.

Morning remained a few moments gazing down at the colt as his mother settled him down to sleep. His expression was unreadable as he turned and left.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Starless was annoyed. Water was coming in through gaps in the slabs above, and she was forced to sit close to the two low bloods to stay dry. Letting out an irritated breath, Starless tried to find a comfortable position on her grass mat.

Outside, she could hear excited voices and the rush of hooves as ponies hurried by. What was with these dirt ponies? She wondered. Didn't they ever sleep?

This strange race of ponies was always doing things. It was like they were never happy unless they were toiling at some task or other. These were not the savage, grass-eating dirt ponies she had been taught about. Instead she found that they were resourceful and creative creatures, and she couldn’t get over how so many of them even had destiny marks!

Starless wondered what had changed the dirt ponies. Did they find some kind of new magic? Could they be the ones who possess the magic that she was warned to look out for? How else could they have stopped that hydra? Surely, what she remembered of the colt had to have been a dream after she’d fainted.

More loud voices shouted out as hooves splashed through a puddle outside her chamber. Curious, Starless got up and crossed over to look through a joint where two stones came together. She could see anxious looking ponies hurrying by as they rushed off to somewhere she couldn't see. Something was happening out there.

Moving over to the opening to the chamber, Starless stuck her head out. "Hay you!" she addressed the large stallion standing outside. "What's going on? Why does everypony look like they have hornets stuck in their tails?"

The stallion jumped in surprise at her sudden appearance and whirled around to face her. "Dark is calling an emergency meeting to work out a plan to save the four stallions. Apparently, the rain is flooding the valley they are in, and they don't have a lot of time."

"I see," Starless mused thoughtfully. "Are these stallions somehow important? Why would everypony be so worried about saving them?"

The stallion blinked at her with a bemused expression. "We... we want to save them because they need our help. They'll die if we don't do anything."

Starless shook her head. "You ponies are very strange. You all work as hard as you can just to save a few stallions who couldn't save themselves from their own stupid mistakes."

The stallion scowled at her in anger. "I seem to remember you needing some saving not that long ago, yourself!" he said, jabbing his hoof to her chest. "Where would you be if we hadn't come to your rescue!? Huh?"

Starless paused. The dopey looking stallion had a point. If he and Dark hadn't risked themselves by bravely attacking that hydra, she very likely wouldn't be alive right now. In all truth of fact, she owed them.

Stepping boldly out of her chamber, Starless looked around. "Where is this meeting? I want to go to it."

Ground Pound rushed around and blocked her way. "Whoa! You're not going anywhere! You and the other two are staying right here until Dark says otherwise," he said firmly.

Starless pursed her lips as she considered the stallion. He was big for a dirt pony. Even bigger than Dark was. His destiny mark was a pair of hoof-prints in dirt, and he looked like he could buck her across the valley if he so desired. A fine example of a Earth Pony stallion.

"I don't have time to argue with you over this," she said in irritation. Summoning her magic, Starless wrapped it around the alarmed stallion and lifted him boldly up into the air.

"What the!?" he cried out as his hooves kicked faultily in the air. "Put me down!"

With a flick of her magic she snatched his spear away and tossed it to the ground before he could think of doing anything dangerous with it. "I'll put you down when I'm done! Now where is this meeting happening?"

"I'm not tell'n," Ground Pound angrily refused with a shake of his head. "Now put me down!"

That was another thing about these dirt ponies she noticed. They could be as stubborn as old stumps! Flipping the young stallion over, Starless began to twirl him upside down.

Ground Pound howled in fright as he kicked his legs in a panic. "Please stop! I'm begging you. I'm afraid of heights!" He cried out as he stared up at the ground below him.

"Then tell me where the meeting is happening!" Starless pressed him.

Shaking his head in mute refusal, Ground Pound face scrunched up as he clamped his mouth shut tight.

Letting out a sigh, Starless wondered what else she could do. She knew that if she attempted to navigate the maze of pathways that ran through the boulder field without aid, she would become hopelessly lost.

A pair of mares suddenly appeared as they walked by. "Excuse me!" Starless called out to them, clamping Ground Pound's mouth shut with her magic so he wouldn't interrupt. "I wish to go to this assembly that your Herd Father is gathering. How might I find it?"

The two mares paused to look back at her and blinked in bewildered surprise when they noticed Ground Pound floating upside down just beside her. Lifting a hoof, one of the mares pointed ahead. "Just follow the blue stones that way and when you come to a cross junction with white stones, follow them to the left and that will lead you right there."

Starless smiled at the pair gratefully. "Thank you very much." She trotted off to follow the stones. "Come along. I don't want to be late," she said to the stallion, floating him along with her as she followed the stones out.

The rain was still coming down hard, and ponies had gathered themselves under every ledge and tree to listen to Dark. Unobserved, Starless arrived to the back of the crowd to listen in, nopony noticing the large stallion she still held in the air behind her.

"This is the plan we have so far," Dark began. "Using logs she has tied together, Mosswood has come up with a way to float the stallions across the lake. With Skye and Flutter Fly unable to fly much in the heavy rain, we'll need to come up with a way to safely scale up and back down the rock slide if we are to successfully rescue the stallions. At the moment, our options are very limited, and any ideas any of you might have would be very welcome."

"How about we try throwing a rope up and we can climb up," a green stallion shouted out.

"How would we throw a rope up there? It's much too high!" a mare countered from her place under a scrubby tree.

"There are stone ledges that jut out in several places. What if we tie a rope to Skye and she could fly up to each one until she reaches the top and she could tie it off to something up there," another mare offered.

"Even if Skye could fly up to those ledges in this downpour, they are slick with rain," a stallion argued. "She's pregnant! If she accidentally slips off, her sodden wings wouldn't stop her from falling all the way back down! I won't allow my mate to risk herself and our unborn foal on something that dangerous!"

"What about Flutter Fly?" a second mare cut in. "She could do it."

"Flutter Fly is a kind and gentle pony,” Dark said. "She has aided us enormously over the last few days, and we are extremely grateful for her generous help, but I won't allow her to recklessly endanger herself for us either."

Starless figured she had listened to enough and stepped out into view. Walking toward Dark, she passed by Pebble who was standing next to the young stallion who had refused to let his pregnant mate, the Skye-blue pegasus standing closely beside him, risk herself. A dirt pony and a winged pest mating together!? Who would have thought that that was possible?

Giving Pebble a smile and a friendly nod, Starless continued past. She liked Pebble. She was always bringing her food and looking out for her and the others. "I believe I can assist you with getting what you need over the rock slide," Starless offered.

If Dark was surprised that she was here, he didn't show it as he turned to look at her. "Oh? " Turning his attention past her, Dark lifted an eyebrow as he noticed the large stallion floating just behind her in her magic. Grinning in embarassment, Ground Pound gave a tiny wave to Dark. "So I can see."

"I can easily lift whatever you need right to the top, without a problem," Starless assured him with confidence, lifting the hapless stallion higher up into the air to prove her point.

Dark didn't look impressed. "And how am I to trust that you will bring them back down again? You could try to use them and their precarious position to try and gain your freedom."

Starless didn't really want to leave. There was something strange happening with these dirt ponies and she wanted to discover what it was. If they really had come across a new and unknown magic, she would be rewarded for discovering it!

She needed to gain his trust. Lowing the stallion back down, she set him back onto his hooves and released him. Stepping closer to Dark, she dropped down to her knee and bowed her head low. "I swear until the day you release me from this, I will not attempt to flee or harm any pony of your tribe and I will serve you and obey all your orders. Should I break my oath, my life will be forfeited."

Dark gazed down at her in mute contemplation. Finally he lifted a hoof and touched her shoulder. "I accept your oath. Until I release you of it, your life is now mine."

Starless felt a little strange giving this oath to a stallion, but it was the easiest way she could think of to start gaining his trust. Once she discoverd all their secrets, she can just make her escape and return back for her reward. Perhaps they will make her a Senior Caster for this!

It didn't take them long after that to work out a plan and set off.

Arriving at the rock slide, Starless was completely soaked through from the heavy downpour. She gazed up at it in surprise, it was much taller than she was expecting! The canyon she had been led to, had narrowed to a point where about ten ponies standing nose to tail could touch both sides. The rock slide was more of a massive chunk of the upper cliff that had sheared off to crash down into the gap. The height of it would test her to her very limits.

Dark stepped up to her and nodded. It had been agreed that he would be the first to be lifted up by her magic. Summoning her magic, she wrapped it around him and lifted him up. Dark didn't cry out or kick his legs as he sailed upwards toward the top of the slide. Starless had to grit her teeth tight with the strain. She struggled to lift Dark the last few lengths it took to clear him over the top. Letting out a breath of relief, she set him safely down on a broad slab of rock at the top.

The splashing of hooves announced the arrival of her next charge. Ground Pound stopped before her and looked up. "If you drop me. I'll be sure to aim for you when I fall back down," he warned her.

Starless couldn't help but let out an amused snort. She had been surprised that he had volunteered for this. By the way he stood stiffly before her as he waited, it was obvious that he was terrified, but he said nothing as she wrapped her magic around him and lifted him up.

Skye and Flutter Fly took off and flew up, their wings glittering with the spell she had cast onto them to help keep them dry. It had taken a while to coax Flutter Fly to allow Starless to cast the spell on her. She had been terrified of her and kept hiding herself behind Dark. It was only because of the stallions that desperately needed her help that she finally relented enough for her to cast the spell.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Dark stood gazing out into the storm-churned lake. This was the first time he got to see it, and he was alarmed at how high it was. Their plan needed to work, otherwise the four stallions would surely drown before the morning's sun broke the horizon.

Looking out over the lake, Dark thought of Starless. She had surprised him when she had sworn herself to him. When he had looked into her eyes, he could see that she wasn't entirely being honest with him. She was hiding something behind her oath. If his plan for her was going to work, he was going to need to gain her trust. The other two unicorns wouldn't be a problem and would fit into his plan just fine, it was Starless that was going to be a challenge. He was glad that she had sworn her oath to him. It made the first and most troublesome step to his plan much easier.

A soft glow came from behind him. Turning around, he saw Starless' magical aura release Ground Pound as he was set down.

Ground's body was shaking all over from the frightful journey up, but he quickly collected himself and joined Dark. "I can't believe I volunteered to do this!" he complained.

Their wings shimmering with Starless's improvised drying-spell, Skye and Flutter Fly landed nearby. Dark and Ground helped to unload the coils of rope the two pegasi carried on their backs and tied themselves off to keep themselves safe in case they slipped off.

Looking over the back edge, they watched as the craft that Mosswood had created rise up to them. It was constructed of nearly a dozen ruough cut logs, tied tightly together in a row. As it neared the top, it began to slow and wobble as Starless struggled to lift it the last few paces. Leaping off the edge, Skye and Flutter Fly flew down and helped Starless lift it the rest of the way. Once the craft was settled, Dark and Ground heaved it across to the other side and pushed over the edge to fall down to the water below.

Looking down, Dark was relieved to see that the craft had held together and was floating on the surface just as Mosswood had promised it would. "Now, Skye. Are you sure this isn't going to over-strain you? Dusty would never forgive me if you got hurt."

"What is with you stallions!?" Skye muttered with a shake of her head. "You worry almost as much as Dusty does. I'll be fine! I'm pregnant, not crippled."

"Well... alright then," Dark wisely backed down. "But do us both a favor and don't push yourself too hard. Okay? And try to keep your wings as dry as you can. Starless said that the rain alone was taxing her spell right up to the limit."

"Don't worry. I'll be fine," she said, stretching out her legs and wings out before leaping off to fly down to the floating craft below them. Flutter Fly quickly joined her and once they were in place with their legs were braced against the logs, they both flapped their wings and pushed the craft, starting its journey across the lake

Dark and Ground watched as the two Pegasi slowly vanished into the storm to collect their first stallion.

"Ground. What do you think of Starless Night?"

Ground jumped at his question. "What do I think of her!? She's arrogant, obstinate, narrow-minded, opinionated, and bullish, with an irritatingly intelligent mind that she uses to make me feel like a toad."

"Is that all?" Dark asked with a grin.

"Well... she does have a rather cute rump I’d like to give a good smack to," Ground added with a playful stomp.

Dark let out a chuckle. Ground was a good, reliable pony, just like his father was. He would be perfect for what he needed. "Ground. I need you to do something for me."

"Sure. What do you need?"

"I would like you to stay close to Starless and try to be her friend." Dark watched as Ground's jaw dropped.

“You want me to be friends with… her!?” he asked in disbelief.

“I need her to trust us,” Dark answered him.

“And you thought that the best way to start was to take her captive?” Ground pointed out.

Dark shrugged. “It was essential to keep her from leaving and that seemed the best way to make sure that happened.”

“Well, it worked.”

Below them, Skye and Flutter Fly reappeared out of the storm pushing a lone stallion huddled atop of their floating craft. Propelling it steadily across the water, they soon positioned it below them. Tossing off a rope they had readied, Skye helped tie it around the frightened stallion. Once Skye signaled that the stallion was ready, Dark and Ground heaved together and hauled him up.

With the first stallion safely settled up top, Skye and Flutter Fly set off to retrieve the next stallion.

The deep blue stallion was shivering with his teeth chattering with the cold. He kept trying to thank Dark and Ground, but it just kept coming out as jittery mess of confused words. His nose was oddly bent and his lip was split with a cleft palate. From Mirage's description of him, this must be Steady Gait

"Don’t worry. We'll get you somewhere where you will be warm and dry soon," Dark assured the stallion, patting him on the back.

With Ground's help, they moved the stallion to the back edge. Looking down, he saw Starless' light-grayish blue form waiting below. Waving his hoof at her, he signaled that the first one was ready to be lowered down.

Ground turned to Steady. "You might want to close your eyes for this part," he warned.

Starless' magic suddenly enveloped the stallion and he gave a frightened yelp as he was suddenly lifted off the edge and he was quickly lowered down to the ground where ponies were waiting to take him back to the rocks to be dried and fed.

The next stallion, named Bentroot, was older than Steady Gait, looking about the same age as Sage Brush, and despite suffering from a cold, he was in rather good spirits. Helping him to the back edge, Starless snatched him up and whisked him down to join Steady Gait.

The third stallion was one of the oldest stallions either of them had ever met. Elderberry only had two teeth left and he weighed close to nothing. The moment he was hauled up, he complained bitterly about their rough treatment of him. Jabbing his hoof into Ground's chest a few times, the aged stallion lectured him on how to properly treat one of his elders. It was a relief to them both to finally see him lifted down by Starless.

Dark felt an excited thrill. Just one more to go! The wait for their return seemed to take much longer than it should have. What was taking them? Suddenly a dark form flew out of the rain and quickly landed next to them.

"What's wrong? Why did you come back alone?" Dark asked with worry. "Where's Gravel Biter?"

"He's refusing to come," Skye quickly answered. "He says that it's his fault that his herd was lead to near disaster and he deserves his coming fate."

"That old fool!" Dark snapped. Untying his safety rope, Dark marched over to a broken tree that had been dragged down in the slid, and with a few quick bucks of his hoof, Dark knocked a large cracked branch free.

"What are you doing!?" Ground asked.

Dragging the branch over to the edge, Dark tied a rope to it before throwing it off into the water. "I'm either going to talk some sense into that old idiot, or drag him back by his tail." Tossing the other end of the rope to Skye, Dark jumped off, plunging himself down into the storm tossed lake. Swimming to the log, he wrapped his hooves around it as Skye flew ahead to pull him behind her across the lake.

The tops of pine trees poked up out of the lake like bushes, and occasionally Dark would feel one brush up under him as he was pulled along. Close to the back of the valley, the land steeply sloped up until it ended on the side of a cliff, offering the only dry place to now stand in the entire valley.

Sitting there, with Flutter Fly anxiously looking over him, was a dirt-brown stallion with old scars riddled over his impressively fit body, staring out at the rising lake. Climbing out of the water, Dark walked over to him.

"You should not have come out here," Gravel Biter growled at him. "You're wasting your time. I won't leave."

"Yes, you are," Dark countered sternly.

"Just leave me alone and go back," Gravel snapped in irritation. "You have my thanks for saving my herd, now go and leave me in peace."

"I can't do that," Dark replied. "I set out to get you all safely out of here, and that is what I mean to do."

Gravel scowled. "Well, you're not saving this old fool. I deserve the death I lead my herd into."

"Whether you deserve it or not is none of my concern," Dark snapped back. "I told my herd and my colt that we'd get you all out, and if I was to leave you here, it would make me a liar, and that is something I am not."

"I'll give you this piece of advice, stallion to stallion,” Gravel said. “Get used to disappointing others."

Dark felt a spike of anger at the despondent stallion, and he resisted the sudden urge to strike him with his hoof and haul his unconscious body all the way back. Gaining control of himself, Dark reminded himself what Gravel Biter has been through. A leader of a herd was supposed to protect his herd, Gravel Biter knew he had failed in this.

Letting out a sigh, Dark moved over and sat down next to the old stallion and stared out at the slowly rising lake.

"What are you doing?" Gravel asked, glancing over at Dark.

"If I was to leave you here, I would never be able to face my family ever again," Dark answered. "If you aren't coming back with me, then I'll just stay here with you." Dark turned to look to Skye. "Please tell Mirage to take Ash back to Meadowlark, and tell my family that I love them, and that I'm sorry. This is something I just need to do. They'll understand."

Skye took some uncertain steps back, looking at Dark with confusion as well as a little bit of worry.

"Don't be a stupid fool!" Gravel barked at him. "I'm not worth it. Go back to your family!"

"I'm not leaving without you," Dark refused, shaking his head.

"Young filly," Gravel said to Skye. "Talk some sense into him will you?"

"Skye, Flutter Fly. The magic on your wings is starting to dim. I want you both to fly back before Starless' spell completely fades," Dark said. "I'm sorry I won't ever get to see your foal, Skye. I was really looking forward to that," he added regretfully.

Skye nervously nibbled her lip, her eyes misting up as she took a few steps back as she prepared to leave.

"Wait! Stop!" Gravel shouted desperately. "Don't do this! I beg you! Just take the fillies and go back to your herd."

"I'll only leave when you come with me," Dark answered firmly before looking back to Skye. "Skye. Stop delaying and go! The spell on your wings won't last much longer!"

Dark saw the pain that now filled Skye's eyes. He felt bad for what he was doing to her but he hoped that his desperate plan would work. If it didn't, he didn't want Skye and Flutter Fly to be stuck here with him. The raft wasn't big enough to carry them all. Gravel was proving to be quite stubborn and Dark was worried that he may have to resort to subduing the older stallion and forcing him onto the raft. It would be hard enough to paddle the craft across the lake by himself as it was.

Rushing forward, Skye surprised Dark by flinging her hooves around him and hugging him tightly. With tears in her eyes, she released him and flew up into the air.

"No! Don't go!" Gravel shouted, jumping up to his hooves. "Tell them to come back! You're not staying!"

"Does this mean you're changing your mind?" Dark asked as Skye and Flutter Fly stopped to hover in place.

"You're really going to do it, aren't you?" Gravel Biter considered Dark. "You're really going to let them leave you here to die?"

"I would really rather not, but you're giving me little choice," Dark replied evenly.

Gravel Biter glared at Dark as he was struggling with himself. "Fine, you win," he growled, as he finally gave in. "Call your fillies back, and I'll get on that rotting, floating pile of logs of yours."

Sitting closely together, Dark and Gravel managed to just fit themselves onto the raft. As they were towed across the lake, Gravel Biter stared silently forward, his expression completely unreadable.

"You're just as unreasonably stubborn as your mother," Gravel Biter suddenly said, breaking the long silence.

Dark gave a start. He had no idea that Gravel Biter knew of his relations to a certain mare in his herd. "How?..."

"It wasn't hard," Gravel Biter said, glancing over at him. "You look very much like her, especially around the eyes. I met her when my tiny herd came across her’s somewhere out in the endless hills. Over the seasons, she and her daughter, Mirage, had been moving from herd to herd apparently searching for you." Gravel paused to chuckle softly. "It's funny how it took an old fool like me nearly bringing total disaster to my herd, to bring you three back together again. I'm glad something good came from this."

"Mother doesn't know that I’m here," Dark said. "I have fought and killed wolves and charged a hydra without hesitation, but I still don't have the courage to face her."

Ahead of them, the rockslide came into view as it drew out of the storms haze. Standing atop, Ground Pound stood waiting for them.

“I don’t know what happened between you two,” Gravel said. “But I do know that whatever it was, your mother regrets it more than anything else in the world. She been sick a lot, and it's been growing worse each season. She just wants to see her son one more time and say her peace before her body fails her.”

Dark didn’t answer as he stared off ahead. His heart felt like a mountain had fallen on it. Back when he had been starving in a snow drift so many seasons ago, he had promised himself that he would never forgive her for what she had done to him. His anger at her had been with him for so long now, he didn’t know if he could ever let it go. But then, he wondered to himself, why did he feel so strongly about coming out here to save her?

Chapter Thirty Three

Starless felt totally exhausted. She used too much magic during the rescue and she barely had the strength to make it back to the dirt ponies’ campsite.

Soaking wet and chilled to the bone, Starless entered her sleeping chamber and was surprised to find it empty. Did those two low bloods somehow find the courage to run off? She wondered. Letting out a weary sigh, Starless put them out of her mind and crossed over to her mat to lay down.

The sound of something just behind her made her turn to look back, and she was surprised to find Ground Pound standing just inside the opening to her chamber.

"Oh! I didn’t know you were there!?" Starless exclaimed, wondering how he had gotten behind her without her noticing.

Ground stepped closer, his eyes gazing down at her with a strange intensity. "I came to tell you how impressed I was with you. Without you there to help us, we wouldn't have been able to save those stallions."

"I ah..." Starless felt her face flushing as she struggled to meet Ground's gaze. He was standing so close to her, she couldn't help but smell his strong, earthy scent as she craned her neck to look up at him. Why did these dirt pony stallions have to be so darn big! "You're ah... standing a bit close to me."

"Am I?" Ground asked with an amused rumble. He then surprised her when he leaned his muzzle down to her mane to get a full-whiff of her scent with a slow deep breath.

Starless’ heart started hammering in her chest in sudden alarm when she realized that she was totally alone with a stallion! Backing away from him, she felt her rump press up against the stone boulder that made up the backside of her chamber. Her gut twisted in fear. She was trapped! Her body started to shiver as she looked up at the hulking form of the stallion looming over her.

Lifting his huge, scruffy-looking hoof, Ground slowly brushed it along her cheek and neck with an oddly tender caress that filled her with strange feelings that confused and frightened her. She'd never had a stallion make her feel like this before! "Ground... I..."

Ground’s lips suddenly mashed up against hers as he forcefully kissed her. Starless was shocked at his sudden assault on her lips. His tongue forced its way into her mouth as her mind suddenly went blank. She struggled to control the flood of intense sensations that was threatening to overwhelm her.

Against her will, her body began to respond to the stallion’s strong embrace as her mouth opened a little wider to allow him to delve in more deeply. The taste of him was strong to her delicate senses, and his large tongue was pleasantly soft against hers as she lightly teased her tongue around his.

Starless lost herself as she swooned in the stallion’s powerful grasp, letting out a surprisingly pleased moan into his mouth. She felt a sense of disappointment when Ground finally broke his lips from hers with a wet pop. He looked down at her as he smiled and licked the taste of her off his muzzle.

Blinking up at Ground, Starless struggled to catch her breath. Her lips felt bruised and her heart seemed like it was doing its best to climb out of her chest. Things were happening too fast and her thoughts were a complete mess! Reacting from the desperate need to regain some control of the situation, Starless summoned her magic and attempted to shove Ground away as hard as she could. With a shrug of his great, muscular shoulders, Ground easily broke her efforts with his simple, brutish strength.

Starless gasped and nearly sagged to the ground as her effort failed. He was too much for her! She was too weak to hold him back! "Ground, please. You're... scaring me."

"Shhh... There's no reason to be frightened," Ground whispered softly into her ear. "I would never hurt you."

Starless had never felt so totally helpless as Ground slowly kissed and nipped her affectionately along her neck. "Please... Ground. Don’t...."

Ground didn't seem to hear her as he moved up to nibble on the edge of her sensitive ear. Starless let out a surprised moan as she felt her legs grow weak from his tender ministrations. She couldn't help but close her eyes as her will weakened. She couldn't fight him, he was just too strong. Ground was a mountain she couldn't fight against.

With her breath heaving in her chest, Starless felt herself slowly giving in and surrendering, becoming his mare to do with as he pleased.

"Please..." Starless begged. Never before had a stallion ever made her feel so weak and helpless. This feeling was new to her and she was surprised to find how much she enjoyed it. A wetness started to run down her hind legs and soon the small chamber was filled with the scent of her desires as it dripped freely to the ground. "I've... never..." her chest heaved in fright as Ground moved in on her, his breath hot on her face as he gave her a deep needful nicker.

"Don't be afraid, my little mare," Ground said with a pleased rumble in his great chest. Softly, he nuzzled at her neck as he loomed over her smaller body.

Starless whimpered as she struggled with herself. She knew that he was right. She did want this. Her marehood throbbed with the need to be taken by the strong stallion.

As Ground nipped her along her withers, Starless pressed her muzzle into his strong neck and filled her nose with his heavy, earthy scent. There was something about the smell of him that excited her. Prancing in place with her intense need, Starless felt her tail lifting high as her burning marehood throbbed, growing slick with her sweet juices.

Her body shivered under Ground's sensual caresses as he continued to kiss and nip his way along her body and over her flanks. Below his body, Starless caught sight of his fully erect stallionhood. She couldn't believe the size of it! It was fully half as long as her entire leg! Was there nothing small about these dirt ponies!? The sight of it sent an excited thrill through her and she had a strong desire to touch it, to feel it, and perhaps to even... taste it!

Gathering her courage, Starless reached her head down and carefully sniffed at his stiffened shaft. A strong musky scent filled her senses and sent her mind spinning. Feeling braver, Starless eagerly reached her tongue out and lapped it along his impressive length. She was amazed at how soft and warm it felt to her tongue.

Opening her mouth wide, she hungrily took his shaft into her mouth to run her sensitive tongue along the stiffened ridge that ran around his flattened tip. Starless felt it twitch as Ground let out a pleased groan at her actions.

Behind her, Starless felt Ground shove his muzzle under her tail. Arching her back in anticipation, she felt his hot breath on her marehood as his tongue slowly began to work its way into her. With a moan, Starless reluctantly released Ground’s stallionhood so she could focus on what was happening to her.

Closing her eyes, she gasped for breath as Ground worked his way ever deeper into her marehood. The intensity of what she was experiencing was overwhelming and Starless had to bite her lip to keep herself from screaming. Who knew that a stallion’s tongue could feel so good!?

Deeper and deeper, Ground worked himself into her sensitive marehood, sending jolts of pleasure shooting throughout her body as he sought out her sweet nectar. Starless felt her knees grow wobbly and her breath raced as she struggled to just keep standing. A strange pressure began to build deep inside her as Ground delved into her untouched depths, his long, soft tongue exploring all her sensuously hidden places.

Starless locked her legs as best she could but was unsure how long she could keep herself from collapsing to the ground. Her tongue lolled down as she desperately huffed for breath. The pressure inside her was growing unbearable as her front legs finally gave out, with her chest collapsing down to the ground. With a final deep lick of Ground's magical tongue, Starless cried out in pure bliss as the pressure finally rolled over her as waves of pure pleasure slammed through her body!

Starless came awake with a gasp. Her marehood clamped down and rippled in orgasmic ecstasy that caused her to dig her hoof across the grass-mat she had been sleeping on. Letting out a suppressed moan, Starless bore through the relentless waves of pleasure that wracked her body. A dream! She had been dreaming! Nearby, she could hear the quiet snores of the two low blood unicorns as they slept peacefully on their own mats.

Behind her, she could feel her sodden tail sticking to the wetness that had soaked her marehood and legs. This wasn't the first time she had one of these types of dreams, but never before had she had one quite as powerful as this one had been. Why did she dream of that doofus, Ground!? She wailed to herself. Why couldn't it have been Dark!?

"Umm... are you alright?" a hesitant voice suddenly asked with a note of concern.

Starless's eyes shot wide! She knew that voice! The waves of orgasmic pleasure that still rocked through her body were diminishing, but she still needed several long moments to recover herself.

Across the room, the familiar green coated stallion stood with a small bundle of sticks and branches held in the crook of his leg. Next to him, a small fire that had been set was burning with a warm light that cast his shadow across the chamber. He was looking right at her with an oddly worried look.

"Ground! Huff... W-what are you... huff... doing here!?" Starless exclaimed. She felt her cheeks burn so hot it was like she had stuck her face right into the fire!

"I wanted to make sure your fire didn't go out," he answered. "You were soaking wet when you came back and I was... well, worried that you may catch a chill."

Starless was surprised that he was so concerned with her well-being. She would have thought that he would have still been angry with her, especially after she dropped him the last few pony lengths into the mud when she lifted him down from the slide.

"You look like you're in pain. Do you want me to get you something?"

Starless quickly shook her head. "No! huff... I ah... am fine! Huff... T-thank you for the fire Huff... I just ah... huff... had a bad dream that's all. Huff..." Starless almost groaned in frustration. How long was this going to last!?

Ground dropped his bundle next to the fire and took a few steps closer. "Are you sure? I can get you some water if you'd like?"

"No!" Starless exclaimed in a panic. If he got too close to her, he would surely smell her! "I'm fine! huff... Really!" she assured him quickly. "I'm ah, huff... really tired right now and huff... I would like to get some sleep. Huff... Thank you. You can go now."

Ground hesitated. "Okay. I'll ah... go. But before that, your bedding’s all wrinkled up under you. How about I help you straighten it out?"

Starless nearly screamed in mortification as Ground stepped even closer! Why wouldn't he just go!? "I can fix it myself! Just get out!" Lashing out with her magic, Starless snatched Ground up and quickly hurled him right out of her chamber!

Nearby, the two low bloods, who had awoken during the exchange, giggled together as they hid their amused smiles. Letting out an irritated sigh, Starless rolled herself over to wallow in her embarrassment as her quivering marehood finally settled down to a pleasant warmth.

With a mortified moan Starless hid her head under her hooves. Why did she have to have that kind of dream about that scruffy, green coated, oversized lummox!?

Outside the unicorns’ chamber, Ground groaned as he lay upside down with his back against another boulder. Blinking across to the opening that Starless had just thrown him out of, Ground blew his black mane out of his eyes as he wondered what he had done wrong?

⚜⚜⚜⚜

The next morning, Dark told all the ponies to rest and enjoy themselves for the day. They would be heading back home the following day. Gravel Biter talked with his herd and they all agreed to come with them back to their home to settle down. In front of every pony, Gravel Biter passed over his leadership of his small herd to Dark, who accepted as the crowd of ponies all began to cheer.

Ash hesitantly walked up to Dark. "Papa?"

"Yes?" Dark answered, looking up from his meal. He had been busy for most of the morning, and as ponies settled down for an afternoon meal, Dark finally found the time to see to his own needs.

Ash sat down. His gut was twisting with apprehension. "Papa. Why haven't you ever asked me about what happened with the hydra?"

Dark gazed down at the colt, his eyes considering the colt thoughtfully. "I figured you would tell me when you were ready."

Ash took a breath and let it out nervously. He had been wanting to talk to him about what really happened, but now that he was standing before Dark, he found it harder than he thought. Gathering his courage, Ash pressed on. "I... I think I'm ready."

Ash thought about where to begin. "There were times when I felt something deep inside me. A kind of... magic," Ash started to explain. "I felt it first when I jumped into the river to save Pine Blossom, and later when Dusty and I faced the manticore. It's a strength that rises up in me from my will to save others. When I saw you laying there on the ground with the hydra over you, I couldn't hold myself back and I had to do something. The magic inside me rose like a raging thunderstorm and I threw the hydra back with the power." Ash started to shiver from the memory. “I felt like I could do anything. That nothing could stop me.”

Dark listened attentively, his expression completely unreadable.

"After it was all over, and I was asleep. A part of me... was somewhere else," Ash continued. "I'm not sure where it was, but there were... others there as well."

"Others?" Dark asked.

Ash shook his head. "They looked like ponies but... they weren't. One of them looked like a filly, and she took me places to play. Her name was Cherished Ties and she was really nice, and we became friends. Her older sister was a really, really pretty silver mare named Bountiful Wellspring. And there was also a golden stallion named Eternal Age. He was very serious and hardly ever smiled. They took me to a strange forest of trees made of crystals and told me some things."

"What things did they tell you?" Dark asked, looking down at him with interest.

"They told me that I was special, that I possessed something they called the Element of Guardianship," Ash answered. "They told me that there were others who were special like me who would need my help, and that someday there would be a war.”

Dark looked suddenly troubled at Ash's revelation. His eyes grew concerned.

"Papa? What is a war?" Ash asked.

Dark looked out over the valley and took in the grass filled fields that waved in the gentle winds that blew down from the still snow-capped peaks. "When two herds come together, sometimes they're not so friendly with each other. Occasionally stallions would steal mares from the other herd, or they would argue over a resource they both wanted, like water or grazing lands, and fights would break out between ponies. A few rare times when things grew out of controll, entire herds would attack one another. When that happens, when ponies fight and kill each other. That is what is called war." Dark looked down at Ash. "Did... did these others tell you who this enemy was?"

Ash slowly nodded. "Yes. They showed it to me. It was... horrible. It was filled with darkness and absolute madness. I could feel its hate for every living thing." Ash shivered at the memory. "It wants nothing but to destroy everything, everywhere, until there is nothing left."

Dark looked troubled as he sat quietly for a long while. Ash remained silent as he waited. He was worried at how Dark would react to his story, that he would think that he was just making it all up.

"Ash, I want you to promise me something," Dark finally said, breaking the long silence. "Promise me that you won't let this thing win. That you will protect our family."

Ash smiled up at Dark in relief. "I promise Papa."

"Good." Dark smiled back down at him and reached out a hoof to ruffle Ash's mane. “Did they tell you anymore about these other special ponies?”

Ash nodded. “Yes. They told me of one they called the bearer of the Element of Light.”

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Despite Dark's order that every pony was to rest for the day, a group of ponies had gone out to gather blackberries from a large patch that had been discovered further up in the valley. Grass Stem even wanted to dig up a few of the bushes to try and take them back with them.

Mustard was tired of being cooped up in the mares’ sleeping chamber and decided to go along, hoping that a bit of work in the good mountain air would help to clear her mind, and walking seemed to help loosen her cramps. It didn't help that when it became known that she was going, several of the younger stallions decided to come along as well, including Morning.

Mustard was a little miffed at Morning. He had been avoiding her since her heat had started and refused to even talk to her. "Why is he being so difficult!? Sometimes I just want to scream!" She snapped, setting her full basket to the side to start filling another empty one.

"You can't blame him," Dusty replied. "A lot has happened to him."

"A lot has happened to me too, but that's not stopping me from wanting to talk to him."

"You just handle things differently. That's all," Skye added, hovering over the blackberry patch, picking the berries that ponies couldn't reach. "Morning's just more sensitive than you. "

"What do you mean by that!?" Mustard snapped. "I'm plenty sensitive! He's just being a foal about all this."

Dusty and Skye both snickered. "Mustard. You're sweet but your sensitivity is a bit... rough at times, " Skye said. "You're very much like the mustard plant, really. You don't let things get you down."

Mustard let out a sigh. "How do I talk to him when he won't even listen? Every time I try, he says that he needs to do something and runs off."

"Well... we could jump him and just tie him up," Dusty offered. "He'd have to listen then."

Mustard snorted. That did sound like an interesting idea.

Suddenly there was a loud neigh of outrage and Mustard felt her rump get shoved hard to the side, nearly causing her to fall over! Staggering around, Mustard gaped around at what had happened! Just behind her Grass Stem and Morning were rearing up and flailing their hooves at each other as they viciously fought. Mustard couldn't believe what she was seeing!

Lunging forward, Morning snapped his jaws at Grass, nearly catching the stallion in his throat. Lashing out quickly with his hoof, Grass Stem struck Morning painfully in the side of his muzzle. Shaking his head to clear it, Morning let out enraged whinny and charged into Grass Stem, knocking him back before bucking a hoof into the stallion's side.

Ponies were gathering now to watch the two stallions battle it out. Mustard was appalled at what was happening! Why were they fighting!? The two stuck and bit at one another with wild fury, already blood was seeping from various wounds the two combatants inflicted on each other.

"Morning! Grass! What's gotten into you two!?" Mustard exclaimed. "Stop fighting right now!"

The two stallions either didn't hear her or just ignored her as they continued to fight.

"I saw you!" Morning shouted at his opponent. "I saw you eyeing her the entire way out here and just now you sniffed at her when she wasn't looking!"

"So what if I did!?" Grass snapped back. "It's not like she's yours or anything. She's a free mare. If you're not stallion enough to claim her, then stand aside and let others have their chance!"

"I'll kill you before I let you touch her!" Morning roared back before lunging forward to strike at Grass Stem.

Mustard was already moving. She dashed forward to try and stop the two dueling stallions. "The both of you, stop it right now!"

Morning was shoved back by Grass Stem who had just managed to duck a blow to his head. Digging in his hooves, Morning wildly lashed out and struck at Grass Stem, but instead, he gave Mustard a glancing blow to the side of her head as she moved in to break them apart.

Crying out in pain, Mustard staggered back and fell back onto her rump. Her head spun from the clout she had received.

"Mustard!" Skye cried out in alarm. Dashing in, she and Dusty circled around Morning to check on her.

Morning gaped at Mustard in abhorrence at what he had done. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean!..."

Morning stepped closer but Dusty quickly blocked his way. "I think you've done enough!" Dusty growled at Morning.

Morning's eyes were wide with horror. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he repeated over and over again as he backed away. Spinning himself around, Morning bolted off.

Mustard staggered to her hooves. "Morning!" she cried out to the fleeing stallion, and before Skye or Dusty could stop her, she ran off after him.

Morning ran like a manticore was right on his hooves and Mustard was having difficulty trying to keep up with him. Further up the valley, it split into three directions. One continued to the north, the second cut off to the west, and the third went east. Mustard paused to consider which way she should go. Searching around, Mustard failed to find any tracks or signs of Morning’s passing.

Planting her hooves into the soft soil, Mustard sighed as she closed her eyes. Her head still hurt where Morning had hit her. Ignoring the small headache she now had, Mustard focused on which way she should go to find her moronic stallion. Opening her eyes, Mustard turned and went up the eastern valley. For some reason it just felt right to go that way.

After a short time she caught sight of some soft-lavender strands from Morning's tail that had been caught in a bush. Heartened, Mustard quickened her steps and rushed on until she came to a thick grove of Peach Blossom trees.

Forcing her way through, Mustard found herself suddenly in a small clearing with a mountain stream running through it. Hunched over next to the stream, Morning sat staring down into the clear water. His dark-blue coat was marred by marks from his fight with Grass Stem. His shoulder had a crescent shaped cut from the edge of a hoof that had struck him there. Bite marks could be seen on his withers and neck. A deep bruising scuff was just over his jaw from a hard blow he had failed to dodge quickly enough.

The ground was covered in a thick layer of moss that muffled her hoofsteps as she walked over to him. Stopping unnoticed just behind him, Mustard let out a loud sigh. "You are such an idiot, you know that?"

Morning gave a surprised jump and turned slightly to glance over his shoulder at her. "Please... just leave me alone."

"What? So you can sit here wallowing in your misery all alone?" Mustard snapped back. "I think not."

"Why do you have to do this to me?" Morning whined, looking back down into the water. "I know I'm an idiot. Okay? You don't have to dig it in!"

"You're right that you're an idiot, but if you think that just hitting me is the entirety of your idiocy, then you are sadly mistaken," Mustard added harshly.

"Just stop it!" Morning shouted, jerking his head away. "I don't need this from you right now!"

"Well, you're going to get it if you like it or not!" Mustard stepped around to look at Morning from his side. "I am going to make this very simple for you. Do you love me?"

Morning's head whipped around. "What!? Of course I do! I told you that I did!"

"No!" Mustard shook her head. "You said you loved me before, when I was a stallion. Do you love me now!?"

Morning shifted awkwardly. "I... ah... what difference does it make?"

"The difference is that I am a mare now!" Mustard exclaimed. "My life as a stallion has ended and I've accepted it! I’ve moved on and I’m learning a whole new part of myself I never knew I had in me!

“I see things differently now, but at the same time everything is so much clearer as well. I loved you before, and I love you now. I love how you stand close to me so I can lean against you when I’m feeling bad. I love how you bring me extra helpings of my favorite foods. I love how you smell when you get all sweaty from working. I love how you sit up at night to watch over me. I even love that stupid way you laugh when somepony farts!” Morning was now looking up at her with tears in his eyes. Mustard was glad her words were having an effect. She reached out and gently touched his cheek to wipe a tear off. “I love you.”

Morning closed his eyes and sat for a time until he finally let out a long breath. "It’s been difficult for me to adjust. I noticed over time that I was growing more accustomed to being a stallion. I fought and struggled with it but that only made it worse. I was beginning to see every stallion as a potential rival that would steal you away. I was losing control of myself and I didn’t like it!” Morning snapped. ”I talked with Dusty about it and he helped me regain a bit of restraint to some of my wilder instincts and urges. At least, until today.

“You have been the constant to my thoughts as the sun and moon have been the constants to the day and night." He said turning to look at her. "In answer to your question. Yes, I love you. I don't know why I've been struggling with this for so long,” he said shaking his head. “I really am just a big idiot."

Mustard felt tears start to blur her eyes. She had been waiting to hear Morning say that for a while now. Leaning in, Mustard planted her lips to his and kissed him. In her current state, kissing him was probably a mistake, for she suddenly became painfully aware of her current, carnal needs.

Ignoring her body's sudden, heated desires, Mustard reached down and gathered a large chunk of moss and dipped it into the clear water of the stream.

"What are you doing?" Morning asked, watching her.

"You're hurt," Mustard answered. "Hold still, while I clean your wounds."

Using the wet moss, Mustard gently washed the cut on Morning's face. Once she finished there, she moved on to tend to his other injuries. Morning sat unusually quiet as she worked, and only when she moved around and noticed his fully erect stallionhood did she realize the effect her close proximity she was having on him.

The sight of it was a surprise, and Mustard was suddenly having trouble controlling her own lecherous needs. She could see that his eyes were shut tight and his body quivered with his barely contained desires as he struggled to control himself.

Not able to help herself, Mustard leaned in and pressed her lips to his once again. This time, she pressed in harder and lightly teased her tongue against his. Morning let out a strained moan as his body began shaking violently. Breaking from the kiss, Mustard stood and turned away. Flicking her tail into his face, she walked away, making sure to roll her hips to the sides with each step she took.

Pausing a few paces away, Mustard turned her head to look back over her rump at Morning with a come-hither wiggle of her flanks as her tail lifted to expose her burning marehood to him, displaying to him her winking lips to show her body’s desire to be taken. "Claim your mare my handsome stallion. Make me yours."

Morning quickly stood and took a few eager steps closer, but then he halted only a step away from her. "Are you sure? You're in heat. If we do this..."

Turning herself, Mustard walked over and nuzzled Morning's neck. "I'll admit that the thought about becoming a mother still frightens me, but... I know that you will be there for me and our foal. I want this. I want to have your foal grow inside me... I want to see the happiness of you becoming a father shine in your eyes. To feel it tucked up safe and warm against my side as it nurses from me. I want this."

Morning's strained breath was hot against her neck as he nuzzled her back. "I want that too. I want it more than anything."

Morning lightly nipped her withers and Mustard felt a tingle shoot down her spine. Her tail lifted high as her burning marehood throbbed with a need only her stallion could give her. As Morning moved further back along her eager body, Mustard felt a tightness in her bladder and she was unable to control herself as she let loose a quick stream of urine. Morning paused to sniff at the mossy ground were her urine had soaked in. Mustard knew he could smell that her fertile body was ready to be bred. Morning's tail flicked around in excitement as he lifted his head and shook it with an eager neigh.

Mustard turned her head back to watch as Morning pranced around to position himself behind her. Meeting his lustful gaze, Mustard smiled and nickered her readiness as she raised her tail out of the way. Morning eagerly reared himself up and mounted her. Gripping her sides tightly, Morning awkwardly drew himself over her back, grinding himself across her croup.

Looking back with a pleased nicker, Mustard lifted her head to take his mouth with hers. She couldn't believe this was about to happen. She could feel his stallionhood bumping into her inner leg and udders as their lips locked tightly together, their tongues intimately intertwined with each other. With a wet, smacking pop, their kiss finally ended. Mustard felt her head swimming as she licked the taste of him off her lips.

Cracking her eyes open, Mustard met Morning’s eyes. "I love you."

"I love you too." Morning answered her back. Adjusting his grip around her barrel, he lined himself up with her marehood. "Are you ready?"

Feeling his stallionhood pressed up to her entrance, Mustard’s heart pounded in her chest as she nodded. Closing her eyes, Mustard gasped when she felt Morning push into her swollen folds. Biting her lip, she felt herself being spread open for the first time as Morning slowly worked himself deeper. Her marehood quivered and winked along his penetrating length as it stretched out almost painfully around him.

Her marehood felt like it was burning hot, as it freely dripped with her juices. Mustard wondered how much more of him she could take. Feeling Morning’s stallionhood so deep inside her was strange, but oddly satisfying as well.

Morning groaned out almost painfully as he panted into her neck. Finally, with a firm buck of his hips, Morning seated himself fully into her as his pelvis pressed up tightly against her rump. Mustard couldn't believe how filled she now felt. "Oh, Morning. You feel so...," she couldn't finish as she bit her lip from the intensity of the moment. Their hearts and bodies were now joined together as one.

Mustard let out a moan of pleasure as Morning slowly pulled himself back out. Just as he was about to slip completely out of her, he reversed himself and slid back into her warm depths. Mustard lost herself to the pleasure as Morning continued to repeatedly thrust himself in and out of her marehood. A strong pressure began to build deep in her body as Mustard felt her hooves sinking into the soft mossy ground every time Morning drove himself into her with a wet smack.

Morning buried his muzzle into her mane as he panted for breath. The speed of his thrusts were growing wild and Mustard cried out as she felt Morning’s stallionhood beginning to flare wide deep inside her, sealing itself against the sides of her passage! Mustard shuddered at the realization of what was about to happen! There will be no turning back from this once it was over! A new life will be starting for her, Morning, and for the foal he was about to gift her with.

The pressure that had been building inside her quickly grew to an agonizing level until just as she couldn’t stand it anymore, letting out a long wail of absolute ecstasy, the pressure suddenly burst and waves of unbearably intense pleasure, rolled through her body!

Her marehood clamped down and convulsed around Morning's frantically thrusting member until he suddenly let out a loud breeding whinny into her neck as he drove his stallionhood as deeply into her as he could, shoving his hips right up against her rump with bruiser force. She could feel strong convulsive pulsations run along the entire length of his stallionhood as he bucked his hips into her, diving her front hooves even further into the moss.

With a burst of heat deep inside her, Mustard felt Morning’s virile seed begin to fill her as he claimed her fertile womb for his foal! Wave after wave of pure bliss rolled over her body as her insides gripped and clenched along his stallionhood from its base to its tip. Grasping her sides with an almost painfully tight grip, Morning emptied himself out into her needing depths with each powerful spurt of his stallionhood. His widely flared tip gripped the sides of her passage, sealing as much of his reproductive emissions inside her as possible. With a few final spurts that caused him to twitch, Morning relaxed his hold on her as he sagged down onto her back, gasping for breath from his exertion.

Mustard turned her head around and nuzzled the side of the spent stallion's muzzle. "You were amazing."

Morning lifted his weary head and smiled at her. "I know. You were amazing too."

Their lips came together and they tenderly kissed as the last of their shared pleasures settled down. Breaking from the kiss, Morning pulled his softening stallionhood out of her. With a wet shlick, it popped free and Mustard felt a flood of hot fluids suddenly pour out of her and run down from her soaked marehood to drench the mossy ground between her hooves.

Settling themselves down together under a Peach Blossom tree, Mustard let out a contented sigh as she leaned herself into Morning’s warm body. She had never felt such joy and contentment before. With a slow stroke of her hoof, she rubbed her belly. It was done. Her stallion had bred her during the most fertile part of her heat. Smiling to herself, Mustard felt Morning nuzzle her neck.

Breaking out of the trees behind them, Dusty and Skye paused when they saw the two lovers lying closely together. Skye clamped a hoof over her mouth as her eyes shot wide in surprise. Suddenly she leaped high into the air and jubilantly fluttered around Dusty as she silently kicked her hooves about in a wild display of joy.

Chapter Thirty Four

"Okay Moon Lily. Take your time and think it through," Morning said, encouraging the little filly. She was the oldest of the foals they had rescued, having just been weaned the previous spring and Morning was absolutely loving her. She sat before him in the soft grass staring down at the pine cones that were lined up on a sheet of bark. Her face was scrunched up in deep thought as she struggled to work out the answer.

Nearby, Ash sat playing with an orange filly named Darling Grace. He was rattling a cleverly made gourd that Mosswood had partially filled with sunflower seeds, over the filly who cooed happily up at it. Holding it by the stick that had been attached into the bottom, Ash would shake it a few times to show the filly how to do it, before giving it to her to try.

They had set off early that morning, descending back down the valley until they came out next to the lake. Traveling east past the lake, they crossed through a small forest and came to a clearing near a river. Dark didn't want to overtax their new members too much, so he had them make camp there along the river.

Fires had been quickly set up and ponies busied themselves with various tasks around the camp. Mustard and Sky said that they were tired of smelling like they'd been rolling in a dung pile and set off to wash themselves in the river, leaving Morning and Dusty to watch over some of the younger foals with Ash.

Moon Lily nibbled her lip as she stared down at the row of pine cones before her. "Here, let me help you start off." Morning pointed at one of the pine cones on the end. "One." He pointed to the next one and waited for Moon Lily to continue.

Moon Lily considered the next pine cone for a time. "Two...?" she finally answered, looking up at Morning to see if she was right.

Morning smiled brightly at her and nodded. "Yes! You're right, it's two!" Moon Lily laughed and clopped her little hooves on the ground, excited that she got it right. "Now, what's the next one?" he asked, pointing to the last pine cone.

Running by, a frantic looking Dusty paused to search through a bush he already searched through five times before. "No, no, no! How could this have happened!? How could I have lost a foal!" he cried out in a panic. "I am going to be such a terrible father! How will Sky ever trust me with our foal!? I’m such a horrible stallion!"

"Have you tried that bush over there?" Morning asked, gesturing to a particular thorny patch of brambles nearby. "I thought I saw it move."

A hopeful look suddenly flashed across Dusty's face. "You did!? Oh, thank you!" He rushed over to stick his head into the brambles. "Ow!- Acorn Shell! You in here? Please come out! Ow- I'm not mad at you. I promise! Ow."

Ash looked up from Darling Grace to gaze for a short time at Dusty. Turning back to Morning, Ash shook his head. "When are you going to tell him that Acorn Shell is asleep under your tail?"

Morning shrugged with an amused smile. "Oh, I don't know. When it gets boring, I guess." He leaned back down to the filly, "Okay, you almost got them all. What's the next one?"

Moon Lily focused really hard onto the last pine cone as she thought really hard. Morning had to bite his lip as he fought how adorable she looked. "Umm..." She pointed her hoof at the first pine cone, "... one..." She pointed to the next one, "... two..." She then pointed to the last one, "ummm...Three...!"

"Yes!" Morning exclaimed, snatching Moon Lily up and hugging her. "You did it! You counted to three! You are such a smart filly." He then kissed her soundly on her little chubby cheek before setting her back down.

"One, two, three!" Moon Lily counted again. "One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three," she repeated several more times with Morning joining her.

Ash watched the scene with a smile, remembering when he had learned to count from Meadowlark. Something then caught his eye and he blinked in surprise. "Umm... Morning," he called out to him.

Morning continued recounting the numbers with Moon Lilly a few more times before turning his attention to Ash. "Yes?"

"Look," Ash said, pointing his hoof.

Curious, Morning turned and looked back at his flank. Three bright little sunflowers sat on his flank, each one with a happy smiling face in its center.

"I... I got my cutie mark!" Morning exclaimed in surprise. Snatching Moon Lily up again, he danced about with her as he rained kisses all over her face. "I got my cutie mark! I got my cutie mark!" It was thanks to this adorably bright little filly and her joy at learning something he had taught her that revealed his talent! He wanted to see other little adorable faces smiling up at him as they also learned new things! He couldn’t wait to shove this in Mustard’s face!

"You found him!" Dusty suddenly exclaimed as he rushed over to pick up a sleeping Acorn Shell. The colt had been uncovered when Morning had stood to dance with Moon Lily. Hugging the colt to his chest, Dusty smiled at Morning. "Oh, thank you, thank you! Thank you for finding him!"

Morning paused and blinked at Dusty, then he grinned. "Oh, I'm just happy you got him back. I'm sure you would have found him eventually."

Ash flinched when Darling bonked him on his muzzle with her rattle. Rubbing his nose, Ash looked down at the gurgling little filly. "Morning's a really bad pony," he said to her.

"I wanna try more!" Moon Lily said happily. Setting her down, Morning watched her go to find another pine cone to add to the three.

"Excuse me." A voice called from behind him.

Turning, he found Grass Stem standing there. Morning hadn't seen the light green stallion since their fight the previous day. A part of his rib would still twinge painfully whenever he moved wrong and he was pleased to see that Grass's eye was swollen halfway shut from a good shot he had gotten through.

Grass Stem drew himself up before him. "I wanted to apologize for yesterday."

Morning gaped at the stallion in surprise. "Why are you apologizing? I'm the one who attacked you! I should be the one to apologize."

"I'm apologizing because I purposefully drew you into that fight." Grass confessed.

Morning blinked at Grass in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"I saw that Mustard was pining after you, but you were so stuck up with what had happened to you that you were totally ignoring her." Grass explained. "I decided to force the issue by purposely showing interest in her. I knew that if you saw a stallion moving in on your mare, you would have to react. I'll admit, I was surprised at how violently you did react, but I'm still happy that it still worked out."

Morning plopped his rump down and rubbed a hoof over the twinge in his rib. "So you weren't serious about going for Mustard?"

"Oh! Don't get me wrong," Grass said with a shake of his head. "I would have bred her in a moment if she had chosen me. She's got the same cute rump that her sister has, and there is no way I would be able to resist that."

Morning thought he should be angry or at least jealous, but instead he started laughing. "You're right. She does have a cute rump," he admitted, wiping tears from his eyes.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

"Oh. This was just what I needed." Mustard sighed, climbing out of the water onto a large slab of rock that stuck out into the river and settled herself next to Sky. Other mares were chatting with each other as they relaxed in the water or on other rocks along the river's edge.

Sky was already stretched out on its warm surface in the late day sun, drying her wings out. "I know what you mean. I feel so much better now."

Picking up a wooden comb, Mustard started brushing out the tangle in Sky's freshly washed white mane while she did the same for her tail. "You have the most pretty mane," Mustard complimented as she worked the comb through her soft locks. "The blue streaks that run through it look like pieces of the sky have been caught into your mane."

Sky worked a snarl out of Mustard's golden yellow tail. "You have a really pretty mane too."

"You're just saying that to be nice. My mane and tail are just plain, coarse, and ugly." Mustard scoffed.

"No. It's true," Sky added. "They remind me of a sunrise after a rainstorm has passed. When the horizon glows with a golden light of the newly rising sun."

Mustard paused in her brushing to glance back at her tail. She had never quite seen it that way before.

The clop of a hoof stepping onto stone drew their attention to the shore. There, a russet colored unicorn mare stood looking at them shyly. Mustard was surprised to find one of the unicorns here.

"Hello," Sky greeted the mare with a smile. "You're Tranquil Charm, right?"

The mare bit her lip and quietly nodded. She was young, maybe a season or two older than Sky. Due to her being so thin, it was hard to tell.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you," Sky continued. "My name is Sky Twirl and this is Mustard Seed."

Mustard noticed that the mare seemed afraid of them, keeping her eyes downcast and only looked up at them with quick glances. "Would you like to join us? The cool breeze off the river feels really nice right now," she said with a friendly smile.

Tranquil Charm took a few hesitant steps forward, looking around nervously. Showing bit more courage, she quickly crossed over to the edge of the slab and sat down, letting her front hooves dangle over the edge into the water. "All you dirt ponies are really nice. Not like those meanie ones back home."

Mustard switched to brushing out Sky's tail. "They didn't treat you well?"

Tranquil shook her head as she kicked her hooves in the water. "They called me names and told me I was a useless Unicorn with no magic." The young unicorn mare stopped splashing her hooves and stared down into the water. "They’re wrong. I do have magic. Good magic. Mother Grand told me so."

"Mother Grand? Do you mean Grand Vista? The other Unicorn with the broken leg?" Sky asked.

Tranquil Charm nodded. "She's been really nice to me. She cared for me after my mother died from fever. She found food for me and let me sleep against her side. And although she didn't have any milk to give, she'd also let me suckle from her. She said that it made her feel good, like she was a real mother."

"That was really nice of her," Mustard said, remembering the pleasantly warm feeling she had gotten when Acorn Shell had tried to nurse from her.

"Ow!" Sky suddenly exclaimed with a jerk, dropping her comb.

Mustard stopped brushing. "What is it!? Did I hurt you?" she asked in alarm.

Sky was blinking with a kind of mystified look on her face. "No. It wasn't you," she answered with a quick jerk of her head. Then her eyes shot wide as she gave a shocked gasp.

"What!? What is it?" Mustard asked, leaning towards her with concern.

Sky suddenly unfurled her wing around Mustard's head and pulled her down, pressing her cheek up against the firm bulge of her belly. At first Mustard felt nothing, until something abruptly shifted under her cheek. Mustard inhaled sharply when she realized what it was!

"By the stars! Was that...!?" Mustard quickly sat up to look at Sky.

"My foal just moved!" Sky answered, with an excited squeak to her voice.

Mustard pressed her cheek into her belly again and felt around trying to find where the foal had moved to. Behind them, Tranquil stood and slowly walked closer. Wiping her wet hoof onto her chest to dry it, she tentatively reached out to touch Sky's belly.

"You're... carrying a foal?" She asked, her eyes wide with a curious wonder.

Sky nodded. "Yes. I'm due early next spring." She giggled along with Mustard when her foal kicked again. "Do you want to feel it?"

Mustard lifted her head and pointed to a spot. "Here. Put your cheek right there."

Tranquil carefully set her cheek to the indicated spot and waited. After a few moments her eyes shot wide as a look of wonder crossed over her face. "How did you put a foal in there?" she asked, sitting back up.

"What do you mean?" Sky asked, confused by the question.

Tranquil rubbed her hoof over her stomach. "In here. How did you make a foal?"

Mustard realized what she was getting at. "Wait! Are you saying that you don't know how foals are made?"

Tranquil looked between the two and mutely shook her head at them.

"But, surely Grande would have told you how it happens," Sky said in disbelief.

Again, Tranquil shook her head. "Mother Grande said that it was something I didn't need to know about and I've never been allowed to go into the stables to see."

Mustard sat back with bewilderment. How could a mare her age not know how foals were made? With this many stallions about, who knew what might happen to her? Especially once they got back home! "We need to tell her."

"Are you sure? Grande Vista was probably keeping it from her for a reason," Sky asked, sounding unsure.

"Well, things are different here," Mustard said. "The Unicorns keep their stallions penned up in their breeding stables, but ours are free to roam as they please. If she's not properly prepared, then one of them might take things too far with her."

"We could speak to Dark," Sky offered. "Have him talk to the other stallions and warn them to keep their hooves off her."

"That could work for the short term but I really think she should know for herself," Mustard argued back. "She's old enough, she has a right to know."

Sky thought about it and finally nodded her agreement. "I think you're probably right." Sitting herself up, Sky looked Tranquil over. "I've never had to explain something like this before, how do we do this?"

Mustard scratched at her chin thoughtfully. She wasn't sure how either. "I guess we can start with how much she does know. Tranquil. What do you know about stallions?"

Tranquil looked confused at the question. "About stallions? Well... they're big, loud, and rather smelly." She crinkled her nose in distaste.

"Well, she's not wrong," Sky joked with an amused grin.

Mustard ignored Sky’s jest and continued. "What about mares and their seasons? Do you know about that?"

Tranquil thought for a moment then shook her head.

"Well,” Mustard said with a sigh. “Might as well start there.” Taking her comb, Mustard went around and sat next to Tranquil and started brushing her matted mane while Sky began working on her tail.

“When a filly grows and becomes a mare, she will start having cycles. As the seasons have winter and springs, so do mares.” Mustard explained. “Just like how in the spring when the land becomes green and fertile for new growth, a mare's body will also become fertile and ready for the start of life. Have you ever noticed times when you felt unusually strange, like feeling achy and swollen in places, while your marehood feels hot and puffy?”

Tranquil nodded. “It happens to me several times a year. Sometimes it gets really wet and starts twitching for no reason. Mother Grande told me not to worry and that it would go away.”

“Well, that is called being in heat,” Mustard said. “Your body was preparing itself to carry a foal.”

“Really!?” Tranquil exclaimed in surprise. “But then why didn’t I have a foal? I went into this heat many times and it never happened.”

Sky giggled. “It’s because you were missing one thing that is very important.”

Tranquil looked back at Sky in puzzlement.

“What she means is that you were missing a certain contribution from a stallion,” Mustard finished.

“Contribution?” Tranquil asked, looking even more confused.

“A stallion’s seed,” Mustard answered. “Once it’s planted into a mare’s fertile womb, a new life will bloom.”

“Just like what is happening inside Mustard’s womb right at this moment!” Sky exuberantly cut in.

A look of awe came over Tranquil’s face as her eyes shot down to Mustard’s stomach. “Really?”

“Well, Morning did breed her two times now,” Sky said. “If she’s not with foal by now, I’d be very surprised.”

“Umm. It’s been three times now, actually.” Mustard corrected. “I managed to trap him this morning for another quick one before we left.”

“Oh, really?” Sky said with amusement. “Is that why he was looking so deliriously happy this morning that he walked right into a tree?”

Tranquil was looking down at her stomach with confusion. “How does the stallion put his seed in there? Are you supposed to… swallow it?”

Sky started laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe, and rolled on the ground.

Mustard managed to keep a better control over herself. “No. You don’t swallow it,” she said with a shake of her head. “The stallion puts it in on the other end.”

Tranquil blinked as she tried to puzzle it out, then her eyes widened. “Do you mean!?...”

“That’s right!” Sky shouted with ruckus laughter. “That dangling bit that you see come out of the stallion when he pees. He shoves that right up inside you from behind and after some rather enjoyable moments of him plunging himself into you, he’ll then release his virile seed as deep into you as he can, filling the furthest parts of your womb until it can’t hold anymore.” Sky then cradled her hooves around her belly and smiled down at it. “And that is how you get a foal in here.”

Tranquil stared wide-eyed at Sky. “Really?” she asked breathlessly.

“That’s more or less right,” Mustard agreed evenly. “But there are some important details you should also know first.”

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Dark walked along the riverside. The sun was just setting and the heavens glowed with a fierce fire that lit up the sky with its golden orange light. He wished Meadowlark was there. What Ash had told him the other day about a coming war had disturbed him greatly, and it didn't help him to also learn that Celestia was another Element bearer. The Element of Light. Whatever that meant.

Dark felt a sense of pride to discover that his filly was special, but then, he had always known that she was special since the moment she was born, just like her sister Luna was.

The cool breeze coming off the river felt good as it ruffled his mane back. Ahead of him, Dark noticed three mares sitting together on a slab of rock, along the river edge, conversing among themselves.

As he approached closer, Dark was surprised to see that one of the mares was the young russet colored unicorn. Dark was glad to see that she finally started to open up and talk to others.

Pausing not far from them, Dark smiled as he watched them laughing together from something Mustard had said. This was a good sign that things were working out. Drawing himself up, Dark cleared his throat to call attention to himself. Looking up, they all fell silent when they saw him. Tranquil gave a surprised eep and tried to hide herself behind Sky’s smaller form.

"I'm sorry to disturb you fine mares, but with the sun setting, it will be getting dark soon," Dark said to them. "You all should head back to camp now."

Gathering their things together into a small basket, the three mares crossed the slab to the shore. As Sky and Mustard passed him, they both dipped their heads down respectfully and wished him good evening.

Tranquil was still doing her best to hide herself behind Sky but as they began to leave, she paused a moment to face Dark. “Th-thank you,” she said, dipping her head down like Mustard and Sky had done. Then she quickly turned and rushed back to Sky and Mustard who stood waiting for her.

Dark’s gaze lingered on Tranquil as he watched them leave. She had thanked him. Starless had thanked him as well, but for some reason, hearing it coming from the timid unicorn mare felt more gratifying.

Heading back to the camp, Dark silently walked through, listening to the laughter and songs that filled the air around the campfires. A few ponies were even dancing. There was a lot to be happy for. They were going back home after saving fellow ponies in trouble. Dark was proud of every one of the ponies that had come with him. They had all performed their tasks wonderfully.

Dark paused when he saw Starless sitting alone by one of the campfires. She was a intriguing mare. One moment she’s arrogant and disdainful of the earth ponies around her, and the next moment she seems like a normal, sweet young mare who wants to be included with others.

Ground was doing his best to be friendly with her, but he was hitting a strange resistance. She would try to bully him at times, but then at other times she would act almost frightened of him.

Earlier that day, she had literally jumped a full length into the air with a terrified scream when Ground came up to report to Dark on some matter and accidentally startled her. She spent the next half day looking over her shoulder to make sure he wasn’t sneaking up behind her again.

Dark was thinking about going over to join her when he noticed a familiar large shadow already moving across to her. Ground stepped carefully into her firelight and openly approached her, setting a small basket of sliced fruit near her before disappearing back into the night. Dark smiled. Ground was a good, honest stallion. If there was one who could draw out her true self, he would.

Starless seemed to ignore the meal that Ground had brought her. Instead, she stared off into the night at were he had vanished with an odd expression on her face.

Moving on, Dark was careful as he approached the next campfire. Staying out of the firelight, he stepped up next to a tree and looked in. Mirage and Ash where sitting together as they talked with his mother. Ash was telling the story to her about how he dove into a river to save Pine Blossom from drowning.

Dark felt his gut twist as he gazed down at his mother. This was the first time he had seen her since he had left so many years ago. He was surprised at how much older she looked. Grey heavily streaked her mane and tail now, and her once strongly held head now hung lower.

Throughout his story, Ash had to pause several times to wait out one of her coughing fits. Dark was surprised to see just how gaunt his mother was. Her ribs showed heavily along her sides, and whenever she had one of her coughing fits, it left her short of breath.

Looking down at her, Dark found his anger at his mother falter. It had been a different time back then, a harder time filled with difficult life and death decisions. Looking back now, she had probably made the best choice with the bad choices she had available to her.

“I would really like to meet this Herd Father of yours,” his mother said. “Little Ash, would you pass on my gratitude to him? He’s a truly remarkable stallion and I want to thank him for everything he’s done for us.”

“I will be happy to,” Ash said.

“You're such a good colt,” his mother said, patting Ash on the head. “You really remind me of my son, Dark. Have I told you of him? You have the same hardness in your eyes as he did.”

Dark shifted his stance. Mirage glanced up as she noticed his movement and saw him standing at the edge of the firelight. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Ash. How about you tell my mother the story of how you were found and taken to Meadowlark.”

Ash shot a quick look at Mirage. “You mean…?”

“Yes,” Mirage answered with a nod. “I think now would be a perfect time for it.”

What kind of game are you playing, dear sister? Dark wondered.

“Well, okay.” Ash looked unsure but he nodded anyways.

“My mother was a stern mare. Hard with her words and critical in her judgments,” Ash started. “I was a growing colt and was a strain on her to care for and feed, but despite this, she saw me through the tough and arid lands in the south as we traveled. Through many moons of wandering, the Herd finally came to a fertile land that was generous to our needs. My mother was with foal and was glad to finally fill her belly.

“Things were good in our new grazing lands, and I was allowed to play with my friend, Celestia. Together, we became the menace of the meadowlands and our spirits became boundless. It seemed like our worries just went away, and before we knew it, the vibrant autumn leaves fell from the trees and winter descended on us with a fierceness we didn’t expect.

“The cold wind was harsh and the snow came down heavy, covering the once lush meadowlands in a thick layer that was a struggle to dig through for the meager mouthfuls of grass that was found underneath.

“Things were bad. Celestia’s mama and papa helped mares that were struggling. They helped set up shelters against the biting wind and saw that those who had young foals got the food they needed. My mother was proud and headstrong, she refused to allow anypony help her. The winter dragged on and my mother had to face the reality that she couldn’t care for me as well as to see to the needs of herself and her unborn foal, so she chose to set me off onto my own to fend for myself.”

Dark could see his mother’s body start shaking as bitter tears began to fall from her eyes. The sight of the pain he saw in his mother's face caused him to take a hesitant step closer to her.

“I was forced to follow after other mares as they dug out the snow, snatching what little food I was able to find in their leavings. At night, I would burrow into the hollow spaces under young pine trees to curl up to sleep. Every time, I was convinced that I would never wake back up in the morning, but I was too cold and hungry to care.”

Dark’s mother let out a whimper as she buried her tear streaked face into her uplifted hoof. Her body racked with tearful sobbs. Dark took another step closer. He remembered a time when he wanted to see his mother filled with remorse for what she had done to him, but seeing her in such agonized pain now didn’t give him the satisfaction he thought he would feel. Instead, his chest felt like it was being crushed in a hydra’s jaws.

“One night, as I lay curled up under the snow, I felt a hoof break through my meager shelter and jostle me. It was Celestia’s papa. He was surprised to find me there and asked me what I was doing there all alone. I told him about how my mama set me off to fend for myself. He grew angry when he heard this and I thought I had said something wrong. But then before I knew it, he suddenly snatched me up and carried me back home to his mate, Meadowlark, and their daughter Celestia. They took me in and cared for me like one of their own. Without their kindness, I would not have made it through that winter.”

Dark had no idea that Mirage could be so ruthless or so cunning, using Ash’s story against him like that. He now stood only a few paces from his mother, and it was only because that her back was turned to him that she failed to notice him standing there. The pain in his chest was crushing his heart. He wanted to take the last few steps to her, but something in him held him back. It was a clumsy misstep that did him in. An errant branch crunched under his hoof and his mother turned to look up at him.

Her wide tear filled eyes stared up at him with shock. “Dark…?” she whispered in disbelief.

Despite the stabbing pain he felt in his heart, Dark managed to give her a weak smile. “Hello... Mama.”

“Oh, Dark!” she cried out. Attempting to stand, her weakened legs failed her and she fell back to the ground, where she then began to dig desperately at the dirt as she tried to drag herself across to him. “Dark! Oh, my little Darky! I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry! I’m sorry for what I did to you! I am sorry,” she bawled out at him, tears streaming in torrents down her muzzle as she fought across the ground to reach him.

Dark felt his heart break as he stepped to her struggling form and knelt down just before her. Reaching up, he set his hoof against his mother's tear soaked cheek and looked into her eyes. “It’s alright, Mama. Don’t feel bad.” He kissed her lightly on her forehead. “I forgive you.”

Letting out a withering wail of anguish, his mother lunged into him and wrapped her frail hooves around his neck. Clinging to him tightly, she began to weep, deep-racking sobs into his chest. “I looked for you. I looked for you for so long. I thought… I thought I would never see you again.”

Dark embraced her. “Shh… It’s okay, now. I’m here,” he whispered into the top of her head. The crushing feeling in his chest vanished, as if a great weight had been lifted from him. The anger he had carried for all these years was now gone. “I love you, Mama.”

Watching the pair, Mirage couldn’t stand it. Snatching Ash up, she blubbered into his coat as she crushed the unfortunate colt to her chest.

Chapter Thirty Six

Following the group into the center of the community, Starless gazed around in amazement. Unlike the surrounding settlement they had passed through, this part was cleaned of webbing and spider remains. Long fire pits had been set up to guard various approaches while ponies, with their legs wrapped tightly in rope, stood ready with hammers and axes for anymore surprise raids by the spiders. Further to the north, large pyres burned, sending thick black smoke up into the air as ponies tossed dead spiders into them. The wretched stench of it filled the air.

Approaching a large, stone structure, many of the ponies that had come to their aid broke away and joined the others who were standing guard. The stallion wearing the carved wolf head took it off and slipped inside the large building, quickly followed by Dark and Comet, who was still carrying the unconscious Precious Rose on his back.

Suddenly, a light yellow-orange filly with a striped black mane and three lilies on her flanks, dashed out of the longhouse and leapt up to wrap her tiny hooves around Ground's neck. "Ground, I'm so happy you're back!" she shouted as her hooves dangled above the ground. Starless nearly giggled at the sight, guessing that the filly was Ground's little sister.

Dropping back to the ground, the filly suddenly gasped when she noticed Ground's injuries. Scowling up at the stallion, the filly started to angrily jabbed her little hoof into his chest. "You're hurt! How could you let that happen!? I thought you knew how to duck better than that! I swear, you're just like your father! Foolish and thickheaded as a log! It must be all those muscles you both have softening your brains. Making you both think that you can't ever be hurt!"

Starless felt her ire rise at the fillies harsh words to the stallion and she found herself angrily stomping up to her. "Hey! Don't talk to him like that! Ground is a good stallion! He bravely charged in and saved me from a hydra!" She glared down at the filly who stood a full head shorter than she did. "He also stood strong atop a massive rock-slide and helped save the remaining stallions from drowning! And when we were coming here, he gallantly jumped in front of me to face a massive Gigas Arachne that was about to snatch me up into its maw! His injuries were because he was saving me!"

The filly lifted one of her eyebrows as she considered her with a hard eye. "Ground. Who is this filly?"

Starless gaped down at her in outrage. "Filly! I'm not a filly! I'm a grown mare! You'd best learn to treat your elders with more respect, or else I'll have to give you a lesson in respect!" Her magic was still weak from the battle but she still managed to ignite her horn with a bright light.

If she was expecting the filly to suddenly cower before her, Starless would have been disappointed. Gazing up at her with interest, the filly suddenly smiled at her. "I like you. You've got spirit. Your tongue needs to learn to control itself better though. If I wasn't so happy that Ground returned back home safely, I may have taken the time to switch your rump raw for speaking to me so rudely."

Starless's horn began to crackle as her temper rose. Who did this filly think she was!?

Suddenly Ground shoved himself between the two as they glared at each other. "Please you two, don't fight."

"Stay out of this. This is between me and the young filly here."

"You're one to talk," Starless scoffed. "You look like you should be running off to your mother to have your nose wiped!"

"Starless, please stop!" Ground pleaded with her.

"Why!?" Starless snapped at him angrily. "Who is she to you? Huh? Your bratty little sister?"

"She's my mother!"

"Your mother!" Starless stared up at him in shock, her magic vanishing from her horn with a cracked-snap. Slowly her mortified gaze fell down to the filly who met her eyes with a hard look as cold as stone. Mother!? How could this little filly, a full head shorter than she was, be his mother!? He was a mountain and she was.... a mouse!

"Ground, dear," the tiny mare said. "I want you to go inside and have Dove look at your injuries while I see to this lovely filly."

Ground looked unsure as he glanced worriedly back at Starless.

"I won't repeat myself. Now go and do what I say," she snapped at Ground, her hard tone saying she would take no arguments on the matter. "Oh, and be a dear and find your sister and give her a hug. She’s been awfully worried about you since you left."

Ground quickly left, ducking inside the longhouse, leaving Starless in the company of his diminutive mother. Starless felt like she wanted to throw up. She had never been so embarrassed before. "I... am so sorry. I had no idea who you were."

"Whatever did you get all over yourself?” the little mare suddenly asked, ignoring her apology. "You're a complete mess!"

Starless grimaced when she realized how filthy she was. She reeked of burnt spider and her mane felt crusty and stiff from the fluids that had drenched her head and neck. Trying to brush her mane with her hoof only made things worse.

"Never mind," the little mare said with a dismissive wave of her hoof before marching past her. "Come with me."

Starless followed after the little mare as she lead her to a small structure that had been built next to the longhouse. Unlike the longhouse and all the other huts around, this structure didn't have a roof. It was made of stacked stones supported by wooden poles driven into the ground. Stepping inside, Starless found that the floor was made of carefully arranged flat-stones with river-sand filling in the seams.

"This was made a few days into the attack when many of the young mares started to complain that the stallions liked to watch them as they bathed," the little mare explained. "Now, sit there," she said pointing to a spot on the stone floor.

Starless immediately did as she was told and planted her rump down on the indicated spot. "I really do apologize for the way I acted towards you."

The small mare snapped her hoof out and smacked her across the back of her head. "Stop apologizing! I heard you the first time. You were defending Ground and that is very commendable, so there is nothing to be apologizing for." Taking up a gourd, she went over to a large log sitting by the wall that had a basin carved into it, and scooped out some water that it had been filled with. "What is your name, sweety?" she asked as she poured out the water over Starless' head.

Starless shuddered as the cold water soaked into her coat. "I'm Starless Night. Caster of the great Unicorn tribe of the Black Mountain."

"Hmm. Such a pretty name," Ground's mother said as she poured out more water over her head. "My name is Tiger Lily and I am Ground's mother." Taking a wad of something fibrous out of a water filled gourd, Tiger Lily used it to scrub at the mess in Starless' mane.

Starless felt her face flush in embarrassment as she was washed by Tiger Lily. "I can wash myself," she complained.

"I'm sure you can," Tiger Lily murmured as she continued scrubbing her. "Just as I'm sure you can properly feed yourself as well," she said with a frown as she poked Starless in her exposed ribs to emphasize her point.

Strange foaming bubbles slowly ran down her muzzle as Tiger Lily scrubbed her mane, and her nose was filled with a pleasant softly-sweet, earthy scent. "What is that you are using? It smells nice."

"We make it from Yucca roots," Tiger Lily said. "It can be eaten, but we find it's more useful to wash with." Taking a fresh one out of a gourd, Tiger Lilly resumed her scrubbing.

Not being satisfied with just washing her mane, Tiger Lily insisted on scrubbing down her entire body. Despite her complaints, she even cleaned in places that Starless was glad the stallions weren't able to watch be cleaned. In the end, Tiger Lilly thoroughly rinsed her down by pouring gourdfuls of water over her. Water ran off the stone ground under her, disappearing into the river-sand that was set between the joints. The last rinse she gave her was drawn from a special trough that had been filled with flowers to give the water a pleasant, floral scent.

With the warm late day sun drying her out, Tiger Lily took out one of those combs Starless noticed mares like to use, and began to work out the tangles in her mane. Complaining did nothing to stop the little mare, and any attempt to move away from the painful tugging resulted in her lightly being smacked and sternly being told to stop acting like a foal. Despite her best efforts, she still continued to whimper whenever Tiger Lily raked her comb through one of her tangles.

Tiger Lily

⚜⚜⚜⚜

"The spiders attacked a few days after the long night ended." Meadowlark explained to Dark as they sat closely together. Their joyous reunion was marred by terrible news. Nearly a dozen spider bit ponies were laid out in the recently made sickroom, which was set off the side of the longhouse. Several homes had been demolished so it could quickly be built to house them. And five ponies had been taken by the spiders during the first night of the attack. "If it wasn't for Bell's wolves giving the alarm, it would have been much worse."

"What about Hoof Strike?"

"He lead the defenders during the first night's raid and gallantly held them off while ponies made it back to the safety of the longhouse," Meadowlark said. "When he saw that ponies were being taken, he recklessly rushed out to save them. He fought valiantly and was bitten several times, but he managed to rescue a single pony, a filly, and return with her before he finally succumbed to the spider’s venom. He has such a strong heart."

Dark glanced around, wondering where his foals were at. "Where's Celestia and Luna? I would have thought you would keep them close."

"Luna is in Dove and Bell's care at the moment." Meadowlark answered. "Aurora absolutely loves being with her."

"Aurora?" Dark had never heard of that name before.

"She's a newborn unicorn foundling that Dove discovered in the woods just after you all left," Meadowlark explained. "She, Bell, and Strongbuck have taken her in as one of theirs."

"A unicorn foundling? Well that's interesting," Dark mused. "And where is Celestia at?"

"Celestia's in the sickroom." Meadowlark said with a note of sadness mixed with pride. "She spends a lot of time in there helping Dove care for the afflicted ponies. Magpie Crackle is working really hard trying to find a cure to the spider’s venomous bite, but she still hasn't discovered one yet. Our hope for their survival lies with their good care and hard work."

"I wish I had stayed here," Dark said mournfully. "I could have done something."

Meadowlark scowled and shook her head. "Don't say that. There are twenty ponies alive right now because of what you did, including your own mother. Don't wish away their lives because of something you could have done here. I am proud of what you and the ponies with you have done. You were all amazing! Facing down flying snakes, manticores, and even a terrible hydra—though I'm not terribly thrilled you did that. Not to mention also finding an enchanted pool!" Meadowlark suddenly blinked as she looked around. "Oh, that reminds me. You said that Morning came back with you, right? Where is she- I mean he at? I would most like to see him."

"Oh, he's around somewhere," Dark said with a grin. "He was looking really nervous when we arrived so he's probably hiding somewhere from both his, and Mustard's mothers."

"I wonder how they are going to take the news?" Meadowlark mused out loud. "I can't even imagine how I would react if it had happened to Celestia and Ash."

"You would love them just as you always have." Dark answered with a knowing smile.

"Yeah, you're probably right," Meadowlark nodded. "Though it would be strange to braid Ash's mane instead of Celestia's," she said with a chuckle. "That pegasus you came across. Flutter Fly. Do you think she will be able to convince the other pegasi to accept your idea?"

Dark thought about it. "I hope so."

Suddenly, the room around them went completely silent. Looking back across the room to see what had caught the attention of all the ponies there, they saw two figures that had just entered together.

"Oh my. So that's the unicorn you told me about," Meadowlark murmured, looking at the taller of the pair with interest. "You never told me how beautiful she is."

Dark wasn't able to answer her as he gaped at Starless in shock. Her once dingy coat was now clean and shiny. Her mane and tail were freshly brushed and now cascaded freely down the side of her neck with her tail flowing nearly down to the ground. Her long horn on her forehead practically sparkled in the firelight. Next to her, Tiger Lily held her head high as she looked over the silent room with a challenging look. Dark was almost positive that somewhere in Tiger Lily's lineage, an ill-tempered badger had somehow slipped in. "Looks like our little tigress has gotten her paws on the poor mare."

Looking around nervously at all the ponies that were gawking at her, Starless hesitated. Tiger Lily scowled and jabbed her in the ribs to start her moving.

Turning, Meadowlark took an artfully crafted, feathered creation out of a basket and carefully slipped it over her head.

"What is that?" Dark asked, admiring the bright red and yellow plumage that now adorned her head.

"It's a headdress," Meadowlark answered taking another out. "Some of the younger mares made it for me to wear, and I liked it so much I asked for them to make one for you too," she said, holding another out to him.

Dark seriously thought about refusing to put the ridiculous thing on, but after meeting her earnest gaze, Dark knew he couldn't turn it down. With a sigh, Dark allowed her to slip the blue and black feathered headdress over his head.

Slowly crossing the room, Starless approached the raised platform that Meadowlark and Dark stood waiting on. Her elegant steps were light and smooth as she glided across the room. Coming to a stop before them, she bent her knee and lowered her head down until it almost touched the ground. "Greetings, Matriarch of the Mighty Earth Ponies. I am Starless Night, Caster for the Great Unicorns of the Black Mountain."

Meadowlark gazed down at the prostrated unicorn with a look of mild surprise. "Welcome, Starless Night. I am Meadowlark. Herd Mother to the Earth Ponies of Yore."

Dark gave a surprised jump. From what little he knew of the old pony tongue, Yore meant Harmony. When did she come up with that?

"I wish to thank you for the aid in fending off the spiders, earlier," Meadowlark added. "From what I heard, you were instrumental in holding them back and keeping my loving Dark and the other ponies from being completely overrun."

Ponies began to cheer behind her as Starless flushed with embarrassment. "Please. I don't deserve such praise. If it weren't for Ground, that giant spider would have eaten me when it charged me. He's the one who deserves our gratitude, most especially mine."

Tiger Lily gave a satisfied nod behind her with a proud look on her face.

Smiling down at Starless, Meadowlark gestured with her hoof. "Please. Come sit with us and tell us about the Unicorns of the Black Mountain. We are eager to hear all about you and your ponies."

Starless was hesitant about stepping up onto the platform, but when Tiger let out a tisk behind her, she jumped forward and hurriedly plunked her rump down. Taking a breath, Starless considered where she would start. "Umm... Long ago, when the sun and moon were guided by the Great Pattern of the Heavens, we lived wild on the land. Monsters and common predators hunted us for food and we were too weak to fight back. One day, a young mare named Fata Morgana, came across a strange, crystal tree.

"She was hungry and she saw brightly colored fruit hanging from its branches. Picking one, she bit into it and her eyes were suddenly opened. Continuing to eat the fruit, new understandings about magic came to her and filled her with new knowledge about its mysterious workings.

"Returning back to the other unicorns, she began to instruct them with her new knowledge. Now armed with their new power, the unicorns were able to rise up and conquer those that hunted them before. Fata Morgana became our first Great Matriarch of the unicorns, settling them into the Black Mountain and making it our home.

"Later, a dark spirit of greed tried to take the sun and moon. Two great spirits, angry at what she had done, came and fought with the dark spirit. Defeating her, they sealed her away forever inside a prison of crystal. Even though the dark spirit was defeated, the damage had been done. The sun and moon had been broken from the Great Pattern of the Heavens and they wandered lost and without guidance across the sky.

"Fata Morgana gathered her most talented unicorns together and lead them in trying to correct this tragedy. With winter, spring, summer and fall, all coming and going within hours of each other, terrible storms raged across the lands. Fata Morgana and her unicorns fought through the chaos and brought order back to nature. Many brave unicorns died in the valiant struggle, including Fata Morgana herself. As she lay dying, her children gathered around her and they all vowed to her that they would continue to safeguard the heavens and to never allow chaos to reign there again." Starless ended her story and the entire room was silent.

"That was a very interesting story," Meadowlark said, nodding her head thoughtfully. "I would have liked to have met Fata Morgana. She sounds like an amazing mare."

"Indeed," Starless agreed. "She was our greatest unicorn. We grew up with stories of her greatness and every filly like me wanted to be just like her when we grew up."

"That sounds like a worthy goal." Meadowlark commented. "What about your current Matriarch? What is she like?"

Starless paused as she considered her answer. "Matriarch Astral is a great mare of enormous skills and power. She’s a direct descendant of Fata Morgana herself. She cares for us and sees that we are fed and sheltered."

Meadowlark carefully examined Starless as she spoke. "Is that why she decided to start exploiting others like the Pegasi for food?"

Starless’ eyes grew alarmed. "That is something we have been forced to do! Food has been growing more scarce over the years and things have become desperate. We are near to starving! Every day, Unicorns are sent further and further out to search for food. I was part of a gatherer's team that had traveled further than we have ever done before. We had some luck early on and found a few pear trees, but our senior caster, Flare Bolt, wasn’t satisfied and wanted to find more, so we continue on. Our need for food is great and Astral saw that others were benefiting from the hard work we are doing to keep the heavens moving. Without the Unicorns, the world would perish in chaos! It's only right that those who are prospering from us also give us our fair share!"

"So the Pegasi refused when the Unicorns came to them and asked for help?" Meadowlark asked, her tone held no accusation.

Starless blinked in surprise. "Well no. We didn't see a reason to ask. What we're doing to keep the day and night cycles going, should be more than enough for them to see that they should give back some of what we have provided for them."

"So, instead of going to them with reason, the unicorns decided to start off with threats instead?"

Starless struggled to answer. Deep inside she knew that Meadowlark was right, but still, Astral was her Matriarch and the keeper of the heavens. Who was she to disapprove of her? "Astral was looking out for the well being of her unicorns and of the world itself!"

"Trees spread out their leaves to the sun, providing cool shade to the creatures below. Should the tree demand that the creatures provide it with water in order to use its shade?" Meadowlark asked. "A foal is totally reliant onto its mother for nourishment," Meadowlark continued. "Would it be right for that mother to deny the foal her teat should she feel that she is owed something from it?" Her words had a hard edge to them that was difficult to miss. "I understand the hard situation the Unicorns have found themselves in, and our hearts go out to them. But despite this, I cannot bring myself or the ponies under my care, to trust unicorns that have broken their oath to their greatest, and beloved Matriarch, Fata Morgana. From your own lips you told of how the Unicorns vowed to continue to safeguard the heavens and to never allow chaos to reign there again. This oath was broken by Matriarch Astral when she held back the morning to demonstrate her power. This is very troubling indeed."

Starless felt her chest tighten and she had trouble meeting Meadowlarks even gaze. Earth Ponies were so different from Unicorns. They were open and honest creatures, showing an uncomplicated view of everything that was very different from what Unicorns were like. Trust, to a Unicorn, was a dangerous thing to have. It was something that others could take advantage of and use against you. But Earth Ponies valued trust even above their own lives!

Staring down at her hooves, Starless felt something she had never really felt before burning in her chest. It made her want to run away and hide somewhere to cry. She hated how it made her feel. Shame. Shame at herself and shame at her own kind gnawed and twisted inside her like a living thing. Being born of a common blood mother, she had felt pride in her higher magical talents that got her raised to one of the high bloods. She had just been a filly when she was taken to be trained as a caster, and as she left to start her new life she never once looked back at her mother. Even now, she couldn't remember her name.

"There is more to your Matriarch's oath-breaking that has been done that you should know." Meadowlark stood with Dark, and she motioned for her to follow. "Come with us."

The entrance to the hastily built sickroom was a simple hole that was made in the wall of the longhouse. Inside was a spacious room that had been meticulously swept clean. Grass-woven mats had been set along the walls for the afflicted ponies to sleep on as they were cared for by others.

Entering the room, Meadowlark and Dark stopped next to a very large moss-green stallion with a tan mane and tail. If it weren't for the slight light rise and fall of the stallion's chest, it would be easy to mistake him for dead. He was laying on a mat that looked much too small for his body, and sitting next to him was Ground Pound with a younger, violet colored filly, leaning against his side. Starless' heart wrenched at the sight of him. Ground's eyes were downcast and his ears drooped with sadness.

"This is Hoof Strike, Tiger Lily's mate." Meadowlark explained as Tiger Lily slipped by to sit down with Ground Pound and the filly. "Ground Pound, and Snap Dragon are their foals." Snap Dragon was the exact same size as her mother while Ground towered over them like a mountain. "Hoof Strike bravely rushed out to save a filly that was being carried off by the spiders. Despite being bit several times, he managed to bring her back before he collapsed."

"My poor little Hoofie, I couldn't be more proud of him," Tiger said, looking down at her massive mate with a soft smile on her lips.

"Look around. All the ponies laying in here are victims of your Matriarch's oath-breaking." Meadowlark said, waving her hoof to indicate all the ponies laying around the room. "Her petty meddling with the natural cycles by creating the long night, caused the Spiders to go into a frenzy and swarm out of their nests to attack everything they came across. Five ponies have been taken by them so far, including that filly's entire family." Meadowlark pointed to a red colored filly laying by the far corner. "Her mother, as well as her mother's sister and their mother were all taken to be consumed by those vile things. If Strawberry Zest survives, she'll be all alone."

Starless's heart nearly broke. She wanted to deny it all. To shout out that they were wrong and that the unicorns were not at fault! How could anypony know that keeping the sun down for just one day cause something like this? Gazing across the room at the prone filly, Starless noticed a white coated filly sitting with her, slowly dribbling water into Strawberry's mouth. Finished, the white filly lowered her water gourd and looked up to meet her gaze.

Starless couldn't blink or look away as the filly's eyes looked deeply into her own. She could feel her examining her, stripping away all her carefully crafted illusions she hid herself behind, smashing through her pride and self-deceptions that shielded her, until her most inner self was laid bare to her. Starless wanted to recoil and hide herself from the filly's intimate scrutiny, but she was unable to break away from her. There was something hidden within that filly. Something greater that was waiting to be born.

Before Starless' eyes, the filly began to glow with a soft warm light that cast no shadows within the room. Her softly colored mane and tail billowed out like rolling clouds in the wind. Stretching up from her back, two wings appeared made of fire as a blazing horn extended up from her forehead to a long point that burned with a sun's blinding radiance. Starless wanted to fling herself down and cower before her.

With her eyes locked open, Starless watched as the filly lifted into the air with a light flap of her fiery wings. Floating across the room, the filly paused before her with a smile and lightly kissed her on her cheek. The terror and fear that had threatened to overwhelm her were suddenly burned away as a fire raged through her body, searing away all her resentment and self loathing she kept hidden deep inside, leaving her feeling accepted and loved. Something she had not felt in a very long time, not since she was very little, snuggled up with her mother had she felt such peace.

Blinking her eyes, Starless suddenly found everything just as it was. Across the room, a perfectly normal white filly looked back at her as she sat by her friend. No wings or horn adorned her body, nor did she shine with any light. Ponies around her were still talking like nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. What had just happened? Was that real? Confused, Starless felt lightheaded as she staggered.

"Starless!" Ground shouted as he rushed over to catch her as she fell. Tiger Lily hurried over and checked on Starless as she lay limp in his embrace.

"Is she alright?" Meadowlark asked with concern.

"She is alright," Tiger assured them. "She has only fainted. The poor dear, she exhausted herself. Snap Dragon, show Ground where our sleeping mat is and put her down there to rest."

Getting up from her place by Strawberry's side, Celestia hurried over. "Papa!" she said smiling up at him as she rushed into his warm embrace. "Papa? Who is that unicorn that Ground is carrying away?"

"Her name is Starless Night," Dark answered her as he kissed her cheeks. "We rescued her from a hydra."

"She's hurting inside," Celestia said, looking up at her father.

"I know, sweetie," Dark said with a soft smile. "That is why I have Ground helping her. To give her the strength she needs to find the truth in herself."

Celestia nodded her understanding then looked around expectantly. "Papa? Where's Ash?"

"He's safe. I left him with Mirage and the others in the Western woods where they should be hidden." Dark answered. "It was much too dangerous to try and bring them all in." Standing, Dark lifted Celestia onto his back. "Now, show me where your sister is. I want to go give her some kisses too!"

Ground Pound and Starless Night

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Ash sat at the edge of the firelight looking out into the forest. The defenses they had quickly set up were rough, but serviceable. Branches, uprooted thorn bushes, logs, and anything else they could find in the local area, was piled up high around them in a ring that encircled the entire party. Spears and sharpened sticks had been passed around to any pony who could wield one while the foals with their mothers and the other ponies who were unable to fight like Dark’s mother and Grande, with her broken leg, were put in the center near the fire where they would be the safest. They had used the last of their rope to make more torches, but withheld lighting them yet, deciding to save them for later for when they may need them.

Ash sat in the center of the their barrier opening with his ears turned out into the dark. Occasionally, he would hear clicking or the slight rustle of a branch as something heavy moved across it. He had told Mustard, but she assured him that it was just his imagination and not to worry about it, and that he should go to sleep. Despite her assurance, he knew that it wasn't his imagination.They were out there, he knew it. He could feel them out there somehow, moving about but not coming any nearer. It was like they were afraid of coming any closer for some reason. Could it be because of him?

The magic he had felt when he had faced the hydra was still there inside him, waiting for him to summon it to protect the ponies with him. Perhaps that is why they were staying out there rather than attacking them. The spiders somehow sensed that he was there and were afraid. He was worried that they were just waiting for more to come and join them so that they could attack with greater numbers. How much time did they have?

Hoofsteps approached from just behind him. "Ash? What are you doing here? Its not safe to be this far out," Mirage said sternly as she nudged him back with her hoof. "Come away from there and return back to the fire. I want you to sleep with me tonight."

Chapter Thirty Seven

Starless felt the warmth of somepony pressing against her back. She didn't know how long she'd been asleep since she collapsed in the sickroom, but she figured it wasn’t for very long. The large room in the longhouse was still, with the only light coming from the fire-pit in the center of the room. The soft snores of sleeping ponies filled the room with the occasional snort of a pony who had been jabbed by a neighbor when their snoring grew too loud.

Looking over her shoulder, Starless saw Ground's little sister, Snap Dragon, curled up against her with her mother, Tiger Lily, lying just behind her. Being careful not to wake them, Starless quietly got up and slipped away. Taking care not to step on any of the other sleeping ponies that packed the room in long rows, Starless crossed over to the opening into the sickroom and ducked inside.

A small fire-pit set in the center of the floor, illuminated the room with its warm, flickering light as Starless slowly walked through the room. She didn't know why she had come back here; something within her had compelled her to come. Ground Pound was asleep beside his father, his large slumbering body was leaned up against the stone wall. She felt horrible for him. He didn't deserve to come home to something like this.

Gazing down at Hoof Strike, she could see Ground's resemblance to him. The same hard jaw, and the wider set ears that she found so adorable.

"Is there something I can help you with?" a soft voice asked. Stepping lightly over to her was a peach colored mare with a red feather tied into her mane. Despite the scar that marred the side of her muzzle, she was rather pretty. Coming closer, the mare’s eyes widened as she noticed Starless’ horn. "Oh. You're that unicorn Dark brought back."

"I ah... Yes," Starless said, keeping her voice down so she wouldn't wake Ground. "My name is Starless."

The mare curiously examined her for a short time, her eyes filled with speculation. "I'm pleased you meet you, Starless. My name is Dove Song," she greeted her. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Starless shook her head. "I don't know why I came here. I just feel... responsible for what has happened here."

Dove's eyes softened. "It's kind of you to feel this way, but from what I understand of it, you yourself had nothing to really do with the long night."

"When my Matriarch kept the sun from rising to show the world our power," Starless explained, "I felt pride that every creature would witness that the heavens were ours to do with as we wanted, and that they would see their proper place below us." Starless scowled and bitterly shook her head. "I was a fool! Not once did I ever think of the harm our actions were causing to others. All I was thinking of was how much greater we were over them. We have allowed ourselves to grow selfish, cruel, and uncaring of the other ponies."

Dove gazed at her thoughtfully. "Come with me. There is somepony I want to show you," she said, turning away to walk across to the other side of the room.

Following after, Starless was lead to a basket filled with straw. Looking inside, she saw a small lavender colored foal lying asleep on the straw. At first she was perplexed as to why she was showing her the foal when she suddenly noticed that it had a horn. "What the!? A Unicorn foal!?"

"This is Twilight Aurora. She is a unicorn foundling," Dove explained. "She was rejected and cast off by her family to die alone in the woods."

Starless had a sick feeling grow in her gut as she looked down at the filly.

"She was born blind," Dove continued. "You said that the Unicorns have allowed themselves to grow selfish, cruel, and uncaring of the other races. Well, I believe the truth of your statement extends a bit further than just other races."

It was true that foals born with disfigurements like blindness were seen as being below that of a low blood, often times being called an abomination. Such foals were often abandoned out in the wild or just killed outright by their mothers. Starless never bothered to consider the plight of those unfortunate foals. After all, it was seen as merciful to end their suffering.

A magical glow suddenly enveloped the sleeping foal's horn and several gourds were grabbed up by her power and floated up to drift around her basket. Starless blinked down at the foal in surprise. She was sleep-casting! Only the truly talented foals could do that, and never as young as this. Curious about the foal's strength, Starless lowered her horn down and touched it to the filly's.

There was a bright flash of light, and Starless suddenly found herself laying on the ground across the room with the wind knocked out of her lungs. Her back hurt where she had been slammed into the stone wall and Dove’s alarmed shout came to her as if from across a vast chasm. Curled up on the ground, Starless struggled to draw in a breath. The room around her was lit up with a bright light that was coming from the basket holding the unicorn foal.

Ground, having been awaken by the ruckus, rushed over to Starless and helped her to lean up. Starless was finally able to draw in a breath and fill her lungs with much needed air. Using Ground to help support her, Starless climbed back to her hooves and looked around in amazement, magic filled the room and the air glowed with colors. Her mind reeled with what was happening.

Dove, looking around with concern, began to reach into the filly's basket.

"No!" Starless shouted. "Don't touch her!" Rushing over, Starless looked in. The filly's eyes were open and glowing with power that matched her horn. Summoning her magic, Starless cast a shield around the filly, but it instantly shattered as the filly's magic overwhelmed it. Starless was at a loss as to what to do. She had never seen or even heard of a foal with this much magic!

Suddenly, she heard Dove start to sing. It was a simple melody, one meant to sing foals to sleep. Slowly, the filly's magic began to settle down, and as she watched in wonder, Dove reached in and picked the foal up and began to rock her. The red feather tied into Dove's mane glowed with a warm light. Amazed that she was somehow protected from the wild surge of magic from the filly, Starless looked more closely at the red feather and saw that it was a phoenix feather. Where did she get one of those?

With a final flicker, the filly's magic finally died out as her eyes fell closed in slumber.

"What happened?" Ground asked, looking around in confusion.

"I tried to delve her to see how much magic she had," Starless explained. "But somehow I caused her to surge out of control. It's absolutely terrifying how much magic is contained inside her!"

"Would you please keep it down? I'm trying to sleep," a voice called out in complaint.

Ground whirled about in surprise. Hoof Strike was sitting up and rubbing at his eyes. "Papa!" Ground shouted as he rushed over to throw his hooves around his father, hugging him tightly.

Dove and Starless looked around the room in amazement. More and more ponies were sitting up around the room as they woke up. Starless couldn't believe it. The foal revived them!?

"Mama?" a little filly’s voice called out. "Where are you? Does anypony know where my mama is? Mama?"

Dove gasped and quickly settled Aurora back into her basket before rushing over to the red colored filly in the corner. "Strawberry, dear. Don't fret, I'm here."

"Mama?" the filly asked, looking around. "Where am I? There was something at our door, trying to get in. Where's my mama? Mama?"

Starless covered her mouth as tears came to her eyes. She didn't want to hear it. She didn't want to hear what was about to come. She didn't have the courage. Rushing past Ground and his father, Starless headed for the door. Behind her, she continued to hear the filly's increasingly urgent cries for her mother as Dove tried to calm her. What had happened to that filly's family was her fault. She had been a part of it. Not once did she or the Unicorns think of the harm their actions would cause to others. In their arrogance, they believed that they stood above the other lower ponies like the Pegasi and dirt ponies.

Behind her, she heard the heartbreaking cry of a grief stricken filly as she learned the horrible truth that she would never see her mother again.

Rushing through the door, Starless heard Dark and Meadowlark asking what was happening as she heedlessly passed them. Other ponies, roused by the sudden activity, were looking over at her with curiosity. Unable to stand their eyes on her, Starless hurried to the exit. She didn't know where she was going, she just knew that she needed to get away. The sounds of the filly's grief-filled cries followed after her as she ran. They stabbed at her and drove themselves into her.

Bursting outside, Starless ran to the only place she knew she could be alone. Rushing into the nearby washroom, Starless flung a shield spell over the door to keep ponies out and collapsed to the stone ground behind the screen. She curled herself into a ball and wept as she clutched at the pain in her chest.

She hated herself. She was a loathsome creature that didn't deserve the kindness she was given. They should just toss her out and let the spiders take her. Huddled in her misery, she felt something strike her shield. A moment later, it came again, but much harder this time. Her shield quivered under the blow, but managed to hold firm. She didn't know who was trying to get in and she didn't care, just as long as she was left alone. Suddenly, there was a crashing sound as a section of the stone wall was bucked in.

Ground stepped through and looked over at her.

"Leave me alone!" Starless yelled as she pushed herself away from him along the stone ground until she met the far wall.

Ground ignored her as he began to walk toward her.

"No! Don't look at me!" she cried, hiding herself behind her hooves. "Please. I beg you, just go away."

She heard his hoofsteps stop next to her and she tightened herself into a ball. Why did he have to be so stubborn at the worst times! She felt his hooves encircle around her as he drew her in.

"No! Don't touch me!" Starless released a shock bolt into him.

Ground grunted as her spell struck him, but otherwise continued to draw her in.

"Stop! Please stop!" Starless struggled futilely in his grasp. "I'm a monster! I'm no more different than the spiders!" She pounded her hoof against his chest. "I'm a liar! I made that oath with Dark with the intention of breaking it! I'm selfish, prideful, and uncaring! It's my fault that ponies died! I was a part of it! I praised it, and now that poor filly will never... she'll never get to see..." Starless' struggles against him grew weaker. "She'll never..." Unable to finish, Starless buried her face into Ground's chest and began to bawl.

Ground didn't say a word as he held her against his chest, letting her sob into him.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Dark gazed into the basket and watched Aurora sleep. "She revived them? This little foal?"

"Starless seemed just as surprised," Dove answered. "Somehow, when her magic went wild, she cleansed the venom from their bodies."

"I can't believe you let that... mare touch her!" Strongbuck growled.

"Oh, stop your griping," Bell snapped at her surly mate. "She didn't hurt Aurora."

"But she could have!" Strongbuck scowled.

"Where did she go?" Meadowlark asked, looking around.

"She's somewhere private having a... moment." Tiger Lily answered, walking over to them. "My colt is with her right now helping her out."

"How long is she going to be?" Dark asked. "There's some important questions we need to ask her."

"She'll take as long as she needs," Tiger answered simply . "Until she is ready, I will not allow anypony to disturb her." Her eyes flashed at him in challenge.

Dark was smart enough to not press her further. Turning to look across the room, Dark's chest tightened at the sad sight of little Strawberry. "What about her? How is she doing Dove?"

Dove looked back and her eyes filled with grief. "She took the news just as well as you would expect. I gave her some Languorberry juice to get her back to sleep." Turning she looked to Meadowlark. "I would like Celestia to be with her when she wakes back up. It will help her if she has a friend with her."

"Of course," Meadowlark agreed, her voice filled with sadness. "I'll let her know."

Later, as the night sky thickened with heavy clouds that moved in from the south, Dark sat eating his morning meal of oats and dried fruit. Across from him, Hoof Strike looked like he was doing his best to make up for all the meals he missed out on. Sitting before him was a large pile of hay he was happily munching down in great heaping mouthfuls.

"Their raids are sporadic. Some days we don't see a single one, while others, they swarm out like a kicked anthill," Strongbuck explained. "Sentry and Chase have been extremely useful. They somehow sense when they are coming and give us warning."

"And whose idea was it to use rope to protect yourselves?" Dark asked, looking over at a stallion who was carefully wrapping his legs as he prepared to go out to join his watch.

"Interestingly enough, it was Brightstar's mate, Berry Shrub, who thought of the idea," Strongbuck said. "It was the day after the first attack and Brightstar was out working on the defenses, building the fire lines. Berry was here helping to care for the ponies that had been bitten by the spiders, and she began to wonder if there was a way to protect others from the same fate. I just happened to be there with Dove when she suddenly shouted that she had it, and before I knew it, she was dragging me off to the storage house where she began to wind ropes around me. When others asked what she was doing, they also began to help out with their own improvements like weaving the protective cover for the body. When it came to the mask, that one came from Cedar Chips. He had already carved a few to scare the colts and fillies for fun, and Bell, having heard about what was happening, had him make a wolf head for me."

Just then, Dark noticed a pair of older mares approaching him with a younger mare following just behind them. Dark let out a soft sigh, he'd been expecting this. "Excuse us, Herd Father," Morning Sky's mother, Pixie Wink, said coming to a stop. "We're sorry if we're disturbing you, but we wanted to ask you about our foals? We haven't seen them since they left, and we're eager to hear how they've been."

"They haven't been fighting too much have they?" Mustard Seeds mother, Clover Dance, asked, stepping around Pixie. "They do tend to bicker over much and I do hope they managed to keep themselves under control." Behind her, Dandelion Fluff, Mustard's sister, rolled her eyes.

Dark considered telling them what happened to Mustard and Morning, but decided to leave it to the two to break it to their mothers on their own. It was a family matter best left to them to work out. "They had some unexpected challenges along the way," Dark said, choosing his words carefully. "I believe that they discovered some important new things about themselves they never imagined they would find."

The two mothers both began to smile as they suddenly looked relieved. "When will they be coming back?" Clover Dance asked.

"As soon as it gets light enough, we'll be heading out to get them."

"I hope they're all okay out there," Pixie Wink said worriedly. "They must be so scared."

"Mustard knows what to do. If something happens, she can just send Sky back here for help."

"She? You’re talking about Mustard right?" Dandelion Fluff asked.

"Ah... Yes, sorry. A slip of the tongue." Dark confessed hurriedly. "Strongbuck, how about you help me get ready?"

The clouds that had been gathering during the night turned into a light rain by morning. Dark felt the rain soaking into the ropes wrappings that now protected his legs and the added weight dragged at his steps. He found Brightstar with a large group of ponies driving posts into the ground, inter spaced evenly from each other along the inner walls. After a post was driven down, ponies would use axes to cut the posts into sharpened points.

"It won't stop them from getting through, but it should hold the bigger ones back." Brightstar explained as he looked up at Dark. "Their weight is too much for them to climb over and they would only impale themselves if they try."

"Clever. Just like always."

"You going back out?" Brightstar asked.

"It was a risk leaving them out there last night, but there wasn't time before night set in to bring them down," Dark said. "This rain isn't going to help matters either." Dark paused and looked around. "There's going to be a lot more ponies when I return. Do we have room to house them?"

"We'll come up with something," Brightstar assured him with a smile.

Returning back to the longhouse, Dark found a dozen ponies already waiting for him. Standing right in the center was Strongbuck with Ground Pound and Starless by his side. Dark noticed that Starless was standing unusually close to Ground, with her side almost touching his. Did something happen between the two?

"Papa!" A white filly suddenly threw herself around his neck.

Smiling, Dark reached up and hugged his daughter. "Don't worry, sweetie. We'll be back before you know it."

"You promise!?" Celestia asked, still tightly clinging to his neck.

"I promise," Dark said, kissing Celestia before putting her down.

Running to her mother, Celestia grabbed something from her and ran back to Dark. "Here. This is for you!"

Taking the wooden mask she held out to him, Dark turned it over and saw that it was a rather good depiction of a hydra. Smiling at the gift. Dark slipped it over his head and playfully roared at Celestia who squealed and dashed, giggling, back to her mother.

Smiling at the scene, Strongbuck slipped his wolf head on and called out for Chase, who came loping over with his wagging tail to stand by him. "We're all ready to go."

Behind Strongbuck, Dark caught sight of a familiar looking dark blue stallion with a bluejay mask covering his face. Glancing out at the gathered onlookers, Dark saw both Morning's and Mustard's mothers watching from the crowd.

"You can't hide from them forever, you know," Dark quietly said to the stallion.

"There is no way I am facing them right now." Morning answered with a weary shake of his head. "I'll just toss Mustard at them when we get back and then find a good place to hide until it's all over."

Dark shook his head as he turned away. He couldn't tell if Morning was joking or not. "Okay. Let's stop standing around and get a move on!" Dark shouted as he lead the group out.

As they passed by ponies watching them leave, Morning spotted Dandelion Fluff. With a mischievous grin, he tipped his mask up and winked at her as he passed by her with a quick wave of his hoof. Dandelion Fluff blinked at him for a moment in confusion before recognition suddenly flashed across her face. Her eyes grew very wide as her jaw dropped in shock. Letting out a laugh, Morning flipped his mask back down and hurried on, leaving her to gape after him with a dazed look on her face.

The rain continued throughout their trip as they cautiously worked their way through the western woods. Hammers and axes were held ready as ponies warily kept their gaze up into the trees, looking out for any signs of spiders that may be lurking up in the branches. None were spotted as they cautiously crossed through the woods. Dark felt impatient at their slower pace but knew that recklessly rushing forward could mean running headlong into a trap set to ensnare them.

Tired and soaked through with the rain, they finally broke out onto the hilltop clearing. Ahead of them, they could see the hastily built barrier that encircled the top of the hill. As they approached, Dark started to get a sick feeling in his gut as he felt that things didn't seem right. It was too quiet and he didn't see any ponies standing watch for them. Coming closer, they saw that there were numerous holes that had been made through the barrier.

Feeling his gut lurch up to his throat, Dark broke into a run and dashed the rest of the way to the top. Looking like they had been torn to pieces, spider remains littered the ground everywhere. Working his way through the largest opening into the enclosure, Dark found piles of dead spiders strung out in a ring around a large clearing in the center. Broken spears and other weapons littered the ground.

"Mustard!" a panicked sounding Morning shouted, desperately searching around, kicking at the piles of spiders to look under them. "Mustard! Please answer me!"

Dark struggled to control his own rising dread. They were all gone. His sister. His mother. Ash. This was all his fault. He shouldn't have left them!

"Dark!" Strongbuck shouted from outside. "There's something here you need to see!"

Rushing back outside, Dark went around to the side of the enclosure. He found Strongbuck looking down at a row of stones that had been carefully set into a line with the end shaped like a spearhead, pointing off to the north-west.

"They're okay!" Strongbuck exclaimed. "They left this here to let us know where they went!"

"Why would they go that way instead of going south, or back to the herd?" Ground asked.

"Because," Dark said, looking out. "They went to the one place that gave them the best hope to survive."

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Ash lay awake.

Mirage's head was curled around him as she had him tucked up close next to her. Her soft breaths came with a steady rhythm of sleep. It had only been half a day since Dark had left and Mirage was taking her task of watching over him very seriously.

The fire had been built up tall, its flickering light casting shadows onto the surrounding barricade as ponies stood watch through the night. Laying against Mirage, Ash hoped that everypony was okay back home. His thoughts dwelled on Celestia and on how much he missed her.

Suddenly, he noticed that something changed out in the night. For a while he felt a kind of anticipation hanging in the air, but now there was a sense of hungry excitement tinging the wind. Leaping up to his hooves, Ash snatched up his spear and dashed forward. "Wake up everypony! They're coming! Take up your weapons!"

The ponies standing at watch suddenly started to exclaim in alarm as the night began to crawl with spiders. Mustard yelled out orders and ponies quickly began to light torches as others gathered their weapons. Ash ignored Mirage’s frantic calls for him to come back and instead ran to the barricade's entrance.

Around him, Ash could hear fear in ponies voices as they readied themselves to fight for their lives. Within him, Ash could feel his magic rising up like a terrible storm. There were ponies he cared for that needed to be protected. A spider the size of a full grown stallion was the first to charge in.

Gripping his spear, Ash rushed forward to meet it.

"Ash!" Mustard shouted. "What are you doing!? Get back!"

The spider, seeing an easy meal, eagerly clicked its fangs together as it bore down on him.

Facing the spiders charge fearlessly, Ash raised his spear and gripped it tightly in his teeth. A light glow of blue light suddenly burned along his spear like a fire as his magic responded to his conviction to protect the ponies behind him. Thrusting his burning spear forward, it sank almost effortlessly into the spider's body with an angry hiss. With a slash, Ash tore his spear out, ripping the spider's body wide open, spilling its innards out onto the dirt. Collapsing to the ground, the spider kicked its legs into the soil as it died.

Behind him, ponies stared at him in wide-eyed shock as he stepped back from the spider's lifeless body. With his face set as hard stone, Ash readied himself to stand against the coming horde.

"Sky!" Mustard shouted. "I need you to fly out and find Dark! Tell him we need help!"

Sky hesitated and met Dusty's worried gaze for a quick moment, but after he nodded to her and waved for her to go, she reluctantly took off and flew off into the night, disappearing into the darkness.

Spiders began to swarm in through gaps in the barricade. Standing in the thickest part, Ash thrust and slashed as they came into his reach, each time he struck, spiders were torn apart by his burning spear. Broken from their surprise, ponies rushed forward and joined him in the fight.

"Tighten up the line! Don't let them slip through!" Mustard ordered. "Happy! I need you over there! They are trying to dig through the barricade! Dusty, watch your hooves! Mosswood, help Happy block up that hole!"

Bodies were starting to pile up around Ash as he furiously fought to keep them back. His flaming spear whirled about as he struck over and over again. There were so many! Thrusting his spear into a spider that was twice his size, Ash caught sight of another coming up on him from the side! Before he could react, a large branch knocked the spider away with a crack. Looking up, he was surprised to find Mirage standing over him with an angry look in her eyes.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again!" she said down at him furiously. "I swear! Seeing you running right at that spider nearly stopped my heart!" Swinging her club again, she smashed another spider away, sending it sailing back into the barricade. "After all this is done. We are going to have a long talk."

Suddenly, an enormous spider, bigger than any they had seen before, appeared out of the night. Pausing just outside the barricade entrance, it let out a series of loud clicks to the attacking spiders. Immediately, they ceased their assault and scurried away, back into the darkness. The massive spider looked down at Ash with its multiple eyes and Ash saw an intelligence in them. This spider wasn't just some unthinking monster. It knew what it was doing. Swinging its great bulk around, it silently vanished back into the night.

Ponies gazed around in a daze. They had somehow survived and the idea of it was finally sinking in. Their victory had come at a price though. Dusty carefully lay an unconscious Tranquil Charm down next to Mosswood, a young mare named Prim Primrose, and Gravel Biter, who were all in the same state.

Worried ponies began to murmur fearfully to each other.

"What happened?" a confused Pebble Steam asked, looking around. "Why did they leave?"

"It doesn't matter why," Grass Stem answered gruffly. "Just be thankful they did."

"We have to get out of here!" a mare said fearfully.

"She's right! We can't stay!" another pony added.

"We should go down to the settlement! We'll be safe there!" a third pony shouted.

"No! Don't you get it! They're all gone! The spiders have taken them and now they're going to get us!

"Quiet everypony!" Mustard shouted glaring about. "Panicking is not going to help anything."

"But what are we going to do!?"

"Yeah!"

Mustard gazed around at all the scared faces that were looking back at her for her leadership. Quickly, she ran through her options. If they stayed, the spiders would just keep coming until they eventually overwhelmed them. And even when Sky gets the message back to Dark, he wouldn't be able to come back until after the morning. So that left where they should go. Trying for the settlement would be foolish. There was a lot of dark forest between here and there that the spiders could easily ambush them from. Even with torches to light their way, the spiders could still just rain down on them from the treetops. And if they were able to make it back, they may just find the settlement a worse place to be than here.

If they couldn't stay, and they couldn't go to the settlement, where could they go? Suddenly a thought came to her. "Happy. How far is it to that old wolf den?"

"Not terribly far," Happy answered. "It'll mean travel'n further from the settlement if you are think'n of us go'n there."

"As I remember it, there was a long clearing that ran almost to it."

"Aye. That there be," Happy said with a knowing nod. "It starts just to the north of here and runs up between the next two hills, pass'n right by the den."

"Everypony! Gather what you can. Especially food and water. We're leaving," Mustard ordered. "We don't have time to make litters so I need ponies to help carry the four bitten ponies on their backs." Reaching down, Mustard nipped little Acorn Shells' crest and lifted him onto his mother's back, then gave the adorable colt a quick nuzzle to help settle her nerves.

In quick order, everypony was ready to go. Dusty, with Tranquil Charm settled onto his back walked next to the litter that carried a worried looking Grand Vista, with Dark's mother being carried just behind on her litter. She had tried to volunteer to be left behind so that Tranquil could be carried on her litter, but Dusty had flat out refused to let her before carefully lifting the stricken unicorn mare onto his own back.

Mustard and Happy worked quickly to set marker stones to let Dark know where they are going. Once they were done, they took up their torches and joined the rest of the waiting ponies.

"Everypony stay together and keep a sharp eye out. We'll need to cross through a short section of trees to get to the clearing so we'll need to be careful walking through there," Morning explained. "We are heading to a wolf den where we should be safe. Once we're inside, we'll seal up the openings and wait until Sky brings Dark back."

After one last check to make sure they all understood, Mustard turned and lead them down the hill where they all disappeared into the trees. As their flickering torchlight faded away, the hilltop behind them began to crawl with shadows.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Celestia sat quietly next to Strawberry Zest.

Despite being awake, Strawberry showed no interest in anything around her. Laying on her mat, she stared off blankly at the wall, refusing to look at anypony who tried to talk to her nor to eat any of the food that sat next to her, untouched.

Celestia felt so helpless. Dove had told her that the best thing she could do for Strawberry right now was to be there for her, but Celestia wished that she could do more. What use is having magic if you couldn't use it to help others in pain? Closing her eyes she let her senses flow free. She could feel a cold desolation inside Strawberry. Her once brightly burning star was shrouded in shadow and pain.

Celestia recoiled from the vast sorrow that encompassed her friend and she fled away in tears, unable to bear it.

Chapter Thirty Eight

The night grew darker as clouds began to move in. Holding up the few torches they had left to cast their light as far as they could, they cautiously worked their way down the long clearing to the wolf den. With just two litters to carry ponies, they were forced to carry the injured on their backs while the mothers gave their foals over to Grand Vista, to be carried with her on her litter so they could take up the few weapons they had left to ready themselves to defend their young.

Suddenly, Ash nearly dropped his spear when he felt his tail get yanked as he was lifted up and tossed onto Mirage's back. "Okay, you. We are going to have a talk about what exactly just happened back there on the hill."

"Yeah," Mustard added, stepping up beside Mirage. "What was with that weird burning spear of yours, huh?"

Shifting awkwardly, Ash looked between the two as they both waited for him to answer. "Papa told me not to talk about it."

"Really!? My brother told you that!?" Mirage said, sounding angry. "Well. I'll have to have a long talk with him about that later. In the meantime, considering what is happening, I think it will be okay for you to talk to us."

Ash thought about it and decided that she was probably right. "Alright, I guess it'll be okay. You've both probably guessed this already, but I have magic."

"Like a unicorn's magic?" Mustard asked.

Ash shook his head. "No. I don't think so. Mine seems to be more like a thunderstorm full of rage and fury. Rising up through my need to protect others."

Mirage looked thoughtful. "That's both interesting and terrifying."

"It feeds on my love and desire to save ponies I care for," Ash explained. "The stronger I feel for them and the more I want to save them, the stronger the magic is. That is how I was able to kill the hydra with just one hit. I loved Papa that much."

"I could never get a clear answer from the others with what had happened out there," Mustard mused out loud. "All they would tell me was that Dark fought it and we didn't have to worry about it anymore."

"Papa told them not to talk about it."

"That adds something else to talk to my brother about," Mirage said with a scowl.

"I'm sorry for scaring you when I rushed out," Ash apologized to Mirage. "I didn't mean to do that to you. I just acted without thinking."

"I understand. Just don't make a habit of it, okay?" Mirage said looking over at him. "You may have some powerful magic, but you're also just a colt. We can't help but worry over you."

Ash was about to reply when he noticed a change in the air. "They're coming!"

"What!? Where? Mustard asked, hurriedly looking around.

"I can't tell," Ash said, shaking his head. "There's a strong hunger in the air. We need to hurry up."

Mustard gave him a funny look then quickly had them all pick up their pace. Skirting along the edge of the trees, they started to see dark shadows moving through the branches from their torchlight. Fearful murmurs spread through the ponies as they looked about into the darkness.

They were getting close to the wolf den, but with the spiders following with them, they would never be able to cross through the trees to get to the opening. Ash saw only one way to get the ponies to safety. As he prepared to leap off of Mirage's back, she seemed to sense something and her head whipped around to give him a hard look. "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm sorry, but I have to!" Ash pleaded. "They won't make it into the den unless somepony distracts the spiders and leads them away!"

"And you think you will be running in there all alone to do that!?"

Ash struggled with how to answer, feeling like Mirage wouldn't like any answer he might give.

Suddenly, Mirage turned and trotted off towards the woods.

"Mirage! What are you doing!?" Mustard shouted, seeing them breaking off from the group.

"We're going to give you some time! Make sure you get them all to safety!" Mirage answered. Then she glanced back at a surprised Ash, "I won't let you go in there alone, so let's do this together. Hold on tight!"

Ash threw his hooves around Mirage's turquoise neck as she leapt forward. His heart began to hammer in his chest as they approach the dark woods. At the last moment, Mirage swung to the side. "Hay! Bug brains! You want a good meal!? Then try eating this!" she said giving her rump a playful wiggle before bolting forwards at a breakneck pace. Behind them the forest suddenly erupted spiders as they all gave chase.

Ash held onto Mirage tightly as she ran. The night around them was alive with crawling masses of shadows. Without any torches to light up the night, it was difficult for them to make out the pursuing spiders and Mirage nearly ran right into them. Swerving away just in time, they found themselves running right into the forest!

Plunging through the dark trees, they both felt branches brushing across their coats. Terrified, Mirage screamed as something slapped her across the face. "I can't see! Where do I go!?"

Ash could hear scratching all around them as he strained to see a way out. If only they had some light! An idea suddenly came to him. Thinking quickly, he wondered if it would even be possible? He wasn't even sure how he had done it the first time! Closing his eyes, Ash thought back to his spear. Earlier that night, his magic had flowed into it as he used it to fight, making it unbreakable as it burned its way into the spiders bodies. Please let this work!

Suddenly, Mirage's body burst into blue fire! The dark forest lit up around them as they streaked through the trees like a blazing star through the sky! Just ahead of them, a giant web appeared out of the darkness. Unable to turn in time, Mirage screamed as she ran right into it! Instead of being caught in its sticky lines, the webbing burned away the moment it touched her.

Passing through without even feeling it, Mirage suddenly let out a ecstatic laugh. "Is this your magic!?" she asked excitedly. "It feels amazing! It tingles all over!"

Leaping through the branches or scurrying through the undergrowth, the spiders continued to pursue them. Mirage laughed in glee as she wove her way through the trees, staying just ahead of them. More and more webs were appearing around as the spiders attempted to trap them, but Mirage simply ran right through them.

It was like a game. Mirage would run in circles leading the spiders through a merry chase then break away as she wiggled her rump at them. Holding his spear in his teeth, Ash would thrust and slash as they passed, killing those that got too close. It was when they circled around for third time that an unseen spider suddenly jumped off a tree right at Ash, catching him by surprise.

Ash just managed to bring his spear to bear to impale it when its body continued to fall into him, knocking him back off of Mirage's back. The moment he left Mirage's back everything went dark as his magic suddenly left her. Slamming into the ground, Ash felt the wind get knocked out of him as he tumbled to a stop. Unable to see where she was going, Mirage let out a pained scream when she smashed painfully into a tree and collapsed to the ground.

"Ash!?" Mirage shouted out for him. "It's too dark, I can't find you!"

Unable to answer her, Ash writhed on the ground trying to drag a breath back into his lungs.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Skye knew she was in trouble.

She couldn't believe how stupid she was, flying right into a web like she did. At first, she panicked and struggled to get out, terrified that at any moment a spider would be crawling out to get her, but that only trapped her further into the sticky lines. Panting for breath, it took Skye a long, petrified moment to realize that nothing was coming.

Feeling relieved, Skye took an even longer moment to calm herself back down. Looking around, she saw that she was suspended high up between two trees. The webbing she was stuck to was too strong for her to break out of with her meager strength. The tree branches on either side of her were too far for her to reach and calling out for help would most likely bring spiders down on her rather than any actual help.

Feeling cold and scared, Skye did the only thing she could and stayed as still as possible, hoping to remain unnoticed. Her thoughts turned to Dusty. Would she ever see him again? Tears slowly began to drip off her muzzle as she silently wept. Her carelessness had killed him, and all the other ponies she had left behind. She failed to bring them help. At any moment, she'll feel the webbing move as a spider returns to collect its catch.

The night became dark as clouds moved in. She dozed off and on for a time and the sky slowly grew brighter as morning approached. A light rain began to drizzle, soaking her through. Normally, she enjoyed a good rain, but this time, it only made her feel worse. Shivering and soaked, Skye wondered how much longer she had.

Her foal suddenly shifted in her stomach, causing her to gasp. It was such a little thing, a quick twinge that could be mistaken for gas. Such a tiny thing that meant so much. A new life was growing within her. Skye's heart began to beat hard in her chest. She needed to escape! If her foal was going to live, she needed to find a way to get out of the webbing before it was too late!

Looking around in the soft light of the coming morning, Skye spotted something she didn't see during the night. One of the trees had been struck by lightning at some point in the past and the top few lengths of the tree was burned scarred and dead. One of the strands of the web that held her was attached to that section of the tree!

With new hope rising within her, Skye carefully examined the dead tree-top and saw that it was partly rotten. Would it be possible to break it free? It would be dangerous. If it fell, it would drop down through the webbing and instead of freeing her, it may drag her down to her death far below on the hard ground.

As hard as she could, Skye pulled at her attached foreleg. The treetop bent slightly but otherwise held firm. Resting for a short bit, she tried again to the same result. Letting out a whimper of despair after trying for a third time, she saw that it wasn't going to work. Thinking for a bit, she thought of another idea. Instead of just trying to pull it down with sheer strength, she instead began to pull and release in a steady pattern that soon had the tree-top swaying back and forth.

Heartened, Skye continued, and soon she heard some light cracking sounds as it swayed. It was working! As she worked to increase the treetop’s sway, Skye suddenly noticed a scratching sound coming from below her. With her heart leaping up into her throat, Skye realized that a spider had noticed her actions and was now climbing up to get her!

Holding back her panic as best she could, Skye increased her efforts to free herself. The tree-top was now swaying so much, it was causing the whole tree to move. The scratching sound got louder as the spider climbed closer. Suddenly, Skye felt the webbing vibrate under her. Looking down, she saw a spider, a little larger than she was, walking out onto the web, its fangs clicking.

It was only moments away from reaching her! With a cry, Skye yanked down as hard as she could. A deep crack broke through the morning air as the tree-top teetered alarmingly over them. After a moment, it suddenly stopped and hung there, suspended at a sharp angle just above the web. The spider had paused, looking up in alarm at the hanging tree-top. When it appeared that the tree-top had settled, the spider resumed its eager advance on Skye.

Crying in frustration and fear, Skye tried to pull the tree-top down, but the web had grown slack. Seeing a branch, Skye desperately threw her hoof up and just managed to hook the slack web over it. "Please, fall!" she cried out as she yanked down.

The tree-top sagged down for a brief moment, then another crack snapped in the air as it finally broke free and tumbled down. The spider let out a loud clicking hiss as the tree-top ripped through the webbing. Skye screamed as she was dragged down toward the ground. Wrapping her hooves around her belly, Skye tried to protect her foal as she crashed down through the lower branches.

Just as she was about to smash into the ground, Skye was suddenly yanked by the webbing as it snagged onto a branch, feeling her fur being torn off as she was ripped free. Skye screamed in agony as her her left wing was violently jerked back as she came to a stop, dangling a few lengths from the ground by just her one wing.

Feeling like her wing was about to rip out of her body, Skye struggled to free herself from the last strand of webbing. Whimpering with the pain, Skye managed to tear herself free, pulling out a large portion of her wing-feathers in the process. Dropping to the ground, Skye huddled painfully in the dirt, thankful that she was alive.

With tears in her eyes, Skye managed to climb back onto her unsteady hooves. Unable to fold her left wing back up, she was forced to let it hang down along her side as she started to make her way out. She nearly screamed when she came to the spider. It was digging at the soil as it attempted to pull its grotesque body out from under a section of the tree-top that had it pinned.

Looking around, Skye picked up a broken branch and carefully approached the struggling spider. When it saw her, the spider stopped struggling and looked up at her in what appeared to be fear. Hefting her branch up, Skye gazed down at the spider with hard eyes.

"You have taken everything from me," she said down to the spider. Her voice as cold as winter. "You took my flock!" She lifted her branch and slammed it down onto its outstretched legs, snapping them. "You took my mommy!" Lifting her branch, Skye smashed it back down onto the spider's body, cracking its shell. "You took them all and left me with nothing!" Her branch descended again with a sickening crunch. "Now you're trying to take my friends! My mate! And even my foal!" With each declaration she smashed her club down onto the spider's head and body, splattering ichor all over her coat with each impact. "All the lives you destroyed! All the loved ones never to be seen again! This is for them all!" she screamed out as she rained blows down onto it. Finally, Skye paused a moment as she stared down at the twitching spider, her branch held up high. "And this is for me!" With a final effort, she brought her club down as hard as she could, crushing its head in.

Panting from her exertion, Skye dropped her club and slowly staggered away. She needed to make it back and get help. Dusty and the others were counting on her.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

"Mirage!" Ash managed to shout as he gasped for breath. In the darkness, he could hear the skittering sounds of spiders as they closed in on them. Desperately, he tried to summon his magic, but he couldn't focus his will enough. Staggering back up onto his hooves, he felt his hoof kick his dropped spear. Quickly snatching it up in his teeth, Ash searched the darkness for any sign of Mirage.

"Ash!" Mirage's terrified voice called out to him from the dark.

Reacting to his intense worry for Mirage, his magic suddenly began to stir within him. Blue flames sprung up along his spear lighting up the darkness around him. Rushing towards where he had heard Mirage's calls Ash found her caught in a web. Noticing movement above her, Ash saw a spider descending down a line. Mirage spotted it and let out a terrified scream as it dropped down at her.

Lunging forward, Ash's spear flared angrily in his grasp as he raced towards Mirage. Leaping up as high as he could, Ash stabbed his spear into the spider, easily piercing its body with his magic imbued spear. Ripping his spear free, Ash slashed at the web, cutting Mirage free.

"Ash. I hurt my shoulder when I ran into that tree," Mirage said in a strained voice. "I don't think I can run. I want you to leave without me! Go quickly before they get here! Go!"

Ash stubbornly shook his head, unwilling to leave her to die. He needed to think of something fast! He thought about his magic and how it worked. He couldn't buck the spiders away like he did with the hydra, there was just too many of them, and he couldn't use his magic imbued spear for the same reason. He needed to do something, but what!? Thinking about how his magic kept his spear from breaking, a realization suddenly came to him. The true nature of his magic!

All around them, spiders started to appear from the dark as they rushed in toward them. They were out of time! Pressing himself close to Mirage, Ash closed his eyes to focused his will on his need and pushed out with his magic.

Ash felt a strange roaring surge rush out of him that caused his head to swim for a moment. All around him, he suddenly heard pained hisses and clicks of spiders as they encountered something they didn't expect. Feeling Mirage quivering against him in terror, Ash slowly opened his eyes. Blue flames completely surrounded them, wrapping around and even above them in a fiery dome that encased them inside!

Looking through the wall, Ash could see spiders recoiling from the barrier as it burned them. He did it! It worked! Ash let out a explosive breath of relief.

Behind him, Mirage whimpered in fear as she huddled away from the flames. "What did you do!? You're going to burn us!"

"It's okay. You're safe," Ash assured her. "It won't hurt you. It was made to protect you."

Slowly, Mirage lifted her head and looked around. "Are you sure?"

In answer, Ash pointed down. "Look, it's not burning the grass. It only hurts the spiders."

Mirage carefully looked around, and even picked up a stick and stuck it into the flames to see if it would burn. Finally convinced, Mirage sat up and looked down at Ash. "So now what? We wait until they go away?"

Ash thought about it as he watched the spiders gather about just at the edge of his barrier with more sitting up in the trees. "I don't think they're going to leave." Already, spiders were weaving webs between the trees to hold them there.

"Oh my..." Mirage said worriedly. "Are we trapped?"

"I think I can make the barrier move," Ash said. "It will take a lot of my concentration, but I believe that I can do it."

Mirage picked him up and set him onto her back. "Alright. Let me know when you're ready." She rolled her injured shoulder with a pained grunt.

Ash thought he had it figured out. It was just a matter of focusing on a center. It turned out harder than he thought. His first attempt nearly tore the barrier apart. After working through what had gone wrong, Ash managed to un-root the barrier from the ground.

At first Mirage had to walk slowly as he concentrated on keeping the barrier from falling apart. The spiders followed along with them, staying just outside the barriers edge. A few times, they came across webbing that had been strung up in their path but they proved to be no problem as they simply walked right through them.

By the time they arrived back at the edge of the clearing, it had started to rain. Suddenly they found their way was blocked as a massive spider moved out of the dark, stopping just before them. It was the same one he had seen on the hill. It was absolutely enormous, standing before them like a small hill.

It stared down at them with unblinking eyes as it seemed to consider them. After a moment, it let out a series of quick clicks and hisses to the spiders around them and they all quickly vanished back into the darkened forest.

Alone, Ash and Mirage let out a long breath of relief. Breaking out of the trees, Mirage quickened her pace into a limping trot that put some distance between them and the forest. Once they were far enough away from danger, Ash's barrier dissolved away leaving Ash with only enough magic to light up the tip of his spear.

"Where is the wolf den?" Mirage asked.

"I've never been there, but I heard that if you continue down the clearing until you can hear the rumble of the rapids, then cut east, into the trees, we should find it a short ways in."

"Right," Mirage said with a nod. "Then let's get going. This rain looks like it's not going to let up for a while."

Mirage managed a rather steady trot, despite her injured shoulder. By the time they heard the sound of the rapids ahead of them, they were thoroughly soaked and shivering with the cold. Turning to the side, Mirage paused next to the trees to give her head a quick shake to throw the water off. Stepping into the trees they carefully made their way through.

Ahead, a small, flickering light appeared. Stepping out of the trees into a small clearing, they found a low burning torch stuck into the ground next to a small opening in a rock face.

"There they are!" Ash exclaimed. "We made it!"

"Oh thank the stars," Mirage said in relief. She started forward but Ash suddenly grabbed a tuft of her mane and pulled back, stopping her. "Ow! Why did you-?"

She stopped when she saw the look on Ash's face. Looking back around, she saw dark shapes climbing down through the rocks of the hill.

"Oh my! They're here!" Mirage moaned.

"Hurry run!" Ash shouted, his spear suddenly erupting into blue flames.

Mirage lunged forward into the best run she could manage. Ahead of them they could see Mustard stepping out to wave at them as they approached. Right above her, spiders were scurrying down the rocks at an alarming rate!

"Mustard! Above you!" Mirage shouted.

Mustard paused her waving to look up. She gave a startled squawk and lunged back just in time as a spider dropped down right where she had been standing a moment before. Charging in, Ash thrust his spear into it as Mirage swung him around. Seeing another one dropping down, Ash reversed his swing, and slashed it to the side.

"Hurry! Get inside!" Mustard shouted from just inside. Mirage didn't hesitate and bolted into the opening. Once inside, ponies began to pile rocks into the opening to block it up.

Ash leapt off of Mirage's back and looked around. Huddled up against the back side of the den, he could see mothers clutching their frightened foals to themselves as they murmured and whispered to them, trying to settle them down. Grand Vista sat over Tranquil Charm, gripping a broken spear in her teeth as she prepared to keep the spiders from taking the young mare. Gravel Biter and the other incapacitated ponies were laid out with the three stallions from his old herd, guarding them with clubs made of picked up branches.

At the opening, Dusty and other ponies were desperately trying to block it up with stones as others held the spiders back with the few remaining spears they had. Seeing the fear and desperation around him as they all struggled to stay alive, Ash felt his magic welling up inside him as it drew on his desire to save them.

Walking to the center of the den, Ash sat down and closed his eyes. The magic within him was stronger the greater his feelings were for those he wanted to protect. Drawing on his love for all the ponies around him, he fed it into the growing storm of power raging inside him.

Blue flames erupted over his coat and his mane and tail floated up with a luminous glow. A bright spot appeared on his chest right over his heart and a small blue colored gem with a bright light shining in its core, rose out to slowly rotate just before him in the air.

Shivering with the strain, Ash focused his will and pushed the magic out. The surge of magic that thundered out of him made him feel like every fiber of his being was about to fly apart. His will began to tear under the pressure and it took a monumental effort to keep his mind intact.

The blue flames just like the ones covering his body suddenly flared out from the gem across the chamber. Ponies cried out in terror as mothers covered their foals from the blast. The wrath of the blue flames touched none of them as it passed through, burning spiders instantly to ash.

Agony ripped through Ash's mind and turned everything white. His will wavered and nearly shattered. The strain of it was almost too much. Suddenly, a face appeared out of the white agony that filled his mind. The image of Celestia smiling at him with warmth in her eyes.

Mirage blinked her dazzled eyes at what had just happened. Looking back at Ash, she saw him sitting unmoving in the center of the den. Floating just before him, a blue gem blazed with power and filled the room with its light. Was that the source of his magic? Mirage wondered, rubbing at her eyes.

"What happened!?" Mustard asked. "What did he do!?"

"Mustard!" Dusty called out from the partially blocked opening. "You need to look at this!"

Mustard, followed by Mirage, quickly rushed to the opening and looked out. What they saw made their jaws drop. "Oh my stars."

The same barrier that Ash had made in the forest now surrounded the entire wolf den!

⚜⚜⚜⚜

"There you are," Dove said, finding Celestia huddled into a nook in the wall. "What are you doing here? Strawberry needs you."

Celestia was too ashamed to look up. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying.

"What's the matter?" Dove asked, sounding concerned.

Celestia shook her head as new tears began to form. "I tried to help her. I tried to use my magic, but when I touched her, I felt... The pain I felt inside her was too much." She buried her face into her hooves, "I... I couldn't stand it... I..." she couldn't finish.

Dove let out a light sigh. When she spoke, her voice was soft and comforting. "I understand. The pain of loss cuts deep and wounds the heart terribly. The pain of it is excruciating. I felt this each time I lost a foal. And each time it happened, I had a friend there to help me through the grief. Bell would hold me and let me cry into her until my tears ran dry. She was there for me through all of it, and each time I wept into her, I'm sure she was hurting inside as well."

"She was?" Celestia peeked up at her.

"Of course she was." Dove brushed Celestia's mane back from her eyes. "When a friend is hurting, it hurts them both. It's through this sharing that the true healing can begin."

Celestia thought about what she said and felt a little better. Wiping her messy nose onto the back of her hoof she slowly climbed out of her little niche. "I think... I want to be there for her. I don't want her to hurt alone."

Dove smiled down at her as she wiped her tear soaked cheeks dry with the back of her leg. "There, there. That's a brave filly. It's going to hurt, but just remember to stay strong for her."

"Umm... we want to help too," Misty Glen said, stepping out of the shadows.

"Yeah. She's our friend too," Tulip Blossom added, stepping up next to Misty with Soft Step, Bumble Bee, and Pine Blossom joining up alongside them.

Running to them, they all gathered around her and gave her a collective embrace. Together, they all discussed how they would help Strawberry. Soon after, they all left to gather a few things and quickly returned.

Strawberry looked like she hadn’t moved since Celestia had run away. She was still laying on her mat, staring off blankly at the wall just as she was before. "Strawberry? I'm sorry for leaving you alone. I'm back, and I promise I won't go again," Celestia said, sitting back down next to her. "Look who also came."

"I ah... got you some strawberries," Tulip said stepping forward and setting down a full basket." I know how much you love them."

"And I brought you some honey," Bumble Bee added, setting down a gourd filled with the golden treat. Bumble Bee was the only one the bees would allow to take their honey. She said the reason for it was because they like it when she sings to them. On her flanks was a bee flying around some brightly assorted flowers.

"I brought my comb," Soft Step said holding it up. "If you want, I could brush your mane and tail out.”

Misty quietly stepped closer and set a tall gourd filled with meadow flowers down beside Strawberry, "I thought you might like something pretty to look at."

Pine Blossom hopped in place as she held up her own gourd. "I brought gaming stones in case you want to play."

Strawberry slowly turned and looked up at them. Blinking at them for a moment, she then rolled back over. "Go away. I want to be left alone."

It was the first words Celestia had heard from her all day and the first time she seemed to take notice of others. "Please, Strawberry. They just want to make you feel better."

"I don't want to feel better." Strawberry muttered sullenly. "I just want to be left alone."

Celestia knew that trying to push her wasn't going to help matters. "Soft Step, I can use some help getting these knots out of my mane. Do you mind?" she asked, settling down next to Strawberry.

"Hey, have you ever tried strawberry dipped in honey?" Bumble Bee asked, looking over at Tulip.

"No. Have you?"

"Nope. Lets try it and see!"

Eagerly, the two sat down together. Each of them selected a strawberry and dipped it into the honey.

"Come on Misty. Let's play Foxes and Rabbits." Pine Blossom said, dragging Misty over to a nearby spot to play. "I'll be purple."

Tulip and Bumble Bee both let out moans of delight as they both popped their honey covered morsels into their mouths and slowly chewed. Celestia thought the two were being too obvious with their teasing. She glanced at Strawberry to see what her reaction was and noticed that her ear was twitching. A few moments later, Celestia smiled when she heard rather obvious stomach growl coming from Strawberry.

Meeting Tulip, and Bumble Bees' gazes, Celestia nodded at them to continue. Selecting another couple of strawberries, they dipped them and slid them into their mouths. Giving Celestia a wink, Tulip let out an even louder moan followed by Bumble Bee as the two began to roll on the ground in apparent bliss.

Both of Strawberry's ears began to twitch erratically as her stomach let out another long growl. Slowly, Strawberry lifted her head and looked back over her shoulder.

Celestia was waiting for that. Reaching out, she slid the basket and honey closer to Strawberry. "Would you like to try one?"

At first, it looked like Strawberry was about to refuse, but then hesitated as she licked her lips.

"Here. I'll get one for you," Bumble Bee said. Taking a strawberry out of the basket, she dipped it into the honey before offering it to Strawberry.

Celestia held her breath as Strawberry gazed at it with obvious interest.

Reaching out her hoof, Strawberry allowed Bumble Bee to deposit the sweetened treat onto it. Holding it up, she took a small bite out of it. Chewing for a long bit, Strawberry lips softened as a smile slowly appeared. It was tiny and weak, but a smile none the less. Every filly in the room let out a soft breath at the same time when they saw it.

Finishing off the rest of it, Strawberry prepared another one and ate that one too. One by one, she worked her way through the basket until it was empty. Turning her attention to the honey, she licked the gourd until it was clean.

After that, Celestia and Soft Step moved over to brush her mane and tail while she silently watched Pine and Misty play Foxes and Rabbits against Tulip and Bumble Bee.

"Pine?" Strawberry suddenly said, breaking a long silence. "What was it like to die?"

The odd question caught Pine by surprise and she dropped her gourd, spilling her playing stones across the mat. Celestia and the other fillies all froze in utter shock, surprised that she would ask something like that.

Pine had never spoken of what had happened to her when she drowned. She had always refused to answer when she was asked before.

Pine stared down at her spilled stones, her eyes gazing beyond them. "I remember... being in the water. My lungs staining painfully for air as I grew weaker. Everything around me slowly faded to darkness." Pine stopped at this point. Every filly leaned forward as they waited for her to continue. "It's hard to remember what happened after. I’m sure there was a light. It surrounded me and filled me with... peace. There was... somepony there with me too. Somepony with eyes filled with kindness and love. There were others there as well. I couldn't see them, but I knew they were there in the light, waiting to welcome me among them. The pony with the wonderful eyes spoke to me. I don't remember what the pony said, but I remember feeling really sad because I had to go. The pony then kissed me and I woke up back home. I don't know if what I saw was a dream or not. I like to think it was real.”

Tears slowly trickled down Strawberry's muzzle. "Thank you."

Celestia reached out and touched Strawberry and was surprised when she suddenly let out a cry and whirled about to bury her face into her chest. Wrapping her hooves around Strawberry, Celestia held her as she wept great heaving sobs into her. The other fillies moved in around them to offer their comforting touches as well.

With her cheek pressed against the top of Strawberry's head, Celestia closed her eyes and relaxed, letting her senses open up to her friends. All around her she sensed brightly colored stars pulsing with love and affection for their grief stricken friend. In the center was a red star whose light was dimmed with grief and pain. Even though she knew it would hurt, Celestia reached out and embraced it, allowing Strawberry's pain to flow into her. With a flicker, Strawberry's red star lost a bit of its shadow and brightened.

Suddenly, Celestia noticed that there was another star with Strawberry's. Opening her eyes, Celestia saw Gooseberry Patch, Strawberry's mother, standing just before them. Bending her head down, she kissed Strawberry on the top of her head. Lifting her head back up, she looked at Celestia and smiled. "Please tell my daughter I love her."

A moment later, she faded like mist and was gone. Celestia felt her leaving, her star slipping off to somewhere else. None of the others around her seemed to notice what had happened and Celestia wondered if she was the only one who saw her?

Standing in the doorway, Dove, with little Aurora clutched to her chest, stood next to Meadowlark. "I'm glad she can finally cry."

"Yes," Meadowlark agreed softly, holding Luna up to nuzzle her fuzzy head. "It's heartbreaking, but necessary for her to heal. I am so proud of them."

“Pine’s story about what happened to her in the river,” Dove said. “I believe her. When I was a filly, one of the older mare’s had a terrible fit and collapsed. When she came to, the left side of her face was droopy and she described something much like what Pine had just described. She said she had gone to the stars. The rest of the mares scoffed at her, saying that her fit had addled her mind. She always insisted that it was real.”

A sudden commotion behind them drew their attention to a strange scene. Tiger Lily was marching by with a loudly complaining Journey Stomp clamped firmly in her mouth by his tail.

"You foolish little colt!" Tiger muttered angrily. "I have no idea how you were born without the same sensibilities as Ground and Snap. Seriously. What were you thinking trying to sneak out past the wall!?"

"But, Mama ! I'm not a little foal anymore!" Journey said as he dangled down. "I can fight!"

"Getting snatched by those spiders more likely!" Tiger let out a snort. "I don't know how you convinced Mighty Oak, Glum Drollery, and Toadstool to follow along with this stupidity. You're all lucky that you were caught before making it outside the walls or else things would be going very differently for you right now."

"We were only caught because Toadstool got scared and told on us when he ran away!"

"I don't want to hear it!" Tiger snapped angrily. "You've been running wild for much too long. I've hardly seen you in days and that's going to change right now! For the rest of the day you will not be leaving my side," Tiger said. "And tonight, you will be sleeping with me. It's been much too long since I've had a good cuddle with you."

"But, Mama!"

"But no!" Tiger barked. "There will be no more arguing this, you hear?"

"Yes, Mama," Journey grumbled.

“Meadowlark!” Birch Bark called out as he rushed over to her with Greenhoof following just behind. Meadowlark gasped in horror when she saw what was draped over Greenhoof’s back. “Its Skye! She’s hurt!”

Chapter Thirty Nine

Dark was in a dark mood. Sitting in the damp, rain-soaked grass, he stared across the clearing at a mass of web-filled trees. Ponies, aware of his foul mood, stayed well clear of him as he considered the problem before them.

When they had arrived that afternoon, they had found that the wolf den had been completely surrounded by a wall of thick webbing that made it impossible to even see through, let alone get a pony through.

The fate of those trapped inside was unknown. Dark trusted that Mustard and the others would have done the smart thing and sealed up the den's opening. The question now was how to get them out. The spiders had taken up residence in the forest surrounding the den and the rain had soaked everything, making it difficult to use fire.

Dark could only blame himself. He shouldn't have gone rushing back to the settlement like he had. It was because he had acted thoughtlessly that things were like this.

Nearby, Starless had her head close to Ground and was murmuring something to him.

"Do you have something new?" Dark asked.

Starless gave a startled jump. "Ah... well, I'm not sure if it's important, but... my horn is itchy."

"Itchy?" Dark lifted an eyebrow. He had no idea a Unicorn’s horn could get itchy..

"Ah... yes." She reached up to rub her horn. "It happens whenever I'm around strong magic."

Just then, Strongbuck trotted over with Chase following by his side.

"Well? What did you find?" Dark asked, turning his attention to the stallion.

"We circled all the way around and found no way in." Strongbuck answered with a shake of his head. "Even the opening that Bell fell into is unreachable."

Dark felt his heart sink. "I see... Did any of the spiders go after you?"

Strongbuck shook his head. "No. They never made a move. They just stayed inside the trees and watched."

Dark didn't know what this meant. Ever since they arrived that afternoon, the spiders showed no interest in them. Why didn't they attack? Were they waiting for something? A few times, ponies reported seeing something massive moving in the woods, but could never really get a good look at it.

He had brought twenty-two spear ponies with him and one Unicorn caster. Hardly a sizable force to stand against the numbers of spiders hiding within, and taking anymore ponies from the settlement was out of the question.

"Strongbuck. What do you think they’re up to?"

"I'm not sure," he answered with a shake of his head. "It's like there’s something they want."

"The ponies?" Ground asked.

Strongbuck shook his head. "If they were just after ponies, they’d come after us."

"Perhaps it's because of the magic?" Starless chimed in, still rubbing her horn.

Dark looked over at her. "You mentioned magic before. Can you tell where it's coming from?"

"It seems to be stronger the closer I get to the trees." Starless nodded toward the spiders.

Dark once again glared at the wall of webbing. What was going on in there? "Starless. Lift me up with your magic. I want to see what is happening inside."

Feeling her magic wrap around his body, Dark was lifted high up into the air. Looking over the veil of trees, he saw a strange blue fire burning around where the wolf den was. What is that? Waving his hoof, Dark signaled to be lowered back down.

"What did you see?" Strongbuck asked once Dark was back on the ground.

Dark silently shook his head. "Starless. Have you ever seen blue fire before?"

"Blue fire!?" Starless exclaimed. "No, never!"

"Strongbuck. Have the ponies set up camp in the clearing," Dark ordered. "And send a messenger back to Meadowlark and Hoof Strike to tell them what’s happening here and that they are not to send any help." Turning, he stared back across at the trees.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

"Okay, hold her down," Dove instructed. "Don't push on her belly, you thick-headed stump! She's pregnant! Hold her here," she snapped at Hoof Strike, indicating Skye's shoulder. When Skye had suddenly appeared, staggering into the settlement, she had been muttering for Dark, saying that he needed to come. She repeated this until she was assured several times that Dark was already on his way and she didn't need to worry.

Celestia and the other fillies watched with concern from the corner as Dove worked to set Skye's wing back into place. Hoof Strike moved his massive hooves to a spot on Skye's shoulder and held her down. Dove gripped Skye's wing, and with a quick yank that made Skye shriek in pain, she set her wing back into its joint. Skye sighed in relief as she passed out. Dove carefully folded Skye's wing back into its proper place and held it there for Bell to tie a line around to secure it into place.

Dove had Hoof Strike lay Skye out onto a mat so she could wash her numerous cuts and scrapes. Moving to Skye's belly, Dove laid her ear down and listened for a time.

Worried, Celestia stepped closer. "Is... she and her foal okay?"

Dove glanced up and smiled Celestia. "With that magic of yours, you could probably answer that more easily than I could."

"I was afraid to," Celestia confessed. "I didn't want to see… in case…"

"I understand." Dove smiled at her softly. "Skye went through a lot and she's going to need to rest for a while, but she and her foal should be okay." Reaching out, she hooked Celestia and pulled her to Skye and pointed to a spot on her belly. "Here. Put your ear right here and listen."

Celestia bent down and pressed her ear to Skye's belly. She remembered doing this with her mother when she was pregnant with Luna. She heard the normal gurgles and groans, but then after a few moments, she heard and felt a slight twitch and thump. Smiling, Celestia lifted her head and smiled back at Strawberry and the other fillies. "Strawberry, you should feel this! It's amazing!"

With the urging of the others, Strawberry slowly approached and set her head against Skye's belly and listened. She stayed like that for a bit then her eyes widened and a soft smile of wonder came to her lips. Lifting her head up, she looked at Dove. "How much longer until it's born?"

"Next springtime. About six moons from now," Dove answered.

"About the same time as this one is due," Bell added, rubbing the small swell to her stomach with a happy smile.

"Are you having a filly or a colt?" Pine asked.

"We won't know that until it's born," Bell answered. She let out a light laugh as she shook her head. "Though, Melodious swears that if a mare carries the foal higher up, it's a filly and if it's lower down near the hips, it's a colt."

"Where are you carrying? High or low?" Tulip asked.

Bell shrugged. "Right now it's somewhere in the middle. I won't know until a few more moons pass and it settles into place."

"Celestia has that magic of hers," Bumble Bee jumped in. "She can just," she vaguely waved her hoof, "and see if its a colt or filly."

All eyes suddenly turned onto Celestia.

"Well, now. That’s an interesting idea," Bell mused curiously. She then turned to look down at Celestia "Can you do that?"

Celestia shifted awkwardly. "I'm not sure. I've never tried."

"Well, there's always a first try for everything." Bell gestured for her to come to her.

Stepping up to her side, Celestia took a breath and reached up to put her hoof to Bell's stomach. Focusing her will, she opened herself to the magic inside her and let it fill her. She easily found the bright spark of life within Bell. Every life had a different color and shade; No two were ever exactly the same. Even Melodious' twins were different from each other. Bell's foal was a lovely, rich shade of emerald green.

As carefully as she could, Celestia touched the foal's life spark. A chaotic flood of wild emotions suddenly bombarded her senses. Contentment, excitement, eagerness, impatience, happiness, and most of all, a warm sense of love toward the mother that carried it. Delving deeper, Celestia brushed the edges of the foal's mind.

The foal's mind was quick and flighty, jumping around from one half formed thought to the next. Sensing her light touch, the foal became curious at her intrusion, showing a surprisingly sharp mind as it considered her. Celestia was worried that her probing may hurt the foal's delicate mind and carefully withdrew herself.

Opening her eyes, Celestia smiled. The foal's mind had a subtle feel to it that told Celestia what she wanted. Gesturing with her hoof, she had Bell lower her head down to her so she could whisper into her ear.

"Oh!?" Bell's ear twitched as Celestia shared with her what she had discovered. "Are you sure?"

Celestia nodded.

Bell lifted her head up and laughed. "Oh! Strongbuck's going to love hearing this!"

"What did she say!?" Pine exclaimed. "Is it a colt or filly?"

"Yeah! Don't keep it a secret" Bumble Bee added.

Tulip hopped in place. "We want to know!"

Bell smiled down at the gathered fillies. "I'm sorry, little ones. I don't want to risk Strongbuck accidentally hearing anything before I have a chance to tell him myself." She turned to Celestia. "I’ll trust that you’ll keep this just between us for the time being, okay?"

"Oh? I do hope that doesn't also include me?" Dove asked with an amused smile as she sat up from tending to Skye.

"You, more than anypony!" Bell said, jabbing an accusing hoof at her. "You've never kept a secret past a day!"

"I have too!" Dove barked in outrage. "You're just sore that I told Juniper that you were the one who stole a whole rack of her fruit slices she had sitting out."

"Wait! You're the one who told her?!"

"Oops. I think I hear Aurora crying," Dove said, rushing off toward the door.

"Hey! You can't get away that easily!" Bell quickly chased after Dove.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

By late afternoon, the rain had lightened to a lazy drizzle and Celestia and the other older foals were allowed to go outside for a short time to stretch their legs and play. The ground was muddy from the rain, so Celestia and her friends gathered under the shelter of a nearby elm tree to enjoy the fresh, rain-scented air under the watchful gazes of armed guard-ponies.

In the nearby fields, Greenhoof and the other hard working ponies were out tending the crops. Spiders or no spiders, Greenhoof refused to let a day pass without going out to check on the fields.

From their place under the tree, they watched as the colts chased each other in the mud, splattering their coats and making a complete mess of themselves in the process."Why were those colts we saw inside not allowed to come out?" Soft Step asked, referring to Mighty Oak, Glum, Toadstool, and Journey Stomp. They had seen them sitting tenderly on their rumps in the corner as they left.

Tulip Blossom snickered. "Oh! They got in some really bad trouble, and they're being punished!"

"Really?" Bumble Bee asked with interest. "What did they do?"

"They tried to sneak out past the wall." Misty answered.

Celestia shook her head. Sometimes, she couldn't understand colts. "Why did they try to do that?"

"They got it in their heads that they could find the spiders queen and kill her," Tulip answered with a snort.

"But we don't even know if the spider queen is real!" Soft Step exclaimed. "It was really dark and she was only spotted once. And only for a moment."

"Do spiders even have a queen?" Misty asked.

"Bees and ants do," Bumble Bee answered.

Tulip scratched her head with a thoughtful look. "What about ponies?"

"Ponies?" Bumble Bee cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"Well... the Herd Mother is like our queen," Tulip said. "Everypony loves and protects her, doing things she wants done. Perhaps the spiders are like that as well."

Strawberry, who had stayed quiet up to this point suddenly stood, her face twisted in fury. "How dare you! Comparing those evil, soulless monsters to ponies!" Whirling about, she slammed her hoof into the elm tree, crushing a normal spider that had been climbing along the bark into its trunk. Turning back, she held her hoof out into Tulip's face. "They are bugs! No better than a squashed stain on the bottom of a hoof!" With tears starting to well up in her eyes, Strawberry stormed past Tulip.

Celestia was about to go after her but the sound of running hooves suddenly caught her attention. A stallion, his grey coat splattered with mud from his swift travel, thundered past them as he raced toward the longhouse. Celestia blinked after the stallion. He was one of the ponies that had left with her papa, Comet Tail. Watching, Celestia saw him run up to her mother, who was also out getting some air with some of the other mares. He spoke with her for a time and her mother's face grew troubled.

For the rest of the day, Celestia saw very little of her mother and had no chance to ask her what the messenger had told her. Staying with Dove and Skye, Celestia and the other fillies helped watch over Luna, Aurora, and the twins. The colts had a habit of scampering off and hiding whenever they had a chance and were a constant hoof-full to control. Aurora would cry her head off if left alone for too long so every filly took turns holding and playing with her to keep her happy. Luna was being very cranky, so Skye simply tucked the little filly under her uninjured wing to let her nap.

Celestia, having chased down Summer Rain yet again, carried him back. "Where's Bell? I haven't seen her for a bit."

"I asked her to speak to your mother and the Mares Circle for me since Dove won't let me go myself," Skye answered, shooting Dove a sour look. "She's telling them my story, as well as passing on a request."

"Oh! What did happen to you?" Tulip asked, her ears perking up.

Skye shook her head, "Something really stupid." Her eyes grew troubled. "Mustard asked me to bring a message to Dark and I wasn't watching where I was going and I flew... into a tree."

Celestia sensed that Skye was holding back. There was something more to her story than what she was saying. What message was she sent to give her papa? He was supposed to be out bringing Ash and the others back. Did something happen out there? Celestia nibbled on her lip as she worried over what this all meant.

"Skye?" Celestia looked over at her. "How was Ash when you last saw him?"

Skye's gaze shot over to Dove for a brief moment. "When I left, he was doing just fine," she answered with a smile.

Celestia felt it again. She was holding something back. Something had her very worried and she was trying very hard not to show it.

A short time later, Bell Flower arrived with Sentry following behind.

"Well?" Skye asked, looking over at Bell hopefully. "What did she say?"

"I'm sorry,” Bell said apologetically. “She said no."

Skye's face fell.

"Don't fret," Bell said with a small smile. "Dark and Strongbuck are out there right now. They'll bring Dusty and all the rest back. Trust me."

Noticing the gloomy look on Skye's face, Dove suggested that they have some fun by singing some songs. Dove started off first, singing well known songs like Moondrops in Winter, and the Flight of the Robin. Bumble Bee went next and sang The Rabbit Chases the Fox, which was a whimsical song that was quite challenging due to its quick tempo and wording pace. Celestia went next and sang her favorite song, The First Sight of Spring. She always loved it for the hope it inspired in her. Next, Skye had a turn and treated them all to a Pegasus song about a young Pegasus’ first flight out of the nest.

After they all had their turn, they then worked on creating a new song, falling into gales of laughter at the silly verses they made. As the day grew late, one by one, her friends left to return to their families. All of them except Strawberry, who had already fallen asleep against Bell's side. Exhausted, Celestia tucked herself up with Luna, under Sky's wing, and quickly fell asleep.

She found herself standing in an endless blue field of flowers. A light breeze carried petals up into the air and swirled them playfully about as Celestia watched. The sky was filled with dazzling stars that flickered and danced in the night.

"Celestia."

Celestia looked around, trying to find the one who had called to her.

"Celestia."

Who was calling to her?

"Celestia. Please, help me."

That voice. She knew that voice.

"Ash!" Celestia shouted as she spun herself around. "Where are you!?"

"Celestia. Hurry, please."

His voice was being carried to her by the wind! "I'm coming!" Celestia shouted as she started to run, her hooves kicking blue petals up to drift in her wake. As fast as her legs would carry her, she raced into the wind across the endless fields of blue flowers, her mane and tail streaming out behind her like the trail of a comet.

Tirelessly, she chased the sound of Ash's calls until at last she came to a hill that rose high over the land. Ascending to the top, Celestia found a lone tree made of glittering crystal perched in the center with a light lavender filly, about the same age as she was, waiting for her under it.

"There's not much time. You must go to him," the filly said, her voice filled with urgency..

"Who? Ash?"

"Yes," the filly answered hurriedly. "Please, you must! You are the only one that can save him."

"What did you do to him!?" Celestia demanded. "Did you hurt him!?

"No!" the filly shook her head. "My name is Cherished Ties, and he's my friend. Please, he doesn't have much time left."

"Celestia."

Celestia spun about and gasped. Ash was standing in the flowers just beyond the strange crystal tree. Tucked up against his sides were two feathery wings and he had a horn atop of his forehead. Despite the strangeness of his appearance, Celestia was relieved to see him. "Ash!" She shouted his name and was about to run to him but then she noticed that he was struggling to hold the sky up on his back.

Ash's head was bent down and his legs quivered with untold strain as he bore the weight of the sky upon his body. Tears dripped off his nose as he fought to hold himself up. His calls for her were growing weaker. "Celestia... Celes... tia."

Celestia saw that the flowers at his hooves were not flowers, but instead were ponies! If he wavered for even a moment and allowed the sky to fall, the ponies beneath him would be killed! She then noticed the spot of red mixed in with the blue and realized that it was from the tears of blood that he wept as he fought to keep himself from succumbing to the relentless crushing force that bore down onto him.

"He's dying," Cherished said sorrowfully. "His bones will crack and they will splinter until they are crushed into powder, and yet he will never give in. It's his nature... his element. He is the Father that provides and protects. You must go to him. Find him and save him. Only you can do it and no other. You bear the Element of Light. You are the Mother that guides and nurtures. Go. Go now. Go before it's too late. Go and save him!"

Celestia woke up with her heart pounding in her chest. Extracting herself from under Skye's wing, Celestia ran to find her mother.

"Look at everything we have accomplished in our time here!" an older mare named Graceful Swan said. "You want to give it all up and return to wandering the land again!?"

"Open your eyes!" another mare named Blue Daisy, shouted angrily. "We are doomed if we remain here!"

A very tired looking Meadowlark lifted her hoof to forestall any more arguing. "Please, everypony. Let's not start fighting among ourselves."

"The Herd Mother is of course right," another mare agreed. "We should discuss this like reasonable ponies."

"That's right. Remember. The Herd Father is out there right now," an emerald-colored mare pointed out. "He'll drive those nasty spiders off."

"Don't be a foal!" a dark blue middle aged mare snapped. "The Herd Mother should send to have him return to protect us here!"

"What about the others!?" the emerald mare argued back. "Are you suggesting that they be left to die?"

"I am saying that we should prioritize what is important and not waste our best fighters trying to save ponies that can't be saved."

"No!" Celestia's clear shout cut across the room causing every pony to suddenly fall silent. Stepping out, Celestia glared about at the faces around her. "How dare you! Those are ponies out there that need help and you want to leave them to save yourselves!?" Celestia's eyes settled onto the dark blue mare, causing her to flinch back from the fire she saw burning in Celestia's gaze. "You should be ashamed of yourselves. There are loved ones out there. Family that needs our help! I won’t sit here and hide! Not when there are those who need me! I am going to go to them and if there are any here who wish to come with me can come too!”

"Celestia," Meadowlark called to her sternly.

Celestia turned and rushed up to her mother. "Mama. I have to go. I had a dream!"

Bending down, Meadowlark spoke softly to her. "Celestia. You can't go. You're just a filly. It's entirely too dangerous for you to go out there. You need to stay here where it's safe."

"But, Mama! Ash is going to die if I don’t go! It was in my dream!"

Meadowlark enfolded a hoof around Celestia. "Sweetie, you just had a bad nightmare. Your papa is out there right now and you know that he would never let anything happen to Ash."

Celestia fought to control herself. "It was not just a dream! It was real! I know was!" she snapped angrily. "Papa didn't even take half of the fighters we have! There are much more you can send! I can go with them and stay safe! I promise, Mama!"

"I am the Herd Mother. My role is to nurture and guide the herd. I cannot order our spears out there. I don't have the right." Meadowlark answered. "Papa is the Herd Father. His role is to provide and protect the herd. He ordered that we were not to send any ponies to his aid and Hoof Strike is following that order. No matter how much I would want to, I can't change it. I'm sorry."

"But, Mama..." Celestia felt her heart sink to her gut. What was she to do now?

Meadowlark pulled her in and hugged her. "It was just a bad dream. Try not to think about it. Go back and get some sleep. I'll join you once I'm done here, okay?"

Celestia felt herself nodding but her mind was racing. She needed to do something! She was halfway back when she came to a stop. If her mama wouldn't let her go, then she will just have to go herself. She was going to need some help. Turning, she set off to find the one pony she knew would help her. As luck had it she found the colt sleeping alone on his mat.

"Journey Stomp. Wake up." Celestia said as she shook him.

Snapping awake, Journey blinked at her in sleepy surprise. "What do you want?"

"I need your help."

Sitting up, Journey rubbed at his eyes. "I'm still in trouble. If I so much as step one hoof off my sleeping mat my mama is going to strip my hide from my rump."

"This is really important, and I'll take all the blame when the time comes, but I need you to show me how to get outside without being caught." Celestia whispered.

"Really?" Journey's ears came up with interest. "Why would you want to go outside?"

"I need to go to the wolf den."

Journey cocked his head at her. "Why do you need to go there so badly?"

"Because Ash and the ponies with him will die if I don't," Celestia answered. "This is really important. Please. I only need you to show me how to get outside. I think I can make it the rest of the way on my own."

Journey hardly thought about it before he quickly nodded. "I'll help, but only if I come with you."

"No, you're not," Snap Dragon broke in, stepping up from behind giving the pair a disapproving look. "You're already in a lot of trouble, Journey. When Mama hears about this,"

Celestia felt her gut twist with sudden apprehension. How long was she there!? "Snap, please." Celestia pleaded stepping between her and Journey. "He will die if I don't go. I need Journey's help! Please don't stop us. I beg you"

Snap Dragon paused as she looked down at Celestia her expression suddenly becoming alarmed. "What do you mean? Who would die?"

"I had a dream," Celestia explained. "But it wasn't a normal dream." She described her dream to Snap in every detail, leaving nothing out. Snap listened without interrupting, her expression growing serious.

"Did you see Ground there too!? Was he one of the ones that would die!?" Snap asked in alarm.

Celestia could only shake her head. "I'm not sure. I just saw that if I don't go, a whole lot of ponies would die. I tried to tell my mama, but she didn't believe me. Please, I'm telling you that the dream was real. I know it was!"

Snap Dragon didn't say anything for a time as she considered what Celestia had told her. Then she let out a long breath. "Mama is going to be so angry with me," she muttered before looking at Celestia . "I'm coming with you."

"Fine," Journey agreed before turning back to Celestia. "So when do we go?"

"Right now."

After Snap retrieved Journey's spear and another for herself, and sneaking past the meeting that was still going on, Journey lead them to the far back of the longhouse. Pausing next to the back wall, Journey put his hoof to one of the stones and started to push. Celestia gasped when she saw the stone slide out leaving a hole in the wall. Once the stone was far enough out, Journey slipped through the hole and waved for them to follow after. Celestia slipped through without a problem, but Snap Dragon had trouble wiggling herself through. She was older than them and was almost twice their size, though she still had a few seasons to go before she was fully grown enough to be called a mare.

Journey and Celestia had to help pull Snap through. Once she broke free, Journey muttered about Snap's fat hips as he slid the stone back into its place in the wall and sealed the seams with sod to cover up their exit. Journey then lead them quickly to a nearby hut and hid behind it in the shadows.

There were ponies out with torches, patrolling the grounds around the longhouse. When the way was clear, Journey dashed across to another hut and waited for Celestia and Snap to join him. Slowly, they worked their way across to the north west wall where it met the river. "This is how far we made it before Toadstool cowered out and ran off to tell on us."

Journey then led them out onto some stones in the water and they made their way around the wall. Celestia slipped and splashed a hoof in the water. Hearing the splash, one of the guards behind them called out and torches started to approach as they came to investigate.

"Hurry!" Journey whispered, urgently waving his hoof at her to continue.

Regaining her hooves, Celestia leaped from stone to stone until she was clear with Snap following behind. Once they were back on the shore around the wall, Journey quickly led them along the river to the nearby woods. Celestia’s heart was hammering in her chest; they were about to start a path they would not be able to turn away from.

Stumbling, Celestia nearly walked into yet another tree. It was dark and they were forced to follow the sound of the river to keep from being helplessly lost.

Worried about running into any spiders that might be lurking in the area, Celestia summoned her magic and let her senses extend out to feel the life surrounding them. Every living thing suddenly came into clear focus to her, from the tiny squirrels curled up in their warm hollows, to the very trees they lived in. At first it was all a bit overwhelming until she learned to ignore all the various insects and small rodents that filled the forest around them.

They had gone only a short ways when Celestia suddenly sensed something coming up from behind them. "Hold it!" she whispered. "There's something following behind us.

Journey turned and held his spear ready. "What is it? I didn't hear anything."

"I sense it." Celestia explained. "It's about a hundred steps back and coming up on us quickly."

"Should we run?" Snap suggested, looking nervous.

"How many are there?" Journey asked.

"Just one."

They all held as still as they could, hoping whatever it was would miss them and just pass by.

Focusing her magic onto the approaching creature, Celestia probed it and let out a breath when she recognized who it was. "It's okay. It's just Sentry."

"How did he find us?" Journey asked, lowering his spear.

"Well, he is a wolf," Snap answered snidely.

A moment later the young wolf silently stepped out of the darkness and padded up to Celestia and licked her face in greeting, his tail wagging.

"What do we do with him now?" Journey asked as Sentry moved over to greet him.

"We'll just have to take him with us," Celestia answered. "Even if we somehow convinced him to go back, he would just lead the others right back to us."

For some reason, having Sentry with them made them all feel a bit better. Like he was there to keep an eye on them. Continuing on, they followed the river along the northern edge of the western woods. None of them had ever been to the wolf den, but all of them had heard the story and knew that it lay rather close to the river they were following. Journey figured that if they continued all night, they would arrive around sunrise.

The river narrowed further on and became rapids and the forest around them was filled with the roar of the water tumbling over the stones. After a time the river widened back out and the stillness of the night returned as they left the rapids behind. They were about halfway to the den when Sentry suddenly stopped and started to growl low in his throat.

"What is it?" Snap whispered.

Closing her eyes, Celestia sent out her magic to feel what was ahead. She sensed the normal things like trees, flowers, mushrooms, and insects. But as she looked around she didn't find anything else. No squirrels, raccoons, birds or even a wandering skunk. Sending her magic flowing up into the trees, Celestia found the reason. Bright spots of life hung ready to drop down on anything passing below it. Probing deeper she sensed a coldness and hunger to it that sent chills down her neck.

"Spider," Celestia hissed. "Up there." She pointed ahead.

"What do we do?" Snap asked, her voice shivering with fear.

Celestia looked around. "We'll have to go around. Come on, this way."

Celestia turned southward and moved deeper into the trees. Casting her magic ahead, she sent it flowing through the trees, feeling out the life that existed all around them. Everything was alive with its own light and color, showing Celestia a beauty she had never known before. Behind her, she heard Journey bump his head into a branch, then a moment later, Snap tripped on an exposed root and stumbled, nearly falling into a thorn bush. Celestia realized that Journey and Snap couldn't see in the darkened forest.

"Here, take my tail," Celestia whispered holding out her tail to Snap. "Journey, take Snap's and I'll lead you both around."

"Eew, I don't want to hold Snap's tail," Journey complained. "Why can't I hold yours while she holds mine."

"Journey!" Snap whispered aghast. "A colt does not grab a filly's tail unless..."

"Unless what?" Journey asked, confused.

"Ah... never mind that," Snap answered with a quick shake of her head. "Just believe me when I say that it's not right. At least not until you're a bit older. Just take ahold of my tail and stop complaining."

Grumbling to himself, Journey reluctantly bit the end of Snap's tail and she took ahold of Celestia's. Ready, Celestia lead them on, steering them around until they circled back around to the river on the far side of the spider. Safely back onto their path, they resumed following the river upstream toward the wolf den.

As they walked, a light rain began to patter against the leaves around them. Celestia scowled at the thought of getting wet. Letting out a sigh, she wondered if their absence back home had been noticed yet. She felt horrible for the worry she was sure she was causing her mother by her reckless act. Tiger Lily must be literally chewing rocks as well. Snap and Journey were in for a hard time when they got back. That is, if they got back. No! Celestia shook her head. They were going to make it!

Celestia turned to Snap Dragon. "I want to thank you for your help."

"I'll admit, I should have gone straight to my mother instead," Snap confessed, "but if Ground and others died because I failed to act, I would never have forgiven myself." She smirked. "My mama is going to snap a birch branch over my rump for this, but I think that a few welts is a good trade for saving my dear big brother."

Soaked and shivering with the cold, they broke out of the trees and walked out into a large clearing. Looking up into the dark, cloud laden sky, Celestia wished she could see the stars. Even if it was just a glimpse. Wiping the water out of her eyes, she looked across to the wall of black pines and gnarled oak trees that made up the far side of the clearing.

They were getting close. She could feel Ash's life burning like a sun, lighting up the night ahead of them. He was burning much too brightly. The image of Ash being slowly crushed under the weight of the sky flashed through her mind. He was drawing strength from his own lifeforce! He needed to stop or he was going to die!

Rushing across the clearing, Celestia suddenly felt her leg being painfully grabbed as Sentry held her from entering the trees. "Let me go! I need to go to him!"

"Celestia! Stop!" Snap shouted. "There's something wrong. He doesn't want you to go in there!"

Celestia stopped and looked out into the forest before them. Sending her magic flowing out into the trees, she found what Sentry had stopped her from running into. Spiders. Running up and down the tree line, she checked and found more spiders waiting for somepony to wander in.

Celestia's heart sank and her rump collapsed to the ground in disrepair. Her way was blocked!

"What do we do now?" Snap asked.

Celestia didn't answer. Her thoughts were in turmoil.

"I think we should just go straight through," Journey said confidently, holding up his spear and jabbing it at the trees. "I'm not afraid of a few stupid spiders."

There were only a few options Celestia could see. Turn back, stay, go around, or go forward. Turning back would mean admitting defeat and letting Ash and the others die. Staying there would amount to the same thing. Going around would likely take too long. And going forward would likely kill them.

"Journey, don't be an idiot," Snap said with a sigh. "Running in there would be insane."

"We're going forward," Celestia declared. Both Snap Dragon and Journey looked at her with shocked expressions.

"What!?" Snap exclaimed.

"Just like how we went around that spider earlier." Celestia said. "Just take my tail and I'll lead us through them."

"But there was just one spider then," Snap pointed out. "There must be dozens of them in there. If we're discovered, they'll descend on us en mass." Snap shook her head. "There would be no way for us to run or fight off such numbers."

"Let's do it!" Journey said eagerly.

"Its our only choice," Celestia said, standing to face the forest before them. A mist started to drift off of Celestia's rain soaked coat as it began to steam off her. Snap and Journey felt a warm wind pushing at them as it swirled about Celestia, her golden-sun cutie mark beginning to shimmer on her flanks.

The air around them grew sweet and Snap felt a calmness settle over her as her fears faded away. Looking at Celestia, Snap sensed that there was more to the filly than just what she could see. Something greater hidden inside her small frame that was both vast and powerful.

"I must go to him," Celestia said, her voice firm and unwavering. "I will not allow spiders, manticores, hydras, or even great fire drakes to stop me." Walking forward right up to the edge of the trees, Celestia turned to look back as she waited for them to join her.

Just like before, they lined up behind Celestia and each took the other's tails. Snap taking Celestia's, and her little brother taking hers. Proceeding into the dark woods, Celestia cast her magic out to find their way. The woods felt cold and oppressive, and reeked of despair. They quickly found themselves shivering.

Sensing a spider waiting ahead, Celestia turned and lead them around. Sentry was pressed close to her side, his ears alert for the slightest sounds of danger. Sensing another spider ahead, Celestia turned to the right and after a short distance found another blocking their way. Turning back, Celestia lead them around the other way.

Celestia couldn't sense any of the webs the spiders had laid out and a few times she nearly walked right into one, but Sentry was always quick to block her from stumbling into them. Their careful progress through the woods was slow and harrowing. At one time, Celestia lead them right between two nesting spiders, forcing them to step as lightly as they could as they held their breaths.

Suddenly, their way was blocked by a cliff wall. Celestia couldn't sense it, but when she reached out and touched it, she felt cold, unyielding stone under her hoof. Following it to the north lead them to a drop off into rapids below them. With no way up from there, they turned and followed the cliff face to the south until they found a steep incline that Celestia hoped would lead them to the top.

In the dark, it was hard for them to find footing for their hooves and Celestia was forced to focus her attention on keeping herself from sliding back down the slope. Suddenly, Journey let out a cry and there was a jerk on her tail that nearly dragged her down. Below her, she heard a rumbling crash as rocks tumbled down to the bottom of their slope.

"What happened!?" Celestia called down.

"Journey slipped and knocked a rock loose!"

"I dropped my spear too," Journey added mournfully.

Celestia quickly summoned her magic and sent it down into the forest below them. It didn't take her long to discover that their commotion didn't go unnoticed. "Hurry! Get up to the top. They're coming!"

Scrambling up as fast as they could, they kicked loose more stones that rolled down the slope below them. The spiders swarmed in on them, quickly reaching the cliff and climbing up in pursuit. Being more nimble, Sentry swiftly reached the top before them and barked down at them to hurry. Rushing up the last few spans, they joined Sentry at the edge of a large clearing. Without pausing to catch their breaths, they ran just as a dozen spiders crested the cliff around them.

Looking to their sides, they saw the spiders overtaking them and rushing around to encircle them. They were trapped! Coming to a stop, Snap stepped in front of Celestia and leveled her spear while Sentry snarled and bit at the closing spiders.

Journey clomped his hooves together as he smiled back at the ones behind them. "Come at me! I'll buck you all until you go squealing back to your mamas!"

Watching the spiders eagerly drawing nearer, Celestia's cutie mark suddenly blazed with light as a fire suddenly explode inside her, matching her fury. "Stop!" she commanded, her mane and tail suddenly erupted in golden-orange flames that licked at the air. The spiders leapt back from her in terror.

With eyes blazing with the light of the sun, Celestia looked into them and saw their life-sparks. Reaching out with her magic, she wrapped it around their lifeforce and squeezed. The spiders suddenly let out agonized clicking screams and collapsed, writhing to the ground in pain. She could do it. With just a little more pressure, she could snuff out all their lives. It wouldn't even be that hard. A mere flex of her power. They deserved to die. They killed Strawberry's mother and family. They were trying to kill Ash! They take lives and give nothing back! Even wolves served a purpose and reached a natural balance with their prey. These things just consume life with an insatiable hunger. They were monsters! Monsters that deserved to be destroyed!

Something within her held her back just as she was on the brink of crushing the life out of them. She felt a nagging sense that this was wrong. Tears of molten light ran down her cheeks as she struggled with her conflicting feelings. Why!? Why couldn't she bring herself to do it!? She wanted to scream and hurl the sun down upon these vile creatures. She hated them. She reviled them. They hurt so many ponies!

"Celestia?" Snap's shaky voice called out to her.

Standing with Journey protectively behind her, Snap was holding her spear pointed at her.

Celestia looked into her eyes and saw terror. Snap's spear quivered in her grasp. She was afraid. Afraid of her. She was looking at her like she was a monster. Celestia's eyes opened and she suddenly understood. Her magic was life. It comes from life and returns to life in an endless cycle. If she used her magic to destroy the spiders, she would be using life to kill. It would be a corruption of the true purpose of her magic. Such an act would twist and deform her into a true monster. A monster of Death.

The words of the filly in her dream came back to her. A mother guides and nurtures. Her mother said the same thing when she spoke to her last. Was it a coincidence that they both said the same thing? Was there something she was supposed to understand about it? A mother brings life. A mother guides life. A mother nurtures life. These are the things she learned from her mother. Things that she cherished and loved about her.

The clouds above them started to break apart, and the first rays of the sun broke over the horizon behind them, bathing the land in it's warm light. Celestia released the spiders from her power and they quickly skittered away to hide. Turning to Snap and Journey, Celestia smiled at them as she let her power go. "There is no need to be afraid," she assured them. "I am still the filly you know." Sentry padded over and affectionately licked her face. Snap relaxed and lowered her spear with a relieved smile.

They saw no more spiders as they walked across the clearing. As they drew near a cluster of trees, Celestia knew that Ash was just beyond them. Suddenly a group of ponies came over a rise to the south. Watching them approach, Celestia recognized Strongbuck in the lead with Chase running alongside him. Ground and Starless followed just behind.

"Big brother!" Snap exclaimed and dashed over to fling herself around her startled brother's neck and dangle down like a fruit from a tree.

"Snap?" Ground said, looking down at his little sister in confusion.

Strongbuck frowned down at Celestia and Journey. "What are you all doing here? Did you come here all alone?"

"Don't be mad at Snap and Journey. They were only helping me," Celestia said, meeting Strongbuck's disapproving gaze. "There is something I need to do, so would you please take them back with you?"

Strongbuck shook his head. "Whatever game you are all playing ends now. I'm taking you all back to Dark. I'm sure he is going to be very angry, especially with you, Celestia. Coming out here was very dangerous. You could have all been killed. In fact. I'm surprised you even made it this far."

"I'm sorry, but I can't go back with you," Celestia said. "Papa can punish me later, but I have to go to him."

"Go to who?" Strongbuck asked, confused, then shook his head. "No, never mind. I'm not going to argue with you. Pick up your hooves and get moving. It's not safe here." Stepping forward he went to pick her up.

"Strongbuck!" Starless suddenly screamed. "Stop!"

Celestia's eyes flashed into light and Strongbuck suddenly found himself straining against something. Celestia's mane and tail slowly drifted up and flowed back like in a slow breeze. "I must go now. Please tell my papa that I'm sorry." She turned and walked off toward the wolf den.

"Starless! Stop her!" Strongbuck shouted urgently, still struggling against whatever was holding him back. "Use your magic!"

"I can't! I don't understand it," Starless answered, her horn crackling. "My magic keeps slipping off of her. I can't get a grip."

"Ground! Grab her!" Strongbuck ordered the stallion.

"I'm trying, but I can't move." Ground said, straining to step his massive hoof forward.

Strongbuck noticed that everypony, including Chase and Sentry couldn't move toward the filly. Some force was holding them all back.

Walking up to the trees, Celestia gazed in. She could feel them. Hundreds of spiders milling in the branches, waiting for Ash to falter and his barrier to fail. With her magic blazing inside her like a sun she walked into the trees. Webs seared away as she walked through them untouched. Spiders quickly rushed in to grab her but were held away by the force of her power.

Ash was just ahead of her, she could feel how close he was. Stepping out of the trees into a small clearing, Celestia saw a fiery blue dome enveloping part of the clearing ahead of her and much of the hill further in. A mass of spiders were swarming the perimeter of the dome, keeping themselves just outside its deadly touch as they waited. Hordes of spiders swarmed in at her, clicking and eagerly reaching for her, but were also repulsed by her magic.

Spiders tried to block her way but were forced to the side. Walking through their midst, Celestia could feel it. A cold, gnawing hunger that twisted and tormented them, driving them to feed. She felt the wrongness of it.

Walking up to the wall of blue fire, Celestia stepped through.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Dark heard Strongbuck shouting for him as he ran in. He had left not long before to patrol with Ground and Starless and it was too soon for him to be returning, unless something happened. Following behind Strongbuck was Ground and Starless with what appeared to be two foals with them as well as two wolves.

"What is it?" Dark asked as Strongbuck skidded to stop before him.

"We found three foals wandering in from the west." Turning he nodded to the two that were with Ground and Starless.

Dark recognized them as Tiger Lily's foals, Journey Stomp and Snap Dragon. "You said there were three?"

Strongbuck shook his head, unable to meet his gaze. "I'm sorry. We tried to stop her but she did something to us."

"Who?"

"Celestia," Strongbuck answered. "She was the one who talked those two into helping her travel out here."

"Celestia!?" Dark felt his gut drop. "Where is she!? What was she doing, coming out here!?"

"She went in there." Strongbuck pointed up at the wolf den. "She said that she needed to go to him. I think she was talking about Ash."

What was she thinking?! "Why didn't you stop her!"

"We couldn't." Ground answered, looking down at his hooves. "She did something to us with that magic of hers," he explained. "We were being pushed back."

"And I couldn't grab her with my magic either." Starless added. "I've never seen anything like it. She shrugged me off like I was nothing. The others didn't see it, but when I looked at her, it was like looking at the sun. She was so beautiful. I'm sure that she made it through.

"She asked me to tell you that she was sorry," Strongbuck said.

"Not half as sorry as she is going to be," Dark snapped angrily. "Everypony get yourselves ready for a fight! Full protection is to be worn! Gather the new torches and pass them out!" he shouted with a booming voice. "Starless, I am going to need your help. Do you think you can blast a hole through that webbing large enough for us to charge through?"

Starless thought about it and nodded. "I think I can do it."

"Good." Dark said. "Then we're going to end this today.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Passing through the barrier, Celestia saw the opening to the wolf den ahead of her. Ponies stepped out and watched as she approached.

"Celestia!?" Mustard called out. "How did you get in? And why is your mane acting all weird and flow-y?"

Celestia had heard that Mustard had been changed into a mare when her papa told her mama about it. Seeing how beautiful she looked as a mare was surprising, but not as surprising as noticing the other thing about her.

"Good morning, Mustard," she greeted the mare with a pleasant smile. "Things are going to be very exciting for you for the next season, especially when the little one arrives."

"Little one?" Mustard ask with a confused look.

Celestia paused. "Would you like to know if its a colt or filly?"

Mustard's eyes shot wide. "Do you mean...!?"

"Celestia!" Mirage exclaimed in surprise when she stepped out of the den and saw her. "I was told that somepony just arrived from outside, but you!? Where's your father? Where's Dark?"

"I'm here to see Ash," Celestia said, ignoring her questions. "Please show me to him."

Mirage blinked down at her, then she nodded. "He's just inside." She turned and lead Celestia inside.

Walking down a narrow corridor, the den opened up into a large chamber. Sitting in the back and along the walls, ponies slept or ate their morning meal while talking quietly. Sitting right in the center of the chamber was Ash. His eyes were closed and his mane and tail were rippling with blue flames. A glowing blue gem hung suspended in the air just before him.

"He's been like this since we got here." Mirage explained, her voice filled with concern. "I've tried to wake him, but I can't get close to him. He hasn't eaten or had any water for over a day. I'm worried for him. He needs to stop."

Celestia could feel it. Mirage was right. Ash was burning much too hot and he wasn't going to last much longer. Celestia turned to look back at Mirage. "Please stay here."

Walking towards Ash, Celestia felt the air crackle and snap around her. Noticing her, ponies stopped what they were doing to watch. Pressing forward, Celestia broke her way through the aura of raw magic that emanated out from the gem and drew up close to Ash. His eyes were closed and his breathing was so shallow, she couldn't even see his chest moving.

Reaching out, she tenderly touched Ash's cheek and spoke to him. "Ash. It's okay now. You can stop holding up the sky. Everypony is safe."

Ash didn't respond to her.

Bending closer, Celestia spoke softly into his ear. "It's me, Celestia. Please come back to me. I miss you and I don't want to lose you. You're my best friend and I love you."

Ash's eyes fluttered weakly.

Celestia's heart leapt up. "Please, listen to my voice and follow it back to me."

Slowly, Ash's eyes opened. "Celestia?" he muttered weakly. "Are they safe?"

"Yes. You did it. You saved them," Celestia assured him. "You can let go now."

The blue gem drifted into Ash's chest and vanished inside. His mane and tail faded and returned back to their normal, dull state. Outside, his barrier vanished. The waiting spiders suddenly surged forward, but Celestia was ready for this and pushed out with her own magic. The mass of spiders suddenly found an unseen force in their way, holding them back.

Ash let out a tired sigh and fell forward, draping his head over her shoulder. "I was in a strange place. A place where the stars fell like rain. I was alone for so long."

"Shh. It's okay. I'm here now." Celestia wrapped her hoof around him and held him close. She could feel his lifeforce flicker and waver weakly inside him like a failing heartbeat. The strain he had been under over the last day had been enormous. Opening herself, she gave some of her strength to him, letting her life blend and join with his.

She had thought about what it would feel like to experience the closeness and intimacy like that of when two ponies joined their bodies together, but none of her imaginings ever came close to what she felt at that moment as their souls intertwined. She saw into Ash's heart and felt the vast love he held for the ponies close to him, especially for her. Celestia started blushing and knew that he saw the same feelings she held within her own heart.

Celestia couldn't tell how long they remained like that. She didn't want to leave him. It felt too good. It was like she had been missing a part of herself and now she was whole. It was Ash who began to pull away first. Celestia tried to resist and hold on tighter, but Ash was firm with his withdrawal and Celestia regretfully relented and let him go.

Opening her eyes, she met Ash's gaze. What they had just shared was beyond intimate. It was a joining of two souls. Even now, she could still feel a part of him within her, just as she knew a piece of her remained with him.

"I ah... am not sure what I just saw, but I'm positive that you two are still much too young to be doing it," Mirage said, giving the two a suspicious look.

"How do you feel?" Celestia asked.

Ash grinned that stupid grin he always did. "I feel like I can take on the whole spider swarm!"

"Good," Celestia said, smiling back. "Because that is what we are going to do."

Celestia and Ash left together with Mirage and Mustard following with others. Outside, the spiders were clustered tightly around the opening as they continued to struggle in vain to force their way through Celestia's magic. Without fear or hesitation, Celestia and Ash walked out into their midst. Standing just before them was an enormous spider, more massive than any other spider there. Was this their Spider Queen? She stared unblinking down at them as they walked right up to her.

Suddenly, there was a blast of light as a bolt of magic seared through the webbing, ripping a large hole in it. Moments later, ponies started to pour in through the breach with their spears and spider-hammers held ready. In the lead was a familiar looking pony wearing a hydra mask, charging with his spear leveled down. He was roaring in rage as he bore down on the surprised spiders who were turning to face the unexpected threat from behind.

Ground Pound and Starless Night followed closely in Dark's wake. Carrying no weapons, Ground looked no less dangerous as his thundering hooves shook the ground with his every step. Flowing gracefully at his side, Starless looked like a delicate flower next to a bolder as her horn crackled brightly with power. Strongbuck, with Chase and Sentry, lead another group of torch and spear bearing ponies to the side to secure their flanks.

The Spider Queen issued a series of loud clicks and growls that caused a portion of the horde to suddenly rush in to surround her and the two foals.

Celestia and Ash gazed out in alarm at the chaos that broke out around them. Ponies and Spiders were savagely fighting each other. Celestia's mane and tail flashed into golden fire as her fury erupted. This needed to stop! Papa was ruining everything! Her magic exploded out of her "Stop!" Her voice rang out to every spider and pony fighting around her and froze them in place as they were unable to resist her command.

Ponies and spiders glared at each other as they all backed away.

"Celestia!" Dark shouted as he rushed toward her only to stop as he came to a protective wall of spiders.

Ignoring her father, Celestia turned to the Spider Queen and spoke to her, using her magic to carry the meaning of her words directly to her. "Why do you bring death to the land?"

Her reply sounded like clicks and growls, but Celestia found that she understood them."My children hunger. They must feed."

"But your children strip the land and feast without end. Why?"

"During the day of the sleeping sun, an endless hunger beset my children and drove them out into the lands to hunt."
Celestia guessed that she meant the long night. "My children have gone wild and will not listen to me. All they know now is hunger. Relentless, unending hunger."

Celestia was beginning to understand what it was she was feeling inside the spiders. A cold hunger. "Have your children ever hungered like this before?"

"This hunger is unknown to us. It came suddenly to my children during the time of the sleeping sun. Some went so wild they attacked and fed on their brethren."

During the long night, some kind of dark magic must have infested the spiders and was now driving them to ceaselessly hunt and feed without satiation. Could this have been done on purpose? "I think I understand what has happened," Celestia told the Spider Queen. She then turned to Ash and explained everything to him.

"So what do we do?" he asked, looking to her.

"I want to try and cleanse this dark magic from them," Celestia said. "I think if we work together, we can do it."

Setting her shoulder against Ash, Celestia closed her eyes and summoned her element. An amber-colored gem appeared in the air before her. Opening herself, she let the magic of her Element of Light fill her until she felt like she was about to burst apart in a flash of burning light.

Sending out tendrils of magic, she probed a nearby spider, seeking out the contamination she suspected was within them. Following the scent of hunger, she discovered a dark mass of magic embedded like a weed deep within it. Touching it made Celestia feel sick and she wanted to recoil at the slimy feel of it. That had to be it. Grasping it as best as she could, she firmly ripped the mass free. She nearly retched when it started to squirm in her grip as she drew it out. Going to the next spider she repeated the process and added the wiggling mass to the first.

The process was long and exhausting. One by one, she removed the corruption from each spider. She felt sweat dripping down her brow as she worked. Sometimes, the dark magic would try to hide by driving itself deeper and it look Celestia longer to dig it out. Once she had finished with all the spiders that were gathered there, she then sent her magic questing out to find others that were hidden in the surrounding forests.

The sun was high in the sky when she was finally satisfied that she had found them all and cleansed them of their magical parasite. Exhausted, Celestia opened her eyes and looked at what she had gathered. Held floating in the air before her in her golden power, a sickening black mass of slime undulated in place.

Celestia turned to Ash. "Please remove that revolting thing from my sight."

Ash smiled. "I'll be happy to."

Walking a few steps closer, Ash summoned his Element and a blue gem appeared in the air before him. Closing his eyes he focused his will and released it into the gem and a stream of blue fire shot out of it and enveloped the evil mass.

Like a living thing, the dark magic suddenly jerked and writhed as Ash's fire began to sear it from existence. Celestia struggled to keep it contained as it frantically fought to escape her magic. She was already exhausted from her long use of magic and her will was strained to the breaking point.

Ash's legs began to tremble as he fought to keep himself standing as he poured everything he had left into destroying the dark magic. It struggled violently, flinging itself repeatedly against Celestia’s will as it viciously fought to break itself free of her. Cracks began to appear in her magic and dark oily tendrils started to leak out. Bracing his stance, Ash gritted his teeth and redoubled his efforts and released a surge of flames that seared deeply into the mass. It needed to be destroyed before their strength ran out!

Suddenly, there was a thunderous clap, and Celestia screamed as her amber colored Element of Light shattered into two, hurling her back to lay motionless on the ground.

“Celestia!” Ash cried out, looking at her unmoving body.

Freed, the dark magic surged out of Ash's flames and rushed right at the colt. Ash only had time to gasp when the Spider Queen suddenly stepped in the way. The dark magic struck her and Ash watched in horror as it quickly tore itself into her body. The Spider Queen shrieked in pain as she writhed and twitched on the ground. Suddenly, her struggles stopped. Ash’s blood ran cold as she turned and looked at him with eyes that burned with darkness. The dark magic had taken her!

Suddenly she charged at him, her movements jerky and awkward as she reached out to grab him. Ash’s legs were shivering under him with exhaustion and he couldn’t focus his will enough to use his magic. He didn’t have the strength to fight her! The Queen’s legs tore at the dirt as she bore down on him.

Suddenly, Dark shot past Ash and drove his spear deep into the Queen’s body. Letting out an agonized scream, the Queen jerked back, clutching at the spear lodged in her and yanked it free. Black ichor gushed out of her wound and pooled below her on the ground. Letting out a furious hiss, the Queen viciously lashed out with Dark’s spear, shattering it across the stallion's face and lodging the stone spear-head into his mask. The force of the blow sent Dark hurling to the side until he tumbled to a stop on the ground.

Screaming in fury at what had just happened to Dark, Ash managed to summon the last of his strength to send a blast of blue fire into the Queen. Tears streamed down his face as Ash poured everything he had left into his fire. The Queen screeched as his power seared into her and drove her back. Ash’s vision began to darken as his heart fluttered painfully in his chest.

With her head throbbing in pain, Celestia sat up and looked over at Ash. Her heart suddenly leapt up in horror when she saw his legs crumpling under him as if he was being crushed down, and trails of red ran down his cheeks as he wept blood! He looked liked just like he did in the dream!

Clambering up onto her unsteady legs, Celestia ran. “Ash!” Celestia’s scream tore out of her throat. She saw his elemental gem flicker as his flames weakened. She needed to reach him in time! Her hooves tore at the soil below her as legs found new strength. Ash’s legs buckled and he started to fall. Crossing the distance, Celestia leapt and smashed herself into Ash, tackling him to the ground. His flames vanished and his elemental gem dropped to the ground, its light going out.

Gathering herself, Celestia found Ash’s eyes were closed as he lay unmoving against her. Panic seized at her chest. No! Pressing her ear to his chest, Celestia listened for his heartbeat. Silence. Desperately, Celestia reached for her magic to give some of her strength to him, but found nothing there. She suddenly remembered her Element of Light had shattered. She no longer had any magic! Her heart plummeted in despair. She failed to make it in time. The dream had come true.

A shadow fell over her. With tears filling her eyes, Celestia looked up as the Spider Queen loomed just above her and Ash. Wispy shadows leaked out of her various wounds as the dark magic ravaged through her body. Celestia nearly smiled. If Ash was dead, then she was going to soon join him. Perhaps they would be together in that place that Pine described. The place among the stars. That would be nice.

The Spider Queen reached out and Celestia prepared herself. Instead of striking Celestia down, the Queen picked up Ash’s Element of Guardianship. Holding it to herself, she let out a strange crackle of victory as she turned and quickly staggered off, disappearing into the woods with her prize.

She was still alive. Celestia felt a sense of disappointment as she laid her head down onto Ash’s chest to weep. It felt like a piece of her was being torn out of her. “Please. Don’t leave me,” she whispered into his chest.

She felt something touch her. Looking up, she found one of the spiders standing over her. It was larger than the others, but not as large as the Spider Queen. It was holding something out to her. Lifting her hoof up, the spider deposited a piece of Celestia’s Element of Light onto it and stepped back.

Looking down at the amber shard, Celestia felt a flicker of hope. Setting the piece onto Ash’s chest, Celestia pressed her hoof over it and closed her eyes. To those watching, her body glowed with a golden light. Celestia felt the shard burn under her hoof as she let her strength trickle through it into Ash. The magic only lasted a few moments before it died. Lifting her hoof, Celestia watched as glittering dust floated away in the wind. The shard of Element of Light was gone. She prayed to the stars that what little bit she had been able to give him was enough.

Dropping her head back down to Ash’s chest, she held her breath and listened again. Nothing. Then she heard it. A light thump of a single heartbeat followed by another. Slowly, Ash’s chest rose and fell as he took a breath.

Her tears of grief turned into tears of joy. Looking back up at the spider, Celestia smiled at her. “Thank you.”

The spider clicked something back at her, but Celestia didn’t understand what she was saying. Turning, the spider rejoined the others, who gathered around their new queen as she lead them away.

Watching her leave, Celestia hoped that someday, they could be friends. Laying her head back down onto Ash’s shoulder, Celestia closed her eyes and listened to his breaths as she fell into exhausted sleep.

Chapter Forty

Cherished Ties hummed happily to herself as she sat swinging her legs below her on a branch in her crystal tree. The sun was high in the cloudless, blue sky, casting its radiance across the endless fields of flowers. A figure appeared in the distance, walking across the sea of flowers, their hooves kicking up blue petals to drift away on the breeze in their wake.

Cherished continued to hum as she watched the figure ascend the hill to her. Stopping below her, Bountiful looked up at her with a stern face. "Cherished. What have I told you about getting involved in things you're not ready for, huh?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Cherished said, blinking down at her sister. "I've been here the whole time."

Bountiful's stomped her leg on the ground. "Oh, don't give me that wide eyed innocent look! I know you too well."

Cherished fell over backward and hung down from her branch. "And you also know you love me." She booped Bountiful's nose with her hoof.

"That is besides the point!" Bountiful snapped, rubbing at her nose. "I told you that it's too soon for you to be getting involved."

"But something needed to be done!" Cherished shouted. "Ash is my friend!"

"Then you should have brought this to me, and let me handle it!"

"You were off somewhere and I couldn't find you," Cherished said, sitting back on her branch and crossing her hooves angrily. "I don't see why you're so angry. I was really careful and everything worked out in the end. I thought you were going to be proud of me."

Bountiful let out a sigh and her voice softened. "I am proud of you. I just worry. If the Madness discovers you, I don't know if I can protect you. Don't you understand? I don't want to lose you."

"You're such a worrier," Cherished sulked. "I don't need you to watch over me; I can take care of myself."

"This is not a game!" Bountiful said, glaring up at Cherished. "You and the six bloodlines need to be protected."

"Yeah, yeah. I know," Cherished muttered sullenly, waving her hoof. "For the sake of the future."

"And as for my sake too, Cherished," Bountiful added. "You're my little sister. I love you. Everything I do is for you. Even if I fall to the Madness, I want you to live on in the world I am fighting to make possible."

"Really, sister," Cherished said, leaning back on her branch. "You can be so dramatic at times."

Suddenly, Bountiful noticed something hidden in the soft grass at the base of Cherishe's tree. Feeling a sudden suspicion, she stepped closer to look. Laying, nestled together in a nest of grass, Celestia and Ash slept. Upon each of their backs were a pair of soft, feathered wings and standing prominently from each of their foreheads was a long, elegantly twisted horn.

"What are they doing here?" Bountiful asked, looking up at Cherished with an accusing look.

"This was not my fault!" Cherished answered, shaking her head hurriedly. "They somehow found there way here on their own."

"Oh?" Bountiful mused looking back down at the pair. "Well, that's interesting."

"They've been asleep the whole time they arrived," Cherished said, leaning down from her branch.

Bountiful smiled and tenderly brushed her hoof across the pair. "The poor dears. They gave everything they had, and a bit more. They deserve a long rest." She stood for a time, watching the two sleep. She felt saddened for the hardship she was placing onto their tiny backs. They were never going to experience a normal life. Destiny had touched them and etched its mark onto their souls. Despite their young ages, the two faced down monsters with unflinching strength and perseverance that belied their short years of life. And because of what they shared together inside the den, Ash and Celestia were now eternally bound to each other. A piece of them will forever live on in the other.

"Cherished. Please continue to watch over them. They've taken a big step today."

"Really!?" Cherish's ears perked up as her tail began to wag happily.

"Don't think that I'm not still angry with you, but..." Bountiful looked up at her little sister. "I'm also thankful to you for saving them. They are very special to me. More so than ever. The stars know the dangers that lay ahead of them. I pray that they will have the strength to face what's coming."

Turning, Bountiful walked away. Descending back down the hill, she vanished among a flurry of windblown petals.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

It was finally over. The dreaded spiders were gone. Mustard thought that she would feel relief at this, but as she walked next to Morning, she felt a tightening of her gut as they headed back home. Her thoughts dwelt on Celestia's words as she arrived that morning.

She had thought that she had been ready. She had thought that she had wanted this, but... now it was just starting to really hit her. This was really happening. There was... life growing inside her.

She didn't say anything to Morning about it. She didn't know why. Her feelings wouldn't settle down. They kept swinging wildly all over. She felt like she wanted to press in close to him and feel his comforting body against hers, but at the same time she wanted to run away and hide. What was wrong with her!? Why did her gut feel like it was tying itself into a tangled mess of knots? It took everything she had just to keep herself from throwing up.

Walking ahead of her, in the lead, was the heartbreaking sight of old Gravel Biter being carried on a litter by two of his stallion friends. The old stallion died early that morning when his heart had given out. Surrounding him was the rest of his herd as they solemnly followed him back on his final journey to their new home. Dark had been saddened by the old herd leader's death and wanted him to be carried in the lead.

The other ponies that had been bitten had been visited by the new spider queen before she left. She excreted something from one of her fangs and applied it to their lips and after a short while, they all began to wake up. Grand Vista had let out a happy sequel and quickly hugged Tranquil Charm the moment the young mare's eyes opened. Dusty, who had been helping Grand care for Tranquil, also looked enormously relieved as he sat nearby watching, and was surprised when Grand suddenly reached out and dragged him in to hug along with Tranquil.

Celestia and Ash were still unconscious from their ordeal with the dark magic that was infesting the spiders. Mustard had never seen such a horror before, and screamed in terror when she saw it break free and charge right at the colt. Dark and his sister, Mirage, carried the two on a litter held between them.

One of the mares, Spring Glimmers, began to sing. Her voice was clear and mournful as it rang out across the fields. She sang an ancient song of a pony's long travels across the endless lands until he finds a good place to rest. There, the pony lays down his old and weary body to sleep and becomes part of the land. In his place a tree grows and spreads its branches out to cast its shade down so that other ponies could rest in the cool soft grasses below it.

Mustard felt moved by the mare's song, and felt tears come to her eyes. Without saying a word, Morning stepped closer and let his shoulder touch hers. This show of comfort from Morning was surprising. Normally he would joke and tease her at such a display, but now he was just looking ahead with an oddly serious look on his face.

Mustard felt a flush of heat come into her cheeks as she looked up at him. "Morning?"

He glanced down at her. "Yes?"

Mustard felt the heat in her cheeks spread down her neck and her heart began to beat a bit harder. Afraid of ruining the moment, Mustard smiled softly and shook her head. "Never mind. It's nothing." She leaned a little more into his side.

Traveling down the long valley, they crossed through the western woods. Breaking out of the trees, the sight of the settlement came into view. At last, they were home. Ponies began to rush out and wave at them as they called out their welcome. Passing through the wall, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by cheering ponies. Dark had sent Comet Tail ahead to bring the news of what had happened.

Lovers embraced while mothers rushed forward to welcome their loved ones back. Dark had Gravel Biter's body placed in one of the huts to await the decision of his old herd of what they wanted to do with him. Anxiously waiting for them to arrive, Meadowlark quickly took Celestia and Ash to the healing room to look after them.

Mustard and Morning moved off together to the side of the celebrations. Mustard felt her gut twisting again as she scanned around them for their mothers. They were bound to be around somewhere looking for them. How were they going to react when they see them? What should she say to them? So many thoughts were running through her head, she felt dizzy. Lifting her hoof, Mustard rubbed it along her belly. How were they going to react to this?

Mustard thought that having a foal was something she wanted. She imagined to herself about what it would be like to have a little one of her own. They were fun daydreams of a smiling, cooing foal she could hold and snuggle with, but the moment that Celestia looked at her with those strange eyes that seemed to look right into her, and told her of what now grew within her. Mustard suddenly felt the reality of it slamming down onto her like a fallen tree.

She wanted to talk to Morning about it. She tried several times, but couldn't get the words to form in her mouth. She was such a fool! How could she think that she was ready for this!?

"Mustard!... Morning!..." voices called out.

Stepping along the edge of the celebrants, Mustard saw her and Morning's mothers calling out as they looked for them. Trailing just behind them was her sister Dandelion Fluff. Seeing her mother, Mustard suddenly felt a strong desire come over her and before she knew what she was doing, Mustard trotted a few steps towards her. "Mama!" she called out to her.

Hearing her, the two pause to glance over. When her mother's eyes fell on her, they widened slightly with surprise, then instantly brightened as she smiled at her. "Oh, there you are! My goodness. It is true. You look absolutely adorable! After Dandelion Fluff swore that she saw a stallion that looked like Morning, we went to Meadowlark and she explained to us what happened."

"I'll admit. I was surprised, but then again, Morning was always a bit of a colt in the first place." Pixie Wink added. "Though I am still very upset that Morning decided to avoid us when he was here a few days ago." Morning's ears wilted at his mother's stiff gaze.

Seeing her mother standing just before her, the emotions she been holding inside suddenly rose up and broke from her tenuous control. Tears suddenly flooded into Mustard's eyes and she rushed to her mother and threw herself onto her. "Mama! I'm so scared! I don't know what to do!" She bawled into her mother's neck as she wept.

"Oh sweety," her mother said into her mane as she hugged her. "I know that change can be scary, especially when it's unplanned like this. We love you just the same, no matter what."

"No, it's not that," Mustard said, shaking her head against her mothers neck. "We... Morning and I... we... I thought I was ready but I fear I made a mistake!" Mustard's heart was racing as she leaned back and glanced over at Morning. "I'm... I'm pregnant."

Mustard heard her mother take a quick intake of breath. "What!? Really!?"

Mustard nodded, sniffing her runny nose. "Celestia told me. She saw it with that magic of hers. She's never been wrong before." She looked back at Morning and saw him standing rather stiffly as he stared back at her with a shocked expression.

"Pregnant?" Morning muttered. "You're having a foal? I mean, we're having a foal?" His eyes were growing wider. "I didn't think... I mean... So many things happened I just thought... well, I guess I knew it was possible, but I just didn't think it would actually ..." Morning started gasping for breath. "I'm... I'm going to be a father!?"

Suddenly, Morning's eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed to the ground in a dead faint.

"Well, that settles it," Pixie Wink said, looking down at Morning. "He's definitely a colt now."

Dandelion Fluff sighed and rolled her eyes as she peeked around her mother at the comatose stallion.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Starless stood awkwardly among the festivities. Ponies were laughing and excitedly telling stories of their adventure away while ponies danced together and sang about their joy at their victory over the spiders. Starless was at a loss. She had never seen ponies acting so jovial and carefree. Unicorns hardly ever sang, and if they did, it was usually solemn and cheerless as they toiled at their work.

Walking to the fringe of the celebrations, Starless found a place to sit. Her thoughts turned back to those two foals and what she had overheard when Celestia told Ash about the dark magic that was infecting the spiders.

When she was young, there was a game she and the other unicorn foals played when they were being taught to use their magic. They were each given a crystal that had been smashed into pieces. Taking each piece up in their magic, they were to puzzle out how to fit them all back together again without setting the pieces back down. There were things that kept bugging her about what had happened and she felt like she was trying to fit pieces together much like she did those crystal shards when she was younger.

Where did the dark magic come from? What was its purpose? Starless had been racking her brain for any explanation. Magic could sometimes go wild if the caster was careless and didn't set the right limitations to their spells. Whatever this dark magic was, it was well beyond that.

"Are you okay?" Ground asked, stepping over to her.

Starless jumped at his sudden appearance. She had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she failed to notice the large stallion approaching her. Starless felt her heart flutter in her chest as she turned to look up at him. He always had that effect on her whenever he was near. Riding on his back was his little sister, Snap Dragon. Ever since they found her, she had been annoyingly persistent about staying with her brother. Starless attempted to be friendly with her, but Snap seemed indifferent to her attempts for some reason. Starless didn't understand the cold shoulder that Snap was giving her. Could it be because she didn't like unicorns?

"I'm okay," Starless smiled up at Ground. "I was just thinking of some things."

"You mind if I join you?" he asked, moving over to a spot next to her. Snap jumped off his back and quickly settled herself against his side, putting herself between the pair. "If you don't mind my asking, what is it that has your mind so occupied?"

Starless sighed and scratched the back of her head. Maybe if she talked to somepony about it, something new would come to her. She was getting tired of ramming her head into this rock. "It's the spiders. Or rather, the dark magic that was corrupting them."

"Oh?" Ground tilted his head. "What about it?"

Reaching out with her magic, Starless picked a daisy. Focusing her mind, she built and released a simple spell. The snow-white daisy sparkled for a moment, then, starting at the center and spreading out to the tips, its white petals began to turn a deep red.

"Magic, even simple and small as this one, is done because there is a will behind it, directing it." She held the blood red daisy up to show Ground. "The dark magic didn't infect the spiders by random chance. It was done with a purpose."

"A purpose?" Ground asked, looking surprised. "Why would somepony do such a thing?"

"That is what I have been struggling to figure out," Starless said, shaking her head. "Things just don't make sense. Out of all the places to go, why did they come here? What was it the spiders were being driven to do?"

"Didn't they come to eat us?" Snap asked, speaking to Starless for the first time. Realizing what she had done, Snap clamped her mouth shut and glared down at the ground.

"I don't believe they came here to just eat ponies," Starless said. "If they did, then why did they all leave here when they had all the ponies trapped like flies in their web to go after a smaller group of ponies? Their actions went against their nature. If you have your prey sitting helpless before you, you don't just leave to go after another."

"Perhaps they are like moths that were attracted to a campfire," Ground offered thoughtfully.

Starless was about to dismiss this, but then a piece of her crystal puzzle fit together. She had been assuming that the dark magic was driving the spiders to come here, but what if it was the dark magic was being drawn here? The deep hunger that the spiders felt. Could it have been the dark magic's hunger? Starless felt her breath catch as more pieces began to come together. It wasn't the spiders that came here! It was the dark magic!

"Starless?" Ground said to her in concern. "Are you okay?"

Her mind was working really fast now. Pieces were rapidly falling into place. The dark magic was drawn here by something. Something it hungered for. Something it wanted very badly. It all came together and she finally understood what its purpose was! "I got it!" she exclaimed. Turning, she reached out and hugged Ground, smashing Snap between their bodies. "Thank you, you clever, clever, stallion!"

Feeling Snap pushing at her, Starless felt her face heating up when she realized what she was doing with Ground and quickly released him. The two shifted awkwardly beside each other while Snap scowled at Starless as she clutched possessively at her brothers leg.

"I'm sorry," Starless apologized, feeling like her cheeks were about to ignite into flames.

"No! Don't be," Ground quickly exclaimed before falling into a awkward silence.

Starless nibbled at her lip as she tried to calm her thundering heart. Why was she acting like such a filly over a colt? And an Earth Pony, at that! If her mother knew the thoughts she was having about him, she would voluntarily exile herself to the wild in shame!

"There you are!" Tiger Lily exclaimed as she stormed up on them from behind.

Snap Dragon let out a terrified scream and attempted to dash away, but suddenly, a large shadow appeared and snatched the filly up by her tail. Ground's father, Hoof Strike, with his struggling daughter dangling down, carried her over the furious looking Tiger Lily and set her down before her.

"I have been searching everywhere for you!" Tiger snapped, glaring angrily at her daughter. "Do you know how much trouble you are in, my little filly!?"

"But mama!" Snap complained. "I helped defeat the spiders! I saved ponies! I saved big brother!"

"And what does that have anything to do with your punishment?" Tiger growled back. Suddenly, she reached out and wrapped her hooves tightly around the surprised filly. "You have no idea how scared I was. I thought I lost you two. Hoof Strike had to hold me down to keep me from chasing after you both. I even bit him!"

Hoof Strike rubbed at a mark on his shoulder with a pained wince.

"I am proud of you," Tiger said, leaning back to look into her daughter's face. "You helped to save a lot of lives, including Ground's. But that also doesn't excuse you for sneaking off like you did. Even though it all worked out in the end, it could easily have turned out with you all dying out there in those woods, leaving me to grieve over the loss of my foals."

"Mama," Snap blinked down at the ground. "I'm sorry."

Tiger smiled softly and shook her head with a sigh. "I don't know what I am going to do with you. You've grown up so much you're almost a mare. Whatever happened to the little filly who would hide under me whenever you saw a bee fly past?"

Moved at the touching scene between mother and daughter, Starless wiped at her eyes. She had never been close to her mother. When it had been discovered that she had a strong talent in magic, her mother pushed her to improve her skills. Harshly berating her whenever she made a mistake, and any affection she had for her mother, ended the day she began to beat her to make her remember her lessons.

Starless felt a sense of jealousy towards Snap. She had a whole family that loved her, and even though she did something wrong, they were still quick to forgive her. Snap was surrounded by love she herself had never had nor experienced, but had always yearned desperately for.

Suddenly, Tiger turned her attention to her and eyed her disapprovingly. "My dear. What have you done to yourself? You look a frightful mess! Your mane is as tangled as a robin's nest and what have you been dragging your tail through!? This just won't do." She walked over and pushed her toward Snap. "Come along, the both of you. You both need a wash and a good brushing. There is going to be a big celebration tonight, and you both need to look your best. Ground, go down, jump into the river, and wash off whatever you've been wallowing in. Hoof dear, go hunt down that other colt of ours and and make sure he joins him."

"We're not going to be punished?" Snap asked.

Tiger let out a light laugh, "Oh, of course you are! But that can wait until tomorrow. Now start marching, the both of you," she ordered, flicking her hoof at Starless and Snap to move them along. Walking along beside the young almost-mare, as Tiger directed them to the bathhouse, Starless felt a strange warmth within her. For some reason, it felt good to be included.

Glancing down at Snap, Starless was surprised to see her looking up at her.

"I won't let you have him," Snap hissed at her. "Big brother is mine."

Starless blinked down at her, and quickly glanced back over her shoulder at Ground as he walked away to the river. She liked him. In fact. She liked him more than she should, but he was an Earth Pony and she was a Unicorn. Any union between them would be anathema for her kind. Whatever her feelings for Ground may be, no matter how much she wanted it, or how much it may hurt her to do so, she could never allow herself to act on them.

"Something wrong, dear?" Tiger suddenly asked, seeing her looking back.

Quickly, Starless pushed her feelings back down and smiled at the tiny mare. "It's nothing important."

Next to her, Snap frowned up at her. She had been watching Starless the whole time and she witnessed the look of pained regret that came over Starless's eyes as she looked back at her departing brother.

Later, Starless stepped out into the night a changed mare. Her coat gleamed in the firelight and her mane and tail had been done up in a long braid that nearly touched the ground. Feathers being popular with many of the mares now, she had white dove feathers tied into her mane, just behind her ear.

Standing awkwardly next to her, Snap Dragon gazed out nervously at the festivities. Her deep violet coat glistened, and her white mane had long strands of pond grass woven down its length. "I feel silly," she complained.

"Don't be. You look beautiful," Starless complemented her. It was true. Snap was on the verge of becoming a fine mare. Her body was already developing the fine, smooth curves that were attracting the eyes of many of the older colts.

"That's not true," Snap scoffed at the idea. "I'm ugly."

"If that was true, then I would be a donkey," Starless said back.

"I saw donkeys, once," Snap said. "We came across a small herd of them a few seasons back. I thought they looked adorable with their big ears and funny faces."

"You kept asking me if we could keep one," Tiger Lily added, walking up behind them. "You had a fit when I told you no." Her light yellow-orange coat seemed to glow in the firelight, and her mane was decorated with bright crimson cardinal feathers that seemed to flash in the night. Following along behind her was Skye Twirl, Dusty Stride, and Tranquil Charm, who was helping Grand Vista hobble along on her broken leg.

Skye still had her wing bound in place and she walked with a slight limp. Her waist was slightly pudgy as it started to show the first signs of her pregnancy. Her light grey coat was freshly washed and her light mane had blue jay feathers tied into it that help bring out the natural blue that ran through it. Dusty kept glancing worriedly at her as he walked closely along her side while the young Tranquil Charm flanked Skye's other side. Tranquil's normally dull russet colored coat looked vibrant and glossy, while her freshly brushed golden-orange mane had large, yellow roses worked into it, down its long length. Grand simply brushed out her mane and tail and just left them hanging loose, though she did relent and let Tranquil tie a single goose feather just behind her ear.

Looking around, Starless was amazed at how much had been cleaned already. All the webbing had been removed, as well as all the spider remains. Many of the defensive fire-pits had been lit to cast their warm light far out into the night and a large area surrounding the cracked stone had been cleared and decorated with bundles of flowers and colorful glitter-stones.

The sound of Silverglint's flute drifted over the celebrations as she and other ponies gathered to play music for ponies to dance to. More and more, ponies were coming up with new and inventive ways to create music. Drums, made of hollowed out logs, kept the tempo while the newly created stringed instruments, thrummed in counterpoint to Silverglint's flute.

Within the healers room, Celestia blinked her eyes opened as the sounds outside woke her. Sitting up, she found that she was lying alongside Ash. Reaching out, she gently touched his cheek and felt his warmth and smiled. He was alive.

"Celestia?" her mother's voice called to her. Looking over, Celestia found her standing at the doorway, her eyes red from crying. Taking a few steps closer, her mother paused as she dropped her head down. "Celestia. I'm so sorry. This was my fault. You tried to talk to me and I didn't listen. I thought... I thought I knew what was best." Flopping her rump down, she began to weep into the back of her leg. "I should have trusted you. If I did, then Ash wouldn't have gotten hurt."

Climbing up to her hooves, Celestia was surprised at how weak she still was. Walking over to her mother, Celestia hugged her around her neck. "Don't cry, mama."

Her mother whimpered behind her hoof. "I should have been there for you. Instead, I dismissed you. Ash and many other ponies could have died because of my foolishness. I could have lost you too. I'm a horrible mother!"

"Oh my," a voice broke in from behind. "I have heard and seen some silliness in my time." Dark's mother, Light Drizzle, slowly walked into the room, shaking her head. She had been steadily recovering from her illness and some of her strength had returned, though she still easily grew tired whenever she overexerted herself. "Being a fool myself, I know what foolishness looks like and I can tell you that you still have a long way to go yet."

Celestia's mother looked back at the elderly mare. "But I should have-"

"Enough." Light Drizzle waved her hoof dismissively, cutting Meadowlark off. "The world is full of I should have's, There is no need for you to add any more. There were choices to be made and you both made them to the best you knew how at the time. Now that it's all done and over with, it's time for you to move on. Hug your daughter and kiss her. Tell her how much you love her and that you won't fail to listen to her again. Always make amends. Trust me when I tell you that your time together is too short to waste."

Meadowlark blinked at Light Drizzle. Looking back down at Celestia, she smiled and wrapped her hoof around her and kissed her. "I'm sorry, sweety. I promise I will listen to you from now on."

Celestia buried her face into the side of her mother's neck. "Mama. I'm sorry for sneaking away like I did. I knew it was wrong and dangerous, but I did it anyways."

"I understand why you did it," her mother assured her, nuzzling the top of her head. "I'm just glad that both of you are now safely home."

"Ho now. What is happening here?" Dark said, stepping into the room. Held in the crook of his leg, a drooling Luna cooed as she batted her hoof up at Dark's face. Seeing Celestia, Dark smiled. "Oh, good, you're awake!"

Celestia broke away from her mother and dashed over to throw her hooves around her father's neck. Luna let out a happy giggle when Celestia turned her attention to her and nuzzled her cheek.

"How's Ash?" her father asked, looking over at the colt.

"I'm afraid he's still asleep," Meadowlark answered.

"Hmm. That's too bad." Dark said. "There's a lot of ponies who want to see him and give their thanks. Can he be woken up?"

"Papa," Celestia called, looking up at him. "I gave him what little strength I could, but he's still extremely weak. It's really important that he continues to rest."

Her father gazed down at her and nodded. "Okay, sweetie. We won't bother him, then. Mirage, did you get it?" he asked, looking back.

"It was just finished," Mirage answered, walking in carrying a white and yellow feathered headdress, followed by Bell and Dove, who was carrying Aurora.

"She's going to need to have her mane and tail brushed. They're a matted mess," Bell said.

"And I think a quick washing is in order as well," Dove added. "Strongbuck, dear, would you and Dark please fetch some water for us?"

Over the next short while, Celestia was thoroughly cleaned and her mane and tail brushed out so it flowed freely along her body. The white and yellow feathered headdress that had been made for her was settled onto her head.

"You don't have to worry about young Ash," Light Drizzle assured Celestia as she settled herself down next to the colt. "I'll keep him company so he won't be lonely. So go and enjoy yourself as much as you want."

Strongbuck then walked up to her. "I found this before we left," he said, holding his hoof out to her.

Sitting on his hoof was the other shard of her Element of Light. Deep within it, she could still see a soft glow. It wasn't totally dead. There was still magic within it. Taking it, Celestia considered what to do with it. Hearing little Aurora burbling nearby, Celestia had an idea. "Dove. Do you have some twine?" she asked, looking over to the young mare.

Dove nodded and gestured to the corner near the door where she had some wicker bins set up. "I keep some over there."

Hurrying over, Celestia used a sharp cutting stone to cut off a short length of twine. Taking the shard, she carefully tied the twine around it and then looped it back around to itself and tied the two ends together. Satisfied, Celestia walked over to Dove and stopped before Aurora, who was being held in the crook of Dove's upraised leg. Smiling at the burbling filly, Celestia slipped the looped twine over her head and settled the shard at the base of the foal's neck. She then set her hoof over the shard and closed her eyes.

"What are you doing?" Dove asked, curiously.

Focusing her will into the shard, Celestia called up its magic. Turning her attention to Aurora, Celestia reached within her and carefully took a small piece of her spark and combined the two together, melding it to the shard's magic. When she was done, Celestia took her hoof away and saw that the amber shard was no longer broken, it was now a whole and complete gem. Half of it was still the amber Element of Light, but now, the other half was violet colored amethyst made from Aurora's own life spark. The two were now bound together as one.

Aurora blinked her white eyes as they turned amber. Suddenly, she giggled happily and waved her hoof up at Celestia as she looked right at her.

There was a collective gasp around the room. "What did you do!?" Dove asked.

"I gave her a new light to see by," Celestia answered, sitting down wearily. "As long as she wears that gem, she will be able to see the life around her. I give this gift to her."

"How?" Dove started to weep as she buried her muzzle into the filly she was holding. "How can I thank you for this?"

Smiling, Celestia shook her head. "There’s no need."

Dark and Meadowlark both moved over and hugged Celestia together and smothered her in kisses. Luna squealed in Dark's grasp as she was pressed into Celestia and started nomming onto Celestia's ear, slathering it in filly drool.

A short time later, Celestia's papa carried her out atop of his back with her mama, who was carrying Luna, by their side. Making for an impressive sight, her parents had adorned their own headdresses. Moving out into the crowds of cheering ponies, Celestia gazed out in surprise. They were all cheering for her and calling her the Savior, and Peace-Bringer as well as other similar names.

Walking through, Dark brought her to stand just before the cracked stone in the center of the cheering crowds. "Mares and stallions!" Dark called out, silencing the crowd. "We have much to be joyful for. We have brought back new ponies to welcome into our herd, as well as made new and unexpected friends." Dark gestured to the side.

With the help of Tranquil Charm, Grand Vista hobbled out on her broken leg to stand before all the ponies. A embarrassed looking Starless Night suddenly appeared as Ground brutishly pushed her out. Smiling awkwardly, Starless moved forward and joined the other two.

"Grand Vista and Tranquil Charm have expressed their desire to join our herd," Meadowlark said, stepping out next to them. "I have spoken to them and I found them to be honest, good natured ponies. Please join me in welcoming them into our herd."

Ponies let out a cheer, and friendly calls of welcome as food was brought to them.

Starless shifted awkwardly in place, her heart beating heavily in her chest as her eyes fell onto Ground Pound. He was gazing at her hopefully. She wanted to speak up and ask to join as well, but she refused to give into her desire. Joining the herd was something she couldn't allow herself to do. She was a Caster. The first one in her blood to ever rise to such a rank. Untold generations of her line suffered and struggled to produce a talented offspring like her. How could she throw all their pain and sacrifice away just so she could follow her heart? She had a duty to her blood to secure the rites to mate with a high-bred stallion. Hardening herself, Starless broke her gaze with Ground. The agony she felt at knowing that she was hurting him, stabbed at her and nearly shattered her will.

Standing to the side, Tiger Lily watched the scene that played out between Ground and Starless with an unreadable expression.

"And now we have ponies that need to be acknowledged," Dark said. "Mustard Seed, Morning Sky, please step forward."

Stepping out, Mustard walked over to stand next to Dark. Her mane and tail had been brushed and bound at their ends with colored twine while blue morning glories had been added throughout its length, matching the color of a certain stallion's coat that stepped out with her to stand alongside her.

"Mustard and Morning started out on our journey a bit immature and irresponsible," Dark said. "This soon changed when we were attacked by the winged serpents. Mustard held back her fears to help Dusty and Morning save others by boldly running out into the swarm. Later, when Mustard and Morning encountered a magic pool that changed them both forever, they didn't give in. They pressed on and later assisted in the rescue of the trapped ponies. And finally, when the spiders attacked, Mustard held strong and lead everypony into driving them off, before leading them all to safety."

Smiling, Meadowlark stepped forward with Melodious, who was carrying two wreaths of woven flowers. Taking one, Meadowlark slipped it over Mustard's head and settled it around her neck and kissed her cheek. Next, she slipped the second one onto Morning and kissed his cheek as well.

"Now, where is my sister?" Dark shouted. "Mirage, step up here."

Mirage came out with a startled look and joined her brother. "When Mirage arrived, she came calling to us for help. She pleaded with an impassioned spirit that refused to be turned away. During the entire trip, she was always there for anypony who needed an ear to speak to and a voice to offer kind words back. I fear to think what things would have been like without her there to hold us together. Later, she was instrumental in leading the spiders away so that the rest of the ponies could escape to the wolf den. It was her and Ash's brave efforts that saved so many lives that night."

Meadowlark stepped forward and laid a wreath around her neck and kissed her.

"Next! Every pony that was part of the rescue team, come forward and be recognized," Dark said, then he began calling out names.

One by one, when a pony's name was called, they would step out to Meadowlark so she could lay a smaller circlet of woven flowers atop of their head and kiss their cheek. Mothers wept openly as they watched in pride as one of their grown foals walked out and be recognized.

"Next, I would like to recognize Ash Cloud," Dark said, looking over the crowd. "Unfortunately, he is still recovering and cannot come out." There were looks of disappointment on many in the crowd at this. "That colt tried my nerves to the breaking point more times during that journey than I could count," Dark said with a laugh. "He faced down a charging manticore and saved Dusty while they were out searching for a special root to save Dusty's mother. Later, when the hydra attacked, he disobeyed and ran down to face it. He showed me a magic that had never been seen before. He fought the hydra and defeated it with the power of his heart. I learned, then, the magic that can come from love. It gives ponies the strength to face monsters with unwavering force that cannot be stopped. It was his idea to lead the spiders away so that the ponies could escape and he kept Mirage safe to return back to the others, where once again, Ash showed us the magic of his heart by holding the spiders at bay until help arrived." Dark paused as his eyes grew emotional. "He was there to face down the Spider Queen in the end after I was struck down. He gave everything he had and more in trying to defeat her and the dark magic that was controlling her. It cost him his magic and nearly his life. So in honor of his bravery, I name him, ‘Ash Cloud, the Courageous.’ Let none ever doubt his courage, or else they may learn of it the hard way!"

The cheering that erupted was thunderous. Waving his hoof after a time. It took Dark several long moments to quiet everypony back down. "Lastly, there are three more that need to be recognized: Journey Stomp, Snap Dragon, and my own daughter, Celestia."

Stepping out into the cleared area, Ground Pound appeared, carrying a embarrassed-looking Snap Dragon riding on his back. Hoof Strike followed after with an excited Journey Stomp hopping in place on his father's back. The two moved over and joined Dark who had picked Celestia up onto his own back.

"Journey Stomp and Snap Dragon bravely traveled out during the night to escort Celestia through spider infested forests to the very heart of the conflict. There, Celestia faced down the spiders with unflinching grace. Instead of death, her arrival brought healing. She was the one who discovered the dark magic hidden within the spiders, and with the help of Ash, they purged it from them, ending their madness, though the Spider Queen was lost when she sacrificed herself to contain the dark magic that was loosed. Soon after, when Ash exhausted all his strength and lay helpless before the corrupted Queen, Celestia refused to leave him and faced down the evil that stood poised over them and drove it off. Using the last of her magic, Celestia healed Ash, losing forever the special power she was gifted with."

Meadowlark came forward and laid three wreaths around each of their necks, kissing each in turn. Journey made a funny face when it came his turn to be kissed and Meadowlark made it a point to give him a extra long, and mushy one that made ponies laugh as Journey vigorously rubbed his cheek when she was done.

Food was brought out and music soon filled the air. Sage Brush found a good place by one of the fires to tell a new story to a group of foals. Dark surveyed the sights and smiled. Everything was good.

"Dark?" Starless called out as she walked over to him. "I would like to have a word with you, if I could."

"Sure," Dark agreed. "What can I help you with?"

Starless glanced around before stepping in close. "I think that there is something you need to know. I've been thinking about things and I think I figured out something. The spiders were hunting Celestia and Ash."

Dark's ears shot up in alarm. "What!?"

"The spiders came and attacked the settlement and even though they were driven off, they kept coming back," Starless explained. "The madness of the dark magic may explain why they were doing so, but then when we arrived, they suddenly turned and went after the group holding Ash. It was like they were being drawn to both of them. First to the settlement where Celestia was, then to the group where Ash was. I think the dark magic was hunting the two."

"But why!?" Dark asked then suddenly he knew why. "The magic! The Elements they possessed! The dark magic wanted it!"

"I believe so," Starless answered. "The dark magic was created with a purpose. It was released onto the spiders to fulfill its purpose and I am afraid that it succeeded. It destroyed Celestia's Element of Light and took Ash's Element. That is why it left. It had what it needed."

Dark felt a chill run down his back. "By the stars."

Chapter Forty One

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter Forty Two

Author's Note

💕Happy Valentines Day!💕

💟💟💟💟

Chapter about 4 months after the last one

Chapter Forty Two

Dusty Stride's breath puffed out into the frigid, late autumn air as his hooves plodded tirelessly along through the rolling hills of the golden grasslands. He and five other ponies, arranged out behind him, were traveling west with full packs loaded down onto their backs. This was to be the first of their monthly deliveries to Flutter Fly and the Pegasi.

Draped over him was the gift that Tranquil had made for him: a mantle, woven from simple plant fibers. It hooked around his neck and covered his back and sides. It's construction was a marvel that he treasured as much as his packs. Its tight weaves did a wonderful job protecting him from the chilling air, helping him to keep warm.

Wearing a similar mantle, Tranquil Charm followed along behind him. Unlike the one she had made for him, she had fashioned hers to also cover her head and neck. Soon after she joined the herd, she became interested in the weaving crafts. Learning quickly, it wasn't long before she began to improve on it, cleverly devising new weaves on her own and trying new materials. It became apparent that her meager skill with magic was capable of extraordinarily fine control that helped her immensely in weaving the finer threads she created together. It was when she completed her first mantle and gave it to Dusty that she got her cutie mark of a billowing mantle on her flanks.

Skye had been so happy for her. The two had become very much like sisters since she started living with them. Oftentimes, Dusty would find the two with their heads close together whispering and giggling about something or other and the looks they directed at him made him feel a bit nervous for some reason. When he had gone to Strongbuck about it, he told him that when two mares were like that, it was probably wise for a stallion to just keep his muzzle out of such things.

The sky had been clear when they left the previous morning, but when they woke this morning, they found clouds had moved in during the night and the air had become noticeably colder. During the day, the clouds were slowly building onto each other. Stopping, Dusty lifted his muzzle and sniffed at the air. Without warning, he felt a soft muzzle shove up into a rather sensitive area as Tranquil walked right into his backside.

Stumbling back, she gave him an embarrassed look. "Ah... sorry. I wasn't paying attention."

Dusty had been surprised when Tranquil had asked to come, and even more so when Skye supported her in it. Dusty couldn't help but feel that the two of them were up to something.

"What's the matter?" Blue Swirl asked, stopping next to them. Her cutie mark was a swirl of blue stars.

"There's a storm coming," Dusty answered. "I can smell snow in the air."

A tall stallion, with unusually long legs and a cutie mark of a sun that was half hidden by a horizon, stepped over to them. "Afraid of a little weather?" Far Treader asked. Bending in close to Blue Swirl, he gave her a smile. "If you get cold, I'll be happy to help warm you back up." Despite having four mares already back home, he never missed a chance to flirt.

Blue folded her ears back as she glared at the stallion. "If you try to touch me, you'll be taking back a stump."

"It does look like storm is blowing in," Kindwhinny said, cutting in as she looked up. She didn't like to see ponies fighting, and always tried to help settle disputes. Her cutie mark was a dove holding a olive branch. "Perhaps we should turn back and find someplace to camp."

"And lose a whole day because of some clouds?" Flint Heart snapped gruffly as he passed. "We're Earth Ponies. We can handle a bit of weather." He was missing a piece of his right ear, and as if to mimic this, his cutie mark was a stone heart that had a chip missing from its corner. "We'll find a place to camp up ahead, so stop staring up at the pretty clouds and lets get a move on. We're wasting time."

Seeing him pushing on, the others slowly fell in behind him. Dusty felt that continuing on was a mistake, but he found himself hesitant to voice it. He was the youngest one in the party and the only one without a cutie mark. Swallowing his unease, Dusty reluctantly followed after the others with Tranquil joining in beside him.

Flint set a hard pace that ate up the distance. Tranquil struggled to keep up and was slowly falling further behind. Dusty fell back with her as the others pressed further ahead. Seeing a need to do something, Dusty took Tranquil's packs from her and settled them higher up on his withers, beside of his own packs.

Relieved of the weight, Tranquil was able to pick up her pace enough for them to catch up to the others. It was then that the first few snowflakes began to drift down. Ignoring it, Flint had them push on. The wind began to pick up as it swept down from the north.

"Dusty," Tranquil said, walking beside him. " I'm worried. It's getting really cold."

Looking ahead, Dusty saw that Kindwhinny was shivering, and her steps were growing increasingly unsteady. Blue was talking to her, trying to keep her going. Falling in beside the two mares, Far Stride bent in close and said something to them. Whatever he said, it caused Blue Swirl to angrily lash out at the grinning stallion and buck her hoof out at him. Just missing him as he danced away.

The weather grew increasingly worse as they bore onward. The snow began to blow in at them, piling up to their fetlocks as the wind howled across the rolling grasslands. Walking along beside him, Tranquil tried to shelter herself as best as she could from the worst of the wind and snow. Dusty's legs were shivering under him as he looked around. Blue Swirl was alongside Kindwhinny, supporting her as best she could. Far Treader wasn't doing much better; his whole body was shivering so much his teeth was chattering. With his head bowed down and snow piling up against his side, Flint Heart stubbornly kept going.

Seeing all this, something inside Dusty finally snapped. Furling his brow, Dusty quickened his pace and trotted up to Flint Heart. "We're not going to make it! We're going to freeze unless we get out of this wind!"

Flint Heart didn't seem to hear him as he continued walking.

Anger rose up in Dusty. How could this stallion be so callous!? "Didn't you hear me!? We need to find shelter!"

Flint Heart's eyes stared dully ahead. "We... need to keep going," he muttered.

Dusty's anger flared into a rage, and he stepped into Flint's way. "No! If we keep going, ponies are going to die!"

Flint Heart walked into him and stumbled back, blinking at him dumbly. Seeing the dazed look in Flint's eyes, Dusty realized that he was barely conscious. The only thing keeping the stallion going was his own stubbornness.

By now, the others had caught up and gathered around. Looking around at their frigid faces, Dusty decided that he needed to make a decision. "We're stopping. Let's find shelter and wait out this storm."

"Where?" Blue Swirl asked. "There are no trees or bushes out here. Nothing to shelter ourselves with."

"What do we do?" Kindwhinny asked, her lips shivering.

"We're going to die out here," Far Treader muttered drolly, his head hung down. "I'll never see my darly mares again."

Looking around, Dusty couldn't make out much in the blowing snow. What could they do? The only thing they had to use were the things they had brought with them. The packs! An idea came to him. "We're not going to die," Dusty declared firmly. "All of you come with me."

Turning back, Dusty lead them back to a small gully they had passed. Flint Heart had to be pushed to make him follow. Within the small gully, the wind wasn't as bad and Dusty quickly got to work. Using their packs, he had them set them out next to each other to create a series of windbreaks. Using their hooves, he had them dig out the snow between the packs so they could set the grass mats into the spaces for them to lay on. Then using the rest of the mats, he had them cover them over, using the spears they had brought to support them across.

Finished, each makeshift shelter was just barely big enough to hold two ponies. Dusty gave his mantle to Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny for them to use as they took the first shelter together. Grumbling to himself that none of the mares wanted to share with him, Far Treader was forced to pair up with Flint Heart in the second one. Dusty then climbed into the last shelter.

Squirming into place, Dusty found himself laying face to face with Tranquil. Despite the cold, Dusty suddenly felt like he was sitting too close to a campfire as he looked into her big, garnet eyes. Tranquil's horn lit up and Dusty felt her shift her mantle to lay over him. Not knowing what else to do with his hooves, he wrapped them around her shivering body and held her close.

Outside their shelter, they could hear the wind howling by as snow piled up around them. Closing his eyes, Dusty tried his best to slow his racing heart.

"You... you were amazing, today."

Dusty opened his eyes and met Tranquil's. "What do you mean?"

"Confronting Flint Heart and coming up with these clever shelters," Tranquil said. "We all would have died out there if it hadn't of been for you.

There was something that Dusty had been wanting to ask her since they left. Now that they were alone, it seemed like a good time for him to ask. "Tranquil. Why did you ask to come?"

Tranquil's body stiffened against him as her eyes broke away.

"Was this Skye's idea?" Dusty asked. "Was she pushing you into something?"

Tranquil's eyes shot back to his, "No!" She said, quickly shaking her head. "She didn't push me into anything. I wanted to come."

"Then why?" Dusty asked. "Why did you want to come?"

With a whimper, Tranquil buried her face into his chest and murmured something into his fur he wasn't able to make out. When he pressed her again, she shook her head against him and answered simply. "It's a secret."

Tranquil refused to answer anymore questions after that and Dusty was forced to give up. Settling his head down, Dusty listened to the blizzard as it raged just outside their tiny makeshift shelter. Tranquil's shivering had stopped and Dusty noticed her soft breaths against his chest had slowed as she slept.

By morning, the storm had passed. Digging themselves out, they found the grasslands around them were completely covered in a blanket of white. The sky was clear and glittered in the morning sunlight. Eating a meal of hay and dried fruit, they repacked their supplies and set off. Flint Heart was back to his normal self again and pushed them harder than ever. Crossing the grasslands, they came to a thick forest that stretched out over a range of hills. Dropping into a small river valley, they stopped by the edge of a frozen river.

"Should we cross?” Blue Swirl asked, looking out over the river.

"It looks solid enough," Far Treader said, tapping his hoof onto the ice.

Kindwhinny shook her head. "I don't know. I was taught that crossing frozen lakes and streams was very dangerous."

Flint Heart let out a grunt. "Well. The river's not going to cross itself," he declared, stepping out onto the ice. "Come on. We're wasting time."

Dusty had a terrible feeling that marching out there was a horrible idea. Leaping forward, Dusty grabbed Flint Heart's tail in his mouth and hauled back. "Stop!"

"What are you doing!? Stop pulling my tail!" Flint Heart snapped, angrily yanking his tail out of Dusty's grip. "We need to get across and sitting here talking about it is solving nothing!"

Dusty felt his anger rising. Flint Heart was the most recklessly foolish pony he had ever seen! He never considered the safety of others nor does he seek out other options to a problem than just going straight at it. "Stop acting like a fool! Did you think of what would happen if you broke through the ice?"

Flint Heart blinked down at him. "I would just get wet. There's no harm in that."

Dusty shoved his hoof out and pointed out at the ice. "That is a river! Just because it's covered in ice doesn't mean that it's not still flowing! If you were to fall through, you would be carried away under the ice with no way back up to breathe! Don't you ever think anything through or is your solution for everything just to ignore it and keep going!?"

Panting for breath, he noticed that everypony was staring at him. Flint had actually backed away from him and was looking at him like he had just grown a horn. Dusty realized that he'd been yelling.

"Well then," Flint Heart grunted. "If you think you know better, then you can just figure out a way to get us across."

"Yes," Kindwhinny exclaimed. "That's a wonderful idea!"

"I agree," Blue Swirl added with a smile at him.

"Okay, then," Far Treader said, clapping his hoof onto Dusty's back. "You're in charge now; what do we do?"

Dusty was surprised. He was not expecting something like this to happen to him. Looking around, he saw them all gazing back at him expectantly as they waited for him to make his decision. What should he do? He noticed Tranquil was smiling at him as her eyes showed confidence and trust. Thinking quickly, he started to work out a plan.

"Everypony, take off your packs," Dusty ordered. "This is what we are going to do."

Kicking over an old rotten tree, they broke it apart until they had a large piece to set all their packs into. Pushing their makeshift sled onto the edge of the ice, Dusty checked the rope that was tied around him. Ready, Dusty began to carefully walk out onto the river. Picking his hoofsteps with care, Dusty slowly worked his way across, using a spear shaft to tap on the ice. Trailing along behind him, Blue Swirl followed with Tranquil Charm, Far Treader, Kindwhinny, and Flint Heart coming up in order behind her.

Dusty kept his ears trained onto the ice as he took each of his steps. His heart was pounding in his chest as he expected at any moment to break through and plunge into the frigid waters below. Stepping out onto a patch of milky colored ice, Dusty heard it start popping and crackling under his weight. Quickly stepping back, Dusty moved around it, calling back a warning to the others.

Taking care to keep to the blue tinged parts of the ice, Dusty wove his way to the far shore. Looking back, he watched as Blue Swirl navigated the same path he did until she joined him. Next, Tranquil Charm worked her way through just as carefully as Blue Swirl, and just as she was getting close to shore, there was a sudden cracking pop that split the air. Far Treader, who was following behind her let out a startled scream as he fell through the ice into the frigid water.

Tranquil let out a terrified scream when the rope that was tied to her suddenly jerked taunt and started to pull her back towards the hole. Kindwhinny and Flint Heart were also being dragged across the ice. Far Treader was dragging them in! Reacting quickly, Dusty grabbed the rope that lead to Tranquil and pulled with Blue Swirl halting her just a mere span from falling in. Working together, Dusty and Blue continued to pull as hard as they could.

They needed to get Far Treader out before he drowned! Grunting with the effort, Dusty and Blue hauled back on the line, step by step until Far Treader's head suddenly emerged. Taking a deep coughing breath, Far Treader weakly clutched at the edge of the ice with his hooves.

Working together, they managed to haul Far Treader back onto the ice. Once everypony was safely on the shore, they pulled their supplies the rest of the way over on its sled. Searching around, Dusty found a suitable spot to set up camp nearby in a hollow of trees, and soon they had a fire going. Settling Far Treader next to it, Tranquil and Dusty covered the shivering stallion with their mantles to help warm him back up.

Seeing Flint Heart standing by himself, staring out at the river, Dusty walked over to him. "Are you okay?"

Continuing to stare out, Flint Heart took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh. "You were right. I am a fool. A fool and an idiot. I would have lead us to disaster if you hadn't of stopped me." Turning away, he walked back to the camp.

The next day, the weather was clear and the snow began to melt, turning the ground into mud that sucked at their hooves as they walked. Flint Heart remained silent and subdued throughout the day as they traveled, keeping himself to the rear of the group. Dusty thought about talking to him, but he couldn't think of anything to say, so he decided to just leave him alone for now and see how he is later.

At noon, they stopped at a small stream to wash their muddy hooves. After eating a meal, they refilled their water-gourds and set off again. The sun moved a few more hoof-spans across the sky when Dusty called a halt.

"What's wrong?" Far Treader asked.

"I believe we're here," Dusty said, pointing to a large rock outcropping that had a crooked tree growing out of its side. "That is where Flutter Fly and the other Pegasi were supposed to be."

Suddenly, they heard a scream and something small came darting out of the trees. It flew out across the field with something exploding out behind it in furious pursuit.

"A Griffon!" Tranquil exclaimed in fright.

Dusty had never seen a Griffon before, only hearing them described in stories. The Griffon's body, tail, and back legs were that of a lion, while its head, wings, and front talons were that of an eagle. Before the Griffon, a lone filly was flying across the field as fast as her little wings could carry her as the Griffon surged after her with each flap of his great eagle wings, his beak snapping at her.

"He's going to catch her!" Kindwhinny exclaimed in horror. "We need to do something!"

Flint Heart was the first to react. Throwing his pack off, he charged past them. Blue and Kindwhinny both followed after, quickly snatching up their spears.

The filly's strength was faltering and Dusty saw that Flint Heart wasn't going to make it in time. "Tranquil! Use your magic to help speed her up!"

"I can't." Tranquil shook her head. "I can only do little things."

"That's all she needs!" Dusty quickly told her. "Just give her a little push."

Tranquil nodded. Focusing her will onto the foal with an intense look of concentration, her horn began to glow with her soft colored magic. The filly started to sparkle. The Griffon opened its beak, and with a resounding crack, it snapped shut, just missing the filly by a hare's breath as she moved just out of his reach.

Flint Heart skidded to an stop next to a old log. With a powerful buck, he sent the log flying, smashing it right into the Griffon as he went to snap at the filly again. With a startled squawk, the Griffon tumbled to the ground and slid to a stop. Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny galloped up and held their spears ready. The exhausted filly continued to frantically fly across the field until Far Treader caught up to her and deftly snatched her out of the air.

Grabbing his spear, Dusty rushed over to the fallen Griffon. Having regained his footing, the Griffon growled at them as it crouched low, his wings flared out threateningly to the sides. "Give me back my morsel, little ponies," the Griffon demanded with a sharp crack of his beak.

Dusty was surprised to hear the Griffon speak. The stories never mentioned that.

"We're not letting you eat that filly!" Kindwhinny shouted furiously, thrusting her spear nearer the Griffon. "You should be ashamed of yourself! Attacking a poor, little, defenseless foal. Don't you have any kind of heart?" None of them had ever seen this side of her before. In fact, none of them thought that she was even capable of getting angry.

"Griffon!" Dusty called out to the creature. "The Pegasi that were here. What have you done to them!?"

"The same thing I will do to you wingless rodents," the Griffon snapped back with a hiss. "Eat."

Behind him, Dusty heard Tranquil gasp in horror. Hearing her, the Griffon's eyes snapped to Tranquil. "A horned one!" Letting out a squawk of terror, the Griffon stumbled back, tripping over his own tail in his haste. "Keep away from me!" Clawing at the ground with his talons and paws, the Griffon leapt into the air, flapping away as fast as he could, nearly colliding with a tree.

Watching the Griffon's hasty departure, Dusty and the others all turned back to looked at Tranquil.

"What did you do?" Blue Swirl asked in amazement.

Tranquil shook her head, befuddled at what had happened. "I... didn't do anything."

"You must have done something," Kindwhinny said. "He was obviously terrified of you."

"No," Flint Heart said, walking over to Tranquil. "The Griffon wasn't afraid of Tranquil." He pointed at her horn. "He was afraid of a unicorn."

"Let me go!"

Far Treader walked over to them, the filly hanging down from his mouth by her tail. Flapping her little wings, she attempted to fly away, but gave up after a futile few moments and dangled back down.

"Oh my," Kindwhinny squealed. "Aren't you just the cutest thing!? Look, Blue! Look at her adorable little wings!"

Bending his head down, Dusty twisted it around to look at the filly. "Hello. What's your name?"

"Are you going to eat me?" the filly asked. "I don't want to be eaten."

Dusty normally would have laughed at such an absurd question, but the reality of just how close the filly had just come to actually being eaten dampened his joviality. "No, sweety. We're not going to eat you. We're trying to find a friend. Do you know where we can find Flutter Fly?"

"You're looking for my mommy?" the filly asked. "Why?"

Dusty blinked in surprise. Despite being rather shy and reserved about talking about herself, Flutter Fly eventually told Skye and Dusty about her daughter. Looking the filly over carefully Dusty could see her resemblance to Flutter Fly. "Are you Butterfly?"

The filly gave a start. "You know my name!?"

"My name is Dusty Stride," he introduced himself. "Your mother helped us out a few moons ago, and she told us about you," Dusty explained. "What's happened to her? Is she okay?"

Butterfly shook her head as she began to weep. "No. The Griffons captured her and most of the others when they arrived. The rest of us have been hiding from their hunting parties ever since. I got careless and that one found me. If it wasn't for you, I would have..." she didn't finish as she began to weep.

"Oh, you poor thing," Kindwhinny murmured, taking the filly from Far Treader to comfort her.

"We need to help them," Blue Swirl said. "We should go back and tell the Herd Father about this. He'll know what to do."

"That'll take too long," Far Treader said. "It took us four days just to get here. By the time help arrives, the Pegasi will be nothing but picked over bones."

"What do we do then?" Kindwhinny asked.

"I think we should drive the Griffons off ourselves," Flint Heart said confidently, taking up his spear. "We faced down worse things. Wolves, a hydra, and spiders. I'm sure we can handle a few overgrown birds."

"You want us to fight them!?" Blue Swirl exclaimed. "Did you see the size of that Griffon’s talons!? He could of gut a pony in a single swipe with them!"

Dusty was thinking about what Flint Heart had said. He didn't agree with his thoughts about attacking the Griffons outright, but there was something to his idea. "Flint Heart is right," Dusty said. Everypony turned to look at him in surprise.

Blue Swirl shook her head. "And I thought you were the sensible one."

"I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out on this." Dusty assured them. "We have in our possession a powerful weapon we can use against them. A weapon they apparently fear a great deal." Everypony glanced around, wondering what he was referring to. Turning, Dusty gestured at Tranquil Charm. "We have her."

"Me!?" Tranquil exclaimed in horror.

"Dusty's right," Blue Swirl said, nodding. "From the way that Griffon acted when he saw her, they're terrified of Unicorns."

"But... But...." Tranquil sputtered. "I'm a worthless no-blood. My magic is so weak, it's practically useless!"

Dusty stepped up to Tranquil and glared down at her. "I will not hear you say such distasteful words ever again! You hear me!? You are not worthless. I can tell you a hundred reasons why you are valuable, and a thousand reasons why you're amazing! What does it matter that you can't blast lightning with a flick of your horn, or hurl boulders like pebbles? Your talents are finer, and more precious than that! Your magic saved that filly's life! If you weren't here, she surely would have been chomped in that Griffon’s beak and swallowed in a single gulp. You're a special pony like no other, and don't you forget it!"

Tranquil blinked up at Dusty, her eyes moist with unshed tears. Dusty suddenly felt his face heating up. He had reacted without thinking.

"Oh my," Kindwhinny said, holding Butterfly more tightly to herself as she gazed at the two.

Blue Swirl grinned, giving Dusty and Tranquil a knowing look.

Butterfly, once she had been extracted from Kindwhinny's grasp, told them where the Griffons had the Pegasi. They were being held inside a small cave a short ways to the north. Stashing the supplies they had brought in a large tree hollow that Butterfly had showed them, Dusty explained to everypony the plan he had come up with.

"You want me to do what!?" Tranquil exclaimed, hearing her part of the plan.

"It's not that bad," Dusty assured her. "We'll be with you the entire time."

"But!... But!..." Tranquil complained.

"It shouldn't be that hard," Blue Swirl added. "Just hold your nose up like you smell something bad and look down on everypony like they're bugs."

Tranquil didn't look very convinced. "Tranquil." Dusty touched her shoulder. "Flutter Fly and the other Pegasi need you. They'll die if you don't do this." Moving his head closer to hers, Dusty softened his voice. "Please. I know you can do this. Out of the thousand things that makes you amazing, your good heart shines the brightest."

Tranquil gazed at him for a moment, before she closed her eyes and nodded. "I'll do it."

With Butterfly showing them the way, they headed toward the cave. With Flint Heart in the lead, Far Treader and Dusty flanked along on the sides with Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny followed along in the rear. Looking nervous, Tranquil Charm walked in the center of their formation. She was trying her best to hold her head up high while looking down her muzzle, but she kept stumbling over her hooves.

Dusty looked over at her. "Can you do something about your horn? It keeps flickering and sputtering."

"I'm sorry," Tranquil said. "I'm trying."

"Dusty. Walk a little closer to her." Blue said, making a nudging gesture with her head. "Trust me. I think it will help."

Curious as to what she was getting at. Dusty did as she asked and swerved a little nearer to Tranquil.

"A little more," Blue Swirl continued, until Dusty felt his shoulder brush up against Tranquil's.

Oddly, Tranquil's horn suddenly brightened and held steady. Kindwhinny and Blue Swirl exchanged amused glances.

Continuing on, they crossed through some trees until they came to a small cave in a clearing along another rock outcropping. Standing outside the cave was a small group of Griffons. After checking their spears and giving Tranquil one last quick word of encouragement, they stepped out. Butterfly flew up and hid into the branches of a tree to watch.

The Griffons quickly spotted them and launched themselves up into the air. Swooping around, they dove down at them but when they spotted Tranquil, they all squawked in fear and veered away. Continuing across, they came to the cave opening where more Griffons had come out.

"Why do you come here, horned pony?" an old Griffon with a crooked beak demanded gruffly.

Coming to a stop, they all stood facing out with their spears held ready. Tranquil stood as tall and straight as she could while looking down her nose. Dusty couldn't help but admire her. Skye was beautiful and Dusty loved her very much, but Tranquil had a beauty of her own. She was longer limbed than Skye and her face was more angular with higher cheekbones. "I... I have c-come to ask-ah... demand that you release all the Pegasi and leave here at once."

"They are ours, horned pony. Leave!" the aged Griffon snapped back.

"The Pegasi belong to the Unicorns," Tranquil answered, her shaky voice gaining strength. "We will not tolerate their loss to a bunch of filthy thieving vultures!"

Dusty was impressed with Tranquil, she was standing up to the Griffons extraordinarily well.

The Griffons all began to hiss at her angrily. "Lies!" One of them said. Dusty recognized him as the one that had been chasing Butterfly.

"I am a Caster of the greatest unicorn tribe of the Black Mountain!" Tranquil shouted in outrage. "How dare you call my words lies! I should blast you all with lightning for this outrageous affront! These lowly Pegasi were tasked by our Great Matriarch, Astral, herself to perform necessary duties! Your foolish interference here will greatly anger our Great Matriarch and unless you immediately release all the Pegasi and leave forthwith, I will be forced to return to tell our Great Matriarch of what you have done here. Her fury will undoubtedly be indescribable."

The Griffons appeared uncertain now, with more than a few looking a bit worried.

Tranquil was doing wonderfully, but Dusty saw that the Griffons needed a little more to push them over. "If you desire proof of my Mistresses words, then I call on you to bring up the Pegasus mare named Flutter Fly. Ask her of the task given to her by the Great Matriarch, Astral," Dusty said. "I urge you to act quickly before my Mistress's vast patience departs this world. For with one utterance from her lips, we will fall upon you foul creatures with great eagerness and cast your ruin upon the ground for the worms to feed on."

The aged Griffon looked a bit startled at this, eyeing Dusty and the others wearily. "Go and fetch this Flutter Fly! Bring her to me!" he ordered. Several of the Griffons disappeared into the cave and after a short while, they reappeared with Flutter Fly. She looked absolutely terrified as she was hauled over to the aged Griffon. "Is it true that the horned ponies hold you under a task?"

Flutter Fly shuddered in fear under the aged Griffon's hard gaze. Only when he repeated himself did she finally nod.

The aged Griffon didn't look pleased at her response. He thrusted his beak closer to the mare. "Who commanded this task upon you? Who!?"

Flutter Fly flinched back and let out a frightened whimper. "It... it was... the Night Mare. Astral. She... she commanded us to gather food for her."

The aged Griffon stared down at her, clacking his crooked beak together as he let out a low growl of anger.

"As you have witnessed with your own ears, the Pegasus has attested to my Mistress's good and true word," Dusty declared, feeling his heart hammering in his chest. "Choose now. Either do as my Mistress commands, or meet your ruin upon our spears. Choose quickly for my Mistress's patience is not boundless."

With a loud growl, the aged Griffon grabbed Flutter Fly and flung her out at their hooves. "Take her! Take them all!"

As the Griffons opened their wings to fly off, Tranquil's voice called out to them. "Remember this and hold it in your heart. The Pegasi and Ground Ponies are no longer prey to you. Feed on them naught or meet our wrath, for you will not find haven from the power we will call down upon you until you cross the far sea. Now leave and bother these ponies nevermore."

The Griffons launched themselves up and flew away. Watching them vanish into the distance, Tranquil staggered as she let out a relieved breath.

"I can't believe it worked!" Blue Swirl exclaimed in disbelief and leaning on her spear.

"I thought my heart was going to stop," Kindwhinny muttered, holding a hoof to her chest.

Flint Heart didn't say a word as he dropped his spear and sat down heavily to the ground.

Far Treader moved to help Flutter Fly back onto her hooves.

Turning to Dusty, Tranquil suddenly flung her hooves around his neck as she fell into him and planted her lips firmly onto his as she soundly kissed him.

Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny glanced at each other and smiled

Breaking their kiss, Tranquil looked at him in startlement. "I... I'm sorry," Tranquil blurted out in a breathless rush. "I just..."

Dusty felt a pleasant flush rush through his body as he looked into her eyes. "It's okay."

Tranquil nodded and stepped back, her eyes having trouble meeting his.

Dusty felt a sense of disappointment when her hooves left him.

Freed, the Pegasi leapt into the air and flew about in joy. Butterfly darted to her mother and embraced her with a happy cry that was matched by her mother. Above them, the Pegasi wove and spun happily in the air in wild celebration. The Griffons were gone!

As the sun grew close to the horizon, Dusty and the others set up camp along the base of the rock outcropping. Collecting the supplies they had hidden in the hollow, they distributed it to the Pegasi .

Keeping one of the packs to the side, Dusty called Flutter Fly over. "This one is to be taken to the Unicorns as the tribute. Dark asked that you not to tell them where it came from.” Dusty explained. “We’ll bring more every month."

"Thank you," Flutter Fly said gratefully. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this."

"That's what friends are for," Dusty said with a smile.

Later that night, as he lay, leaning back against his packs near the campfire, Dusty smiled up at the stars above him. Tranquil was snuggled happily against his side, fast asleep, her soft breaths tickling his fur.

All in all, he thought to himself with a happy sigh, this was a good trip and he was actually looking forward to the next one. Suddenly, a flicker of light caught his attention. Pulling back his mantle, he saw that he now had a cutie mark. A pair of supply packs, with little white wings on their sides, now adorned his flanks.

Chapter Forty Three

Ash shifted his stance. The crisp winter air filled his lungs. Arrayed around him, his three opponents drew nearer. Gripping his staff, Ash dug his hoof into the snow and quickly pivoted around, swinging at Toadstool, who let out a startled cry and fell back into a snow drift as Ash’s staff passed by.

Seeing an opening, his other two opponents lunged in, their staves striking down at him. Twisting his shoulder, Ash rolled to the side, dodging the two attacks. Coming back around, Ash kicked snow up into Mighty Oak's face, causing him to shout in outrage as he stumbled to the ground. Journey Stomp reversed his staff and brought it around at him. Stepping forward, Ash’s staff cracked into Journey's, deflecting it to the side. Dropping his shoulder back down, Ash pivoted around and swept his hoof through Journey Stomp’s legs, knocking him down into the snow with a startled shout.

Catching a flicker of motion to his side, Ash dug his hooves in and threw himself back just as Mighty Oak's staff whistled by his ear. Rotating around, he swung his staff into Mighty Oak's fetlock with a crack. Letting out a painful cry, Mighty Oak lurched back, dropping his staff.

Climbing back onto his hooves, Journey Stomp charged at Ash, tackling him. Falling backwards, Ash pulled Journey with him as he rolled onto his back, kicking his legs out, sending Journey flying over him right into Toadstool.

Regaining his hooves, Ash squared his stance as he searched for his next opponent. He needed to get stronger. He could no longer rely on the power of his element to protect his family. To protect Celestia.

Suddenly, a large form moved in at him from the side. Turning, Ash whipped his staff around and with a solid cluck, it came to a stop against another staff. Looking up, he found Dark grinning down at him. Stepping back, Ash circled around as Dark did the same with him.

With a quick flick, Dark slashed at him. Twisting his shoulder, Ash knocked it away. Dark flicked another strike at Ash's other side. Reversing himself, Ash blocked it, then he dropped his head and lunged forward, thrusting at his chest. Dark swiftly jumped back and brought his staff down. Seeing the blow coming, Ash quickly dodged. throwing himself to the side and rolling back to his hooves. His lungs burned as he was panting for breath. Dark wasn’t holding back! If that had connected...

Dark turned and swung his staff at Ash's left side. Leaping back, Ash barely avoided it as it whooshed past. Again and again, Ash was driven back by Dark's relentless attacks. It was everything he could do just to fend him off. Suddenly, Dark's hoof bucked out and caught Ash in the side, sending him flying back into the snow.

"Well, he's dead," Journey said gloomily, watching from the side with Mighty Oak and Toadstool.

Gasping for breath, Ash climbed painfully back to his hooves.

"Oh! He lives!" Mighty Oak exclaimed, sounding impressed.

His side ached where Dark's hoof had hit him. Looking up at Dark, Ash blinked when he saw an image of Ruin, the Alicorn of Destruction standing in his place, grinning down at him. Ash's heart quailed in sudden terror and his whole body began to shiver. Gritting his teeth, Ash steadied himself. He’d never allow himself to become that creature. He'd willingly run his own spear through his heart before that happened. Shaking his head, he cleared it of the horrible image.

He could see his staff laying a few spans away where it had fallen, and thought about going for it, but saw that Dark was too close and would catch him before he got to it. His heart fell. The only things he could think to do now were either quit or do something really stupid.

Digging in his hooves, Ash charged right at Dark. A look of surprise momentarily flashed across the stallion's face as the colt charged him. With a look of regretful determination, Dark raised his staff and brought it down at him. Ash dove forward onto his belly and slid across the snow. Just above him, he felt the rush of the wind as Dark's staff passed over him. Gathering his hooves under him, Ash leapt up and smashed his hoof into the side of Dark's muzzle, staggering the stallion with his blow. Landing back onto his hooves, Ash spun himself about and bucked his hoof into Dark's knee as hard as he could. With a startled cry, Dark stumbled back a few steps before he recovered. By that point, Ash had dashed over and snatched up his staff, whirled about and held it ready.

Dark blinked at Ash. Suddenly he started to laugh. "Oh, that was just wonderful!" he said, rubbing his cheek. "I didn't expect you to rush me like that. Very good!"

Ash grinned as he sat down to catch his breath. He didn't actually think that would work.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Within the center of the hamlet of Yore, a small, simple fenced area had been built to let the little foals play in safety while being watched. It had been Mirage's idea. During the winter, she saw that many of the foals were getting fussy and cranky being cooped up inside, so she asked for this to be built to let them play in the fresh air when the weather was good.

Celestia trotted along, easily keeping ahead of Luna and Aurora as they chased after her, scampering across the cleared ground. Laughing, Celestia danced just ahead as she sang a merry song, swishing her tail at her little pursuers. She was excited. Spring was almost here. She could feel it. All winter, she had been feeling tired and listless, struggling to motivate herself for even the most simple tasks. For weeks now, she had been feeling it coming in the air. The desire of the land to wake from its slumber and put out new growth. It was so close now. Celestia felt like it was just a mere step away.

Suddenly, Celestia felt her body tingle and her hooves lifted off the ground. Kicking her hooves wildly, Celestia looked around and saw Aurora's little horn was glowing. "Hay! No fair! You’re not supposed to use magic!"

"Okay. That's enough of that," Starless cut in, trotting over. Following along with her was Dove and Dusty. "What have we told you about using magic on other ponies?" she asked reproachfully to the little filly.

Looking up at Starless, Aurora's lower lip quivered as she pouted.

"Don't give me that," Starless chided with a shake of her head. "Now put her down." With Aurora's great magical potential, there was a need for a Unicorn to teach the filly the use of her power before she accidentally hurt either herself or somepony else. Starless took to the role of magical teacher so well, Celestia had been surprised that she hadn’t of gotten a cutie mark in it.

Celestia felt the tingling around her fade as she came back to the ground.

"That's a good filly," Starless praised her. "Now. We have something for you."

Celestia noticed Dusty taking something strange off his back. It was smooth and white. Tapering around in a curve that nearly came back to itself.

"But first, we need to borrow this from you." With her magic, Starless slipped Aurora's gem over her head. The moment it left her, Aurora's amber colored eyes faded back to white. Blinking in confusion, Aurora let out a mew of complaint as the sight left her eyes.

"Oh, don't fret sweetie," Dove said reassuringly, picking her up and holding her. "It won't be just a moment and you'll have it back."

Untying the line from around the gem, Starless turned to Dusty and set it to the center of the strange, curved thing.

"What are you doing?" Celestia asked, watching her.

"Aurora needed something a bit more permanent to secure her gem to," Starless explained. "Dusty was kind enough to retrieve one of the Hydra's fangs during one of his trips to the Pegasi. We’ve used it to carve it into a necklette."

"It wasn't easy to find," Dusty muttered. "There must have been half a mountain on that thing."

"You're giving her a necklette carved from a hydra tooth!?" Celestia exclaimed.

"A hydra and its teeth are remarkably resistant to magic," Starless explained. "It's perfect for what she needs. There, all done!" Starless held up the finished necklette. Walking over to the filly, Starless slipped it over her head and settled it loosely around her neck. It was large for her, so she could grow into it.

Picture done by me

Aurora blinked as the color came back into her eyes. Looking up at Starless, she let out a happy coo and held her hoof out to the unicorn. Smiling, Starless reached out and booped the filly's nose.

"Dusty, dear," Dove said, turning her attention to the young stallion. "With Skye about due any day now, you must be excited!"

"To be honest, I'm a bit scared out of my mind," Dusty admitted with a chuckle. "I don't know what to really expect. Especially from me. What am I supposed to do?"

Dove smiled and shook her head. "Dusty. The best I can tell you is not to worry so much about it. Just relax and let things develop naturally."

"If you want," Celestia cut it, "I can ask my papa to come talk to you. He's a wonderful papa. I'm sure he can help you."

Dusty looked a bit relieved over this. "Thank you. I would like that very much."

"Starless! Save me!" a voice called in distress.

Looking back, Starless let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head. Ground was dramatically struggling to drag himself across the ground while being attacked by foals. Acorn Shell was perched on his head nomming on his ear, while the twins, Summer Rain and Winter Snow, were happily sitting on his back, smacking their little hooves onto him. Behind him, Sparkling Brook and little Luna were giggling as they pulled on his tail.

"They got me!" Ground gasped out hopelessly. "It's too late for me. Escape now, while you still have a chance." Collapsing to the ground, he let out an agonizingly long death moan, ending with his head flopping lifelessly to the ground, his tongue hanging out. Immediately, half a dozen more foals rushed around to climb onto him.

Starless let out a groan and dropped her head into her hoof. "I knew it was a bad idea to let him come with me."

"My! Isn't that a sight," Bell said, chuckling as she walked over to them. Her swollen belly making her steps awkward. "He's quite a natural with foals. He'll make a wonderful father someday."

"I'm sure he will," Starless said, her eyes becoming wistful as she looked back at Ground. "I hope the mare he finds will make him happy and give him plenty of foals to play with."

Bell's brows furled as she gave Starless a hard look. "Dusty. How about you go help Ground and see if he’s alive."

Hearing the commanding note in her request, Dusty wisely nodded and quickly left to do as she suggested. With the young stallion now gone, Bell turned back to Starless. "Okay, talk. What is going on between you two?"

"I don't know what you mean." Starless replied, her face going oddly blank.

"Don't give me that!" Bell snapped, slashing her hoof to the side. "It's as obvious as the horn on your head that you two have feelings for each other!"

"It doesn’t matter what my feelings for him may be," Starless said stiffly. "We can never be more than friends."

Bell shook her head, not believing it. "Why!? Is it because he's a dirt pony!?"

"No!" Starless exclaimed with a vicious shake of her head.

"Then why?" Bell pressed. "Why do you hold yourself back? Why do you insist on hurting yourself? I can see the pain and yearning in your eyes every time you look at him."

Starless dropped her head down and closed her eyes. "It's complicated."

"What's so complicated about love!?"

Starless shook her head. "You just don't understand."

"If you don't start explaining yourself, I am going to sit on you!" Bell warned. "Trust me. Right now, you really don't want that to happen," she added pointing down at her swollen belly.

Starless let out a long sigh. "It's because I don't want to hurt him when I have to leave."

“You don’t have to go,” Bell said. "You know that you're always welcome to join our herd."

"That's right," Dove agreed. "You know Meadowlark would never turn you away."

"I can't." Tears began to drip off the end of her down-hung muzzle. "I want to stay more than anything, but if they discover I'm here, I won't have a choice."

"Star?" Ground's concerned voice cut in. Alive, and free from the foals, he was moving toward her with a look of worry. "Are you okay? You're crying."

Dove quickly moved and intercepted him. "Ground, dear. Would you please watch the foals for a little bit while we talk to her? That would be really helpful." She then shoved Aurora into his hooves. "Have Dusty help you out as well. Thank you."

Returning, Dove and Bell moved around to flank Starless and ushered her away. Celestia, not being told to leave, followed along. Ground watched them as they moved away with a confused look on his face.

"Okay," Bell said once they were away from the stallions. "What's this foolishness?"

"You haven't experienced what the Unicorns are really like," Starless explained, wiping at her nose. "They're ruthless. As a Caster, I would have been expected to brutally subdue ponies like you and take all your food back as a prize. Joining your herd would be taken as a betrayal to my kind. The things they do to traitors." Starless shuddered as a haunted look came to her face. "If they found out that I was in love with an Earth Pony... it would be much worse. I can't stand the thought of the cruelty they would bring down on him."

"Ground's strong," Dove said confidently. "He would stand up to them."

Starless shook her head. "To them he would just be a wild dirt stallion. They would see no problem with killing him just to hurt me.

Dove gasped in horror. Celestia felt sick. How could ponies be so cruel?

"They'll kill any pony that gets in their way. They’ll take me and anything else they wanted," Starless continued. "They'll strip this land bare, and return with their spoils as saviors, where they’ll be rewarded for what they’ve done. I, on the other hoof, would be made an example of. If I'm lucky, after they were done with me, they would just hurl what was left of my broken body from the cliff for a quick merciful death at the bottom."

Tears soaked her muzzle as they fell free. Celestia's heart was breaking.

"I've talked to Dark and told him that if they come, to tell them that I've been a prisoner and to let them take me," Starless said, wiping the back of her hoof across her eyes. "It would be better for everypony if I just left with them quietly." Movement caught the side of Starless's eye. Glancing over, she found Ground standing nearby with Aurora in his hoof. Locking eyes with him, Starless felt her chest tighten painfully when their gazes met. How much had he heard!?

"Starless."

She could hear it in his voice. The betrayal. He knew she was planning to leave. She couldn't stand it. Turning, she ran away.

Dove tsked and lifted Aurora from the stallion. "Well? What are you waiting for? Go after her!"

Starless ran as fast as she could. Bolting through the gate, the snow kicked up behind her as she crossed the fields to the western woods. He knew. He knew she wasn't staying. She had been planning on telling him, but she was too much of a coward. She selfishly wanted to be close to him for as long as she could before it ended. To feel what little happiness she would ever likely get in her life. She envied Tranquil Charm. She was getting everything she wanted.

Behind her, she suddenly heard the thunder of hooves as somepony chased after her. She didn't need to look to know who it was. Why couldn't he just let her go!? Didn't he see that it would be better if he just stopped having anything to do with her!? Why did he persist so much? She was a horrible mare. She was a selfish, lying, coward, hardly worth the effort to be friends with.

Looking up through the blur of tears, Starless let out a blast of magic into the snow-filled treetops. Dashing through, she heard the sound of snow falling to the ground behind her. A moment later she heard Ground grunt as he plowed through without stopping. Curse that stallion! Did nothing ever stop him!? She remembered how he had once gone through a stone wall to reach her.

Lifting a fallen log, Starless desperately hurled it at him. Leaping into the air, Ground smashed his hoof into it, shattering it into splinters.

No! No! No! Why was he so impossible!? Dashing through the trees, Starless made her way to a small cave Snap Dragon had shown her on one of their walks together. If she got inside before he caught up to her, she could seal off the entrance with her magic. Desperately, she threw whatever she could find at Ground to try and slow him down. Rocks, logs, branches, snow, even an entire tree that had fallen during the winter. Each one, Ground smashed his way through without pause.

Scrambling through the snow, Starless saw the cave opening just ahead of her. Reaching it, she leapt through and whirled about, quickly casting a barrier spell across the opening. She managed to complete the spell just as Ground charged up.

"Just listen to me!" Starless said hurriedly. "It would be better for everypony if I just leave with them when they come."

"You’re wrong!" Ground roared. "There are ponies here who love you! My mother thinks of you like a daughter, and she hardly likes anypony! If she knew you were planning on abandoning us, she'd lash your rump until you thought you would never be able to sit on it again! Snap looks up to you like a big sister. Leaving would shatter her heart! Dove and Bell call you a friend and welcome your company. Little Aurora adores you and grows fussy if you don't come by to visit enough. You don't need to ask Meadowlark to join the Herd. Whether you want it or not, you're already a part of it. With one word from Dark, a hundred spears would willingly rush to your aid."

Ground reared back and smashed his hoof into her barrier. The room rang with the hard blow.

"Please. Ponies will die if they try to stand up to the Unicorns," Starless pleaded. "I don't want anypony to get hurt because of me. Just let me go."

Throwing his head back, Ground slammed his forehead into her barrier. "That is our choice to make!" Rearing back, Ground slammed his forehead into it again. "Believe it or not, there are ponies that are willing to fight for you!"

"Stop! Your hurting yourself!" Starless couldn't stand seeing what he was doing to himself.

"If you believe that Dark would willingly give you over," his head slammed into the barrier, "you're wrong! I know him. He would never do such a thing. It would go against everything he believes." Wham! The barrier rang as his head collided into it.

"Please stop!" Starless desperately cried out. "You're going to kill yourself!"

"And if you thought I would ever let you go," Wham! "you're wrong! I'd die before I let some stuck up, magical blowhards take you away from me! I love you, Starless Night, and I will do anything to keep you!" Throwing his head back, Ground let out a roar as he brought it down as hard as he could.

With a whimpered cry, Starless suddenly released her barrier just before his head smashed into it. The abrupt release of her barrier caused Ground to stagger into the chamber.

"You thick-headed, scruffy-looking idiot!" Starless shouted at the stallion, tears coming to her eyes. "Why do you have to be so stubborn about everything!? I had it all worked out and now-!"

Whatever Starless was about to say was cut off when Ground suddenly smashed his lips into hers. Starless instantly felt herself melt into him. Her heart was galloping so hard, she thought it was about to burst out of her chest. His strong hoof reached around and pulled her in tighter as his lips thoroughly melded with hers. Words left her as her mind went blank. She wanted this. She wanted it so much.

Time escaped them as they stayed in their intimate embrace. Their whole world becoming just the two of them. Starless felt her legs weaken as Ground's powerful hoof tightened around her. When their lips finally broke apart with a audible pop, Starless blinked her eyes open and gazed up into Ground’s violet eyes.

"What is with you? I'm a powerful Caster and you're just a dirt pounding stallion, and yet you somehow always make me feel like I'm powerless against you." Starless muttered, snuggling her head into his chest. "I suppose that part of me is over anyways. I'm just a normal Unicorn mare now."

"You are anything but a normal Unicorn," Ground said, softly nuzzling the base of her ear. "Since the moment we met, you've enchanted me. You may not be a Caster anymore, but you're certainly an Enchantress."

"An Enchantress?" Starless asked, looking up. "You come up with the most idiotic things, sometimes."

"You like it?"

Starless settled her head back into his chest. "I love it."

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Three days later, spring arrived. Celestia could feel it, but looking around, she couldn't see it. The sky was grey and snow still covered the fields.

"Look at that!" Celestia snapped in outrage, gesturing around her.

"What?" Strawberry asked.

"It's supposed to be spring, but where's the sun!? The flowers!? The lush green grasses!?" Celestia stamped her hoof.

"You just need to be a little patient," Dark said smiling, walking over to his daughter. "If you want it to come faster, how about you help with the fields? I know they can always use more ponies. Ash and the other colts are already out there right now."

"But what about that?" Celestia complained, jabbing her hoof up at the low grey clouds that hung over the land. "Skye can't fly this late in her pregnancy to clear that up."

"Oh that?" Her father looked up at the dreary sky and smiled. "Don't worry, I've got a surprise planned to deal with that."

"What's that, Papa?"

Dark grinned and tussled her mane with his hoof. “Well, a surprise is something you don’t expect!” He suddenly grabbed her and blew a raspberries into her belly. Squealing and kicking her legs, Celestia fought to escape her father as tears of laughter filled her eyes. Once he had thoroughly ravished her, Dark suddenly turned his attention to the other fillies who quickly fled, screaming away.

Later, when they heading down to the fields to help, they found teams of stallions pulling large drag-sleds across the fields, clearing the snow off to the side. Once a field had been cleared, ponies then dragged logs with numerous sharpened points along its length, across the ground to open up the soil. Ponies then used shaped staves to turn the soil, and break up the clumps.

Celestia found Ash and the other colts pulling smaller sleds behind the stallions, clearing the snow that had been missed. Asking around for something to do, Celestia and the other fillies were given long staves with flattened stones attached to one end at a sharp angle. Getting to work, Celestia and the other fillies smoothed out the soil to ready it for seeds.

At first, Celestia and the other fillies had difficulty controlling their work-staves. They were long and awkward to handle. After awhile, she and the others gradually got better, and they were able to handle them more smoothly.

"Wonderful work, you all." Greenhoof praised them as she paused to watch. "At this rate, the field will be ready for seed by tomorrow."

"But what about the clouds?" Celestia asked, pointing up at the heavy layer of clouds. "The crops need the warm light of the sun to grow."

Suddenly, as if to answer her question, a ray of sunlight suddenly broke through the clouds, bathing her in its warmth. Celestia couldn't believe how good it was to feel the sun again. So many months of dreary grey and white. Closing her eyes, Celestia basked in the glorious light. Her cutie mark seemed to glimmer under its radiance. More sunlight began to break through as more gaps began to appear.

"Oh good, they're here," Greenhoof said, smiling up.

"Who's here?" Strawberry Zest asked, confused.

"Who?" Greenhoof pointed up, "Why, the Pegasi, of course."

High up, a dozen Pegasi streaked through the sky, ripping through the clouds and bucking them apart. Great holes had already been opened in the clouds, but the clouds were thick and as they watched the holes were slowly closing back up. It was going to be hard work for the Pegasi to fully clear out the sky.

Suddenly, one of the Pegasi broke away and plummeted down like a diving falcon. Flaring his wings out, the Pegasus broke his decent with a crack and shot past them as he climbed up into a roll. Coming around, he bled off some of his speed with some lazy turns before he settled to the ground.

"Amazing flying," Greenhoof said, stepping up to the Pegasus stallion. "I take it you're Stratus Streak?"

"That I am. You must be Greenhoof." The young stallion gave her a curious look. "I was told that fruit trees blossom when you sing to them. Is this true?"

Greenhoof threw her head back and laughed. "I'm not sure. I've never tried."

"Stratus!" Dusty called out, trotting over to him with a big smile. "It's good to see you. I'm glad you made it." Dusty and Stratus clopped hooves in greeting.

"I gave my oath, did I not?" Stratus asked. "When you told me of this idea of actually growing food, I thought it would never work. But after you kept your word in coming every month to bring us food during the winter, I was forced to admit that there may be something to this," he admitted grudgingly. "It probably still won't work, but it's worth a try. After all, you don't know if there's a rainbow behind a cloud unless you look." He then turned back to Greenhoof. "So what do you need from us?"

"Well, for now, we just need a few days of clear skies with plenty of sun to warm things up." Greenhoof said. "Once the fields are prepared and seeded, a good day of light soaking rain would be perfect. Is that something you can do?"

"Easily," Stratus said confidently. "We passed a lovely waterfall, where we can gather mist for rain clouds, not too far from here."

"You can do that!?" Celestia asked in surprise. She thought that they would have had to go searching for the rain clouds to do that.

"Of course we can, silly!" a light voice answered from just above her.

Looking up, Celestia blinked when she discovered a filly hovering just over her. Suddenly she dropped down and landed just before Celestia and the other fillies.

"Hi!" she greeted them cheerfully, tucking her wings to her side. "I'm Butterfly." The pegasus filly was a light shade of pink, and her deep blue mane and tail flowed down in wild locks that just stopped short of touching the ground.

This was the first Pegasus filly they had ever met. Stepping forward, Celestia smiled and held her hoof out much like how she saw Dusty do with Stratus Streak. "Hello. I’m Celestia."

Butterfly smiled and clopped her hoof with hers. Quickly, Strawberry and the other fillies rushed around to introduce themselves to her and bombard her with questions about what it was like being a Pegasus.

Running as fast as he could, Strongbuck suddenly appeared, rushing over to Dusty, who was still talking to Stratus Streak. "Dusty! You need to come quickly!" Strongbuck said in a rush, skidding to a stop. "Its Skye!"

"What is it!?" Dusty said looking at him in sudden alarm. "Did she fall!? I told her not to fly too high anymore!"

"No, it's not that!" Strongbuck said panting for breath. "The foal's coming. She's in labor!"

"The foal's coming!" Dusty exclaimed, his eyes shooting wide. He lunged forward and started to run, but his legs got tangled together and he tumbled face first into the dirt. Quickly regaining his hooves, Dusty managed to make it a few more rushed steps before he tripped on his hooves and fell back down. Climbing back up a third time, either by accident or by luck, he actually succeeded in collecting his hooves enough to stumble into a run.

Celestia and the other fillies squealed in excitement. They've been looking forward to this all winter!

"I've got to tell Mommy!" Butterfly exclaimed. Her little wings suddenly started buzzing as she launched herself into the air and quickly flew away.

The hut that Skye was in was soon surrounded by ponies. Bell, with her great girth blocking the doorway, stood guard, keeping all the curious ponies from sticking their heads in. The only ponies allowed inside were Meadowlark, Dove, Tranquil, and Flutter Fly for her familiarity with Pegasi. Dusty, having been firmly told to wait outside, trotted in circles as he anxiously waited.

All the Pegasi gathered around to witness the wonderful event with great interest. This was going to be the birth of the very first foal to a Pegasus and a Earth Pony.

The day dragged on as night slowly approached. Dusty was wearing a path into the ground from his pacing. Suddenly, there was a long, pain-filled cry inside followed by relieved silence. Dusty skidded to an abrupt halt and stood stock still with his ears pinned up. The sound of a foal's first cries filled the air.

Smiling, Dark stepped out to Dusty and clapped him on his back as he congratulated him. Strongbuck quickly joined him as he smiled at his kinspony in joy.

Bell turned and stuck her head inside. After a short moment, she turned back and nodded to Dusty with a smile. With his knees shaking, Dusty slowly walked to the door, and after hesitating a nervous moment, ducked inside.

A short while later, Dove emerged. "Skye's exhausted, but she and the foal are doing great!" Dove announced happily. "The foal has taken her teat and is nursing without any problems."

The gathered ponies, Earth Pony and Pegasi, all cheered.

"Well!?" Pine Blossom exclaimed, rushing out to Dove. "What is it? A Pegasus or Earth Pony?"

Dove smiled and gestured back. "Well, that answer I will leave for the new father to show you."

Everypony shifted their attention to the door. Ducking through, Dusty slowly worked his way out. Cradled in his hoof was a tiny form curled up against his chest. Everypony held their breath as he stepped out and stopped. "I ah... would like you all to meet my daughter, Lightning Flash." Holding his hoof up a little, he revealed the tiny filly. Her soft coat was light blue, and her pale-golden mane and tail had sharp streaks of yellow running down their lengths. Tucked up against the filly's sides, were two perfect little wings. Everypony gasped; she was a Pegasus!

Gazing down at his daughter, Dusty bent his head down and lightly kissed her. "She's absolutely beautiful. Just like her mother."

Lightning Flash

The celebration that night went on until nearly morning. The birth of the first foal of a Pegasus and Earth Pony united the two races together. They were now bound together by both friendship and blood.

Starless was exhausted. She had never eaten so much before in her life. Walking along, closely by her side, was Ground as he held a burning torch out for her to see. Despite her constant assurances that she was fine, he refused to let her walk out to the cave alone. Starless decided not to complain about it and just enjoy her private time with him.

She had started living in the cave a few days before. It allowed her to stay close, while also keeping herself hidden from any Unicorns that might discover the settlement. Ground had closed off the cave mouth with a wood and stone wall to make it more livable as well as making it safer from any predators. Ducking through the door, Starless and Ground walked down a short passage to a spacious chamber further in. Using his torch, Ground lit the small fire pit that had been built in the center of the chamber.

Starless sat down and looked into the growing fire as Ground sat next to her. Leaning herself into his strong side, she sighed contently. She had managed to hold the new foal once during the night. She remembered the soft feeling of her against her chest as she cradled her tiny body. Her time with the filly was sweet but short as she was forced to pass her on. The soft scent of the filly's coat and the smell of milk on her breath made her yearn for one of her own.

Closing her eyes, she snuggled her cheek into Ground.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

"Mother! Look!"

Starless looked over and smiled at her daughter. The filly had two gems whizzing around her as she held them in her magic. "Oh! That is wonderful! Soon you will be able to handle three at once."

“I can’t wait to show Father when he gets back!”

A whimpering complaint called her attention down. Held, cradled in her leg, was a tiny colt. An Earth Pony, just like his father. Smiling, Starless bent down to whisper soothingly to the colt as she kissed his forehead. He was such a troublesome little colt, just like his father. If he wasn't sleeping, he was nursing, and if he wasn't nursing, he was sleeping. And if he wasn't doing either of those, then there was a mess to clean up.

Suddenly, there was a flash, and part of the wall was blown in. Smiling, Unicorns, their horns lit with magic, stepped through. "Oh, there you are. We've been looking all over for you." Held in their magic, Ground's lifeless body was tossed to the dirt. "This one put up quite a fight and refused to talk. I'm afraid he had to be put down."

"No!" Starless scream in terrible grief. Summoning her magic, she hurled a bolt at the Unicorns, but it vanished with a crack as it hit their shield.

"Mother!" her daughter screamed as she was suddenly snatched up.

"No! Give her back!" Starless screamed, reaching out with her magic to grab her daughter.

Her magic was swatted away before it could reach her. The Unicorn examined her daughter before passing her back to another mare behind her. "This one is still useful."

Tears streamed down her face, Starless huddled herself protectively around her wailing colt. "No! Don't take my foals! Please, I beg you!"

Despite her frantic efforts to hold onto her son, they tore the wailing colt out of her hooves. Holding him up, the Unicorn examined him. With a sneer, she tossed him back to another mare. "Get rid of this disgusting thing."

Starless continued to desperately plead for the return of her foals as she crawled across the ground.

Ignoring her, the Unicorns turned and left, taking her foals with them. Coming to Ground's body, Starless wept as the last Unicorn looked down at her. "Pathetic." Her horn glowed brighter.

Weeping, Starless draped herself over her dead mate. Around her, the room flashed with a thunderous crack as she joined him in death.

"Starless, wake up!"

Starless screamed as she startled awake. "Give them back!" With her heart racing in her chest, she frantically kicked her hooves as she struggled to reach her foals.

"Starless, stop! You're dreaming!"

That voice! Turning, she found Ground struggling to hold her. He was alive! "Ground!" She flung herself into him so hard, she knocked him into the ground. Clinging to him, she wept into his coat. For a long time, Ground held her as she wept, murmuring soothingly into her ear as he nuzzled her neck.

"Please," Starless whispered. "Don't stop holding me."

"I'll never let you go," he assured her, continuing to hold her until she slowly slipped back to sleep.

Chapter Forty Four

Strongbuck trotted along the stream with a basket swinging in his mouth. The new spring grasses now covered the land, filling the air with their fresh earthy scents. The trees were alive with bird-song as they happily prepared their nests. Passing by a squirrel, it chattered at him as it warned him away from its stash of nuts.

His work on the fields was tiring. However, three of the largest fields had been planted with oats, and already they could see shoots starting to emerge. The two smaller fields had been used to plant radishes while a new field they had just opened up had been planted with the new potato crop.

For the first time, other ponies had started to venture out and start their own fields. This was something that Dark and Meadowlark's been advocating for ponies to do. It had been a growing problem where ponies who didn't work were expecting the same food as those who did. Letting ponies keep what they grew was a good way to encourage them to be more self-supportive and productive. For his work on the fields during the planting, Strongbuck was going to receive a small percentage of the harvest.

Already, about a half dozen small fields had been started just to the south of the settlement. Far Treader, with the help of his four mares, was going to try growing a strange, orange root the Pegasi had given him, called a carrot. Grass Stem planned to grow grass-hay and the much needed straw that was so useful to their everyday life. Steady Gait, the stallion they had rescued from Mirage's old herd, was going to start growing lettuce. Milkweed, Green Hoof's younger sister, was experimenting with something called maize, an odd-looking plant that nopony thought was useful, but she felt the plant deserved to be explored.

Today, he had been working on their small garden around their hut, something that had become very popular throughout the settlement, when Dove and Bell sent him a message to meet them at a spot along the stream to the east, telling him to bring along a basket of food they had prepared earlier. It was a fair walk away and Strongbuck was worried about Bell traveling out that far. Her belly was so large it nearly touched the ground, while her walk was now closer to that of a waddle. Though, he had to admit to himself, he did enjoy watching her rump when she moved. It had a certain jiggle that sent his heart racing.

Coming around a curve in the stream, he caught sight of Dove waiting for him just ahead. Seeing him, she called out and waved her hoof. She lead him over to Bell, who was resting in the shade of a blossoming apple tree with Aurora scampering around, chasing ladybugs in the grass, while Sentry and Chase lay napping nearby in the sun.

Bell had her legs tucked under her with her massive belly splayed out around her. "Oh good! Perfect timing. I'm starving."

Setting the basket down, Strongbuck quickly greeted Bell and nuzzled on her cheek. "Why did you want to come all the way out here to eat? It would have been easier to eat back home."

"I got tired of being cooped up all day," Bell said, moving the basket closer to look inside. "I wanted to stretch my hooves a bit and breathe the fresh air." She reached into the basket and pulled out a slice of dried apple, quickly munching it down with a pleased moan. "Isn't it beautiful out here?"

Strongbuck quickly agreed. It certainly was beautiful out there. The land stretched away into gentle rolling hills with scattered patches of trees rustling in the breeze. The scent of new grown grass and apple blossoms filled his senses as the gentle sounds of a nearby stream tickled his ears. He understood why she choose this spot; it was perfect.

Reaching into the basket, Strongbuck took a mouthful of hay, and sat back to chew as Dove settled down next to him, picking out a tiny radish to eat.

Aurora went romping by and Strongbuck quickly reached out and nabbed her. "What do we have here!?" he asked, setting her on her back between his legs so he could examine her. "Looks like a yummy little snack!" Reaching his muzzle down, he began playfully nomming into her belly as he ate her."

Aurora chortled wildly and squirmed to escape from being eaten.

"Oh, no," Strongbuck said dramatically. "There’s no escaping from me, the great and monstrous daddy! I will gobble you up!" He renewed his nomming with greater vigor.

Little Aurora's wild chortling rose to a high giggling shriek as she kicked and squirmed wildly in his grasp. Her horn started to crackle.

Dove saw this and a look of alarm flashed across her face. "Ah, Strongbuck! You need to stop before-"

A loud snap suddenly split the air as Strongbuck exclaimed in pain. Quickly regaining her hooves, Aurora dashed to her mother to hide behind her leg.

"Ow!" Strongbuck exclaimed, rubbing the end of his muzzle. "That really hurt!"

Slowly, Aurora stepped out, looking at her papa in concern. Moving over to him, she stopped and held her hoof up to him.

Blinking down at her, Strongbuck lowered his head down, curious about what she wanted. When he was close enough, she leaned up and kissed the end of his muzzle, then lightly tapped it with her hoof. Finished, she smiled up at him.

"She fixed your boo-boo," Dove said, smiling.

"Aww, that's so adorable!" Bell gushed.

Strongbuck felt an ache in his chest. "Oh, come here, Sweetie." He reached out and scooped the filly up to give her a big kiss.

Dove took the filly from him. "Okay, that's enough play for now. Time for your lunch." Rolling onto her side, she set Aurora to her rounded udders to nurse.

"You're lucky to have that phoenix feather to protect you," Strongbuck said, glancing up at the brilliant crimson feather tied into Dove's mane, just next to her ear.

"Starless examined it the other day," Dove said, absently reaching up to touch her feather. "The enchantment on it mystifies her. She tried wearing it, and it didn't work for her. She thinks that the feather will only work for me."

"Really?" Bell murmured, eating a dried slice of pear from the basket.

"She thinks it’s to protect me from any surges and tantrums she might have," Dove explained. "It does make sense. It allows me to safely care for her as her mother."

"Oh! Earlier today, just before I left, Starless told Dark and Meadowlark that she was no longer going to be a Caster," Strongbuck said, nabbing some of the hay from the basket before Bell could eat it. "She's calling herself an Enchantress now."

"An Enchantress?" Bell repeated, pausing from rooting through the basket for any more fruit. "What's that?"

"I'm not sure," Strongbuck answered with a shrug. "She seemed pretty adamant about it."

"I like it," Dove said, smiling. "It has a nice sound to it. Strong, yet, mysterious. Starless the Enchantress."

"I wonder why she's doing that?" Strongbuck mused out loud, chewing on his hay.

"It's so she can protect herself," Dove answered. "She's creating a new part of herself she can fight back with. As a Caster, she was still beholden to the Unicorns, but as an Enchantress, she's now free to be who she wants to be."

"Strongbuck. My back hurts," Bell said, stretching herself forward. "Would you please rub it for me?"

"Of course." Strongbuck quickly got up and moved around to set his hooves onto her back. Being careful not to push too hard, Strongbuck began to firmly knead his way slowly up her back. Bell let out pleased moans as he worked, murmuring requests to focus on certain spots as he passed over them.

There was something about rubbing his hooves over her body that excited him. Feeling her warm, supple body under his hooves along with her strong, feminine scent filling his senses, his heart started to race in his chest. Bell was a beautiful mare, but now, looking at her as she glowed in the prime of her pregnancy, she was ravishing. Strongbuck couldn't help himself. Leaning over her, he drew in more of her scent and let out a soft nicker of desire.

Bell cracked her eyes open as she felt Strongbuck softly nuzzle her along her neck, giving her teasing nips as his heavy breath puffed out. Turning her head, she encouraged his advances as she took his lips into hers. Dove watched the two from where she lay. Strongbuck's stallionhood started to ready itself, dropping down and throbbing under him with its need to assert his claim over his mare.

Bell's body began to shiver under Strongbuck's fervent attention. Her marehood started to throb with her own awakening desire as it dripped with her feminine juices. Lifting her head high, she nickered her willingness to her stallion as he lavished her throat with his loft lips.

Shifting her pregnant bulk below him, Bell raised her tail in readiness to be claimed by her stallion. Climbing over her back, Strongbuck set his hooves on the ground along each side of her swollen belly as he positioned himself to her entrance. Bell let out a pleased moan when he pushed into her. With his head alongside hers, Strongbuck rocked his hips as he delved deeper into her burning marehood, until at last his pelvis pressed up snugly into her well rounded rump.

Dove nibbled at her lips as she watched the pair before her. Aurora had fallen asleep and was only lightly gumming her teat as she blissfully slept with a full belly. She knew she would need to burp her, but decided to wait until after the unenviable conclusion to the current event.

A light sweat moistened their coats as Strongbuck rocked his hips, diving himself repeatedly into her depths. Bell felt a pleasant tingling rising up deep within her as her stallion took her. She was surprised at how quickly the tingling grew until quite suddenly it blossomed into rippling waves of pleasure. Opening her mouth wide, Bell let out a long moan as the pleasure rolled through her body. Then quite suddenly, it faded, leaving Bell perplexed until she felt the tingling growing once again as it built on itself. Strongbuck was grunting in her ear as he thrusted himself into her. Gasping for breath, a new wave of pleasure suddenly surged through her body even more intensely than her previous one.

As her marehood clamped and rippled across the length of Strongbuck's swiftly thrusting member, a painful tightness grew in her depths. For a moment, it became so intense, she nearly cried out, but then it quickly diminished as another wave of pleasure suddenly built in its place. Strongbuck's steady pace was growing more frenzied and wild as he began to slam his hips into her rump with a wet slap. With a final strained grunt, Strongbuck drove himself as deeply as he could into her and held himself there as his stallionhood flared wide. Through the haze of pleasure she felt his stallionhood throb as surges of his warm seed filled her welcoming depths.

Strongbuck’s hips jerked rhythmically into her with each surge that traveled through his stallionhood. As quickly as it came, the waves of pleasure that rolled through Bell's body tightened once again into a painful knot that gripped her insides. With a last few twitches, Strongbuck sagged down above her in satisfied relief.

The tightness that gripped her slowly faded as Strongbuck affectionately kissed and nuzzled her neck. With a firm tug, Strongbuck pulled himself out of her. Keeping her tail lifted, Bell tried her best to keep it out of the mating fluids that momentarily cascaded out of her marehood. "That was... that was... wow!" Bell said breathlessly, shifting herself to a fresh of patch grass.

"I'll say!" Dove added.

Strongbuck grinned stupidly as he settled himself down next to Bell, his coat glossy from his exertion.

Taking the sleeping Aurora up to her shoulder, Dove patted her back in her usual pattern. pat-pat pause, pat-pat pause, until she heard a wet burp and something warm splashed onto her shoulder. Dove sighed in resignation; she knew she shouldn't have waited. Pulling the basket over, Dove went to lay Aurora into the remaining hay that was left in the bottom.

"Wait!" Strongbuck exclaimed. "I wasn't finished eat..." he paused when Dove lifted an eyebrow at him. "Never mind. It's nothing," he said, quickly relenting.

Laying the filly into the basket, Dove frowned at the spit-up on her shoulder. "I'm going to go take a dip in the stream and wash this out before it starts to sour." Standing, Dove paused next to Strongbuck to flick her tail at him. "How about you come along? I have a sudden itch that you'll be best suited to help me scratch."

Some time later, a wet and very pleased looking Dove returned. Bell stopped humming to Aurora as Dove sat down with her. "Did you have a good time?"

Dove let out a pleased sigh and smiled.

Bell glanced back towards the steam. "Where's Strongbuck? Did he get lost?"

"He said he wanted to look at something," Dove answered, checking on Aurora. "He told me he'd be right back."

"He probably just wants to go pee without us watching him," Bell surmised.

"What are you talking about? He pees in front of us all the time!" Dove scoffed. "I miss those days when he was so embarrassed, he would hold it until he got crossed legged. He was so adorable back then."

Bell let out a irritated sigh. "Great. Now I need to pee!" Climbing laboriously up to her hooves, Bell groaned and rubbed the side of her belly. "Stupid cramp,” she complained.

"Are you okay?" Dove asked, looking at her in concern.

"Yeah, it's nothing." Bell assured her, waving her hoof. "It just a cramp. I get them all the time." Moving a short distance away, she let out a relieved sigh as she drained her bladder into some flowers.

Trotting over the hill, Strongbuck made his way over to them.

"You done looking around?" Dove asked, shooing a bee away from Aurora.

"Ah good, you're back. Did you by chance see Sentry or Chase?" Bell asked. "They wandered off somewhere."

Strongbuck shook his head. "No, I didn't." Stopping, he gazed around, looking lost in thought.

Dove curiously watched him as he slowly spun himself around. "What are you looking at?"

Strongbuck pointed out at a spot near the trees, "What do you two think of building our home right there?"

Bell awkwardly walked over, her belly swaying with her steps. "What are you getting at?"

"You know how ponies are starting to keep their own lands to live on and grow their own crops? How about we do that too?" Strongbuck pointed to another spot. "Over there, our foals can play in the field." Turning, he pointed again. "And there, Dove can grow her medicinal herbs and just behind there we can build a pen so Bell can raise her pups. You told me yourself that ponies have been asking you for wolf pups to help. I'm not sure how we're going to get a dam to breed to, but we can figure that out later."

Bell's ears perked up with interest as she looked out at where he was pointing.

"And what would you do out here?" Dove asked, looking at Strongbuck questionably. "This land is poor for growing crops; it's got too many hills."

Smiling, Strongbuck walked over to the apple tree and set his hoof to its trunk. "I will grow these!"

"Apples?" Bell said in surprise.

Strongbuck gestured to the hill he had come over earlier. "I found six more apple trees even bigger than this one over there. I'm sure that if we searched around, we would find a few more," he said excitedly. "With a bit of work, I'm sure I can have these hills covered in apple trees in no time."

Gazing out, Dove pictured the scenes he had described. Her working knee deep in a field of herbs, humming a tune to herself as a dozen foals ran playing in the field. On the nearby hill, she saw Bell bringing Strongbuck a cool jug of water as he worked stacking full bins of freshly picked apples. The more she thought about it, the more she felt a thrill of excitement. This could be their home. A place to raise their young. "Let's do it!"

Bell shot her a surprised look. "Really!?

"Yes," Dove nodded. She then pointed her hoof to the center of the field. "Except, I think it would be better if we built our home right there, instead."

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Coming to a stop, Starless held out a simple quartz crystal with her magic. Channeling a small trickle of her power into it, she directed it about, listening as it softly hummed. It remained steady for a time until it suddenly grew louder as it pointed to the south-east. Putting it into her pack, she continued on with Snap Dragon falling in beside her.

"How many more do you have to do?" Snap asked.

"With luck, hopefully this will be the last one." Starless answered wearily . "It's been interesting trekking around these hills all day, but I am really looking forward to cooling my hooves in the stream when we get back."

"Oh! I know just the perfect spot too," Snap replied. "When we get back, I'll show it to you! It's a pool just a short trip upstream from home. It has a wide waterfall that cascades down into a large pool. Set throughout it is smooth, round stones that are great for relaxing against while you soak in the water. I like to sit really close to the waterfall and let the bubbles tickle my coat. Along the shore, there is a thick bed of soft moss that feels like a cloud when you lay on it. I once fell asleep there and didn't wake until sunset. Mama wasn't very happy with me when I got back that night."

Starless smiled. Tiger Lily was an amazing mare. She had never seen a mare so fiercely loving of her family. Ground told her a story of a time when Tiger Lily had actually bitten a bear to protect him when he was just a little colt. Normally, Starless would have thought the story was told in silly jest, but after spending some time with her, she now knew the bear had probably gotten off lucky. A cruel part of her wanted to see Tiger Lily and her mother meet, so she could teach her what it means to be a real mother.

"Are you and big brother going to have foals?"

Starless nearly stumbled over her own hooves. With her face feeling like it was burning up, Starless whirled on Snap. "What?! We haven't even...!" She snapped her mouth shut when she realized what she was about to blurt out.

"I would like that," Snap said, sounding excited. "I know I've been acting quite silly when it comes to my big brother, but I don't mind so much anymore. I like you, and I don't mind sharing him with you."

Starless shook her head, "It's sweet of you to say that. Things between Ground and myself are a little complicated." Turning aside she continued walking.

"What kind of complicated?" Snap asked falling in beside her again. "Is that the reason you moved out to the cave?"

Starless nodded. "I need to keep myself hidden until Dark has a chance to change things with the Unicorns. That's also why we're out here."

"Yeah, that's right," Snap said, remembering a bit of what Starless had explained. "We're looking for the hay lines."

"They're called Ley Lines," Starless corrected. "I'm hoping that if I can synchronize with them, I can use them to help warn me if another Caster passes over them."

"It's amazing," Snap said in awe. "Magic that flows through the earth like a river."

Taking out her quartz crystal, Starless channeled a tiny bit of her magic into it. The quartz immediately began to hum. Slowly lowering the quartz towards the ground, she listened as its pitch climbed higher, until it became almost painful to listen to. "This is it!" she exclaimed.

"The nest-this thing?" Snap asked, looking down at what looked like ordinary ground.

"It's a Nexus," Starless corrected again. "It's where ley lines converge." Reaching into her pack, she lifted out a large, pinkish-hued quartz. Setting it onto the ground, Starless began casting a complex spell around it.

"What does the quartz do?"

"Quartz crystals have an interesting ability to vibrate," Starless explained. "I'm harmonizing this one to the same vibrations as the ley lines. When a Unicorn passes over one of them, their magic will slightly disrupt its normal vibration, causing it to momentarily go out of harmony with the quartz crystal, warning me that they are coming." Closing her eyes, Starless focused on her task as she finalized her spell. Finished, she released her magic and sat back. The quartz crystal was now synchronized to the ley lines. "Okay, I'm all done. We can go back now and you can show me that pool of yours."

"Oh, yes!" Snap exclaimed happily. "I know you'll just love it!"

Turning back, the two walked beside each other across the windblown grass-topped hills. "Snap. There is something I've been curious about that you may be able to answer."

"What's that?" Snap looked at her curiously.

"Well, I was listening to Morning Sky tell the story to some of the younger foals, of how the herd was formed, and a part of it caught my attention. When the mares, lead by Meadowlark, rose up and bucked all the stallions out, they then only allowed the stallions they saw as worthy to come back in. What happened to Ground during this? If Tiger Lily was claiming Hoof Strike, what mare claimed Ground?"

Snap let out an amused laugh. "Worried that you might have some competition besides me?"

Starless flushed. "It's not that. I was just curious, that's all."

Snap smiled as she nodded, far from being convinced that she was being merely curious. "Despite how things turned out in the end, what happened could have turned out much more tragically. Meadowlark took a huge risk that day. Big Brother was one of the few stallions told in advance what was happening because they needed his help binging the pregnant and elderly mares up to the same cave you're living in now, to keep them safe with the foals in case things went badly. I wanted to be down with Mama when the confrontation with the stallions happened, but she wouldn't allow it, so I spent the whole day up there with big brother, waiting for any word on how things went."

Starless felt a pleasant warmth in her chest. Ground never told her about this. He was such a mountain of a stallion with a heart to match.

Rushing over the rise ahead of them, a group of young stallions suddenly appeared. Circling around them, they blocked their way. One of them, a brash looking colt, barely old enough to be called a stallion, leered at them. "Well, well. What have we caught?"

"Who are you!? What do you think you're doing!?" Snap Dragon demanded angrily.

The young, leering stallion with a silver coat walked up to Snap and used his hoof to lift her chin up. "I like this one. I'll take her as mine."

"Get your hoof off of me!" Snap Dragon snapped, swiping his hoof away.

Ignoring her, the young stallion turned to Starless and eyed her. "And what are you? You look like a pony, but you're so wispy.

Starless felt her anger flair up. Who were these whelps? She had never seen them before, and from the way Snap was acting, neither has she.

"What is with that thing on her head?" another stallion asked, pointing up at Starless's horn. "She's deformed or something."

Starless stepped protectively closer to Snap as she folded her ears back. "Step aside, and let us pass." Starless was tempted to use her magic, but held back. She was afraid of what would happen if she ever hurt a pony with her magic. Ground, of course, was excluded from this rule, but these irritating colts were getting close to learning what a Unicorn could do.

"Step aside?" The silvery coated young stallion scoffed. "Why would I let you go, when you walked right to us so willingly?"

Snap let out a startled yelp. Shying forward, she bucked out at a dirty blue stallion that had just sniffed her rump.

"I'm warning you!" Starless snarled coldly, her horn crackling. "Let us pass or I'll be forced..."

Just then, more ponies appeared trotting over the rise. In the lead was a stallion with a coat so dark it was nearly black. Trotting along besides him was a pair of welcoming faces, Dark and Hoof Strike.

"Wild Bolt, you're not bothering these mares are you?" the lead stallion asked, giving the young stallion a disapproving look as he stopped before him.

"Of course not, Pa." Wild Bolt answered with a slanted grin. "We were just being friendly, that's all."

The stallion didn't look all that convinced. Hoof Strike's gaze had grown flinty as he looked at the young stallion standing so near his daughter. Walking forward, the massive stallion stepped up to Wild Bolt and gazed down his muzzle at the much smaller pony. With a firm hoof, Hoof Strike reached out and moved Wild Bolt to the side, clearing a way for Snap and Starless to pass.

"Thank you, Papa," Snap said, shooting Wild Bolt a scowl as she moved past.

Starless gave Hoof Strike an appreciative smile as she followed after Snap. She and Snap walked along closely next to Hoof Strike as they made their way back to the settlement, accompanied by the group of mature stallions. Thankfully, the lead black coated stallion, named Tangled Burr, sent his son, as well as his obnoxious cohorts, back to their herd, telling them to stay out of trouble while they visited the settlement.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Strongbuck walked close to Bell's side as they slowly made their way back to their hut. Dove had been called away to assist Petal Blush, who had gone into labor. With Bell being so late into her pregnancy, Dove had left Aurora in Meadowlark’s care. The night was late and the full moon was just rising, casting its soft light across the settlement.

Their visitors had been very impressed with what they had built here. So much so that Tangled Burr expressed an interest in doing the same and starting his own settlement. There was a low lake valley they had passed a day before to the south-east that he thought would be a good place to make their new home. Hearing this, Dark then offered to send ponies to help teach his herd farming and other crafts that would be needed.

Strongbuck felt excited. Things were certainly going to be busy this year. He was going to have to claim the land they had found to the east and start building a home there. He had already talked with several craft-ponies for advice on how to start. Approaching their hut, Strongbuck broke away to drag open the gate to the wolves’ pen to let Chase and Sentry in. Securing it shut, Strongbuck hurried back to Bell to help her through the door into their hut. Grunting with effort, Bell squeezed herself through and quickly settled herself into a thick bed of freshly laid hay he had put there just that morning.

Moving across the room, Strongbuck went to see to the fire. Digging into a small pile of sand, Strongbuck carefully extracted an ember he had placed in there earlier. Gathering some tinder into the fire-pit, Strongbuck gingerly set the ember into it and began to blow on it. Soon, the ember glowed as the tinder began to smolder around it. With a few more patient breaths, a tiny flame came to life.

Feeding more tender and branches into it, he worked it into a steady flame that warmed the room with its light. Bell let out a grunt and shifted herself on her bed as she let out a weary sigh.

"Are you okay?" Strongbuck asked in concern, moving over to her. "You didn't eat very much during the welcoming dinner."

"I'm fine," Bell assured him, waving her hoof at him. "It's hard to have a appetite when there's a foal kicking you in the stomach, that's all."

"You sure?" Strongbuck asked. "You've been unusually quiet since we got back."

"I've just been feeling really tired, so there's nothing to worry about." She gave him a smile and reached her hoof up to him. "Come here. I need a good snuggle, and you're just the pony I need."

Settling himself down next to her, Bell leaned herself into his side and let out a pleased sigh. Strongbuck stared off into the fire. "I wonder how long Dove is going to be."

"Well, it's Petal Plush's first foal, so it's hard to say." Bell answered. "Dove will probably want to stay a little longer to make sure mother and foal are doing okay before she comes back. That is, if another mare doesn't start foaling too. It is the time for it, after all."

"Grand Mesa is with her tonight." Strongbuck added. "She's been wanting to learn about foaling, so Dove's been letting her come."

"Well that's good," Bell said, smiling. "It would be a wonderful thing for Grand Mesa to learn. I just hope she'll be able to handle the times when the foaling doesn't end happily."

Strongbuck felt a chill run down his spine. "You mean…?"

Bell nodded and set her cheek against his neck. "It's unfortunate and tragic, but it happens."

Strongbuck stared silently into the fire for a long while, lost in thought. He worried for Bell. What if her foaling went bad? He couldn't imagine losing her. His heart would clench painfully when he thought about it. The soft breathing against his neck told him that Bell had fallen asleep.

Taking care not to wake her, Strongbuck bent his head around to nuzzle her softly by her ear. "I love you."

Bell murmured something sleepily back at him before snuggling her cheek into him a little more firmly.

Lowering his head down to the bed of hay, Strongbuck closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep.

A pain-filled groan suddenly jolted him awake. Looking quickly at Bell, he saw her panting for breath as her face twisted in agony, her coat was glistening with sweat. "Bell!? What's wrong!?"

"It's... it's happening... The foal is coming," Bell managed to gasp out, her body clenching as a wave of pain rolled through her.

"What!? Now!?" Strongbuck felt a surge of panic and worry rushed through him like a storm. What was he supposed to do!? His thoughts started to run wildly in every direction. Bell had rolled onto her side and was panting for breath. Her massive belly twitched and rippled as her muscles convulsed.

"It's... it's coming too fast," Bell panted out. "I need you to look... and tell me what you see."

Strongbuck felt his head buzzing as his knees wobbled. She wanted him to do what!? "I should get Dove. She'll know what to do!"

"Strongbuck, please!" Bell pleaded urgently. "It's happening now! Please don't leave me alone! I need you!"

Strongbuck's heart was hammering in his chest as Bell's words cut through his storm of panic. She needed him. A strange sense of control suddenly came over him as his thoughts seized onto her need for his help. His worry and fear were still there, but it was like it was pushed aside. Swallowing, Strongbuck nodded as he worked out what he needed to do. Light, he needed light. Going to the low fire, he piled wood onto it until it flared up brightly.

Bell groaned again as her body tightened. "It's coming! I can feel it!"

Rushing around, Strongbuck found Bell's tail matted with fluids and blood. Moving it out of the way, he nearly gagged at what he saw. More blood and birthing fluids covered her rump and soaked into the straw bedding below. Her normally tight marehood was now stretched wide as something poked out of it. "I see something!" he said, feeling his heart leap. It was thin and shaped like a stick. "It's a hoof!"

"What about a muzzle? Is the head coming out yet?" Bell asked, before letting out an agonized groan as her body stiffened. Fluids dribbled out of her marehood as he began to bear down. The tiny hoof slowly began to slip out as another one appeared.

"No." Strongbuck shook his head. “I only see a hoof with another one just starting to come out."

Bell's contractions were coming fast now, as they barely gave her a few moments of rest between each one. Bell groaned as she bared down. The two little hooves slipped out further, allowing Strongbuck to make out the dark brown fur along the foal's leg. With her next contraction, Bell's marehood started to widen as something bigger started to push out.

"Something is coming out!" Strongbuck exclaimed. "It's a... it's a butt!"

"Oh, that's bad." Bell moaned, rolling her head around. "The foal's breached. It's coming out backwards."

"What should I do?" Strongbuck asked, feeling his worry surging back up.

"It's too late to try flipping the foal around," Bell panted, as she rested. "You'll need to grab a leg and help pull."

"You want me to do what!?" Strongbuck exclaimed.

"Just do it!" Bell whimpered as another contraction seized her.

Strongbuck braced himself for what he had to do. Reaching out, he grasped one of the foal's legs. Ignoring the taste in his mouth, he began to gently pull. Bell cried out in agony, as the foal started to slide out. Slipping the hips out, Strongbuck's heart leapt up when he saw that it was a colt. A son! Continuing to pull, the colt's other leg twitched and bucked out, catching Strongbuck painfully on his cheek, causing him to let go.

Bell whimpered and panted for breath, as she laid her head down. "What's wrong? You stopped."

"Nothing," Strongbuck muttered, rubbing his stinging cheek. "He just bucked me in the face."

Bell let out a tired chuckle as she rolled her eyes. "He's been bucking me all winter. I think you'll survive."

The colt was out to his shoulders now. His hooves jerked and kicked as he started to struggle. Strongbuck noticed something slip out. "The birth cords torn!" he exclaimed, looking down at the severed end of the cord.

"He needs to come out quickly, before he suffocates!" Bell shouted urgently. Her voice filled with fear.

Grabbing the flailing hoof, Strongbuck pulled, but the colt’s shoulders were lodged against Bell's pelvis. Shifting his grip, Strongbuck pulled downward and the colts shoulder suddenly came free, quickly slipping the rest of the way out. Throwing his hooves out, Strongbuck quickly caught the colt before he fell.

Blinking in awed wonder, Strongbuck looked down at his son's face as the colt began to wail, his little chest heaving with each cry that pierced the air. Bell let out a relieved breath as she slumped down, exhausted. The colt had a rich brown coat with a honey colored mane and tail. Moving around, Strongbuck held the foal out for Bell to see. "Look at him. Isn't he just perfect!?"

"Yes. Of course he is." Bell agreed, smiling tiredly. Taking the colt from him, she deposited him between her forelegs so she could start cleaning him.

Strongbuck couldn't believe it. A son. He had a son!

"There's a mess that needs to be cleaned up," Bell said, not bothering to look up at him. "Why don't you fetch some water and take care of that? Also, bring back some fresh straw for the bedding while you're at it."

It was late when Dove finally returned. Stepping in, she immediately knew that something had happened. She could smell it in the air. Lying side by side, Bell was leaning against Strongbuck with her head resting against his shoulder as she slept. Strongbuck smiled at her, lifting his hoof to his lips to indicate that she keep quiet. Looking down, he then shifted his leg to the side to reveal a tiny form nestled between himself and Bell.

Dove gasped as tears of happiness came to her eyes. "Oh my stars! He came and I missed it!" she whispered, setting Aurora down in her basket. "Why didn't you get me!?"

"Because, apparently, he just couldn't wait," Bell answered, cracking her eyes open. "You know how colts can be."

"He's so adorable," Dove gushed, bending down close to the colt. "Have you decided on a name yet?"

"Yes I have," Bell answered, reaching down to softly nuzzle the colt. "Say hello to Applebuck."

Art by Gentlehoof

Chapter Forty Five

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter Forty Six

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait. I've been busy with the new project. The Herd Life (General Version.) It's the same as Herd Life but with the clop bits removed for those who don't like that stuff or are too young. I am doing this in preparation for a audio drama that will be based on this story.

Chapter Forty Six

In a secluded part of the forest, a Unicorn and an Earth Pony faced each other as they prepared to battle.

Holding herself delicately balanced on her hooves, Starless gazed steadily at her fearsome opponent. Carefully positioning her hooves, she shifted her grip on her short spear, a gift given to her by Ground, and lunged forward to attack. Her hooves flew across the turf as she closed on her enemy. Ground reacted to her attack; he hefted up a massive log next to him and heaved it at her. With a lightness of step that was as fluid as she was lovely, Starless easily sidestepped the missile as it crashed down next to her with a thunderous crash.

Focusing her power, Starless hurled a bolt of magic at him, but it shattered when he viciously backhoofed it away with a swing of his massive hoof. Starless smiled when she felt her heart race with the thrill of their fight. In quick succession, she fired two more bolts at him as she closed in, her spear held ready for a quick slash.

Rearing up, Ground quickly crossed his hooves and let her magic slam into them, protecting himself from her bolts as they shattered around him. Regaining his stance, Ground readied his own spear as Starless closed on him. Focusing on a spot just behind him, Starless cast a flash-travel spell, vanishing mid stride just as they were about to come together, reappearing moments later behind him as she charged at his unprotected rear.

If Ground was surprised at her sudden shift of attack, he didn't show it, as he swiftly bucked out his hind hooves at her. Starless was forced to throw herself back to keep her head intact. Shifting his stance, Ground rotated around with a vicious swipe of his spear that nearly took off her ears, as Starless just managed to barely duck under it. Seeing an opening, Starless slashed her short spear at his chest, but he somehow used the back haft of his spear to knock it away before it reached him. Rotating her grip, Starless quickly reversed and thrust at his ribs. To her dismay, Ground caught her spear with his hoof and knocked it out of her mouth with a swipe that sent it flying off into the grass.

Muttering a curse at losing her spear, Starless slammed her eyes shut and cast a dazzle spell right into Ground's face. Shouting out in surprise, Ground fell back as he blinked his eyes. Seeing her opening, Starless brought her leg around and kicked one of Ground's leg. Pain lanced through her leg as it rebounded off of his. It felt like she had kicked a tree! Spinning herself about, Starless bucked out with both of her hooves at his chest as hard as she could.

Instead of feeling her hoof connect with his chest, Starless abruptly felt her leg stop as Ground seized it in his mouth. Letting out a surprised yelp, Starless was suddenly yanked around as her hooves left the ground. The world whirled around her as she was spun around in the air by her back hoof. With a throw of his head, Ground released her and she screamed in terror as she flew through the air. Fighting down her fear, Starless twisted her body just as she hit the ground and managed to roll herself to a painful stop.

Clambering back up to her hooves, Starless turned to meet Ground as he charged at her again. Lifting his spear, he chopped it down at her. Knowing that there was no way she could catch it like he had done to hers, and there was no time for her to use magic, Starless quickly rotated her stance and blocked it with her horn. With a crack, Ground's spear snapped in half as it broke around her horn.

Spitting out his ruined spear, Ground brought his back-hoof around and swept her off her hooves. Landing on the ground, Starless desperately rolled away as Ground slammed his hoof down, just missing crushing her under it. Regaining her hooves, Starless shot a hasty bolt at Ground, striking him in his shoulder and causing him to stagger back a step with a grunt.

Rolling his shoulder, Ground let out a snort and came at her. Starless let out a frightened yelp and flash-traveled a dozen strides away, the limit of her range. Snatching up a large rock in her magic, she hurled it back at Ground who met it with his massive hoof and smashed it into gravel with a single punch.

What was she going to do!? Starless' mind leaped about for any idea that might work. Quickly thinking, she came up with a plan that was as stupid as it was crazy. Letting out a breath, Starless lunged forward and charged. Seeing her coming, Ground set his stance and readied himself. Just before they came together, Starless closed her eyes and cast another dazzle spell. Bright sparks suddenly flashed from her horn as she quickly flash traveled to the air just above Ground.

Dropping down onto his back, Starless wrapped her hooves around his neck and held on tight as Ground began bucking and whirling himself about, attempting to throw her off. Her body slapped and rubbed against his muscled back as she fought to hold herself on. Her grip began to falter and she knew it was only a matter of time until he dislodged her from his back.

With her head snapping back and forth from her wild ride, Starless desperately snatched up something from the grass with her magic just as she felt her hooves slip free. Tumbling through the air, she landed heavily on the ground.

Looking back up, she found Ground standing over her with his hoof poised to strike her down. "This fight is over. You lose. Yield."

"Are you sure about that?" Starless asked, a smile coming to her lips.

A sudden look of alarm flashed across his face when he noticed her glowing horn. Bending his head up, he looked up and saw his broken spear held suspended point-down over him, ready to dispatch him with a flick of her will.

Regaining her hooves, Starless smoothly stepped in close to Ground and set the tip of her glowing horn to his exposed throat. "Do you yield or do I have to kill you?"

"I... yield, " Ground declared, lowering his hoof back to the ground.

Elation surged through Starless. She had defeated him! "Yes!" she shouted in joy as she leapt into the air. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" She chanted, hopping around the stallion like a yearling filly who had been given a strawberry.

Ground watched her victory antics with an amused grin. "Congratulations. You were amazing."

"Are you kidding!?" Starless shouted, turning back to him. "I was scared out of my mind! Everything I tried was useless against you! I was desperate and doing anything I could think of just to keep myself alive! I made so many mistakes. I should never have gotten so close to you! I kept hesitating when I needed to act more quickly and I barely had any strategy whatsoever! I was all over the place."

"Don't be so harsh on yourself," Ground said. "You did wonderfully. You kept your head and recognized when something wasn't working and tried something new until you succeeded. I must admit your final tactic was inspired."

Starless felt her face flush as she looked up and met Ground's proud gaze. Her heart began galloping in her chest like a wild herd of ponies. She suddenly made a decision, one she had been avoiding for much too long. With a quick step forward, Starless pressed her lips to his.

As their bodies embraced, she found his lips were surprisingly soft against hers. Widening her mouth, she welcomed the tender touch of his tongue as it intertwined intimately with hers. She could feel his breath huffing out onto her cheek and she knew he was struggling to control himself. Breaking from the kiss, Starless raised her lips to his ears and whispered the words she had been wanting to say for so long but had been too afraid to utter.

Ground blinked down at her, obviously surprised. Starless smiled back at him as she trotted a few paces away, swishing her tail in an obvious attempt to entice the stallion.

Ground watched her with a yearning look in his eyes before letting out an eager nicker. As he trotted up to her, Starless suddenly flicked her tail into his face before moving out of his reach. Ground was confused for a moment until he saw her look back over her shoulder with a come get me look. Smiling, Ground increased his pursuit.

Swaying her hips and swishing her tail, Starless playfully nipped at Ground as she circled around him. Slowing, she allowed him to come just close enough to reach his muzzle under her tail to take in the scent of her aroused marehood. The sudden feeling of his tongue lapping up along her sensitive, wet folds sent jolts of pleasure shooting through her body as he tasted her sweet nectar.

With her face flushed with heat, Starless leapt forward, racing ahead with Ground hot on her hooves. She danced and wove herself around as she led Ground around in a merry chase. Ground's ears were pinned forward as he snorted his eagerness. Staying just out of his reach, Starless would nip or buck at him whenever he drew too close to her, forcing him to keep himself just out of her reach.

Frustrated at being denied his mare, Ground suddenly reared up and pawed his hooves in the air as he let out a bellowing whinny. Lunging forward, Ground blocked her way with his powerful body, forcing her to stop. Starless froze in surprise as he lowered his muzzle to the top of her neck to sniff at her, his hot breath panting out across her coat in great puffs. Feeling his touches as he loomed over her, Starless couldn't help lifting her tail to fan her aroused scent into the air, enticing her chosen stallion. Ground sniffed and let out an eager snort as he began to bump her around, trying to get at the sweet feminine juices dripping from her marehood. Starless nickered softly as she was forced around, her tail lifting as her body eagerly encouraged his advances.

The sudden touch of his tongue as he delved into her marehood sent tingles shooting through her body. Starless threw her head back and whinnied in pure bliss. She had imagined this! Dreamed of it! And none of it prepared her for the true touch of a stallion. Her heart was pounding in her breast as she fought to breathe. Each lap of his tongue sent her pleasure soaring to ever higher peaks until she suddenly felt her body clamp down as a cascade of pure, blissful pleasure rolled through her body like a raging thunderstorm. Wave after wave of pleasure ravished her body as she whinnied wildly into the sky.

Panting for breath, Starless was left shivering as her orgasm slowly began to diminish. Lust filled dreams and times spent alone with a busy hoof hardly compared to what Ground managed to do to her with just his tongue! Suddenly, she felt a heavy weight come down onto her back as Ground mounted her. With hardly time to even gasp in surprise, she felt his stallionhood prodding at her sodden marehood, seeking a way inside. With a shocking suddenness, she felt him push into her.

He was big, but not as big as she had imagined for a pony his size, and she was thankful for that, as she felt her marehood stretching out to take him in. It hurt, but it also felt good. She could tell that Ground was keeping himself back from ramming himself into her as fast and hard as he could, giving her a chance to adjust to his intrusion. She wondered if Ground had also purposely lavished her marehood with his tongue to help ease this moment for her.

Arching her head back, Starless groaned as she felt Ground force himself ever deeper into her body. She had been told that it would hurt to be taken by a stallion for the first time, but it would soon get better as her body adjusted to him. Biting her lip, Starless endured the stinging discomfort as Ground grunted into the back of her neck, his hot breath puffing out across her coat. The sensation of feeling Ground moving so deeply inside her was overwhelming. Why had she been so afraid of this?

The feeling of his pelvis pressing up snugly to her rump snapped her attention back to what was happening. She was amazed to find that she had somehow taken him all in. She had never felt so full before.

Above her, Ground held himself still as he licked and kissed her neck, giving her time to adjust to him. She appreciated his holding back for her. The discomfort was quickly fading into a rather pleasant sensation. She was surprised at how hot his stallionhood felt inside her, and she was able to feel the rhythmic pulses of his heartbeat.

Turning her head back, Starless took his lips with hers. This was how two ponies where supposed to be. Joined in both heart and body. The Unicorns have forgotten that. In their lust for power, they lost that most simple of principles and treat it as a chore. Feeling Ground's hooves tighten around her sides, Starless released his lips with a gasp when he suddenly withdrew his stallionhood up to the tip before slowly thrusting it back into her.

He moved slowly at first, his pelvis seating itself snugly against her rump with every thrust. Her eyes slipped closed as she lost herself in the steady sensation of being filled over and over again. The pain was completely gone now, replaced by a pleasant tingle that grew with every plunge of Ground's stallionhood into her depths. She could hear Ground grunting over her as he muttered something about how tight she was.

The pleasant tingling sensation deep within her was growing rapidly into an intensity that had her groaning into the air. Ground was wildly slamming himself into her now, his breath puffing out onto the back of her neck. She could tell he was growing close. Her own body was reaching its own limit as well. The tingles deep within her had grown so intense, she had to bite her lip to keep herself from screaming.

Ground suddenly bit her crest as his forehooves tightened around her barrel. Starless let out a whinny as she felt her body clamp down on Ground's furiously thrusting stallionhood. Waves of blissful pleasure once again rocked her body, even more intensely than before. Ground let out a strained groan as he rammed his hips into her rump with a wet slap and held himself as deep as he could. Starless' eyes flew open as she felt his head flare within her depths. A moment later, she felt his warm seed surge into her waiting womb.

Gripping her crest tightly in his teeth, Ground's hips jerked with each spurt, as his seed gushed into her. Starless' body clenched and rolled across his stallionhood as it attempted to coax out as much of his seed as it could. Gasping for breath, Starless was left trembling as their shared climaxes slowly receded. Ground sagged down on her back as he released her crest, his chest heaving with his heavy breaths.

It was over. She had been claimed by her stallion. His virile essence now filled her body. She felt his stallionhood tug at her as Ground withdrew it from her. With a wet sound, a deluge of fluids spilled from her marehood as it slipped free. Moving around next to her, Ground nuzzled her neck and she returned his sweet affections.

"We've been gone for a while. We should head back before they start wondering where we’re at."

"You're probably right," Starless reluctantly agreed, though she didn't want this moment to end. "But before we do. It would probably be a good idea for us to wash in the stream first."

Walking side by side, the two lovers walked across the grassy field.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

"Where are you?" Snap Dragon asked, covering her eyes with her hooves. After a moment, she dropped her hooves down and exclaimed, "there you are!"

Little Cloud Hopper squealed and clopped her hooves together, her little wings buzzing with delight.

Cloud Hopper was the foal of one of the weather pegasi that had been called out to help deal with a rogue hail storm that was heading toward the fields. It wasn't often they got to watch over a young pegasus foal, and Snap was happy to help with the foalsitting.

Snap covered her eyes again. "Where are you? I lost you! Cloud Hopper! Cloud Hopper, where have you gone!?" Snap dropped her hooves down and gasp in surprise. “Oh! There you are!”

Cloud Hopper squealed once again in laughter, her wings buzzing so hard in her excitement, she momentarily lifted off the ground.

"What are you doing?" a voice asked.

Snap's laughter soured as her smile fell. She knew that voice. Standing behind her was the son of the Lakeside herd Chief, Wild Bolt. After their unpleasant meeting in the hills, she had hoped to never see him again.

"I'm playing with Cloud Hopper," she answered flatly, not bothering to look back at him.

"Is that what that was?"

Cloud Hopper was joined by Sparkling Brook, and the two started to play together. "If you're lost, I can give you directions back to the lakeside settlement," Snap offered, lifting a sleeping Summer Rain from her lap so she could stand, holding the colt in the crook of her foreleg she turned to face Wild.

Wild Bolt waved a hoof. "Look. I know we got off on the wrong hoof. I came to make peace and apologize. Okay?"

Snap lifted an eyebrow dubiously. "Really?" She had trouble believing anything Wild said, especially when he was flashing that slanted grin of his at her.

"Listen. My pa is going to be busy for a while and we're not going to go back home until tomorrow morning," Wild Bolt said. "Lets ditch this place and find something fun to do."

Next to her hoof, little Winter Snow sneezed, blowing out a glob of snot that hung down from his nose. "Sorry, but I'm busy." Reaching down she picked up Winter by the back of his mane and carried him to a basket filled with large broad-bladed leaves to wipe the snot off his nose.

Wild Bolt sneered in disgust as he watched her clean the colt’s nose. "What about them?" he asked, pointing to the other mares laying on the edge of the play area. "Why can't they do this?"

"Because they're needed to nurse hungry foals while their mothers are away," Snap answered, setting Winter back down.

Wild Bolt stepped in closer to her, blocking her way. "Come on. I'm sure they'll be fine without you for a while. It's not like they can go anywhere," he said, leaning in close to her with that lopsided smile of his. "I can show you some fun things we can do together. You'll love it, I promise."

"I'm sure I won't," Snap answered evenly. "Look. I'm really busy. Unless you want to help, I'll have to ask you-."

"Me!? Help with the foals!?" Wild Bolt exclaimed. "Are you kidding!? That's mare's work!"

Snap couldn't help but grin. "Well then. I guess that means this is goodbye then."

Wild Bolt didn't look happy at all and appeared like he was about to storm off, but then he suddenly surprised her when he reached down and picked up Winter Snow. "Okay fine. What do I do with this thing?" he asked with a look of distaste, holding the colt awkwardly.

Winter blinked at Wild Bolt for a surprised moment as the young stallion held him up, then abruptly the colt began to pee on him.

Snap laughed at the sight of Wild Bolt as he flailed about with the colt, his face panicked. "Take it! Take it!” he pleaded for her to take the colt.

Snap could hardly stop her mirth as she collected the young colt from the distraught stallion, making sure to keep him pointed in a safe direction. "You should be more careful with how you hold a colt. They have a habit of letting loose when you least expect it."

Wild Bolt looked furious at her as he finally stormed off.

Snap hugged Winter Snow, snuggling her cheek up to his. "Oh, my little hero!"

⚜⚜⚜⚜

On the far side of the play area, little Luna played with a carved wooden pony. Hopping it across the ground, she pretended that it was running through a field. She wished she had a second one so she could have them race together. Suddenly, she heard a filly let out a shriek of distress. Looking over she saw Aurora stumbling around with a terrified look on her face. The necklett that usually hung from around her neck was missing.

Luna got up and rushed over to her friend. Aurora didn't see her as she blindly stumbled into her. Luna knew her friend needed her necklett to see. Searching around, she saw Dainty Daisy and Wishsong rushing away with it. The two fillies had stolen it! Aurora looked on the verge of tears. She was terrified of the darkness.

"No be afraid," Luna said, trying to reassure her friend "I go get back!"

She patted Aurora before rushing off to fetch her necklett back from the two thieves. Wishsong and Dainty had run over to a tree near the fenced edge of their play area and were each trying on the necklett. Seeing them, Luna felt anger rush through her. Aurora needed that to see and they were treating it like just another toy!

Seeing her rushing over to them, Wishsong and Dainty fled, running along the fence. In their haste to get away, Wishsong stumbled into Dainty and they both fell to the ground, the necklett flying off in their fall and landing on the grass before them.

Luna paused alongside the pair and glared down at them. "You bad fillies!" she rebuked them.

Walking past them, Luna went to pick up the necklett, but suddenly a black form shot down from the sky and snatched it up in its claws.

Luna watched in horror as the crow flew up with its newly acquired prize. "Bad awk-awk! Not yours! Give back!" she shouted up at the winged thief in outrage.

With the help of Misty Valley's daughter, Sparkling Brook, Aurora was guided to her, her white eyes staring blindly around her. "Woona?"

Luna watched as the crow flew about and landed in the tree nearby and disappeared into a hollow. Rushing under the tree, Luna searched about for a way to climb up. Finding nothing she could use, Luna turned to Aurora. "Urora, give me up-up!"

Aurora blinked blindly at her and shook her head. "Mamma said no up-up's."

Luna thought about it and knew that this was the only way. "Need up-up. Pretty-please. No tell."

Aurora nibbled her lip as she contemplated it, then finally nodded. With the help of Sparkling Brook, Aurora lined herself up with Luna. Luna felt the familiar tingle around her body as her hooves lifted off the ground. Floating up, Sparkling Brook directed Aurora into bringing Luna to a branch. Wrapping her hooves around the branch, Luna gathered herself and clambered up the branch to the hollow in the tree.

Gazing into the dark interior, Luna wondered where the crow had gone. Stepping inside, she descended into darkness. With her hoofsteps echoing off the walls, Luna made her way deeper into the hollow, curving around. She suddenly jumped when she heard feathers rustle ahead of her and claws scraping on wood. The light of the opening receded behind her as she plunged ever deeper into the darkness.

Something suddenly exploded into the air as she nearly stepped on it, causing her to leap back in alarm. Its dry wings fluttering wildly as it flew about her, it took her a moment to realize that it was just a moth. As it whizzed by her, it suddenly halted mid flight as it became stuck in something. Its wings desperately flapped as it attempted to free itself, but that only caused it to become even more trapped in the webbing. Something dark slowly descended from the ceiling and Luna recoiled in horror when she saw that it was a rather large spider. Reaching the struggling moth, the spider grappled it with its long legs and sank its fangs into it. As the moth ceased struggling, the spider quickly spun it into its web.

Swallowing her fear and disgust, Luna carefully moved on, passing right under the spider. Seeing its glittering eyes watching her as she passed, Luna felt her skin crawl. Moving through the darkness, she could see the glittering eyes of other spiders creeping along the walls and ceiling. Feeling things lightly brush up against her, she fought the urge to scream and run, focusing her mind on her task to retrieve Aurora's much needed necklett.

Moving past the spiders and their webs, Luna turned to a chamber where she heard a strange chattering sound coming from just above her. Looking around, Luna strained to see what was making the sounds. The ceiling above her appeared to be moving. Stepping forward, her hoof bumped into a bulbous mushroom cap growing out of the wood floor, the bump caused it to glow slightly, filling the room with a soft eerie green light. Suddenly, the chamber was filling with loud flapping sounds as bats scattered. Luna let out a screech of fear and threw herself down as the bats flew over, their wings bushing at her mane as they passed around her. Holding herself as low as she could, Luna waited until the bats vanished up a dark hole in the ceiling.

Regaining her hooves, she heard the caw of the crow coming from just ahead of her. Heartened that she was getting close, she moved on. Soon, she entered a chamber that was so dark, the couldn't make out a single thing. A light breeze ruffled her mane as she slowly worked her way blindly forward, and her heart suddenly leapt up when a terrifying howling sound suddenly filled the chamber all around her. The howl rose to a shriek before descending down to a low moan.

Luna wanted to cry and hide herself under her mama. Gazing around into the utter blackness, Luna suddenly understood what it must be like for Aurora. Scrunching her face up, Luna made her brave face and pressed on. Feeling her way, she found a wall blocking her way. Searching around, she found a small opening just big enough for her to squeeze herself into. Looking into the opening, she saw that there was a soft light somewhere ahead.

Taking a breath, Luna crawled inside. It was tight. She felt the top of the crevice pressing into her back. Shifting her body, she was able to work her way forward. The tightness on her back grew as she moved forward and she worried that she might get stuck. Forcing herself on, Luna felt bugs and beetles start coming out of the wood and crawling on her. With her legs trapped, she was unable to fend off the horde of insects as they swarmed over her.

Shutting her eyes to keep them out, Luna fought from screaming and frantically backing herself back out. Dragging herself forward, the crevice grew so tight she could hardly breathe. Struggling, Luna wiggled and shimmied herself until she felt herself shift. After a long while, she continued to work herself through until she felt the crevice widen around her

Gasping for breath, Luna swiped the insects off of her as she pulled herself out. Standing, Luna looked around and found she was in an large open chamber. Gazing around, she wondered how something so big could be inside the tree. Ahead of her, she saw a nest sitting in the center of the floor. Resting in the nest, she could see Aurora's necklett.

With a cry of joy, Luna rushed forward to collect her friend's necklett. Suddenly, a black form shot out of the darkness and she felt the sting of it nipping her ear as it passed. Retreating a few steps, Luna watched as the crow vanished back into the darkness. "Bad awk-awk! Bad!"

When Luna tried to move toward the nest again, the black form of the crow suddenly reappeared and struck at her, nipping her painfully in the side of her neck. Proceeding onward, the crow continued to streak out of the darkness to strike at her until she retreated back.

"Awk-awk is very bad awk-awk," Luna snapped at the crow. She was frustrated and angry. Aurora's necklett was right there in front of her and the crow was keeping her from it!

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Luna set her little hooves in determination. Kicking her hooves back, she leapt forward and charged. Instantly, the crow was back on her. Ducking her head down, Luna tried to dodge the feathered fiend’s attacks, but it was just too quick and it was scoring bites all across her body. Luna struggled onward, enduring its beak as it snapped at her.

As she drew closer to the nest, another crow appeared as it joined the other on its attack on her. With a flurry of black feathers and the stabbing pain of their bites, Luna fought onward as their clawed feet tugged at her mane. More and more crows appeared as they swarmed the air around her. The crows’ attacks on her were overwhelming.

Step by step, Luna fought on, bringing herself ever closer to Aurora's necklett. Each step closer to the nest she took brought ever more attackers out onto her. Her will wavered and she knew that all she had to do was turn back to make the attacks end, but the thought of her friend having to live in constant, unending darkness drove her to push on.

At last, her hooves brushed up against the edge of the nest. She had made it! As suddenly as they had appeared, the crows vanished back into the darkness around her. "Bad awk-awks go bye-bye," she said in relief. Quickly, she reached down and picked up Aurora's necklett. A bright light suddenly appeared and Luna looked over and saw an opening in the wall she'd failed to notice before. Walking over to it, she found that it lead back outside.

Stepping back out into the sunlight, Luna looked down and saw Aurora and the other foals below.

"Well, hello there, my courageous little filly." A silvery coated mare walked over and looked up at her with a warm smile. “Well that just won’t do.” Picking her up off the branch, the mare lowered her down to the ground. "There. It's much safer for you to be down on the ground, don't you think?"

Luna smiled up at the mare before rushing over to Aurora to give her back her necklett.

"Are you really sure you want to do that?" the mare suddenly asked her. Luna paused in confusion at her question. "What has she done to earn it? It was you that went through all the trouble to get it back. Wouldn't it be right for you to keep it instead?"

Luna didn't have to think about it to know that that was wrong. She didn't do this for herself. She did this to help her friend regain something important she had lost. "It's Urora's." Lifting up the necklett, Luna set it around Aurora's neck. The color flooded back into Aurora's eyes as her sight returned.

The silvery mare nodded down at her with approval, a smile coming to her lips. "That was very kind of you."

Luna smiled. "I'm a good filly. My mommy says I am."

The mare's smile broadened. "And your mommy is absolutely right. You are a really good filly. So good, I want to give you something."

"Is it yum-yums!?" Luna quickly asked. "I like yum-yums!" Ash slips her some honey sweets sometimes. Mama doesn't like it when he does, saying it'll upset her tummy.

The silvery mare let out a light laugh and shook her head, "I'm sorry, no yum-yum's." Luna's face fell. "But I promise that I'll have some for you the next time, okay?"

Luna smiled up at her again and nodded happily.

"Good. Now close your eyes for a moment."

Closing her eyes, Luna felt a light touch on her forehead as the mare kissed her. A strange but pleasant warmth flowed into her. Opening her eyes, Luna looked up at the mare curious about what she had done.

"Stay true to your courageous heart, my little huntress," the mare said, leaning back from her. "I look forward to seeing the wonders that will come from it."

"Luna!" Snap's voice called out for her.

Luna reached up and touched her hoof to her chest. It felt warm inside.

"Luna, where are you?!" Snap called out again. Her voice coming louder as she drew nearer. "There you are. Didn't you hear me calling? Your mama is here."

Luna went to say goodbye to the nice silvery mare, but discovered that she was gone.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Starless couldn't help blushing under her Enchantress mask. The memory of what she and Ground had done was still very fresh on her mind. Her mane and tail were still moist from her bath in the river, and she hoped it was enough to wash off the smell of what they had done.

"Have fun?"

Starless spun around. Dizzy Spin sat on a nearby branch looking down at them with her ridiculous vulture skull tipped back. "What do you mean by that!?"

Dizzy flew down and landed next to her, a mischievous smile coming to her lips. "Oh, only that you two have been gone all morning and now I find you prancing back like a filly who got her first kiss." Dizzy flew up and hovered just before Ground as she leaned close to him. "So, what have you two been doing? Huh? A little tickle in the bushes?"

"What we've been doing is none of your business!" Starless snapped, instantly regretting her rash outburst.

"Ohhh!!?" Dizzy twirled around in the air. "This sounds interesting!" She then looped her hoof over Ground's neck. "Tell me. Is she a whinny-er, or a neigh-er?"

"Dizzy!" Starless' horn crackled warningly.

"Oops," Dizzy said, darting up. "Looks like I need to go. I'll see you later, Ground, for the details." Dizzy then vanished, flying off to annoy some other pony somewhere.

Throughout the encampment, Unicorns were working with Earth Ponies as they built log-stacked homes. In a cleared out area, ponies practiced with their staves, moving through forms taught to them by the Earth Ponies. Shadow Play, the gelding that had pledged himself to her, sparred with Hoof Strike. His face was set with determination. His stave furiously cracked off of Hoof Strike's as the two circled around each other.

"There you are!" Tiger Lily exclaimed, storming over to her and Ground. "Where have you two been!? I've been looking all over for you!"

"We were out practicing with my new spear in the woods," Starless answered, hefting her short spear. Next to her Ground quickly nodded.

Tiger Lily frowned at her and her son. "I can't say that I've not been expecting this, but I also can't help but feel that this is not the best time for it." Tiger let out a sigh. "Well, what's done is done. If a foal comes from this, we will find out in the proper course of time."

Starless felt her face flushing. She should have known that Tiger would be able to somehow tell. "I'm not in heat, so that shouldn't happen."

Tiger eyed her and shook her head. "Sweety. If you think you can't become pregnant unless you are in heat, you have some things to learn. Life can surprise you. It has a way of finding a way."

Starless' heart leapt up. She had failed to consider that possibility! What if a foal resulted from their joining? Would it be an abomination? What about what she was doing here with the Unicorns? Could she continue to lead them in such a condition?

Tiger noticed her anxiety and smiled. "Hey. Don't worry about it, Sweety. Ground's a good stallion, if a bit thick in the head at times. You can count on him to be there for you if anything comes of this. Now, we need to be going. He's waiting for you."

Starless had to rush to follow along with Tiger Lily as she led them through the encampment. "Who's waiting for me?"

"You'll see soon enough."

Starless moved in alongside Tiger Lily and looked down at the small mare. "How did you know?"

"About what?"

"About what me and Ground did," Starless answered.

Starless glanced up at her with a raised eyebrow. "I'm his mother. I can tell."

"Really?"

"Of course," Tiger Lily said with a knowing nod. "His father gets the same stupid look on his face when we have our special time.”

Stupid look? Starless looked back at Ground and carefully examined his face. To her, it looked as dopey as it always did.

Coming to a large, log-stacked structure, Tiger Lily led them inside. In the center of the floor, a fire had been lit, throwing its light across the room. Sitting by the fire, Dark looked up at them as they filed inside. Sitting by his side was his fostered colt, Ash.

Dark didn't rise as he gazed steadily at her. Feeling a little anxious at this sudden meeting, Starless walked over and sat across from him. Removing her Enchantress mask, she set it down as Ground joined her side. With Dark being busy with the new Lakeside settlement, Starless never had a chance to really explain to him her plan.

"Tell me," Dark said, looking across at her. "What do you two think you are doing here?"

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Hiding against the wall, Radiant Sunset held herself still as she listened at the mouth of her mother's chambers. Her mother was furious.

"Who is this Enchantress!?" her mother screamed.

"We don't know," Glittering Crystal answered. "All we know is that she's appeared out of the wilds, confronting several of our foraging teams. She has with her several fearsome creatures under her thrall and she speaks with a great authority, spreading sedition among the ponies, calling you and those who follow with you,... Oathbreakers, for breaking the vow given to honor Fata M-."

"Silence!" Radiant heard her mother shout, her voice quivering in rage. "I am the Great Matriarch Astral! I will not be bound by some meaningless promises of ponies long since dead! I want it to be known that if any pony is caught speaking of this, they will be dragged outside and beaten for all to see before they are hobbled for a day without food or water. If they are caught again, the punishment will be doubled!"

"And what of the Enchantress?"

"I want that one brought to me alive," Radiant's mother answered with an almost eager glee in her voice. "I have something special planned for her."

Radiant felt a shiver run down her spine. Whoever this Enchantress was, she'd better stay as far from her mother as she could.

Chapter Forty Seven

"What do you mean, Herd Father?" Starless asked, her chest tightening up. Dark's eyes were hard. He gazed steadily at her without a hint of mercy. Starless couldn't help but feel like a mountain was about to fall on her.

"Don't give me that!" Dark snapped. "I leave for a few months to help Tangled Burr build his settlement, and while I'm away, you do... this!" Dark waved his hoof off to the side, indicating the encampment around them. "You knew what I was planning with the Unicorns! You knew, and still you did this!"

The mountain of doom loomed lower over her as Starless' ears wilted down. "I-I'm sorry. I know this was not how you planned it."

"You're stomping right!" Dark barked angrily. "My plan was to use our supply of food to create a relationship with the Unicorns. My wish is to see ponies of the earth, sky, and stars working together, not driven apart!"

"But I want to see that too!" Starless clutched her hoof to her chest.

"Then why are you trying to ruin everything I'm working for!?" Dark roared.

Starless flinched. This was the first time he'd ever raised his voice to her.

"I thought you had changed! I thought you could be trusted!" Dark exclaimed. "Was I wrong about you!?"

"No!" Tears filled Starless' eyes.

"No?" Dark's eyes narrowed. "Then why did you go behind my back to undermine my work? You knew I didn't want a confrontation with the Unicorns, and yet you still do this!?" He stomped his hoof down, angrily.

"But, you don't understand!" Starless burst out. "I was trying to help!"

"How!?" Dark exclaimed angrily. "How is this helping!? You are raising a force against the Unicorns! You are doing exactly what I don't want!" Dark finished with a shout. "Now I have to fix this. You've forced me to do this. I'm sorry."

"No! Dark please don't!" Starless pleaded.

"I don't have a choice," Dark said, sounding regretful. He looked at the stallion next to her. "Ground. Tomorrow, I want you to take Starless back home with your mother and the others. Let the Unicorns here keep the supplies that were brought."

"No. He won't be doing that," Tiger Lily said, cutting in firmly.

"No?"

"That's right," Tiger Lily said, shaking her head. "I won't be leaving, and neither will these two." She nodded to Starless and Ground.

Dark gaped at her in shock at her open defiance of his order.

"You've been doing a lot of talking and not a whole lot of listening," Tiger continued. "I think now would be a good time for you to shut your mouth and listen to what she has to say." Tiger turned to Starless and nodded for her to speak.

Swallowing, Starless looked across at Dark. She had been dreading this moment since she started out on her actions. Beside her, she felt Ground lean closer to her as he softly offered his words of support.

Taking a breath, Starless let it out. "Herd Father. I'm sorry. I know I am going against your plan, but I have a good reason."

Dark leaned back, his expression as unreadable as stone. "I'm listening."

"Your dream is for all three races to come together in solidarity. The Pegasi would manage the weather, the Unicorns would keep the seasons in their proper cycles, and the Earth Ponies would tend the land," Starless said. "Your plan to withhold the food tributes until the Unicorns agree to this idea would hurt a great many ponies you never intended.

"Oh?"

Picking up her Enchantress mask, Starless put it on as she moved to the door. "Come with me."

Stepping outside, Starless led Dark and the others to the training ground. There, they saw Unicorns training under the tutelage of Earth Pony instructors. Coming to a stop, Starless directed Dark's attention to one of the sparring ponies. "His name is Shadow Play. Among the Unicorns, stallions are kept under strict control. Their seed is bartered and fought over by mares in their pursuit to bear Higher Blooded offspring, while deficient stallions like him are made into geldings so that they can work hard, menial tasks for the rest of their lives."

Dark's gaze darkened.

"Over there is Daylight Delight and Dipsy Daze," Starless said, pointing to two mares resting together. "They are low bloods just like Tranquil and Grand are. They are treated harshly, beaten, and starved. They toil with whatever tasks they can, just so they can eat what little is tossed their way. They are so malnourished that their bodies have stopped going into heat."

Tiger nodded. "Since I have met them, I have not seen either of them smile or laugh," she added, a note of sadness in her voice. "Not once."

"When you have the Pegasi hold back the food tributes, it will be they who suffer the most. Unicorns that cannot fight back, or even call out for help," Starless said. "They would starve to death while the High Bloods and Purebloods fail to even notice their loss." Starless took a steadying breath. "I know this because... I was one of those High Bloods. I looked down on them and saw them as nothing. Things for me to use and discard as I wished."

"During my time with you, I learned how wrong I was. You have shown me what true strength really is." Starless looked back at Dark. "This is something the Unicorns have forgotten in their quest for power." Reaching up, Starless touched her mask. "At first, when I became the Enchantress, I did it to protect myself. Now, I'm using her to help my ponies learn the same strength I've discovered from you. The rule of the Bloods needs to end. Do you understand now why I am doing this? Why we must protect those who need our help?"

Dark stood unmoving as he gazed steadily ahead at the unicorns. Sitting next to him, with his face set into a serious expression, Ash shifted quietly by his side. Starless held her breath as she waited.

"You have chosen a dangerous path to follow,” Dark finally said. “A path I now see that needs to be taken. You'll have whatever support you need from me."

Starless let out a breath of relief. "Thank you."

"No," Dark said, shaking his head. "Don’t thank me for this. I was blind to their plight, and I’m ashamed of that. I’m sorry for the harsh words I spoke to you. Thank you for opening my eyes.”

Starless felt her face flush under her mask. She was unsure how to respond.

"Yes, yes," Tiger said, interrupting. "Now that that's been taken care of, we can move on to the easy part; overthrowing the ones with the power to raise the sun and moon."

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Mustard Seed gripped the sunflower blossom and pulled it free of its stem. Shuffling her bulk over to her carry pack, she tucked it with the others before moving to the next sunflower. Her belly was swollen with her advanced pregnancy, making her move awkwardly as she worked. Taking the last sunflower, Mustard hummed a happy lullaby she had learned from one of the Pegasus mothers, as she brought it back to her carry pack.

She felt the foal shift inside her as it kicked her in her gut. It had been amazing when she had first felt the new life move inside her, but now she was happy if it stayed still long enough to allow her a short nap. Why did mares choose to go through this? Mustard wondered as she rolled her sore back and shoulders with a sigh. Seeing how large her belly was, Skye had joked to her that she might be carrying twins. Several hours later, she and Tranquil finally managed to calm Mustard down from her abrupt panic attack.

Morning Sky was excited about becoming a father, and he now trotted around with his head practically in the clouds. Mustard's temper grew shorter every day, as the strain of her pregnancy wore on her. Just that morning, Mustard snapped and shouted at Morning, furious at him over something she couldn't even remember anymore.

This is why she was out gathering sunflower seeds. They were Morning's favorite treat and she wanted to bring them back to him as an apology for how harshly she'd been treating him recently. Morning had been wonderfully attentive to her, always going off to fetch her food, or rubbing her sore back and shoulders when they were hurting her.

The rumble of distant thunder caught her ear. Looking up, she saw the sky darkening to the south. That's odd, Mustard thought. She didn't hear about a storm due today. Picking up her pack, Mustard settled it onto her back as she turned to head back home. Hurrying her steps, she tried trotting, but quickly gave that up when her sides began to ache. Slowing, Mustard labored to catch her breath as the foal shifted and rolled in her.

Suddenly, a deep ache gripped at her as she stumbled to a stop, gasping for breath. The ache grew more intense as Mustard clutched at her belly, moaning. She could hear the rumble of the storm approaching and knew that she needed to hurry. Fighting through the discomfort, Mustard awkwardly shuffled her hooves forward, slowly making her way down the path. Slowly, the ache began to ebb, releasing her from its painful grip.

Moving as steadily as she could, Mustard kept an eye of the growing storm as it bore down on her. It was massive, much too big for the Pegasi to break up. The trees around her began to sway as the approaching storm started to buffet them with wind. The ache suddenly returned, tightened her insides and forcing her to stop to lean against a tree to rest.

Wet droplets of rain began to pepper her flank. Looking back in alarm, Mustard saw that the storm was nearly upon her! Gritting her teeth from the pain, Mustard forced herself to move. Her steps were awkward and slow as she waddled along the pathway. The rain started to come down harder, drenching her coat. Mustard screamed when the air suddenly shook with a thunderous crack, as a lightning bolt stuck down onto a nearby tree, burning a path down its trunk to the ground with an explosion of bark that shot out over her.

Whimpering in fright, Mustard clutched a hoof around her belly as she stumbled on. The rain was coming down hard, making it even more difficult to make her way as her hooves sank in the mud. More lightning bolts thundered around her as the wind whipped at her mane. Desperately, Mustard searched for a place to shelter herself from the fury of the storm.

Blinking her eyes through the rain, she noticed what looked like a dark hollow in the base of a large oak tree. With her heart leaping up in hope, Mustard stumbled to the oak and found that it indeed was a hollow. Setting her pack to the side, Mustard dropped to her knees and stuffed herself into the hollow, working her way inside. It was tight, her swollen belly scraping at the sides as she pushed her way in. Suddenly, the hollow opened up into a chamber in the center of the tree that was just big enough for her to lay down without touching the walls.

Shivering with the cold, Mustard listened to the storm raging just outside. The ache that gripped her insides continued to bother her. Shifting herself around, Mustard tried to find a comfortable position to lay. Morning must have noticed that she was missing by now. She figured that he was probably worried out of his mind.

The sudden sensation of warmth cascading down her backside caught her attention. Leaning herself around, Mustard tried to see what it was, but stopped when she noticed a flow of fluids coming out of her marehood. At first, she thought she was urinating, but something about it didn't feel right. The ache inside her suddenly tightened into a painful cramp that caused her to gasp. Fighting through the pain, a frightening thought suddenly came to her. She was having the foal!

Her heart started pounding in her chest as she whimpered in terror. "This can't be happening! Not here all alone!" Digging her hooves into the ground, Mustard tried to drag herself to the exit, but quickly stopped when a painful cramp suddenly tightened around her belly.

Crying out in agony, Mustard felt an intense pressure pushing at her marehood. Panting for breath, Mustard bore through the pain until it finally began to fade back down. A few moments later, the pain returned. The pressure in her marehood suddenly became unbearable as Mustard felt an irresistible urge to push.

The pain was beyond anything she had ever felt before. With each labored contraction, Mustard felt the urge to push. She could feel her marehood stretching wide as something started to come out of her. It was happening so fast! For brief moments, Mustard was able to rest as she caught her breath before the pain returned. Gritting her teeth, Mustard pushed and felt the foal slipping out.

Pausing a moment to take a deep breath, Mustard bore down as hard as she could. She felt the pressure build until the foal suddenly shifted and slipped out in a gush. Gasping at the sudden release, Mustard quickly turned and found a soft, pink form, wiggling on the ground. A moment later, the sound of a foal's wails filled the hollow.

Whimpering in sudden joy, Mustard quickly gathered her newborn up. Crooning wordlessly to it, she cradled the foal to her chest and smiled down at her. She couldn't believe it. She was a mommy! Nuzzling her muzzle into her foal, Mustard began to clean it, working her tongue over the foal's soft pinkish coat.

When she was finished, Mustard set the filly to her swollen udder to nurse. Smiling, she watched as the foal sniffed and mouthed around until she found her ready teat. Opening her mouth, she took her teat in and quickly began to suckle greedily. Mustard sighed happily. All her worries and fears of this moment seemed to vanish as her heart swelled with overwhelming love for the tiny new life.

Even though she was exhausted, she still couldn't take her eyes off her nursing foal. Curling her head about, she settled it down and listened to the rain outside as she examined and memorized every adorable detail of her newborn daughter. The tiny hooves she had pressed against her udder, her tiny ears that were already turning about to listen to the new sounds around her. The softness of her tongue as she drew at her teat, mashing it up into her gums with every suckle she took as she drew in her nourishing milk.

Mustard couldn't bring herself to truly believe it. She had created a new life! Her and Morning, together. More than ever, she wanted him to be here with her sharing this moment with her. She couldn't wait to see his surprise when he saw her for the first time.

The foal's suckles were growing slower. Mustard carefully took her off her teat and softly patted her back until she heard a sharp, wet burp. Setting her back down against her side, Mustard curled her head around her and watched her sleep. Her coat was a soft, pale pink and her mane and tail was a deeper rosy color that swiftly faded to a near white at the tips. She was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Slowly, her eyes drifted shut as she fell asleep. Outside, the storm continued raging, battering the old oak tree that sheltered the pair within.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Radiant Sunset crouched hidden in the shadows. Her mother was having one of her secret meetings with her Casters and she'd been hoping to hear something new about the rogue Unicorn, called the Enchantress, and had snuck close to listen.

Despite her mother's threat of dire punishment, word of the Enchantress continued to spread through the Unicorn herd like a storm. Radiant was fascinated by the Enchantress. A lone Unicorn appearing from the wilds to stir up rebellion among the Unicorns, speaking of abolishing the Bloods and allowing Unicorns to live as they wished, no matter their bloodlines. This, of course, did not sit well among the High and Pure Bloods. There was talk about increasing the punishment for those spreading the derisive teachings to casting them into the Beast Pool, letting them live on as animals for the rest of their days.

Radiant felt disappointed when she heard that they were not speaking of the Enchantress, but instead of the unknown magic-user she'd been searching for for over a year.

"I don't want to hear excuses!" her mother screamed. "I want that vandal that ruined my perfect night found and brought to me!"

"We've been searching for over a year," one of the Casters said, holding her head low. "None of the other Unicorn tribes we've talked to knows who did it, let alone know one who even has the talent to do it."

"You lazy, useless donkeys!" Her mother's horn flashed and the group of Casters were thrown back to the ground. "I give you a simple task and you're unable to do even that! I should have your horns shattered for this failing!"

"Matriarch, please," the lead Caster pleaded, cowering back from her. "We're doing the best we can."

"Not good enough!" Her mother turned away and fiddled with her necklett, its blood red gem flickering in the light of her horn. "Perhaps all you need is more motivation?"

The Caster's face went pale under her coat. "No. That won't be necessary. We'll redouble our efforts, but... it would be helpful if we had more to go on. Something more for us to search for."

Her mother stood quietly for a time, then she slowly nodded. "Very well. Return to me tomorrow."

Radiant watched as the Casters all hurried out. When the chamber was clear, Glittering Crystal quietly stepped over to her mother. "Are we going to see her?"

Her mother scowled at her as she started for the exit. "Come along and don't embarrass me this time. You know how much that annoys me when she's amused at my expense."

Curious, Radiant quietly followed. Who was this ‘her’ her mother had such disdain for? Keeping herself in the shadows, Radiant trailed after the pair as they made their way deeper into the mountain. Having explored many of them when she was younger, Radiant was familiar with many of the tunnels and lava tubes that honeycombed the old volcano, but even she had never been this deep.

She remembered the old stories she had heard about some creature that was being kept captive in the heart of the volcano. When she was younger, she asked her mother about it. Her mother flew into a fury and forbade her and all her other sisters from ever speaking of it again.

Radiant was finding it increasingly difficult to follow after them as she was forced to fall back and trail after the soft glow of their magical horn-light.

Suddenly, she heard hoofsteps approaching her from ahead. Her heart leapt up to her throat in fright. She was going to get caught! Frantically, she searched the walls for a place to hide. Working her way back, she felt a crevice along the wall and quickly squeezed herself inside. Working herself as deeply as she could, she held her breath as two Casters passed by.

Letting out a relieved breath, Radiant carefully extracted herself from her hiding place. Looking back, she saw the light of the two Casters receding away. Hurrying on, Radiant tried to catch up to her mother. Rushing along the dark tunnel, she searched for any glimmer of their horn-light ahead. Coming to a branch in the tunnel, Radiant's heart sank. Which way? Lighting her own horn to see, she failed to find any signs of their passing.

Radiant considered what she should do. She knew that if she continued, she'd risk becoming hopelessly lost down here, or worse yet, she could blunder right into her mother. Seeing no other choice, she turned to head back. Backtracking, she followed the tunnel back. Turning a corner, Radiant gasped when the tunnel suddenly ended. Hoping that she had taken a wrong turn she had failed to see, she went back to search for another way.

She knew that she was truly lost when the passage she was following narrowed to a point she could hardly fit through anymore. Her heart sank. Pausing, Radiant thought about what she should do. In the total silence of the passageway, Radiant noticed a murmur of voices echoing down the passageway. With a surge of hope in her heart, Radiant followed the sound of the voices.

Following the twists and turns of the various tunnels and passages, Radiant tracked the source of the voices. It wasn't long before she recognized one of the voices as her mother's. Ahead of her, she saw a light coming out of a crack in the wall. Extinguishing her horn and plunging herself back into darkness, Radiant peeked through.

The chamber she saw through the crack was enormous. In the center of the chamber, she could see her mother and Glittering Crystal standing next to a massive crystal, talking. Who were they talking to? Peering closer, Radiant noticed that there was something within the crystal. It was a lithe creature with odd, mismatched limbs.

"I will not have you speaking to me like I am some low blood!" Her mother snapped to the creature in outrage, her horn glowing with power.

"My, my. Step on a hoof, did I?" the creature asked with a mocking smile.

"Enough!" Her mother stomped her hoof. "I have my best Casters scouring the land for this magic-user you desire, but they have been hindered by your lack of insight! I can't help but wonder, Avarice, if you truly want this magic-user."

Radiant wondered who this magic-user was they were talking about.

The creature leaned down within her crystal and waved a clawed talon at Astral. "If you are thinking of trying to wiggle out of our bargain, think again." She lifted a black orb in what looked like a leopard paw, and held it out. "Until I get what I want, this remains mine."

Her mother looked like she was about to blast the creature into a million bits with her magic. With an extreme effort, she managed to calm herself enough to speak. "Then give me what I need to find this magic-user!"

Avarice leaned back and tapped her talon on her chin."Hmm... I'll think about it."

Her mother's ears shot up straight and quivered. "What!?"

Suddenly, the creature brightened as a smile blossomed across her face. "Oh, I know!" she exclaimed happily. Leaning down, she pressed her grinning face close to the inner surface of the crystal. "I think I will help you." She paused a moment as her grin widened. "But only if you kneel down and call me Mistress."

A deep rumble suddenly shook the chamber as her mother's horn flashed a brilliant crimson. The stone beneath her hooves cracked and split open.

The creature watched with no sign of alarm. Radiant felt the floor and walls quiver against her as she looked around in terror. She'd never seen her mother this angry before!

"My, my," the creature said, looking around.

"How dare you!" Glittering Crystal shouted, stepping closer. Her body quivered in fury. "You lowly beast! How dare you demand such a thing from our Great Matriarch! You should have your head removed for doing so!"

Blinking at the mare in mild surprise, Avarice flicked her claw at her. Glittering Crystal let out a startled squawk as she was suddenly yanked forward to slam up against the side of the crystal. "Such a delicious spirit you have." Lifting her claw up, Avarice set it on the inner surface right where Glittering had her hoof pressed. "Let's make a bargain. For the price of half your life, I will allow you to hurt me any way you want until the sun sets."

Glittering Crystal struggled against the force holding her pressed up against the crystal.

Avarice licked her lips as she watched the mare struggle. "Just think about it. The pure satisfaction of seeing me punished any way you want. You can have me feel the agony of drowning, or set on fire. Perhaps you would like to see me squirm as my skin is removed piece by slow piece? Anything you want. All it would cost you is just half your life. Such a little thing, really. What do you say?"

Radiant felt her body shivering as she watched the scene. What kind of monster was this creature?

"Release her! Now!" her mother ordered.

Avarice tsked, and a moment later, Glittering Crystal dropped to the ground. Released, Glittering Crystal quickly regained her hooves and hurried back.

Lifting up the strange black orb once again, Avarice turned her attention back to Astral. "And what of you? How badly do you want this back? Just bend your knee and speak the words."

"I would rather pull your guts out and strangle you with them," Astral snarled viciously.

"For the price of all the happiness you ever had, I can make that happen," Avarice said with a smile, tossing the black orb back and forth from paw to talon.

With a look of pure hate on her face, Astral glared murderously at the creature as her body quivered. Blood appeared on her lips as she tightly clamped her jaw shut. Without breaking her gaze, Astral slowly bent herself down until her knee touched the stone floor.

Radiant gasped at the sight. Her mother knelt down!

Looking like she was about to throw up, Astral began to speak, her tone like a frigid glacier grinding over rock as she forced out the word. "... Mistress..."

Avarice smiled broadly, her eyes shining in glee as she looked down at Astral. "Done!"

Holding up her paw, a light suddenly exploded around her, filling the crystal with color. "Recognize this?" Avarice asked, running her taloned claw through the swirling colors. "It's a part of the magic that filled that night. I managed to preserve a bit of it before you so rudely broke it apart." Twirling her talon in a circle, the lights suddenly began to flow around it. Tighter and tighter it swirled until, with a flash, it became a flower.

Taking the flower, Avarice admired it. It was light lavender with a deeper blue in the center. Running up the center of each of its four long petals was a strong purple stripe. Holding out the flower, Avarice passed it through the crystal where it then floated down to Astral.

Standing, Astral took it in her magic. "This is it? A flower?"

"It's not as easy to make as you would think," Avarice said, admiring one of her claws, "but I think it turned out rather nice. Weaving magic into form isn't one of my strongest skills, after all. I guess I could have made it into a gem or something, but that's just overdone. Don't you think?"

"How will this find the magic-user?"

"It's made from the user's magic. It will recognize its source when it's close," Avarice said. "Just wave it around until it does something."

Astral carefully examined the flower. "That's it?"

"That's it."

"Fine. I'm done here." Whirling about, Astral walked for the exit with Glittering Crystal trotting behind to keep up.

Avarice smiled and waved at the departing pair. "Good luck!"

Radiant quickly shimmied herself through the crack. Her mother was nearly to the exit; she needed to hurry if she was going to follow her back! Crouching low, Radiant tried to keep herself hidden as she followed the wall around the massive chamber toward the exit. She was nearly there when she suddenly noticed two Caster guards standing just inside.

Gasping in fear, Radiant threw herself down. What was she going to do!? If she was caught, they would report her to her mother. If she found out that she had seen what had happened here, there was no telling what she would do to her. Turning back, Radiant headed back to the crack she came in from.

Reaching it, she was about to crawl through when a voice suddenly spoke behind her. "Not that one. Go out that one over there."

Looking back, she saw the creature named Avarice, pointing over to the wall on the other side. She had been discovered! Glancing back at the exit, she was relieved to see that the guards had not noticed. She considered what she should do. Leave the way she came in from, or use the one the creature was pointing too?

"I can assure you that that way is much better." Avarice said, indicating the crack on the other side. "Whenever Unicorns come to me, they sneak in through there."

Radiant didn't know if the creature could be trusted. It was true she hadn't called out to the guards, but that didn't mean she still wouldn't do it. She struggled with indecision. The creature appeared to be trapped within the crystal and she didn't seem to be threatening her. Making up her mind, she glanced over at the guards before dashing across.

As she got closer, she got a clearer look at the creature. It was made up of a hodgepodge of various creatures. She couldn't help but pause a moment. "What kind of beast are you?"

"What a rude thing to ask," Avarice said with a huff. "Did you come here not knowing who I am?" She gave a weary sigh. "The youth these days! Always rushing about without knowing what they're doing. I suppose it can't be helped. You can call me Avarice."

"I didn't mean to come, I only ended up here when I followed my mother."

"Your mother!?" The creature suddenly smiled. "Ah. I see it now. You're the Matriarch's daughter! I can see her in your features." She then leaned down and frowned thoughtfully. "Except for your eyes. They are much too soft. You must have gotten those from your father."

Radiant blinked her eyes. She had soft eyes? She had never been told that before.

"So, why were you following your mother?"

Radiant gave a start. "I ah... I overheard my mother talking to her Casters. She had them searching the land for something for the last year, but never told me what it was. I followed her because I hoped to find out what it was."

"Oh, how very devious!" Avarice snickered in glee, rubbing her owl talon and leopard paw together. "Such an act should be rewarded, so I'll give you a hint. It has something to do with revisiting her sins."

Radiant pondered what that meant. Her sins? That could mean anything!

Avarice snickered in glee. "I can't wait to see her face when she finds out the truth!" Avarice began rolling around as she laughed uncontrollably.

Worried that the guards would hear her, Radiant crouched low and peeked around the edge of the crystal. Seeing that it was still clear, Radiant let out a relieved sigh. Turning back to the strange creature, Radiant was surprised to see her face pressed up against the inside of the crystal, her breath huffing out onto its surface.

"Where did you get that!?" Avarice asked, her gaze locked onto the necklett around her neck.

"What, this?" Radiant asked. Reaching up her hoof, she touched her new necklett. Made of a silver, her necklett had the gem she had found fitted to its center. "I found it in a cave when we were searching for a lost Caster that had been taken by a beast."

"What do you want for it!?" Avarice asked, her tongue slobbered at the crystal as she gazed longingly at her necklett. "Name it. Whatever you want!"

Radiant took a step back as her mind reeled with the offer. Anything? Just for her necklett?

"Do you want power!?" Avarice asked. "I can give you all the power you want. You can crush all your enemies with just a flick of your horn. Every pony would adore you and be at your beck and call for your every whim. Herds of young stallions would kiss your hooves as they ravish your every pleasure for as long as you can endure."

Something about this didn't seem right to Radiant.

"Not good enough? How about immortality then?" Avarice offered. "You can live forever with your youth and beauty, never feeling the touch of decay as the endless ages pass you by!"

Radiant took another step back. Everything inside her was telling her to never make any deals with this creature.

"No, don't go!" Avarice pleaded, pressing herself even tighter against her crystal wall. "Just give me that gem and I'll make you a goddess!" she cried out. "You could wear the stars in your mane like jewels and have wings of gossamer moon-drops! Your beauty would be beyond compare in all the lands. Ponies would bow down and worship you!"

Radiant paused a moment. "Why is this gem so important to you?" she asked, touching her necklett.

"That gem, as you call it," Avarice explained, "is from the one who sealed me here! I may be able to use it to finally escape!"

Pieces began to fall into place. Radiant suddenly understood who she was. "You're the Evil Sprite from the old legend!"

"You do one little thing," Avarice murmured, shaking her head. "How easily one can earn a bad reputation in those days."

Radiant blinked in amazement. This horrid creature was the one who stole the sun and moon!?

"Now that you fully understand who I am, let's talk about that Element you possess," Avarice continued. "What will it take for you to give it to me, huh? Just name it and it will be yours."

Radiant considered Avarice's offers. There was no doubt that she was tempted. Who wouldn't want to be a goddess, after all? But there was another nagging thought that was holding her back. Would her sisters be safe from her if she was freed? She had shown that she could be rather cruel just for the fun of it. Would she turn that cruelty onto the Unicorns if given a chance?

The Element on her necklett flickered started to glow brighter.

Avarice hissed and drew back. "You foolish foal! You have no inkling of its danger! Give it to me before it destroys you!"

Radiant began to back away again, heading for the opening behind her. She was sure, now, that any deal she made with her would end in disaster.

"Give it to me!" Avarice shouted, flinging herself into the crystal. Her claws slashed and swiped at the surface as she fought to break her way out. "Give it to me or I will destroy you! I will rip off your hide and crunch your bones while you watch! You think I can't!? I've done it before, and if your mother fails me, the same will happen to her!" With a flick of her paw, a black orb appeared and dropped into it. "You see this? It's your mother's. I will give it to you if you hand me that Element." Avarice began to wave the black orb slowly back and forth. "You can save her. You have no idea how appreciative she would be of you. Just think of it. She would finally give you the respect you deserve. No longer would you just be the foal she had to settle for."

Radiant hesitated. She was surprised at how tempted she was. She even found that she was considering it. The Element at her neck flickered and the light began to fade. Gritting her teeth, Radiant turned and dashed away.

Behind her, she could hear Avarice screaming at her. Threats and promises of painful vengeance followed her hooves as she slipped into the dark tunnel.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Morning Sky paused to catch his breath. He'd been out since before sunrise, searching for Mustard without rest. Ponies said they had seen her out walking the day before, heading toward the south with packs on her back. What was she doing out here all alone!?

The storm that had rampaged through had caught the Pegasi by surprise. There was barely enough time for them to warn the settlement before it hit. Several ponies had been injured when their hut collapsed from the storm. Luckily, none were seriously injured.

Where was she!? Morning feared that Mustard was hurt and needed help, or even worse, that she was dead. Morning shook his head to clear it of such thoughts.

"Are you okay?" Clover Dance asked, looking at him with concern.

His own mother, Pixie Wink, stepped closer. "Don't worry. We'll find her safe and sound."

The sound of wings drew his attention up as Skye flew in toward him. She had quickly joined the search, once it became clear that Mustard was missing. Throwing out her wings, she cut her speed as she landed nearby. "I found her!"

Morning's heart leapt up. "What!? Where!? Is she okay?"

"I didn't get a close look, but from what I saw, she’s okay," Skye quickly answered. "Come on. Follow me. I'll take you to her."

Skye took off and flew off to the south. Leaping forward, Morning followed, his hooves kicking up dirt behind him as he raced across the ground with Clover Dance, Dandelion Fluff, and his mother just behind him. His breath huffed as he ran. The strain of his frantic search had sapped his endurance. Keeping his gaze on Skye as she led the way, he struggled to keep up with her.

Cresting a rise, Morning skidded to a stop when he caught sight of Mustard as she walked across a field of daisies. The sight of her was an enormous relief, but something seemed different about her. Behind him, he could hear the hoofsteps as the others came up on him. Not wanting to wait for them, Morning ran on toward Mustard.

Seeing him coming, Mustard came to a stop and waited. Overhead, Skye circled her. She came in for a quick landing as Morning came running up.

"Now, before you say anything, there is something I need to tell you," Mustard started to say.

Before she could say anything more, Morning suddenly swept his hoof around her neck and hugged her tightly against himself. Feeling her safely in his hooves, Morning nearly sagged in relief. Pulling back, Morning looked her over for injuries. She looked tired and disheveled, but otherwise, she looked well.

"How could you have been so stupid?!" Morning exclaimed. "Coming out here all alone like you did without even telling anypony! Especially in your condition! I can't tell you-"

Mustard suddenly shoved her hoof over Morning's mouth, halting his outburst. "Now, I know you're angry, and I know you have the right to be. I shouldn't have gone off alone like I did. It was stupid and dangerous. I'm sorry. But if you wake her up, you'll be sleeping outside tonight."

Morning blinked at her in confusion.

Skye, catching the implication of what she said, suddenly brightened in excitement. Rushing over, she stuck her muzzle right into one of her packs and looked inside. A moment later, she suddenly leapt into the air and flew in a quick series of loops and twirls before throwing herself into Mustard in a hug. "I'm so happy for you!"

Morning began to understand that something had happened. His mind had gone strangely fuzzy for some reason. He remembered that there was something that looked different about Mustard. Looking at her now, he saw that her belly was not as large as it should have been. Slowly, his mind worked out what this meant. "The foal!? You had the foal!?"

Smiling, Mustard reached around, and carefully extracted a tiny form from her pack and put the filly in the crook of her leg. As Clover, Dandelion, and Pixie arrived, Morning slowly stepped over to his newborn daughter. Tears began to blur his eyes as he carefully gathered the tiny filly into his hooves. "

"What's her name?"Clover Dance asked, as she and the others gathered around to gaze at the foal.

"Peach Kiss." Mustard answered.

Morning nodded. "That's a beautiful name." Leaning his muzzle down, he lightly kissed the filly on her soft head. "Hello, Peach Kiss. I'm your papa."

Skye was hopping excitedly from hoof to hoof, her wings fluttering like a hummingbird. "Oh! I have to tell everypony about this!" Leaping into the air, she shot off like a streak, heading back to the settlement.

"Pegasi," Pixie Wink said with a knowing nod of her head. "Nothing makes them happier than a good bit of news to spread." Suddenly, she noticed something on Mustard's flank. "Hey! You got your cutie mark!"

With everything happening with the new foal, Mustard had forgotten. Turning herself, she showed the mustard flower on her flank. "I got it this morning."

"What does it mean?" Dandelion Fluff asked.

Mustard glanced back at it. "This morning, when I was watching Peach sleep, I was trying to think of a name for her." She looked at her mother. "I remembered a story you told me about how you named me Mustard Seed because of a dream you had. Your dream was of a rock that had a seed stuck in its crack. And despite the harsh burning sun and torrential storms that bore down on the seed, it sprouted and grew into a lush mustard plant full of bright yellow flowers. I realized then that I was very much like that mustard seed. Through all the hardships and challenges that bore down on me, I persevered and flourished, growing into the pony I am today."

"Wait." Dandelion pursed her lips as she thought about it. "Are you saying that your special talent is being stubborn?"

Mustard couldn’t help it. She started laughing.

Chapter Forty Eight

She was sure she'd seen Luna running this way! Galloping, Celestia skidded to a stop when she caught a glimpse of the midnight blue filly's rump vanishing around a hut. Suddenly, she heard giggling coming from above her! Looking up, she found Aurora sitting on top of the hut!.

"Aurora!" Celestia shouted in a sudden panic. "What are you doing up there!? That's dangerous!"

Searching for a way up, Celestia set her hooves into the stone wall and slowly began to scale the hut. Reaching the thatch roofing, Celestia worked her way up to Aurora. As she got close, the filly giggled and waved at her just as she vanished with a pop, reappearing a moment later on the ground below as Luna joined her to wave up at her.

"Oh! You two are going to be in so much trouble when I catch you!" Celestia angrily shouted down at the two fillies. She was supposed to be foal-sitting them! Not chasing them to every end of the compound! Luna and Aurora both giggled and dashed off together, leaving her stuck on the roof.

"What are you doing up there?" a musical voice suddenly called up to her. Below her, Starless looked up at her curiously with Ground by her side.

"You shouldn't be up there. It's dangerous." Ground added.

Celestia sighed and shook her head. "I know. I climbed up to get Aurora down, but she suddenly popped herself back down with magic."

"She flash-traveled!?" Starless exclaimed in surprise. "I feared she would figure that one out, but not this soon!" She turned to look about. "Aurora! Where are you!? Show yourself!" Starless' face darkened as the filly failed to appear. "You will not hide from me young filly! You will show yourself now!"

Suddenly, a nearby basket tumbled over and Aurora rolled out. She quickly gathered her hooves under herself and stood. Starless' hard eyes gazed evenly at the filly. She then pointed her hoof to the ground right before her and waited. Aurora hung her head down and she slowly walked over to the place that Starless was indicating.

Starless frowned down at the filly. "And where is your cohort?"

Aurora's ears wilted. Turning her head, she looked at another basket. Starless' magic suddenly surrounded the basket and carried it over to Aurora, where she then upended it, dumping the midnight colored filly out onto the ground.

"Well, you two," Starless said, "what do you have to say?"

The two fillies shifted awkwardly, neither of them wanting to speak first. Starless tapped her hoof as she waited.

"We..." Aurora said, speaking down at the ground. "We're sorry."

"No." Starless shook her head. "Don't say it to me. Say it to her." She then set her hoof at Celestia's back and directed her forward. "Say it and mean it."

Aurora was unwilling to lift her gaze. "I'm... I'm sorry, Tia," she apologized, using the shortened name she and Luna came up with for her because they had trouble saying the first part of her name.

"And you?"

Luna scowled at the ground, her lips stiffened stubbornly.

"We're waiting." Starless said, her voice becoming stern.

"Fine. Sorry Tia," Luna finally said.

"And?" Starless added.

"We won't play Stay-Away from Sister anymore," Luna finished sullenly.

"Good." Starless nodded.

"Star!" A voice called out to her happily. A moment later, Snap Dragon rushed over to Starless and hugged her. "I missed you. When did you get back!?"

"Late last night," Starless answered pleasantly as Snap released her to hug her brother.

"And Mama?"

"I'm sorry. She had to stay behind," Starless said, regretfully. "We got some new arrivals that required her special assistance."

Snap's face fell. "Well, I suppose it couldn't be helped." Her face suddenly brightening up, "but at least you and brother are here. How long are you two going to stay this time?"

"About a month, I think," Starless answered. "I've been neglecting Aurora's training for much too long." She punctuated her statement with a hard look at the sulking filly. "It appears I have a lot of work ahead of me."

Suddenly, a squealing light-blue streak shot by, followed a moment later by Skye as she flew by in hot pursuit. "Come back here, you naughty filly!"

"Oh dear," Snap exclaimed, watching Skye pursue her highly active daughter across the settlement. The filly's little wings buzzed like a hummingbird's as she zipped around the huts and startled ponies that were working in their gardens.

The sound of galloping hoofsteps suddenly shot by as Dusty raced to catch up. "Come to papa, little Flashie!"

Starless gave her head a weary shake. "Today seems to be just one of those days."

Spreading out, Starless and others moved to head off Lightning Flash, while Celestia stayed back to watch over Luna and Aurora. Ground quickly positioned himself right in the filly's path and waited to catch her, but just before reaching him, Lightning suddenly swerved sharpy to the side. Flying behind her, Skye was unable to turn in time and collided with Ground, sending the pair tumbling to the grass together.

With her horn glowing with her magic, Starless galloped out from between two huts and skidded to a halt. Reaching out with her magic, she grabbed at the filly as she came at her. Leaping in from the side, Snap suddenly appeared, diving through the air with her hooves outstretched to catch the filly, Starless' magic seized Snap as she sailed into its way, abruptly halting her flight just before reaching the filly.

Lightning swerved up, climbing straight up into the air. Galloping up from behind, Dusty leapt as high as he could. Stretching out his body, Dusty strained his neck and snapped his teeth shut, just missing the end of his daughter's tail as she flew out of his reach. Flailing his hooves, Dusty sailed through the air and collided right into Snap, sending the two crashing down right onto a surprised Starless.

"Lightning, stop! Please come back down!" Celestia shouted as she watched the filly fly higher. Dazed from the impact, Skye shook her head as she wobbled back to her hooves. Catching sight of her daughter, she gasped in horror. With her head still spinning from her fall, she leapt into the air and flew after her as swiftly as she could.

Climbing higher, little Lightning Flash's assent slowed, her little wings beginning to falter. Seeing this, Skye flapped even harder as she fought to catch up to her. Nearing her daughter, Skye stretched out her hooves to catch her, but just as she was about to reach her, Lightning flew into a low hanging cloud and rebounded off, and plummeted towards the ground. Skye was going too fast and she attempted to twist herself to catch her tumbling foal, but ended up barrelling right into the cloud herself and burying herself deeply inside.

With the wind whipping at her wings as she fell, Lightning Flash started whaling in fright. Dazed from the impact, Dusty frantically tried to gather his hooves back under him while Snap struggled to untangle herself from under Starless. Dashing in to catch the falling filly, Ground blindly ran into the side of a hut and smashed through the wall, reappearing a moment later when his head burst out of the far side.

Bucking a hole into the cloud, Skye shot out and dove after Lightning Flash. Watching in horror, Celestia saw that she was much too far away to catch her in time! "Luna, Aurora! Close your eyes! Don't look!" She shouted, not wanted them to see what was about to happen.

"Flashie no get hurt!" With a strangely determined look on her face, Aurora's horn suddenly flashed and she vanished. A moment later, she reappeared in the air next to Lightning Flash. Falling, Aurora's magic burst out and enveloped the two, slowing their fall to the ground.

Starless gazed up in shock, hardly believing what she was seeing. "That's not possible! There's no spell like that!"

Safely encased in Aurora's magic, the two gently drifted down to Dusty, who caught the pair as they floated gently into his upheld hooves.

"All safe now," Aurora said, giving her head an affirmed nod.

Diving down, Skye flared out her wings and landed in a rush to snatch up her daughter, hugging her tightly to her chest in relief.

Collecting herself, Starless walked over to Aurora and picked her up. "We are going to have a long talk about what just happened," she firmly told the filly, "but, I'll leave that for later. For right now, you deserve a big hug." She then embraced the filly.

"That's right!" Skye agreed, snatching little Aurora out of Starless' hooves to hug her too. "Thank you for saving my little Flashie."

After they all had their chance to praise their hero filly, Starless approached to Skye as she prepared to head back home with her now slumbering foal. "Before you go, I have something to ask of you. I understand that you're rather close with Tranquil Charm. Would you please tell her that I would like to see her tomorrow?"

"Oh?" Skye looked at her curiously.

"It's nothing bad," Starless assured her. "I just want to test something with her, that's all."

Skye slowly nodded. "Okay. I'll let her know," she agreed.

"Thank you," Starless said appreciatively.

Watching Skye and Dusty leave, Snap walked over to her. "So. I guess we should do something about him." She gestured to the hut with her brother's head sticking out the wall.

Starless let out a resigned sigh. "I suppose we should."

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Starless woke with a start, her heart racing in her breast. Under the dim light of the low burning fire, she quickly checked next to her to assure herself that Ground was still there. Her heart suddenly leapt up in panic when she saw that he was gone!

Her horn flashed and her magical light flooded the chamber. "Ground!?" Starless frantically called out to him as she fought to control her fear. "Ground where are you!? Ground! Please answer me! Ground!"

The sound of large hoofsteps quickly approached, and a moment later, Ground appeared. Rushing over to her, Ground gathered her into his hooves and held her as she desperately clung to him. "I'm here!"

"You were gone!" Starless wept into his chest. "Where were you!? I thought they took you!"

"I'm sorry," Ground apologized, speaking into her mane. "I went out for a moment to relieve myself. That's all. Everything's alright. I promise."

Reassured, Starless' tears slowly diminished until she finally slipped back to sleep. Carefully lowering her back down, Ground added fresh wood to the fire to build it back up before returning back to Starless. Laying himself down alongside her, Ground held her close as she slept.

The next day, she collected Aurora to resume her magic training. Taking the filly out a short ways to a small clearing near her cave, Starless halted before a large boulder. "Okay. I want you to lift this boulder up and hold it as long as you can."

Squinting at the rock, Aurora stepped closer and tapped it with her hoof. "Rock really dark." Because of the elemental shard in her necklett, Aurora was able to see the life around her, but non-living things like the boulder appeared dark to her unique sight.

"I know you have trouble seeing stone. Just try to lift it anyways," Starless told the filly. Stepping back a few paces, Starless nodded. "Whenever you're ready."

Aurora focused on the boulder and a nimbus of magic surrounded it. It must weigh as much as a dozen Earth Pony stallions. With her little face scrunched up with effort, the boulder slowly began to shift and lift up. Pulling free of the earth, the boulder hung suspended in her magic just over the ground.

Starless nodded, pleased. "Good, now keep it there." Starless felt a little bad, pushing Aurora so hard, especially with how young she was, but because of the filly's raw, natural talent, it was necessary.

After a while, the strain began to show on Aurora's face. Normally, lifting such a heavy stone would have been impossible for most fillies her age. Starless remembered lifting her first large stone. It had seemed to be as big as a mountain and it took her four tries to finally lift it with another dozen to finally hold it up long enough for her instructor to tap out ten measures with her hoof. Little Aurora was well beyond ten measures now. Starless was going to have to find a bigger stone for her next lesson.

Hoof steps approached from out of the trees, and a moment later, Tranquil Charm stepped out into the clearing with her white shawl draped over her shoulders. Seeing them, she paused. "Oh. Forgive me. Is this a bad time?"

Aurora turned her attention away from her stone and it dropped back to the ground with a deep thud.

"Did I tell you to stop?" Starless asked sternly, her gaze boring down on the filly.

Aurora's ears drooped and she shook her head.

"You must remember to always focus on your task." Starless instructed. "Never allow yourself get distracted." She then flicked her hoof at the stone. "Now, lift it again."

Aurora sulked as she turned back to the boulder. Grabbing it with her magic, she lifted it back up.

"Good." Starless said with a firm nod. "Now, if you keep it from touching the ground until that tree's shadow touches it, I'll give you a honeycomb as a reward."

Aurora's ears snapped back up. With look of determination on her face, her stone lifted a little higher.

Starless then stepped over to Tranquil, who looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there. "Thank you for coming."

"Skye said that you wanted to see me?" Tranquil said, keeping her eyes downcast.

Starless gestured to a nearby spot under a tree. "Please, have a seat."

Sitting stiffly, Tranquil nervously nibbled on her lip as she waited for Starless to share why she had asked her to come.

Sitting across from her, Starless bowed her head down to the nervous mare. "I wish to apologize. Before our arrival here, I treated you cruelly, and I'm sorry for that. I've learned so much since coming to live with the Earth Ponies. Things that the Unicorns have forgotten." Starless said the last with a bit of scorn. "I regret not speaking to you sooner, and I completely understand if you don't want to forgive me."

Tranquil's eyes had gotten really wide and she was making strange strangling sounds. "N-No! Th-there's no need to apologize!" she sputtered. "I don't hold anything against you! In fact, I thought you were rather nice. Much nicer than the other Casters. When the hydra attacked us, and was about to snap Grand up after she broke her leg, you risked your life to fight it when the others ran away, allowing me to pick her up and escape." Tranquil leaned forward. "I've heard how you've been helping the Low Bloods. Giving them a new life of hope. The Unicorns are lost and you've been helping them find their way back. I wish I could have the strength and bravery like you do, but I'm just too weak."

"No!" Starless exclaimed, looking up. "Never say that about yourself! You have a strength you are just beginning to show. The Unicorns are fools. They base power in magic as value, but they don't know what magic is. I've carefully observed the Unicorns we have taken in and found that there is more talent hidden deep within than ever realized by the Unicorns. I have seen this with a young gelding named Shadow Play. He can't lift so much as a leaf, but he can somehow pull in the shadows around him. I do not understand how he can do this, nor can I replicate the feat myself. It’s some kind of unique magical talent. I believe that many Unicorns have these special talents. Perhaps even you."

"Me!?" Tranquil exclaimed in shock. "But there is nothing special with my magic. It's just weak."

Starless smiled. "I believe there is." She gestured to the white mantle she was wearing. "How did you make that?"

Tranquil Charm shrugged. "I didn't use any grand magic. I just simply wove the threads together, that's all. Nothing most other Unicorns can do as well."

"Oh?" Starless said, sounding amused. Taking her carry pack in her magic, she brought it over to herself and rummaged inside. Lifting out several gourds filled with colored pebbles, she set them out on the ground between them. Picking up three blue stones with her magic she held them up. "Pick three stones and do as I do." Starless started rotating the three stones in a simple pattern around each other.

With a look of curiosity, Tranquil picked up three white stones and did the same.

After a short while, Starless picked up another blue stone. "And now keep adding one until you reach your limit."

Tranquil did the same. One by one they continued to add stones into their growing collection. Starless had nearly a dozen blue stones spinning around each other. With a look of strained concentration she carefully picked up one more and added it. With an oddly calm look on her face, Tranquil emptied her white stones out and started adding the red ones until that one was empty too. Lowering her blue stones back into her gourd, Starless watched in amazement as Tranquil started adding those ones as well. Nearly a hundred stones now spun around Tranquil in a complex pattern that Starless had no hope of ever duplicating.

Starless was entranced. She suspected that Tranquil had a unique ability to split her concentration, but never did she think that she could do it to this extent! No Caster could do this! The most she had ever seen was two dozen, and Tranquil had that beat by four times, and still she was still adding more!

A kind of frenzied look had come over Tranquil as she emptied the last gourd out and added their numbers to her gathering. The pattern of the stones suddenly shifted as they began to orbit her. Faster and faster they spun, whistling through the air as they passed.

Starless quickly drew back as the stones whizzed dangerously close. "Tranquil?" she called out in concern.

Tranquil didn't seem to hear her as her stones shifted into different color patterns around her.

"Tranquil!" Starless called out, trying to break through her concentration. "You need to stop!"

Suddenly, Tranquil threw her head back and screamed, her stones all stopped dead in the air. A moment later, Tranquil dropped limply to the ground, her stones raining down around her.

"Tranquil!" Starless rushed up and pressed her ear to her chest to listen to her heartbeat.

"Are she hurt?" Aurora asked, hesitantly moving closer.

Starless checked Tranquil's eyes and let out a relieved breath. "That's, ‘is, she hurt,’" she corrected, "and the answer is no. She's merely asleep."

Aurora smiled. Behind her, her boulder dropped with a thud that shook the ground. Gathering Tranquil onto her back, Starless took Aurora and set out to take Tranquil home. Passing by the boulder, Starless was pleased to note that the shadow was touching it.

"The foal's crying; she needs help," Tranquil suddenly murmured.

"What foal?" Starless asked, turning to look back. "I don't hear a foal."

"The foal we found atop the Pillar of the Heavens.”

Starless felt a shock run through her. The Pillar of the Heavens?

“Her mother had succumbed from the foaling, leaving her all alone," Tranquil murmured, her head lying limply along her neck. "The poor thing; her eyes are all white."

"What did you say!?" Starless came to a cold stop. "Tranquil? What color did you say the foal's eyes were?"

"She looked so sad. She was laying against her mother's body, crying her little heart out." Tranquil continued. "We couldn't just leave her there."

"Tranquil," Starless said carefully. "I need you to tell me who the mother was. What was her name?"

A look of pain crossed over Tranquil's unconscious face. "It... hurts to remember."

"Please try," Starless pressed. "I need to know. What was her name?"

Tranquil's body began to tense up as she whimpered in pain. "I... met her once before when I brought her food. We were the same age and I think she just wanted somepony her age to talk to. She told me how her mother was forcing her to breed when she wasn't ready yet. I didn't know how to answer her, but that didn't seem to matter. It seemed that she just needed to share with somepony her plight. A little time later, we were interrupted and I had to leave. It was such a shame she died. She was so pretty."

"Her name," Starless asked again. "What was her name?"

"Her name?" Tranquil's face scrunched up in pain. "Her name was..." Her breathing became strained. "Her name was... Brilliant Dawn." She finished with a gasp and lay limp again.

"Tanqil okay?" Aurora asked, looking up with concern.

"She's just having a bad dream," Starless answered. Continuing on, Starless tried to make sense of what she had just learned. She felt like the world had just flipped over on her. Brilliant Dawn was the Matriarch's daughter. She had never spoken with Brilliant, but she'd seen her many times during the sun rising and setting ceremonies. Glancing down at Aurora, she could see the resemblance now. No wonder she had so much power. She was the grand-filly of the most powerful Unicorn alive, the Great Matriarch, Astral.

It was like a lightning bolt had stuck her brain. It made sense to her now. Who Aurora was, and why Dove found her in those woods. There was no way Matriarch Astral would allow a deformity like a blind filly mar her prestigious bloodline. She had to rid herself of Aurora as well as seal away Grand and Tranquil's memories to keep her existence secret.

Hurrying on to her home, Grand was shocked when she saw her carrying Tranquil in. She wasn't her mother, but she might as well have been for all the love and worry she had for her. Further in Skye was lounging on a tiny cloud, nursing Lightning.

"What happened!?" Grand exclaimed, rushing forward to see to Tranquil. "Is she hurt!?"

"No," Starless quickly answered, waving at Skye to keep her from getting up. "She was just overwhelmed by her magical surge. That's all. She just needs to rest," She assured the worried mares.

With the help of Grand, Starless lifted Tranquil off her back and placed her on her sleeping mat.

"Magical surge!?" Grand repeated in befuddlement, sitting down next to Tranquil.

"It surprising, I know, but she does have magical talent. A rather interesting and strong one too," Starless noted. She then described to them what had happened her.

"I don't understand how this is possible," Grand said in confusion. "She's a Low Blood."

"No," Starless said, shaking her head. "There is no such thing as a Low or High Blood. We've been getting it wrong all along. I just watched her do something that is well beyond even my skill and talent. She held and tracked over a hundred pebbles in her magic, directing each one precisely through a complex pattern without losing control of a single one."

"She did what!?" Grand asked, looking up in shock.

Starless beamed down at Tranquil. "This has been a most remarkable day." With a flick of her magic, she lifted little Aurora back up onto her back. "Well? What do you think of having her as a fellow student?" she asked the filly.

Aurora considered her, her face going oddly serious before nodding with a happy smile.

With some final instructions for Tranquil to rest for the remainder of the day, Starless took Aurora and left to fetch a promised honeycomb for the filly.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Within the maze of old lava tubes that ran throughout the base of the old volcano, the Unicorn mares lived within various hollowed out chambers and cavities that ran throughout the mountain's old bones. High up within its deep crater, the High Blood stallions lived in seclusion, kept there by the high crater walls that encircled the massive rim with one large crevice as the only way inside. Only High Blood mares were allowed inside with the exception of the Keepers, who were the Common Blooded mares that were tasked with tending to the stallions needs as well as overseeing their breeding's.

Resting in the center, was a clear lake with lush pastureland and small forests dotting the lands around. Radiant relished the short times she managed spend with her older brother. Her magic training to become a Caster had been taking up much of her time now, and she was finding it difficult to make the long climb up to visit him.

Just that morning, she and the other students were paired up for combat training. Her opponent for the exercise was Nova Slash. Nova delighted in trying to show her up and oftentimes used difficult spells that were beyond her skills. At one point, one of Nova's spells went wild and she blasted off half of one of the instructors tails. Nova was quick to blame her for it and the two got into a fight. When they were broken apart, they were both assigned punitive tasks for the rest of the day.

When she finished telling Rising Dusk, he started laughing so hard, he had to clutch at his gut.

"Why are you laughing!?" Radiant snapped. "I was being serious!"

"Did you really use a spell to make her lips swell up to ten times their size?" Rising Dusk gasped out.

"That was a mistake!" Radiant gasped. "I was aiming for her head!"

Rising collapsed to the ground, tears streaming from his eyes as he gasped for breath.

Radiant didn't see anything funny about it. Flicking her tail angrily, she turned her back on her brother with a snort. Further out in the field, her younger sister, Dazzling Evening, was running along the lake, playing with Frost Conjure. Radiant let out a irritated sigh as she gazed at the frolicking colt-stallion. She was supposed to breed with him? He was just so... foalish! Frost Conjure was just a year or two younger that her. Hardly old enough to be called a stallion.

"You should spend time with him," Rising said, breaking her from her thoughts. "Get to know him more."

"What is there to know?" Radiant asked flatly. "He pokes at slugs and jumps in mud puddles."

"Don't be that way," Rising chided, moving to her side. "He's still young, as are you. Besides, it's fun to jump in puddles."

Radiant sighed and leaned against her brother's side, resting her head along his neck. "Why does mother want me to take him as a mate? I don't want him. I want you."

Rising nuzzled the top of her head. "It's time to let these feeling for me go. I know he's not your choice for a mate, but neither did he have a choice in the matter ether. He's a good colt. I'm sure you'd like him too, if you'd give him a chance."

Radiant felt heartbroken. She knew he was right, but it still hurt. "Fine. I'll try to spend a little time with him, but I won't promise I'll ever like him."

"Good, that’s all I wanted" Rising said. "Because there’s something you need to know."

Radiant lifted her head from his neck to meet his oddly serious gaze.

"I've heard from the Keepers that I am being exchanged to another tribe."

"What!?" Radiant exclaimed, her gut dropping. "No! This can't be true!"

"I'm being exchanged to the coastal tribe for their Matriarch's son," Rising said, confirming her fears.

Radiant felt her knees give way and she collapsed to the grass. "No." Her eyes moistened with tears. "When?"

"In about a month," Rising answered softly. Bending down, he wiped at her eyes and gestured down at their little sister, Dazzling, as she played with Frost. "The colt will be for her."

"But, she's still much too young!" Radiant protested, climbing back to her hooves.

"I was told that he was about the same age as her, so that shouldn't be a problem."

Radiant flung her hooves around Rising's neck. "I don't want you to go!" She wept. "I'll never see you again!"

"It's done." Rising shrugged. "We just need to make the best of it."

"No! I won’t accept it! I'll talk to mother!" Radiant stepped back to look up at him hopefully. "I'll convince her to change her mind!"

Rising considered her, his face becoming serious. "That's a good idea."

"Really!?" Radiant asked, beaming up at her brother.

Rising smiled down at her and gave her a nod. "Yes, indeed. I’m sure if you speak from your heart, she’ll see the right thing to do and let me stay. After all, my proper place is with you."

Radiant felt her heart swell with a sense of hope. She'll do it! She'll get her mother to see that it would be wrong to send him away!

Suddenly, something slammed into her from her side, carrying her to the grass. Coming to a stop with a weight resting on her, Radiant felt something pleasantly soft and warm pressed up against her lips. Blinking her eyes open, she found a pair of clear blue eyes gazing back down into hers. Her eyes went wide in horror when she realized that her lips were firmly pressed against Frost's. With her legs forced apart from how they were laying, she could feel a certain part of his body pressed up against a rather sensitive part of hers!

With an audible smack, his lips broke from hers as he quickly pulled his head back. "Oh! I'm sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going! Are you alright!?"

With her heart racing in her chest, Radiant felt like her face was turning into the sun. She could feel him grinding against her marehood and the fact that it felt good made it all the worse! "Get off me, you creep!" With more force than she truly needed, she shoved Frost off of her with her magic and flung him back into the grass. Scrambling back to her hooves she glared down at the colt. "You cretin! How dare you!?"

"I'm sorry!" Frost fervently apologized. "I didn't mean to run into you! It was an accident!"

Adjusting her necklett back into place, Radiant swept her mane back and firmly turned her back on the flustered colt. "Come, Dazzle! We're going!" Marching away, she never looked back.

Rising Dusk watched her leave with a strangely forlorn look on his face.

Gathering himself, Frost let out a sigh. "She hates me."

Rising looked over to the colt, an amused smile coming to his lips. "Oh, I think she's definitely warming up to you. I can tell."

"Really?"

"Truly," Rising assured the colt. Turning back, he watched as his two dear sisters disappeared over a rise.

"Did... you tell her you were leaving tomorrow?" Frost asked, climbing back to his hooves.

"We... discussed something about it," Rising answered, hating himself for the lie he told his sister. He knew that she’d never get their mother to change her mind, no matter how passionate she was. Letting out a sigh, Rising turned back to Frost. "I want you to promise me something."

"What?"

"I want you to promise that you will make her happy." Rising said.

Frost slowly shook his head. "I'm not sure if I can. I always seem to mess things up with her."

"Nonsense!" Rising flicked his hoof to the side. "You've been absolutely perfect with her! I know you have it in you to make her the happiest mare ever."

Looking unsure, Frost scratched at his head. "Okay. I promise."

"Good." Rising nodded with a smile. "Now, I'll give you some advice. The next time you are on top of Radiant like that. Don't let her push you off." His smile then grew bigger. "And remember to move your hips a bit more too. She'll love that. I promise."

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Radiant stomped her hooves with each step she took as she walked down the path, forcing Dazzle to hurry to stay with her as they made their way down from the crater. She could still feel his lips on hers! Even with how furious she was, she still felt a little happy about it. She didn't understand it! Why was she feeling so confused!?

She was so focused on her thoughts she didn't notice the figure ahead of them until she was nearly upon her. Blinking in surprise, Radiant stopped and cast her hornlight onto the figure. "Who's there!?" Ahead of her, an azure colored mare stood in the middle of the path. Something about her seemed familiar to Radiant.

The mare's head bent with a jerk. "Give back."

Radiant felt the fur on the back of her neck rise at the sound of the mare's crackling voice. "What are you talking about? Give back what?"

Instead of answering, the mare's horn flashed with a sickly light, shooting a blast of magic at her. Caught by surprise, Radiant barely managed to raise her shield just as the blast struck. In a moment, her shield shattered as it took the brunt of the impact, and Radiant was hurled back, landing painfully on the path.

Dazzle watched in horror as her sister was shot back by the strange mare. Gathering her magic, Dazzle pushed really hard and shot out a blast of her own right at the mare.

Stunned, Radiant looked up in time to see her little sister send a bolt of magic at the mare. Watching in shock, her sister's attack vanished as it hit the mare, looking like it had been absorbed into darkness.

"Dazzle! Run!" Radiant screamed. The mare's horn flashed and a stream of darkness shot out right at Dazzle. Terrified, Dazzle was unable to dodge as the blast shot at her. Seeing her sister in danger, Radiant suddenly felt a power well up deep inside her as a blast of blue fire shot out of her necklett, striking the mare's dark magic and shattering it into a thousand motes of light.

The mare's head jerked back to her and her gaze fixed on her. Radiant suddenly remembered where she had seen the mare before. Why was she attacking them!? Darkness suddenly enveloped the mare and she vanished.

Climbing back up to her hooves, Radiant rushed to her sister. "Are you okay!?"

Dazzle looked stunned and she managed to nod to her when Radiant asked her again

"Who... who was she?" Dazzle asked, shivering from the ordeal.

Radiant stood and gazed the spot the mare had vanished. "The last time I saw her was when we rescued her from that cave. Her name is Flicker Shine." Lifting her hoof, she touched the gem on her necklett. The same gem she found in that cave. What was that magic she just used?

Chapter Forty Nine

"Okay. Try it again," Starless said.

"We've been at this for most of the day," Grand complained. "Just face it. I don't have this special magical talent you’re searching for."

Starless had started working with Grand that morning, with the desire to find her magical talent. Taking her out into the nearby clearing, she had her running through every exercise she could think of. All of them so far had failed.

"Please. Just one more try," Starless pleaded. "Just look into the water and cast the spell I showed you."

Scrying was one of the more difficult forms of magic. How did she expect her to do it? Staring down into the water filled gourd, Grand focused what magic she had and cast her spell into the water. The water swirled for a brief moment before becoming still again. Another failure.

"Did you do it just like I showed you?" Starless asked.

Grand nodded. "Yes."

"And you had your target clearly in your mind?"

Grand let out a weary sigh and nodded again.

Starless turned and started pacing back and forth. "I don't get it, one of them should have worked."

"Can I go now?" Grand asked. Suddenly her ears perked up when she heard galloping hoofsteps approaching through the woods.

"I got it!" Starless whirled around. "We’ll try Spirit Magic!"

"Starless! Grand!" Ground shouted as he burst into the clearing. "We need your help!"

"What is it!?" Starless asked in alarm. "Are we under attack!?"

Ground skidded to a stop. "No. Precious Rose fell down by the fields and she gone into labor!"

Grand instantly started running, her hooves kicking up dirt behind her. Ground and Starless quickly following after her.

This was Precious Rose's first foal and she wasn’t due for another month. Delivering a foal this early was going to be dangerous. "How long ago did it happen!?"

"About half a hoof-length of the sun," Ground answered, pacing her stride.

"How fast are her contractions?"

"They're coming really fast; one on top of another." Ground swerved to avoid a tree. "She's also bleeding really bad out of her… ah... birthing parts."

Grand cursed and ran faster. For the last year, she had been assisting mares deliver their foals, learning what she could from Dove, and later from other mares with similar experience. She loved birthing foals. There was that special moment when the mother sets her eyes on her newborn for the first time, that just fills her heart with happiness. It was during her first time in helping a young mother that Grand got her cutie mark, a generously rounded heart with a tiny heart nestled inside.

Coming out of the trees, she saw a gathering of ponies around a prone form under a tree. Bolting across the field, Grand forced her way through the crowd. "Everypony that doesn't need to be here, please clear away!"

"You heard her!" Ground shouted, looming as big as he could. "Find something else to do and let her work!"

As the crowd dispersed, Grand quickly assessed Precious Rose's condition. She was lying on her side with her head resting on Meadowlark's lap. Her swollen stomach heaved as he moaned and panted. Her tail and the grass surrounding her rear was soaked red with blood. A lot of blood.

"How are you doing, dear?" Grand asked Precious, brushing her sweaty mane back from her eyes.

"I'm scared," she gasped, breathlessly. "Is my foal okay?"

Using her magic, Grand pulled Precious Rose's tail back to look at her marehood and frowned. It was stretched open and covered in blood and birthing fluids, with more leaking out. "Ground. Go back to my hut and look in the garden behind it. You'll find a plant with little white flowers and strangely angled fruit. Gather enough to fill a basket and bring it back."

Ground nodded and ran to do as she asked.

Precious Rose's mate, Comet Tail, was anxiously trotting back and forth, his face contorted in worry. "Is Precious going to be okay!? Please, I don’t want to lose her!"

"I need you to do something for me," Grand said to the worried father. "I need you to fetch some water for me. As much as you can."

"Water!?" Comet nodded. "Yeah! I’ll bring it all!" He quickly hurried off to fetch the water.

"What's the water for?" Meadowlark asked.

"It's a good way to get a fussing stallion out of the way while also making him feel like he's useful," Grand answered, returning her attention back to Precious Rose.

"It hurts! It hurts so bad!" Precious Rose moaned out as her body convulsed with another contraction.

"I know. I know," Grand said with sympathy, softly patting her on her shoulder. "You’re doing great. Let's see about getting this foal out of you. Okay?"

Precious nodded her head in Meadowlark's lap.

"Good. Now, let's get to work.

Sitting back with Celestia and Luna, Starless watched as Grand started to probe Precious Rose's pregnant belly.

Moving her hooves gingerly along Precious's gravid body, Grand frowned. The foal wasn't turned right. It was sideways. Melodious told her about this and how dangerous it could be to both the mother and foal.

"Precious. I know this is going to be hard, but I need you to try and not push," Grand told the struggling mare. "Your foal is lying sideways and I need to shift it around." Calling on her magic, she began to hum softly, weaving her magic into her melody.

Starless' eyes widened in surprise as she watched Grand's lullaby sooth the distressed mother.

Precious' breathing became more regular and less strained. Grand felt around until she found the foal's rear. She'd only done this a few times before, but never to this extent. Fixing in her mind the position of the foal, Grand closed her eyes and sent her magic delving into Precious's body, enfolding it carefully around the foal. Once she was ready, she gently began to urge it around.

Precious groaned and whimpered in torment as Meadowlark tried to comfort her. Slowly, Grand worked, shifting the foal's little body around. She could feel it squirm in her magic as its tiny heart raced in terror. Pausing a moment, Grand shifted to the foal's head. "Okay. You're doing great dear. Just a little more," she assured the mother. Working patiently, she gently adjusted the foal's head around.

Ground came running back with a basket held in his mouth. "I have what you wanted."

"Good. Set it by Meadowlark," she ordered without stopping her work.

Little by little, the foal turned, until finally it was facing back the proper way. Good. Now the rest was up to the mother. "Okay. I need you to start pushing again. I need you to push hard!"

Precious Rose cried out as her body clenched with another powerful contraction. Gritting her teeth, she grunted as she bore down and pushed.

"Good! Keep going! You’re doing great!" Grand urged.

With a gasp, Precious fell back, panting for breath. Meadowlark rubbed her neck as she murmured encouraging words to her

"When the next contraction comes, I need you to push really hard!" Grand ordered. "As hard as you can!" She felt Precious Rose's body starting to stiffen as another contraction seized her. "Okay. Now! Push, push, push! Keep going! Harder. Harder. That's it! You’re doing it!" As she spoke, her horn continued to weave its magic into her voice, adding power to it.

Starless had never seen anything like it. She'd never imagined such magic before. She doubted that any Unicorn had. And yet Grand used it without even thinking about it. A new way to use magic. Starless wondered why she even felt surprised anymore.

Shifting around to Precious's back end, Grand pulled her tail out of the way to look at her marehood. Through the mess of blood and birthing fluids, she watched as her marehood slowly widened as something started to push out. "The foal's coming. You're doing great!"

Precious wailed as she pushed, her body shuddering with the effort. Her marehood spread open as a tiny honey-tan snout appeared.

Huffing with the effort, Comet arrived, bearing a pair of carved water logs on his back. "I brought the water."

"Put it down and go replace Meadowlark," Grand commanded without looking up. "I'm going to need her help."

"What do you need me to do?" Meadowlark asked, passing Precious' head over to her mate.

"Go around to her stomach," Grand directed her. "Place your hooves there, and when I tell you, firmly push in and back."

Meadowlark looked startled at this, but did as she was directed.

Precious groaned as another contraction gripped her womb. "Okay, Precious, you're almost there. Now Push! Push! Push! You too Meadowlark. Push!"

Meadowlark leaned in and pushed back on her contracting belly. The foal's snout slid forward as the rest of its head emerged, exposing a gorgeous light and dark streaked mane. Advancing all the way up to its shoulder, the foal stopped when Precious dropped back into her mate's lap with a tired sigh.

"This is no time to rest!" Grand snapped at the exhausted mare. "Just one more to go! Take a deep breath and push!"

Precious mustered her flagging strength and pushed. With Grand’s hooves under the foal to support it, the foal slipped the rest of the way out. Feeling the sudden release, Precious Rose exhaled and collapsed back down onto her mate's lap to gasp for air.

Catching the foal in her hooves, Grand smiled as the foal began to wail, kicking its little hooves. "It's a filly!"

Watching ponies all cheered. Comet looked dumbfounded as he blinked in astonishment at his newborn daughter.

The filly was small for a Earth Pony. Cutting its cord with a quick spell, Grand pressed her ear to the filly's chest to listen. There was a slight rattle in her breathing that she didn’t like. Examining the filly’s tongue, she found it looked healthy and pink. “Please hold her.” Grand gave the wailing filly over to Meadowlark, who held her close and started crooning to her.
.
Things weren't over yet; Precious was still bleeding. Checking her marehood, she saw that blood was still trickling out. "Comet,. I want you to have Precious eat all those flowers Ground brought. They'll help her to clot." She extracted the rest of the birthing sack and tossed it to the side. "Ground, we’re going to need a litter to carry her back.”

“I’m on it!” Ground rushed off.

Taking a gourd, Grand filled it with the water that Comet so diligently brought her, and returned to rinse out Precious's bloody marehood. She didn’t know what else to do. If her bleeding didn’t stop....

“Starless?” Grand turned to look back. “Is there something you can do? A spell?”

Starless shook her head. “I’m sorry. Such magic is beyond me.”

Grand felt her heart sink. Precious was pouring out her life and there was nothing that could be done.

“But,” Starless continued. “I believe your magic can.”

Grand felt her anger rise. “This is no time for that foolishness!”

“I’m speaking the truth,” Starless pressed. “Remember what you did with the foal. Remember how you turned her in the womb. Use it again. Use it to save the mother.”

Grand thought back to what she had done. Was she right? Could she use her magic to save her? Closing her eyes, Grand lowered her horn to Precious’s belly. Focusing her mind, she let her magic flow out. Her horn glowed brighter as it began to hum softly.

Through flesh, muscle, and bone, her magic sank into Precious’s body as she searched for the source of the bleeding. She wasn’t sure it was working until she felt her magic come across something that wasn’t right. A tear along the wall. Frowning, Grand thought about what she should do.

Gathering her magic around the tear, Grand carefully pulled it together. Precious cried out in momentary pain. Sealing the tear back together, Grand loosely tied off her magic to keep it in place until it naturally dissipated.

Opening her eyes, Grand sagged back, exhausted. She had done it! A check on Precious showed that she was asleep.

Despite her best efforts, the foal continued to whimper and fuss in Meadowlark’s cradled hooves.

“Here, let’s get her back to her mother.” Grand carefully lifted the little foal out of Meadowlarks hooves and brought her down to Precious’s full udders. Tickling the filly’s lips with one of her teats, Grand enticed the filly to latch on. The filly mewed and twisted in complaint at the strange offering until at last, she latched on and suckled on her mother’s teat, eagerly drawing milk into her mouth.

Smiling, Grand nestled the filly against her mother and sat back. Both mother and foal were alive! Standing she moved to the water to start washing her hooves.

"I've never seen anything like it!" Starless exclaimed, coming up next to her. "You were amazing!"

Grand's hooves were shaking as she washed them in the trough. She had been absolutely terrified throughout the whole ordeal.

"Are you alright?" Starless looked at her with concern.

“I’m fine,” Grand assured her. “It’s just that I’ve never had so much depending on me before. I could have lost them both.”

"Thank you!" Comet said, suddenly catching her up in a hug. "Thank you for saving her! Thank you for saving them both!"

Grand struggled to breathe as the stallion crushed her in his grasp. Why did Earth Ponies have to be so strong!?

With Luna riding on her back, Celestia walked over to Precious Rose to get a closer look at her filly. "What's her name?"

Comet let Grand go to return to her mate. Lightly brushing his hoof along his nursing foal’s cheek.. "We decided that if it was a filly, we'd name her Opal Rose"

“That’s a pretty name," Celestia said.

Meadowlark picked up Luna and held her to her chest. “I am so happy for you two.”

Luna pointed down to the nursing Opal Rose. "Me have numnums now too?" she asked her mother.

“In a little bit,” Meadowlark said. “Just as soon as we get them back home.”

Luna’s lower lip jutted out as she pouted.

Soon after, Ground returned with a litter. Padding it down with hay, Starless used her magic to carefully place both mother and her foal onto it. With them settled into place, Ground pulled the litter toward the settlement.

Walking alongside the litter, Starless gazed down at the sleeping filly with a deep longing in her heart. Smiling next to her, Meadowlark leaned over and whispered something in her ear that made Starless flush all the way to the end of her tail as her eyes jumped to Ground. Will there come a day when she'd have one of her own? The foal from her dreams suddenly flashed across her vision and her body tensed. No. It would have to wait until she's finished with the Unicorns. Only when it was safe for her foals would that be possible. Ground would understand. She hoped.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Frost Conjure was feeling mopey. He missed Rising Dusk. It had been a week since he left for his new home, and during that time, Radiant Sunset had never visited him once. Frost didn't understand her. He tried to be nice to her, but she always seemed to be angry with him. What was he doing wrong?

Rolling onto his back on the grass, Frost let out a long sigh. It was so boring being a stallion! When he was a colt, he'd been allowed to play with the fillies, but ever since he'd matured into a stallion last year, the mares almost seemed scared of him. Except for Radiant, of course. She just hated him. Maybe he could ask one of the keepers to go see if Radiant's younger sister, Dazzle, would be able to come and play today. Perhaps she could even bring their youngest sister, Vivid. He really wanted to meet her too.

Glancing up at the sun, Frost realized that it was feeding time. Climbing back to his hooves, Frost headed for the feeding area by the entrance to the old volcano's crater. All the stallions kept up in the High Stables were the prized offerings of the great High Blood families. Mingling among the lowers was just not done, at least not openly. Frost overheard a few of the stallions talking once about them sneaking down to the lower stables for a good ride with the desperate mares there, laughing at how angry their dams would be if they learned that their precious seed was being spread among the lower mares.

Approaching the feeding area, he saw that many of the stallions were already eating the food their families had brought for them. Now that he was Matriarch Astral's ward, it was her family's responsibility to feed him. If they were unwilling or unable to do that, another matriarch would be able to claim him as her ward.

A passing stallion swerved and intentionally rammed his shoulder into his. "You better watch out little rabbit, or you might get stepped on," he said with a snicker.

Another passing stallion flicked his tail into his face with a stinging slap. Most of the stallions ignored him, but a few from rival families liked to pick on him.

"There you are," one of the Keepers said, coming over to him. "She's waiting for you over there." Pushing him, she started him moving.

Frost hoped it was going to be Radiant today, but when he saw Glittering Crystal waiting for him alone, his heart dropped in disappointment. Rising told him about her. She was the daughter of a smaller High Blood family that was sworn to Astral's family, providing food and other services for them in the desperate hope of keeping themselves from declining to oblivion. Their mares no longer produced any stallions nor had any other offspring of any notable talents. There was a rumor that they had over-bred within their own line and were now slowly dying out because of it.

"Hello," Frost greeted Glittering Crystal as she lowered the basket to him. Inside was some hay, two apples and a small pile of something he'd never seen before "What are these?" he asked, lifting out one of the strange looking orange roots with his magic to look at it.

"I was told that it's called a carrot," Glittering Crystal answered him. "I know it looks weird, but it’s good. Give it a try, I’m sure you'll like it," she urged him.

Looking at it dubiously, Frost took a bite and chewed. He was surprised that it indeed was good. Returning to the basket, he munched down the rest of his meal while Glittering watched. Thanking Glittering for the food, Frost started to leave.

"Before you go, I have one more thing for you." Glittering Crystal took out, from another basket she had, a bright red strawberry, and held it out to him with a smile. "Here. Something special from me."

He had never seen such a massive strawberry before! Taking it in his magic, he thanked her for it. Watching her leave, he wondered why she was being so nice to him. Trotting off, he set off to his favorite spot along the lake to enjoy his treat.

Circling around the lake, he came out of the trees and was surprised to find Radiant sitting alone on the hill overlooking the lake. Coming to a quick stop, Frost anxiously wondered what he should do.

Suddenly, he noticed that Radiant’s body was shaking as she wept great racking sobs into her hooves. All question of what he should do vanished as he moved to go to her. Stepping softly over to her, Frost gingerly reached out and touched her back.

With a gasp, Radiant's head shot around. Her red, tear-filled eyes hardened when she saw that it was him. "Oh, its you. I want to be left alone. Go away."

"But you’re crying," Frost protested, feeling like leaving her was wrong.

"So what if I am?" Radiant shifted to the side to put some distance between them. "It's no concern of yours."

"But," Frost countered, "I made a promise to Rising that I'd make you happy."

Radiant spun on him with fury on her face. "Don't mention that dirty, good for nothing, foul smelling, pond scum of a no good brother! He lied to me! He... lied... to me!" Radiant's face crumpled and she started crying again. "How could he?" she wept. "How could he do that to me! I thought he loved me."

Frost didn't know what to say to her. Nothing he could think of seemed right. He knew Rising lied to her about when he was leaving. He told him just before he left that if he didn't leave soon, he wouldn't be able to resist her advances anymore. With Radiant's breeding aproching, he requested the exchange with their mother, using the need to find a mate for Dazzle to entice her to agree. Plus, Rising confessed as he left, he always wanted to see the ocean.

Anxious to do something to help her, Frost slowly began to reach out to her. Whenever he had been feeling bad as a colt, his mother would hold him to make him feel better. He was hesitant at first, but after she failed to reject his advance, he grew more confident as he wrapped his hooves around her. It was such a little thing, holding her, but it also felt like the right thing. Slowly her body softened against his as she leaned back into him.

After a long while, her tears slowly stopped. Sitting close to her side, Frost let her lean against him as they stared out over the lake. Remembering the strawberry, Frost offered it to her. "Here."

Radiant blinked at his offering. "Thank you." Accepting it, she took a bite. Moaning in delight, she slowly chewed as she savored the fruit. Looking back down at the remaining half, she offered it back to him.

Taking it, Frost popped it into his mouth and chewed blissfully on the juicy morsel.

Radiant looked over at him. "Please tell me about yourself,"

Frost glanced over and gaped at her eyes. Were they always so blue?

"Frost?"

Frost blinked, breaking himself from her gaze. "I ah..." Quickly, he tried to recall what she had asked as he quickly swallowed his strawberry. "You want to know about me?"

"Yes," Radiant answered. "Please."

"I... well..." Frost struggled to find the words. "I'm from a small clan to the north that had just under a hundred mares and nine stallions and colts there. I the youngest. We lived in burrows and dens that had been dug out of the roots of the massive sage trees that grew in the shadow of the White Mountains. We ate moss that was gathered throughout the forest to eat, and during the summer, the mares would collect lillyberries from the nearby ponds as a special treat.

"One year, when I was a young colt, there was an especially heavy winter and the snow piled high on the mountains above us. One day, it suddenly broke loose and came crashing down at us. I remember ponies screaming in terror as they tried to flee, but the avalanche was already too close. My mother was running to grab me when I saw the snow barreling through the trees, moments from burying us all. I acted without thinking about it. I closed my eyes and pushed really hard. My magic exploded out and formed a massive shield that protected us all as the avalanche rolled safely around us."

"Wow," Radiant said in amazement. "That was really powerful magic."

"I'm an aberration," Frost said with a shrug. "Despite my low linage, I have powerful magic."

"So your mother isn't a High Blood?"

Frost shook his head. "She was just a Common Blood."

"Was?" Radiant asked.

"She died last year when a plague spread through our clan," Frost answered, his eyes becoming distant. "Fifteen mares and seven stallions died before the plague finally passed. I, myself, barely survived. There is much about that time I don't remember."

"That's terrible," Radiant gasped, feeling horrible for what he had gone through.

"With most of the stallions gone," Frost continued, "the mares were devastated. They needed stallions. It was then that your mother, the Matriarch, made the mares an offer. She had heard of what I had done with the avalanche, and offered to exchange five stallions for me. It didn't take them long for them to agree," Frost said, looking out over the lake. "When I arrived here, I was brought to your mother. She thoroughly examined me, including my... stallion parts, and told me that I was suitable for what she needed."

"To sire my foals," Radiant finished.

Frost nodded.

They both sat quietly for a time after that, looking out across the crater. Letting out a sigh, Radiant started to climb back to her hooves. "I've been here too long. I should be going now before they start looking for me."

Standing, Frost felt disappointed that she was leaving. He was surprised to find that he had enjoyed their time together.

Before she left, Radiant paused to turn to him. "Frost. Would you please close your eyes?"

Curious, Frost did as she asked. Suddenly he felt something incredibly warm and soft quickly press against his lips before vanishing. "Thank you for the strawberry."

Blinking his eyes open, he watched as she walked away, disappearing down the mountain path. Her kiss had lasted just the briefest of moments, but left his heart pounding in his chest. More than anything, he wanted to taste her again. With a loud whoop, Frost leapt into the air and bolted across the field, racing his thundering heart as his hooves carried him around the lake.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

The stallion's touch sent shivers down her body. His heavy breath was hot on her neck as he pushed into her, invading her to her very core. Throwing her head back, she cried out in ecstasy as he began heaving himself into her, driving his stallionhood ever deeper as he sought to claim her as his own.

Tranquil woke, her heart thundering in her ears and her body damp with sweat. Her dreams of Dusty were growing more intense recently. They usually consisted of kissing, or touching of their intimate areas. Sometimes, he would even lick her marehood, but this was the first time he had mounted her.

Lying on her mat, Tranquil let her mind reminiscence on her dream, recalling the feeling of Dusty as he joined his body with hers. Suddenly, she felt a strange flutter in her marehood, followed by a deep yearning to be filled. Sitting up, Tranquil found her eyes being drawn to the sleeping form of Dusty.

Tranquil didn't understand why she felt so hot. Waving her hoof, she tried to cool her sweating body. Glancing around the hut, she saw that everypony was still asleep. Mama Grand was sleeping in her normal spot next to her, with Dusty's mother sleeping along the wall behind her. On the other side of the hut was Dusty, with his mate, Skye, lying along his back with little Lightning Flash curled up in her little cloud-nest next to her.

Tranquil found her gaze once again settling on Dusty's slumbering form. She knew she was hopelessly in love with him. Even now, she ached to crawl over to him. The desire to go to him grew too powerful to resist. Climbing softly to her hooves, Tranquil, silently crossed over to Dusty. In the low light of the burning embers of the fire, she examined his sleeping face.

Mumbling in his sleep, Dusty suddenly shifted more onto his back. Feeling her heart racing in her breast, Tranquil lowered her muzzle to his sheathed stallionhood and slowly drew in a deep breath. Taking in his musky scent, Tranquil felt a tingle rush through her body at his scent. Moving up to his lips, Tranquil ached to know their embrace and taste their sweetness. She could feel his hot breath as her lips came down to his. With a lightness of a butterfly, her lips brushed up against his.

Her tail flagged high as a wave of fire suddenly surged through her body, leaving her marehood throbbing with a sudden need to be claimed by him. Unable to resist, Tranquil pressed her lips firmly onto his and kissed him fully. His lips were warm and soft against hers and she felt like her heart was about to fly away.

Suddenly she felt his breath huff out and she realized what she had done. Opening her eyes she quickly pulled back, breaking their kiss. Dusty's eyes were looking at her.

"Tranquil?" He sounded confused.

Skye leaned up from behind him and looked over at her sleepily. "What's going on?"

Tranquil stepped back in horror. What had she done!? She loved Skye. She was the sister she never had and she had kissed her mate!

"Tranquil?" Skye asked, her expression becoming for serious. "What's wrong?"

Unforgivable! She had betrayed Skye! She had trusted her, taken her into her home and family! How could she have done this to her!? Unable to face what she had done, she turned and bolted out of the hut.

Waking, Grand sat up. "What's happening?"

Skye climbed to her hooves and collected Lightning from her nest. "It's happened. We need to find her."

Grand jumped to her hooves and moved to the door with Skye to follow after.

Sitting up, Dusty looked after them in confusion. Suddenly he sniffed the air and his eyes shot wide.

"Son. Before you go after her, I want you to carefully consider what your feelings for her truly are." Pebble said. "She's a sweet filly and I don't want her to be hurt."

Sleeping in her hut, Mustard was suddenly awakened when Skye burst in. "I need you to watch Lightning for me!" Skye said, shoving the filly into her hooves. "She'll want to nurse soon. Okay. Thanks. Bye!" She then shot back out of the hut.

Blinking sleepily at the filly in her hooves, Mustard tucked her against her chest with Peach Kiss before curling her head around the pair and closing her eyes.

"Did you say something?" Morning muttered, sleepily from beside her.

"No. Go back to sleep."

The horizon glowed with the approaching morning as Skye flew high up into the air. Looking down, she searched for Tranquil. She and Grand had been worrying about this. Suddenly, she caught sight of the russet colored mare as she dashed across the field to the east.

Quickly, she flew back down to Grand as she waited below."She's heading east!"

The two hurried after Tranquil. Crossing the fields, they worked their way east until they came to the river as it began to swing south. There they found Tranquil weeping along the shore.

"Tranquil?" Skye called to her.

Tranquil flinched and hid her face deeper into her hooves. "I didn't mean too."

"I know," Skye answered, stepping closer. "It's alright."

"I couldn't help myself," Tranquil wailed, tightening herself into a ball. "I didn't know what I was doing."

"It's alright," Skye repeated, touching her hoof to Tranquil's back. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Tranquil's head spun around, her eyes bloodshot from crying. "But I kissed him! I kissed Dusty!"

"I know," Skye wrapped her hooves around Tranquil's shoulder and hugged her. "Going after another mare's stallion without her permission is bad, but I love you and I forgive you."

Tranquil suddenly threw her hooves around Skye and started weeping again as she clutched her tightly. "I don't know what came over me. I couldn't hold myself back. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"It's all right," Skye assured her. "There's nothing to be sorry about."

"That's right," Grand added, stepping up to add her hoof around her shoulder.

Tranquil tears slowly stopped as she calmed down. "What's happening to me?" Tranquil asked. "Why do I feel this way?"

"What's happening to you is completely normal, and nothing to be afraid of, " Skye said, wiping at Tranquil's tears. "It happens when your body is ready."

"Ready?" Tranquil asked. "Ready for what?"

"Ready to take a mate," Grand answered.

Tranquil looked stunned. "Do you mean that...?"

"Yes." Grand nodded as a smile came to her face. "You've started having your heat."

Tranquil shook her head. "But that doesn't happen to me!"

"Grand and I talked to Starless about that," Skye said. "She's seen other mares with the same condition and she thinks it might be because of their living at near starvation rations. She was hoping that with an increased diet and rest their bodies would recover."

"And it looks like she was right!" Grand added with a smile.

A look of wonder came over Tranquil's face. "I can have a foal? My very own foal!?"

Smiling, Skye nodded. "As many as you want. Though I do recommend having them one at a time, but two would be okay."

Tranquil began laughing. "I never dared to dream of ever having my own foal."

"Well, you still have to have a stallion do a certain something to you first," Skye added.

Tranquil's smile faded as the implications of what Skye said came to her. "A stallion… to breed me…"

Skye watched Tranquil's face and knew of who she was now thinking of. "You’re in love with Dusty, aren't you?"

Tranquil's eyes flashed over to her. "I didn't mean too! I couldn't control it and it just... happened. I'm sorry..."

Skye smiled and tightened her hug around the young mare. "I've known you've been in love with him since the moment I saw you with him. It was all over your face. It's quite understandable. He's a great stallion! This herd isn't like the Unicorns you left. We don't dominate and barter our stallions like they do. We bond with them into a family!"

"Family?" Tranquil repeated thoughtfully.

Suddenly, Tranquil blinked as her face grew intense, her nose flaring as she huffed at the air. She smelled a stallion nearby. Behind them, they heard the sound of approaching hoofsteps as Dusty appeared out of the trees. Seeing them, he stopped with a snort.

Skye smiled back at her mate. Of course he would have followed her scent. Turning back to Tranquil, she considered her seriously. "Do you want him?"

Tranquil nibbled her lip and nodded. "I do. More than anything"

Skye then kissed her on her cheek. "Then I accept you into my family-herd. You are now my sister-mate. My mate is now our mate."

Grand leaned over and kissed Tranquil on her other cheek. "I am happy for you, my dearest child."

Standing, Skye and Grand walked over to Dusty. Pausing before him Skye kissed him on his lips. "Do you love me?"

"Yes." Dusty answered without hesitation.

"Do you love Tranquil?" Skye then asked.

Dusty's eyes shifted to the waiting mare. "I do."

"Then go take her." Skye stepped to the side.

Dusty let out an eager snort before slowly walking down to Tranquil. She was standing now with her head turned back to watch him approach her.

Watching, Skye suddenly let out a light laugh, causing Grand to look over at her. "What is it?"

Skye nodded her head out at the pair. "I just realized that that’s the same spot I met Dusty."

Grand blinked for a moment and smiled.

Tranquil felt her body shivering as Dusty drew closer, his scent filling her senses as she watched his stallionhood lengthening below him. A stallion had come to take a fertile mare. Her. And fill her womb with his foal. She wanted this. Every fiber of her being craved this.

Stepping up to her, Dusty suddenly stopped. His breath heaved in his chest and his eyes were glazed with a powerful need, but still he resisted and held himself back. "Tranquil. Before anything more happens, I want you to know that I love you and I never want to hurt you. If you don't want this..."

Before he could say anything more,Tranquil mashed her lips against his and kissed him thoroughly. It was like a lightning bolt had shot through her body and her heart leapt in joy at their joining. The light touch of his tongue brushing along her lips made her moan with delight. She had been wanting this for so long. With a wet smack, their lips broke apart and she gazed up into his eyes. "I've loved you since the moment we met. I want you to take me and make me yours."

Dusty’s will broke and he let out a primal whinny, warning off all other challengers to his mare. Dropping his muzzle to her neck, Dusty drew in her enticing scent with a deep breath, his stallionhood throbbing below him as it dripped with his ready seed.

Tranquil's body was burning with her need to be mounted. Flagging her tail high, she turned herself to him and presented her marehood to his lavish attention. His tongue delved deeply into her soaking marehood, tasting her fertile nectar. Pleasure never before felt, washed over her at his fervent ministrations of her inflamed nethers.

She needed more! Her body ached to be filled by a stallion! "Take me! Take me now!"

Dusty's weight suddenly came down on her back as he mounted her. His hooves tightened around her barrel as he positioned himself at her entrance. Tranquil threw her head back and gasped when she felt him starting to push in. Tranquil could hardly breath as she felt her marehood stretching wide to take him in. His lips came to her ear as he lightly nibbled it, whispering tender words of affection and love.

It hurt, but she bore through it as her body slowly adjusted to his presence. Slowly, he drove himself deeper until, at last, Tranquil felt him press up against her rump as their bodies joined fully together. She had never felt so full! It still hurt, but it was slowly starting to fade. His muzzle moved along her cheek as he nuzzled her. Turning her head back, she took his lips with hers. The intensity and passion of his kiss nearly made her swoon.

Breaking from the kiss, Dusty returned his lips to her ear. "Are you ready?"

Tranquil quickly thought about it. There would be no turning back after this. She was about to be bred by her stallion and have her womb filled with his foal. A foal that would be hers! Hers and Dusty's. Her heart raced at the thought. She loved Lightning Flash and relished the times she got to cuddle with her, having her nap against her body as she sang her a lullaby. Only one answer was right: "Yes."

Tranquil cried out when he pulled himself back, leaving her feeling so very empty. He surged back into her with a thrust that pushed her hooves into the moss. His pace was slow at first, letting her savor the growing pleasure. His cheek was pressed alongside hers as their panting breaths intermingled together.

With each thrust, their bodies melded together with a soft slap as Dusty drove himself repeatedly into her fertile depths. Pleasure upon pleasure slowly built within her as she was taken by her chosen stallion. Dusty's thrusts were growing more intense as he gently gripped her mane in his teeth.

The pleasure that had been building within her suddenly grew beyond her endurance. Tranquil threw her head back and let out a long moan as waves of pure bliss suddenly surged her body. Her marehood began to quiver and grip along Dusty's throbbing stallionhood as he thrusted ever more fervently into her, her love juices splashing along his length. Dusty's grunts were growing strained as Tranquil felt his stallionhood starting to flare deep within her.

With a final powerful thrust, Dusty plunged himself deep into her, sealing his flared stallionhood to the entrance to her fertile womb. Quivering in her throes of pleasure, Tranquil felt Dusty's stallionhood begin pulsing as a surge of his seed suddenly erupted deep into her fertile womb, filling every part of it with his warm virile essence. Groaning in pure bliss, Tranquil languished under the assault on her body. Never in her life had she ever imagined she could experience such pleasure. Panting for breath, Tranquil felt a powerful sense of contentment and happiness settle over her as she felt Dusty release the last of his seed into her.

Feeling his hot breath on her neck, Tranquil turned to look back at him. "You were amazing my love."

Dusty answered her with a deep kiss that left her breathless.

Watching the two lovers nuzzle and kiss, Skye let out a contented sigh. Her family was getting bigger. Soon there will be more little hooves scampering around.

Next to her Grand fanned her hoof to cool herself. "After that. I feel rather hot and an itch I've not felt in years."

Glancing over, Skye smirked. "Your part of our family too. I'm sure Dusty has enough stamina left to help alleviate that itch."

The older mare blinked in surprise before laughing. "I can't say that I'm not tempted, but it would be a terrible shame to waste his seed on a barren mare like me."

Skye softly touched her hoof to Grand's shoulder. "Don't forget that we love you too."

Grand smiled and kissed Skye. "You are a sweet child."

Dismounting from Tranquil, Dusty's stallionhood slipped out of her, releasing a deluge of their love fluids onto the ground. Moving around, Tranquil nuzzled and rubbed her cheek against Dusty's neck as couple slowly walked back to the waiting Skye and Grand.

Hopping excitedly in place, Skye leapt into the air and flew down to the new lovers to throw her hooves around Tranquil's neck. "I'm so happy! I have a sister now!"

Chapter Fifty

Celestia closed her eyes as Strawberry scrubbed soaproot into her mane. It had been a long day of dealing with Luna. If this was what it was like to have a foal, she was starting to doubt ever having one. She never listened to her. No. That wasn't right. There were times she was the sweetest filly. Usually when Ash was around. For some reason, she always listened to him. Celestia sighed. What was she going to do with her? Earlier that day, Luna had snuck away from her when she was weeding the garden with Strawberry and Snap Dragon found her playing in a mud puddle and brought her back.

Not far downstream, the river broadened into a series of terraced pools that was perfect for bathing in. Snap suggested that they go down with her for a bath. Strawberry thought it was a wonderful idea and invited Tulip and Misty along.

Moving over to one of the small waterfalls that fed into their pool, Snap Dragon rinsed soaproot out of Luna's mane. "So, where's your shadow at today?" she asked, glancing over at Celestia.

Without the need to even look, Celestia pointed directly to a spot off into the woods. "He's over there, guarding us as we bathe." Since the time she shared her essences with Ash, Celestia was able to sense where he was. It felt very much like how she was able to tell where her hoof was without looking. It had been strange at first, but after she had grown used to it, she no longer even thought about it. It was just natural. Like a heartbeat that was always there.

"It's weird how you can do that," Tulip marveled, mashing up soaproot to use on Misty's mane.

"Okay, sweetie, all done," Snap told Luna, lifting the newly cleaned filly out of the waterfall. Holding her to her chest, she took her to the shallows to let her splash in the water.

Strawberry finished scrubbing Celestia's mane and let her move to the waterfall to wash it out. Cleaned, Celestia stepped out and swept her mane back from her face. Returning to Strawberry, she started working soaproot into her mane. "I heard that Mirage is sweet on a stallion. Is that true?"

Strawberry giggle as Celestia began scrubbing her mane. "Oh, you should see her! Whenever Timberline is around, she starts babbling like a foal and tripping all over her hooves! It's so adorable!"

"Timberline? Isn't he one of the stallions from the Lakeshore settlement?" Tulip asked.

"That's him." Strawberry nodded. "He's here learning woodcarving from Mosswood. Just the other day he gave me a wooden rabbit he had carved for me."

"A rabbit?" Tulip asked. "Why would he carve you a rabbit?"

"Because he wants to gain Mirage's favor, of course," Snap Dragon answered, getting splashed in the face by a chortling Luna as she played. "It's obvious he's smitten with her too, and he thinks that being nice to Strawberry will help gain her attention."

Strawberry grinned slyly. "Well, get this. Yesterday they went for a long walk in the woods and when she returned, she had grass stains on her back."

"Why would she have grass stains on her back?" Tulip asked, looking confused. "Was she rolling in the grass?"

Celestia and Strawberry both laughed. "Yes," Celestia said, "that is exactly how she got it."

"I don't get it," Tulip complained, looking at the two giggling fillies. "Why is that funny?"

Misty leaned forward and whispered something into Tulip's ear. Tulip's eyes suddenly went wide.

Snap picked up a brightly colored stone out of the water and showed Luna, letting the filly take it from her. "I think this topic has gotten a little too mature for you fillies. Perhaps we should start talking about something else."

"Aww, that's no fun!" Strawberry complained.

"Yeah," Celestia agreed. "It was just getting good!”

"Yeah, well, I don't think you should be talking about stuff like that yet." Snap said, looking up from Luna. "And it's also rude to gossip about Mirage behind her back."

Celestia and the other fillies all agreed and climbed onto the flat rocks to sun themself and brush their freshly cleaned manes out.

Snap found a floating piece of wood, and started playing with Luna with it, showing her how it bobbed back to the surface whenever it was submerged.

Running her comb through Celestia mane, Strawberry paused to look more closely at it. "Hmm... That's interesting."

Brushing Tulip's mane, Celestia paused. "What's that?"

"I don't know why I never noticed before," Strawberry said, thoughtfully.

"Didn't notice what?" Celestia asked again.

Leaving Misty half done, Tulip leaned around to look at Celestia's mane. "Oh, you’re right. That is interesting."

"What's interesting!?" Celestia tried to see what they were looking at.

"Some of your mane turned a little blue."

"And green," Tulip added, pointing .

"Why would it do that?" Celestia wondered.

"It's common to develop some new color as you get older." Brushing sand off of Luna's rump, Snap picked her up and walked over to them. "You know, my mane wasn't always vivid. It used to be a much lighter blue when I was a little filly."

"Really?" Tulip touched her pale-orange mane.

"It darkened down as I got older," Snap said, setting Luna down to brush her mane. "I think blue and green would look good in your mane. It'll soften out the pink."

Fanning her mane out on her hoof, Celestia admired the colors buried inside. What would it look like when she was a fully grown mare? "Snap? Are you really going on tomorrow's supply caravan to the friendly Unicorns?"

Snap's brush paused partway through Luna's mane. "Where did you hear that?"

Celestia gave her a sheepish grin. "Well... a certain colt, told another certain colt, who then told me that you were going."

"Journey!" Snap hissed. "I knew that little tadpole couldn't keep his mouth shut!"

"That's a really dangerous trip." Strawberry said, looking over at her with concern. "Are you sure you want to do that?"

"Yeah," Tulip added. "You could run into monsters, bears, or even worse: a cockatrice!"

"I'll be fine," Snap assured them. "Brother and Starless will be with the caravan, and Dusty’s done it like a dozen times, so he knows the safest way."

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the bushes nearby as something cried out.

Leaping up in alarm, Snap quickly snatched Luna up into her hooves while Celestia and the other fillies scrambled around her. The talk of monsters, bears, and cockatrices had their imaginations running wild at what was lurking in the bush.

"Ow! Get off me!" A voice shouted from the far side of the bush.

With a quick check of her bond with Ash, she felt him right in the center of the commotion. Of course he would be there. He was probably the one who caused it, though that wasn't his voice she had just heard. What was going on?

"I said get off me!" the voice repeated agrily. “Do you know who I am!? I am the son of a chief!

"Wait a moment!" Snap exclaimed with a note of horror. "I know that voice."

Moving around the bush, they found the Lakeside Chief's son, lying pinned to the ground by a colt half his size, with a obsidian knife at his throat.

"I found him hiding behind the bush, watching you all." Ash told them.

"I was not!" Wild Bolt exclaimed. “I swear! This is just a misunderstanding!”

"Then what are you doing here, Wild Bolt?" Snap asked in exacerbation.

"Nothing!" Wild Bolt snapped, twisting his head around. "I just came to wash and this little ferret jumped me!"

"Oh?" Snap said, raising her eyebrow. She had trouble believing him. Probably because his mouth was moving. "You came all the way out here, just to take a bath?"

“It’s true! We just arrived with our part of the monthly tribute and I wanted to wash from the journey," Wild Bolt continued. "I was told this was a good place to do that."

"Want down." Luna started to squirm in Snap's hooves until she set her down. Walking over to Wild Bolt, Luna leaned in close and gazed into his eyes. "Naughty colt. Lying bad. You tell truth."

"What are you...?" Wild looked confused at first, then his face became blank as he was unable to break his gaze from hers.

Luna's eyes bore mercilessly into his, and the young stallion’s body began to shake uncontrollably as fear come to his eyes.

"Fine! Fine! I'll tell, I'll tell!" Wild Bolt exclaimed, trying to shake off her eyes. "I was peeking at Snap! Okay!? I found out she was bathing here and I was trying to get a glimpse under her tail! That's all. I swear!"

Luna smiled and trotted back to Snap to be picked back up.

"As much as this revolts me to have to say this, you can let him up now, Ash," Snap told the colt with a disgusted sigh.

"What kind of creature is she?" Wild asked as he regained his hooves. "I saw... darkness in her eyes." He let out a shiver. "It was so cold."

"She's just a sweet filly who's good at getting into trouble," Snap answered, hugging Luna. "Would you like to hold her?" she asked, holding her out to him with a smile.

Wild Bolt stumbled back, then ran.

Snap blinked down at Luna. "I really don't understand what's wrong. You really are the sweetest filly," she said, nuzzling Luna's nose.

"How did she do that with her eyes?" Tulip asked, scratching her head

Looking up at her baby sister, Celestia felt a growing suspicion about her. She looked over at Ash and saw the same look in his eyes.

Low down on the south side of the Unicorn’s volcanic mountain, there was a large lava chamber that had been once filled with molten rock, but over the eons, its ceiling weakened from rainwater and time until it crumbed down and collapsed, leaving a large canyon cutting through the valley. On the far side, much of the ceiling remained, leaving a massive open-ended cavity, while on the other end, it let out into the rest of the valley. It was here that the common stallions were stabled.

Breeding with any of the stallions wasn't as simple as just letting one mount you. A great many of the stallions were under the wardship of their mothers or matriarchs and required their permission for any breeding to happen with them. The rest of the stallions had been given up by their families when they were unable to feed them and became unclaimed. Breeding with any of these unclaimed stallions was a simple matter of meeting the payment of a week’s worth of feed and to take them as a ward, a year’s worth of feed.

During much of the year, things here were rather calm, but during the breeding times of the spring and fall, things grew a bit more heated. Stallions vying for some fertile mare would fight among themselves if not tightly controlled by the Keepers. Matriarchs, desperate for a good stud for their daughters argued among each other in heated negotiations that could sometimes turn into them trying to kill each other. The Keepers did their best to keep things in order, but at times Casters were needed keep things in line.

Radiant was a bit overwhelmed. With many of the Casters busy elsewhere, or going through their own heats, Starburst ordered her and Nova Slash to help the Keepers today. The air around the breeding stables reeked of lust and passion. Nova seemed excited and she kept pawing at the ground as she gazed longingly at some of the stallions.

Radiant had to admit that she was having trouble keeping her gaze from roaming to some stallion's flanks or their... Once again, Radiant had to give herself a strong mental shake to keep her thoughts from wandering.

"Makes your heart race, doesn't it?" Nova asked, flicking her tail with barely suppressed excitement.

Radiant refused to answer her as she kept her tail firmly clamped down.

"You know, my stallion has already been arranged," Nova Slash continued. "I don't remember his name, but I know he's the High Blood son of Patron Sunshower. My mother went to examine him the other day and told me that his stallionhood measures at five hooves long!"

Radiant realized she had never seen Frost's stallionhood and started to wonder what it looked like. Suddenly she jumped when realized what she was thinking and gave herself another mental shake.

"What about you?" Nova asked. "Your mother arrange yours yet?"

"Yes," Radiant reluctantly answered. "His name is Frost Conjure."

"Hmm." Nova tapped her hoof on her chin. "Never heard of him. Is he a Patron's son?"

Radiant felt hesitant to answer. "He's from the White Mountains to the north."

"He's from one of those lesser clans!?" Nova asked in surprise, a hint of amusement in her voice.

For some reason, Radiant felt her ire rise and she turned to face the mare. "Yeah, he is! Is there something amusing about that!?"

Nova recoiled a step at her vehemence.

"I'll have you know that when he was just a mere colt, he cast a shield over his whole clan, holding back an avalanche that was about to wipe them out!" Radiant stamped her hoof. "Did your stallion ever do that!?" she asked, emphasizing the word stallion. "Did he!?"

Nova recoiled another step as she looked at her in shock.

Furious, Radiant let out a snort and turned away. She didn't understand it. Why was she getting so angry over that colt!? He didn't mean anything to her. Did he? For some reason beyond her, her thoughts kept wandering to him.

Two mares walked past that suddenly caught her eye. Both of them were wearing gold Caster neckletts. That's strange, she thought. Didn't Starburst say that they were short on Casters? The two were speaking quietly to each other as they looked down into the stables. One of the Casters looked familiar to her, but she couldn't place a name.

Her attention was abruptly pulled away when one of the Keepers trotted over to them. "We're going to need your help. There's going to be a Challenge Selection."

Radiant had heard of a Challenge Selection before, but never seen one. It happens when a stallion's matriarch challenges another stallion's matriarch over which will breed a mare. It was dangerous, with many stallions having died in the process.

Following the Keeper, she led them deeper into the stables. Ahead, she saw ponies waiting. Two stallions stood apart, their hooves digging in the soil as they huffed at the air. One stallion was a deep red with a short, golden yellow mane. The other was a light tan with a dark brown forward swept mane. Standing off to the side was a young, pale lavender mare with what Radiant assumed to be her mother.

Along the rim above them, mares were gathering to watch.

"Well, this should be a good show. I'll take this side. You go around and handle the other," Nova ordered, waving her hoof for her to go.

Radiant thought about snapping back a retort, but decided to let it go. Walking around, she positioned herself behind the other stallion and readied her spell. The Keeper moved out and spoke quietly with the young mare and her mother. When she was done, she nodded her head to two other Keepers, who moved to each matriarch and escorted them away from their sons.

The two stallions frisked in place as they impatiently waited to begin. The young mare's mother retreated with the Keepers, leaving her young daughter to stand alone to await her suitor. All was now ready. Nodding across at Nova, Radiant cast her spell. Her horn flashed and a beam shot up to were it was met by Nova's above the three. Striking each other, their spells burst out and descended down into a dome, enclosing the combatants together.

Rearing up, the deep red stallion let out a whinny as he kicked his hooves in the air. The battle had begun! Landing, his horn flashed and he shot a bolt of magic just as his opponent did the same. The two bolts shot across and collided together, blasting apart in a spray of lights. Again, they attacked, and again, their spells shattered against each other with neither coming out ahead.

The gathered mares murmured amongst themselves as they watched and appraised the pair. Some looking impressed. Radiant could tell that the two stallions weren't very experienced in magical combat. Their spells were sloppy and blunt. Radiant couldn't help but feel disappointed. The two stallions were like to two rams running their heads together over and over again.

Radiant's shield suddenly rang when one of the stallion’s spells missed its target and impacted on it. Their spells were growing more wild as the strain of the fight wore on. Desperate to finish the fight, the light tan stallion set his hooves and released a continuous beam of destructive magic right at his opponent, who returned one of his own. The two beams slammed into each other and shook the ground. Digging in their hooves, both stallions struggled to overcome the other as their magic crackled together. Neither giving a hoofstep, nor gaining a hoofstep, they were equally balanced. The crowd grew excited as they started cheering for their favored stallion.

Radiant could tell that both stallions were growing tired, and their magic was almost exhausted. It would soon be over. Who would be victorious and win the mare? With a final crack, both stallions staggered as their magic faltered and sputtered out. Puffing for breath, the two glared across at each other. Radiant was impressed at how much stamina they possessed.

With a furious neigh, the two stallions charged, coming together in primal combat. The mares cheered even louder as they watched the two savagely kick and bite each other. Blood soon splattered across each of their bodies, but still neither gave in. Radiant grew worried that this was going to end fatally and she prepared herself to intercede.

It was the light tan stallion that finally made the crucial mistake. When he swung at his rival, he overextended himself and left himself wide open. With a thunk that all could hear across the stable, the deep red stallions hoof caught the tan one across the side of his head, sending him falling limply to the ground.

It was over. Radiant let her shield dissolve with Nova's. Huffing for breath, the deep red stallion left his fallen rival to claim his mare. The breeding of the pair went swiftly, if a little roughly in Radiant's opinion. When it was over, the pleased looking stallion was led away by the Keepers while the dazed mare, with the stallion's seed still dripping from her marehood, rejoined her mother to leave.

The victorious stallion's mother was quickly surrounded by mares, seeking to arrange their own breeding with her son, while the other mother also received a few suppliants of her own. The tan stallion wobbled as he was helped up by the Keepers and led away to rest.

"Oh, that was exciting!" Nova exclaimed, trotting over to her. "Can you imagine it!? Having two stallions fighting over you!? Just the thought of it makes me hot around the flanks!"

Radiant scowled and tried to ignore her. She didn't want to hear about what got her tail up. Turning away, she noticed the High Keeper walking over to them. "I want to thank you both for your assistance," she said, appreciatively. "For being Casters in training, you performed flawlessly. I'm sure Starburst will be very pleased when I report this to her."

"Well, it’s all because of my leadership, of course," Nova boasted haughtily. "Starburst always relies on me to handle her most important tasks."

Radiant gaped at Nova Burst in disgust. Would she take credit for the sunrise too?

"Mistress!" A keeper called out to her. Following behind her was a scared looking young mare with an aged mare. Four Keepers flanked the pair as they were led over to them."

"What is it?" the High Keeper asked, looking at the pair.

"We caught these two inside the stables," the Keeper answered, indicating the two behind her. "They snuck in during the Selection Challenge."

Radiant examined the two mares in surprise. Sneaking into the stables was dangerous. The punishment for doing so was quite severe. Any foal that may result from such an endeavor, would be taken and given to the stallion's mother. The old mare's silvery mane was streaked with grey, and her knees were knobby. Turning her attention to the younger mare, Radiant noticed her resemblance to the older one. She was light taupe with a olive mane that she wore draped over her eyes. She looked about the same age as her.

The High Keeper tisked at the two. "Did a stallion have her?"

One of the Keepers nodded. " When we examined her, we found that she'd been very recently bred."

The High Keeper's gaze hardened. "Do you know which stallion?"

The Keeper shook her head. "They wouldn't tell us, and none of the stallions would answer us either.

"Well this complicates matters," the High Keeper said, tapping her hoof. Turning back to the two mares, she considered them. "Well? Are you going to hold to your silence, or tell us the name of the stallion?" She waited as she looked between the two. "Fine then. Turn these two over to the Casters. They'll get his name out of them."

"Please don't!" the old mare exclaimed in a near panic. "My grandfilly was only here because of me! I pushed her too it! All my daughters are dead. She's all I got left!" She dropped down to her knees. "Please, don't punish her for what I forced her to do! I beg you."

"Then tell us the name of the Stallion!" The High Keeper pressed.

The young mare shifted, stepping before her grandmare. "It all happened so fast. I never got his name."

"Describe him then," the High Keeper crisply snapped, her tone hinting her waning patience with her.

"He's brown with a dark mane," the young mare slowly described to her. "And his right ear was notched."

A notched ear. Radiant had been confused when she saw stallions with a notch in their ear and had to ask what it meant.

"An unclaimed stallion then." The High Keeper nodded. "Good. At least I won't have to deal with an angry matriarch over this matter."

"What should we do with them, Mistress?" One of the Keepers asked.

"Give them to the Casters." The High Keeper gestured to Nova and herself. "They'll punish them as is proper for their crime. Any foal from this will need to be taken of course."

"No! Please!" the older mare pleaded, crawling around her grandfilly. "I beg you. Don't do this! I'll do anything! I'll give the fee. I promise! I... I... have the secret location of a pear tree. It's a good tree with lots of pears. I'll tell you where you can find it!"

Radiant felt her heart go out to the old mare and her grandfilly. The pear tree was likely one that the old mare had found when she was young, and was probably withered now. With no claim on a fruiting tree, they wouldn't be able to supply the fee for a proper breeding. The only option the young mare might have to have a foal, would be to bond herself to a higher family that would be willing to pay her fee.

An idea suddenly came to Radiant. An idea that could help both her and help the young mare. "High Keeper?" She stepped forward. "I may have another option to consider."

"Oh?" The High Keeper looked back at her curiously. "And what is that?"

"I will pay her fee."

"Why would you want to do that?" Nova exclaimed in disbelief.

"I am in a need of..." Radiant hesitated, her gaze falling onto the frightened young mare as she considered what this would mean. "A milknurse."

"A milknurse!? Why would you need a milknurse!?" Nova exclaimed. "You're not even pregnant!"

"Next spring will be my third cycle," Radiant explained. "I'll be at the proper age to have my first foal."

"This is quite and extraordinary and generous offer," the High Keeper needlessly pointed out. "Well then." she looked down at the young mare. "What say you? Do you agree to serve Radiant Sunset?"

The young mare gaped in shock. Blinking her eyes, she suddenly threw herself to her knees and bent her head down. "I, Sweet Blush, swear my service to you in all things. It will bring joy to me to give suckle to your foals."

Reaching out her hoof, she touched it to Sweet Blush's horn. "I accept your pledge and welcome you into my service." It was done.

Later that day, Radiant sat in her family chambers with her sisters eating. The food the Pegasi have been tithing over the last year had been growing more diverse and fresh. Both her sisters took to Sweet Blush the moment Radiant introduced her. Sweet Blush sat, quietly listening to Radiant's youngest sister, Vivid Midnight, babble about whatever popped into her head.

Taking Sweet Blush as her milknurse was the first big decision she had made that her mother didn't make for her, and she felt a little proud of it. Her mother had made use of milknurses for all her foals. Only a few times had Radiant ever seen her mother suckle her sisters, and she probably only did so to relieve the ache of her filled udders. As a Caster, Radiant knew that she wouldn't be be able to care for her foals throughout the day like a proper mother should, and having Sweet Blush as her milknurse would solve that problem.

Radiant's ear twitched when she heard hoofsteps approaching, and recognized the long and measured stride of her mother, the Great Matriarch of the Unicorns. Standing, Radiant turned to the chambers entrance as her mother came in. Her mother stopped and gazed across at Sweet Blush as the young mare quickly prostrated her head down and touched her horn to the ground to her.

"I was told you chose a milknurse."

Radiant inclined her head. "Yes, mother. Her name is Sweet Blush."

"Is she with foal?"

Radiant blinked in surprise, she wasn't expecting that question. "She ah... was bred earlier today."

Her mother frowned. "Just the once?"

"Yes, mother."

"Then, return her to the stables tomorrow and the day after to have her bred again," her mother ordered. "A milknurse is only useful if she has milk to suckle."

Radiant quickly nodded. "Yes, mother."

Then her mother did something that she'd never done before. She smiled and touched her cheek with a kiss. "You’re becoming a fine mare, my dearest daughter. I'm proud of you." She then stepped back and the tender moment was over. "The milknurse is yours. See to her training. Understood?"

Radiant felt her jaw nearly drop. "Yes, mother. I will."

Little Aurora moved down the row of potatoes, her vision filled with the life around her. Each sprig and leaf was infused with color and light. Even the rich soil beneath her hooves sparkled like stars. Spotting a tiny weed, she grabbed it in her magic and pulled it out and deposited it into her basket. "I got another, mama!"

Dove pulled out her own weed and set it into a nearby basket. "That's great, sweetheart! Keep it up!"

Aurora smiled happily and continued on her hunt for weeds.

With the help of many of their friends, their home was nearly done. It was taller than the huts back in the settlement, with neatly squared-off stone walls. Set in the the front, was a door big enough to let anypony though without the need to duck down, as well as also being wide enough to let a pregnant mare though without scraping her belly on the sides. Inside the spacious cottage, the room was orderly with a fire pit in the center. Along one wall was shelves built by her papa for her mama to keep her herbs in.

In the field behind their cottage, they planted their garden of potatoes, oats and radishes, as well as many of mama's healing herbs. Mama Bell was away with Chase and Sentry hunting rabbits for them to eat, while Papa was working to transplant one of the apple trees to a more suitable spot, leaving Mama to watch her and Applebuck, who was currently asleep in his straw-cushioned bin.

Aurora hummed a happy song that Snap Dragon had taught her about a frog who jumped over the moon. Finding another weed she yanked it out and added it to the others in her basket. She liked it here in her new home. During the summer, there was a apple tree nearby that she would go and nap under, listening to the babble of the nearby river as she drifted to sleep in its cooling shade. The grassy field out front was great for running in with a little hill to roll down. She just wished that her friends would be able to come to play with her. She only got to see Luna when she went with mama to the settlement.

The peaceful air was suddenly broken by a wailing foal. In the bin, little hooves started kicking in the air as the tiny occupant voiced his complaint. Dove sat up and brushed off her hooves. "Well, somepony is certainly hungry." Taking the colt out of his bin, Dove crooned to him as she carried him over to lay in the grass under an apple tree. Pulling her leg back, she offered her teat for him to suckle.

Leaving her basket behind, Aurora hurried over to her mama and laid down with Applebuck to take her mama's other teat. Contentment and love filled her as her mama's warm milk flowed into her mouth. Swallowing, she drew in more. At first she had been jealous of sharing this special time with Applebuck, but now she liked having him with her.

Opening her eyes, she looked up at her mama. She was smiling serenely with her eyes shut as she hummed a soft song. A jagged scar marred the side of her muzzle. Papa had one on his shoulder and mama Bell had a oddly bent ear. When Aurora asked where she got her scar, mama smiled a strange smile that wasn't like her happy smile, and told her that it was a long story that would be best to tell her when she was a little older.

Swallowing her mouthful of milk, Aurora shifted her gaze down to her mama's belly. Something about it seemed strange to her. The aura of colors that made up her mama were swirling around and becoming brighter there.

Releasing her mama's teat, Aurora reached out and touched her mama's belly. "Mama? Why your tummy look funny?"

Dove stopped humming to look down at her daughter. "What do you mean, sweetheart?"

Aurora struggled to think of how to explain what she saw. She knew that mama and the other ponies saw things differently. "Mama's tummy looks... happy."

Dove blinked down at her in befuddlement.

Aurora couldn't think of any better way to explain it. Moving back to her mama's teat, she resumed nursing.

Later, Dove packed Applebuck into a carry bin and placed her in with him. Once they were settled, Dove set off for the settlement. Aurora was excited the entire time there. She was going to see Luna again! Hugging Applebuck to herself, she ignored his drool as it soaked into her foreleg.

When they arrived, she was disappointed when her mama sought out Starless, finding her speaking with Dusty.

"Excuse me Starless, but I was wondering if you have a moment?" her mama asked.

"Of course," Starless said, turning back to Dusty to excuse herself. "What is it you need?"

"Well..." Dove looked unsure. "Earlier today, Aurora said something that was rather strange, and I was wondering if you might know what she meant.

"Oh?" Starless became curious. "What did she say?"

"She said that my stomach looked funny," Dove answered. "That it looked happy."

"Happy?" Starless repeated thoughtfully. Tapping her hoof on her chin, she considered Aurora for a time. Lifting her out of the carry bin, Starless set her down and lowered her head to her level. "So. You said that your mama's stomach looked happy. Is that right?"

Aurora nodded.

"And does her tummy still look happy?" Starless asked.

Aurora looked over at her mama and nodded again.

Starless leaned back and tapped her hoof to her chin again. Then she stopped and looked back down at her. "Aurora? Can you show me what happy looks like?"

Aurora thought about it and began leaping around, twirling her body as she kicked her hooves about.

"Dancing?" Starless asked with a note of amusement. "Your mama's tummy looks like it's dancing?"

Aurora spun to a stop and nodded emphatically up at Starless. "Yes, yes! Colors on mama's tummy dancing."

Starless seemed at a loss and she began pacing back and forth as she muttered to herself.

Aurora watched her in amusement. Starless was funny when she got this way.

Suddenly, Starless stopped and showed her her side. "Does my tummy look like it's dancing?"

Aurora examined her mentor's stomach. Her aura looked calm and serene. She shook her head.

"What about any of the other ponies?" she asked, gesturing around.

Aurora looked about and noticed two mares walking by. One of them had the same swirls around her tummy that mama did, though hers was a bit more brighter. When she pointed at the mare, Starless quickly trotted over to talk to her. After speaking with her for a short while, Starless returned with a thoughtful look. "Dove. I want you to wait here with her for a little bit. I want to try something," Starless told her, before trotting off again.

After a short while, she returned with a dozen mares and lined them up. "Okay Aurora, I want you to examine each of these nice mares and tell me if any of their tummies are dancing."

Aurora was curious as she moved forward. Walking past each mare, she looked each one over. Suddenly she came across a mare who's tummy looked funny and she nodded towards her. Starless had the mare stand forward. Aurora continued down the line and picked out two more who were also sent to stand with the first.

Starless was looking very pleased as she examined Aurora's selection. With Applebuck cooing happily in her hooves, Dove approached. "So, do you know what this means?"

"I certainly do!" Starless answered with a smile. "Out of all the mares I asked to help, these three are the only ones who are expecting."

"Expecting? Expecting what?" Dove blinked in momentary confusion then her eyes began to grow big as the realization began to dawn on her. "Wait. If they are expecting expecting, then that means...!"

Starless laughed and threw her hoof around Dove's neck and hugged her. "That's right! You’re pregnant!"

"But... I didn't have my heat," Dove complained. "I can't be pregnant!"

Starless playfully booped Dove's nose with her hoof. "As a very wise mare once told me, life finds a way." She pointed at Aurora's necklett. "Aurora sees things very differently than us. She sees life! And with this very special sight of hers, she sees the new life growing inside you!"

Dove blinked in shock as she sat down, her breath coming heavily. Concerned, Aurora ran up to her. "Mama!? You hurt?"

"No, sweetheart." Dove assured her. "I’m... fine." She said, hesitantly. Taking a deep breath she smiled down at her concerned daughter. "It's just that this is quite unexpected. That's all."

"This was so obvious!" Starless exclaimed happily. "I feel so silly now for not realizing she could do this sooner!"

"Well," Dove said, looking down at the little colt she held in her hooves, "your mama and papa are going to be so surprised to hear about this."

Chapter Fifty One

Snap Dragon held her foal in her hooves as she sung a lullaby to her. Smiling down at her tiny filly, she lowered her head and gently nuzzled her soft cheeks and kissed her. Lying beside her was a stallion holding another foal, a colt, smiling at her with love and joy. She couldn't make out the stallion's face and his color was washed out into a kind of colorless grey color.

The tiny colt in his hooves started wailing and kicking his little legs as he cried out in hunger.

"Here, set him to nurse." Snap rolled herself onto her side, exposing her pregnant belly to him, and pulled back her leg to present her milk laden udders for her foal. Milk dripped from her teats as the stallion set the colt to her, and Snap let out a happy sigh when she felt the colt latch on and suckle with quick, strong pulls that drew in her rich nourishment. Smelling the milk in the air, the filly in her hooves quickly roused and began squirming as she mewed for a feeding.

Holding her daughter out to the father, the stallion took the filly and set her to her other teat. Another cry started up and Snap took up a wailing foal that had been sleeping against her chest, passing the filly over to the stallion he set her to another teat to nurse. Suddenly, another foal cried out, followed by another, and another. The stallion began extracting foals from a nearby hay-filled basket and setting them to her to feed, somehow each one finding a teat to suckle. More wails filled the air from another basket and the stallion gathered those up and gave them over to her to nurse.

When the last one was set to nurse, she gazed back at a dozen foals nursing along her belly and smiled.

The stallion smiled down at her, his gaze filled with love. "You are the most wonderful mother. I love you." Their lips came together and her heart exploded in happiness. Everything was perfect!

Snap Dragon woke up.

The fire had burned down to embers, so Snap tossed a log onto the fire, bringing it back to life and filling the room with its light. Rolling onto her side, Snap looked down at her belly, recalling the sight of a dozen foals nursing together along them. What a very strange dream, she thought to herself. Pulling her hind legs back, she exposed her two soft mounds with her pert, light colored teats. They used to be flat, but had gotten bigger over the last year, and now looked rather shapely.

Reaching out, she lightly brushed her hoof over one of her teats and gasped as how sensitive it felt. Closing her eyes, she lightly rubbed her teat and imagined that it was a foal nursing from her, it's little mouth latched on, suckling milk from her. She felt a strange flush wash over her body and her marehood began throbbing.

Snap's eyes flew open. She had never felt that before! Reaching her hoof down, she touched it to her marehood and found it soaking wet. The touch sent an unusual tingle through her body. It felt really good! Slowly, she began to rub her hoof along her marehood, marveling at the pleasant tingles under her touch.

The longer she rubbed, the more the pleasant tingles grew. Closing her eyes again, Snap found herself thinking about the faceless stallion in her dream. The way he smiled at her and the touch of his lips as he kissed her. Her breath brew more brisk as the tingles grew ever more intense until suddenly, her marehood exploded with waves of bliss as it repeatedly clamped down on itself. Moaning, Snap felt pleasures she had never endured before roll though her body. Fluids spurted out of her marehood, splattering onto her hoof.

Panting for breath, Snap fell back as her body slowly settled down from what had just happened, a warm feeling of satisfaction settling over her. As enjoyable as that had been, something about it seemed lacking for her. Her body craved something more.

Getting up, she looked outside and saw the nearly full moon laying low on the horizon and realized that she'd need to get ready.

Her little brother was already staying over with Birch Bark and his mate, Floral Scent, who had agreed to watch him while she was away. Birch Bark and Floral Scent were Mighty Oak’s parents and knew how to keep colts in line.

The air and her body reeked with the heavy scent of what she had done. Moving to the niche on the wall, she took out her mother's scented gourd. Inside were flowers and herbs soaking in clean spring water. She unstoppered it and sniffed the pleasant scent that came out of it. She then began to lightly wash her coat with it. Moving back to her marehood, she found it unusually hot and sensitive as she rinsed it out. When she was finished, she smelled much sweeter, with a strong herbal scent. With some left over, she emptied the rest over her new travel mantle that Tranquil so generously made her for this trip.

Finished, she took her travel mantle and put it on, letting the fabric settle over her back and she marveled at the feel of it. Once it was in place, she threw its hood up over her head and ducked outside. The sky was growing lighter with the approaching dawn, and she hurried through the chilled morning air, thankful for the warm mantle she had on. Crossing through the settlement, she came to the storage houses, where ponies were already gathering.

With the full moon coming in two nights, Birch Bark was starting to organize the tributes for the Pegasi to take to the Unicorns. Dutifully, she'd already organized the packs for Starless’ rebel Unicorns and had them sitting ready for them, filled with food and other necessary supplies.

Dusty was the lead stallion of the supply caravan and was already assigning packs to ponies as they arrived. It wasn't easy get him to agree to let her come, but thankfully, Skye and Tranquil backed her up and convinced him let her join as a packer.

"Good Morning, Snap," Tranquil greeted her as she walked up. "I have your pack ready right here." She pulled out one of the packs that was filled with lettuce.

With Tranquil's help, Snap managed to set the load onto her back. It was heavier than she was used to, but she felt confident that she could manage it. Ready, she joined the other packers.

As the eastern horizon glowed with the approaching sunrise, Starless and Ground arrived. Snap made sure to keep her hood up to shroud her face from the pair. She never told them that she was going and feared that they'd have Dusty send her back home if they discovered that she was there.

With her foal in hoof, a tearful Skye hugged and kissed both Dusty and Tranquil goodbye as the other packers were doing the same with their families. Once the goodbyes were over, Dusty took his position in the lead with his best packers, Tranquil, Far Treader, Flint Heart, Blue Swirl, and Kindwhinny and led them out of the gate. Discounting Starless and Ground, there were sixteen packers on this trip and one pegasus scout named Cotton Clouds, who was already flying above them.

Unnoticed by Snap, a silver coated stallion adjusted his simple straw woven hat as he followed up in the rear, his eyes following Snap as she walked ahead of him.

The steady pace that Dusty led them at ate up the distance at a remarkable rate, but even with that, it was still going to be four days walk to the Free Unicorns settlement. Snap found her breath puffing out as she strained to keep her pace. This was harder than she thought it was going to be. The pack’s weight bore down on her back more and more as the day wore on. Her marehood still felt hot and she had to fight the urge to fan it with her tail.

At periodic points, Dusty would have them stop to rest. With her body aching all over, Snap gratefully laid herself down on the cool grass. Snap had thought that the pace Dusty had started them on was easy at first, but now she was finding it rather grueling. Uncorking her gourd, Snap drank down her water with long gulps that helped soothe her parched throat.

Tranquil moved through the resting ponies passing out two apples to each packer. "How are you doing?" she asked, coming up on Snap.

"This is harder than I thought," Snap confessed, accepting the apples Tranquil held out to her. "But I'll manage. Thank you."

"Don't worry. It'll get easier," Tranquil assured her with a warm smile before moving on to the next pony.

The rest of the day didn't get easier. As the sun neared the horizon, Dusty finally stopped them in a clearing to camp for the night. Ponies quickly got to work setting up the shelters that Dusty and Tranquil had designed with the help of Brightstar. The shelters were both simple and effective in their construction. Large rolls of grass mats were unrolled and propped up with poles and straps that were staked down to make a peaked roof. Inside, a grass mat was laid out to let two ponies sleep comfortably out of any weather.

The next day, Snap felt horrible. Her body ached and she had trouble sleeping the night before. She kept having dreams of that faceless stallion. Some of which would bring a flush to her cheeks thinking about. At the end of the second day, Snap felt like dying. Tranquil said that it would get easier, but all she's felt was it getting worse. Leaving her shelter half-done, she set off down the slope for the nearby stream to cool herself off.

On her way down, she passed by Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny as they were making their way back up after a quick dip. The two mares suddenly paused to look back at Snap when they noticed something about her. Exchanging knowing looks with each other, the two quickly trotted off to find Dusty and Tranquil.

Why did she feel so hot? Walking down to the stream's edge, Snap dipped her muzzle straight into the water to drink. The cool water flowing down her throat felt good, but did little to cool the rest of her. Lifting her tail, she frantically fanned it trying to cool the burning sensation of her marehood. Was this because of what she had done that morning? Perhaps if she did it again it would get better?

Behind her, she heard hoofsteps approaching and the sudden scent of a stallion that caught her attention. For some reason the smell of him made her marehood start twitching and throbbing. Looking back, she found Wild Bolt standing behind her.

Snap's face suddenly flushed when she realized that she was fanning her tail right at his face! "What are you doing here!?" she exclaimed in surprise, quickly turning herself around. She felt like an idiot. How did she not notice him among the other packers!?

"I came to get a drink," he answered, his eyes looking at her with an intensity that made her flush even more.

Snap stamped her hoof in irritation. Why did he have to make things so stupid!? "What I meant was, what are you doing here with the supply caravan?"

"Well, when I heard about the supply run, I volunteered to be a packer."

"When did you hear about the caravan?" Something about that seemed to hang in her mind, then she had it! "Wait! You were listening in when we were talking about it at the stream! Didn't you!?"

Wild gave her a an awkward shrug as he grinned at her with that stupid grin. "I might have, I don't remember."

"I don't believe you!" Snap should a have expected something like this from him. "I'm leaving now. Goodnight."

"Do you really have to leave so soon?" Wild said, stepping in her way. "I know we got off on the wrong hoof, and I feel bad about that. I want us to be friends, don't you? "

He was standing really close to her now, his scent filling her nose as she retreated to the edge of the stream. "I... ah... think our friendship is just fine as it is." Her head felt fuzzy for some reason and she was having trouble thinking clearly.

"Please," Wild Bolt said, stepping even closer. "I'm sure we can work things out between us and be much better friends."

Snap felt her face flushing as he stood over her. "Why do you want to be friends with me? There are plenty of other mares you can go after. What makes me so special?"

Wild reached his muzzle out and lightly brushed her neck. "You're beautiful. Did you know that?"

"I..." Snap couldn't think of anything to say as her mind went blank. His light touches were making her feel strange.

Pausing, Wild took a deep sniff of her. "You smell really good too."

"I'm all sweaty," Snap complained, feeling embarrassed by his close attention. Her heart started racing in her breast. Why was she feeling this way? Especially with him!?

"I like that." Wild nipped her lightly near her crest

His nip sent shivers down her body and left her craving more. What was wrong with her!? "You're... standing really close." A part of her tried to resist his advances, but it was quickly being overcome by her strange desires. It was like her body was acting on its own as it melted under his touches.

"Did I ever tell you how much I admire you?" Wild continued, whispering along her neck as he nipped and pecked at her coat. "You're not like any of the other mares I know. You're fearless and strong. I heard about how you escorted a filly safely through a spider infested forest. I've seen how nurturing you are when caring for the foals. You sing to them and hold them with such tenderness." Oddly, his face took on a mornfull look. A moment later it vanished.

"You've been watching me?" Snap breath now came heavily as her eyes drifted closed.

"Of course," Wild Bolt answered. "I can't keep my eyes off of you. You've become the sun to my day and the moon to my night."

Snap felt her flush spread all the way up to the tips of her ears and threatened to light them on fire. Her breath huffed out as she let out an involuntary moan. Snap's willpower was nearly gone. "Please... we should stop."

Wild Bolt's lips traveled down her muzzle to brush up lightly against her lips. "Stop?" he asked. "Why would I stop?"

Wild's strong scent filled her senses and she let out a moan as she felt his touches move down her body to her flanks. Why did she ask him to stop? Her body yearned for this. Begged to be taken and claimed, her womb filled with his foal. Her dream came to her and she saw him in it. Her tail lifted high as her body welcomed the stallion's approach. Why was she fighting this? It felt so good. So right. And yet, something still told her to push him away.

Feeling Wild Bolt's body bumping into hers, she noticed something lengthening under him as he moved around to her rear. In her breeding shrouded mind, it took her a moment to realize that she was seeing Wild's mottled stallionhood standing ready to take her.

Rearing up, Wild mounted her back and quickly began thrusting himself forward. Feeling his stallionhood prodding at her nethers, Snap's mind suddenly broke through the heavy fog of desire at the realization that she was about to do with him! Just then, his stallionhood jabbed into her dripping marehood and started to go in!

"No!" Snap shouted and started bucking and lunging herself forward in an attempt to throw him off. Wild Bolt bit her crest as his hips humped forward, sinking himself in deeper. A part of her wanted him to continue and take his virile seed deep within her, but she didn't want it this way. She wanted to have a foal with a pony she loved! Redoubling her efforts, Snap twisted herself around and threw the young stallion off her back. With a wet pop, his stallionhood pulled out of her.

Stumbling to his hooves, Wild turned on her. "Why did you do that!? I wasn't done yet!"

"You are now!" Snap panted, a part of her lamented the unfinished act.

"Why are you denying this!?" Wild Bolt tried to get close to her again. "You know that I'm the only stallion for you! Since the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew that we were destined to be together. You can’t deny it! You want me to take you and make you mine!"

Suddenly, a dark shadow came roaring down on the young stallion as Ground charged in. Wild Bolt stood no chance against Snap's enraged brother as he bore down on him. With a terrified scream, Wild was bodily lifted off the ground and thrown halfway across the stream.

Starless dashed over and quickly pulled Snap's tail up to examine her marehood.

"Well!?" Ground asked, looking back at Starless.

"We were in time," Starless said with a relieved sigh.

Ground let out a snort. "Good." He then turned back to the young stallion in the water and marched in after him. Wild tried to flee, but Ground quickly ran him down and shoved him under the water, holding him there as he thrashed.

"Ground, stop!" Dusty cried out, running up. "You're drowning him!"

Ground ignored him as he continued to hold the struggling stallion under the surface.

Snap was angry at Wild Bolt for what he nearly did to her, but she was more angry at herself for nearly allowing it. "Brother! Please, stop!" she shouted at her brother. Turning, she looked back at Starless. "Please, stop him! He's going to kill him!"

Starless met her gaze for a moment then reluctantly turned back to Ground. "I think he's had enough. Let him go."

With a snarl, Ground suddenly released the young stallion who came bursting to the surface, gasping for breath. Grabbing Wild Bolt around his middle, Ground hauled him to shore and dropped him to the grass.

Snap felt oddly relieved to see that Wild Bolt was alive. Turning away, she walked back to Starless. She felt so stupid and embarrassed. She wanted to bury herself in a hole somewhere and die.

"Are you alright?" Starless asked, looking her over with concern. "Did he hurt you?"

Snap shook her head. Now that her mind had cleared enough to think coherently, she now thought she understood what was happening to her. "Is... is this what it's like to go into heat?"

Starless reached out and tenderly hugged her. "The first one is always the worst. Especially when you're not expecting it." Releasing her, she moved around to stand close by her side as they began walking together back to the settlement. "You'll be sleeping with me until we get you back home."

"And you," Ground growled down at the water logged colt. "Will be sleeping with me from now on, so I can keep an eye on you."

Wild Bolt let out a groan and flopped his head down to the ground. How was a mare worth this!? he despaired.

Snap lay in Starless' shelter, with Tranquil sitting at the opening, watching over her. Eating a fire-cooked potato that Tranquil had brought her, she listened to her tell of her first heat.

"It happened just a few weeks ago." Tranquil explained. "Normally, I should have had mine much earlier, but apparently, it had been set back due to my poor diet. When it came, it was like a fever had come over me. Feelings and desires flooded my senses and I was lost to them. I was so confused and scared. I couldn't handle it and I tried to run away. When Skye found me and explained what was happening, I felt a great relief and joy come over me. At last, I could have something I never dreamed I could ever have. A family." Her hoof caressed her belly with a gentle smile. It wasn't known yet if she was pregnant, nor was it even known if an Earth Pony and Unicorn could have a foal together.

"At least you had somepony you loved come to you," Snap said. "I nearly let... him take me. Him! Out of all the stallions, why him!?"

"Who knows what draws us to a certain stallion?" Tranquil said with a shrug. "I knew I was in love with Dusty the moment we met. It just took me a while to admit it to him."

"Well, I can tell you that I am definitely not in love with Wild!" Snap exclaimed. "That stallion has his head so far up his tailhole, he's come out the other end! I can't believe what I nearly did with him!"

"Now, now. Don't be that way," Tranquil said. "I'm sure he's not that bad."

Snap had no comment decent enough to respond to her with, and instead she busied herself with eating the rest of her cooked potato.

Soon after, Starless appeared, carrying flowers. Ducking her head inside their shelter, she set the plant before Snap. "Here, eat this."

It looked like she had brought her the entire plant! It had little blue flowers with four petals arranged around a white core.

"It's called Mare's Touch." Starless explained. "It will taste a little bitter, but it’ll help you feel better. It does for me."

Snap was a little dubious about that, but if it would help. She nearly spat out the first bite. "A little bitter!?" she sputtered around her mouthful.

"Don't complain and just eat it," Starless told her, nodding her head. "The Unicorns use Mare's Touch to help them through their times. It soothes the more… intense urges."

Snap managed to eat the rest as Starless shared her experience of her first heat. As she listened, she began to feel drowsy. Blinking her eyes, she found it harder and harder to keep them open until they stayed closed.

Snap was back at the stream with Wild.

With her tail lifted high, she welcomed the stallion's approach. Why was she fighting this? It felt so good. Feeling Wild Bolt's body bumping into hers, she noticed something lengthening under him as he moved around to her rear. In her lust shrouded mind, it took her a moment to realize that she was seeing Wild's mottled stallionhood standing ready to take her.

Rearing up, Wild mounted her back and quickly began thrusting himself forward. Feeling his stallionhood prodding at her nethers, Snap's mind suddenly broke through the heavy fog of desire at the sudden realization of what was about to happen. Just then, his stallionhood jab into her marehood and started to go in!

"No!" Snap shouted and started bucking and lunging herself forward in an attempt to escape from under him. Wild bit her crest as he struggled to keep his place, his hips humping forward as he sank in deeper. With a wild scream, Snap twisted herself around and tried to throw him off, but he managed to hold on as he shoved his hips forward and sank himself all the way into her!

She could feel him! His stallionhood was pressing right up against the entrance to her young fertile womb! His teeth bit into her crest as he began thrusting his stallionhood into her. Her mind exploded with new pleasures as she felt herself being filled over and over again. Her will wilted under the assault on her senses and she stopped struggling against the stallion claiming her.

Quickly, Wild Bolt's thrusts became more frantic as his hips slammed ever more forcefully into her until he suddenly let out a loud breeding whinny and shoved himself right up against her womb! Powerful surges rushed down his stallionhood as she felt his seed erupt into her waiting depths. Spurt after spurt, he filled her fertile body until it could take no more and it began to spill out of her. It was done. Wild Bolt had claimed his mare and she couldn’t be happier.

Snap woke with a horrified scream.

The next morning, Snap sat brooding as Starless broke down their shelter with her magic. Looking at the young mare, Starless sighed. "Don't think so much about it. It was just a dream."

Snap didn't respond as he continued to stare blankly down.

Tranquil approached them and paused when she noticed Snap's gloomy demure. "What's wrong?"

"She had a bad dream."

"Oh?" Tranquil said, looking back at Snap. "I'm sorry to hear that." She sat down next to Snap. "You know, I keep having a bad dream myself about a purple tentacle monster that wrapps me all up, so I can't move, then drags me into a dark hole."

Snap smirked. "If only mine was that nice."

With their camp cleared and stored back into their packs, Snap went to collect her pack, but found it missing. "You won't be carrying a pack today." Starless said. "Your body's going through a lot of changes right now and there's no need to add anymore strain to it. Luckily, Wild Bolt has happy enough to volunteer to help take up the extra burden." She turned and smiled at the young stallion as he staggered under the double load. "Wasn't that sweet of him?"

At first, Wild Bolt scowled back at Starless, but then quickly smiled when Ground turned to glare at him.

With the horizon just starting to glow to the east, Dusty started them moving again.

With sweat dripping from his brow, Wild Bolt trudged along under the ever watchful gaze of Ground. That stallion was a monster! Before going to sleep the night before, he had actually tied him up to keep him from slipping off!

Ahead of him, he would catch glimpses of Snap walking with a group of mares. Apparently, the word had gone out about her, and the mares were now actively keeping the stallions away. His gaze lingered on her. How was any mare worth what he was suffering through?

He could have any of the fillies back home. Why did he long for Snap so much? The smell of her mane, the curves of her hips, the touch of her lips. From the moment he met Snap, all he could do was think of her. To take her as his own and watch her belly swell with his foals.

Suddenly, he felt a stinging slap crack across the back of his head that made him stagger forward. Regaining his step, he shot a furious look at Ground. "What was that for!"

"Stop thinking of my sister," Ground growled down at him.

Wild was about to deny that he'd been thinking of her when he suddenly noticed that his fully aroused stallionhood was flopping around under him. Flushing with embarrassment, Wild dropped his gaze and focused as best as he could on his hooves. Around him, he could hear the other stallions chuckling at his plight, and started making jokes at his back. No mare was worth this!

The sun slowly climbed over the horizon and started to cast its light through the trees when Dusty Stride halted them for a rest. Panting for breath, Wild collapsed gratefully to the ground. Uncorking his gourd, he eagerly guzzled down his water, letting it spill over his face until it was out. Letting out a lamenting sigh, Wild re-corked his empty gourd and put it away.

Swooping down from the sky, their Pegasus scout, Cotton Clouds, landed and rushed over to Dusty to speak to him. Dusty's face suddenly grew alarmed at what she told him and he quickly summoned Starless over to listen.

Sitting next to him, Ground watched the exchange and grew concerned. Standing, he looked down at him and pointed at a nearby massive boulder that towered twice as high as a pony. "If you move from this spot, I'll bury your head under that rock. Understood?"

Wild sighed and nodded. As Ground proceeded to walk away, Wild stuck his tongue out at his back.

Ground trotted over to Starless and Dusty and joined their discussion. Watching from where he sat, Wild wondered what was happening. After a while, Dusty moved off and started gathering some of the packers around him, while Ground started unpacking spears out of a supply pack. Watching this, Wild grew even more curious. Something was happening.

Glancing across at him, Ground frowned. Picking up a spear, he walked over and tossed it down in front of him. "Take that and come with me."

"Where are we going?" Wild asked, picking up the spear. "And why do we need spears?"

"Cotton Cloud spotted something troubling. We need to check it out," Ground growled at him. "And I don't trust you enough to leave you here, so you're coming. Just keep your mouth shut and do what I tell you."

Wild had never really used a spear before and it felt awkward as it bumped his legs as he rushed after Ground. Starless, Dusty, Far Treader, Flint Heart, Blue Swirl, Kindwhinny and Cotton Cloud were already waiting to go. When he arrived, Dusty suddenly put a supply pack on his back.

"Wait! Why do I have to carry this!?" Wold Bolt complained.

"Because I am in charge and I want you to carry it," Dusty replied. "You did come to me the other day volunteering to join and help haul supplies, right?" Dusty patted the pack on his back. "And look at that. This is supplies."

Wild Bolt's ears wilted as he glowered at the ground. The whole reason he had volunteered was because he was trying to get Snap. No mare was worth this! Slipping his spear into the pack's strap on the side, Wild mumbled angrily to himself as he fell in behind the others. Dusty spoke with Tranquil, giving her some final instructions before sharing a rather long kiss with her as they parted.

They traveled northeast for over a full hoof-length of the sun. After crossing a small stream, Cotton Cloud stopped them and motioned for them to to keep quiet. Climbing a hill, she lowered herself to the ground and carefully looked over. Whatever she saw made her blanch and quickly retreat back down to rejoin them.

"They're still there," she whispered. "They're just over on the other side. It looks like they killed one."

Starless nodded and climbed up the slope. Ground motioned for Wild to stay there before following her with the rest. Lowering themselves to their bellies, they crawled slowly to the top and peeked over.

"What did you see?" Wild asked, leaning in close to Cotton Clouds.

She looked like she was going to be sick and only shook her head.

Frustrated and dying with curiosity, Wild dropped the pack to the ground and climbed up the slope. Dropping down low, he crawled up to the ridge. On the other side, he saw three Earth Pony stallions, and some kind of large bull-like beast that stood on its hind legs, gathered around a figure tied to a tree. "What is that!?" Wild whispered.

Starless quickly hiss for him to keep silent.

Two of the Earth Ponies were resting on a log while a third Earth Pony was beating somepony tied to a tree with some kind of long, rope-like strap. By the sound of the screams they could hear, the figure tied to the tree was a mare. The bull-like monster sat watching as he ate from the carcass on the ground. Looking closely, the carcass looked to be a pony. Its belly had been ripped open and the bull-like creature was pulling things out and stuffing it into his bloodied maw to chew.

Wild felt his stomach turn at the grotesque sight. Starless and the others next to him lowered themselves back down the hill and Wild did the same.

"What is that beast?" Dusty asked, once they were at the bottom.

"A Minotaur," Starless answered with distaste. "They're vile creatures that live in the mountains far to the east. It's rare to see one this far from home. They know that Unicorns will kill them if they're discovered on our territory."

"It had Earth Ponies with it," Ground said, his face looking bleak.

Starless nodded. "They would be the Minotaur's servants, and Mud Ponies would be a more apt name for them. They're most likely slavers on a hunt."

"Slaves?" Kindwhinny asked. "What's a slave?"

"Slaves are captured laborers that are forced to work for their masters until they die or are killed." Starless answered.

"How horrible," Kindwhinny gasped.

"So, what do we do?" Dusty asked.

"We kill them," Ground growled without hesitation.

Flint Heart grinned and raised a hoof. "Yeah!"

"We need to save that poor mare," Kindwhinny agreed.

"Why?" Wild asked. "Why should we risk ourselves for somepony we don't know?"

"You heartless little colt!" Blue Swirl exclaimed. "She needs our help!"

Starless held up a hoof to forestall any more arguing. "This decision is Dusty's." She looked over at him. "What do we do?

Dusty considered them and nodded. "We fight."

Wild felt a surge if irritation at the stupidity of the decision. He had heard about how hardheaded and foolish this tribe was.

Ground started laying out the plan. "I will take Far Treader and the colt around the hill to the south with Starless, while Dusty takes Flint Heart, Blue Swirl, and Kindwhinny around to the north. At Cotton Cloud's signal, we attack from both sides. Dusty's side will split into pairs go for the two Earth... ah... Mud Ponies on the log, while Far Treader and the colt will take the one beating the mare."

"What about the Minotaur?" Flint Heart asked.

"He'll be mine," Ground answered, stamping his hoof with an almost eagerness. "Starless will rescue the captive mare and provide support where it's needed. There may be more slavers we've not seen, so watch your backs. Everyone understand what you need to do?"

Wild opened his mouth, but before he could utter a word, Ground suddenly lowered his head down close to his ear.

"If you think of refusing, colt. I'll break all your legs and have you crawl the entire way back home," Ground growled.

Wild Bolt quickly closed his mouth and swallowed.

With his heart galloping in his chest, Wild Bolt followed after Ground as they carefully moved around the hill. Despite how stupid this was, Wild felt a kind of thrill. He'd never been in a serious fight before and he was starting to like the idea. He'd be able to prove to them that he was a stallion! Especially if he was the one who took down the Minotaur! Ground would have to start respecting him then!

Stepping softly through the trees, they came to the edge and peered out across the clearing. The Minotaur was now shouting at the captive mare, demanding that she tell him where the other runaways were. Others? What did he mean by that? Wild wondered.

Above them, Cotton Clouds was peeking over a cloud watching. When she saw that they were ready, she held out a gem and let the sun briefly glitter on it.

Seeing the signal, Ground let out a grunt and charged with Far Treader. Wild Bolt stumbled when he nearly tripped over his spear and managed to recover to follow a few steps behind. Starless moved out at a graceful gallop, her horn glowing with power as she prepared her spells.

In the trees to the east, a slaver they had failed to note suddenly cried out a warning. Hearing the cry, the other slavers quickly scrambled to get their spears. The Minotaur, snatched up a large club in its paws and turned to face them as Ground came galloping in at him.

One of the slavers foolishly rushed out to stab Ground, but suddenly found his spear yanked out of his grasp by Starless' magic. Without stopping or slowing, Ground ran the disarmed stallion down under his massive hooves before coming up on the Minotaur.

The Minotaur lifted his club and brought it down at Ground, just missing the stallion as he quickly sidestepped around and slashed his spear-point across the creature's stomach. The Minotaur's hide was tough and the slash only opened a shallow gash that only seemed to irritate the beast. With a speed that surprised Ground, the Minotaur struck at him with one of his pawed hands, sending him staggering to the side.

Wild Bolt saw that the Minotaur was focused on Ground. This was it! Wild Bolt thought, rushing in. Lifting his massive club back up, the Minotaur was suddenly surprised when Wild Bolt rashly dashed in and stabbed the wrong end of his spear into its gut. The creature paused and look down at him in rage. Turning, it brought it's club whirling down at him. Letting out a terrified scream, Wild Bolt threw himself back and felt the wind of the club as it passed by his head. Falling onto his back, Wild looked up as the Minotaur stepped forward to finish him with a final swing of his club. With a crack that shook the air, the Minotaur's club was suddenly caught on Ground's upraised hoof. "Get off your rump you stupid colt, and help out Far Treader!" Ground roared at him.

Scrambling back to his hooves he saw that Far Treader was facing the fourth slaver alone and was being forced back. Dusty and the others with him were fighting the other two slavers to the north, while Starless was confronting two additional slavers that had just come rushing in out of the woods.

Rushing to Far Treader, Wild noticed that the slaver's spear tip looked odd. It wasn't made of obsidian like theirs. Turning his spear the right way, Wild Bolt thrust it at the slaver's exposed side. Seeing him coming, the slaver pivoted himself and cracked his spear across his, knocking it out of his grip. Standing dumbfounded, Wild Bolt suddenly felt a painful crack as the slaver's spear-butt smacked him across the side of his head.

As Starless faced the two newcomers, she saw that they wore strange looking caps over their heads, and on their chests, they wore flattened plates, made from same kind of dull reddish-gold material as their caps. Dodging one of their spear thrusts, Starless shifted her stance and stabbed her spear into the slaver's chest plate. With a solid clang, her spear-tip shattered against it!

Cursing, Starless leapt back, just barely dodging a slash that was aimed at her throat. She was furious. That spear had been a gift from Ground!

Using her spear-shaft, Starless parried a thrust to the side and smiled at the slaver. "That's an interesting chest-plate. I wonder how well it works against magic?" His eyes shot wide when her horn flashed, and with a thunderous-crack that shook the air, the slaver was blasted back into a tree and collapsed to the ground.

Snatching up the slaver's fallen spear, Starless examined the reddish-gold tip. "This is interesting." The second slaver snarled and thrust his spear at her throat. With a thunk, she parried it to the side, rotating her step, she continued the move and brought her spear up into the bottom of the slaver's jaw. With a sickening wet sound, her spear plunged up into his brain. The slaver stiffened and fell twitching on the ground.

Dusty and Flint Heart were working together against their opponent. Neither were very experienced with fighting, having only been trained in the basics, but together they were holding their own. Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny looked like they were dancing as they moved and slashed together, scoring several nasty cuts across their slaver's sides and shoulder.

Regaining his senses, Wild Bolt rushed to rejoin Far Treader, who was now bleeding from several cuts on his neck and chest. The slaver had his spear locked with Far Treader's as the two fought to force the other back. With his spear lost, Wild did what Ground had done and charged right into the surprised slaver. The impact of their bodies hurt more than Wild thought it would as he carried the slaver to the ground.

Wild Bolt tried to hold him down, but the slaver backhoofed him painfully across his muzzle and tore himself away. Blinking tears out of his eyes, Wild Bolt found the slaver standing over him with his spear ready to plunge into him. Suddenly, the slaver's eyes shot wide as Far Treader's spear stabbed him in his throat. Blood poured out of his mouth as his spear dropped from his grasp. His hoof reached up to touch the spear in his neck with an almost surprised look on his face. Then, with a gargle of blood, he collapsed to the ground.

Panting for breath, Far Treader helped him regain his hooves. "That was the stupidest thing I've ever seen." He then smiled. "Thanks. I owe you one."

Wild Bolt felt a thrill of excitement at the stallion's praise. Movement caught his eyes and he noticed the stallion that Ground had run down, limping away into the woods. He was getting away! Snatching up the slaver's bloodied spear, Wild Bolt took off after him.

"Wild!? Where are you going!?" Far Treader shouted after him.

With his blood now roaring in his ears, Wild Bolt didn't hear him as he galloped off into the woods. Crashing through bushes, Wild Bolt trampled them down as he searched ahead for the fleeing slaver. Suddenly, he broke into a small clearing and skidded to a stop. Panting for breath, Wild Bolt saw a log with a mare bent forward over it with her hooves tied down with straps. Her head was bent down on the far side and her tail had been tied out of the way to expose her marehood.

Scanning the small clearing, Wild Bolt found it empty. Where did the slaver go? Approaching the mare, Wild Bolt could smell the heavy scent of stallion musk on her, and to his shock, he could see fluids leaking out of her marehood and running down her legs. Was this what those stallions were doing here!? Forcing themselves onto a restrained mare!? A sense of revulsion twisted his stomach.

The mare's back was covered with bloody gashes that stained much of her deep-brown coat red. Using the spear he had grabbed from the other slaver, Wild Bolt sliced the straps that bound her legs. Reaching out, he went to lift her off the log.

When his hooves touched her, she flinched and cried out in both pain and terror. "Please. No more. I beg you. Please."

"I... I'm not going to hurt you," Wild Bolt quickly assured her. Taking her as gently as he could, he lifted her off the log and set her down onto the grass.

When she turned her head to look up at him, Wild Bolt was shocked to discover that she wasn’t a pony at all; she was a donkey! One of her eyes was swollen completely shut and her other was just barely open enough for her to look up at him with remarkably light blue eyes. "You're a pony. Like them," she murmured out of her split lip.

"No!" Wild Bolt said, shaking his head. "I'm not like them. I'm an Earth Pony." Softening his voice, Wild Bolt tried to smile at her. "My name is Wild Bolt. What's yours?"

The mare considered him wearily before answering. "Jennet."

The sound of a rustling bush caught his attention. Snatching up his spear, Wild Bolt whirled about. There was a crack as something snapped across his face. A searing pain burned from his brow all the way down to the right side of his muzzle. Blood started running down his face.

Blinking his eyes through the pain, he saw the slaver he had been pursuing, standing with a long strap that was identical to the one he had seen used to beat the mare, held in his mouth.

"What is this!?" The slaver exclaimed with a laugh. "A colt!?"

Wilt Bolt quickly wiped the blood out of his eye and held his spear ready. "I'm not a colt!" He instantly regretting saying that. It made him sound even more like one.

"Oh? Looking to be a big stallion, eh?" the slaver taunted with a smirk. "Tell you what. Why don't you keep that fine flank lying behind you and show her how much of a stallion you are. In return, you don't tell your companions that you saw me. Deal?"

"I would never agree to such a monstrous thing!" Wild Bolt snarled.

"Why not?" the slaver asked. "She's just runaway slave. What good is she to you but to wet your stallionhood?"

Wild Bolt roared in rage and charged. The slaver whirled his strange strap around and snapped it across Wild Bolt's shoulder, causing him to cry out at the searing pain, dropping his spear in the process. Suddenly, the slaver was on him as he carried him to the ground.

Wild Bolt struggled, but the slaver had his hooves pinned. "Should have taken the deal, colt."

Trapped under him, Wild glared up at the slaver's grinning face.

"When I'm done killing you, colt," the slaver said, bending in close, "I'm going to take the donkey with me and enjoy her for as long as she lasts. She makes the most wonderful screams when I plunge myself into her."

Red flashed across Wild Bolt’s vision as he roared in rage. Jerking his head forward, he bit down onto the slavers muzzle as hard as he could.

The slaver screamed and jerked back as bone crunched between Wild Bolt's jaws. With the taste of blood flooding his mouth, Wild Bolt released the slaver and slammed his hoof across his face, knocking him to the side. Rolling onto him, Wild Bolt smashed his hoof into the stallion's face over and over again. Blood splattered across the grass as he relentlessly pummeled the slaver as hard as he could until he was no longer recognizable. Panting from the exertion, Wild Bolt finally stopped. Climbing off the slaver, Wild retrieved his fallen spear and returned to level it at the slaver’s chest.

"Please..." the slaver gargled out. "Don't... kill... me..."

"You don't deserve mercy." Wild Bolt plunged his spear into the slaver's heart. With a final gargle, the slaver stopped breathing.

Pulling his spear out, Wild Bolt felt his stomach turn and he staggered a few steps away before throwing up. Distantly, he heard hoofsteps approaching through the forest. A moment later, Far Treader broke out of the trees and stopped when he saw him.

"There you are! What are..." Far Treader stopped when he noticed the bloody body lying behind him. "Oh."

Wiping at his mouth, Wild Bolt moved back to Jennet. "She's hurt badly. Help me bring her back to Starless." Tossing his bloody spear down, Wild Bolt carefully began lifting Jennet up onto his back. The mare whimpered in pain as he shifted her body. Far Treader gasped at the sight of her back and moved around to help. Once she was settled into place, Wild Bolt stood and carried her out of the clearing.

"Is the fight over?" Wild Bolt asked as they crossed through the trees.

Far Treader nodded. "Flint Heart took a spear thrust into his shoulder. Kindwhinny and Blue Swirl are seeing to him. Dusty took a slice across his muzzle, while Ground is a bit bruised and beat up, but otherwise fine. The Minotaur didn't fare so well though. There's not much holding his head on anymore. Starless, of course made it through without a scratch. She even managed to capture one alive. Well, mostly alive. We’ve got him tied up so he won’t cause any problems when he finally decides to wake up. Starless made a really big dent in that thing he was wearing on his chest.”

Wild didn’t know how he felt about taking one alive.

Coming out of the trees into the clearing, he quickly carried Jannet over to Starless as she tended to the other donkey mare they'd seen being beaten. As he approached her, she looked up and her eyes went wide at the sight of him and what he was carrying.

"Please. You have to help her," Wild Bolt said, coming to a stop.

Using her magic, Starless gently picked Jannet up off his back and floated her down to the grass next to the other mare and started to examine her. Catching sight of what was under the mare's tail, Starless' expression darkened.

Blinking her good eye, the mare looked over at her companion and reached her hoof out to her. "Benny?"

The mare slowly opened her eyes and met Jennet's worried gaze. Seeing her, she smiled weakly at her. "Jennet... I feared you were... It was horrible what he did with Abelle. While she was still alive he... he tore her foal out of her womb... and ate it. Her poor foal... The other monsters laughed... those... things laughed..." With a final breath, the mare's eyes closed and she lay still.

Jennet whimpered and began weeping, her head falling into her hooves.

Starless looked down at her sadly. "I'm sorry."

Wild Bolt stepped over to the body of Abelle. Her belly had been torn open and her eyes were still open in death. She had watched her foal being torn from her body. "Why?" he asked, unable to look away. "Why were they so cruel?"

"They wanted to know where the other slaves were," Jennet answered, her tear streaked face lifting up. "But we didn't know! We got separated from them soon after we ran away! They wouldn't believe us when we told them and they kept hurting us even worse to get us to tell them!"

"Ground!" Starless called out to the stallion. "I need you to get me honey! As much as you can!"

Ground nodded and started to go when Far Treader trotted over. "I'll help you." The pair galloped off to get what she needed.

Cotton Cloud's flew in and landed near Dusty. "I searched the entire area and didn't see any more."

"Good," Dusty said. "Please fly back and tell Tranquil what happened here and that we'll be coming back as soon as we're able."

Cotton Cloud leapt into the air and was quickly gone.

"Dusty, I'm going to need water." Starless said, looking up from Jennet's back.

"They're in the packs we left behind the hill." Dusty said, turning to go.

"I'll get it," Wild Bolt volunteered, trotting up the hill. His shoulder burned and the slash across his face hurt so bad, he felt like he'd stuck his face into a fire, but he ignored the pain. They were nothing. Not compared to what she had gone through. Picking up the pack, Wild Bolt brought it back to Starless and set it down next to her.

As she rummaged through it and started taking out various things she was going to need, she glanced up at him "How about you sit down. You look a little dazed and I don't want you falling over."

Wild Bolt felt numb inside and did as she said without complaint or comment.

Starless unstoppered the gourd and carefully began to wash the wounds on Jennet's back. Dusty and Blue Swirl collected the slavers’ bodies and moved them off into the woods and dumped them there. Returning, they began digging a hole in the clearing.

"What are they doing?" Jennet asked, watching the pair dig.

Starless paused in her work to look back at them. "Its something the Earth Ponies like to do. They feel a strong kinship with the earth and find solace in returning the dead to it. They feel that it honors them."

"They would do that for us?" Jennet asked in astonishment.

"Of course," Starless answered. "The Earth Ponies are like that."

"Earth Ponies?" Jennet asked. "He called himself that too." she nodded back at Wild Bolt. "What are they?"

"That is an interesting question," Starless answered. "One I haven't figured out yet."

When Ground and Far Treader arrived, they brought with them an entire bee hive. Far Treader looked a little puffy around his stings as he set it down by Starless.

Ripping it open, Starless lifted out a honeycomb with her magic and carefully started applying honey to the wounds on Jennet's back. Jennet squirmed and whimpered as she worked.

"Honey?" Kindwhinny asked, watching her work.

"Yes. Dove told me about it once," Starless said. "It helps seal wounds so that they can heal."

Working through each gash that crossed Jennet's back, Starless finally sat back with a sigh. She was done. Turning, she motioned Wild to come to her and sit. Washing his face, Starless frowned as he examined cut across his face. "You're lucky to still have your eye."

The cut went from the corner of his left eyebrow and ran down between his eyes to the right side of his muzzle.

"I'm afraid it's going to scar," Starless murmured as she applied honey to it.

Wild Bolt didn't answer or react to the stinging pain as she worked. The numbness he felt inside wouldn't allow it. When she finished there, she then moved to his shoulder.

Ground and Dusty worked together to make a litter to carry Jennet. Instead of a drag litter, they opted for a tandem litter, to be carried between two ponies. The final thing they did was to bury Jennet's two companions. All of them gathered around to watch solemnly as Ground and Dusty lowered the bodies of Benny and Abella into it. Jennet watched with a tears in her eyes as the Earth Ponies performed their strange, if kindhearted, act.

When it came time to leave, Wild Bolt stepped forward and offered to help carry Jennet’s litter. Ground looked at him with an odd expression as he considered him. He then nodded and helped secure the litter between him and Far Treader.

Once they were ready, Starless lifted Jennet up and set her onto her litter. Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny flanked Flint Heart and helped him walk as he limped between the pair. Ground picked up a loop of rope and slipped it over his head. Secured to the other end, was the slaver they had captured. His mouth had been tied shut and his front hooves had been hobbled with rope to keep him from running. With a tug on the line, Ground forced the slaver to walk as he joined in behind the others.

Picking up their supply pack filled with the new things they took from the slavers, Dusty took the lead as they headed back to the caravan.

Chapter Fifty Two

Snap Dragon waited anxiously for her brother to arrive. Her heart had nearly stopped when Cotton Cloud arrived with the news that her brother and the others had been in a fight, with some of them being wounded. Cotton had been light on the specific details and quickly passed on Dusty's instructions for them to set up camp for the night before quickly taking off to fly back.

Snap trotted ten paces, turned and trotted ten paces back. The ground beneath her hooves had been trampled into a line. Curse that Pegasus! Why didn't she tell them who was wounded!? And how badly? Did her brother lose his ear? His leg!? Snap gasped and came to a abrupt halt. His Head!!? She quickly shook her head and continued on. No, that would be stupid! Just as stupid as him losing all his legs. Wait. Could a pony lose all his legs? What would that be like? She couldn't help but picture Ground arriving with only his head and torso. The horror! How would he be able to give Starless foals if he couldn't!... Well... What if Starless just rolled him over and squatted herself down. If she aimed herself right, she could push herself down onto...

Snap's face flushed hot as she quickly tore her mind off of that image. Firmly clamping her tail down, she resumed her pacing. When would they have a foal? She's known that they've been intimate together for quite some time now. Shouldn't Starless be fat with foal by now? Oh, how she wanted to see their little colt or filly. To cuddle with it and look at its short little stubby horn! Oh! What adorableness! She nearly squealed out loud as she gave a happy little prance. Wait! What am I thinking!? Ponies were hurt! Now's not the time to be thinking of foals! Wait! What if Ground got stabbed... down there!? Then he and Starless would never have foals! Her pacing redoubled in speed.

Tranquil watched Snap's pacing with a bemused expression. She was amazed that the young mare wasn't flying apart!

The sun was nearing the horizon when Ground and the others finally arrived. With a cry of relief and joy, Snap threw herself into Starless and her brother, hugging them both as hard as she could, relieved that they were okay. Tied to Ground with a rope, was a surly looking stallion with a matted mane. He glared about at the ponies with undisguised hate. His mouth had been tied shut with a rope around his muzzle to keep him from talking.

Flint Heart, with both his forehooves draped over Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny's shoulders, was being half carried between them as they entered the camp. His stab wound on his shoulder was oozing blood that dripped down onto Blue Swirl's back and along her sides, staining her coat red.

Rushing over to Dusty, Tranquil exclaimed in horror at the slice that ran across his muzzle and started fussing over him. Far Treader looked tired as he shuffled in. He had several gashes on his body from spear slashes, but thankfully none were very serious. Perched on his back was a litter with a donkey mare laid out on it. The sight of her sent exclamations throughout the gathered packers. Her face was swollen from a severe beating and her back was covered with viscous gashes that had the gathered ponies gasping in horror. Her long ears were drooping down as she wearily looked around at the crowd.
Last came Wild Bolt as he brought up the rear of the mare's litter. Snap's eyes widened when she saw him. An ugly gash ran down from his brow to the side of his muzzle. His face was unreadable as he carried the mare into the camp. His eyes looked cold and distant as Jennet was taken off the litter and placed into one of the shelters to rest. Once his burden was lifted, Wild moved off, passing by Snap to sit by one of the campfires. Not once did he look at her.

Oddly, Snap thought she'd be happy when he left her alone, but seeing him now, it just felt hollow. Letting out a sigh, she couldn't believe what she was about to do. Walking over to him she stopped a few steps away. "Wild?" He didn't respond and continued to stare blankly into the fire. She stepped closer, "Wild?"

Wild Bolt blinked and glanced up at her. "Oh, hi," he greeted her, a smile coming to his face. "I didn't notice you walk up."

"I was just wondering how you were doing?" Snap felt a strange sense of worry for the young stallion. He wasn’t his normal self.

He blinked at her for a moment. "Oh. I'm fine. Just tired that's all," he assured her.

"Well... Okay then." Snap said, far from convinced. "Just make sure you get something to eat while it's still hot, okay?" she nodded to the potatoes that were being held over the fire on the end of shaved sticks.

"Oh. Right. I will." Wild smiled at her and nodded.

As Snap walked away, she noticed that his smile never reached his eyes. What happened to him out there?

She joined her brother and Starless as they discussed what they had learned from Jennet. Arrayed out before them were the things they had collected from the slavers.

Reaching out her hoof, Snap nudged a coil of line made from something she didn't recognize. "What is this?"

"It's the straps they used to..." Starless hesitated, as she looked unsure to continue. "Used to tie up Jennet and her companions."

"What is it made out of?" Snap asked, sniffing at it. "It doesn't look woven or spun."

"Skin." Ground answered, his voice filled with distaste. "The Minotaur's strip the hide off of donkeys, ponies, and any other unfortunates, to process them into what Jennet called, leather." He reached out and touched a long thick coiled line. "They also used leather to make this. It's what was used to whip Jennet's back."

"As well as Wild's Bolt's face and shoulder," Starless finished.

Snap felt sick. This is what did that!? "Why would they do that to her?" Snap asked, looking back at the shelter the donkey mare was sleeping in.

"She didn't go into that with much detail," Starless said with a sad shake of her head. "From what we understand. She and others were slaves that rose up and escaped. She and her two companions were separated from the others and wandered to the west until slave hunters finally tracked them down. They mistakenly thought that Jennet and her companions knew where the other slaves were and hurt them to try and get them to tell them were they were, but no matter how much they told them they didn't know, they just hurt them worse.

Snap felt her stomach turn and she had to hold her hoof over her mouth as she fought the urge to throw up. How could they have been so cruel to them!?

Ground reached out and tapped one of the caps, making a tinging sound. "This, Brightstar will be very interested in. She said the Minotaurs use it for many of their tools and weapons."

Starless picked up a flattened sheet that had a large dent in the middle. "It's quite resistant to magical force too."

Dusty examined one of the spear-points. "Jennet called it, copper." he murmured, the new word coming to his mouth awkwardly. "I'll send Cotton Cloud back with some of this to show Meadowlark and Dark. They'll need to hear about what has happened."

"Also have her ask for Dove to come and see to Jennet's back. She needs better skills at healing than mine." Starless said. "And make sure Cotton Cloud tells her not to bring Aurora when she comes."

Snap wondered why she didn't want Aurora to come. Wouldn't she want her to see other Unicorns?

Starless sat back with a tired sigh. "That's enough of this tonight. Lets get something to eat. Perhaps somepony would grace us with a song tonight at the fire?" she added with a grin, nudging Ground.

Snap had never heard her brother sing. Ever. She leaned forward as she waited for his answer.

"Nope." Ground shook his head.

Radiant Sunset walked through the woods with Sweet Blush close beside her with a basket perched on her back. The sun light flickered through the forest's canopy and cast slanting rays across the leaf strewn ground. Coming around an old oak, they arrived at their destination.

Sitting before them was an old apple tree. It's branches stretching out over them as they walked under it. Emblazoned on its trunk was a rune marking the tree as the Matriarch Astral's family claim.

Walking up to the tree, Radiant nodded at Sweet Blush. "Set your horn onto the tree."

Walking up to it, Sweet Blush did as she was told, setting her horn to the soft bark.

Radiant then set her horn to the rune and cast the proper admission glamour to allow the spells set into the tree to recognize Sweet Blush and allow her to take the fruit. Claimed fruit trees were oftentimes trapped with spells to keep others from stealing from them. The bark touching Sweet Blush's horn glowed for a moment, then it was done. Finished, Sweet Blush could now safely collect the fruit. Together they filled the basket with what they needed and left, heading back to the common stables.

"You look nervous." Radiant observed, glancing at the young mare next to her.

Sweet Blush gave a little jump, then flushed. "I am sorry Mistress. It's just that... I'll be meeting him again."

"The stallion you bred with?"

Sweet Blush nodded. "I don't even know his name."

"Is that important?" Radiant asked curiously.

Sweet Blush gave a light chuckle and shook her head. "I guess not. It's just that... I thought it would be nice to know his name."

Breaking out of the trees, the Black Mountain loomed over them. Crossing over the the valley to the south, they arrived at the common stables. The air reeked of stallion musk. Sweet Blush started prancing as her tail swished in excitement. Her body eager for what was about to happen. Finding a Keeper, Radiant spoke with her and arranged for the same stallion. Passing over the basket of apples. She and Sweet Blush were led down into the stables and left to wait along the side, away from the commotion.

"Mistress. What... what if this doesn't work?" Sweet Blush asked, shifting from hoof to hoof.

"Worry about what if it does." Radiant said. "It will be hard work being a mother and my milknurse."

A few moments later, the Keeper arrived trailing a dark brown stallion. Sweet Blush suddenly inhaled and let out a light nicker of eagerness as she stepped forward a few paces.

The stallion's ears were pinned up as he nickered a greeting to her. "Hello again."

Sweet Blush nervously dropped her gaze. "Hi."

Radiant nearly rolled her eyes and hoped that she wasn't this awkward when it comes her time next spring. The two exchanged more pleasantries until the Keeper started to grow impatient and urged them to hurry it along.

"Oh, right!" Sweet Blush flushed as she turned herself about to present her rear to the stallion.

Before approaching Sweet Blush, the stallion looked over at her and waited. Radiant wondered what he was waiting for when she saw that the keeper was looking at her too. Suddenly it hit her that she was Sweet Blush's matriarch. She needed to give her permission. "You may proceed and breed her."

At her words, the stallion started forward eagerly. His muzzle shoved under Sweet Blush's raised tail to take in her rich fertile scent. Stamping his hooves, the stallion's let out a eager whinny. His stallionhood quickly slipped out of his sheath as it stiffened to its full length.

Sweet Blush was looking back over her shoulder as her love fluids began to drip from her marehood. With a wild shake of his head, the stallion reared up and mounted her back, his stallionhood humping forward as he sought her entrance.

Radiant felt her own heart start to race as she watched.

The stallion was experienced and quickly found what he sought as his shaft pressed up into Sweet Blush's winking marehood and pushed in. With a practiced ease, the stallion flexed his hips and buried himself all the way into Sweet Blush's body and quickly began to eagerly thrust himself into her, his hips slapping against her rump as he bottomed himself with each thrust. Fluids dribbled down from his slick shaft as it plunged in and out of her sodden tunnel. His breath started to come out as grunts as his pace became more frantic until he suddenly slammed himself in as deep as he could and let out a strained moan. Radiant could see his dangling stones draw up as his shaft started throbbed rhythmically as he pumped his seed deep into the mare.

Sweet Blush's mouth hung open as she felt her womb being filled with the stallion's warm essence. It was soon over, and the stallion relaxed down on Sweet Blush's back. Normally, a stallion would just dismount and pull himself out, but he didn't do that. Instead he remained in place as he whispered in Sweet Blush's ear. Radiant couldn't hear what the stallion said, but whatever he said made Sweet Blush smile.

When the stallion had removed himself from her, he was led away by the keeper.

"Come. Let's go soak in the hot springs before it starts to dry on your fur." Radiant said, turning to lead Sweet Blush back out of the stables. "What did he say to you? You know, at the end."

"He asked that I bring my foal to him once, so that he could hold it" Sweet Blush said. "He'd said that he'd always wanted to meet one of his foals."

Radiant felt her cheeks flush. "That's actually kind of sweet."

Sweet Blush giggled. "Isn't it!?" She smiled as she gazed forward. Suddenly she gasped and skidded to a stop. "Oh! I totally forgot to get his name!"

Radiant stopped to look back at the horrified mare in amusement. "It's Plum Notion."

Sweet Blush blinked at her. "Huh!?"

"His name is Plum Notion. I got his name from the Keeper earlier." Radiant explained, feeling like laughing from the expression Sweet Blush was shooting her.

Heading deep into the old volcano, Radiant took her to her family hot spring. The deep part of the mountain contained hundreds of chambers of steaming and boiling water that Unicorns used to relax in. Entering one, Radiant cast her magic into the glow gems, lighting up the room with their soft light. Filling the chamber was a large steaming pool. Dipping her hoof into the water she slowly began to walk herself out. Reaching her favorite spot, Radiant lowered herself into the water with a sigh. Her family had claim on several chambers, with this one being used by Radiant and her sisters. Their mother always used her private one alone.

"Mistress. Are you sure I'm allowed here?" Sweet Blush asked nervously, looking around.

"Of course you can. You are my milknurse." Radiant said.

Gingerly, she slowly began to enter the water. Sinking herself up to her neck, Sweet Blush let out a long sigh as she drifted out into the water. "This feels wonderful."

Radiant watched as Sweet Blush basked in the warm waters. "Sweet Blush? What is it like to be taken by a stallion?"

"Mistress!?" Sweet Blush opened her eyes to look at her.

Despite the hot water, Radiant felt her face heating up. "It's just... I've never... well... with a stallion."

Sweet Blush slowly nodded her understanding. "It's both easy and hard to describe," she said, drifting closer to her. "It's like a fullness I've never felt before. When he moves, there is a wondrous sensation of pleasure that builds deep within me until it suddenly bursts into starlight that shoots through my body and leaves me trembling. And then, when the stallion pushes in for the last time, a part deep within me blooms into an incredible warmth as he fills me with his seed." She smiled and looked down into the water at her belly. "It's wondrous to think that right now, a foal may be quickening within my womb."

Radiant breathed out as she gazed across at the young mare. Her hoof going to her own belly. Oddly, her thoughts turned to Frost Conjure. Perhaps she should do what her brother asked and spend time with him. It wouldn't hurt and he wasn't such a bad colt. In fact, he was kind of cute.

Letting out a sigh, Radiant leaned her head back against the rock behind her and closed her eyes. It wouldn't be so bad to have him as her mate.

"Tonight's the full moon and the tributes will be arriving." Radiant said. "As the first daughter of the Matriarch and as a Caster, my duties required me to be there. Would you please stay with my sisters during the night. They get anxious when they're left alone."

"Yes Mistress." Sweet Blush said, bowing her head. "It will be my joy to do so. I'll sing them songs until they're slumbering like little foals."

"Brilliant used to sing to us to sleep," Radiant murmured wistfully. "I miss her."

That night, Radiant joined her mother's side on a raised dais by the tribute stone. The moon cast its soft light onto the land as Pegasi from the numerous flocks deposited their tributes on the altar and prostrate themselves to her mother, in the hopes of appeasing her. The blood red gem at her throat flickered dully as she frowned upon the pitiful offerings of the groveling Pegasi.

As the night wore on, the small collection on the altar slowly grew as more Pegasi arrived, but nowhere near what was needed to feed them for a month. The time was approaching for the raising of the sun, but her mother didn't move. Her gaze had grown furious as she looked upon the tribute. Many of the gathered Casters began to worriedly murmured among each other.

Suddenly they heard wings approaching. A lot of them. Flapping low over the trees, a large collection of pegasi appeared, each one laden with packs.

Descending down, they hovered over the altar and each emptied their packs over it. Apples, pears, lettuce, cabbages, tomatoes carrots, strawberries, melons, and even bundles of hay, all rained down onto the altar and spilled over the sides.

A large stallion dropped to the ground and stepped forward to her mother. Casters stepped out and blocked his way, their horns flashing in warning.

The Pegasus stallion paused before the Casters, oddly, he didn't look frightened of them, and looked over their heads at the Unicorns Great Matriarch. With a flourish of his hoof, he set it over his chest as he bowed his head down to her. "We beseech you oh great Sunbringer, please accept out dutiful offerings and grant us another month of your sun's glorious light."

Radiant saw her mother smile down at the stallion, and the sight of it sent chills down her spine.

"I am well pleased with you, Stratus Streak," her mother said to the stallion. "Once again, you have outdone yourself." She then held out her hoof. "You may approach so I may bestow upon you my blessing."

The two Casters stepped apart and allowed the stallion to pass. Approaching the dais, the stallion stopped before her mother and dropped to his knee. Astral held her hoof out to him.

The stallion leaned forward and kissed it.

"I am pleased and bless you with my light," she said, looking down at the stallion.

Rising, he retreated and rejoined the other prostrated Pegasi.

Turning, her mother looked up to the Pillar of the Heavens, the giant ziggurat built for the raising and setting ceremonies. With a flash, she transported herself to the top.

The gathered Pegasi wailed in adulation at the demonstration of her mother's power. All but the ones that had come with the stallion Stratus Streak, who merely stood watching. They were strange, Radiant thought. All the other Pegasi feared and worshiped her mother, but those ones merely went through the motions. Doing just enough to please her mother's ego. And all that food? Where did they get it all? Every month they arrived bearing food, and never once explaining where it came from. Most of the Casters just figured they had stolen it from somewhere, but Radiant felt that there was more behind them. The Enchantress?

Could they be in league with the mysterious Enchantress? For the last year, the Enchantress had been appearing to Unicorns, sharing with them about the First Oath. Soon after ponies began to vanish during the night. It was feared by many that she was entrancing ponies and luring them out to their deaths in the woods, but the Caster knew the truth. They caught some trying to slip off to join the Enchantress, claiming that she had food for every Unicorn that served the First Oath.

The First Oath. The oath given by the Unicorns to be caretakers of the heavens. The broken oath. They called her mother, The Night Mare. Her mother actually laughed when she first heard that name and actually fancied it.

Atop of the Pillar of the Heavens, the waiting Patreons linked their power through their focus and sent it to her mother. The Great Matriarch, Astral, reached out her power to the heavens and slowly set the moon in the west, making room for the sun as she then raised it in the east. Morning had come. The prostrated Pegasi cried out their praise for the new day gifted to them.

Radiant watched as Stratus Streak and the Pegasi with him turn and fly off without a word. Unicorns moved in and began gathering the offerings into baskets. Much of it would be divided among her mother and the Patreons, with the final portion going to the Casters. The Common Bloods would have to earn their portion by giving their services to the higher bloods. Much like Sweet Blush serving as her milknurse and the Keepers that cared for the stallions.

With her duties now over, Radiant started to turn to head back home for her morning meal when a frantic mare came galloping into the yard. "Help! Help! She's taken them!"

Stepping down from the dais, Radiant recognized the mare as the Keeper from the previous morning during Sweet Blush's breeding with Plum Notion. "What is it?"

The mare skidded to a stop, gasping for breath. "The stallions! She's taken the stallions!"

Radiant was confused as she struggled to make sense of the frantic mares words. "What do you mean, she's taken the stallion? Who's taken the stallions?"

"The Enchantress!" the mare cried out. "She's beguiled the Keepers with her spells and stole the stallions!"

Radiant's heart suddenly leapt up as she broke into a run. Other Casters followed with her as they made their way to the Common Stables.

When she arrived she found the place in a shambles. Keepers were running around yelling orders that didn't make sense. It took a while to get one of the Keepers to finally give her the story of what had happened.

Two mares wearing Caster rings around their necks, arrived before sunrise and spelled the Keepers on watch to sleep. When the morning Keepers arrived to wake the stable, it was discovered that some of the unclaimed stallions were gone. Including, as Radiant learned, Plum Notion. Emblazoned on the cliff wall above the stable, was the image of a black sun with fiery tendrils around it. The symbol of the Enchantress. When Starburst arrived and saw it, she cast a dispel and slashed the emblem to pieces in a rage and stormed off shouting orders.

Watching the last of the emblem float down as motes of light, Radiant recalled seeing two mares wearing Caster rings on their necks two days before when she and Nova were here on watch. Was one of them the Enchantress!?

The sun was just rising by the time they set off. They had to reorganize their packs to accommodate the wounded. Far Treader and Wild Bolt both had half filled packs on while also bearing Flint Heart on a litter. Ground kept their prisoner at the back with two other packers with spears. Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny carried Jennet near the front with Dusty, Tranquil, Starless, and Snap, who walked alongside Jennet's litter telling her stories about them. She told of how they started as a herd and how they met Starless and Tranquil by rescuing them from a hydra. When she started telling her about the spiders, Jennet suddenly let out a frightened scream and hid her head.

"What's wrong!?" Snap asked in concern.

"Spiders! I hate spiders!" Jennet shouted out from under her hooves. "Those hairy legs and those eyes! I can't stand them!"

"Oh!" Snap exclaimed in understanding and relief. "Well then, how about I change them into something else?"

Jennet slowly raised her head. "Change them? What do you mean?"

"Well if you don't like them as spiders," Snap explained. "Then how about I say that they're something else, like... ah... bears."

Jennet thought about it and seemed to like it. "Oh... well... that'll be okay," she agreed.

So Snap told the story of how the bears attacked the settlement and Celestia, Journey, and her harrowing adventure through the bear infested forest at night.

Throughout the day, Jennet told a little about herself. She had been born a slave and had grown up in the Minotaur copper mines. Her mother had died when she had been very young, when she had broken her leg and the Minotaurs decided she wasn't worth keeping. She never knew her father, but that wasn't uncommon among the slaves. The other two donkeys with her, Benny and Abelle, had been her friends in the copper mine. They took care of each other and helped each other out since they were fillies. That was as far as she made it before she broke into tears.

The Unicorn encampment was located deep within a steep walled canyon. Following the stream from the lowlands, they wound their way up. Reaching into her pack, Starless pulled out her Enchantress mask and slipped it on.

"Why is she wearing that?" Jennet asked, looking over at Starless.

"That's who she is here," Snap answered. "With us, she just Starless, but here among the Unicorns, she's the Enchantress, a fearsome caster of virtue."

"A fearsome caster of virtue!?" Starless exclaimed, looking over at her.

"What?" Snap shrugged at her with a grin. "Isn't that what you are?"

Starless sighed and shook her head. "Never mind."

The valley broadened into gentle hills of grass and groves of trees. A clear stream wove its way down its center. Homes were appearing now with Unicorns working around them. Small gardens had been planted, but nothing very extensive. Despite the Earth Ponies effort to teach them, Unicorns had a low talent in farm craft, instead they showed a remarkable skill in weaving and crafting. When Tranquil showed some of the Unicorns her woven mantles, they quickly grew interested and started testing out new weaves and materials.

When they came around a hill, a mare appeared as she walked towards them. Seeing her Tranquil gasped and dashed to her to inspect her shawl she had draped over her shoulder. Lifting up its edge, Tranquil practically giggled as she rubbed her cheek against it. It's so soft!" She then held it up to look at it "And its red!" She suddenly grabbed the mare's head and shoved her nose into the mares nose "You must tell me how you did this! I must know!"

Blinking at her in alarm, the mare quickly pointed back the way she came.

"Tranquil. Please leave that poor mare alone." Dusty called out.

"But!... But!..." Tranquil sputtered.

"You can play with her later. We need to get going." Dusty said firmly.

With her lip jutting out in a pout, Tranquil slowly returned to him.

As they continued on, the mare bowed her head down to Starless. Further on, they encountered more Unicorns and each one stopped to bow to Starless as she passed. Once, a mare even held her foal out to her. Pausing, Starless touched her horn to the cooing filly before, leaving the happy mother and child behind. Snap could feel the respect the ponies here had for Starless.

Gazing up at the high walls of the canyon, Snap wondered about something. "Star? If there's only one way into this valley, aren't you worried that you could get trapped if the Unicorns attack?"

Starless shook her head and gestured up at the high craggy ledges above them. "There are ponies watching from above. They've known we've been here since the moment we stepped into the valley and have likely passed that on ahead of us. No force would be able to close on us here without us knowing. Also, this isn't the only way in, or out of here. There is a small path that can be used to evacuate if necessary. So, unless the Unicorns have a pegasi helping them, they won't be able to follow, and it would be fatally foolish of them to try. There are paths up there that will easily kill any pony who doesn't know the proper way."

"Oh." Snap said, blinking up at the heights above them. She was impressed that anypony was willing to go up there. The thought of ever doing so herself, quailed her heart.

Soon after, the end of the canyon finally came into view. A long waterfall cascaded down into a small lake that fed into the valley's stream, flowing down the long gentle sloping valley, into the forest lands below. Nestled along the stream where it left the lake was the Unicorn’s hidden settlement. With the help of the Earth Ponies, sturdy homes had been constructed along its banks with golden straw-thatched roofs. Smoke drifted up from fires as ponies went about their day.

Coming out to meet them was the welcoming sight of her mother, holding a foal in the crook of her leg. Snap let out an excited cry and rushed over to hug her. Reaching around the foal in her mother's hoof, Snap managed to embrace her mother. "Mama! I've missed you so much!"

"Snap dear!?" Tiger Lily exclaimed in confused joy. "What are you doing here!?"

"I came to see you!" Snap answered, leaning back to look down at the little colt her mother held. "Who is this little guy!?" The Unicorn colt looked less than a week old, and Snap nearly squealed when she saw his tiny nub horn poking out of his forehead. "He's so adorable!"

"Oh! This is West Wind," her mother said, smiling down at the little colt. "Tragically, his mother didn't survive his foaling, so I've been taking care of him."

"But mother... you don't have any milk," Snap pointed out.

"There are other mothers here who are happy to lend a teat whenever he's hungry." Tiger Lily answered, walking over to Starless to hug her. She then, much to Starless' surprise, deposited the colt into her hoof. "Here. Hold him."

Starless stood awkwardly as she held the infant against her chest, looking unsure of what she was doing. "Where's Moonglow and Dizzy Spin? I need to talk to them."

"They left a few days ago with a group of mares without sharing what they were up too or even how long they were going to be,” Tiger answered. “Now. Let me see our new guest." Tiger Lily approached Jennet's litter, and because of her smaller size, she reared up to lean on it, looking the mare over. "Hmm... when Cotton Cloud told us what had happened, I truly had trouble believing ponies could do something this cruel." She then smiled warmly to Jennet. "Hello dear. My name is Tiger Lily."

"Umm... Hello." Jennet greeted her back. "My name... is Jennet."

Dropping back to her hooves, Tiger Lily turned to look around. "Cotton Cloud told us you captured one of them that did this?"

Tranquil nodded. "Yes. Ground has him in the back."

"Good," Tiger Lily said, nodding. "We prepared a secure place to hold him. It's a crevice up on a ledge with only one path leading to it. Hoof Strike worked on it all night securing posts over the opening." She then turned to Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny. "Please take Jennet to my home. She'll stay with us there."

Turning, Tiger Lily suddenly paused when she sniffed the air. "Oh! Your time of the season has started! Are you and Ground finally going to stop playing around the bush this time, and have that foal!?"

Starless blinked at her through her mask and silently shook her head and turned to look at Snap.

Tiger Lily turned to her daughter and gaped at her in horror. "Oh, I am so sorry dear! I wasn't there for you when it happened!" Tiger rushed to her daughter to hug her again, this time in both happiness and apology. "My little filly is growing up! I feel horrible for not being there to help you along!"

"It wasn't so bad, mama. Starless and Tranquil was there for me"

Suddenly Tiger Lily pulled back. "You didn't let a stallion get at you, did you!?"

Snap felt her face flush as she thought how close she got with Wild. "No mama."

"There was a close call with one of the colts." Starless added. "But it was handled in time."

Tiger suddenly crushed her daughter against herself again. "Oh! I can't believe it! My little filly is becoming a mare!" After an embarrassingly long time, Snap was finally released to start breathing again. Tiger looked back at Dusty. "Dusty dear. Would you track down my wayward mate and have him show you and Ground were to take that... prisoner, please." She then turned to lead them into the rebel settlement. "Come. You all must be tired. There's food and cool drinks waiting for you."

"Wait!" Starless exclaimed. "Don't you want to take him back!?" she asked, nodding down to the colt in her hooves.

"You can go ahead and keep him." Tiger said, walking ahead with Snap.

Starless blinked and shot a quick look down at the sleeping colt in her hooves. "Wait... What do you mean by keep him?" She looked after Tiger. "Tiger? Tiger!? You're going to take him back, right!?... Tiger!?"

Chapter Fifty Three

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter Fifty Five

Within her hut, Starless sat across from Dark as he examined the spear that they captured from the slavers. Sitting next to him, Brightstar was excitedly inspected one of the slavers caps as he bit at the metal.

"What did you say this was called again?" Dark asked, tapping the spearhead against one of the plates to listen to the sound it made.

"Copper." Starless answered, giving the name that Jennet shared with her.

Dark nodded, thoughtfully. "Is all their weapons made from this, copper?"

"From what we've seen, yes." Starless replied with a nod. Looking over at Mirage, she suddenly hissed and snatched the leather whip away from her with her magic. "Please don't touch that evil thing. It's a strap used to savagely beat slaves, and trust me when I tell you that you do not want to know what it is made out of."

Brightstar set the cap over his head and tapped it with his hoof. "I can see how this stuff can be very useful."

"I blasted one of the slavers with a bolt that should have killed him, but he was saved by this plate." Starless pointed to one of the plates that had a massive dent in it.

"Impressive," Dark commented, picking up the plate to look at it more closely. "We can use such armor to protect ourselves against the Unicorns magic."

"Indeed." Brightstar agreed, biting at one of the plates to test it's hardness. "I would very much like to know how this is made."

"The prisoner has not been very forthcoming with any information on it. "Starless said. "He's just a slave hunter so I wouldn't expect him to know much about such things anyways."

"What of the donkey mare?" Dark asked.

Starless nodded. "She was a slave in their copper mine. She would have seen their secrets."

"Right now, that donkey is the most important treasure in our possession," Brightstar stated. "The things we could learn from her."

"That donkey," Mirage said, cutting in firmly, "is not a possession! She's a young mare and I will not have you talking like she's some kind of thing! Do you have any idea what horrors she's gone through!?"

Brightstar blinked at her and cast his eyes down. "You're right. I'm sorry. My excitement just ran away from me."

"My sister is quite right." Dark added. "The young mare is a valued guest and should be treated that way." He then turned back to Starless, "How is she doing?"

"Jennet's doing well living under the care of Tiger Lily." Starless answered. "The slavers nearly killed her with how badly they beat her, as well as the numerous forced matings they inflicted on her. She's lucky to be alive. If Wild Bolt hadn't found her when he did..."

Mirage looked angry enough to bite a dragon. "What are you going to do with the slaver?"

Starless shook her head, her eyes becoming troubled. "I'm not sure. I've never had to deal with something like this before." She turned to look at Dark. "I would like you to decide on what to do with him."

Dark met her gaze solemnly. "You are the leader here and he was captured by you, that means he's your responsibility. You need to make the decision, I cannot do it for you."

Starless sighed, she'd been afraid of that.

"What land are they from?" Brightstar asked curiously.

"A land far to the east called, Minospotamia." Starless answered. "It's one of the few things I know about them."

"I would like to try and question the slaver, if that is alright?" Dark requested.

"I see no problem with you questioning him." Starless said, giving him a nod. "I've sent Dizzy Spin for Stratus Streak so you might want to wait until he gets here, though."

"Very well." Dark said, getting up. "Let's retire this until then."

"Would I be able to speak with the donkey mare, ah... Jennet?" Brightstar quickly asked. "There are so many things I would like to ask her."

Starless shook her head. "She is under Tiger Lily's care. You'll have to ask her. I suggest you ask nicely though, you know how protective she can be."

Frost felt his hoof get caught and he tripped face first into the ground. Around him, he heard the raucous sound of laughter. With night approaching, he was returning to his stall for the night and sometimes certain stallions liked to pick on him during this time.

"What's the matter, little white rabbit? Your mother not teach you how to walk?" A stallion, twice his size, stepped around him with a grin. "Why don't you go run back to her teat little rabbit?" He had a charcoal grey coat with an opal-white mane and tail.

"Leave off Phantom Dawn," Frost Conjure warned off the stallion as he started to gathered himself from the ground.

Suddenly, Frost felt a hoof shove him from behind, throwing him back down. "Oh? Looks like the little colt's horn is getting too long for him," another stallion said, mocking him. "He can't stay up."

Phantom Dawn laughed and leaned down to look at Frost. "Perhaps we should clip it a bit shorter for him?"

Summoning his magic, Frost's horn crackled as he threw up a shield around himself, cracking the stone ground under him as he slammed it into place. "Leave me be. I'm warning you!" Frost cautioned.

Phantom Dawn smirked as his horn glowed with his own power. "You want to test yourself against me, foal!? I'm the son of a high Patreon! My blood goes back a hundred generations! What kind of bloodline do you have, rabbit!?"

Stallions drew around as they watched.

Phantom Dawn's horn flashed brightly and Frost suddenly felt a great force crush down around his shield. Gritting his teeth, Frost focused on holding his shield as the air around him grew thick with magic. Each moment, Phantom's magic pressed in on him ever harder, the stone ground under him split and cracked under the stain of the force exerted on it. If his shield faltered for even a moment, he would be crushed before he could even blink! Meeting Phantom Dawn's gaze, Frost wondered if he was really trying to kill him!

"Phantom Dawn!" One of the stallion called out to him. "Casters!"

Phantom Dawn grunted in annoyance and released his magic.

Frost let out a gasp of relief as he let his shield go just as three Caster came hurrying into view.

"What's going on here!?" The lead Caster demanded, her gaze falling onto him.

"Just a bit of playful fun, that's all," Frost quickly answered. He could have told her the truth, but he knew that doing so would just make things worse.

"Really?" The mare asked, not sounding convinced. She looked to Phantom Dawn. "Is that true? Were you two just fooling around as he says?"

Phantom Dawn smiled and nodded. "Why yes, Caster Starshower. We were just having some fun."

Starshower considered the two, her eyes hard. It was obvious she doubted their claim. "Okay fine, but that's enough fun for today. I want you both into your stalls, now. If I find you two having anymore fun tonight, I'll have to tell your fellow matriarchs about this. Understood?"

Frost was quick to nod while Phantom Dawn only grunted his assent. Moving off, Frost hurried into the stables opening in the side of the volcano’s rim. The High Blood stables was made of a honeycomb of old lava chambers and tubes in the side of the old volcano's rim. Lighting his horn, Frost hurried down the dark well worn tunnel, until it opened up into a larger room. Moving over to one of the walls, Frost set his hooves into little hoofhold along the wall and ascended up until he came to a small opening higher up.

Ducking inside, Frost entered a small chamber that was just tall enough for him to stand in. Along the far wall was straw and leaf bedding he had laboriously hauled in to sleep on. Setting his horn against a small crystal, sitting in a cleft in the wall, he let a small trickle of his magic flow into it, making it glow brightly in the small space.

Lying in his bed, Frost sighed and rolled onto his back. Without Rising Dusk there, Phantom Dawn was picking on him more and more. This time had been the most serious encounter yet. Perhaps he should tell one of the Keepers? He quickly dismissed that idea. Phantom Dawn was the prized son of one of the highest Patreons, there's wasn't much they could do about it anyways except tell his mother.

Frost groaned, when was Radiant going to get back? He'd not seen her for a week!

"Frost Conjure?" a voice called up to him. "Would you please come down?"

Moving over to the opening, Frost stuck his head out. "What's the matter!? I went to my stall just as Starshower wanted!"

Standing below him was a Keeper named Crackle Zap. She shook her head. "You're not in trouble. Please, just come on down."

Frost couldn't imagine what she wanted from him. Climbing down, he joined the waiting mare. "Ah... what is it you need from me?"

"Please, come with me." She turned and led him to the stable opening where they came to a pair of Casters.

"Stallion's aren't allowed out at night." one of the Casters said, stepping in the way. "Return him to his stall."

"He's been summoned by the Matriarch," the Keeper assured the Casters.

"Oh?" the Caster said, looking at him. "What's so important that it can't wait until the morning?"

"That is not your concern." the Keeper answered. Please step aside."

"How do we know that she really summoned him?" the Caster challenged her.

The Keeper blinked at her in surprise. "I assure you that I am telling you the truth."

The Caster leaned in, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "A likely answer, if you were here to steal stallions!"

"I am not a thief!" The Keeper exclaimed in outrage.

"What is going on here!?" another Keeper asked, walking over to them.

"I caught this mare trying to slip off with one of the stallions." the Caster answered smugly.

"Don't be ridiculous!" The older Keeper scoffed. "I've known Crackle Zap since her time in training. She's no stallion thief."

"That's right!" Crackle Zap agreed, nodding. "I was told to fetch Frost Conjure and bring him to the Matriarch."

"Then do your duty and be off with you." The older Keeper ordered. Turning, she looked at the two Caster. "You will allow her to pass."

The two Casters looked uncertain and the older Keeper simply pushed her way through them to open up a way for Frost and the young Keeper to pass through.

Following along with Crackle, Frost wondered where they were going. Crossing the crater to the exit, Crackle spoke to two more Casters who let them through. This was the first time Frost had left the High Blood stables since he arrived. Descending the winding trail along the side of the old volcano, Frost got a good view of the surrounding land as the light slowly faded to night. After the long descent, they finally came to the main entrance into the mountain.

The cave opening was nearly twenty ponies tall and a dozen ponies wide. More Casters stood guard here as they passed them on their way inside. Mares watched curiously as he was led further into the mountain. He recognized the path from when he'd been taken to the Matriarch when he first arrived.

Moving down a long dark tunnel, they came to a large chamber with glowing crystals embedded in the walls and ceiling. There, he saw the Matriarch speaking with a gathering of Casters. Crackle stopped and waited.

Frost noticed one of the Casters holding a odd looking flower in her magic. The flower looked like it was glowing, its colors shifting like it was made of a rainbow. After a time, the Casters finally finished with Matriarch Astral and moved off, taking the strange flower with them. Frost wondered why they had a flower with them, and why the Caster was holding it so protectively?

Glittering Crystal suddenly moved over to them. "Good, he's here. She's been waiting."

Glittering Crystal led them forward to the Matriarch. Coming to a stop, Crackle bowed her head down low. "As you have desired, I have brought Frost Conjure to you."

"Very good." the Matriarch said, turning to look at Frost. "You've gotten taller."

"Nearly half a hooflegth since I arrived, matriarch," Frost answered nervously, with a little bit of pride.

"Excellent," the Matriarch nodded, pleased. "Have you been getting enough to eat?"

"The food has been very good. Thank you." Frost answered, politely. Why did she summon him? It couldn't be just to ask him him about how he was doing? Glancing around, he was disappointed when he didn't see Radiant. Wasn't she back yet?

His examination of the room didn't go unnoticed. "Looking for Radiant?" the Matriarch asked.

Frost blinked and felt his face flush. "I ah... I was just wondering when she was coming back."

"Worried?" Matriarch Astral looked almost amused.

Frost felt his face flush even more. "It's just that... she's been gone for so long..."

"Your concern for her is commendable," Matriarch Astral said, "but unnecessary. I will allay your fears by telling you that her search for the taken stallions has concluded, and she will be returning shortly."

Frost felt a sense of relief. She was safe.

"Now, to what I brought you here for," Matriarch Astral continued. She turned and nodded to Glittering Crystal who moved off to a side chamber. "As my ward, there are tasks that are expected to do, being Radiant's mate being chief among them. To a lesser degree, but not less important, you are also expected to oversee any other wards that come under my care."

Just then, Glittering Crystal walked out with a colt slowly following behind her. The colt was young, about the same age as Radiant's younger sister, Dazzling Evening. His coat was a soft green and he had a deep red mane and tail.

"This is my new ward ," Matriarch Astral introduced the colt. "I want you to watch over him from now on."

The colt looked scared and kept hiding behind Glittering Crystal. Stepping over, Frost peeked around Glittering Crystal and smiled at the colt. "Hello."

The colt blinked up at him nervously. "Ah...hello."

Normally, a colt wouldn't be sent to the stables at such a young age. He must have been the colt Rising was exchanged for, to be Dazzling's future mate. "My name is Frost Conjure. What's yours?"

The colt glanced at Glittering Crystal for a quick moment before looking back to Frost. "Horizon Flicker."

"Well Horizon, how would you like to be friends?" Frost asked.

Horizon smiled and slowly moved around Glittering Crystal.

Moving in close to Glittering Crystal to collect the colt, Frost caught her rich scent and a sudden vision of being held down while she was leaning over him with her face filled with passion, flashed through his mind. A sudden stab of pain shot through his head causing him to flinch as the memory quickly slipped away.

"Are you alright?" Glittering Crystal asked, looking at him with concern.

Frost smiled and shook his head. "I'm fine. Just a little bit of a headache. That's all," he assured her. Picking up the colt with his magic, Frost set him down onto his back. "Come on. I'll give you a ride up and you can tell me about your journey here."

Taking the colt, Frost rejoined Crackle Zap, and followed her back out.

Wild Bolt woke to the sound of a wailing foal. This was not the first time he'd been awoken in such a way in recent days. During his time here, he discovered that foal's apparently cry a lot. Lying on his mat, Wild blinked his eyes open. He had been shoved up against the far wall by Ground and Hoof Strike to keep him away from Snap. Looking over, he saw Tiger trying to comfort the wailing foal. Beside her, Hoof Strike slept like a dead log. How can he sleep through that?

"What's wrong?" Snap Dragon asked, sitting up to rub at her eyes.

"I think his tummy is upset." Tiger murmured, rubbing at the foal's stomach.

"Colic?" Snap asked, sounding concerned.

"I don't believe so." Tiger shook her head. "I think it's because Dove's milk a bit more richer than he's used to. That's all."

"What about yours?" Snap asked, "is your milk coming in?"

"Not yet." Tiger answered, with a sigh. "It's possible that it won't come in. It doesn't always work."

"What are you going to do if it doesn't work?" Snap asked.

"Well... we could try it with you." Tiger mused, thoughtfully.

"Me!?" Snap's ears shot up. "You want me to try nursing him?"

"You are old enough, and your udders are nicely developed." Tiger pointed out. "I'm sure it would work better now then when you tried to nurse Journey when you were younger.

"Mama!" Snap protected, sounding embarrassed.

"It’s a shame that Starless is so busy." Tiger said regretfully. "She'd be perfect for this. With her being a Unicorn, her milk would be more suited for him."

The foal's cries had lessened until he finally slipped back to sleep.

Wild watched as Snap settled back down onto her mat. He viewed her differently now than he had before starting out on this journey. Before, he'd wanted to claim her as his, but now... now, he didn't want that. Snap deserved a stallion better than him. A stallion that could make her happy.

He was ashamed of what he had nearly done to her. He was a monster, just like those slavers. It would be best for Snap if he'd just leapt from the heights above and dashed his life out on the rocks below. She was too good for him. Too kind and caring for a grotesque monster like him.

Rolling over, Wild stared at the stone wall. It was a long time before he finally nodded off to the darkness of sleep.

In the morning, he heard the others getting up and moving about with their morning tasks. Food was set out and everypony ate as they talked about what they were going to do that day. Wild didn't listen as he slowly chewed his food. Dove later examined his shoulder and announced that he was mending well and could start going outside.

Leaving the stuffy confines of the hut and the wailing foal, Wild slowly limped through the settlement. His shoulder felt tight and stung whenever he overextended his step. He paused for a short time to watch a group of Unicorns as they practiced some new spell they were trying to learn. A young mare standing in the front of the group, lowered her horn and sparks flew out and snapped in the air as it emitted bright flashes. The watching Unicorns murmured in approval at her display.

Wandering away, Wild noticed a group of stallions gathered before Hoof Strike as he spoke with them. They had always been taken care of back in their stables and never really learned to make decisions for themselves, so Hoof Strike was trying to teach them how to be a proper stallion. Moving past them through the settlement, Wild slowly headed for the lake at the head of the valley. He didn't know why he was going there, it just seemed like a good place to go to be alone.

Outside her parents hut, Snap laid on a mat with little West Wind. With a long stem of foxtail grass, Snap fluttered it before the foal's mesmerized gaze of amazement. Everything was just so new to him. West Wind's face suddenly scrunched up as he sneezed, spraying spittle into Snap's face.

"Wow! What was that!?" Snap exclaimed to the foal in mock wonder as she giggled, rubbing at the foal's rounded belly. This was not the first time she'd been sneezed on by a foal, nor likely the last. She idly considered her mother's idea for her to try nursing too and wondered what it would feel like?

Rolling onto her side, Snap picked West Wind up and settled him against her side. She had seen this done many times before and knew basically what to do. Taking him by his crest, she brought him to one of her teats and began brushing his lip across it, encouraging him to open his mouth and take it. It took a few tries, but eventually he opened up and clamped his mouth around her teat and began suckling.

Snap gasped at the powerful sensation as the colt suckled strongly at her sensitive teat. It was so intense it almost hurt! Was this what it was like every time a mare nursed!? She could feel his gums mashing down every time he drew at her, trying his best to force milk from her dry udder. She began to think that she'd made a mistake. After a time, the colt's suckles grew slower and she noticed that he'd fallen asleep. As carefully as she could, she removed him from her and laid him into his basket, letting out a sigh of relief as she felt the cooling air flow across her moistened treat.

A little while later, the sound of hoofsteps announced her mother's return with Dove from taking Jennet to Starless and Dark. With her wounds largely healed now, Starless and Dark asked to talk with her in more detail.

"We're back," her mother's singsong voice announced as she approached. "And how is my mighty stallion doing!?" she asked, sticking her muzzled into West Wind's basket to nuzzle the foal affectionately as Dove disappeared inside the hut.

"He's been a perfect little gentlecolt," Snap answered with a smile. It was nice seeing her mother like this again.

Her mother looked around. "Where's Wild? Hasn't he come back yet?"

Snap shook her head. "No, not yet."

Dove came out of the hut and set the foal carrier onto her mother's back.

"Where are you going?" Snap asked as she watched her mother carefully extract West Wind out of his basket and settled him into her pack.

"We're going off for a bit to find that Shaman," she answered. "Dove wants to talk to her and perhaps learn a few new things."

"Oh! Can I come too?" Snap asked, standing.

Her mother shook her head. "No. I want you to find Wild and bring him back. We don't want him overdoing things and making himself sick again."

"But mama!" Snap complained.

"Snap dear," Her mother said, looking at her. "You are not a filly anymore. You must learn that as a mare there are responsibilities you must do. Whether you like it or not."

Snap flinched at the rebuke. "Yes mama."

"Good. Now go find that colt and bring him back," her mother ordered.

Snap sighed and nodded. Moving off, she began her search. Where would he go? This would have been a good task for her little brother, Journey, but he was off with Ash, way up on one of the clifftops, sitting on watch for the day. Asking around, she was told that he'd been seen heading up towards the lake.

Moving up through the settlement, she came to the lake and looked both ways along the shore. Far off to her left, she saw what looked like a pony sitting along the water's edge. It was either that or a strangely shaped rock. Letting out a sigh, Snap moved off down the lake shore towards the distant pony form. Looking down, she could see hoofprints in the sand, and that heartened her that she was on the right trail.

As she drew closer she noticed that he wasn't looking across at the waterfall like she'd assumed he'd would be. Instead, he was gazing down into the water at his hooves. His shoulders appeared to be quivering. Was... he crying? Suddenly, she realized that he was looking down at his reflection in the water!

Snap didn't know what to do! She felt like she'd just walked somewhere where she wasn't welcome. She thought about leaving, but quickly stomped that thought to death and buried it deep under a rotting log. He was in pain, she couldn't leave him to suffer alone. Even if he was Wild Bolt. He needed her help.

Her step into the gravel-like sand crunched under her hoof, causing Wild's ears to snap up.

"Wild? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he grunted without looking back at her.

"This isn't nothing," Snap pressed with concern. "Something is bothering you. What is it?"

"I said it's nothing!" he shouted, keeping his back turned to her. "Now go away and leave me alone!"

Snap felt hurt at his gruff dismissal of her, but kept her place. "No. I'm not going away. Not until you tell me what's wrong."

"Why?" Wild groaned, dropping his head down into his hooves. "Why won't you just leave me be? I'm not worth your kindness."

"That's not true," Snap exclaimed.

"It is true!" Wild suddenly roared, whirling about on her in fury. Snap gasped and shield back a half step at his rage. "I'm a monster! Can't you see that!?"

Snap felt her chest tighten painfully at the suffering and self loathing in his voice. "Wild. You're not a monster!" she said, stepping closer.

Wild leapt up and stumbled away from her, his eyes filling with panic. "Don't come near me! I don't want to hurt you!"

Snap hesitated. "Hurt me!?"

Wild blinked at her. Suddenly, he turned and started walking away. Heading not for the settlement, but instead, back down the valley.

"Wait! Where are you going" Snap shouted, trotting after him.

"Away from here." Wild answered. "Don't try to follow me."

Snap leapt into a run and raced around in front of him and stood in his way. "Stop." Wild turned to go around her, but Snap moved back into his way, baring his path.

Anger flashed across Wild's face. "Get out of my way!"

"No!" Snap shook her head as she held her ground.

Wild attempted to shoulder her aside with his good shoulder, but Snap pushed back.

"I said get out of my way!" Wild roared, shoving at her.

"And I said, no!" Snap shouted back, keeping her place.

Suddenly, Wild's bad shoulder gave out and he fell forward.

Snap cried out and reached out to catch him, but Wild's weight carried her down too and they both rolled down the hill, coming to a stop at the bottom with Wild laying on top of her. Snap starred up into Wild's eyes, their two gazes locked into each other. Snap was surprised to find that Wild's eyes were a mix of both green and blue. Starting out a rich green near the center and fading into a deep blue at their edges. Why hadn't she noticed how beautiful his eyes were before? Her heart started pounding in her chest.

Wild started to climb off of her, but Snap quickly wrapped her hooves around him and held him in place.

"What are you doing!?" Wild demanded. "Let me go!"

"No," Snap stubbornly refused. "Not until you talk to me."

"Why won't you let this go!?" Wild growled.

"Because I'm your friend." Snap blurted it out without really thinking and was surprised to find that she had spoken the truth.

Anguish suddenly flashed across his beautiful eyes. "Please... just let me go," he pleaded as he struggled to free himself from her.

Snap shook her head, holding on tighter. "Never."

Wild shut his eyes and took a shuddering breath. "How can you say that you are my friend!?" Tears began to seep out of his tightly clenched eyes. "I forced myself on you and tried to breed you against your wishes. What I did was unforgivable! I deserve to be gelded and exiled for what I nearly did to you!" Wild's body began to shiver. "I am no better than those monsters that hurt Jennet and her companions! I'm a monster just like them! You should hate me!"

Snap felt her heart tighten in her chest. He had called himself a monster before. Was this what he had meant!? He was comparing what had nearly happened between them and what the slavers did to Jennet!?

"You idiot."

Wild's eyes shot open.

Snap relaxed her grip around Wild's neck and met his eyes. "I was a young fertile mare in the throws of her first heat and you were a young virile stallion who found himself way over his head. I don't blame you for what nearly happened between us. We were both lost to our desires. I am just as much to blame as you. Well..., maybe not quite as much," Snap amended. "Next time we'll be more prepared."

"Next time?" Wild asked, blinking down at her.

Snap leaned up and kissed him. It wasn't a kiss filled with passion, but a kiss filled with hope for the future. Breaking her lips from his with a light smack, Snap smiled up at him. "You've become a lot more interesting recently. I want to get to know the stallion you're becoming."

Wild Bolt looked like he was in a daze as he gazed down at her.

Snap traced her hoof along the scar that slanted across his face. "You shouldn't be ashamed of this. I think it makes you look more handsome."

Wild moved off her and sat up. His eyes had trouble meeting hers as his hoof went to his scar. "You really think I'm handsome?"

Snap smiled at his awkwardness. "I much prefer this face over the older one."

Climbing back to their hooves, the two started back together.

"Snap?"

"Yes?" Snap turned to look at Wild.

Wild suddenly looked nervous. "Thank you. I would like to be your friend too."

Starless sat with Dark inside her hut, her mask set down before her.

"What am I going to do with her?" Starless asked with a sigh.

"She's one of your mares. It's up to you to decide." Dark answered, unhelpfully.

"Things are going to become more dangerous because of this." Starless said, looking into the low burning fire. "I know that she was only doing what she thought was right, which she probably was, but I wish she'd waited a little longer before pulling this on me. Now I have to go and try and fix this."

There was a light tap at the door. Picking up her mask, Starless settled it over her face. "Come."

Moonglow ducked through the door flap and slowly approached the pair, her eyes downcast. Stopping before the two, she bowed her head down and waited. Starless said nothing for a long while as she considered the mare. The moment dragged on as sweat formed on Moonglow's brow.

"Moonglow," Starless said, finally breaking the long silence. "Do you understand why you are here?"

"Yes, my Mistress." Moonglow answered.

"And are you ready to accept the consequences?"

Moonglow nodded. "Yes, my Mistress."

"Good." Starless said with a satisfied nod. "Then I want the preparations ready for tomorrow night."

Moonglow's eyes snapped up in surprise. "Mistress?"

"The welcoming celebration for the stallions." Starless explained. "I want food, music, and festive attire readied. Since you have shown an exceptional head for planning, this will be a perfect task for you."

Moonglow blinked at Starless with her mouth hanging open.

"Is there a problem?" Starless asked.

"Ah.. no, Mistress," Moonglow stammered.

"Then you have my leave to go and start preparing."

Moonglow bowed low and turned to go.

"Oh and Moonglow," Starless called out, halting the mare by the door. "The next time you have one of these crazy urges to go and do something like this. Please share it with me first."

"Yes, Mistress." Moonglow smiled and ducked outside.

The room stayed quiet for a time as the two stared off at the door. "Well, that went much more differently than I was expecting," Dark said, breaking the silence.

Starless slipped off her mask and set it down. "I thought about setting a suitable punishment that would make her cry for days, but that wouldn't solve anything. The deed is done. Now let's use it."

"Interesting way to look at it." Dark said with a thoughtful nod. "Now what are you going to do with the other problem?"

"Other problem?" Starless asked, looking at him.

"Yeah." Dark said, climbing to his hooves. "You now have a herd of liberated and might I add, virile stallions, living among all these mares. It's not going to be long before you’re neck deep in foals around here."

Starless blinked in alarm as the magnitude of the situation dawned on her. "Oh my..."

Chapter Fifty Six

"Do they look bigger to you?" Tiger asked, holding back her hind leg to expose her udders.

"They definitely do look a little more rounded." Snap answered, examining them. "Have you noticed any leaking yet?"

Wild felt awkward as he sat back, trying not to look himself. It was hard. His eyes kept roaming back to admire the filly-like mare's shapely mounds. He couldn't help comparing them to Snap's as he felt his face growing hot. Why did looking at her udders seem wrong? And yet… he couldn’t help himself.

The sound of heavy hoofsteps drew his attention over to Hoof Strike as he walked over to him. Nestled into the crook of his foreleg was the tiny form of West Wind. "I have to go. Here, hold him." He bent down to give the colt to him.

Wild felt a sense of panic rush over him. "Wha...!? I'm a stallion. I don't know anything about holding foals!"

"Stop your foalish griping and just hold him." Hoof Strike growled at him, depositing the slumbering colt into his hooves. "There, see. It's not that hard."

Wild sat stiffly as he nervously held the foal. "What do I do if he starts crying?"

Hoof Strike looked down at him. "Comfort him, what else?"

"But, what if...?"

"Look," Hoof Strike said with a patient sigh. "You are making this a lot harder than it actually is. Just sit there and hold him. If he gets fussy then rock him, sing to him, or tell him a story. That's all there is to it. Just relax and you'll be fine." Giving his head a light pat of assurance, Hoof Strike left, ducking out the door.

Wild had never been so uncomfortable in his life. At any moment, he felt that the foal was going to wake and start crying, and then things would grow increasingly worse from there. After a while, Wild noticed that the foal wasn’t screaming, peeing or otherwise making a mess on him in some disgusting way, and a small sense of pride came to him as he slowly began to relax. He was doing it!

The colt's warm breath tickled his coat as he slept. Looking down at him, Wild was surprised at how tiny the colt's hooves were. He'd never really looked closely at a foal before. Here, held in his hooves, was a new pony life. The colt's little lips kept making little sucking motions and Wild found himself smiling as he wondered what he was dreaming of. A pleasant warmth settled in his breast as he watched the foal sleep against his chest.

After a time he noticed that Snap and her mother had gone usually quiet and he glanced up to find them both watching him with odd little smiles.

Wild flushed with embarrassment. "Ah... Hoof Strike told me to hold him." He didn't know why he was telling them that. It wasn't like he was doing something wrong.

"Did you see it?" Tiger asked her daughter.

Snap nodded, her eyes not leaving Wild. "Yes mama, I did."

"What?" Wild felt a strange sense of foreboding as the looked at the two. What did they see?

Snap shook her head at him. “Nothing you need to concern yourself about," she answered, waving her hoof dismissively.

"At least... not yet." Tiger added with amusement.

What were these two mares talking about!? Wild felt he was missing something important. Held in his hooves, he felt West squirm with a muted whine.

Tiger stood and walked over to him. "Here, I'll take him so you two can go."

"Go?" Wild asked, feeling oddly reluctant in giving up the foal to the small mare.

"Weren't you taking Wild out for a walk today?" Tiger asked, turning to look at her daughter

"Oh, that’s right!" Snap exclaimed, standing up. "There's a place I heard about that I wanted to visit." Moving across to to door, she turned back to Wild. "Come on."

"Be sure to be back for the celebration later." Tiger Lily called out as she settled back down with the foal.

Wild Bolt followed behind Snap as she hummed happily to herself. She seemed to be in a good mood today. Moving down through the settlement, they saw ponies getting ready for the nights festivities. The Unicorns had never celebrated anything before and the Earth Ponies were helping them set up. A large area was being cleared for the gathering with wood being brought in for a large bonfire.

Colored strips of the new fabric that the Unicorns were producing was being wrapped around poles and tied to lines that stretched overhead to add a festive color to the event. Wild Bolt noticed a loose strip of pink colored cloth that had been blown off from somewhere, drift down and land by his hoof. Picking it up, he looked at Snap as an idea came to him.

"Snap. Hold still a moment." Trotting over to her, he used the strip to tie the end of her mane together along the side of her neck. "There. That'll keep the wind from blowing it around and messing it up."

Snap blinked at what he'd done and flushed. "Um... Thank you."

Leaving the settlement, they followed the trail as it descended down the valley. Wild Bolt's shoulder still hurt, but it was improving every day. His limp wasn't as bad today as he walked beside Snap. The air was crisp with a slight chill as it flowed along the valley, bringing the smells of the forest below.

"Such a beautiful sight," Snap said, looking around.

"It is indeed," Wild Bolt answered, keeping his gaze focused on Snap.

Snap noticed him looking at her and flushed. Smiling she playfully pushed him away. "Stop that. I was talking about the valley!"

"Oh yeah, right," Wild said nodding. "I was talking about that too."

"You are such a bad liar." Snap scoffed.

Wild Bolt grinned as he looked back at her. "Oh? So then if I told you that you were the most beautiful mare I've ever seen, you'd know if I was lying or telling the truth, right?"

Snap's eyes suddenly had trouble meeting his as her hoof stumbled a step.

Behind them, they heard hoofsteps quickly approaching. Looking back, they saw Jennet rushing over to them. "You must hide me!" she cried out as she huddled herself on the far side of Wild Bolt, clutching at his neck as she peeked over his shoulder.

"Who are you hiding from?" Snap asked, looking back at the settlement.

"Brightstar!" Jennet exclaimed, ducking her head back down. "He won't leave me alone! He's always after me asking me more questions! He's now obsessing about pottery!" She let out a groan as she sagged down warily on Wild's neck. "I wish I never told him about that. When will I learn to keep my mouth shut around that stallion?"

"Well, you are welcome to join us," Snap offered. "We're going out for a walk to stretch our legs."

"Oh?" Jennet perked up. "That sounds like a wonderful way to hide from that nattering stallion. Let's get going."

Jennet clung to Wild's side as they descended into the majestic Unicorns hidden vale. The valley widened into gentle grass covered hills that stretched wide between two mountain chains as it gently descended down, where it eventually exited between two white capped peaks, the Unicorns called the guardian sisters. Passing between them was the only safe way into or out of the valley that didn't involve climbing up a goat path.

Scattered about the land, resident sheep grazed lazily upon the hills. The sheep were apparently the secret to the Unicorns fabric. They somehow used their wool to make thread they then wove into cloth. Wild now had a blanket made from it that kept him warm through the chilly nights. It truly was a miraculous material.

After a while, Wild Bolt wondered where Snap was taking them. She mentioned a place that Starless told her about. The settlement had vanished far behind them. Pausing a moment to look around, Snap turned off the well worn path and headed across the field. Wild Bolt and Jennet followed along with her. Crossing the field, they came to a small hill and climbed to the top. Cresting the top, Wild Bolt gasped at what he saw. Stretching across the entire hilltop was a field of pale yellow snapdragons.

Snap Dragon let out an excited sequel and rushed out into the field. "Just look at them! Aren't they beautiful!?"

Wild couldn't take his eyes off of Snap as she danced about in the flowers. She looked so beautiful. Smiling at Snap's exuberant display, Wild Bolt moved out into the field and lowered his head down to sniff at the flowers. Suddenly he felt a weight slam into his side as he was knocked down to the ground!

Rolling over, he was surprised to find Snap giggling as she trotted around him.

"Why did you do that!?" Wild demanded, glaring up at her.

"Do what?" Snap asked with an air of innocence.

"Push me!" Wild answered, gathering himself.

Snap spun around to trot backwards. "Push you? Why would I push you?"

Wild climbed up to his hooves. "That's what I'm asking you!"

"That is an interesting question that probably has a very interesting answer." Snap said, trotting around to stop in front of him. "A question I will only answer, if..." she stretched her hoof out and lightly tapped him on his nose. "you catch me." She then galloped off across the hilltop.

Wild blinked after her departing form as she stopped and waved her rump, blowing a raspberry at him.

"What is she doing?" Jennet asked, looking at Snap with a confused look.

"She's teasing me," Wild answered, a grin coming to his face. "Come on!" he shouted back as he lunged into a run. "Help me catch her!"

Snap squealed as she saw Wild coming and dashed away.

Jennet trotted after him. "Why do we want to catch her?"

"So I can sit on her and make her beg for mercy!" Wild answered.

Jennet shook her head as she ran after them. "Ponies are strange."

Wild's shoulder felt tight, and it kept him from closing with Snap as she stayed just ahead of him. Racing around the hilltop, the three chased one another. Jennet had been confused at first, having never really played before, but was quickly swept up into the spirit of the foalish fun and was soon squealing like a filly, punctuated with loud bays of donkey laughter.

Gasping for breath, Wild stumbled to a stop and collapsed to the ground. He couldn't remember the last time he had ever had so much fun! Trotting over to him, Snap and Jennet flopped down next to him.

Snap threw her legs up and began rolling on her back, her hooves splayed up into the air. She looked a complete fool, but that didn't matter to Wild Bolt. Smiling, he rolled himself up onto his back and joined her in her ridiculous antics while Jennet watched with a bemused look at the pair.

After a time, Wild flopped down in exhaustion. Next to him, Snap moved herself around to look at him. "Wild, would you tell me about your mother?"

"My mother!?" Wild exclaimed, surprised by her request.

"Yes," Snap nodded. "Please."

Jennet sat up and nodded her agreement with interest.

"Why do you want to know about her?" Wild asked.

Snap hesitated a moment as her eyes grew troubled. "When you were delirious with fever, you were calling out to her."

Wild considered her for a time. Letting out a sigh, he then laid his head back into the flowers and stared up at the sky. "Well. I don't remember much about her. She died when I was still young." Wild Bolt started, his tone becoming mournful. "What I remember most about her is her smile. Her eyes always sparkled when she smiled. At night, I would crawl onto her belly and lay there pointing out stars to her. When it got cold, she'd wrap her hooves around me and tell me stories until I fell asleep. She was the most beautiful mare I ever knew."

Snap felt a warm flush spread through her heart with a little sense of jealousy as she listened to how he described her.

Jennet listened with a sad look of longing. She hardly remembered a thing about her own mother. The only thing that she recalled clearly was the scent of hickory smoke that had soaked into her mother’s coat from her time feeding wood into the fire kilns.

"One day, some dragons appeared." Wild Bolt closed his eyes as pain flashed across his face. "The herd was in a panic as the dragons circled over us. Mama took me to a nearby outcropping of rock and shoved me into a small crevice, telling me to hide there until she came back for me."

Snap noticed Wild was starting to shiver and saw that his eyes were squeezed tightly shut. She felt a horrible dread at what he was about to share.”

"I waited... and waited..., but my mother never returned for me." Wild voice was filled with sorrow. "The dragons had taken her from me."

Snap felt tears welling up in her eyes as she set her hoof over Wild's. Her touch seemed to ease him as his body slowly relaxed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up such a painful memory."

Wild blinked his eyes open and looked down at her, giving her a reassuring smile. "It's alright. It happened a long time ago. I've gotten over it."

"Oh, Wild," Snap said softly, looking into his eyes. "I told you I could tell when you were lying."

Wild sighed and laid his head back down to look up at the sky. "Can't slip anything by you, can I?"

"Look," Snap exclaimed, pointing up at a cloud above them. "It's a chipmunk. Do you see it?"

Blinking up at the little puffy cloud, Wild failed to see anything resembling a chipmunk. "It looks more like a goofy pony head with his muzzle bent to the side and his ear bent way down."

Snap laughed. "No it doesn't, it looks like a cute little chipmunk. Look. Its tiny ears are right there and its little tail is over there. Jennet, tell him that you see it too."

Jennet started up at the cloud, perplexed. "I don’t understand. It's just a cloud."

Snap shot a look over at Jennet. "What do you mean it's just a cloud!? It's obviously a chipmunk! Surly you can see that!"

Jennet shook her head. "I see just a cloud."

Snap frowned and pointed at another cloud. "What does that one look like?"

Jennet considered it for a moment. "A cloud."

Snap gasped in dismay. "You don't see anything else. Perhaps a rabbit, or a one legged pony?"

Jennet shook her head. "Why would I?"

"Because it's fun!" Snap sat up. "Haven't you ever looked at a cloud and used your imagination to see things?"

"I was a slave," Jennet answered bluntly. "Staring up at clouds wasn't something we did."

Snap looked horrified. "Well that just won't do!" she exclaimed. "Cloud viewing is a very important activity to learn. Without it, life is just not worth living." She patted the ground next to her. "Come on, I'll show you how it's done."

Jennet turned to Wild with a questioning look. "Do I have to?"

Wild smiled and nodded his head at her. "It's too late now. You'd better do what she wants. It'll make things easier on you in the end."

"Oh shush!" Snap said, waving her hoof at Wild.

As he idly listed to Snap explaining about cloud viewing, Wild laid back to enjoy the feeling of the warm sunlight on his coat as he slowly slipped to sleep. When he woke a short time later, Wild was shocked to find that both Snap and Jennet were curled up against him, fast asleep.

His heart suddenly started racing as he looked down at the pair. Snap looked absolutely serene, with her head resting on his side. A beauty well matched to her namesake. Next to her, Jennet looked peaceful with her face set with soft lines as she slept. Wild couldn't help but notice that Jennet was rather beautiful in her own way. Her two adorable long ears offset her rounded cheeks, balancing it with her prominent muzzle and wide set mouth. Her features were so different from that of a pony's, but no less beautiful for it.

Reaching his hoof out, Wild lightly brushed it along her mane. There was so much sorrow and pain held within her slight form. It was a wonder she looked so peaceful right now as she slept. Crisscrossed along her back, ugly half healed slashes marked her coat. He knew the pain that each mark had caused her.

Blinking her eyes slowly open, Jennet met his gaze with her own remarkable light blue eyes that always seemed to pull at his heart.

"Huh?" She sat up and looked around in confusion. "What...?"

"You fell asleep." Wild filled her in, holding back a laugh.

"I did?" Jennet rolled her shoulder and yawned. "Oh. I guess I did."

Alongside her, Snap muttered a complaint at being disturbed and buried her face into Wild more.

Looking up at the sky, Wild was surprised at how late the day had gotten. "We need to head back. Tiger Lily is going to pull of my ears if I don't get you two back in time for the welcoming celebrations." Leaning forward, Wild poked at Snap until she finally jumped awake.

Starless stood before the gathered Unicorns on the practice field looking them over. Ten mares of wildly differing ages stood at attention as they waited for her orders. Beside her, Moonglow watched curiously. Starless had asked her to bring her ten of the weakest Unicorns for some special training.

"Thank you all for coming." Starless said, greeting her volunteers. "I have asked Moonglow to gather you all for a very special task I wish done."

A mare took a step forward and dropped to her knee. "Mistress. Tell us your desire, and it shall be done."

Starless blinked down at the mare as she considered her. "Always so eager, Dipsy Daze. Well, this time you may regret your eagerness." Moving to the side, Starless stepped up to a massive boulder that over-topped her by two lengths. "I want you to move this."

Dipsy Daze's eyes widened in shock as she gazed up at the massive stone. "Mistress!?"

"This is the task I set to you," Starless commanded, looking down at the mare. "Move the stone."

Climbing to her hooves, Dipsy walked over to the stone. Setting her hooves firmly in the ground, she summoned her magic and wrapped it around the stone. Gritting her teeth, she strained as hard as she could to lift it until suddenly her magic shattered from the strain.

Stumbling back, Dipsy recovered and rushed up to the stone and threw her hooves into its side and pushed as hard as she could, her legs straining with the effort. Panting for breath, she collapsed back onto her rump to rest. "Mistress. I'm sorry, it's impossible."

Starless walked up to her and tenderly set her hoof to her cheek. "I assure you that it is not impossible."

Dipsy Daze blinked up at her.

"I make this promise," Starless said, looking down at the young mare. "Before the sun sets this day. You will move that stone."

Dipsy's eyes shot wide. "Mistress!"

"It is done," Starless declared. "My pledge has been given. Will I be proven a liar today?"

Dipsy leapt back to her hooves and shook her head. "Never, Mistress."

"Then I shall share a secret with you." Starless whispered to the mare. "An impossible task can be overcome with the help of friends."

Dipsy blinked with a look of confusion.

Starless turned to the gathered Unicorns. "Please come forward and gather around Dipsy, please." She waited as they did as she asked. "Now, what I am about to ask you all to do, can be dangerous if not done properly. I ask you all to not attempt this without either me or Moonglow supervising." She looked to each as they gave their agreement. "Good. Now, please close your eyes and relax. I want you all to summon all the magic you can and hold it ready."

Starless watched as each mare's horn began to glow with their magic. "Good, now I want you all to reach out to Dipsy Daze with your magic. Don't try to force it, just reach out to her." She then turned her attention to Dipsy Daze. "Dipsy Daze, I want you to open yourself to them. Like a flower opening itself to the sun, let their magic flow into you."

Dipsy Daze stood with her eyes shut as she focused on opening herself up to them. Her horn flickering as her face became strained with effort.

"Draw it in, don't pull." Starless repeated. "Guide it like a river as it flows into you."

Sweat dripped from Dipsy Daze's brows as her horn began to glow brighter and brighter. Her face tightened with ever increasing strain. "I can't... Its too much..."

"Now lift the stone," Starless commanded.

Dipsy Daze's magic exploded out of her horn. Wrapping around the boulder the massive stone shuddered and broke itself from the ground. Slowly, it lifted free from the ground and moved a full span to the side before dropping back down with a deep thud that shook the earth under their hooves.

Dipsy Daze let out a gasp and collapsed to her rump, gasping for breath with great heaving breaths. The other mares around her all sagged down in exhaustion.

Smiling under her mask, Starless stepped around the boulder. She couldn't believe it! She hadn't been sure that this was actually going to work! Did her plan actually have a chance to come to fruition!? Did she dare hope? Stepping around to Dipsy Daze, she gently laid her hoof onto her shivering shoulder. "I am proud of you. I knew you could do it." She turned to look at all the others. "I am proud of you all. What you have done today is a first step towards the defeat of the Night Mare Astral."

Despite their weariness, the gathered Unicorns all began smiling, their eyes coming alight.

"This is enough for today," Starless told them. "I don't want you all too tired for the grand welcoming celebration tonight."

As the Unicorns all began to disperse, Moonglow stepped up next to Starless. "Mistress. What use is it to teach them how to magic share? It's too slow and cumbersome to use in a fight or even use in day to day tasks."

"'What use is it?' you ask?" Starless replied with a smile. "Very likely our only chance at victory."

"Mistress?" Moonglow asked, confused.

"Think on it." Starless told her, walking away. "I'm sure a clever mare like you will figure it out."

Starless sought out Dark and found him speaking to the new stallions with Hoof Strike and his son Ground.

"I want you all to remember that you are now free stallions. You will need to be responsible for your actions from now on. Anything you do will have consequences," Dark stated, sternly. "No more will you have all your needs taken care of by others. You will have to learn to stand on your own and find your place here. Be an example to the stallions that follow after you. Make a better world here for the future and the foals that will grow up in it."

Hoof Strike now stepped forward to look over the stallions. "I have taught you what I could. What you become is up to you. Don't let me down or I'll make you regret it."

"And please try and keep the rowdiness down tonight." Ground added. "That means no fighting, even if it is over a pretty mare." That got many of the stallions to chuckle. "That is all. You're all dismissed to get yourselves ready. I recommend taking a bath because you all kind of stink."

Watching the stallions leave, Starless approached the trio. She wished she could take her Enchantress mask off to kiss Ground, but had to settle for a quick embrace before turning to the other two. "So? Are they ready?"

"They have no idea what they are getting into." Hoof Strike said with a sigh.

"I believe they'll figure it out," Dark said, "eventually."

"I did." Starless added, looking into Ground's loving eyes. "With a bit of help."

"You were worth the trouble." Ground replied with a grin. "If just barely."

"I will make you regret that later," Starless said, giving him a wink.

"I look forward to it," Ground answered in kind.

"You two..." Dark murmured, shaking his head with a smirk. "What a pair you two make."

"That's right!" Hoof Strike declared with a stomp of his massive hoof that shook the ground. "I couldn't be more proud of my colt and his filly!"

Starless felt her face flush under her mask at the proud look Hoof was giving them. "Well..."

Hoof suddenly reached out and swept her into a crushing hug along with Ground. "Nothing makes me happier than to see my foals being happy together!"

Starless struggled to breathe under the stallion's affectionate embrace.

Dark watched the tender moment with a amused smile. "So, how did it go with the special training?"

Gasping for breath, Starless clutched at Ground as she used him to support herself. "It went exceedingly well, much more than I had dared hoped"

Dark nodded thoughtfully. "Then you believe your plan will work?"

Starless shook her head. "It's too soon to say. I'll need to expand their circle more until I discover their limit." Starless turned to look back over the Unicorns hidden vale settlement. "I'm going to need more Unicorns. A lot more, if my plan has even a glimmer of hope of succeeding." Starless turned to look back at Dark. "I'm going to need to risk going to the Black Mountain."

"Are you sure?" Dark asked, his eyes troubled.

Starless nodded. "I'll need to speak to them myself if I'm going to convert enough Unicorns to our side."

Dark looked troubled by her decision but nodded anyways. "Just be sure you're careful. Okay?"

Starless smiled. "Don't worry. I have Ground to watch over me."

Dark considered her for a time. Stepped closer, his gaze becoming serious. "Did you tell her?"

Starless' heart jumped in her chest as she shot a look back at the settlement. "No. Not yet."

"Don't let it go for too long," Dark warned her. "She needs to be prepared."

"I know," Starless said with a sigh. "It's just... I don't want her to hate me for what I'm going to do to her daughter."

"I don't think she'd hate you," Dark said. "She'll probably will be angry with you for a while, but she won't hate you."

Starless didn't feel very reassured.

"If you want," Dark said, stepping closer to her. "I can talk to her for you."

Starless shook her head. "No. I should be the one to tell her. Thank you though."

The sound of hurried hoofsteps announced Mirage's approach. "Brother. Stratus Streak just arrived with a company of Pegasi."

Dark turned to her and nodded. "Oh good."

"Starless," Mirage said, looking to her. "Isn't it about time that you got ready?"

"Ready?"

"Yes," Mirage answered, moving around to usher her along. "For the stallions welcoming celebration. You want to look your best for it, don't you?"

Starless shot a look up at the sun and muttered a oath when she saw how late it was. "I'm sorry Dark. We'll have to leave our meeting with Stratus for later."

"I understand." Dark nodded to her. "It can wait until tomorrow."

Wild felt tired. Wet from his bath in the stream, he shivered in the chilly air as he made his way back to the hut. Earlier, when they had returned from their afternoon out together, Tiger Lily had quickly swept Snap and Jennet away and sent him off to wash with Journey. Arguing with her that he didn't need a bath only earned him a level glare that made him hurry off to do as she instructed. How did she always seem to do that?

Following along with him, Journey continued telling him about all the interesting places he found while exploring around the vale. Wild nodded as he half listened to the colt.

"Wild?" Journey asked, looking up at the young stallion. "How do you let a filly know you like her?"

"What?" Wild asked, glancing down at the colt. "What do you mean?"

Journey suddenly looked embarrassed. "Well... You know the group of Pegasi that just arrived? Stratus Streak's daughter came with them."

Wild searched his memory. He'd met Stratus a few times before and he seemed to recall a pretty little filly that sometimes accompanied him. It took him a moment to remember her name. "You're speaking about Butterfly?"

Journey nodded.

"Oh... ah..." Wild had no idea how to answer the colt. "I'm probably not the best one to ask about something like that."

Journey swung around came to a stop in front of him to look up at him. "Oh please! She's going to be there tonight!" the colt pleaded. "I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of her!"

"Then I'm definitely not the right one to ask," Wild answered, shaking his head. "I've been nothing but a fool and an idiot when it comes to fillies."

Journey sighed dejectedly and looked down.

Wild felt bad about not being able to help the colt. Stepping closer, he set his hoof onto his shoulder. "I'll tell you what. I'll share with you some of the mistakes I've done, so you won't hopefully repeat them yourself."

Journey looked up at him with sudden joy. "Really!?"

Wild nodded and began walking with the colt falling in beside him. As they headed back to the hut, he shared his first disastrous attempt to claim a filly he liked and how she ended up cracking one of his ribs when she bucked him away.

"So remember," Wild said down to the colt. "Never nip a filly in the flank unless you're ready to dodge her kick."

"Ready to dodge. Right!" Journey nodded, his face set seriously.

Approaching the hut, they found Hoof Strike standing outside.

"Sit," Hoof Strike ordered, nodding down before him.

"Why?" Wild asked.

"Sit," Hoof Strike repeated, his voice becoming firm with his order.

Letting out a sigh, Wild Bolt moved over and sat before the stallion. Hoof Strike moved around behind him, and much to his surprise, he felt a comb pull through his mane.

"What are you...!?" Wild started to rise, but a firm hoof came down onto his shoulder and forced him back down to his rump.

"Sit," Hoof Strike repeated as he resumed brushing his mane out.

"Why are you brushing my mane?" Wild asked. "As I already told Tiger, I'm not going to tonight's celebration." Wild tried to look back, but Hoof Strike firmly forced his head forward with his oversized hoof.

Letting out another sigh, Wild glared ahead as the oversized stallion brushed out his drying mane while Journey watched on with an amused look. Hoof Strike was surprisingly skilled at working out the knots and tangles throughout his mane and tail. When he was done, Wild was amazed at how his mane and tail now flowed with his movement. Done with him, Hoof Strike moved on to brush out his son's mane. Wild was stuck sitting on a log as he waited. Hoof Strike for some reason wouldn't let him leave or go inside.

Sighing, Wild rested his head on his propped up hoof. What was taking them? Glancing at Hoof Strike to see if he was watching, Wild slowly began to creep his rump to the side as he prepared to slip away, but froze when he saw him staring at him. Lifting his massive hoof, Hoof Strike firmly jabbed it at the log under him. Letting out another sigh, Wild shifted himself back into place and scowled down at the ground.

"You cleaned up quite nicely I see," Tiger's voice announced as she stepped out of the hut, looking at him. "Good."

Wild couldn't help but gape at the mare. She was gorgeous! Her golden orange coat shone in the late day sun, and her yellow and black streaked mane was tied back into a loose braid that fell down along her neck. Set over her shoulder was a sharp red colored shawl much like the ones he had seen some of the Unicorns wearing.

Stepping out of the hut behind her mother was a sight that literally took his breath away. Snap blinked at him with her large eyes. Her coat had also received the same treatment as her mother and practically glowed now. Her mane had been gathered at its end and tied with the same length of pink ribbon he'd given her earlier, but now with a fancy looped knot he'd not seen before. Settled over her shoulder was a light pink shawl.

Next to come out was Jennet. Her soft nut brown coat was more vibrant. Her mane had been tied back with a lager white ribbon tied into a large looped knot much like the one on the end of Snap's mane. Another one adorned the end of her tail. Instead of a shawl, she wore a short light brown cloak that hid her injured back.

Last out was Dove, carrying a cooing West Wind in her hooves. Her peach colored coat too had been washed to a glossy shine. And her deep purple mane and tail was decorated with strips of various colored ribbons that had been woven throughout it. Set over her shoulder was grey colored shawl.

"So?" Snap asked, gliding by him with a smile. "What do you think?"

"Ah..."

"He appears to have lost the ability to speak," Dove noted with amusement.

"Don't tease the poor colt," Tiger Lily lightly rebuked them. "Now, come along. We don't want to be late." She motioned for them to start moving. Wild went to sit back down, but Tiger Lily paused to look at him. "And what do you think you are doing?"

"I'm staying here." Wild said.

"Oh?" Tiger lifted her eyebrow at him.

"I don't really like celebrations." Wild shook his head. "Ponies are always trying to talk to me and ask me about things. I'll wait here and sneak in later for the food."

"Well, I'm sorry you feel that way" Tiger said to him evenly. "Now, get your rump off that log and get moving before we are late."

"But..."

Tiger leveled her gaze at him and Wild snapped his mouth shut. "You do not have an option in this. You are coming. Now, stop wasting time."

Snap and Jennet came up alongside him, each flanking a side. Letting out a sigh, Wild dropped his head and nodded.

As they headed off, Snap and Jennet stayed close beside him, their shoulders brushing up against his. Wild suspected that they were there to keep him from running off. His suspicions heightened even more when he noticed Hoof Strike walking closely behind him with Journey.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Wild asked Snap.

Snap beamed at him and nodded. "Very much so."

"I'm so excited!" Jennet added breathlessly. "I've never been to a celebration before!"

Wild grumbled silently as he walked. Why were they forcing him to go? He hated these things. All it was was a bunch of speeches followed by ponies wanting to talk or sing bad songs. The only good thing was the food. That and the mares. And now here he was being escorted to one by two fillies.

The gathering was being held just outside the main settlement. Against a small rise, a large flat topped stone jetting out of it. Standing on it was Dark with Ash by his side, Next to them was Stratus Streak with his daughter Butterfly.

Starless, in her guise as the Enchantress, stepped out onto the stone and looked out over the gathered Unicorns. Her long white cloak rippled in the light breeze. "Greetings free Unicorns!" She announced, her magic carrying her voice across the gathering. "Today, I am pleased to announce the admission of new ponies into our community." She gestured to the stallions as they moved out into the cleared space below her rock. "They come to us as equals. Please welcome these free stallions into our fold!"

A cheer went up from the gathered Unicorn mares as the stallions moved out among them.

Starless waited as she let them greet the stallions. "Next, I wish to express my pride in you all. Through your hard work, and creativity. You have created something new and wondrous!" Tranquil stepped out with a bundle held in her hoof. Using her magic, Starless lifted the bundle up and unfolded it, showing a large bolt of cloth. "Thanks to your fine work, we now have something we can use to trade back to the Earth Ponies for their kindness. No more will we have to live off the generosity of others. Now we can earn it with our own work."

The gathered Unicorns clomped their hooves in approval and cried out with a great cheer.

"To assist in this, Plum Notion and some of the stallions have agreed to become caretakers for the sheep in our vale. They will watch over them and keep our valuable resource safe and bountiful within our lands."

Wild yawned as he listened. He knew this was going to happen, just a bunch of boring talk. Suddenly he felt a hoof jab him in his side and he glanced over at Snap as she glared at him.

"Stop yawning," she hissed.

Wild shrugged at her. "I can't help it."

Wild noticed that Tiger Lily and Jennet had vanished somewhere during the speech. Little West Wind was still with Dove so they didn't slip off to see to him. So where did they go off to?

Wild felt his side get jabbed again. "Pay attention!" Snap hissed.

Folding his ears back in irritation, Wild jabbed Snap back. "Stop poking me."

Snap's eyes flared and she firmly stomped her hoof onto his.

"Would you two settle down." Dove whispered, adjusting a fussy West in her hooves. "Save the flirting for later."

Snap gasped and jerked her gaze forward, while Wild in turn felt his cheeks starting to burn. They were not flirting! ...Where they?

"Lastly. I ask for Blue Swirl, Kindwhinny, Flint Heart, Far Treader, Cotton Cloud, Dusty Stride, and Wild Bolt to present themselves to me." Starless the Enchantress called out.

Wild Bolt blinked, stunned at hearing his name called. Why was she calling them up? Glancing around, he thought about finding a place to hide.

"What are you waiting for?" Snap snapped. "Get moving." She shoved him forward.

Stumbling out, Wild glared back at Snap as she stuck her tongue out at him. Grumbling to himself, Wild moved forward and circled around to the top of the rise to join the others that had been called up. Standing next to Far Treader, Wild could feel all the ponies eyes on him and tried to make himself look as inconspicuous as he could.

"These ponies that stand here before us, have done a great deed. They have taken down a vile slaver group that was hunting dangerously close our lands. In so doing so, they have ended their evil and freed a poor donkey mare caught in their grasp." She turned to look at Jennet who had moved out onto the rock with Tiger and Ground, who was carrying a bundle on his back. "We are Free Unicorns. Slavery will not be tolerated on our lands and punishment will be server for any caught hunting here. Let us also welcome Jennet the free donkey, and show her the same kindness as you would show to any pony, for she is sister to us."

The gathered Unicorns all cheered and stomped their hooves.

Starless the Enchantress waited until the crowd grew quiet again. "In honor of their brave and valiant act, I give them these gifts." Ground stepped forward and Starless lifted a folded rich green colored cloth up from his back and carried it over to Dusty with her magic. Unfurling it, she revealed a new cloak and set it around his shoulder, clasping it around at his throat. "We used the copper you captured to make the clasps. A more proper use for the metal I think."

Dusty looked down at his cloak and reached up to touch the copper clasp in wonder. Watching, his mother and Tranquil were both crying together with pride and joy.

Moving to each of them, she took a cloak from Ground, and settled it around their backs. Wild felt a strange sense of amazement as he felt the cloak settle over him. Green was the newest and most difficult dye the Unicorns had so far created, coming from a tiny berry bush that grew high up in the mountains. He had watched them making it.

Starless stepped back and nodded to Jennet. "And now Jennet wishes to give her own thanks."

Jennet nervously stepped across the stone to Dusty. Pausing before him, she thanked him and gingerly reached out to kiss him on his cheek. Moving along to each of them, she repeated this until she finally reached Wild. Pausing before him she looked back at Tiger Lily as she crossed over to them carrying something long, wrapped across her back. Jennet lifted the wrapped object from Tiger Lily's back and turned to Wild. "Wild Bolt. For saving me, you've earned my eternal gratitude." She unwrapped the long object, revealing a spear. "This spear is from the one you vanquished in my defense." She held it out. "Please accept it."

Wild looked down at the offered spear. The last time he had seen it, it had been embedded into a stallions heart. It had been cleaned and the copper spear-tip had been polished to a shine. Reaching out, Wild took it onto his hoof, its weight settling into his grasp. It felt strangely heavier than he remembered.

Jennet leaned in and planted her lips to his, kissing him. Wild's heart jumped and started racing in his chest as he found himself leaning into her warm lips. Distantly, he heard the crowd cheering as his knees grew weak. With a smack, their lips broke apart and Wild nearly collapsed as Jennet moved back to rejoin a smiling Tiger Lily. Wobbling in place, Wild grinned as his head spun pleasantly. Perhaps coming to the celebration wasn't so bad after all.

Chapter Fifty Seven

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter Fifty Eight

Luna giggled as she played cloppy-hooves with Strawberry, her face scrunched up as she focused on the pattern Strawberry had taught her. She liked having Strawberry live with them while Mirage was away with Dark and Ash, it was like having another sister to play with.

Sitting across the room, Meadowlark brushed out her mane as she got ready to meet with the Mares Circle. "Strawberry? Have you seen where Celestia has gone off to?"

“I haven't seen her this morning.” Strawberry shook her head. "She was already gone when I woke up."

Meadowlark pursed her lips. "That's strange. That's very unlike her."

"She's been helping watch the little foals," Strawberry said. "Perhaps she was needed there early and she forgot to tell us."

Meadowlark thought about it and nodded. "That's probably it." Putting her brush away, she turned to them. "Strawberry, when you see her next remind her that she is to tell me when she is leaving. None of this disappearing. Alright?"

Strawberry lowered her hooves from Luna's and nodded. "Yes, mam’."

"Mama?" Luna called. "I want go play with Aurora today?"

"I'm sorry sweetie. I'm going to be too busy to take you out to her farm today," her mother said. Luna's heart fell with disappointment and she began to pout. Her mother was always too busy to take her out. "But, if Celestia has time, she and Strawberry could take you out later. Okay?"

Luna perked back up and happily clomped her hooves together. "Really!?"

Strawberry smiled and mussed Luna's mane. "Of course we will."

Luna's mood improved immensely and she didn't make a fuss when her mother took her to the longhouse. Racing to her basket in the back, she rooted through her toys as her mother sat down with a group of older mares to discuss matters of the community.

Shifting a funny tangled stick that had only one end to the side, she took out her blocks and set them out on the ground. Stacking them together, she quickly built a small village. Satisfied with her work, she next took out her two carved ponies and placed them in the center of her village.

"Brave Charge, where's was you?" Luna said, moving the carved mare as she spoke. "I have callings and callings for you."

"I hurried and am here's now, Luna!" She answered, moving the stallion. "What you need?"

Luna shuffled her mare figure closer to the stallion. "Brave Charge, there's bad Dragon hurting ponies. Please make go away!"

Reaching into her toy basket, Luna took out her newest toy made for her by Timberline. A Dragon. It had a bulbous body, an overly large head and a short stubby tail. She had heard that dragons had wings, but this one didn't. She didn't mind though, she just pretended that it was a Earth Dragon instead of a Sky Dragon.

Letting out a mock roar, she moved the Dragon into her village and began knocking down her blocks.

"Not fear, Luna!" she said, moving back to her stallion. "I fight it!" She set a tiny spear into a cleverly made slot in the stallion's mouth and charged at the dragon.

Sifting back to the Dragon, she shoved it into the stallion and knocked him over.

"Oh's, no!" she wailed in horror. "his too strong!"

"I's fight too!" Luna cried out, moving the mare figure forward to the stallion. Taking up the spear, Luna stabbed it at the Dragon. Letting out a roar, she toppled the Dragon over onto its side and released a croaking sound of death.

She righted the stallion and moved him closer to the mare. "You are bestest Lulu! Kiss kiss!" She began tapping their noses together with little smooching sounds. Suddenly, her ears perked up when she heard raised voices coming from the circle of mares.

"A messenger from Dark? Of course. Please send her in." her mother ordered.

A pegasus mare with a pack on her back stepped into the longhouse and made her way over to the group. Stopping before her mother, the Pegasus respectfully bowed her head. "Greeting's honored Herd Mother."

"Greetings, Cirrus Swirl," her mother replied with a nod of her head. "You bring word from my mate?"

"Indeed I have." Cirrus nodded. "The Herd Father was very insistent that I first share his love for you and his two daughters." Cirrus Swirl said, sounding slightly embarrassed. There was a murmur of mirth in the gathering of mares around her mother. Hearing them talking about her father, Luna rushed over to her mother to listen.

"Please return our love back to him and Ash, upon your return." her mother requested, placing her hoof around Luna to hold her close.

Cirrus Swirl bowed her head. "It will be my pleasure."

"Thank you," her mother said gratefully. "Now, please proceed with the rest of your message."

"The captured slaver is named Nada, and he's from a land called Minos, which lies across the Burning Sands far to the east." Cirrus said. "The Pegasi avoid the Burning Sands. Any who have tried to cross it, never return. It's a testament to the hardiness of donkeys for making the journey," she added, sounding impressed. "Anyways, Jennet the free slave, has healed well and has been helping Brightstar learn some of the secrets of this other land." Reaching into her pack, she took out a strange cylindrical object and held it out. It was about half the size of a pony's head with an opening at one end. "This is the first one they successfully made."

"What is it?" Reaching her hoof out, her mother lightly tapped the object's side, hearing a light ringing tone at her touch.

"She calls it pottery." Cirrus Swirl answered. "I was told that it's made from fire-baked clay. Brightstar hopes to use it to hold grain and other foods to keep the rodents from getting at it."

"This thing is made from something as common as clay?" her mother asked, carefully picking up the pot to look at it more closely. "Amazing." She passed it over to the other mares for them to look at.

Reaching into her pack, Cirrus Swirl pulled out another strange object. It looked much like the material that Tranquil wove from plant fibers, but it was nearly white and much softer looking. "The Unicorns wish to gift this to you, Herd Mother." She held it out and draped it over her mother's outstretched leg. "It's called cloth."

"Oh, how wondrous," her mother marveled, examining the fabric.

"It's made from spun sheep's wool." Cirrus Swirl explained. "It's a rather remarkable process to watch."

Luna wrapped the cloth round herself. "It's nice and warm, mama," she said, poking her head out.

"Do you like it sweety?" her mother asked, looking down at her.

Luna smiled and nodded.

Cirrus Swirl's expression became serious. "Dark asked me to leave this part for the end. Starless the Enchantress has decided that the slaver, Nada, for his crimes, will be cast into the Enchanted Beast Pool."

There was sudden exclamations of shock around the room. Meadowlark looked like she was going to be sick. "Starless told us about that pool, but I never expected that it would ever be used... like this," she said in a hushed voice.

Luna, peeked out from the fabric she had bundled herself into. "Does that mean the bad pony won't be a pony anymore?"

Her mother looked down at her. "Yes sweety. It means he'll be turned into an animal."

"Really!?" Luna perked up, thinking it would be fun to become an animal. "Would he be a bat, or an opossum?" She liked opossums. They were cute and hung down from their tails.

"I don't know, sweetheart," her mother replied. "Nopony knows what animal they would become when they go in."

"Oh. Okay." Luna burrowed herself back into the cloth, and soon found herself growing drowsy in its comforting warmth and slowly slipped off to sleep.

"Thank you Cirrus, for your hard work." Meadowlark said, turning back to the Pegasus. "Please stay and rest. Food will be brought to you."

Luna didn't know how long she slept before she was suddenly awakened when a distraught Strawberry came shouting for Luna's mother.

"Strawberry, not so fast, you're not making any sense," Meadowlark said to the filly as she rushed up to her. "What do you mean you can't find her?"

"It's Celestia!" Strawberry blurted out. "She's missing!"

Luna yawned and lifted her head, discovering that she had been placed in a basket with the blanket of cloth while she had slept.

"Calm down," her mother said. "She has to be here. Did you check with the other fillies?"

Strawberry nodded. "I asked them all and none of them have seen her today. Nopony has!"

"None of them?" Her mother looked perplexed. "Melodious? Would you please go find Whistle Reed and tell her that I would like to see her, quickly."

Luna rubbed at her eyes, wondering why her mother was suddenly looking so anxious.

A short time later, a pale mare with bright green mane hurried into the longhouse. Stopping before her mother, she raised her hoof to her heart and bowed her head down. "You called for me, Mother?"

"Yes, Whistle Reed " her mother replied. "Did my daughter leave through the gate today?"

Whistle Reed shook her head. "No. I've not seen her since I went on duty this morning."

"What about during the night?" Meadowlark asked. "Could she have left then?"

Again, Whistle Reed shook her head. "Dark ordered that the gates be closed and barred during the night. Nopony is allowed to pass through until the morning."

Luna was trying to understand what was going on. Was sister in trouble?

"Whistle Reed, I would like you to organize a search," Meadowlark said, sounding concerned. "I want everypony questioned and everyplace inside and outside the walls searched for Celestia."

Whistle Reed set her hoof to her heart and bowed her head before rushing out to start the search.

Luna was scared with how her mother was acting. Climbing out of her basket, she rushed to her mother, holding her hooves up to be held.

Picking her up, tears began to well up in her mother's eyes as she held her close. "It's okay Luna. Your sister is just playing a game. They're going to find her really soon."

Sitting by the practice yard, Wild absently watched as Shadow Play sparred against Ash. The gelding was twice the colt's size, and held an obvious advantage, and yet he still struggled to land a hit. Ash's normally serious expression was focused as he seemed to read Shadow Play's every move, parrying and blocking with amazing skill, born from the colt's hard training.

It had been two days since his encounter with the Manticore and Snap was still not talking to him. Wild let out a sigh. "How long is she going to be angry with me?" he asked, looking over to Hoof Strike.

"Don't worry about it so much." Hoof Strike said. "She's as stubborn as her mother. She'll come around. Eventually."

"I hope so," Wild said. He didn't understand mares. You would think he'd snuck up and pulled the Manticore's tail with how she reacted to what had happened to them.

"Come lad. Let's work on your forms. You need to practice your hoofwork more." Hoof Strike said, standing. "It'll help clear your mind."

Sitting outside her mother's hut, Snap scowled as she worked on the loom set out before her. It wasn't as big as the ones the Unicorns were using, but that didn't make it any easier to learn. Letting out a sigh, she leaned back to rub at her shoulder. For days she toiled on it, trying to weave a simple blanket, but only managed a single hoof length of patchy colored cloth. This was a lot harder than she thought. How did Tranquil make it look so easy?

Inside the hut, she heard little West start to cry, his little voice pitched high with hunger. Her mother's voice soon began crooning at the foal as she worked to calm him. His cries were stifled as her mother put him down to nurse. Her mother's milk was slowly coming in, but only for brief feedings. Hardly enough to satisfy the colt's growing hunger. While she was there, Dove was an enormous help keeping the foal fed properly, but soon she was going to be leaving and her mother was growing worried that her milk wasn't going to be ready.

After a time, her mother stepped out of the hut carrying little West tucked up close against her chest. "I gave him what I could, but it won't be long before he's hungry again. Where's Dove? She knows when the foal normally likes to be fed."

Looking up from her work, Snap shook her head. "I don't know. I haven't seen her." It wasn't like Dove to slip off without telling them, especially if she was going to miss a feeding.

"Snap dear. Please go and fetch Whisper Wisp," her mother said, settling down in the soft grass. "With Dove gone, she'll need to nurse him."

Setting her work down, Snap prepared to go when she noticed Dove hurrying over. "Oh, there she is."

"Oh thank the stars," her mother said in relief.

Following along with Dove was the mysterious Unicorn shaman, Soothing Melody. Her pack of strangely assorted things on her back "Greetings Honored Mare." she said, greeting Tiger Lily.

Tiger Lily looked surprised to see the shaman. "Good afternoon, Soothing Melody. What brings you by?"

"Dove has been coming to me to learn what I know about healing herbs," Soothing said. "She mentioned to me that you've been having some difficulty."

"Difficulty" Tiger Lily asked. "I'm not sure what...?"

"Dove has explained to me that you've been trying to bring in your milk," Soothing said.

"Yes, that is true." Tiger nodded. "I have been having a difficult time of it. Is there a way that you can help me?"

"Perhaps," Soothing Melody said, setting her pack of herbs down. "Please pass over the foal to your eldest daughter so I may examine you."

Snap moved to her mother and took little West from her, sitting with him to the side to watch. Soothing Melody bent down closely to examine her mothers udders. Using her hoof, she felt them, massaging her soft mounds with a thoughtful frown. Working out a dribble of milk from her teat with a light push, she bent in close to sniff it. "Hmm..."

Turning to her pack, she began rooting through her gourds, pausing occasionally to sniff at it's contents. Taking out a stone bowl, she added five orange pods with blue spots into it, along with three, red colored leaves with two lobes, a yellow mushroom, and a butterfly wing that sparkled like a rainbow in the sunlight. Taking up a long rounded stone in her magic, she used it to grind them together. Adding water from a gourd, she touched the stone bowl with her horn and the mixture inside the bowl began to boil, filling the air with a sharp, sweet scent.

Returning to her pack, Soothing Melody took out a small flower Snap had never seen before. It had six, bright green, twin lobed petals with a white line tracing down the center of each petal forming a star. Floating it down to the bowl with her magic, she added it in and slowly began to stir with a stick. After a few moments its color turned to a deep crimson. Pouring it into a cup, she took it over to her mother and held it down by her udders. There she pressed at her teat and expressed a few drops of her milk into it. After a few moments, it turned to a light pink.

"Here, drink it." Soothing Melody said, holding out the mysterious concoction to her mother.

"What is it?" Tiger asked, taking the cup. "Some kind of Unicorn magic?"

"No. Nothing like that. This is something anypony can do." Soothing Melody said. "It's a potion made with nature magic."

Snap's ears perked up. "Nature magic? What's that?"

Soothing Melody considered her thoughtfully. She picked a clover and held it up in her magic. "Everything in nature, from the most simple clover to the mightiest tree, is imbued with a form of magic. If you have the knowledge to do so, you can meld their essences together to create something wondrous."

"Really?" Snap said. "That sounds really amazing."

Holding the cup up to her lips, Tiger blew on it to cool it before drinking it down. "That tasted... odd," she said, lowering the empty cup.

"How do you feel, mama?" Snap asked.

"I have a funny taste in my mouth." Tiger said. Suddenly her eyes grew wider. "Oh my... oh my..." She looked down to her udders. "They feel warm and tingly."

Snap wondered if it was her imagination. Her mother's udders looked more rounded than they did just moments before, and her teats had darkened slightly. Watching, she saw her mother's soft mounds grow more rounded as milk began to drip from her teats.

"My apologies honored daughter," Soothing said, taking the colt from Snap's grasp with her magic, to set him to Tiger's udders to nurse. Soon the sound of loud suckling filled the air as well as the colt began to feed.

Tiger let out a revealed sigh "Oh, that feels wondrous."

Snap moved over to Soothing as she repacked her pack. "So anypony can learn this nature magic?"

Soothing Melody paused, her eyes examining her. "If they have the talent and patience to learn. Yes."

"Can you teach me?" Snap asked.

"No." Soothing Melody resumed repacking her things.

"No!?" Snap said, disappointed. "But why not? You're teaching Dove healing herbs and stuff. Why can't you teach me this nature magic too?"

"My reasons are my own, and I have given you my answer." Soothing said, with a note of finality.

Snap sat down with a disappointed frown.

Setting the last of her gourds into place, Soothing Melody looked up. "How is that young colt of yours doing? The one with the shoulder."

"Wild? He's probably off getting eaten by a dragon for all I care." Snap said, her voice going cold. "It would serve him right. I hope it chokes on his idiocy. Star's knows, he's got enough of it."

"Snap!" Tiger said, shooting her a shocked look.

Snap's ears wilted under her mother's furious gaze.

"This has gone on long enough!" her mother continued. "I only allowed this to continue for this long because I believed that you would come to your senses!”

“But mama!” Snap objected. “That fool stallion nearly got himself killed on a stupid adventure that they shouldn’t even have been on!”

“Yes. He nearly died,” her mother said. “And yes. They shouldn’t have been out there without a proper escort, but they are young, and being stupid goes with being young. Wild fought bravely protecting others and should be commended for it, not punished! It’s time for you to put away your hurt feelings and mend things between you two. Do you understand me? I will have no more of this foolishness from you. I raised you better than this."

Her mother was right. She'd been lashing out at Wild, blaming him for what had happened The thought of how close she had come to losing them. Of losing him. She had been surprised at how much it hurt. It was something she'd never felt before. It was like her heart was being crushed in her chest.

She was such a fool! An idiot and fool. How was she ever going to make this up to him!? "Oh mama!" Snap suddenly rushed forward and threw herself into her mother, burying her face into her mane. "I've been absolutely horrible!" she wept.

"I know sweetheart." Tiger wrapped her hooves around her daughter and spoke softly into her mane. "It’ll be hard, but the sooner you speak with him, the better it will be. For the both of you."

Leaning back, Snap wiped at her eyes and nodded. Standing, she rushed off to find Wild Bolt.

Soothing Melody silently watched Snap leave with a bemused look. "I take it the colt has healed well then?" She answered her unanswered question to nopony in particular.

⚜

Wild Bolt walked, not seeing where he was going as he moved along the fringe of the settlement. Hoof Strike had finally gotten fed up by Wild's lack of concentration and sent him off for the day, telling him to only come back when he found his head.

Wild had thought about finding Jennet, but ever since his and Snap's fight, she'd been avoiding both him and Snap. Hiding from them really, spending all her time helping Brightstar. A couple of times he thought he spotted dried tear stains under her eyes, but when he asked her about them she brushed it off and remembered something she had to do before rushing off. She was stuck between him and Snap and it was hurting her.

Suddenly Wild felt a weight come down on his back as two hooves wrapped around his neck.

"What'cha doing!?" Journey's voice cut into his thoughts.

"Thinking," Wild answered.

"Thinking about what?" Journey asked.

"Thinking about things."

"Thinking about what things?"

Wild sighed. "Thinking about important things."

"Thinking about what important things?"

At any other time, this exchange would have been annoying, but now, it was just getting really irritating ."Thinking about really important things."

"Thinking about what really important things?"

Wild knew that he was fighting a losing battle. If he was going to have a chance at winning he was going to have to cheat. "I'm thinking about kissing Snap."

"Eewww!" Journey exclaimed in disgust.

Wild couldn't help but grin.

Journey gave his head a shake. "Well anyways, I found something funner than that icky kissy stuff." Journey said.

"Oh?" Wild figured the colt just wanted to catch lizards sunning on the rocks or something.

"I found a cave!" Journey exclaimed excitedly. "You want to go explore it."

Wild thought about it. It did seem like a good way to distract him from his troubles with Snap. It also sounded kind of fun. "Yeah, sure. It'll be something to do. Let's go."

Journey let out a happy whoop and hopped down from his back. "Come on. It's down the eastern side of the valley. Back where the woods grow up against the cliff."

Wild trotted after the colt. Moving down the valley, it quickly widened out into rolling grass covered hills with bight, colorful patches of flowers. Soon they came to stone fenced pastures that was being made to hold the sheep. Perched on a hill overlooking the grazing sheep, a stallion sat with a crooked staff leaned up on his shoulder. The stallion waved at them as they passed following the well worn path further down the valley.

It was so beautiful here. Soon, the caravan would be heading back to the Earth Pony settlement with packs full of newly made textiles. Snap had decided that she was going to remain here with her family, helping the Unicorns. Wild was divided with what to do. Part of him wanted to stay, but he knew his father would be expecting his return with the caravan. He thought about asking Jennet if she wanted to come with him, but he quickly discarded that idea. If his father saw him with a donkey, he'd be set to the fields until he fell over in exhaustion every night for an entire season.

They followed the path south until Journey turned off to cross over the stream. Walking across the gentle grasslands, they headed towards the cliffs to the east. Cresting a rise, the whitewood forest came into view. To the south, sat Jewel Lake, it's surface sparkling in the sunlight with swans gliding gracefully across its clear surface like puffy clouds in the sky.

Descending to the forest, Wild paused to run his hoof over the white bark of one the trees that gave the forest its name. "How much farther is this cave?"

Journey pointed ahead and said, "Not far. It's just up there."

Wild nodded and was about to continue on when a dark form suddenly leapt out from a bush and charged right at him. He had left his spear behind and he only had time to let out a surprised shout before the form was on him. Two great paws caught him on his shoulder and bore him to the ground. Landing on his back, he stared up in horror as the Manticore opened its fanged maw over his face. Feeling it's hot breath washing over him, Wild clamped his eyes shut as he prepared himself for death.

Instead of the painful feeling of his flesh being ravished and his bones being cracked open, Wild was shocked to feel the rasping lick of the Manticor's warm tongue as it suddenly began licking him. Blinking his eyes open, Wild gazed up in shock as the air thrummed around him with the deep sound of the beast's purring.

"Wild!" Journey cried out in alarm.

"It's okay," Wild quickly assured the colt. "He's not hurting me." Wild didn't understand it. Why wasn't the Manticore eating him? It weight was crushing him and it took some effort to wriggle his way free. Regaining his hooves, Wild felt himself being butted by the Manticore as he affectionately rubbed it's head against him. Hesitantly, he reached out and scratched behind the massive cat's ears.

Something about the Manticore seemed familiar. Examining the creature, Wild noticed some half healed injuries across its body, including one on its shoulder. "This is the same Manticore that attacked us!" Wild exclaimed in surprise.

Journey moved to Wild, eyeing the Manticore as he went. "Yeah, I think you're right. What is it doing here?"

The Manticore suddenly turned and bound away, its dragon-like wings partially unfurled. A moment later, he reappeared carrying what appeared to be a deer leg in it's mouth. Coming back up to them, it dropped it at Wild's hooves and sat back with a oddly pleased look on its face.

A strange thought came to Wild as he considered the Manticore and its offering. It was such a strange thought, Wild had to rethink it through several more times before concluding that it was the only thing that made any sense. "I... think he was looking for us."

Journey looked speculatively at the Manticore then shook his head and said, "No. I think he came looking for you."

"Me!?" Wild blinked at the Manticore who was now busily grooming itself. Why would it be looking for him? It didn't seem to want to eat him. In fact, it seemed he wanted to be friends. Wild would have laughed if he hadn't just received a tongue bath from it just moments before. A Manticore wanting to be friends with a pony? Was that even possible?

Journey moved up to the Manticore and started to pet it. "So, what are you going to name him?"

"We're not naming him!" Wild exclaimed.

"Aww, why not?" Journey leaned up on the Manticore to scratch at it's head.

Wild couldn't believe he was having this conversation. "Because he's a monster!"

"Well, that's a terrible thing to say about him! He's a nice monster!" Journey said. " How about we call him, Fang."

"We're not naming him Fang!" Wild said firmly. Turning, he paced a few steps away, feverishly thinking of what he should do. Somehow, he needed to get the Manticore to leave. How do you chase a Manticore away? Manticore's weren't known for running away.

"Hay Wild! Look at me!" Journey called out to him.

Letting out a sigh, Wild turned and gasped. Journey sat perched behind the Manticor's great mane as the two of them leaped playfully around the trees.

"What are you doing? Don't ride him!" Wild groaned.

"Oh, come on!" Journey said, laughing. "It's really fun! You should try it!"

Wild felt like running his head into a tree. "Stars shine on me! What am I going to do!?"

With the basket balanced on her back, Radiant approached the High Blood Stables entrance. The opening was several times wider than it was tall and the stone floor was worn smooth from the countless hooves. Two Casters stood guard at the opening watching every pony as they passed into and out of the stables. Most mare's were not allowed inside the stables, but Radiant, being the High Blood daughter of Astral, was free to come and go as she pleased.

Her Caster training had gone on longer than expected and she was running late in bringing Frost and Horizon's evening meal. Her escape a few night before with Eclipsea was fortunately being blamed on the Enchantress. Rumors were now flying through the lower Unicorns about how the Enchantress, upon seeing the plight of the mystic, flew in on gossamer moonlight to whisk her away to her Eternal Garden. Her mother looked like a storm cloud about burst when she heard the news of Eclipsea's escape, and she ordered the Casters that had been set to watch the mystic that night be sealed to the stones for two days without food or water.

Passing through the opening, the Casters let her through without challenge. Moving deeper into the stables, Radiant bore to the right at the first fork. The volcanic rock was honeycombed with chambers and pockets, widened with magic and time. Glow crystals, set into the walls lit the way as she moved down the passageway. Ahead of her a figure suddenly stepped out of the tunnel in front of her.

"Oh, hello again," Phantom Dawn said, smiling at her.

Phantom Dawn was the son of one of the most powerful of the Patron matriarchs. He was tall with broad shoulders. His coat was moonlight-grey and his long opal-white mane fell in wavy curls around his neck. His eyes were a deep sapphire blue that nearly caused Radiant to lose herself in whenever she gazed into them. He was the prize of the stables with his breeding price being so high, most families would be ruined if they tried to meet it.

"Good evening, Phantom," Radiant said, giving him a warm smile. "It's nice to see you again."

"As always, your coming brings joy to me, for I am blessed to gaze upon your beauty once again," Phantom Dawn said, touching his hoof to his breast. "Thy absence is like a cold night upon my heart that yearns ever for thy sweet company."

Radiant felt her cheeks heat up as she blushed. "Ah... thank you."

"Please." Phantom Dawn said with a shake of his head. "Should the sunset give thanks for sharing it's splendor each morning? Does a flower seek approval to unveil it's glorious petals? Neigh! For it is I who give thanks at the beauty revealed me."

Radiant felt her cheeks heating up even more at the stallions flowery words. By the moon, he was a handsome stallion.

Stepping closer, Phantom Dawn lightly brushed his hoof along her jaw as he leaned in close. "You know, a mare of your fine breeding, deserves a worthy stallion of high standards."

Looking up into Phantom's deep sapphire eyes Radiant felt her heart quicken. "Oh?"

"Indeed." Phantom continued. "Our pairing would produce such beautiful foals, they would be the envy of every High Blood mare."

Radiant felt her flush spread down her entire neck to her back as the stallion leaned in close, his scent filling her senses.

"I have spoken to my mother about becoming your mate," Phantom continued, his breath tickling her cheek. "She seemed quite agreeable to it."

"She did?" Radiant found her breath quickening.

"Yes," Phantom said. "If your mother agrees, then it will be I who will be filling your womb with foals instead of that... runt unicorn."

Radiant's lips firmed in sudden annoyance. "I would appreciate it if you didn't speak of Frost like that."

Frost was rather small for his age, but he was remarkably sweet and kindhearted. It was a trait that was missing in a lot of stallions in Radiant's opinion and it was something she liked about him.

Phantom Dawn placed his hoof to his breast and bowed his head. "Oh, you are absolutely correct, my dear. I apologize most humbly for my crude comment. It was wrong for me to speak so of the colt."

"Thank you," Radiant said, stepping away. "I'm sorry, but It's past time that I must be going now."

"Oh! Yes of course. How rude of me. I'm keeping you from your task." Phantom said, hurrying along with her. "Here, let me assist you." Before Radiant could protest, Phantom snatched up her basket of food and set it onto his back.

This was a disaster! What was she going to do!? Phantom couldn't discover the secret she had hidden with Frost! Schooling her face, she smiled at him. "Why thank you. That's very kind of you."

Continuing on with Phantom by her side, Radiant struggled to keep her nervousness from showing. Weaving their way through the maze of interlocking tunnels, they finally came to Frost's chamber. It's entrance was set higher up on the tunnel wall with hoof-notches carved into the sloping rocks below.

Stopping, Radiant took back her basket and said. "Thank you again for your help." When she moved to go, Phantom abruptly threw his hoof up in front of her and stopped her.

Phantom frowned in disapproval at the steps leading up to Frost's chamber. "Radiant my dear. I cannot allow you to endanger yourself on such poor hoofholds . Please remain here while I fetch down the colt for you."

Radiant stared in horror as Phantom started for the steps that led up to Frost's chamber. She needed to stop him before he saw what was hidden up there! Thinking as fast as she could, she failed to think of a single good idea! With no other option, she panicked and did the first stupid thing that came to her. Summoning her magic, she snatched up a small stone and threw it at Phantom, shouting, "Look out!" The stone flew and struck Phantom's flank with a light thunk.

Phantom whirled about, his horn flashing with magic at the unexpected attack.

Radiant pointed off into the darkness of the tunnel "It came from over there!"

"You villain!" Phantom cried out in outrage into the darkness. "It will take more than a mere pebble to defeat me!" Pausing a moment, Phantom Dawn took her hoof and kissed it. "Apologies my dear, but I must leave you. There is a task that needs to be seen too." With that, the stallion rushed off down the tunnel, the light of his horn faded off into the distance.

Radiant watched him go and let out a relieved sigh. She couldn't believe that it had actually worked. Lifting her hoof, she looked down at the spot where Phantom had kissed her. Why did her heart start racing when he'd kissed her?

The sound of a hoof scraping on rock caught her attention. Looking up, she saw Frost looking down at her from the opening to his chamber. "Why did you bring him?" His blue eyes had a strange coldness to them.

"It couldn't be helped." Radiant said, climbing up to him. "He kept following me."

"I noticed that you didn't seem to mind." Frost said, his expression becoming more stiff.

"What's the matter?" Radiant asked, pausing to look at him. He was acting really strangely.

Frost shook his head. Summoning his magic, he lifted the basket of food off her back. "Nothing." He then turned and walked down the narrow tunnel.

Radiant stared after him. After a few moments, she followed after. The narrow tunnel quickly opened up into a small, rounded chamber, its smooth walls glittering with minerals. Set into the center of the ceiling, a glowing crystal filled the room with it's soft light. Interspersed into the walls were smaller alcoves that were big enough to hold a pony.

It was out of one of these alcoves that Horizon Flicker poked his head out. When he saw Radiant come in, he smiled happily and jumped down to rush over to wrap his hooves around her leg. "Radiant!"

Smiling down at the colt, Radiant warmly embraced him back. At first, she tried to not like him. It had been because of him that she had lost her big brother, Rising. But despite her initial feelings, she quickly warmed up to the colt. He was just so warm and exuberant, she couldn't help herself.

Horizon was the son of a sea tribe's Matriarch. One day, while he was out on the beach playing with the other younger foals, he saw a careless filly that had gotten caught out on some rocks when the tide had come in, leaving her stranded away from shore. Seeing the water lapping at the filly's hooves, he cast out his magic and pushed back the sea, allowing him to walk out to the stranded filly and bring her back to shore safely. Word of his amazing feat came to her mother's attention, where she then decided that he was worthy to exchange her brother for.

"Did Dazzle come too?" Horizon asked, looking up at her with his bright eyes.

Radiant shook her head. "I'm sorry. Not today." Horizon was to be Dazzle's mate when they were older, but for now, the two had become friends since his arrival. Normally, Radiant would have brought Dazzle along so the two could talk and play a bit, but today Dazzle had upset their mother when she had interrupted a meeting she was having with her Casters and had been given extra magic lessons to teach her discipline. Radiant remembered being given those extra lessons herself. They usually consisted of useless tasks. For her, it had been moving a large pile of stones from one spot to another, then back again until she was told to stop, which usually didn't happen until she'd collapsed in exhaustion.

Frost had sat down with the basket and was eating an apple he had picked out of it. His expression was odd, almost angry looking.

"Frost?" Radiant said, crossing over to him. "What's the matter? You're acting weird."

Frost chewed his apple for a moment, his eyes refusing to look up at her. Then he asked. "Do you like him?"

Radiant was caught off guard by the question. "Who do you mean?"

"You know who I mean." Frost said angrily, his gaze snapping onto her. "You like him, don't you?"

"Phantom?" Radiant guessed, surprised at how angry he appeared to be. "Well... yeah, a little bit. He's kind of sweet in a way."

"That stallion is horrible!" Frost exclaimed, his half eaten apple suddenly crushing in his magical grasp, its juices splattering to the ground. "He's vicious and cruel!"

Radiant pursed her lips at the waste of food. "Frost, why are you acting this way? Phantom has been nothing but friendly."

"That's only because he's trying to gain your favor!" Frost snapped.

Frost's strange attitude suddenly became clear to Radiant. "You're jealous!"

Frost glared down at the basket of food, his ears quivering. "No, of course not."

Radiant knew he was lying. "Yes you are! You're afraid I'll choose him over you!"

"I am not!" Frost shouted angrily, storming to his hooves. Horizon, frightened at his outburst, vanished into one of the alcoves. "You must believe me, you cannot trust Phantom! He's dangerous!"

"Don't raise your voice to me!" Radiant glared angrily at Frost. He had never shouted at her before. No stallion had. "Remember your place! What I do with Phantom is my business. A stallion would know to keep his muzzle out of where it doesn’t belong!"

A look of pain suddenly flashed across Frost's face. "Fine. Do whatever you want with him. Have his foals for all I care." With a flash, Frost suddenly vanished in a burst of snowflakes, that drifted down in his wake.

Radiant stared at the spot Frost had been standing just a moment before. She had taught him that flash-travel spell herself, along with a several other spells. She had been surprised with how quickly he learned during their magical sparring matches. If he wasn't a stallion, he would have made a good Caster, probably one of the best.

A soft scuffing sound drew her attention up to a alcove above her. There she noticed the end of Frost's silvery-blue tail draped over the edge as he sulked inside.

Letting out a sigh, Radiant put Frost from her mind. Going to the basket, she collected some food and moved across to an alcove in the back of the chamber. Ducking inside, she summoned her magic and cast a light spell around her horn, lighting up the small space to reveal Eclipsea laying in the corner of the small alcove.

When she came to Frost for his help, he expressed to her his misgivings about her plan to hide Eclipsea there, arguing with her about how much trouble she would be in if what she had done was discovered. In the end, despite his feelings otherwise, he agreed to help her and Eclipsea. He sent her back out while he somehow slipped out of the stables by some unknown way, meeting her shortly after at the place where she had hidden Eclipsea. There he collected the blind mare from her and slipped back in without anypony being aware that he'd even left. When she later asked how he had done it, Frost only smiled at her and said that is was a secret.

"I brought you food." Radiant said, placing the food down in a wooden bowl.

"Oh, thank you dear." Eclipsea said with a smile.

Horizon's head peeked out over Eclipsea's back. "Is it safe?"

"All is well again." Eclipsea reached her hoof out and mussed the colt's mane. "It was just a little lovers spat, nothing to worry over."

Radiant glared at the Mystic. "We most definitely are not lovers!" she huffed out in irritation. Her and Frost's pairing had been arranged by her mother, and even though she had grown rather fond of him, she didn't think that it was love.

"My pardon," Eclipsea said, bowing her head. "I sometimes confuse the order of things."

Radiant sighed and sat down . "What am I going to do with him? He's been growing more belligerent and willful every day. Perhaps it was a mistake to teach him magic."

"I had a dream." Eclipsea said, gazing at her with her sightless eyes. "I saw a young mare walking alone through a forest. The trees were dark and shrouded her way. Suddenly, she found her path diverging before her and she stopped. One way, led to an Eagle that had wings as wide as the whole sky. The other way led to a Hare, whose fur was white as pure new fallen snow."

Radiant found herself leaning forward as she listened.

"The young mare had a choice, go to the eagle? Or the Hare?"

Radiant waited expectantly for Eclipsea to finish. "Well? Which one did she choose?"

"That...” Eclipsea said with a thoughtful nod of her head, “has yet to be decided. The young mare I saw in my dream, was you."

"Me!?" Radiant blinked in sudden shock.

"Yes, my dear," Eclipsea said. "I saw two paths laid out before you. One will grant you great power and admiration. The other will lead to great heartache and strife. Choose wisely, for one leads to life, while the other is to your destruction."

Radiant sat back, stunned by Eclipsea's telling. Was it true that the Mystic could dream of things that might be? The Hare and the Eagle. Frost and Phantom. Two paths leading to two stallions. Who would she choose? Who would bring her power? And who would bring her heartache

Unbidden, tears began to form in her eyes. What was she supposed to do!?

With Journey riding on his back, Wild returned back to the settlement. It had taken them a while to convince Ardor, the name he had decided to call the Manticore, to go back to it’s home. It seemed that Ash had done something to it when he commanded it to no longer hunt ponies, for now it was as playful as a foal. Wild agreed with Journey about keeping Ardor a secret until they could figure out how to convince everypony that he wasn't dangerous anymore. This wasn't going to be easy. He wanted to bring this to Starless, but she was away on some secret task somewhere and he was going to have to wait until she returned. Whenever that was. In the meantime, what was he going to do?

"There you are!" a familiar voice cried out. Snap came trotting over to them. "Where have you been? I've been searching all over for you!"

"We went out exploring," Wild answered simply. It was true, sort of.

Snap looked at Journey as he peered around Wild's neck. "Journey. I would like to speak to Wild for a bit alone. Would you please head off for home."

"What did you do now?" Journey whispered into Wild's ear as he slipped down from his back.

Wild only shrugged at the colt as he trotted off.

Alone, Snap took a deep breath and let it out. "Wild. I want to say that I'm sorry."

Wild blinked in surprise. "What for?"

"For the way I've been treating you." Snap answered, shifting awkwardly. "I'm sorry. When you all came back and I saw blood on you. I… I thought that…” She took a breath and let it out. “It really scared me and I took it out on you. I shouldn’t have yelled at you."

Wild gaped at her, then caught himself. "Hay, it wasn't so bad. I get yelled at much worse from my pa whenever he gets angry at me."

"No. No. It's not okay." Snap insisted, stepping even closer. Wild leaned his head back at her sudden nearness and swallowed as he gazed into her large eyes. "I shouldn't have done it and I hope that you'll forgive me."

Wild felt his cheeks flush as her breath tickled his lips. He had to struggle to hold himself back from trying to sneak a quick kiss. "I... I... forgive you."

Snap suddenly lunged forward and wrapped her hooves around his neck with a wild cry. "Oh thank you!" she said in relief.

Wild started to reached up to return her hug when she suddenly pulled away and leapt around to start shoving at him. "Come on! We need to find her!"

"Her!?" Wild asked, stumbling forward under her forceful urging. "Who are you talking about?"

"Jennet of course!" Snap answered. "She needs an apology too!"

"But why do I have to come?" Wild complained.

Snap continued to shove at him. "Because this is also your fault!"

"My fault!?" Wild exclaimed in confusion. "But you just said..."

"Are you still on about that?" Snap huffed. "Would you stop dragging your hooves or am I going to have to drag you all the way there?"

Wild sighed and relented. He remembered some advice Hoof Strike shared with him once. It takes a wise stallion knows when to lose, especially to a mare.

Luna was in a bad mood. It was because of her sister that she wasn't allowed to go out and play with Aurora today. Despite a through search of the compound and the surrounding area, no sign of Celestia was discovered.

Her mother was in a frantic state, breaking into tears and clutching Luna in worry for her missing daughter. Melodious stayed by her side, trying to console her while Strawberry watched over her two colts and Luna. Going to bed that night with her belly filled with her mother's warm milk, Luna snuggled close to her mothers breast and drifted off to sleep.

Luna dreamed. She was standing in a grassy field with the moon high overhead. Its soft light, bathing the land in muted colors that shimmered and danced in her vision. In the landscape of her dream she heard Celestia calling to her, her voice drifting to her on the wind.

"Tia?" Luna called, trotting forward. The land blurred and she suddenly found herself standing on a hilltop overlooking a valley with a small stream that curved in long winding bends down its center. "Tia?" Moving again, the land blurred and she was now perched on the edge of a mountain. Below her, a great waterfall cascaded into a deep crevasse in a shower of mist that cast a moonbow over the falls. "Tia? Where is you?" Stepping forward, the land blurred and she was atop a sand dune, surrounded by a sea of sand that stretched off to the horizon. "Tia?" She stepped and now she was in a forest, it's dark trees crowded over her, their gnarled branches appearing like claws grasping at her. "Tia?"

Silence.

Luna stepped again and found herself in a glade. A thick bed of soft moss covered the ground and a clear brook, sparkled in the moonlight. "Tia?"

Suddenly her ears perked up when she heard singing. Hurrying across the glade, Luna plunged into the forest, her short legs carrying her over the soft mossy undergrowth as she sought out the source of the sweet melodious voice, raised to the night. The voice pulled at her as she hurried through the forest, drawing her onward as she pushing through ferns and climbing over mushroomed covered logs. Breaking into a clearing, she found a mare sitting on a rock.

The mare was pale white with vibrant red hooves that faded up the length of her legs and her mane and tail were the color of rose petals as they drifted lightly in the soft breeze.

Slowly, her hooves moved as they carried her closer to the beautiful mare. The mare looked down at her with her ruby colored eyes and smiled warmly as she approached. With every step, something nagged in Luna's mind. A feeling of wrongness that surrounded the mare. Each step she took became harder for Luna to resists. Something was very wrong! She needed to stop!

Gathering her will, Luna fought the pull of the mare's song and slowly brought her hooves to a halt. The mare's eyes widened. "Such strength in you, little one."

"Where Tia!?" Luna demanded. Surely she would know where her sister was. "Where my sister!?"

The mare smiled at her. "You want to go to your sister? I know where she is." Standing she moved towards her. "Come. I'll take you to her. It's not far"

Luna felt the wrongness of the mare grow as she reached out for her. Something in her told her that the mare was a bad mare. "No!" Luna cried out. The moon overhead flashed, and a soft light suddenly enveloped Luna.

The mare hissed in pain and snatched her hoof back, her eyes now filled with rage. "I will make you pay for that for a very, very long time little filly. A very long time indeed."

A darkness suddenly shot out from the mare's shadow and enveloped around Luna. Within the darkness, the glow that surrounded her dimmed as the darkness crushed down on it. Luna didn't know what would happen if the darkness touched her, the thought of it sent chills down her spine.

Luna knew she was in a dream. She didn't know when it had started, but as she got older, her control over the dreams had been growing stronger. Sometimes, she could even enter another's dream if they were sleeping close enough to her. Closing her eyes, she focused on her need to wake up, A moment later she became aware of the feeling of her mother's warm body against her own. Opening her eyes, she let out a breath of relief when she saw that she was in her home. The fire, in the firepit had burned low and their embers glowed softly, filling the room with its muted light.

Suddenly, she became aware that there was something nearby. Standing just a few paces away was a shadow pony staring down at her with glowing yellow eyes.

Terrified, Luna screamed in terror.

Her mother startled awake at her outburst and clutched her tightly. "Luna! What's wrong!?"

Strawberry had also awakened from her sleeping pallet and the door flap moved aside as the two guards posted outside rushed in, their eyes searching the room for danger. Finding nothing.

Weeping into her mother, Luna told her about the mare she saw in her dream and about the shadow pony.

Crooning to her, her mother softly stroked her head. "It's okay, it was just a dream."

"But mama!" Luna complained.

"Shh," her mother shushed her. "It's okay. I'm here and I won't let anything hurt you."

Seeing that they weren't needed, the two guards turned to go.

"Is there any word yet about Celestia?" Meadowlark quickly asked, catching the guards before they stepped back out.

The two guards sadly shook their heads.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside and Melodious came rushing in with a frantic look on her face. "They’re gone!"

Meadowlark quickly stood and rushed to the frantic mare. "Gone? Who's gone?"

"My colts!" Melodious cried out. "They were with me when we went to sleep, but when I woke, they were both gone! Somepony has taken them!"

Author's Note

I apologies for the slow chapter releases. I have been having trouble keeping myself motivated as I was before. I still work on the story every day, but find that I am struggling to focus on the work. I know that despite the legth of this chapter, it didn't have a whole lot of actual progress. It was mainly a setup for upcoming chapters.

Chapter Fifty Nine

Author's Note

Not a particularly eventful chapter, but a few things happen.

Chapter Fifty Nine

Sweet Blush cautiously made her way through the forest, the small light of her horn cutting weakly through the night. She had never been this deep inside the forest before. The smell of damp earth and old leaves filled her nose as she passed quaking aspens and red alders that added their own unique scents to the air.

Ether because of the chill of the autumn night air or because she was creeping through a dark forest, Sweet Blush shivered as she made her way. Ahead of her she spotted a dim light coming from around a bend. Moving cautiously closer, Sweet Blush peeked around the trunk of an old maple tree and let out a sigh of relief when she saw her Grandmare waiting for her.

"Oh, thank the Great Mother," Sweet Blush said in relief, glad she wasn’t going to be wondering in the forest for the rest of the night.

"Hello dear," her grandmare said, embracing her in a welcoming hug. "I'm so glad you found your way."

"I don't understand why you wanted me to meet you all they way out here," Sweet said. "Whatever would be here that you would want me for?"

"Come with me," her grandmare said. "You will soon understand."

Her grandmare led her down a narrow deer path through the trees, descending even deeper into the forest. After a short time they broke into a small glade bathed in the soft light of glow crystals suspended down from the the surrounding trees. High above, a half moon added its own soft luminescence to the group of mares already gathered there.

With an assuring nod of her head to her, her grandmare led her down to join the other mares. Looking out across the gathering, Sweet Blush noticed that most of them were common bloods with a few low bloods clustered off to one side. What were they all doing here and why did her grandmare bring her here? She was about to ask when she heard a hush suddenly sweep across the glade.

Stepping out of the trees, a new group of ponies appeared. In the lead was a mare with a golden necklett around her neck, denoting her as a Caster. Worried murmurs ran through the gathered mares as some began to move towards the trees, but stopped when they found their escape barred with a spell wall.

Large stallions and mares with spears filed in behind the Caster. Sweet Blush was surprised to see that many of them were mere dirt ponies and was even more surprised to see that all of them had destiny marks! One was an olive colored stallion with a mark of three green stars, followed after by a honey golden stallion with three wheat stocks on his flanks. Moving around the other way was a bright pink mare with a cherry blossom mark and an almond colored mare with a dragonfly mark.

The gathered mares drew closer together as fear rippled through their ranks. Sweet Blush pushed up against her grandmare's side. Who where these strange ponies? What were they going to do to them!? The spear bearing ponies circled around and took up positions along the treeline. Their spears held at attention. Taking up a position behind them, was a sea blue stallion with a skull mark.

"Grandmother?" Sweet Blush murmured in fear, but was quickly shushed by her.

Next to come in was a small group of nondescript mares, remarkable only for how unremarkable they appeared. Their horns glowed with magic. Where they the ones warding the glen? They didn't look like Casters. In fact, they appeared to be nothing more than normal Common Blood ponies.

Suddenly, all eyes were drawn to a new figure that stepped into the glen. A stallion. No. Not a stallion. A monster! He was massive! All the stallions arrayed around the clearing were large and powerful looking, but this one was a mountain compared to them. Sweet Blush felt her cheeks warm as she watched him step forward with his heavy hooves. She was surprised at how handsome the stallion was for being a dirt pony.

Stepping to the side, he revealed a wispy colored mare gliding in from behind him. She was lengthy with fine bone structure and well toned muscles that emphasized the elegantly smoothed curves of her figure. Not a single sign of hunger marred her beautiful body. She practically floated across the ground as she gracefully climbed up onto a large stump. Set over her face was a white mask with strange mystical markings etched onto its surface, a long horn thrust up through a hole. Standing prominently on each her flanks was an eclipsed sun with fiery rays arrayed around it's edges.

Sweet Blush quailed in sudden terror at the sight of her. The Enchantress! A stir of sudden fear ran through the gathered mares and one even collapsed to the ground in a dead faint. "Grandmother!" Sweet gasped out at her. "We must escape! That's the Enchantress! She'll curse us with horrible boils and make our hooves fall off!"

Her grandmare shook her head. "Don't be foalish. She'll do no such thing."

"How do you know!?" Sweet Blush asked, on the verge of panic.

"Because this isn't the first time I've come to listen to her," her grandmare explained. "Now hush. She's about to start."

The Enchantress gazed out over them, her head held up high. "Peace be with you, good mares," she said, her clear voice echoing across the chamber. "Steady thy hearts and have no fear for I have not come to harm any of you. I am a simple guide with the hopes of leading the Unicorns back to what has been lost for far too long."

Something about the Enchantress' voice tickled at an old memory in Sweet Blush. Something from her foalhood days. She strained to remember, but couldn't quite place it.

"Long, long ago, in a time lost to all but memory, there lived a small tribe of ponies called Unicorns," the Enchantress began."Life then was savage and wild, every day filled with struggle. Monsters and Beasts of the land, hunted the Unicorns for food and drove them from their hiding places. Living during this time was a young mare named Fata Morgana. She was a fierce warrior who valiantly fought with teeth, hoof and horn to protect her tribe, facing down any foe that threatened them. The Great Spirits saw the young mare's indomitable heart and was moved by her struggles. They came to her and offered her a blessing, taking her away, they brought her to their home in the Elysium Fields to live among them for a year and a day, learning from them the deeper secrets of magic. Returning with this new knowledge, she became the first Matriarch of the Unicorns and led them into a new age of magic."

Sweet Blush felt her eyes mist up. Her mother used to tell her this story when she was a young filly. She had almost forgotten it.

The Enchantress' horn flashed and the glen was filled with light. "No longer would Unicorns be hunted," she declared, her voice booming across the gathered ponies, casting shadows into the surrounding woods. "Under the First Matriarch's leadership, they drove off their tormentors, sending them to hide in the dark places."

The gathered mares no longer stood timidly as their heads raised higher with forgotten pride. A few even stomped their hooves.

"With the dawning of the new age, also brought even greater challenge, and sacrifice." the Enchantress continued, her voice becoming mournful. "A dark spirit, filled with greed, set to claim the sun and moon for herself. The Great Spirits saw this and rose up to stop her. Their battle was dreadful, and it nearly shattered the heavens in it ferocity. The Great Spirits eventually triumphed and they cast Greed down, sealing her into a prison of crystal."

Many of the gathered mares forgot themselves and let out cheers as they stamped their hooves. Sweet Blush smiled as she joined her hooves with the other mares.

The Enchantress paused to wait, her eyes unreadable as she looked over the crowd. "The victory was great," she proceeded once they had grown silent again. "But the damage was greater. The pattern of the heavens had been thrown into disarray. The sun and moon had been flung from their cycles and now wandered without guidance nor care. If nothing was done, the heavens would be torn asunder and all would be lost to darkness."

The gathered mares let out murmurs of dismay.

"The Great Spirits, filled with remorse and sadness for the harm they had done, were forced to depart this world, least their presence harm it even further, leaving their only student behind to heal the wounds they had caused." The Enchantress' voice carried over the clearing. "Fata Morgana gathered her most talented Unicorns under her will and reached out with their collective power to touch the stars. The strain of their task was enormous, and many died in the effort. With her horn cracked open and her heart failing, Fata Morgana held strong and persevered beyond her mortal limits. With the last of her waning power she restored the heavens to their proper places."

Spellbound, the mares all gazed up at the Enchantress with wide eyes. It was likely that this was the first time most of them ever heard this story in its entirety. Most tellings of it had fallen into disuse over the years or had been forgotten altogether. Starless was told it many times as a filly by her grandmare before going to sleep. She remembered imagining herself as Fata Morgana. She wanted to be as brave and powerful as her someday and save the Unicorns from their enemies. Starless' eyes drifted over to Ground. Fate could be so cruel sometimes.

"With all of her strength used up, Fata Morgan fell to the earth. Her daughters quickly rushed to their stricken mother's side but there was nothing they could do. As her heart beat its final few moments, all the Unicorns gathered around and pledged to her that they would continue to watch over and care for the heavens she so dearly gave her life for. To keep the cycle in its proper course for the benefit of all. Looking up at her beloved Unicorns with a smile on her lips, Fata Morgana passed on, taking up her honored place among the stars."

Tears fell as mares openly wept across the clearing.

"Weep. Weep for the fallen. Weep for the great sacrifice made. Weep for those who have been forgotten. Weep for the vow that has been broken," the Enchantress mourned. "The Unicorns have become lost. The once proud blood of our race now reeks like rot. Astral has forsaken the great pledge! She has led the Unicorns astray and corrupts the cycle. She treats the heavens as hers to do as she pleases and threatens to hold back the sun if she fails to receive her tributes.”

“This is wrong! This goes against everything Fata Morgana taught. She gave everything of herself freely, teaching magic to all Unicorns without divide of Blood or sex. Stallions and mares all gave their oath to her on that day, pledging their lives and magic to honor the teaching of the one they so loved. Remember the Pledge given! Remember the sacrifice made! Remember Fata Morgana! Honor the oath."

A light blue mare with a hooked muzzle and slightly slanted eyes that made her look like a hawk, suddenly called out. "You're asking us to oppose Matriarch Astral and the High Bloods!? We'll be sealed to the stones until our skin rots from our bones if we did that!"

"That's right! We're just common bloods," another mare added. "How can we stand against the power of the High Bloods!"

"With courage," the Enchantress answered simply, her tone neither sharp nor condemning of their questions. "Courage is a power that surpasses all magic. The Oathbreaker Astral can threaten you, hurt you, kill you, or even burn you to ash. But no matter how much magic she casts down upon you, she can never destroy a pony’s courage. Hope is a light that shines in the dark, courage is a weapon that cuts from the heart."

The hawk faced mare shook her head with an uncertain look. "What if we don't have any courage?"

The Enchantress stepped down from her stump and approached the hawk nosed mare. Reaching her hoof up she set it onto the mare's chest. "Courage dwells in us all. It comes not from muscle or magic, but from the strength of one's heart. You have but to look inside and you will find the power to face down any foe that stands before you."

The hawk faced mare blinked up at the Enchantress, her expression dubious. Sweet Blush touched her hoof to her own chest as she thought about what the Enchantress had just said.

"Why should we believe you?" the mare asked, her voice quaking slightly. "You come to us and tell us to risk our lives and the lives of our foals to stand against the Bloods, when we have no reason to trust you!"

The Enchantress lowered her hoof and studied the mare for a time. "You are right. Trust is not easy. It cannot be forced or coerced, only earned. And I have not earned yours yet." She turned and looked out over the other mares. "I know I am asking much of you, but I have faith in the strength I know each of you have inside. Matriarch Astral and the Bloods that support her have forsaken Fata Morgana. They have forgotten her sacrifice in their selfish desires and petty games. They crush down those they see as their lowers with fear and despair. The time of the Bloods needs to come to an end." The Enchantress turned and returned to her place at the the head of the clearing. "Anypony who wishes to join with us, come forward and you will be welcomed," she said, looking out over the gathering. "For those who refuse this offer, you will be given food and led safely back to your chosen home."

Sweet Blush felt her grandmare push at her. "Come along," she said, urging her forward.

"Where are we going?" Sweet Blush asked, looking back at her grandmare.

"We're joining with them," she said, nudging her onward.

Sweet Blush dug in her hooves. "No. I can't! I gave my oath to Radiant!"

"She's one of those Pure Bloods!" her grandmare snapped. "She doesn't care for you. She only cares about how much she can use you!"

"But she's not like that!" Sweet Blush argued."She's nice. I can't break my oath with her! If I did, I wouldn't be any better than the oathbreaking High Bloods!"

Her grandmare stopped pushing at her and let out a sigh. "Yes, your right of course. You need to keep your oath with her."

"Thank you." Sweet said, turning back to her grandmare. "But Just because I have to stay, doesn't mean you have to."

Her grandmare shook her head. "No. If you stay. Then I am staying."

Sweet felt a sense of relief that her grandmare was staying with her and she threw her hooves around her neck. "Oh, you're the best, grandmare!"

Her grandmare smiled and patted her back. "Yes, yes. No need to blubber over it."

Starless watched as ponies came forward to receive the food that had been brought out. Some of them still looked at her in fear, but came forward anyways. She could see ribs standing prominently on many of their sides, and their cheeks looked hollow and drawn back from long hunger.

A mare, her steps hesitant, slowly approached her, her deep set eyes downcast with trepidation. Casting out her magic, Starless took a large red apple from one of the baskets and glided forward to the mare. "Here. You look hungry. Please take this," Starless said, offering the mare the fruit.

The mare stared down at the apple. It was obvious she wanted to take it, but she hesitated. Her eyes flicked up to look at her for a moment, then dropped back down. "My... my... pardon, g-great mistress," she said, bobbing her head. "but I heard... stories. I have a colt... well, he's near a stallion now." The mare shifted nervously as she spoke. "I try to be a good mother. I swear I do, but times are hard, and food is getting harder to come by. He's always been so sickly and I fear I cannot continue to feed him for much longer. Eventually, I will have to give him over to the Keepers or see him starve to death." The mare suddenly threw herself at Starless' hooves. "He's a good colt, my colt is. I knows it! I do! But, with him being so weak and sickly, no mare will want him. The Keepers will have him gelded for sure when they see this!"

Starless suddenly understood what the distraught mare's plight was. Turning, she waved over Dipsy Daze who had been acting as her attendant during this trip. "What is your name, little sister." Starless asked the mare.

"Hazy Day, G-great Mistress."

"Is it your wish for your son to come with us?"

Hazy Day looked up and nodded. "Yes! Oh please, I beg you. I'll give anything I have! I'll swear my life to you, just as long as my sweet little colt can travel back to your Eternal Garden!"

Starless blinked down at the mare. Eternal Garden? Where did that name come from? "This is Dipsy," she said, nodding to the young mare. "She'll accompany you back to collect your son. He's welcome to come back with us."

Hazy Day suddenly began kissing Starless' hooves with tears in her eyes. "Oh, thank you! Thank you!"

"Excuse me," a elderly mare said, walking closer. "I couldn't help but overhear. It would look rather odd and draw attention if he's seen being brought out this late. Hazy's living chamber is not far from my own, and I believe it would be safer to do it tomorrow during the daylight instead of during the night."

Starless felt her heart leap up to her throat. She knew that mare! She had been her foalhood friend's grandmare! If she was here. Glancing behind her, Starless spotted Sweet Blush standing a few strides behind her grandmare. It had been years since she had last seen her. Not since her mother began her magic training. Did they recognize her behind her Enchantress mask? Surely not. She had cast a spell on her mask to alter her color and voice so that wouldn't happen. Starless quickly calmed herself and smiled. "Yes. That would be very prudent. Thank you for your thoughtful advice."

"You honor me." The elder mare respectfully lowered her head to her. "If you would allow us. Tomorrow, my grandfoal, Sweet, and I can help escort Hazy and her young stallion out for you. With Sweet Blush there, it would look like we were taking the two out for a private breeding in the woods."

"Are you sure?" Starless asked with concern. "You could be punished quite severely if you are caught taking a stallion out to us."

Sweet Blush's grandmare waved her hoof dismissively. "Pah! Getting him out will be no problem. There's no rule that says you can't take a stallion outside for a little walk around."

"Very well," Starless said with a satisfied nod. "Would you like anything in return for your help?"

The older mare shook her head. "Nay. Hearing thy telling of her story was gift enough. It saddens me how many have forgotten her tale." She then turned back to Hazy to plan out the next day.

Seeing Dizzy Spin fly out of the trees and settle down next to Ground to whisper to him, Starless excused herself and hurried over. "Everything okay?" she asked.

Dizzy stiffened and stood at attention. "Everything is going just as you planned. A few of those Casters got curious about what was going on and started snooping around in the woods just as you thought they would." She then smiled and tapped a shrouded glow crystal strapped about her neck. "Your idea to use these worked great. We could probably keep them running in circles until morning if we wanted to," she said with a giggle.

Starless had given three of their most stealthy pegasi glow crystals to sneakily lead any Casters that came into the forest safely away from their gathering. She was pleased that they had worked so well. "Excellent job, Dizzy," Starless said, pleased. "Please give the other pegasi my appreciation for their hard work."

Dizzy fluffed up her wings as her smile broadened. She then launched herself up into the air and vanished back into the forest to join the others.

The mares were eating and talking together with some of the Unicorns that were helping. Looking out over the gathering, Starless felt Ground move to stand by her side. "Do you see it?"

"I do," he said, seeing hope in many of the faces around them. "I'm proud of you my love."

Starless allowed a small smile to come to her as she gazed over the assembly.

Luna started awake.

Slumbering around her were all the other foals from the settlement and their families. Several more foals had vanished out of their homes over the last few nights and she and all the other foals had been gathered into the longhouse to be guarded. Luna had no doubt that the strange mysterious mare she had seen in her dream, that was responsible for taking Celestia and the others. She had tried to tell the adults about the Shadowmare, but they dismissed it, telling her that she was just having a dream.

Why did adults think that dreams weren't real? It was like saying that rainbows didn't hold the sky up. Adults were so frustrating! Always telling you things that were obviously wrong. She hoped she'd never become one.

Rubbing her eyes, Luna sat up and looked around for what had awaken her. Sleeping alongside her was her mother, with Strawberry Zest flanking her other side. The next pallet over, Aurora slept snuggled up against Bell with Applebuck. Sitting beside them, Strongbuck watched over them with his spear leaned up against his shoulder. Sitting close to the fire pit with her little filly, Peach Kiss, asleep on her lap, Mustard watched over the room as her mate, Morning stood sentry outside with a dozen other ponies. Not so much as a mouse could creep up to the longhouse without somepony seeing.

Despite the strong security something was there, Luna could feel it hiding somewhere in the darkness. Turning her searching gaze upward to the beams, she spotted two yellow eyes gazing back down at her. The Shadowmare! As it drifted closer, it began emitting a strange crooning melody, it's misty body flowing across the beam like smoke.

Jumping to her hooves, Luna stomped her little hoof. "Where Tia!?" she demanded, glaring up at those eyes.

Luna felt a heaviness settle over her and she wavered in place, struggling to resist the strange force pressing down on her mind. Deep within her something awoke and rose up, pushing the heaviness away and clearing her mind. Luna snorted and scuffed her tiny hooves across the ground as she scowled up at the approaching Shadowmare. "I tell you, where Tia!?" Luna ordered again, but it ignored her as it continued to slink closer. Luna turned and rushed over to Mustard and pushed at her leg. "Want help! Shadowmare here! Looki, see!"

Something was wrong! Mustard was staring dully across the room, not seeming to know that Luna was calling to her nor that anything was wrong! Strongbuck and all the other sentries were the same as their eyes stared vacantly forward. Rushing to her mother, Luna called and pushed at her to wake her up. Nothing. What was she supposed to do!? She wished that her papa and foster brother was there.

The Shadowmare drifted down from the beam, its body shifted to pony form as it glided across the room on silent hoofsteps, it strange song drifting over the sleeping foals. Mighty Oak rose and fell in behind her, his open eyes vacant and unaware of what he was doing.

"No! You no take!" Luna rushed forward and leapt into the Shadowmare, passing right through her and tumbling back to the ground. With tears in her eyes. Luna rose and threw herself at Mighty Oak, throwing her little hooves around his neck. "No go with! Bad pony, no listen her!" Her words seemed to fall on deaf ears for all the effect it did.

The Shadowmare stepped up into the air, her hooves seemly walking on nothing as the enthralled colt followed behind her, drawn up in her dark magic. Luna clung as hard as she could to Mighty Oak as he climbed higher towards the ceiling above. Ahead of them, the Shadowmare came to the thatched roof and vanished into one of the shadows. Luna kicked and cried at Mighty Oak, trying to rouse him as he continued to on towards the shadows. Luna's weakening grip suddenly slipped free and let out a terrified scream as she plummeted down towards the ground below. As she fell, Luna watched helplessly as Mighty Oak vanished into the shadows.

At first, nopony noticed that anything was wrong until Meadowlark woke and found Luna was missing. She frantically began searching around the room, calling out for her missing daughter. A hurried head count also showed that Mighty Oak was missing as well. After an extensive search, Luna was found curled up in the bottom of a hay bin. Meadowlark quickly scooped her daughter up with a relieved cry and clutched her tightly to her chest.

Luna's eyes were red and puffy from crying and she refused to respond to any of their questions as she kept her face buried against her mothers chest, saying only that the Shadowmare had come.

"What are you going to do to protect our foals!?" A anxious mare named Petal Plush asked, her daughter tucked close between her legs.

Meadowlark, with the now sleeping Luna still held in her hooves, looked over the gathering of frightened mothers who had come to her. "I have already sent a messenger pegasus to summon Dark back home, but it will take time. We need to stay strong and do the best we can."

"And in the meantime, we continue to just let our foals disappear!?" another mare asked. "Something needs to be done!"

The other mares all nodded in agreement. Meadowlark understood their concern. She was struggling to keep her own fear for Celestia from overwhelming her as it was.

"I say that we leave," another mare said, stepping forward. "We can go to the lakeside settlement! I've heard that this curse has not befallen them there."

"Yes" Another mare agreed. "I'm with her!"

"No!" Mustard shouted, holding Peach Kiss close. "We don't know what's happening or why! We could end up just bringing this down on them too!"

"Then let's go find a new land to live in," Sharp Gaze suggested. "A safe place away from this unknown evil."

"And leave our lost foals behind!?" Melodious said in outrage. "I'm not going anywhere without my foals!" Standing beside her, Sage Brush nodded with a firm look.

"That's right," Birch Bark added. "I'm not giving up my colt! Mighty Oak and the others are out there somewhere, I know it, and he needs our help!"

The room suddenly erupted in a pandemonium of conflicting voices, all shouting over each other. Meadowlark called out, trying to be heard over the melee, but it took Strongbuck bucking into an alarm-board to finally quiet the room down. There was so much they didn't know about what was happening. She needed answers. "Bring every pony that was awake during the night to me," she ordered. "Every pony, no matter where they were. I don't care if they were relieving themselves in a bush or snuggling with a special somepony. I am going to get every last detail of this night from every eye, ear, and nose. Even if I have to squeeze it out of their bones!" She then pointed to Strongbuck. "Come with me. I'm going to start with you."

Strongbuck suddenly swallowed and stepped closer to Bell with a worried look on his face.

Wild sighed as he looked up from his work, wiping his hoof across his brow. Tiger had browbeat him into sweeping out the entire hut while Journey beat out the sleeping mats outside. Snap and Jennet were off washing their blankets in the nearby stream. Sweeping the last of the tracked in leaves and forest litter out the door, Wild collected a basket and wooden scoop to clean out the fire pit.

When he was done, Wild took the filled basket outside and set it just outside the door for one of the Unicorns to collect. A short ways off, little West Wind cooed happily from his place on Tiger's back as she hummed over her work, taking a freshly washed shawl out of a basket she hung it onto a line suspended between two posts to dry alongside their other garments, including his own green cloak, that fluttered in the light breeze.

Journey glanced over at his mother to see if she was watching and made his way over to him. "Where did you put it?" he asked, keeping his voice down.

Wild nodded out in the nearby field. "I buried it."

It had been fortunate that it had been Journey who had gone out first that morning. Sitting outside their doorway, he discovered a half gnawed goat leg. A gift left there by Ardor. The morning before, it had been Snap and Jennet who had had found a large trout laying on the ground. Luckily, they thought that it had been accidentally dropped from a passing eagle.

Wild didn't know what to do about Ardor. The Manticore seemed completely harmless now. At least to ponies. He needed to tell Tiger Lily. He needed to somehow convince her that the monster was now friendly. All he needed was the right time and the right approach and she'd know that it was the truth.

Looking at Tiger, Wild let out a breath as he gathered his courage. Perhaps now was right time. He took a step.

"Wild Bolt!" Snap's sudden shout, halted his hooves. "Did you think we wouldn't find out!?" With Jennet by her side, Snap was marching towards him with fury in her eyes. Passing by Tiger, Jennet paused a moment to set a basket of laundry down before rejoining with Snap.

"We met Tranquil by the steam when Jennet and I were washing the blankets," Snap said. " We were talking and she told us that now that everypony has healed from their wounds, they were going back home. She also said that you were going with them. Is this true!?"

Wild groaned. With everything that had been going on, he'd forgotten about that. "Yes. It is."

Suddenly, he felt a sting of pain in his cheek as Jennet's hoof slapped him with a crack. Blinking his eyes in surprise, Wild watched as Jennet turned and hurried away with tears in her eyes. She had always been so gentle and sweet. It was quite the shock to see her so angry.

"I'm sorry. I meant to tell you," Wild called after her. "It just slipped my mind."

"Slipped your mind!?" Snap burst out. "You were going to leave and you forgot to tell us! I thought we were friends! Did our feelings not matter enough to concern yourself over!?" Snap leaned in close and jabbed her hoof into his chest. "You made Jennet cry and I'll never forgive you for that." She then turned and followed after Jennet.

Tiger took a a yellow and red trimmed blanket from the basket and hung it onto the line to dry. "You really like to make things difficult, don't you?" she said, bending down to take up another.

"I really didn't mean to forget." Wild sighed and shook his head. "As much as I want to, I can't stay. My father only allowed me to come with the caravan because he thought it would be a good experience for me." Wild scuffed at the dirt with his hoof. "With nine daughters, I'm his only son, and he expects me to follow him as the chieftain of our herd."

"Hmm," Tiger said, nodding as she worked. "Is that what you want?"

Wild opened his mouth, then closed it when he didn't know how to answer her.

"It's difficult sometimes to follow your own path," Tiger said. "Sometimes it's easier to just to let the wind take you along where it goes."

"I don't have a choice," Wild said, shaking his head. "My father is the chieftain. As was his father, and his father before that. As long back as memory, my sires have led our herd."

"I see," Tiger said, hanging a blanket up. "Quite the heavy responsibilities to bear on your back."

Wild let out a breath and nodded. "It was what I was born to be."

"Perhaps," Tiger said. Taking little west into her hooves she walked over to him. "But then, perhaps there room to be something... more."

"What do you mean?" Wild asked.

Instead of answering, Tiger Lily deposited little West into his hooves. "Here, young chieftain, watch him for me." She then started to walk away.

"Wait!" Wild called after her, awkwardly holding the colt. "Where are you going?"

"To have a talk with Snap and Jennet and hopefully keep them from stuffing a porcupine into your bed during the night," she answered before trotting off.

Chapter Sixty

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter Sixty One

Author's Note

It's finally out! Sorry for taking such a long time with this one. I got a little distracted working on two smaller stories. The lonely Widow and Dairy Farm 2. Also, I ended up making this one sooooo long 11,000 words. I cut that last part and moved it to the next chapter, so good news. I am already 2,000 words done with ch 32.

Chapter Sixty One

Luna yawned and rubbed her tired eyes before returning her focus back to the deep shadows to watch for the Shadow Mare. This time she was going to be ready.

Despite the lateness of the evening, the longhouse was still active. Scattered throughout the room, mares sat in clusters, talking among themselves as they worked on small tasks. Sage Brush was telling stories to a gathering of ponies, his hooves waving in the air as he emphasized some exciting part of this tale. Ringed about the room, pairs of stallions kept watch with their spears leaned up against their shoulders. Every fire was well tended and burning brightly, casting light to all the corners of the room. Outside, ponies walked in tight patrols around the longhouse, none losing sight of another as they made their rounds.

This was her mother's plan. During the night, every adult would remain awake to help keep watch. At no point will there be a time when a foal wouldn't be directly in sight of one pony or another. with so many eyes on them, no foal will be able to leave unnoticed.

Luna frowned up at the shadows. None of the adults would believe her about the Shadow Mare, and told her to stop scaring the other foals with her fanciful imaginings. The Shadow Mare was real! She saw her! And the next time she comes, she's going to make her tell her where her sister was! Firming her little lips, Luna redoubled her focus on the shadows. She'll show everypony that she was real!

A short time later, Luna's eyes began to drift shut. Blinking her eyes, she struggled to keep them open, but quickly found it impossible, and drifted off to sleep.

Luna found herself surrounded by stars. She had never been here before. With a thought, her little hooves lifted from the unseen surface below her and she soared up into the air. Squealing in delight, Luna spun and looped through the air with ecstatic glee. Flying was so much fun! It wasn't fair that only the Pegasi could do it!

Circling and diving, Luna found she was wishing that Celestia was there too, to have fun with her. Coming to a stop, Luna frowned as she looked around. Where was her sister? She was usually somewhere nearby telling her what to do? Was she off sneaking honey again? Luna suddenly remembered that Celestia was missing, taken by the Shadow Mare! An intense heat flared up in her breast like a hearth fire. How dare she take her sister from her! Luna started to feel a strange tugging sensation pulling her to the side. Startled, Luna spun around to search for what it had been and found nothing there. Frowning, she returned her thoughts to her sister and the odd tugging sensation returned. Whirling about, Luna once again found nothing there. Nibbling her lip, Luna pondered what it could have been. If only Celestia was here, she'd know. The tugging sensation returned.

Luna didn't know how, but she somehow knew that the tugging feeling was linked to Celestia in some way! Focusing her thoughts onto her sister, she smiled when she felt the tugging resume. Her sister was out there somewhere, reaching out to her! She needed her help! "Tia! I coming!" Like a bolt of lightning released from a storm, Luna shot off, following her sister's pull.

As everything blurred around her, Luna lost track of how far she traveled. After a time, the air grew thicker as she had to struggle to push her way through it. Darkness enveloped her as the stars vanished. She couldn't see a thing, not even her own hoof when she lifted it to her face.

Faltering, Luna whimpered in fear as she huddled with her head beneath her hooves. The darkness, No! She was terrified of the dark! "Mama!" She couldn't help crying out for her mother. As if in answer to her cry, a clear silvery light suddenly appeared over her, driving the darkness away. Blinking up, Luna saw a full moon bathing her in its soft, effervescent light. Wiping the tears from her eyes, Luna thought of the story her papa told her about how the moon weaves filaments of hope into moonbeams to shine down onto the ponies below, giving them the courage to overcome the night.

Luna smiled up at the moon in relief and waved her little hoof. "Thanksees," she said in appreciation. Moving on, a shape slowly appeared in the distance. As she drew closer, Luna saw that it was a gigantic tree. It's sickly white trunk rearing up like a mountain, high up overhead. It's branches stretched outward with oily black leaves, looking like the deepest essence of darkness had been drawn into its canopy.

Following the tugging sensation, she flew high up into its shadowy branches. There she was led to a white flower pod hanging down from one of the branches. Curious, Luna flew over to examine it and the tugging vanished. Why was she led to it? Reaching out her tiny hoof, Luna set it onto the surface of the flower pod and felt it momentarily quiver at her touch.

Slimy looking vines began slithering along the branches, coiling and undulating as they moved towards her, their long thorns seeping black ichor.

"Sister, run!"

Luna gasped. That was Celestia's voice! "Tia!"

Suddenly, the vines jerked and struck out at her with the speed of a snake. Letting out a scream, Luna dodged with a quick loop and dove down. Thwarted by her quick maneuver, the vines pursued after her, slashing and grasping at her as she wove her way through their clutches.

"Tia! Tia!," Luna called out for her sister. Swerving back up, Luna searched through the branches, dodging the vines as she went. Where was she!? Suddenly, her attention fell back onto the flower pod and an idea came to her. Flying up to it, Luna called for her sister as she grasped at the closed petals and tried to force them aside. Throwing what little weight she had into her effort, one of the petals finally shifted enough for her to peer inside. There, curled up in the center was Celestia!

"Tia! Tia!" Luna called out, desperately trying to rouse her sister. Nothing. Celestia remained still. Luna didn't know what to do. Her mama had always been there when she needed help, but now she was alone. The vines were closing in around her and in a few moments they would have her if she didn't leave soon.

"Tia!" Luna cried out to the still form of her sister. The encroaching vines suddenly lashed at her, their coils reaching to snatch her up. Leaping away, Luna twisted around a striking vine and slipped through a narrow gap that had been momentarily left opened. Free, Luna circled around and wiped at her tear filled eyes. The vines lashed and coiled around her sister's flower pod, covering it in thick layers.

"Run, dear sister. Go! Go now!"

"Tia!" Luna screamed as she felt the dream shift and fall away. Blinking her eyes open, Luna jumped up, her sister's name still ringing in her ears. Looking around she became aware at how unusually quiet it was in the room. "Mama?" Luna worriedly nudged her mother's neck. Her mother's eyes gazed blankly forward, frozen in the act of conversing with Bell, who also appeared to be in the same dazed state as her mother. All around the room, she saw the same blank look on all the ponies faces.

Luna quickly jumped to her hooves. The Shadow Mare was here!

"What a troublesome little thing you are,"

Luna gasped and spun around. There she was, standing only a few steps behind her!

The Shadow Mare's body flowed and eddied like smoke as she studied her. "Are you the other my master seeks?" With soundless steps, she moved across the ground, circling around her as she spoke. "What are you? I've never seen a filly that can Dreamtrot before."

"I not afraid of you!" Luna stamped her hoof.

The Shadow Mare continued to circle her, her mane flowing out behind her as she moved. "Such obstinate defiance," she tisked in annoyance. "I dearly hope that my master will allow me to keep you. You will become a wonderful servant for me once I suitably break you." She smiled as she licked her lips.

Luna glared up at the mare. "Why you take sister?!"

The Shadow Mare stopped to consider her. "The element of Life has been claimed by my Master. She is to become his mate and be the mother to the world as it is remade to his will." A look of envy came to her face. "What a great honor he has bestowed upon her. Soon now, she'll awaken to her true form and take up her place by his side for all time. Their children will outnumber the stars themselves! Glory be to the Midnight Stallion, and his mate, Daybreaker!"

A true sense of fear clenched at Luna's heart at the mare's words. "No!"

"No?" The Shadow Mare laughed. "It has already begun! Soon, I will have the Alicorn of Destruction in my possession and the preparations for my Master’s coming with be complete! "

Luna gasped as a memory of Ash's dreams flashed across her mind. With wings and horn, she remembered how mournful he looked as he walked through the desolated landscape of a world he himself had destroyed.

The Shadow Mare's red eyes narrowed as she noticed Luna's odd reaction. "You know of whom I search for, don't you?"

Luna quickly shook her head, trying to cover up her mistake.

The Shadow Mare smiled. "You do know."

Luna shook her head in denial. "No, no! Me not know who!"

"You are lying." The Shadow Mare said, her smile growing bigger. Moving over to Aurora, she reached her hoof out and gently brushed it along her mane. "Tell me who is it."

Luna felt her heart jump in horror. "You no hurt her!"

Tendrils of darkness flicked out from the Shadow Mare's hoof and flowed around Aurora's head. "Such savory dreams this one has." A look of yearning came to her face as she licked her lips. " I am going to enjoy devouring every last scrap she has until she's nothing but an empty husk. That is unless of course, you tell me which one the Alicorn of Destruction is."

Luna hesitated, what should she do!? If she told her about Ash, she'd be putting him in danger, but if she didn't, she was going to hurt Aurora!

The tendrils of darkness slowly spread out to touch little Applebuck. "Oh, and look, here's another one." She slid her hoof closer to the colt. "He won't be much of a meal, but the younger ones always taste the sweetest." Her mouth opened revealing two fangs as she leaned down close to the sleeping Aurora and Applebuck.

"H-He's not here!" Luna blurted out.

The Shadow Mare paused as she looked back up. "Oh? Where is he then?"

Luna clamped her lips shut and refused to answer more.

The Shadow Mare’s red eyes bore down onto her. “Refusing to answer me, hmm?” Reaching down, she caressed Aurora’s cheek with her hoof. “I suppose I will have to start on this one. Pity the young ones never last very long.” Wisps of her shadowed form began to swirl around Aurora’s body as the dark mare’s lips split wide in a carnivorous smile. “Mmm, this one seems particularly sweet. So much love and happiness. I am going to savor every last morsel until she has none left.”

"H-He gone to Unicorns." Luna reluctantly answered, holding back as much as she dared.

"The Unicorns?" The Shadow Mare hissed with distaste. "Pah! I hate Unicorns! Their dreams are always so bitter and unsatisfying! Nothing but hate and insatiable lust for power!"

"When they’s comes back," Luna continued. "They’s stop your badiness and get others back from you!"

"I look forward to seeing them try," the Shadow Mare said, touching her hoof to Aurora's head. "In the meantime, I’ll keep this one. She is quite unusual for a Unicorn. I cannot pass up a tasty rarity like her.”

Aurora climbed to their hooves, her dull gaze stared out blankly through her half hooded eyes.

"No!" Luna leapt forward in a near panic. "You no take her!"

With an irritated look, the Shadow Mare backhooved her away with a painful slap. "When you become my servant, you will learn to control that insolent tongue of yours."

Climbing back to her hooves, Luna gazed in horror as the Shadow Mare began to lead Aurora away. She needed to do something! She needed to stop her! Wiping the tears from her eyes, Luna rushed forward and swung her hoof into the Shadow Mare's dark form. "You will not take her!" A powerful surge suddenly roared through her tiny body and silvery-white flames flared up from around her hooves. The Shadow Mare screamed in pain as Luna's flaming hoof stuck her.

Recoiling back, the Shadow Mare glared down at her in shock and rage. "I will make you regret doing that you little monster!"

Aurora suddenly blinked and looked around. "What the...?" Seeing the Shadow Mare, she cried out in alarm and let loose a blast of magic at her that passed through the mare's dark form without effect, striking one of the thick beams behind her and leaving a dark score mark on its surface.

Luna had been shocked when she felt her hoof come up against something solid. She had managed to touch her! Luna smiled as a glint came to her eye. She can hurt her! Leaping forward, Luna reached her flaming hoof out at the Shadow Mare. "Now give sister back!"

Leaping up into the air, the Shadow Mare fled into one of the deep shadows and vanished. The sounds in the room suddenly returned as conversations that had been previously interrupted, resumed without notice.

Luna scowled up at the shadows, angry that the mare had gotten away. Aurora abruptly appeared and threw her hooves around her in a tight hug. "Oh Lulu! I sees her. I really did!" she said in a rush.

"Luna? Aurora?" Meadowlark's voice called out to them. "What are you doing up? It's late. Come back and get some sleep. You can play in the morning."

Wrapping her little hooves around her friend, Luna took comfort from her embrace. “I tells you everything, in morning,” she said into her friend’s ear. “I not lets her hurts you. I promise.”

Yawning, Wild Bolt stretched and scratched his belly. The sun was pleasantly warm, and the cool breeze of the lake carried a scent that reminded him of the lakeside back home. The squealing sounds of laughter punctuated by brays told him how well Jennet's swimming lessons with Snap were going.

First thing that morning, Snap and Jennet expressed their desire to go down the valley to the lake. Despite his need to get ready to leave the next day with the supply caravan, Wild was forced to go along with them as their escort. Cracking his eyes open, he watched the two as they splashed and played in the water, their coats shimmering in the sunlight as their sodden manes clinging tightly along their necks. His heart began to beat heavily in his chest. So beautiful.

When he had first met Snap, her youthful body curved smoothly along her flanks and rear, showing tantalizing hints of the mare she would become. Since then, she had filled out with maturity, her rounded flanks swept over wide set hips that would sway enticingly whenever she walked, making his heart gallop in his chest like a herd of wild stallions.

The beauty he saw in Jennet was different. When she first arrived, she had been like a broken flower, her petals rent and torn. Her injuries had healed into fine lines mostly hidden by her mouse colored coat, and beneath her gentle demure, Wild knew she had a strength that few could understand. Whenever he found himself gazing into her large brown eyes, he felt like he would fall in and be lost forever.

Letting out a sigh, Wild leaned his head back in the grass. He wished he could stay, but he knew his father would want him back home. He was the chieftain's only male heir, and he had a responsibility to his herd back home. His father had approved of his pursuit of Snap, having met Hoof Strike and Ground Pound, he admired their strength and believed that she'd provide good strong sons for Wild.

Wild had thought about asking for Snap to come back with him, but he knew that she'd insist that Jennet come too, and that would be a disaster. Him, a chieftain's son, taking a donkey as one of his mates!? Unthinkable! In fact, he feared that his father might actually kill her once he found out.

No. It was best that he just left and had nothing more to do with either of them.

The sounds of splashing drew closer as Snap and Jennet came out of the lake. Listening to their hoofsteps approach, Wild pretended to be asleep. Suddenly, he felt something wet, smack down on his face! Letting out a startled roar of outrage, Wild sat up and flung the pile of lake moss off his face. Squealing and braying in laughter, Snap and Jennet dashed off, leaving him staring after them in shock.

Leaping to his hooves, Wild Bolt grinned and shot after the fleeing pair. It was surprisingly hard to catch two mares. Whenever he drew close, they would split apart, forcing him to choose one to go after, and they'd end up escaping when he hesitated with indecision. Breathless from the long chase, Wild finally managed to tackle Snap to the grass. For a shocked moment, Wild didn't know what to do, not having planned on what he was going to do once he caught one of them. Grinning evilly, Wild began tickling Snap.

Squealing and writhing under him, Snap struggled to get away from his merciless attacks. Seeing the plight of her friend, Jennet ran in to try and save her, but that only put her into his reach as Wild quickly snatched her in his other hoof and forced her down alongside Snap for a good tickling.

Once he had the two mares in a breathless mess, Wild decided that they had had been punished enough and sat back. Blinking down at the two, Wild suddenly became acutely aware of their bodies below his as he straddled them. He could feel the softness of their bodies against his as their scent filled his nose. Two pairs of large eyes gazed up into his own as his heart began to race in his chest.

"So... Beautiful." Wild's mind was overwhelmed.

Snap and Jennet both flushed at his words. With a smile, Snap reached her hoof around Wild's shoulder. "Say Jennet. Wild gave us quite the merry chase. I think he deserves a reward for catching us, don't you agree?"

Jennet glanced at her before smiling. "Oh yes. Indeed." She agreed, her hoof coming around Wild's other shoulder.

Any thoughts of resistance crumbled as Wild felt himself being pulled down. Before he could comprehend what was happening, both Snap and Jennet's lips came together onto his. Wild's blood turned to liquid fire and thunder roared in his ears. Leaning down into their three way kiss, he felt their hooves move further around his back. All coherent thoughts vanished from his brain as he began to ravish both mares lips, the air filling with wet smacking sounds.

With his blood raging through his veins, Wild's stallionhood quickly began to harden between them. Feeling it push up against her thigh, Snap looked down with a surprised gasp, followed by Jennet who felt the same thing. Groaning with his need, Wild couldn't help himself and thrust his hips forward, grinding himself against their bodies.

"S-Slow down Wild," Snap said, her voice betraying her own arousal. "You haven't gotten it inside yet."

Wild groaned and drove himself along their soft thighs, his instincts screaming for him to plunge himself fully into the two mares below him and breed them, to fill their wombs with his virile seed! It was too much! Suddenly, he felt a powerful surge rise up in his loins. Throwing his head back, Wild moaned in intense pleasure as spurt after spurt of his seed erupted out onto Snap and Jennet, splashing it across their bodies.

Snap's eyes had gone very wide as she felt Wild's hot seed soaking into her coat. "Oh my...!"

Thrusting his hips with each release, Wild emptied himself onto the pair. Expended, Wild sank down as he panted for much needed breath. Slowly he blinked his eyes open and found himself looking into two sets of shocked eyes. Feeling the wetness between them, the realization of what he had just done suddenly crashed down on him.

Wild Bolt quickly threw himself back and turned away to hide his softening shame. "I'm sorry! I... I didn't mean... I just couldn't stop..." He was so dead. When Tiger Lily and Hoof Strike find out what he had done, they'd likely tear his spine out through his throat, if not from the other way instead! How could he even look at Snap and Jennet ever again!?

"Well that... happened." Snap said with a resigned sigh, disappointed. "Common Jennet, let's go wash this mess off before the smell soaks in." Climbing to their hooves, Snap paused as she started by Wild. "Well, are you just going to mope there or are you going to help us?"

Wild blinked and glanced up. "Aren't you angry at me!? Don't you both hate me now?"

"Why would we?" Snap asked, glancing back at Jennet.

"Of course we don't hate you." Jennet agreed.

Snap made a sour face. "Sure, this was a bit off putting, but then I understand it's common for young stallions to... prematurely finish during their first time." Flashing a smirk, she winked at Jennet. "I was told that it might take a stallion few tries before he... gains his stride."

"It's too bad he's leaving tomorrow," Jennet said, lamentably.

Sighing, Snap shook her head and looked at Jennet. "Yes indeed. That is very inconvenient. It's a shame that we don't have more time. If only he'd lasted a bit longer."

"You shouldn't be so hard on him," Jennet gently chided her. "He's not used to these things."

It took a few passes through his mind before Wild caught on to what she was saying. "Wait...! You're trying to make me stay, aren't you?"

"Is it working?" Jennet asked, sounding completely serious.

Wild stared up at the two in bewilderment. "I don't believe you two!"

Snap let out a light laugh and gestured at him with her hoof. "Okay, enough sitting there like a goosed goose and come help us wash."

Nearly a full day's walk to the south of the Unicorns black mountain rested an elder forest, its ancient branches gnarled and bent like grasping claws of some great beast that lay sleeping for untold millennia. A thick carpet of red moss grew along the forest floor, with vibrant shades of blue and yellow mushrooms sprouting up in massive patches, giving a discordance of color that gave off a sense of unease to any who passed through. Carnivorous ferns with serrated leaves ready to tangle and slice any unwary victim that was foolish enough to wander into their hungry clutches grew along the streams and low areas.

Many Unicorns avoided the Cursed Forest, believing it to be inhabited by evil spirits that caused stillbirths and disease to those who crossed into its borders. Casters used it to test their young initiates, having them travel to the heart of the forest and collect a poisonous flower that only grew there and return with it. Those that were weak and failed the test were never seen again. If a Caster initiate refused to go inside, or returned without the flower three times, they were expelled from ever becoming a Caster. Starless did it on her first try.

Starless had her camp set up on the far side of the forest, using it's dark reputation to shield them from discovery. There were many in her camp who were unsettled by being this close to the forest, oftentimes glancing at its edge with barely concealed anxiety.

With her Enchantress mask sitting by her side, Starless ate her morning meal with Sylvan Serene. Her breakfast of soaked oats, seasoned with honey and berries was rather good. Taking a mouthful, Starless chewed the sweetened mush and swallowed with a satisfied smile. Since its development, oatmeal was becoming a favored breakfast among the Unicorns, with many varieties of flavors being created every day to satisfy the tastes of every pony. It was probably the most perfect food ever devised by ponykind.

"Have you spoken with Sunspot Blitz yet?" Starless asked.

Sylvan nodded and swallowed her own mouthful of oatmeal. "I have. She and the others will be ready to leave shortly. I'll take them around to the north before heading in. We'll look like returning gatherers that have finished up for the day. Nopony should even look at us twice. Don’t you worry none. I'll get your ponies into the mountain without a problem."

"I'm sure you're right," Starless said. "I’m just concerned for what comes after. The task I have given you is most dangerous. If they should discover what you or the others are doing."

"There is a flower I know," Sylvan said. "If they come for me... I understand that it's quite painless. Like going to sleep and never waking. It will be... better that way."

"I pray to the First Mother that that will never need to happen." Starless felt her chest tighten. What she was asking these ponies to do. Was it worth it? Was even one life worth the sacrifice? She hated herself for what she had to do, but knew that it had to be done. It was too important to have eyes and ears inside that mountain. No. Not just eyes and ears, but lips too. Lips to speak and spread the truth and remind the Unicorns what they have lost. Not long ago, a pony asked her what use courage was against magic. Her answer was both simple and profound. Everything. Courage is a strength that allows ponies to act, to fight for what they believe in no matter what they were up against. It takes courage to stand and fight, for without it, all is lost. She needed to have courage now and let others go off and possibly die for her.

"You've grown up so much," Sylvan said, giving her an appraising look. "I still remember the gapped toothed little filly that used to come play with Sweet Blush."

Starless smiled wistfully as she dropped her eyes. "That was a long time ago. A different lifetime."

"Not so long ago in my eyes," Sylvan said. "Though I am rather old after all."

"It was a... surprise to see Sweet Blush again," Starless confessed.

"She was so worried when you stopped coming by," Sylvan continued. "She pestered me into going to your mother to see if you were alright. She didn't take kindly to our visit and turned us away without so much as letting us see you to say goodbye. Later, I found out that you had been raised to a high blood due to your unusually strong magical talent, and that your mother was putting you under strict magical training in preparation into you becoming a Caster."

"You could say that that was the end of the foalhood days," Starless said wistfully. "I had to grow up fast after that."

"It's too bad that you kept your identity hidden from Sweet Blush while she was here, she would have been so happy to see you again."

"It'll be best she didn't know about me." Starless shook her head. "It's bad enough that you know, so please, I ask you to keep it that way."

"I will do what you ask, and tell no one." Sylvan bowed her head low and set her hoof over her heart. "By the milk of the First Mother, I swear it."

"Thank you." Starless said gratefully. Looking back down at her meal, she was surprised to find her bowl was empty and licked clean. When did she finish it? Frowning in disappointment, Starless set her bowl to the side and picked up her willow bark tea to sip at it. "Are you sure that Sweet Blush and that stallion should have gone back alone last night?" Involuntarily, Starless felt her cheeks flush warm. No stallion could be that good looking! "Wouldn't it have been better to have them return with you today?"

"Frost Conjure's not really a part of this and needed to go back before he was missed." Sylvan explained, "Besides, there would have been no way we could have concealed a white stallion like him. I don't even know how he managed to sneak out in the first place."

"No, I suppose not." Starless felt her cheeks flush even hotter. During the short time Frost Conjure had been with them, every mare in the encampment fawned over him, endlessly offering him food and sweets until he couldn't eat another bite.

A scratch at the tent flap drew their attention as Ground stuck his head in. "That Eclipsea has been asking to see you."

Starless let out a sigh and nodded. "I suppose I should see her now." Reaching for her mask, Starless stopped when she realized the futility of wearing it in front of a blind mare.

"Well, I'll go ahead and take my leave now," Sylvan said, standing. "Good day, Enchantress." She bowed and slipped outside.

Starless sat quietly as she waited for Eclipsea to be led inside. She'd been dreading this moment since the Mystic arrived. She'd met Eclipsea once when her mother took her to her for a soothsaying when she was young. The strange mystic terrified her as her mother forced her to present herself before her, she couldn't stop shivering. Finally, after a long while, the Mystic seemed satisfied and nodded. "I have seen this one in my dreams. In time she'll grow to become a great and powerful mare, beautiful as the sunrise and as fierce as a thunderstorm."

Her mother was overjoyed by the telling and failed to hear the rest as she turned excitedly to her two sisters.

"Thy path will be perilous, with many snags and pitfalls to falter your step. Trust your heart to guide you through it, for without it, you will surely perish," the Mystic said, keeping her voice low for only her to hear. "What is thy name. little one?"

"Starless," she managed to answer, surprised she would want to know. "Starless Night."

"Starless Night?" the Mystic murmured, nodding. "A suitable name for you." Reaching her hoof down, she set it onto her head. "Stars are meant to be guides that lead lost ponies through the darkness. Seek your star, Starless Night. I pray that you find it before it is too late."

The tent flap pulled aside as Eclipsea stepped in with Ground leading her from the side. Guiding her forward, he brought her up before Starless and helped her down onto the mat.

"Thank you dear," Eclipsea said to Ground as she settled herself onto her mat. She then turned her attention to Starless. "You have grown much, little one. You've become quite a beautiful mare, Starless Night."

Starless gave a start of surprise. How did she know who she was!? "That is quite a trick, considering you have no sight."

"I need not my eyes for such things." Eclipsea smiled. "I can see you clearly enough in my dreams."

"Yes... of course." Starless said, not sure how that worked.

"You found an interesting companion." She turned to face towards Ground. "I must say that he is quite impressive. I never knew that a pony could grow so large."

Ground blinked in sudden puzzlement and gave the blind Mystic a speculative look.

"I'd be lost without him," Starless said, a small smile coming to her lips. "He's been my guiding star."

"Indeed," Eclipsea said, nodding. "He’s been quite satisfactory at it I should say, for without him, your path would have concluded long since."

Starless thought about when she had first met Ground, he saved her from being eaten by the hydra. Then later when fought and defeated the giant Gigas Arachny to protect her. He was always there for her, ready to come to her aid whenever she needed it. "Mentioning companions, that was a very interesting companion you had, leading you out to us. I believe his name was Frost Conjure."

"Ah, yes." An odd look fondness came across Eclipsea's face. "Frost's a sweet stallion. He was kind enough to allow me to borrow him for a little while. It's a shame he's going to have to grow up so fast."

"Oh?" Starless said curiously.

Eclipsea turned to gaze sightlessly to the north, towards the Black Mountain. "His path is irrevocably intertwined with another. They will have an interesting life ahead of them." A look of regret came to her face "I sincerely hope that they survive it."

Starless wondered what fate was ahead for the young stallion.

Eclipsea turned to Ground. "My apologies honored stallion. I would ask that I speak to Starless alone."

Ground looked to Starless and waited for her to nod before standing and heading to the door flap.

Once he was gone, Eclipsea turned to Starless. "Tell me about your dreams."

"My dreams?" Starless asked, surprised. "But I thought we were going to talk about your dreams. You're the seer after all."

"Dreams can tell us many things," Eclipsea said. "Please, share them with me."

Starless shook her head. "I don't like to think about them. They're rather unpleasant." She took a breath and slowly let it out. "My dreams have been been getting worse. I see myself struck down in the midst of battle and other times I watch them come for me during the night." Tears came to her eyes. "Sometimes, I dream of having children, their numbers change, sometimes I have just one, and other times there are several." A note of longing crept into her voice as she spoke. "Those dreams are the worst. Over and over again, I am forced to watch as they kill Ground and steal my foals away. Oh my poor beautiful foals! Then, when I am at my greatest despair, they come for me." Starless clamped her eyes shut as she began to weep. "I can't! No more."

Eclipsea leaned forward and touched her horn to Starless', there it glowed for a moment. "Yes. It's there. Its weak and untrained, but there."

"What?" Starless said, wiping at her eyes.

"You my dear, have a little bit of dream talent." Eclipsea said, leaning back. "You're seeing visions of possible events"

Starless blinked at Eclipsea. "I'm dreaming of the future? Are you saying I'm a seer like you?"

"No, not quite." Eclipsea shook her head. "You do have the talent, but it's not very strong. Your visions are too fractured and disjointed for you to truly understand properly." She gave a disappointed sigh. "It's clear to me now that you are not the one I was looking for."

"What do you mean?" Starless asked, confused.

Eclipsea considered her for a time. "Recently, I have begun sensing the emergence of a new dreamer, a powerful one. I hoped that it was you, but I was unfortunately mistaken."

"Why do you need to find this dreamer?" Starless asked.

For the first time Eclipsea looked worried. "This dreamer has an incredibly strong talent. One that can be very dangerous if not guided properly. I have been unable to see them clearly in my dreams. All I see is you standing under a full moon."

"I don't understand," Starless said, shaking her head. "Why would you see me?"

Eclipsea pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Perhaps it means you are close to them."

Starless thought about it, it did make sense. She had come across strange magic before, like in both Celestia and Ash. Could it be one of them? Or was there another she didn't know about?

Ground suddenly stuck his head into the tent. "My apologies for interrupting, but there is a problem. A group of Casters are heading this way."

Snatching up her mask, Starless quickly slipped it on before rushing out. "Where's Dizzy!?"

"I'm here," Dizzy suddenly appeared, landing in front of her. "I don't understand it! They keep following her no matter where she goes!"

"What do you mean they're following her?" Starless asked in concern. "One of the Pegasi!? Was one of them discovered!?"

Dizzy shook her head. "I'm not sure. When they started into the woods, we did what we normally do to lead them away. It seemed to be working just fine at first, but then when we tried to slip away like normal, they continued to followed after Cirrus Burst ." She fluttered her wings in agitation. "I don't understand how they're doing it. There was no way they could have seen us! No matter where she goes, they're coming right for her."

Starless' mind was racing. Following a Pegasus that didn't want to be followed wasn't an easy thing to do. Were they somehow using some kind of tracking spell? There were some she knew about, but how could they have cast one on to one of the Pegasi!? Could they have set off some kind of trap!? Summoning her magic, she cast it onto Dizzy running it across her body. When her magic touched the glow-crystal hanging around her neck, she felt a slight resonance of her own magic still held inside from the time she charged it, but other than that, she sensed nothing else. "I don't sense any tracking spells on you," she said, both relieved and worried. If they were tracking them somehow, she needed to find out how. She turned to Moonglow."Break camp. Whatever is not ready by the time I return, will be left behind."

"What about Azure Shard and that filly of hers?" Moonglow asked.

"They'll be coming with us, so please see that they are prepared." She answered before turning her attention to Ground. "I want you to find Dew Sparkle. We might need her talents." Ground nodded and dashed off. Starless' mind was racing. "Dizzy, I'm going to need you to lead us back."

When Ground returned with Dew Sparkle, the four of them departed, moving along the edge of the Cursed Forest, passing under the overhanging branches, Starless tried to ignore the oppressiveness as they seemed to reach down at them. Hurrying north, they circled around until they came to another forest. This one was younger forest, with normal trees and foliage. Moving inside, Dizzy led them at an angle to the northwest.

After a time, she stopped and lifted her hoof to her mouth and let out a bird call. A moment later, another call answered back. "Stay here." she took off and vanished. After a short wait, she returned with two other pegasi, Cirrus Burst, a young mare with a rosy-orange coat, and Feather Flit, a pale-yellow mare with usually large eyes. With barely a flutter, they glided in on silent wings and landed in front of them.

"There are six of them. Real scary looking ones too," Cirrus Burst said, keeping her voice low.

Feather Flit nodded. "They have some kind of strange shimmering flower with them."

A shimmering flower!? Starless had never heard of a spell that used a flower in such a way. Casting her magic out to the pair she ran it over Feather Flit's body, sensing her own magic held within Feather's glow-crystal. Moving to Cirrus, she sensed nothing until she came to the hooded glow-crystal hanging around her neck. Within it she sensed the familiar touch of Aurora's magic, remnants from when she had last practiced on it. A terrible thought came to her. Were they searching for her!? Taking the crystal off Cirrus, she swapped it with Dizzy's. "Dizzy, fly around and circle around behind them, I want to see if anything happens."

Dizzy nodded and flew off. "Cirrus, do you know a place where I can watch them without being seen?"

"I know of a nearby ridge we can look down on them," Cirrus Burst said, gesturing for them to follow. "There's some low bushes there that would conceal us as they pass."

"That should work just fine." Starless said, following after her with the others.

Making their way to the rise, Cirrus crouched low and pushed herself into a bush. Starless followed closely by Ground and the other two mares. Inside, they waited until six unicorns appeared out of the trees. The sight of them made her blood run cold. They were the same Casters from her dreams.

She'd met three of them before, Withering Rose, Falling Star, and Prickly Pear. All three were highly talented Casters who had quickly rose to the top of the Casters ranks. The other three she knew from their reputations. Web Dancer was a thoughtful dark-grey mare who took delight in causing pain. It was whispered that on some nights, you could hear agonized screams coming from her chambers hidden deep in the mountain. Wicked Delight, was an overly voluptuous pink and red mare with an insatiable carnal appetite for the companionship of stallions. It was even rumored that she had her own personal stable for her own use as she pitted stallions into deadly combat against each other to win the right to mount her. The last was Lofty Glare, a silvery blue mare who had a tendency to hold her head so as to look down her hooked muzzle at everypony. She is the first daughter of one of the oldest bloodlines, able to trace her lineage all the way back to High Prancer the Peaceful, the Matriarch that led the Unicorns in eradicating the spiders from their lands. All of them were Pure Bloods. Elite Casters who were some of the most powerful Unicorns, reporting directly to Matriarch Astral.

Taking a calming breath, she focused her attention on the strange shimmering object Lofty Glare was holding out before her in her magic. A flower, its petals opened revealing lavender petals, seemed to be pointing the way. Was it some kind of Dowsing Charm? Where did they get it? Suddenly, the flower dimmed and its petals began to close.

"What is it now!?" Wicked Delight demanded, her voice filled with irritation.

"It moved again," Lofty Glare answered with a vexed hiss. Turning slowly, she swept the flower around, as if searching for something.

With her heart racing in a near panic, Starless held her breath as the flower passed over their hiding place. When nothing happened, she let out a relieved breath. It didn't react to them. So it wasn't following after Cirrus. Continuing around, the flower opened back up and began shimmering again.

"Its behind us now." Lofty Glare said.

"It's just like earlier!" Withering Rose snapped angrily. "How does it keep moving around so fast!?"

"Perhaps it's a spirit." Prickly Pear offered, looking around. "You know this forest is full of them, right?"

"Don't be a complete foal!" Falling Star scoffed.

Prickly Pear spun around on Falling Star angrily. "It's not foalish!"

"It is, when you are considering that it's spirits!" Falling Star said, scowling.

"That is enough, you two!" Lofty Glare shouted over her shoulder. "It doesn't matter what it is. This is the first time the flower has reacted since Mistress Astral gave it to me, and I am not going to let your bickering keep me from my mission!"

"Your mission!" Wicked Delight said in outrage. "This task was given to all of us! I think you've held onto that for long enough, it's time you gave it to me to hold."

The air crackled dangerously around Lofty's horn. "What you think does not matter! She gave it to me so I am in charge of it! Remember your place!"

Wicked Delight flinched and stepped back, her eyes filled with hate. "Fine. I'll let you keep it for now, but remember this, your place is not as secure as you believe. Matriarch Astral is growing quite impatient with your lack of success."

Web Dancer watched the exchange with a curious look on her face, her thin lips tweaked into a little smile.

"It's not my fault!" Lofty Glare blurted out. "She never told me what it is we are searching for!" Her mouth snapped shut as she realized what she had just confessed and fury filled her eyes. "You're wasting time here." Lofty Glare growled, moving ahead. "Let's get going."

Starless watched as the Casters made their way back north, directly towards Dizzy. That flower. It was seeking Aurora's magic! "We're leaving." Starless said, backing out of the bush. Aurora was in danger!

"What are you going to do?" Ground asked, his face unreadable.

Starless didn't answer him as she turned to Cirrus Burst. "Cirrus, please go and tell Dizzy to lead them north then around to the east until you reach the river. We'll be waiting there for them." Cirrus nodded, and took off, vanishing into the trees.

Starless turned to go, but stopped when Ground stood in her way. "You can't be seriously considering what you are about to do."

Starless reached up and caressed his cheek with her hoof. "Please trust me, my heart."

Ground's eyes searched hers, after a few moments he sighed and leaned his head down and nuzzled the side of her muzzle. "Always, my love."

With their cheeks flushing red, Dew Sparkle and Feather Flit quivered with barely restrained giddiness as they watched the intimate exchange between the two lovers. Starless noticed this and shook her head at the pair. "Never mind." She then turned and moved off. "Let's get going. We need to hurry and get ahead of them."

They quickly made their way through the forest, heading for the river. If what she was planning was going to work, they were going to need to be on the other side before the Casters arrived. Flying ahead, Feather Flit found a nearby ford they could use to cross. Making their way over, they proceeded downriver until the river quickened into rapids.

"This is it," Starless said in approval, looking around. Large boulders lay scattered along the shore from past flooding that had over-topped its banks leaving uprooted trees wedged into piles. "Feather Flit, please find Dizzy and have her meet us here."

Feather Flit nodded and took off, flying off over the river she disappeared into the trees.

Starless turned to the young mare standing behind her. "Dew Sparkle, have you been practicing your magic?"

Dew Sparkle blinked when Starless' focus came upon her and nodded. "Yes. mistress." She lifted her horn up to the sunlight and an orb of light appeared around its tip. Directing her horn down, she sent the orb a few steps ahead of her where it then began to take on a shape of a pony. In moments, a near copy of Dew Sparkle was standing in its place.

Starless circled around, examining the pony. Dew Sparkle's magical talent was to collect sunlight and cast a projection with it. "Good. Now this is what I want you to do," she said looking at Ground. She prayed that this was going to work.

A short while later, Lofty Glare and the other Casters emerged from the trees and stopped along the shoreline.

"Another obstacle," Wicked Delight sighed. "What do we do now?"

"It's close," Falling star said, pointing at the flower. "It's opened nearly all the way now."

"We'll cross over." Lofty Glare said, her horn glowing as she prepared to Flash across the river.

"I warn you against attempting that," a voice said, carrying over the river. "You will find that you will regret it if you do."

Every Caster horn suddenly flashed with magic as they prepared to attack. Stepping out onto the far shoreline they saw a massive stallion with a thick muscular body that looked like it could crush boulders with ease. His white coat shone with an inner light of its own as his long golden mane and tail flowed out in the breeze. Two long horns arrayed with one before the other stood out prominently on his forehead.

"By the Mother! He's gorgeous!" Wicked Delight's ears stood up stiffly as her gaze filled with an intense desire. "This one is mine! I claim him!"

"No!" Web Dancer said, jumping in her way. "I will have him! Never before have I seen a stallion more worthy to explore all the sweet agonies of the flesh!" she said with a look of hunger, her tail flagging high with obvious arousal. "Oh, the sweet pleasures I will draw out of him."

"That would be a complete waste of a stallion with obviously high exceptional breeding!" Withering Rose said in outrage. "He would be best used filling my womb with foals!"

"Of course you would think so small!" Falling Star scoffed. "Think how much a Unicorn, no, a Bicorn like him is worth! He's a one of a kind! Every Highblood mare would be frothing at the mouth for a chance to gain even one breeding for their daughters!"

"And allow him to be used in such course and undignified way?" Prickly Pear sneered with disdain. "He should be serving a mare of true status like me. All my friends would be filled with envy when they see him with me. When he finishes giving me a long massage in the baths, I'll have him sing as he obediantly feeds grapes to me, and then during the night, he'll curl up against my hooves to keep them warm as I sleep."

"Don't be ridiculous! I saw him first, so I get him!" Wicked Delight exclaimed.

"You saw him first!? I was walking in front of you so it was I who saw him first! That makes him mine!" Web Dancer shouted, turning on Wicked Delight.

"It doesn't matter who saw him first!" Withering Rose said, cutting in. "Fate had brought him to fill my fertile body with his beautiful foals!"

"Why have foals when you can have adoration!" Prickly Pear interjected, her eyes taking on a dreamy look.

The group quickly broke down into a screaming match where each was shouting the reason they should have the stallion. Lofty Glare tried to ignore them as she examined the flower. It was facing straight across the river right to the handsome Bicorn Stallion. Him!? All this time they had been searching for a stallion!?

"Enough!" Falling Star cried out. "All this arguing is solving nothing!"

"That's right," Wicked Delight agreed. "I say the first one to catch the stallion should be the one who keeps him!" Suddenly her horn flashed and she vanished.

Midway across the river the air rang as if something had been struck and the air shimmered before a very surprised Wicked Delight reappeared and fell with a terrified scream down into the raging waters below!

"I warned you against attempting that." The stallion said with a resigned shake of his head.

Withering Delight sputtered and flailed about in the water as she was carried downstream. With a flash she vanished, reappearing back on the shore with the other Casters. Soaked with water dripping from her sodden body, she glared furiously at the other snickering mares.

"Who are you?" Lofty Glare asked, calling over the river.

"My name?"Ground blinked and flicked at questioning glance down at Starless as she hid, crouched, behind a boulder. They had been so rushed with setting this up, they never came up with a name for him! With frantic gestures Starless urged him to answer. "I am... the... Great and... Magnificent Magus."

Starless let out a groan of dismay. Where did he come up with that name!?

Hidden behind another boulder, Dew Sparkle stared with a focused intensity as she held the Bicorn image over Ground's body. "Try to not move around so much, you almost slipped out that time," she whispered urgently.

"Why does thou come seeking me?"Ground continued, his horns flashing in the sunlight.

"To have your foals!" Withering Rose called out and was pushed back by the others.

Lofty Glare cleared her throat and stepped to the forefront. "Our mistress, The Great Matriarch Astral, wishes to meet with you."

The Great and Magnificent Magus frowned across at her. "Please return to thy mistress and tell her that I decline."

Lofty Glare's face hardened. "You cannot refuse."

A dangerous look came to the Magus's eyes. "Thy think to threaten me?"

Lofty Glare stepped closer, her hooves coming right up to the edge of the water. "Despite your rejection, you will be coming with us. You have no choice."

Starless felt her wards being probed as they sought a way through. High above, hidden safely on top of a cloud, Dizzy and Cirrus watched. Starless had promised Dizzy's brother back when she had first started to help her that she wouldn't let his sister get hurt. Having Stratus Streak angry at her wasn't something she ever wanted to happen. No, Dizzy needed to stay out of this. It was too soon for their enemies to discover that Unicorns and Pegasi were working together.

The air stirred with the slow chuckle of mirth. "So. I have no choice then?" Magus said with amusement. "Very well. I will grant thy request and present myself to her, but only if you meet my challenge."

"Challenge?" Lofty Glare asked, surprised at the turn of the situation. "What challenge?"

The Magus smiled. "It's quite simple." He reached up and pointed his hoof to his horns. "You need only to touch my horn."

"Touch your horn?" Lofty Glare asked. "That is all?"

"Indeed." The Magus's smile broadened. "The first mare to do so, will have any wish granted."

Prickly Pear's ears shot up. "Any wish!?"

"That's right, any wish you desire," The Magus answered. "You have but to touch my horn, and it is yours."

Starless was amazed. She had come up with this deception to give the Casters something to focus on that was as far from Aurora as possible. What could be more detracting than a mysterious Bycorn stallion. But this last part that Ground had come up with was a masterstroke. Not only would they be searching for a stallion that didn't exist, but now they'll be fighting against each other to be the one to catch him! Brilliant!

"And now I bid you all, good luck" The Magus said, crushing the light-crystal hidden under his hoof, releasing the magic contained inside in a blinding burst of light.

Starless was ready. With a powerful surge of her magic, she released her ward and transported all three of them a short distance away, reappearing into a small hollow hidden within a tangled pile of logs. Outside they heard the hurried hoofsteps of the Casters as they rushed past.

"Find him!" Lofty Glare's voice shouted. "He mustn't get away!"

"He had to of gone that way!" Withering Rose exclaimed.

"Hooves off! He's mine!" Wicked Delight bellowed.

"Not if I get him first!" Web Dancer chortled.

Huddled in the cramped confines of their hiding place, they listened as the pursuit faded into the distance. Starless let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. She couldn't believe it, they had done it!

"Dew, would you please close your eyes for a moment?"

Dew gave her a curious look before doing as she asked and shut her eyes.

Turning to Ground, Starless slipped her Enchantress mask off and firmly planted her lips to his. Dew's ears perked up at the sound of lips smacking together and she had to fight to hold back a giddy smile.

Chapter Sixty Two

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter One (Revison)

Author's Note

This is a rewrite of chapter one. The old one will be re-released as a standalone.

Chapter One (Revison)

Life in the herd was hard and oftentimes short lived for many ponies. Traveling from place to place, seeking out fresh grazing lands to feed their numbers was a hard life, especially for the foals who had to follow after their mothers. Every day was a continuous struggle for mothers to care for and feed their young foals, who were entirely dependent on them.

In the vast, wild lands, in the world that still had not been named by its simple denizens, there was a rugged mountain range whose snow capped peaks still had never felt the hoofprint of any mountain goat. Running along the base of the great mountain range was long chain of foothills that supported a vast forest whose dense foliage hid ancient things never before seen by pony eyes.

Running out from the foothills, rich grasslands and light forests peppered the rolling land all the way to the horizon, with rivers and streams cutting through the lands to provide much needed water to those downstream.

Within one of the numerous pastoral fields that dotted the land, a large herd of ponies were settled in to graze upon its rich springtime grasses.

Little Celestia bent her head down and sniffed at the grass and grimaced. Why must she eat this? It tasted horrible!

"Go on, sweetie, just a little bit," her mother said, urging her on.

Celestia looked up at her mother, and pouted. "But it tastes so bad! Why do I have to eat it?"

Her mother gave her a loving and patient smile. "Because, sweetie, I can't nurse you forever. I’ve already nursed you well past when you should have been weaned. You must learn to eat grown up food," she explained.

Celestia sulked and kicked at the ground. All around her, a gathering of mares milled about, gossiping among themselves as they ate at the soft grass. Many of them had foals tucked up close to their side. Others had older foals that were allowed to run off and play together a short ways off, always keeping sure to stay under the watchful eyes of the mares at all times. There were dangerous beasts out there, who would be very eager to snatch up some unwary foal that wandered too far from the safety of the herd.

Bending her head down, Celestia gathered her courage and grabbed a mouthful of grass, and started to chew. Her little face scrunched up in distaste at the sour taste that filled her mouth. With a mighty effort, she managed to swallow her tiny mouthful.

"There see, that wasn't that bad, was it?" her mother said, nuzzling her neck.

Celestia leaned herself into her mother's comforting touch and smiled. Her mother gave the best nuzzles.

“Okay. I did what you told me,” Celestia said with a sulk. “Can I have nummies, now?”

Her mother looked down at her and sighed with a amused smile as she shook her head. “Fine, but I want you to take two big bites of grass tomorrow, okay?”

Celestia grimaced at the thought of eating more of that disgusting grass, but nodded up at her mother anyways. Tomorrow was a long ways off and she wanted her nummies now!

“Okay,” her mother said and opened her stance to allow Celestia to run under her to latch her little mouth onto one of her teats.

Mindful of her teeth, Celestia suckled greedily, until her mother's milk flowed into her mouth. Swallowing, Celestia hummed her pleasure as she suckled more milk into her mouth. Why was this being taken from her? It was so much better than that yucky grass!

As she nursed, Celestia flicked her ear back as she heard one of the other mares approach her mother.

"Still nursing your filly, I see," a mare's stern voice said to her mother.

"She's still having trouble eating grass," Celestia’s mother replied.

"You're much too soft with her, Meadowlark!" the mare scolded. "You should just kick her off, and let her go hungry until she learns that she can't always have the teat. That is what I did for my colt. Let me tell you a story about what happened when Pebble Stream refused to ween her colt."

Without releasing her mother's teat, Celestia bent her head to the side to look out. From just beside the mare, a little charcoal brown colt shyly looked back at her. He looked about the same age as she was, or perhaps slightly older. She had trouble telling because he looked a bit thinner than he should have been.

Celestia noticed the colt’s eyes kept glancing up at her mother's teat she held in her mouth, and licked at his lips. He looked hungry. Celestia's heart went out to him, and she wanted to do something for him.

Releasing her mother's teat, Celestia glanced out and saw that the colt’s mother was totally ignoring him as she talked with her mother. Looking back at the colt, Celestia motioned with her head for him to come over and join her.

He looked hesitant at first, taking a small step closer. Nibbling at his lip nervously, the colt struggled with indecision. Throwing a cautious glance at his mother to see if she would notice him, he suddenly made his decision and dashed around to hide behind Celestia's mother's side. Moving over to make room, the colt slipped under her mother and joined her.

Glancing up at her mother's teat. Celestia smiled and nodded her head at the colt as she gestured for him to take it. With a grateful look, he eagerly reached up and latched his mouth onto her mother's teat, and loudly started to suckle. Seeing the colt happily swallowing the milk that now flowed into his mouth, Celestia pressed herself against his side, and took her mother’s other teat, and joined the colt for their afternoon meal.

As they both nursed closely together, Celestia found she didn't really mind that the side of his mouth would rub against hers or that his warm breath would tickle the side of her muzzle whenever he exhaled.

Was this what it was like to have a sibling? She wondered. The feeling of his soft, warm side against hers was surprisingly comforting.

A short time later, they heard the colt’s mother start to end her lecturous story. It wouldn’t be long until she would be leaving with her colt. Next to her, the colt reluctantly stopped his nursing and looked over at her.

"Thank you," he whispered to her gratefully.

The colt looked like he was about to dash off back to his mother when Celestia stopped him with a light touch of her hoof. She reached her head out and licked a dribble of milk from the side of his mouth before pulling her head back to met his eyes. "My name is Celestia. What's yours?" she whispered.

"Ash… Ash Cloud." He quietly answered back.

"I’d like to be friends," Celestia said to the colt.

"I’d like that too," he said with a smile before reaching forward and licking a drop of milk she didn’t know was on the side of her mouth. The touch of his tongue sent a shock through her body. He was only returning the favor, so why did it make her feel all funny?

"Ash? Where have you gotten off to?" They both heard Ash's mother's voice calling out to him.
Quickly, the colt dashed around and came out to look up at his mother. "Here I am, Mama."

"Ash! What have I told you about running off?" his mother scolded him with a scowl. "Now come along I want to talk to Ruffled Leaf. She's been spreading wild stories about seeing winged ponies flying in the sky, and that foolishness needs to be put to an end or we’ll be having ponies staring up at the sky all day hoping to see one of these foalish imaginings of hers." Turning, the mare started to walk off, but Celestia’s mother suddenly stepped forward.

“Excuse me,” she called out to her, “it may not be my place, but… well, you look like you’re going to be busy with important tasks, and I just thought that… it might be easier for you if somepony could watch your colt for you while you go and deal with everything you need to do? I’ll be happy to do so, if you would like.”

Celestia held her breath as she waited to hear what Ash’s mother would answer.

The mare tapped her hoof to her chin in thought. “That would certainly make things easier for me. I could even go and talk to Thunder Step about some things I’ve been meaning to bring up with him for quite some time.” She smiled. “Thank you. This will be a great help to me. I hope he won’t be too much for you to handle.”

Celestia’s mother smiled and shook her head. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep him under tight control and close to hoof. He’ll be no problem.”

“Well, good,” Ash’s mother said with a nod. “I’ll be back to retrieve him later, then.”

“Very well,” her mother answered back. “He’ll be right here when you return.”

Ash’s mother was barely out of sight when Celestia suddenly bound happily into the air and hugged the surprised colt. “Yay! We’ll get to play together! Thank you, Mama.”

“I thought it would be good for you share some time with your new friend,” her mother said to her before she leaned down to nuzzled her. "That was really sweet of you to share with him," she said, smiling down at her.

"You knew!?" Celestia asked, shocked that her mother allowed the colt to nurse from her.

Her mother laughed. "Of course I knew. It's easy to notice when there are two foals nursing from you instead of just one,” she then looked over to Ash, “besides, he looked hungry, and I can't stand seeing a hungry foal. Not if I can help it."

Celestia blinked up at her mama and smiled. She had the best mama ever!

Settling herself in the shade of a tree, Meadowlark watched as Celestia and her new friend played together.

“They appear to be enjoying themselves,” a silvery colored mare commented as she walked up next to her. “Do you mind if I join you?”

Meadowlark looked up at the mare. She didn’t recognize her, but that wasn’t unusual. The herd was rather large with the occasional mixing with other herds when they come across each other. There was such a meeting of herds just last fall and Meadowlark figured that she probably joined with them then.

“No, I don’t mind at all,” Meadowlark replied politely, gesturing to a place in the grass next to her. “Are you new to the herd?”

The silvery mare looked thoughtful at the question for a moment. “You could say that, yes,” she said as she settled herself down.

“My name is Meadowlark and the filly, there, sitting on that colt, is my daughter, Celestia, and the colt under her is her friend, Ash,” Meadowlark greeted the new mare with a friendly smile.

“Well, it is quite a pleasure to meet you all,” the silvery mare said pleasantly. “My name is…” she paused for a moment, “Wellspring.”

“So, how long have you been with the herd? I haven't seen you around, before,” Meadowlark asked.

“Oh, not long,” Wellspring answered. “I am only here to perform a certain necessary task.”

Meadowlark was confused by her answer. What did she mean by that? “Task? What task is that?”

Wellspring didn’t answer, instead she let out a laugh at how Ash had suddenly turned things around on Celestia, and was now chasing her around with them both squealing in ruckus laughter.

“Today is a beautiful day, is it not?” she suddenly asked, letting out a pleased sigh. “The air is warm, the sun is bright and the grass is fresh and green. All in all, a pony couldn’t ask for a day any better than this.” She took a long breath and let it out with a smile. “Days like this are rare. So many countless things have to come into order for a day like this to happen. And today… today is an extra special day. Today, out of all the random outcomes for everything throughout the entire age of this world, three things will happen on this fine, beautiful day, that the world has been waiting for for a very long time.” Wellspring paused to smile down at the two playing foals. “The first has already happened. Those two met and became friends.” She then turned and looked at Meadowlark. “Such a simple thing, don’t you think? Who would have thought that such a meeting would shake the entire world.”

Meadowlark was speechless. She didn’t understand what Wellspring was saying to her. Shake the world? What did she mean by that? They were just foals.

“I am going to tell you a few things,” Wellspring continued meeting Meadowlark’s eyes. “You won’t remember what I say, but my words will stay within your heart and I hope that you will heed the guidance I leave within you.”

Celestia panted for breath as Ash collapsed to the ground, spent. The two had never played so hard in their young lives

The sound of heavy hoof falls coming up behind her drew her attention. Turning her head, Celestia looked up at the massive form of her father as he bent down to nuzzle her nose affectionately.

"How is my little darling Celestia doing today?" he asked, smiling down at her.

Celestia squealed and dashed to her father's leg and hug it. "Papa! I made a friend today!" she shouted up at him.

"You did? That's wonderful!" her father said happily, before he flipped her over with his muzzle and blew noisily into her belly.

Celestia squirmed and kicked under her father's playful teasings until she was begging for mercy with tears of laughter streaming down her cheeks.

Sitting back, her father looked quizzically at the colt. “So, what would your name be?”

“My name is Ash, sir,” the colt answered with an unusual politeness for one so young.

“Well, my fine, young colt,” her father said with a thoughtful look. “My filly says that you’re her friend. That is something that is very special to have. So make sure you never ever hurt her, alright?”

“Yes, sir,” Ash answered, his face absolutely serious.

The stallion stared down at the colt with a curious expression, apparently unprepared for the colt’s stiff solemnity with him.

“Dark,” Meadowlark called out, “stop scaring the colt.”

“I’m not scaring the colt,” Dark said defensively. Turning from the colt he walked over to Meadowlark and nuzzled her affectionately. "Meadowlark, you're as beautiful as always.".

Meadowlark smiled and nuzzled him back. "You always say that, especially at this time of the season when the heat comes on strong."

Dark smiled. "And I mean it every time," he answered with a wink before nuzzling her along her neck up to the side of her jaw where he gave her a slight nip.

“I believe that your fine, young stallion would like to spend an intimate, and potentially world changing moment with you,” Wellspring said with an amused look at the couple. “It would be best if you see to it today, otherwise you might end up with a colt, and trust me when I say you don’t want that to happen. I’ll be happy to watch over the younglings while you two have some private time together.”

Meadowlark considered Wellspring and her kind offer. They had only just met and she didn’t know anything about her, but there was something about her that felt familiar. Like she was family in some way and Meadowlark felt deep inside her that she could trust the silvery mare with anything.

“I promise you,” Wellspring said, meeting Meadowlark’s eyes, “there is nothing in this world or beyond that will be able to harm them as long as I am with them. My protection over them will be absolute,” she assured her with an unusual confidence.

Meadowlark continued to consider her offer, but Dark’s sensuous niblings on her sensitive ears was driving her to distraction. Why did he have to be so good at that? Her mind was growing foggy as her need began to take over. “Umm… Celestia, ah Ash. Wellspring here is going to watch over you while Dark and I see to something really quickly.”

“Take as long as you need,” Wellspring said with a knowing smile.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Meadowlark let out a giggle at how Dark kept lightly bumping himself into her to hurry her faster. They were only going a short way into a nearby, small, half secluded area of bushes, but he seemed unable to wait.

Her heat had begun the previous day and she was glad that Dark had sought her out before her need drove her to take any available stallion that approached her. She had already rebuffed three advances now, twice by the same eager stallion who had been hoping to steal her away from Dark.

Dark slid his muzzle along her neck as he took in her enticing scent. “You smell so…” he finished with a long drawn out nicker.

Meadowlark felt her blood roaring in her ears as she panted under her chosen stallion’s tender touches. Oh, she was so ready for this. Fanning her tail back and forth, she wafted her fertile scent to the air to entice her stallion even more, as she watched his stiffening stallionhood drop down from his sheath below him.

Dark sniffed at the air and let out a eager snort before he moved down to thrust his muzzle under Meadowlark’s tail. Arching her back, Meadowlark lifted her tail higher to open his way to her sanctum.

As his tongue tasted her sweet neediness, Meadowlark let out a pleased groan. “Oh, why did we wait so long to do this.”

Pausing, Dark lifted his head up. “As you may recall, you kept putting me off, saying that you wanted Celestia to be older before we had another foal. Then you kept holding off weaning her her well past the normal time.”

“I know, I know,” Meadowlark confessed. “I just wanted to give her the best chance at living. I see some of those mares who have a foal every single season only to lose most of them because they are no longer able to care for them properly.”

“You have been a wonderful mother to our daughter. A stallion could not ask for anything better in a mare.” As he reared himself up onto her back, Meadowlark staggered slightly under the sudden weight. Gripping his forehooves around her sides to hold himself in place, Dark reached forward and nuzzled her neck before moving up to pay some much needed attention to her ears. “Are you ready to become a mother again?” he whispered as he nibbled on one of her ears.

“Oh, yes. Please.” Meadowlark moaned to him breathlessly. She could feel his ready stallionhood pressing up against her rump. “Fill my womb with a new foal that I can love and care for.”

Gripping her sides tighter, Dark adjusted himself until his stallionhood was pressed right up against her ready and well moistened entrance. With a thrust of his pelvis, Meadowlark threw her head back and gasped in pleasure as she felt his stallionhood surge deep into her until his hips pressed up snugly against her rump with a gentle slap.

With their bodies now joined together as only a stallion and mare could do, Dark nuzzled and kissed the side of her cheek as he let her grow accustomed to his place. Many stallions would normally just go wild at this point and recklessly pound themselves into the mare until they were quickly done and on their way to another willing mare, but Dark was different. He liked to savor the moment when their bodies became one.

Reaching her head around, Meadowlark took his mouth in a kiss, letting their lips mash and play with one another with wet smacking sounds. Drawing his hips back, Dark slowly withdrew his stallionhood before thrusting it back into place. Meadowlark broke the kiss with Dark and let out a very pleased moan, prompting Dark to continue.

With slow, steady movements, Dark withdrew and thrust himself back in. Their coats were becoming slick with the sweat of their shared efforts as Meadowlark’s breath huffed out everytime Dark gripped her sides tight and slammed himself back in with greater effort and speed.

Closing her eyes, Meadowlark became lost to the pleasure of what Dark was doing to her. Her body was tensing up as she felt a tightness growing deep inside where their bodies moved together. Dark grunted, his breathing growing strained as he worked himself into an ever increasing, frantic pace.

The tightness deep inside her grew to an almost painful level as she stood there on a precipice of pleasure. She couldn’t stand it anymore! Something needed to happen! Suddenly, like a thunderstorm being released in her body, waves of rippling pleasure racked her body and she felt herself clamping down onto Dark’s furiously pounding stallionhood!

She couldn’t breathe! Arching her head back, Meadowlark writhed with untold pleasure. Deep in the core of her being, Dark’s stallionhood was flaring wide as he shoved himself as far into her as he could, pressing himself right to the entrance to her fertile womb! Letting out a groan, Dark held himself there as his gripping hooves held on to her ever tighter. She could feel his stallionhood begin to twitch and throb inside her as he released his rich, virile seed right into her willing womb. Grunting with each release, Dark filled her to her deepest of places as his flared tip held it all in, ensuring that as much of his seed stayed as deep inside her as possible.

With a final strained grunt, Dark released the last of his seed and collapsed onto her back, spent. Gasping for breath, Dark happily met Meadowlark's questing lips and kissed her. They had done it. If all went well, a new life would be quickening deep inside her womb.

Wellspring lifted her head and looked back over her shoulder toward where Meadowlark and Dark had gone and smiled. “That’s two,” she said before turning her attention back to the two foals who were crawling around in the taller grass as they silently stalked each other.

Celestia laid low as she swiveled her ears about to listen for any of Ash’s movements. Occasionally, she would catch the slight rustle of dry grass or the crunch of a leaf but she was having trouble telling which way it was coming from.

Taking a chance, she shuffled forward and pushed through the grass as quietly as she could. Making her way along, she suddenly came face to face with a strange looking pile of what looked like dry grass and pebbles, except that she saw that in the midst of it was a pair of golden, slitted eyes that was looked right back at her.

Letting out an exclamation of surprise, Celestia watched in horror as a head reared back from the strange looking pile to reveal the coiled body of a snake as it started to rattle the end of its tail. “Ash!” She screamed in fright.

The rattlesnake kept its head directed right at her face as it continued to rattle its segmented tail. It looked like it was readying itself to strike!

With a suddenness that surprised her and left her with no chance to even flinch, the rattlesnake launched itself at her with its fangs held open. A blur of motion shot by her and suddenly Ash was there pinning the rattlesnake to the ground with his hoof.

“Celestia!? Are you alright!?” Ash asked looking back at her with worry.

Celestia blinked in sudden relief. Ash had saved her! “I… I’m okay. Thanks to you.”

Beneath Ash’s hoof, the rattlesnake writhed its body around as it tried to free its head. Looking back down, Ash’s face hardened in anger as he prepared himself to kill it. Celestia saw this and held her hoof out to him forestall his action.

“Don’t hurt it!” Celestia said urgently. “He was only scared.”

“So, is that your decision then? To spare its life?” Wellspring asked, stepping up on them with a curious look directed at her.

Celestia looked up at the silvery mare and nodded. “I think he should be let go. He wasn’t trying to be mean on purpose. Life is special. Mama has always told me that.”

Wellspring smiled and nodded with a pleased look. “Hold that in your heart, always.” She then turned and looked at Ash. “And you. Jumping in like that was very dangerous. You could have been hurt very badly,” she said sternly to the colt

The colt didn’t look ashamed of his actions, instead he looked up and met Wellsprings gaze evenly. “Celestia is my friend. If she is in danger, I will always be there to save her. No matter what.”

Wellspring looked down at the colt and lifted her eyebrow at him. “Hmm… such strong words from such a strong heart. Keep true to your feelings. They will give you strength when you need it.”

Ash blinked up at the mare with an oddly serious look before nodding to her.

“Good! Now I want you both to come and stand beside each other,” she said, gesturing for them to move closer.

“But what abou the snake?” Ash asked.

Wellspring looked down at the colt with a curious look. “What snake is that?”

Ash opened his mouth to answer her, but just as he was about to speak, he glanced down and paused in shock when he saw that sitting trapped under his hoof was not the snake that he knew had been there just moments before, but instead, found that he was now standing on a oddly bent tree branch!

“What the...!?” Lifting his hoof in disbelief, Ash nudged the branch to make sure that it was indeed just a oddly bent branch. Where did the snake go!? He was sure that there had been one! Or was his imagination just playing tricks on him?

“Come, come. Forget the silly branch and stand by each other,” Wellspring said impatiently, waving her hoof for him to move.

Feeling confused, Ash followed her instructions and stepped up next to Celestia.

“Now, close your eyes.”

Celestia glanced over at Ash for a quick moment, then turned back to Wellspring and closed her eyes with Ash. After sitting silently for a moment, she suddenly felt something touch her forehead. A moment later, a pleasant warmth spread throughout her body. Opening her eyes, Celestia looked up at the smiling Wellspring.

“What?... what did you do?” Ash asked next to her, touching his forehead with his hoof.

“I've given you both my blessing,” Wellspring answered simply, eyeing the two with a smile “You two are now bound together with a force that can never be broken, and can only grow stronger.” She turned and stared away. “It’ll be fun to see you two figure out what force that is, when you’re both older.”

Celestia looked at Ash and saw that he was just as confused as she was. Following after Wellspring, they found that her parents were just coming back from whatever they went off to do. They both looked a bit disheveled but very happy as they walked closely together.

Celestia was about to rush forward when Wellspring held a hoof out to hold her back. “Hold on a moment. One last thing needs to happen.”

Dark turned and nuzzled Meadowlark affectionately as she returned his affections just as tenderly.

“It’s always nice spending time with you whenever you come,” Meadowlark said. “I suppose that with spring being so nice this season, you’ll be busy seeing to those mares who have chosen you?”

“A few have been growing annoyingly insistent, but I wanted to see to you, first.” Dark stepped back as he prepared to leave. “I’ll try to come back and visit tomorrow. Perhaps play with Celestia for a time. Doesn't that sounds nice?”

“You are welcome to spend as much time with us as you like,” Meadowlark said, giving Dark a smile.

Dark turned and started to walk away, but only made it a short ways before coming to a abrupt stop and stood there unmoving as he stared off ahead.

Concerned, Meadowlark moved to him. “What’s wrong?”

Dark shut his eyes and shook his head. “I don’t want to,” he said.

“You don’t want to what?” Meadowlark stepped up next to him and touched his shoulder with her hoof.

“I don’t want to go. I don’t want to breed with any other mares. I don’t want to spend time away from you and Celestia.” Turning he looked at Meadowlark. “I am most happy when I am with you both. I don’t feel the same way with any of the others. They are cold and distant with me, while you are open and loving. You welcome me around, even outside of mating times.” Dark sighed and brushed his cheek to hers. “I’m tired of sleeping alone. If it's alright with you, I’d like to sleep by your side tonight... perhaps for every night from now on.” He looked down at Celestia. "I would like to be there, to see my foals grow. Perhaps to help in some way. Out of all the mares of the herd, it's you I want to be with. What do you say?" he asked, meeting Meadowlark’s eyes.

Tears started to flow from her eyes as she stood before him stunned. "I... I would like that very much," Meadowlark said, wiping at her eyes. "This is a new thing you're proposing, Dark Storm; a stallion staying with just one mare. What of the other mares waiting on you? Don't they need your seed?"

Dark dismissively flicked his head to the side. "There are many other stallions that can perform that task for them. I just want to be with you and our foals. That will be more than enough for me."

Meadowlark was silent for a while as she considered him. Suddenly, she moved forward and pressed her lips to his. Dark blinked at Meadowlark for a moment before he closed his eyes and kissed her back. Celestia watched this, not knowing what it truly meant. It would be later that she would learn that this was the the first ever union between a stallion and a mare.

Letting out a squeal of happiness, Celestia dashed forward and hugged both her parents’ legs.

With the colt still next to her, Wellspring smiled at the scene. “And that is the third. What a wonderful day this has been! My task here is done.” She looked down at the colt next to her. “I look forward to the next time we meet, my little stallion.” Turning, she silently walked off.

When Ash’s mother arrived later to collect her colt, she bore witness to a remarkable and shocking sight. A stallion was laughing while her colt, and Meadowlark’s filly, rode on his back as they playfully trotted around in the field.

That night, the new family settled themselves in together with Dark taking up his place by Meadowlark’s side. Celestia happily snuggled herself into the crevice the two made where their bodies came together and yawned. They were so warm!

Leaning her head into Dark’s neck, Meadowlark let out a happy sigh. Lowering his head down, Dark kissed the top of her head before he looked up at the rising moon. "If it's a filly, I would like to name her after the moon," he said, looking up at the silvery disk.

Chapter Nine

The day was getting late, and Dark Storm knew he needed to get back. It's been seven days since the wolves started harassing the settlement, and each night ponies sat ready, as they waited with their new stone tipped spears, for the wolves to appear.

At first, the wolves were confused by the new structures the ponies built. They aimlessly raced through, as they searched for easy prey and found none to be had. Quickly, spear wielding ponies charged the pack, and drove them off.

As time progressed, it became obvious that the wolves were growing frustrated. They could smell the newborn foals, and all the birthing fluids that came with them, but whenever they dashed in, they were unable to find any foals to snatch away, and worse yet, angry stallions and mares would come charging in at them, forcing them to flee off into the night.

Dark Storm was proud of what the ponies had accomplished. Everywhere he looked, he no longer saw fear, but instead, ponies moved about with a new determination and drive to succeed, with their new way of life, that was being built here. All the homes had been finished and Brightstar was almost halfway done with the outer wall.

Where the cracked bolder sat, in the center of the settlement, a new structure was now taking form that Meadowlark had asked to be built. When it's completed, it will be the biggest of all the buildings that had been built so far, as well as using all the best ideas that the ponies have so far come up with. The building was going to be so large, that all the ponies would be able to sit under its roof at the same time.

Its walls would be made of stones, brought down from a nearby gully, and it's roof would be supported by the largest log beams that could be hauled in. The rain would be kept out, with the use of bundled reeds, from a nearby beaver pond, stacked in progressing layers, that was discovered to be much more efficient than the tree branches they had been using before. Already, homes all about the settlement were having their roofs changed over to the new roofing material, as fast as it could be brought in.

Adjusting his new willow pack, Dark settled it more comfortably onto his back, as he moved through the hamlet, until he reached his home. Leaning his spear against the side, Dark squeezed through the opening into the dimly lit interior. A couple of mares started bringing glow flowers up from a waterfall, that was downstream. The light they gave off was dim, but with enough of them, they worked well to light up the small space.

"I brought food," Dark announced, as he took his pack off, and set it down.

"Dark!" Strongbuck desperately called out to him. "Tell Dove that I'm well enough to go outside. I'm tired of being cooped up all day!" Strongbuck said, in a slightly hoarse voice. His voice still hadn't fully recovered from being partially crushed in a wolf's jaws.

Dark frowned and shook his head at the young stallion. "As I told you before, I am not getting involved in this. If Dove thinks you need more time to heal, then there is nothing I can do about it."

"As well he shouldn't!" Meadowlark said from her thick bed of straw. Turning, she glared over at Strongbuck. "Stop trying to get Dark to overrule your mate. She outranks him in these things, and he's smart enough to know that."

Strongbuck wilted under her sharp gaze, and quickly nodded his head.

Dove leaned over and nudged her hoof into Strongbuck's injured shoulder, causing him to flinch back with a whimper. "For that, you’re staying inside, one day longer."

Strongbuck's ears wilted down, as he looked down to pout.

"Where's Celestia and Ash?" Dark asked, noticing that the foals were nowhere in sight.

"Melodious recruited them for a job. They should be back soon," Meadowlark answered.

Dark noticed that Meadowlark's face looked tensed, and she kept shifting herself around on her bed of straw.

"How are you feeling?" Dark asked, looking at her with concern.

Meadowlark scrunched up her face as she rubbed her belly. "I feel tight, and achy. I think she's going to come soon. Perhaps sometime tonight or tomorrow."

Dark's heart leaped up in excitement, as the thought of the impending birth sent a thrill through his body. Dark had been anxiously wondering what his new daughter was going to be like. He hoped she would be sweet and kindhearted, like her sister Celestia was.

"Are you hungry?" Dark asked, turning to his willow pack.

"No, not really," Meadowlark said with a shake of her head. "Well... maybe a little... I don't know, I feel weird."

"Well then, I'll just leave some right here for you. Just in case," Dark said, pulling out some fresh grass, and setting it down on a large piece of bark, that was set out, to keep food out of the dirt. Turning, Dark smiled and reached into his pack and pulled out a small basket and held it up on the flat of his hoof. "I also brought some raspberries"

Both Strongbuck's, and Dove's ears shot up as they both looked quickly over. They licked their lips as they watched Dark carefully scoop some out onto the sheet of bark, next to Meadowlark.

Meadowlark reached out and nuzzled Dark, and kissed him. "You be careful tonight," she said, looking up into his eyes.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," Dark assured her, giving her slanted smile.

Turning, Dark looked over at Strongbuck and Dove. "There's plenty of raspberries, so you're welcome to take a share. Just leave enough for Celestia and Ash."

"Thank you," both Strongbuck and Dove said together.

Dark started to leave, when Strongbuck suddenly called out to him. "Please, watch out for Bell Flower for us!" He said looking right at Dark. "I just wish, I could be out there with her."

Looking at the two he saw the worry they both had for Bell Flower's safety, and Dark gave them a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about her, she's a tough one. It's the wolves that will have to watch out for her."

Just then, Melodious came in. When she saw Dark she smile at him. "Oh, good evening Dark," She greeted him. "You heading out to stand night sentry?" Following behind Melodious, Celestia and Ash came in, carrying two baskets with Melodious' two little colts curled up inside, on their backs.

Dark grinned down at the sight. So that's what Melodious recruited them for, he thought as he looked down at them. "Yes, I am," He answered Melodious, as he watched her take the baskets off the two foals backs, and set them down.

Once he was free, Ash rushed up to Dark and looked up at him. "Can I come with you!?" He asked. "I have a spear I can use!"

Dark lowered his head down at the colt, and set his hoof onto his shoulder. "I have something more important for you to do. I need you to stay here and watch over everypony here," Dark said seriously to the colt. "This is very important, and I am counting on you to keep them all safe, alright?"

Ash met his gaze and saw the seriousness in Dark's expression. Drawing himself up a little taller, Ash gave Dark a nod.

"Good," Dark said, giving Ash a pat on his shoulder. "Now grab your spear, and wait right here next to the door. If any wolves stick their head in, give em' the sharp end of your spear, and let them know they're not welcome in our home."

Ash gave a nod and dashed off to get his spear, which was leaning against the far wall.

Wrapping his hoof around Celestia, Dark dragged her closer for a hug, and kissed her. As Ash returned carrying his spear, Dark did the same with him. "Remember, I'm counting on you to keep them all safe," Dark reminded Ash, before he turned and stepped out.

Walking through the hamlet, Dark saw ponies returning from a day of hard work. There were smiles and laughter all around, as ponies stood about talking to one another about what they've been doing, with many of them pausing to wave or say hello to him as he passed.

At the edge of the settlement, Dark arrived at the end of the unfinished wall, where a group of ponies had gathered to wait for him. As he approached, they all quieted, as they turned to face him.

"Good evening, everypony," Dark greeted them as he came to a stop. Off to the side, Dark noticed Bell Flower standing with Strongbuck's spear, held it the crook of her leg. "Things were quiet last night, but don't expect it to continue. The pack was seen earlier this afternoon, by the three hills to the south, and Happy found some mysterious tracks, in the western woods, he can't make any sense of."

"Like what?" Mustard Seed asked.

Dark gave his head a shake. "He doesn't know. The only thing he would say, was that whatever made those tracks, was about the same size as a pony, and could climb trees."

"That doesn't sound like wolves," Morning Sky said.

"Of course not!" Mustard Seed snapped back at Morning Sky, as he threw his shoulder into hers. "Happy knows what wolf tracks look like, stupid!"

"That's enough!" Dark barked out, folding his ears back. Mustard Seed quickly ducked his head down, and clamped his mouth shut. "Now, it's going to be a full moon tonight, so there will be plenty of light to see. If you see anything, don't hesitate to call out the location, and never go off by yourself. Understood?"

Dark waited until they all nodded. "Good. Now, Morning Sky and Bell Flower will be with me tonight, the rest of you split up into groups of three and take up positions from here all the way over to where I will be, over on the east side. Make sure you all stay within sight of one another, and never get separated."

Turning, Dark walked up to Bell Flower. "You sure you want to do this?" He asked her.

Bell Flower hefted her spear, and gave him a nod. "I owe those beasts something in return for what they did to Dove's beautiful face, and for nearly taking Strongbuck from us."

Dark could see the determination and rage in her eyes, and decided to just let her be. Looking over at Morning Sky as she stepped up to them, Dark set off to the east end of the hamlet, with the two mares following just behind.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Ash narrowed his eyes, as he hefted his green pebble. He had a good feeling about this one. Taking in a breath, Ash held it as he let his pebble fly, as he tossed it. His green pebble arched though the air and struck the rim of the gourd bowl that they had set out, and bounced onto the ground just behind it.

Letting out a groan of disappointment, Ash sat back on his rump and glared at the offending gourd, he could just make out under the dim light of the glow flowers.

Strongbuck let out a light chuckle, and patted the colt on his back. "You almost had that one." He then reached into his gourd and took out a blue pebble and dropped it onto the flat of his hoof. "Now watch and learn how it's done." Biting the edge of his tongue, Strongbuck flicked his hoof forward and tossed his pebble. With a resounding thunk, it bounced off the front side of the gourd. Strongbuck's face fell in mock despair.

Celestia hefted her light pink pebble for a moment, then gave it a toss. With a nice gentle arc, it, much to the others’ dismay, fell right into the gourd.

"That's three in a row! How do you do that?" Ash asked, shooting Celestia a disbelieving look.

"Oh, it's easy," Celestia said with a smile. "I simply aim for the gourd."

Strongbuck let out a guffaw.

"Ash." Dove Song called out, from beside Meadowlark. "Would you please bring Meadowlark some water?"

Ash quickly hopped up, and crossed over to where they kept the water. Taking the straps that ran around the neck of the gourd with his teeth, Ash strained a little as he lifted the gourd, and carried it over to Dove. Setting it down, Dove then slid a bowl over and helped him pour the water into it.

Ash watched as Meadowlark leaned down and took some grateful gulps, and noticed that her face looked strained. When she lifted her head back up, she let out a groan as her face took on a pained look, while her breath huffed out.

"Mama!?" Ash called out to her in concern, as he stepped closer. "Are you alright!?"

Dove Song stopped him with her hoof. "She's fine. What she is going through is normal," Dove assured him with a smile. "You see, Meadowlark's going to foal soon."

"Mama's having the foal!" Celestia cried out, when she overheard.

"What? Now!?" Strongbuck exclaimed, as a slightly panicked look came to his face.

"Everypony, calm down," Dove said to them sternly. "There's no need to panic. What Meadowlark needs right now is for everypony to be calm and relaxed." Turning to look down at Ash, Dove gave him a little nudge. "How about you go sit with Strongbuck and keep him company. He looks like he's about to faint."

"I am not!" Strongbuck complained.

"You are too!" Dove snapped back, giving him a sharp look. "Now shut up, and let Celestia and Ash keep you company."

Ash felt Dove give him a nudge with her hoof, as she urged him to go to Strongbuck. Giving Meadowlark a concerned look, Ash reluctantly crossed over to Strongbuck and sat down next to Celestia. A moment later, he felt Celestia shift over so her side was pressed against his.

Meadowlark let out a grunt, and dragged her hoof across the ground as her face scrunched in pain.

"Shouldn't we get Papa?" Celestia asked.

Strongbuck looked down at her and shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. It's already dark out, and it won't be safe to search for him."

"I have my spear," Ash said, looking over at his spear that was leaning against the wall next to the door. "I can go get him!"

Strongbuck stomped his hoof down onto Ash's tail to keep him from running off. "Oh no! If I let you do that, Dark would tie me to a post outside, and let the wolves finish me off," He said shaking his head emphatically.

Ash let out a resigned sigh, and glanced at his spear. He knew he could find papa, he wasn't afraid of some stupid wolves.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

The night air was chilly, and Dark let out a tired sigh, as he kicked Morning Sky's leg to wake her back up. Nearby, Bell Flower stood alert as she scanned the edge of the forest.

"I think I saw something," Bell muttered, squinting her eyes.

The full moon sat high in the sky, and its soft light bathed the land, making it easy to see whatever moved in the open. But the forest across the meadow, was cast in dark shadows that could easily hide anything that lurked within its depths.

"Where?" Dark asked, moving over next to her.

Bell Flower, lifted her spear and pointed it out. "Over there, by that tree with the hollow half way up. I thought I saw something move just under it."

Dark focused out, and watched where she had indicated. At first he didn't see anything, but just as he was about to give it up as just her imagination, he caught a flicker of motion.

Turning, Dark lifted his spear and brought the butt down onto a log with a resounding “crack!” Quickly, more cracks followed as the rest of the guards sent the alert signal down the sentry line.

Dark felt his heart start to race, as Morning Sky danced nervously nearby. Bell Flower only looked angry as she let out a snort.

It wasn't long after that the wolves appeared. They loped out into the field, as they circled around, and Dark turned to whack the log with his spear butt three times, to signal the others, that the wolves were on the move. Looks like things weren't going to stay quiet tonight.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Celestia wrapped her hooves around Ash's neck as she held onto him. She was scared. Her mother was laying on her side as she let out great labored breaths as Dove sat with her, continually offering her encouragement.

Celestia's heart nearly stopped when a great gush of fluids suddenly poured out of her mother, soaking into the straw below her. "What was that!?"

Dove glanced back. "Her water just broke, it won't be long now."

Celestia gripped Ash tighter, as both her excitement and anxiety rose. Her mother looked like she was in a great deal of pain as she let out long moans and gasps. Occasionally her body would jerk as it looked like she was hiccuping, but Dove assured them that it meant she was just having contractions.

Her mother, let out a long groan as her tail lifted. Celestia could see something start to push out of her. "I see something!" Celestia called out, shaking Ash in her excitement.

Her mother let out another long groan as she bore down and pushed. Celestia saw the bulge push out of her mother's birthing hole a little more as it was forced out. It looked strange, like it was covered in something.

"Why is it red?" Ash asked.

"What!?" Dove asked, a flash of worry coming to her face. Quickly she moved back and looked at what was coming out of Meadowlark. The look Celestia saw on Dove's face when she saw the red colored bulge pushing out of her mother, terrified her.

Dove looked back up. "Meadowlark! It's a red bag, you need to push hard! Your foal needs to come out now!" Dove cried out urgently.

Her mother let out a mortified cry at Dove's words. Celestia didn't know what this all meant, but she could tell that something was very wrong.

Her mother cried out as she pushed, her face contorted in agony. The red colored bag pushed out further until it suddenly broke and a little midnight-blue hoof appeared. Grasping the hoof with her mouth, Dove began to pull at the foal. Moments later a second hoof quickly appeared. "Meadowlark, you need to push! Hurry or you'll lose the foal!" Dove continued pulling, desperately trying to free the foal in time.

Celestia wanted to bury her face into Ash's neck and hide, but she was unable to look away. Her mother wailed in agony as the foal slipped out a little further.

"Meadowlark! You need to keep pushing! Even if it hurts, you need to get her out!" Dove shouted. Her mother's face tightened up as she continued to bare down. Soon, more of the foal slipped out, showing a new pointed lump. Dove quickly let go of the hoof and bit the fleshy covering and tore it open, revealing a little snout. Using her hoof, Dove slid it down the soft folds of the foal's nose, forcing the birthing fluids out.

Pausing, Dove held her ear close to the foal's nostrils and listened. After a moment, she shook her head. "She's not breathing! Push, now! As hard as you can! Push! Push! Push!" Grabbing the foal's leg as far up as she could, Dove began to tug and wiggle the foal, after a tense moment of work, the foal suddenly shifted and slid out all the way to her hips as more fluids poured out. With final tug, the foal came the rest of the way out, flopping limply into Dove's hooves.

"She's out!" Dove cried out as Celestia's mother collapsed down in exhaustion.

Celestia felt like her heart was about to break at the sight of the unmoving little midnight-blue foal. "Why isn’t she moving!? Shouldn't she be crying!?" Celestia frantically asked.

Dove ignored her, as she set the foal down and tore the fleshy sack all the way off, and clamped her mouth over the foal's nostrils to suck more fluids out. Turning her head, Dove spat it out before pressing her hoof down onto the foal and vigorously rubing the foal's body. "Breathe! Please breathe!" She pleaded with the foal as she worked.

In an act of desperation, Dove clamped her mouth over the foal's muzzle and blew air into her. "Breathe!" Dove shouted with tears falling down her face as she started to vigorously rub the filly's chest again. Several more times she breathed into the filly mouth and set her ear onto her chest and listened. After a long while, she let out a whimpered cry and sat back with a heartbreaking look on her face.

"I don't hear anything," Dove said mournfully, tears streaming down her muzzle. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Stepping back, Dove moved over to Strongbuck and buried her face into his good shoulder and cried as he wrapped his hoof around her, holding her close.

This wasn't supposed to happen! Celestia thought as her tears streamed down her face. She could feel Ash's body shaking next to her as he wept.

Through blurry eyes, Celestia stared at the still form of the filly. How could this have happened!? She was supposed to have a little sister! Her mind shook with the finality of the moment. The life, the precious little life that hadn't even started yet, was gone. Never having drawn a single breath.

No! Celestia thought. I will not allow this to happen! Leaping forward, Celestia ran up to the filly. Pausing next to her, Celestia took a breath and set her hoof onto the limp filly. Closing her eyes she let her senses flow free, and felt nothing. The filly felt dark and cold inside. No! Please no! Pushing her senses down further, Celestia desperately searched, until she suddenly sensed something. It was tiny and dim, but as she focused on it, she found a tiny little star, flickering weakly.

It pulsed slowly, and with each pulse it grew dimmer, and she knew it was only a few moments away from dying out. She needed to do something! Within herself, Celestia felt the warm pulsing of her own ball of light. Was there a way she could use it? She wondered. Focusing her will into herself, she strained to push some of the warmth from her light, to the tiny little star that was just a breath away from vanishing.

It hurt! Agony wracked her body, as it felt like she was tearing herself apart. Ignoring the pain, she strained harder, and forced some of her warmth to flow into the dying little star. Slowly it started to pulse a little brighter. Encouraged, Celestia gave even more of herself, and was overjoyed to see her sister's light grow even more brighter. The pain she was feeling was excruciating, but she persisted, and continued to pour even more of her warmth and light into her sister. Her mind and heart felt like they were going to explode, and just as she thought she couldn't take anymore, she bore down, and forced herself give even more, until everything suddenly exploded into agonizing light!

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Bell Flower gripped her spear, as a wolf snarled and snapped at her, only to dash back when she thrust her spear at him. Bell snarled in frustration, why won't they just hold still for a moment, so she could stab them!? Nearby, Morning Sky was having the same trouble. Every time a wolf ran up, it would just snarl and snap at them before running back to safety.

"What are they doing?" Bell Flower wondered aloud. "It's like the wolves aren't even trying."

"Look!" Mustard Seed suddenly cried out. "The moon! It's bleeding!"

Bell Flower paused a moment to look up at the moon, and let out a gasp. Sure enough, the moon looked red. What did this mean!?

All about, ponies began to mutter worriedly among themselves. "What are all you youngsters griping about!?" Sage Brush bellowed to the panicking ponies. "Haven't you ever seen a eclipse before?"

An eclipse? Is that what that is? Bell thought for a moment, before she turned her attention back to the wolves, and jabbed her spear at a wolf that came too close, and managed to get a glancing slice along his side, before he jumped away.

"Annoying pests!" Bell Flower shouted in frustration as she stomped her hoof. Why weren't they trying to get past? What were they doing? Bell looked out at the wolves as they continually harassed the ponies. Something about this seemed familiar. Wolves were smart hunters. They would work together as a unified pack to overcome any prey that was too much for just a lone wolf. Often times they would choose to go after the weak, who were too sick or old to fight back, even going after the young...

A chill suddenly shot down Bell's spine. Quickly she scanned around her until she found Dark.

"Dark!" Bell shouted as she rushed up to him. "It's a distraction!"

Dark turned to her. "What are you talking about? What's a distraction?"

"What do wolves do when they go for the young!?" Bell asked hurriedly. "They harass the mother, and when she busy fighting them off..."

"Wolves sneak in from behind and...!" Dark's eyes shot wide. "Sage Brush!" He shouted at the older stallion. "Stay here with all the stallions and keep the wolves back!" Turning, Dark shouted out as loud as he could "All mares, come with me! Wolves are in the settlement!"

Above them, the moon began to darken.

Chapter Nineteen

The heat of the summer sun beat down on Ash's back as he walked down a row of freshly turned soil. With every step, Ash would pause to reach into his grass-woven bag draped around his neck to take out an oat seed and plant it into the soil. For many days now, every available pony had scoured the area for any and all traces of wild oats so they could find and gather their precious seeds. Greenhoof believed that there was enough time in the season for one planting of the valuable food stock before winter descended back onto them.

A large area of land had been cleared just outside the east side of the settlement. It had been hard work digging out all the loose stones and turning the rich soil on such a large area, but Ash was proud to have been a part of it. Walking along with him were Mighty Oak, Toadstool Ring, Glum Drollery, and Hoof Strike's colt, Journey Stomp, as they all carefully planted the oats in line.

Reaching the end of his row, Ash stepped away to a large log that had a trough carved into it to hold water. Dipping his muzzle into it, Ash eagerly drank the cool soothing water that had been painstakingly brought up from the nearby river. Soon the others began to join him as they each finished planting their rows.

"Wow, it's been getting hot the last few days," Toadstool complained, wiping his hoof across his sweaty brow.

"And it’ll likely get even hotter," Glum added, lifting his head from the water.

"Glum," Journey said with a sigh, "why do you always sound like you enjoy things more, the worse they get?"

The only answer Glum gave was a shrug of his shoulders before dropping his head back down for another drink.

"Well! You’ve all been working hard haven't you?" Greenhoof said, walking over to them with a broad smile. She had been off helping Secret Glen with her crop of gourds. She's been attempting to grow them larger and often comes to Greenhoof's for her help with her work. Looking out, Greenhoof surveyed the field and saw that only a few ponies were still planting their rows. "It looks about ready for the next step."

Turning, Greenhoof looked up. "Sky! You about ready up there!?" she called.

Above them, Sky Twirl quickly stuffed a tiny tuft of cloud into a larger one she had been building since the early morning. Hearing Greenhoof, she quickly dropped down and landed nearby. "Yep! It's all ready. The cloud pickings today were rather slim, and I had to range out pretty far to find enough for what we needed," she said with a exuberant nod.

After Sky got over her initial shyness of Greenhoof, she eagerly jumped in and started to help out as best she could. She quickly discovered that she had a talent for working the weather to help with the crops. She now had a cutie mark of a yellow flower with a little rain cloud sprinkling onto it. She had been so happy when it appeared on her flanks. For half a day, she flew all over the sky doing loops and rolls in jubilant glee while Dusty tried to call her down.

"Very good," Greenhoof said, with a hoof pat to her back. "I think you can go ahead and start on the side the colts here have finished, and work your way over to the other side."

With a bounding leap, Sky flew up to her cloud and quickly pushed it down into position over the field. Flying over to its top, she gave it a few bucks to get the rain going.

Ash never got tired of seeing that.

After checking that it was coming down nicely, Sky began to push the cloud along to evenly water the freshly planted field.

Not wanting to miss a good opportunity, Ash and the other colts quickly dashed out to run under the small downpour to get some much needed cooling. Greenhoof smiled as she watched the colts’ antics. She figured that they had worked hard and deserved a bit of a relief from the heat.

A short time later, the colts all stood watching as Sky worked her cloud around the field. The soaking they had received from it had felt amazing, but it was short to last. Already their coats were drying out and the heat was starting to press down onto them again.

"What should we do now?" Toadstool asked, sounding bored.

"We can play seek and catch," Journey Stomp offered.

Mighty Oak shook his head, "Nah, that's getting old."

"What about you, Ash? What do you want to do?" Toadstool asked, turning to him.

Ash thought about it for a moment. "How about we go and see what Brightstar is working on? I heard he was trying to make some kind of basket out of dried clay."

Mighty Oak made a face and shook his head again. "He doesn't like colts roaming around his workspace. He's been getting oddly protective of his fillies whenever we're around."

"Then what are we going to do?" Toadstool asked, looking around at the other colts.

Mighty Oak suddenly smiled. "Oh, I know! Let's get our spears and patrol the western woods."

Ash felt a sudden sense of apprehension twist at his gut. "We're not supposed to go over there. It's dangerous."

"What? The big wolf-slayer is afraid of going to the woods?" Mighty Oak taunted Ash. "What danger can there be there? Journey's father, Hoof Strike, has patrols ranging out all around us, and they haven't spotted anything more dangerous than some coyotes, and skunks."

"What about the giant spiders!?" Toadstool asked worriedly. “They’re still out there.”

Mighty Oak let out a scoffing laugh. "It's been almost four moons since Happy last spotted any trace of them. They probably moved off somewhere else," he said with a dismissive wave of his hoof. Walking over to the nearby stone-piled wall, Mighty Oak took up his spear that was leaned up against it. "Come on, it'll be fun."

Journey quickly snatched up his spear with Toadstool following just behind. With a look at Ash, Glum shrugged his shoulders before taking his spear and setting off to join the others. Seeing them all going, Ash struggled with what he should do. If he told on them, they would never trust him again. With a bad feeling in his gut, Ash dashed over and snatched up his spear before rushing off to catch up.

Walking around the settlement, the colts approached the western woods and looked into its depth.

"I don't know Oak. Maybe we shouldn't do this." Toadstool muttered. His eyes gazing nervously around.

Mighty Oak let out a snort. "Don't be such a foal. Come on. Let's go in and look around." Hefting his spear, Oak marched into the forest.

Ash watched as the rest followed after Mighty Oak. He felt his gut twisting into a knot. What they were doing was dangerous and irresponsible and he felt that they were taking this fun much too far. Gripping his spear, Ash rushed into the forest. The underbrush was thick and it took him a short search to find them again.

Moving around to block their way from traveling any deeper into the forest, Ash turned back to confront them. "This has gone on far enough. We need to turn back now!" he ordered sternly.

"What's this? Is the great wolf-slayer getting scared?" Mighty Oak sneered. Behind him, Journey snickered openly.

Ignoring his taunt, Ash held his ground and met Mighty Oak's gaze. "Coming out here by ourselves was stupid and foolish. I'm giving you all this chance to turn around with me and go back."

"Oh, come on! What's the problem? We're only having a bit of fun," Mighty Oak said, moving to go around Ash.

Ash sidestepped and blocked Oak's way. Folding his ears back, Oak gave Ash an annoyed look that Ash met with a clear level gaze of his own. They stayed like this for a few moments as they confronted each other before Oak finally stepped back a step and gave in.

"Fine! You win!" Mighty Oak snapped out with a huff.

At his words, Journey suddenly looked disappointed while Toadstool let out a sigh of relief. Glum didn't seem to take notice as he was busily scratching his back against a tree.

Before they could start back, they heard the rustle of something approaching them through the woods. A look of alarm shot through the group of colts at the unexpected, and alarming interruption. There was something out in the forest, and it was coming right at them!

"It's the spiders! Run!" Toadstool exclaimed in fright. Dropping his spear, he turned and bolted for the settlement in a panic.

Mighty Oak eyes were wide with sudden fear as he backed up a few steps before he managed to fumble his spear into place, somehow pointing the wrong end of his spear forward.

Journey Stomp looked excited as he moved up next to Mighty Oak. "Oh, I hope it really is the giant spiders!" he said with an eager smile.

Ash noticed that Glum Drollery had somehow slipped off at some point and vanished without any of them noticing. Strange. Ash didn't think that he was the kind who would have run from danger. Setting his thoughts about Glum aside, Ash focused his attention toward the approaching sounds as he dug his hooves into the forest floor. He hoped that all it would turn out to be was a returning patrol or some innocent deer passing through.

Ahead of them, a bush parted as a turquoise mare stepped through. Seeing the colts standing before her with their spears out, the mare let out a surprised scream as five more mares stepped through behind her. Hearing the first mare's scream, the others stumbled back in alarm as they all looked about in fright.

One of them let out a startled squawk when Glum Drollery suddenly appeared from behind them and held his spear leveled at them, keeping them from fleeing. Ash was amazed at Glum's foresight to encircle around them.

"What is this!?" the turquoise mare exclaimed as she looked around at the colts. "Who are you!?

It took a moment for Ash to realize that Mighty Oak and the others were all looking at him to answer the mare. Looking their captives over, Ash noticed their oddly worn appearances and weary faces. Their hooves were caked in mud, and their manes and tails were disheveled and matted. It appeared they had been traveling for quite some time.

Realizing they posed no threat, Ash relaxed and leaned his spear back against his shoulder, "I am Ash Cloud, of the Earth Ponies. You have come onto our land. If you come with peace in your hearts, we will welcome you all as fellow Earth Ponies, but be warned, if you bring harm to a single pony here, prepare yourselves for our wrath, for we protect what is ours and what is precious to us. Do you understand?"

Mighty Oak and Journey Stomp gaped at him like they didn't know who he was. Ash himself was a little shocked at what he had just said. He had tried to think of what Dark would do, and the words had just seemed to flow out.

The mares nervously looked among each other. It seemed they were taking his words seriously. "We... we understand.” The turquoise mare answered.

At this, Glum lifted his spear and stepped forward. Mighty Oak relaxed with a sigh and also lifted his spear, only to suddenly realize that he had been pointing the wrong end at them the entire time.

"My name is Mirage Shimmer. We... we've traveled far and are very hungry and tired. We lost our herd to an earthslide in the mountains to the west of here, and we had to set off on our own."

Ash felt his heart go out to them. They had obviously seen some hard times. Many of them had scratches and bruises throughout their bodies, and more than a few had ribs showing from hunger.

"Come. We will take you where you can eat and get some rest," Ash said, turning to show them the way.

Before he could take a step, Mighty Oak suddenly moved in close. "Don't you think it may be a bad idea to take them back with us? We're not supposed to be out here. We'll get in big trouble!" he whispered harshly in Ash's ear.

Ash leveled a look at Mighty Oak. "If you weren't prepared to face the consequences for coming out here, then why did you come? I fully intended to tell my papa what I have done. I won't hide my deed from him. I love him too much to do that to him."

Mighty Oak let out a sigh as he hung his head down. "Of course you would," he said in resignation.

Turning back to the mares, Ash gestured for them to follow him back to the settlement. Walking back the way they came, they soon stepped out of the forest into the meadow.

"What!?... what is this!?" Mirage Shimmer exclaimed, gazing about in dazed amazement at what was laid out before her and the other mares as they gathered around her to look out.

Set out before them was the full view of the settlement. Everywhere, ponies were busily working on their various daily tasks. Greenhoof was rooting around the small south fields for any weeds that might have crept in, while workers pulled large sleds filled with cut logs through the settlement’s gate.

"Welcome to the home of the Earth Ponies." Ash said, turning to look back. "There's nothing to fear. You’ll all be safe here."

"Ash!?" a voice called out. Walking along the edge of the woods, Dove and Strongbuck walked toward them. On Strongbuck's back was a basket that looked like it was filled with various plants and herbs they had been out gathering. Loping around the pair, Sentry and Chase happily followed along with their tails wagging.

Upon seeing the two wolf pups, Mirage Shimmer and the mares with her cried out in fright as they all bunched together. Sentry and Chase took no mind of the panic they were causing in the mares as they ran up to eagerly greet Ash and the other colts.

"Ash!? What are you all doing in the woods!? You all know you're not supposed to be in there," Dove said, looking the colts over with a disapproving eye.

Ash flushed and looked down, abashed. He knew he had done wrong, and it hurt to hear the disappointment in her voice. Before he could respond, the mares behind him started to squeal in fright as Sentry and Chase moved in closer to greet them with their tails wagging.

Dove shifted her attention from the colts to the gathered mares they had been escorting back. "Sentry, Chase, come." Dove ordered the wolf pups. Sentry broke away and quickly returned to Dove, but Chase continued to sniff curiously at the mares. After a second, more authoritative call from Dove, Chase finally obeyed and returned to her. Seeing the pup go, the mares all sighed in relief.

"Ash? Who are these mares with you? I don't recognize them," Dove asked, looking the group over.

Rubbing the back of his head, Ash gave a sheepish grin. "They were separated from their herd and we ah... sort of…”

“We captured them!" Journey Stomp cut in excitedly.

Dove's jaw dropped in shock while Strongbuck let out a guffaw. Turning, Dove glared at Strongbuck, and he quickly straightened his face before he got into trouble.

"You... captured them?" Dove asked, before she shook her head. "No, you all can explain it later," she said to the colts before she turned to the mares. "My name is Dove and this is my mate, Strongbuck. I see some of you are injured. Come with us and I'll see that your wounds are treated, and get you some food. The Herd Mother and Father will also want to meet you all, and to hear what has happened."

"Thank you," Mirage Shimmer said in appreciation.

To make the mares feel more at ease, Dove had Strongbuck take Sentry and Chase back home. As they watched him leaving with the pups, Mirage Shimmer turned to Dove. "You ponies can command wolves?" she asked, her voice filled with awe.

"We’re raising them, now they're just like members of the herd," Dove answered with a smile, before starting down towards the settlement.

“Amazing,” Mirage Shimmer said in awe, before following after her.

They had to make frequent stops on their way into the settlement to answer questions that invariably came up about all the new things that they were seeing. The colts were happy to explain all about the farming they were doing now, but that came to an abrupt end when Sky flew by and shocked them all into a near stupor.

As Dove worked to calm their frantic questions about a winged mare flying about, Ash saw Bumblebee running over to him.

"Ash! I need you to stop Soft Step!" she exclaimed to him after hurriedly drawing him off to the side.

"What is it? What is she doing?" Ash asked in alarm.

"She's playing with something really dangerous!" Bumblebee answered hastily. "You need to talk to her and make her stop, she won't listen to me. She says I just don't understand the importance of what she was doing!"

Ash didn't know if he would be able to make her listen any better than Bumblebee. He and Soft Step both had Thunder Step as their sire, so that made them blood siblings, but, other than that, they weren't particularly close with one another. He had heard that she had been growing very close to her new papa, Brightstar, spending a lot of time with him and helping with his work. What could she be doing that had Bumblebee so upset?

He wanted to stay with the group and see what happens with them, but Bumblebee's pleading look convinced him that he should at least go with her and see what he could do. Breaking away, Ash followed Bumblebee away from the group. Running a short way across the settlement, they approached the large building made with heavy log beams that Brightstar had made so he could work and study out of the elements. Next to it, looking tiny in comparison, sat their well made home.

Moving around to the back, Bumblebee lead Ash to a series of logs that had been leaned against the stone wall to make a small and rather well hidden shelter. As they approached, Ash noticed a pungent, woodsy smell coming from the small shelter, and, oddly, he thought he could see some kind of flickering light inside the opening.

Stepping up, Ash stuck his head inside and looked around. On the far side, Soft Step sat with her back to the opening. Just in front of her, hidden by her body, something definitely flickered with light. Whatever it was, it was much brighter than the glow-flowers they had been using to light up the inside of their huts at night. The air inside was filled with that strange acrid woodsy smell. He found it kind of pleasant.

"Soft Step?" Ash called out.

She gave a jump and whirled about to stare back at him. "Ash! What are you doing here!?" She asked hurriedly, her eyes wide. Suddenly she glanced behind him and a look of irritation crossed her face. "Bumble! You brought him here didn't you!?"

"I had too!" Bumblebee answered defensively, "you wouldn't listen to me! You needed to stop."

"Need to stop!" Soft Step cried out. "I discovered something that is amazing, and you want me to stop!?" Stepping to the side, Soft Step revealed what she had behind her. "Look at it! Look at what I created! Isn't it beautiful!?"

Ash felt a shock run down his spine. He recognized it for what it was. He remembered seeing it once before when a thunderstorm set it loose in the dry grass near where they were sheltering in some trees when he was really young. It had scared his mother and he remembered what his mother had called it when he asked her what it was.

Fire.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Seeing that they were all growing dangerously overwhelmed, Dove called a halt to their endless questions. Strongbuck should have arrived ahead of them and notified Meadowlark and Dark about their guests by now. With the help of the colts, Dove managed to get the mares moving again. As they passed through the hamlet, ponies paused in their various tasks to look at the group and wave at them with friendly smiles. After a few times, some of the mares even began to wave back, albeit a bit nervously.

When they arrived at the longhouse, they found Strongbuck standing by the door, waiting for them. Meeting Dove's questioning gaze, Strongbuck nodded to let her know he had done what she had asked.

Pausing, Dove turned and addressed the group of mares. "This is our longhouse. We use it for gatherings and such. Inside you will meet our Herd Mother and Father, who have come to greet you. Please show them respect, because they are much loved by the herd," she said, gazing around the group, her face absolutely serious.

Stepping through the opening, Dove lead them inside. Along the sides of the longhouse, panels had been opened to let light in. Rowed up together on the far side of the room, several older mares from the Mares’ Circle, including Melodious, stood with Meadowlark as they waited. Next to them, Dark was speaking quietly with Birch Bark.

Meetings between herds wasn't uncommon, but it wasn't planned either. It occurred whenever herds happened across one another while on the move to new grazing lands. Meadowlark and Dark had been eagerly awaiting a time when a herd would chance upon the settlement. They were very much wanting to share their discoveries with others to help spread and promote a new way of life for pony kind. Today would be the first time they would meet with outsiders.

Meadowlark smiled at the gathered mares. "Greetings and welcome," she said pleasantly, looking the group over. "My name is Meadowlark and this is my mate-"

"Darkie!" Mirage Shimmer suddenly exclaimed, cutting Meadowlark off mid-greeting. Dashing forward, the turquoise mare suddenly leapt and tackled Dark to the ground and hugged his neck as she rubbed her cheek against his. "Darkie! Darkie! I thought I'd never see you again!"

"Mirage?..." Dark said in disbelief. His eyes wide with shock.

"Dark?" Meadowlark called to her mate. "I take it you know this mare?"

Dark tried to untangle the mare from around him, but after a few failed attempts he finally gave in and looked up at Meadowlark. "I ah... would like you to meet my little sister, Mirage Shimmer."

Chapter Thirty Five

The next few days were rather uneventful. Happy found signs of a manticore, but it seemed the beast was unwilling to face such a large and well armed group of ponies. They were careful to skirt around the Ophies Pteretois nest. They didn't want a repeat of what happened last time.

With the help of Morning and Mustard, they found the spot where the enchanted pool had once stood. Walking around the dry basin, they were perplexed by the speed the pond had apparently dried up. Not even any mud remained in the dry earth. Despite this, Dark had them spend a whole day digging out a channel out of the basin so it could never hold water again and kicking in rocks and dirt to fill it in even more. When they were done, all traces of the depression was gone. Morning and Mustard were the last to walk over the flattened ground, leaning herself into Morning's side, they both left, joining the rest as they set off to make camp.

Sitting around the fire, Morning recited to Moon Lily and to the other new mares, a bit of their history. With his head held high, Morning told of the events that lead to the formation of the herd as it now stands with Meadowlark as Herd Mother and Dark as the Herd Father.

"I am a mother!" Morning said, his voice pitched to do a rather good impression of Meadowlark. "Behind me, stands all my daughters! As a mother, I care for my daughters and I am very displeased with all of you stallions for failing them! For your failures to care for my daughters, I have taken them all back! And I henceforth kick out all stallions from my herd!"

All the mares gasped, their eyes going wide with amazement as they listened to Morning. Little Moon Lily giggled and clomped her hooves together. Listening to Morning's rather impressive recitation of Meadowlarks confrontation with the old stallions, Mustard smiled as she sat with sky. She was proud of him for discovering his talent, but at the same time she hated him for finding it before she did. She'll have to think of a special way to make him pay for that.

"Mustard, Sky?" Mirage stepped out of the dark. "Dark would like to see you two."

Mustard exchanged looks with Sky. Why would he want to see them? Following after Mirage, they made their way over to where Dark had his fire. Sitting with him around the fire was Starless Night, Mosswood and Pebble Steam to his right, with Grand Mesa and Tranquil Charm sitting further around on the other side. Tranquil didn't look up at them as they sat down.

"You wanted to see us, Herd Father?" Mustard asked.

Dark let out a deep breath and looked over at her and Sky. "You two have put me into an awkward position."

Mustard blinked at Dark, confused as to what he was meaning.

"Normally this would be considered Mares’ business, and I would wisely stay out of it," Dark continued, "but, since I am in charge of this company and all that happens in it, I am forced to take a reluctant hoof in the matter."

Mustard felt Sky shifting beside her as her gut tightened in apprehension. "Father? I don't understand. What did we do?"

Dark gestured across to Grand. "Recently, Grand Mesa has become extremely upset with something the two of you did." He took another breath and let it out with a sigh. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere else at that moment, than there. "Apparently, the two of you told young Tranquil… how foals were made."

Mustard and Sky both exchanged surprised glances with each other. This was not something they were expecting. "We... we thought that because of her age, she should know something important like that. After all, with all the stallions around, something could happen that she's not ready for."

"She does make an interesting point," Pebble spoke up. Turning she looked back to Grand. "Why were you keeping this from her?"

Grand Mesa nervously looked around as everypony waited for her to answer. "I... I wanted to keep her from being hurt."

Pebble shook her head, confused at her answer. "What do you mean by that? How can knowing so simple a thing as that, hurt her."

"Because she's not allowed to breed," Starless answered simply. "Neither of them are."

"Is this true!?" Mirage asked, shocked.

Grand looked down and slowly nodded. "We are low bloods. Our weak bloodlines are seen as unfit to continue so we are not allowed into the breeding stables."

"That's monstrous!" Pebble exclaimed in outrage, her eyes flashing in rage. "Every mare should have the right to bare a foal!"

"Letting all the low bloods to breed as they please!?" Starless shook her head. "That would destroy us! Our bloodlines would be so diluted, we wouldn't be able to raise or lower the sun and moon anymore!"

"But still," Pebble muttered sullenly, "it's just not right."

"I thought that way too," Grand added, her voice taking on a sad note. "One night, when I was younger, I snuck into the breeding stables. I was terrified that I may be caught and I nearly turned back several times, but my desperation made me press on. When I came across a stallion, he was surprised at finding me wandering around in the dark of the night. He saw how scared I was and knew that I shouldn't be there, but he could also sense my readiness. Other stallions were also drawn to my scent but the first one warned them off and quickly took me away to his sleeping pen.

"He spoke with me and learned the reason I had to sneak in at night rather than coming openly during the day. He was moved by my plight and agreed to mate with me and give me the foal I wanted. He was older than me and well experienced with breeding new-time mares. His touches were gentle and his words were soothing as he eased my youthful fears. My memories of the short time I spent with him that night, are held in a special place in my heart. When the deed was done and I was bred, I slipped back out, never to see him again.

"Over the next few months, I noticed the signs that our mating was successful and I was with foal. I was overjoyed, and like a fool, I let slip to others that I was pregnant." Grand paused to stare down into the fire. "The Casters came for me a few days later. They questioned and hurt me, forcing me to tell them how I came to be with foal. The stallion's mother was furious when she was told and demanded that something be done. They made me eat dark, broad-bladed leaves that tasted horrible and beat me, kicking me in my stomach. A few hours after I was released, I started to have painful cramps that had me crying on the ground." Tears began to drip off of Grand's muzzle. "They killed my unborn foal." Grand looked over to Tranquil. "That is why I didn't want her to know. I wanted to save her from making the same mistake I did."

Mustard felt sick. Rising with Sky, they both crossed over to Grand. "We're sorry. We had no idea."

"We should have come to you first, before telling her.” Sky finished.

Grand looked up at them in surprise. She was unused to ponies apologizing to her. Smiling, she gave her head a little shake. "No, it's okay. Despite my good intentions, I shouldn't have been keeping this from her. I was wrong for doing it."

Tranquil reached out and hugged her. "Mother Grand. You have been there for me since I've been little. You were the mother I needed to have. I love you."

"Well," Mosswood said explosively. "Since everything seems to have worked out just fine and I'm apparently not needed. I'll bid you all a goodnight." With that, she got up and slipped off to rejoin her companions.

"Grand Mesa, Tranquil Charm," Mustard said. "You are both welcome to join us at our fire. Morning's been teaching the new mares our history and it's actually quite entertaining to watch."

"That... sounds wonderful. Thank you." Grand accepted, sounding oddly grateful.

Mustard and Tranquil both got on each side of Grand's litter and together they lifted her up. "I'm coming with you," Pebble called out, joining them. "I want to spend more time with Sky, and her little chubby tummy."

"My tummy is not chubby!" Sky complained in outrage. "Mustard, is my stomach chubby?"

⚜⚜⚜⚜

The next few days, they made good time. They crossed back over the rolling grasslands and entered the western woods. Knowing how close they were to finally be back home with all their loved ones, many of the ponies started to sing. Ash felt a sense of joy at thinking that he would soon be back with Meadowlark, Celestia, and Luna. He was really looking forward to being swept up into Meadowlarks hooves and hugged so tightly he wouldn't be able to breathe.

He was also looking forward to being back with Celestia. He missed her more than anything. There were times where he dreamed of her at night, and he felt a sadness when he awoke in the morning to find she was not there.

That night, they made camp atop a small hill that was clear of trees. Ash had trouble falling asleep and stayed up late gazing up at the night sky. He traced the constellations with his hoof one by one, naming them as he did so. The Elder Tree, the Fishing Bear, the Drifting Leaf, the Lonely Mare, the Great River, the Mother Goose followed by her three goslings.

"What are you doing?" a voice asked.

Glancing over, he saw Starless looking at him curiously.

Ash had never spoken to her before. "I couldn't sleep, so I'm tracing out the constellations."

"Oh, I see," she said, nodding. "It looked to me like you were trying to write in the heavens."

Ash paused to look back at Starless in confusion. "Like I was trying to what?" He was unfamiliar with the word write.

"To write," she answered again. "You know. To scratch words into things."

Ash shook his head, perplexed at what she was meaning. Scratching words into things!?

"Here, I'll show you." Starless's horn glowed in the night and a stick lifted out of the wood pile next to the low burning fire. Going to the dirt before the colt, the stick began to drag strange lines in the ground. "This means Pony."

Ash studied the strange marks in the dirt. The swirls and loops looked nothing like a pony. "Why would you want to do that?"

"Well, we do it to keep records of our history," she answered, scratching something else down. "There are entire chambers in our mountain whose walls are absolutely covered in our history and lore. Written out into the very stones of the mountain with the magic of my forebears. The Matriarch that lead us to live there was named Mystic Stars, and I was able to read the words she had left behind long after she had gone to the ages."

Ash watched as she finished scratching the swirling lines next to the first one. "What does that one mean?"

"It means several things." Starless explained. "It can mean soil, dirt, land, or earth."

Ash mused over it for a moment. "So both of them together means, Earth Pony?"

"That is correct," Starless said with an amused quirk of her lip.

Reaching out his hoof, Ash attempted to copy the marks she had made using the edge of his hoof. It was harder than he thought and he had to restart several times before he sat back with a relieved breath. "How's that?"

Starless looked it over and gave him a satisfied nod. "Not bad. It's a bit sloppy in the loops, but otherwise it's quite good for a first try."

"I want to try again." Ash smoothed out the dirt, erasing his work.

"Here use this," Starless said, holding out the stick for him to take.

This time as he worked, Ash kept his lines more neat.

"Your name is Ash, right?" Starless asked as he worked. "I was curious about something. Do Earth Ponies have magic?"

Ash paused to look up at her. "My papa and many of the others think we do. There's a mare back home named Greenhoof, that says that she can feel a kind of power in her hooves when she works out in her fields, passing it over to the plants she tends to, allowing them to grow faster and healthier. Others have said that they feel tireless when they're hauling in heavy loads of lumber from the forest, saying that they can feel the strength of the forest seeping into them."

"Interesting," Starless said thoughtfully, her hoof idly played with her golden necklace at her throat. "And what about you?"

Ash knew he had magic, but his was different. His magic was related to one of the Trees of Harmony. Papa told him not to tell any others about it, especially Starless. He even went around and told every pony who witnessed the event with the hydra to not speak of it. He didn't know why his papa wanted to keep his magic secret from her, but he also didn't want to lie. "I'd like to think that I have magic."

Starless's eyes examined him carefully as she considered his answer, her hoof continuing to play with her necklace.

Her careful scrutiny of him made him feel a bit nervous. Did she suspect the he was holding something back from her? "You're a unicorn. You know magic. How about you study Earth Ponies and see if we really do have any magic?"

Starless blinked at him in surprise. "Study Earth Ponies?"

"Yes!" Ash said happily, raising his voice. "You said it yourself that Unicorns know very little of Earth Ponies. Just think of it. You could be the first to witness a new kind of magic!"

She gazed down at him thoughtfully. "That's... an interesting idea."

Ash smoothed out his scratches in the dirt. "Can you teach me how to mark my name?"

Starless lifted another stick out of the wood pile with her magic, "Sure, there's a word that will work. It goes like this."

Across the low burning fire, Dark lay with his head resting on his mat. His hooded eyes gazed thoughtfully over to Starless and Ash as she taught him to write his name.

⚜⚜⚜⚜

The next day, they set off early. Mirage helped to carry her mother's litter up front so she could be close to Dark. Her health was still frail and she slept for much of the time, but being close to her son seemed to lift her spirits some. Working their way through the forest slowed them down, but Happy was confident that they would arrive back home before sunset.

They stopped for lunch by a small stream and ate a quick meal. Many of the ponies were eager to resume their journey so they could be back home sooner. Their progress through the western forest was steady and by the time the sun was drawing close to the horizon behind them, they all began to notice the smell of smoke.

Dark asked Sky to fly up to see if she could see where the smoke was coming from. After a short while she returned with some disturbing news. "There's a lot of smoke coming from the settlement!" She reported quickly. "It was hard to make out, but it looked like it was being attacked. The fires were set up to make a barrier."

"How far away are we?" Dark asked, his voice stiffly controlled.

"Not far. About two hills over will bring you to its edge," she answered.

"Did you see what was attacking them?" Dark slid his pack off and pulled his spear out. "Did they look like wolves?"

Sky shook her head. "No. Wolves are sleek and long, moving with a swift grace that are lacking in whatever these things are. They are rounded in a bulbous kind of way, and they seem to crawl along the ground.

Dark racked his mind for what it could be and only came up with one thing. The thought that his home and the ponies he loved being attacked by those horrid things sent a cold chill running down his spine. "Ground Pound! Have every spear bearer take up their weapons and gather before me now!"

"Dark! What is happening!?" Mirage asked, rushing up to him.

"The settlement is being attacked by giant spiders," Dark answered.

Starless let out a hiss when she heard what he had said. "Gigas Arachne!"

Dark turned to her. "You know of these things?"

Starless nodded. "Yes. About a hundred years ago, a nest of Gigas Arachne was discovered nearby when unicorns started to vanish during the night. The Casters attacked and eradicated those disgusting creatures down to the very last one!" she said proudly. "We've not seen them since, but stories are still told of them. I want to come with you when you attack. My magic can help."

"Thank you," Dark said. Turning he looked down at Ash. "Ash. I want you to stay here."

"But Papa!"

"No! Listen to me!" Dark ordered sternly. "I am taking most of the spears with me and that is going to leave the rest of the ponies out here with little to defend themselves with. I need you to stay with them and protect them for me! It's important and I need you to do this for me!"

Ash felt stupid and selfish for not considering the safety of the ponies that were being left behind. There were young foals with their mothers and several ponies that needed to be carried on litters. "Yes, Papa."

Off to one side, Morning and Mustard were in a heated argument about whether she was coming with them on the attack. "You are not coming and that's final!" Morning shouted.

"I'm coming with you and you can't stop me!" Mustard argued back, trying to keep Morning from taking her spear away. "And that's final!"

"No you're not! It's dangerous down there and I don't want you to get bitten!"

"Oh! Somepony is going to get bitten, but I assure you it's not going to be me!" Mustard snapped angrily.

"Stop it the both of you!" Dark commanded sternly. "Mustard. You're staying here! I'm putting you in charge of the ponies here. Arm every able bodied pony you can and set up defenses until we come back for you." Dark's voice softened. "Keep my ponies safe. Please."

Mustard gaped at him for a moment before she finally nodded. Snatching her spear back from Morning's grasp, Mustard gave him a withering glare. "Don't think this is over. If you get yourself killed, I'll make you regret it!" Whirling about, she snapped her tail across his face with a stinging slap before moving back to join those who were staying behind.

With a last look at Ash, Dark took up his spear and galloped off. Behind him, Ground Pound and the five remaining spear bearers followed his lead with Starless taking up the rear.

Pushing himself and the ponies with him, Dark and the ponies with him practically flew across the land until they suddenly broke out of the western woods. Ahead of them, smoke billowed up in multiple locations inside the compound, mostly to the north where the river was. Along the wooden walls, could be seen the bulbous forms of the spiders as they worked their way around the choking smoke.

Breaking into a run, Dark dashed across the field to the gate which was barred with logs set across the gap. They were locked out! The sound of two thumps to the ground announced that their presence had not been unnoticed. Two spiders that had leaped down from the wall, skittered towards them, their mouthparts clicking with their eagerness.

A flash, followed by a booming crack, blasted one of the spiders back into the wall with enough force, it blew a hole right through it! Starless leveled her fiercely glowing horn at the second spider and sent another magical blast into it sending it off to join the first one, knocking a even bigger hole in the wall. A hole big enough for them to fit through!

"Follow me!" Dark shouted and rushed to the hole. Ducking through, Dark found the smoking remains of the two spiders splattered across the ground. Their hard shelled bodies broken open. Inside the compound, webs covered many of the huts, and strands were seen spanning down from the walls. Spider bodies littered the ground everywhere he looked. Some had been piled together into great heaps, showing that this attack had been going on for quite some time. A great deal of the bodies he saw were about the same size of wolves with most of them being about half of that.

Being careful to not get caught in any webbing, Dark rushed over to the nearest hut and looked inside. Finding it empty he quickly moved to the next one and once he got the door open, he saw that it too was empty.

"If they followed the defense plan, they all should be in the longhouse." Ground Pound pointed out.

"Right. Let's hope they're all safe there!" Dark said.

Moving further into the compound, they soon had difficulty avoiding all the webbing that was strung all about. Comet Tail carelessly brushed up against a strand and was immediately stuck. Trying to use a spear to cut the strand only got the spear stuck as well. It took a bolt of magic from Starless to finally cut him free, though he did end up with a burnt patch of hide as a reminder to watch where he was going more carefully.

Weaving their way through the mess of webbing was time consuming, and occasionally they had to stop to fight off some of the smaller spiders that attacked them. The smaller ones weren't difficult to deal with. Usually all it took was a good buck or a swift stab of a spear to dispatch them. They were becoming more persistent with their attacks. Dropping down from above or just crawling out from hidden locations, their numbers began to increase the closer they got to the longhouse.

Making their way through a section of webbing that Starless had cleared with her magic, spiders started swarming in on them from every direction. Most were the smaller ones, but one was far larger, about half the size of a pony.

Dispatching one of the smaller ones with a quick buck of his hoof, Dark turned and stabbed his spear, aiming for the larger one's grotesque chattering face. With a nimbleness that surprised him, it suddenly slipped to the side to dodge his attack, causing his spear tip to shatter against its hard shell. With its fangs dripping venom, it lunged toward him. Desperately, Dark reversed his spear and struck the spider to the side with the butt end of it, just barely avoiding its bite. Infuriated at having been denied it's prey, the spider turned and furiously charged back at him. Dark was ready with his spear and with a mighty crack he slammed his spear down onto its head as hard as he could, killing it.

"Look out!" Ground shouted at Starless, spotting a spider that was about to land on her back from some webbing above her. With a quick swipe of his shaggy hoof, he knocked a spider into the side of a hut with a sickening crack, that split it open. "Pay attention, it almost got you!"

Starless whirled herself around, and to his shock, she sent a bolt of magic searing down past his hind legs, just barely missing him. He was about to snap at her, but stopped when he noticed the remains of a spider that had just been about to bite him, lying just behind his leg. Starless gave him an amused smirk and resumed blasting spiders. Letting out a grunt, Ground slammed his hoof down onto another spider.

Their fight was fierce and messy. When it was finally over, all their hooves were dripping with spider ichor and the air stank of its putrid scent. Panting for breath, Dark watched as Ground Pound dispatched a wounded spider that was trying to crawl away with a swift stomp of his massive hoof. His legs were soaked all the way up to his barrel and even his chest and throat was heavily splattered with fluids from his numerous victories. Next to him, Starless sneered in distaste as she flicked a glob off her rather clean cloudy blue coat.

"Herd Father!" Comet Tail shouted urgently as he helped to support a young mare named Precious Rose. "She's been bitten! What do we do!?"

Starless quickly rushed over. "Show me where!" Looking closely at the two swollen punctures on the side of Precious Rose's neck, Starless bent forward and touched her glowing horn to them. Precious Rose cried out in pain as clear fluid mixed with blood began to weep out of her two punctures. After a short while, Starless lifted her horn away as she finished drawing out the spider venom. "I did what I could, but I don't know how much good I did."

"How do you feel?" Dark asked, stepping close to her.

"I feel... really sleepy," Precious murmured, her eyes were unfocused and she was struggling to look at him.

"Try to stay awake! We'll get you help," he told her. "Comet. You're going to need to carry her."

Setting off, they resumed their attempt to reach the center of the compound. They were so close now! Coming to another wall of webbing, Starless began to cut at it with her magic. It was much thicker this time and it was taking Starless longer to cut through it.

Suddenly, the webbing she was working on burst open as an enormous spider, almost twice as big as a pony, lunged through it! Starless let out a terrified scream as it charged right at her, its large mouthparts eagerly clicking together in anticipation of juicy pony flesh. Just before it reached her, Ground suddenly raced past her and slammed both of his hooves into it! With a grunt of effort he set his back hooves firmly into the soil and brought the spiders great bulk to an abrupt halt just a pace away from her.

Blinking in shocked amazement, Starless watched as Ground slowly began to force the spider back, step by step. The creature's fangs were bared just before Ground's face, but the stallion ignored them as he continued to heave it back with his great strength. The spider's legs dug furrows into the dirt as it desperately attempted to halt itself until it finally found purchase against the sides of a pair of huts.

The area around them came alive with spiders as they started to attack from every direction! Dark quickly shouted orders to the rest of the ponies to form a defensive ring.

Ground's muscles strained as he heaved ever harder. Starless was at a loss, she had never seen such strength before! The spider's legs began to lift off the ground as Ground began to force the spider up. Chattering in alarm, the massive spider lashed out with one of its legs, knocking Ground away with a hard blow to his side and sending him flying back to crash painfully into the ground.

Free, the spider skittered toward the prone stallion as he struggle to rise. Running to his side, Starless shot blasts of magic at the spider, but they bounced off its hard shell with little if no effect. Switching her efforts, she sent a dazzle spell bursting into the spider's face. With a bright flash, colored lights exploded out, causing the spider to leap back in alarm and stagger about in sudden confusion.

Ground Pound gathered himself and stood, his usually gentle eyes were now hard as stone. Starless was amazed he was able to even stand after the hard blow he had received. With dirt falling off his muscled shoulders, Ground let out a snort and charged at the massive spider.

Roaring with rage, Ground reared up and slammed his hoof into the side of the spider with a mighty blow that staggered the creature into the side of a hut. Recovering quickly, the spider lunged back at Ground, who met it's attack with another powerful punch that sent the spider sliding back. Blow after blow, the brute of a stallion struck the spider with his massive hooves. Cracks started to appear on its hard shell and the spider let out a loud chattering as it retreated back from his relentless blows.

Suddenly, another spider, the size of a pony, rushed at Ground from behind! Starless shouted out a warning to Ground as she shot a bolt of magic into the spider, scoring its hard shell and causing it to stumble for a moment. Alerted to the new threat, Ground planted his front hooves firmly into the earth and bucked out with both his hind hooves as hard as he could. The blow to the smaller spider was devastating. It's legs left the ground as it flew back and crashed down onto his back.

Snorting in irritation, Starless lowered her horn and charged. If she couldn't hurt it with magic on the outside, perhaps there was another way she could do it. With a jarring crunch, her horn speared deeply into the spider until her forehead came to rest against its body. Gritting her teeth in disgust, Starless gathered her magic and released it in one massive blast directly into its grotesque body. The spider's legs kicked wildly in the air as steam and fluids bubbled out of it's cracked shell from its seared and boiling innards. In moments, its legs went still as it died. Yanking her horn free, Starless felt the creature's warm ichor running down her muzzle and cheeks and she sneered in revulsion.

Ground had a gash in shoulder that bled down his leg, but despite his injury, he continued to relentlessly attack the massive spider. Letting out a strange hiss of rage, the spider lashed out with one of its numerous legs as it attempted to fend off the stallion's savage assaults. Dodging back, Ground raised his hoof and brought it down on it’s leg as it passed him, shattering it with a crack that left it dangling!

The spider reared back with a strange squealing-clicking sound. With a reckless leap, the spider lunged at Ground with its fangs bared. Instead of dodging or falling back from the unexpected move, Ground charged forward to meet its attack head on. Starless heard Ground's name suddenly being screamed and she was shocked to realize that it had come from her.

Rearing up at the last moment, Ground lifted his right hoof back and slammed it right into the spiders ugly face with a sickening crunch that crushed its head in. With a whomp that shook the ground, the massive spider's body collapsed into the dirt where it lay dead. Ground Pound stood over his defeated opponent and panted for breath as he looked back at Starless.

Starless' heart raced in her chest at the sight of him and she nearly swooned. What was with these Earth Ponies!? The spider probably outweighed him by two or three times and it was twice his size! And still he beat it to death with his bare hooves! Feeling her face suddenly flushing, Starless firmly clamped her tail down as it threatened to expose her aroused marehood.

Tearing her attention away, Starless saw that the others were still fighting. She had used up a great deal of her magic killing that last spider and she couldn't keep using her magic bolts for much longer. She would need to come up with another way to fight that didn't use so much magic. Seeing a discarded spear, Starless grabbed it up in her magic and took some experimental swings with it. Smiling, she gave a satisfied nod. This could work.

Wading into the fight with her spear whirling around her, she smashed the butt of her spear straight down onto a spider that was darting toward her with a satisfying crunch. Next, she slashed a spider in half as it descended down on from above. She stabbed, clubbed, crushed and dismembered every spider that came into her reach. She had become death, and she smiled.

Spiders continued to stream in from all sides. Most of them were small and easy to dispatch, but some were larger with harder shells. Most of their spear-tips were broken during the fighting, so they were making due with using just the shafts and their hooves. Their defensive ring was growing smaller as they were forced inward by their vast numbers and it became clear to them that it was only a matter of time before they fell to the spiders.

As they fought, the ground beneath their hooves started to rumble. Ponies looked about as they wondered what new horror was about to descend onto them. Charging out from the gap left in the webbing, a host of armed ponies appeared and began slaughtering the spiders around them. Instead of using spears, the ponies had long, rounded stones strapped to the end of shortened poles. Their new weapons proved rather devastating to the spiders as they smashed and crushed their way through their numbers with ease. The ponies’ limbs were wrapped with what looked like rope, covering most of their exposed skin and draped down their necks and backs was more rope that had been woven into some kind of matting. Their heads were encased from their ears down to their muzzles with a strange wooden carving that had holes bored through them for them to see through.

Three pony sized spiders huddled closely together as they attempted to hold off the new attackers. The wolf-headed stallion boldly charged in and with a heavy swing of his weapon, crushed one of them to the ground, killing it with a single blow. One of the spiders leapt forward and bit the wolf headed stallion in his exposed side, but its fangs were unable to penetrate the rope mesh that protected him. Freeing his weapon, the stallion smashed it into its face as it went to bite at him again. With its head caved in by the blow, the spider crumpled to the ground, convulsing with its legs twitching and digging at the dirt as it died. The third spider was apparently smarter and quickly fled, disappearing over a web covered hut.

It didn't take long after that for them to clear up the rest of the spiders who either fled off after the larger one or were simply killed off. The wolf headed stallion trotted over to Dark and bowed his head down. "Welcome back Herd Father. I apologize for not coming to your aid sooner."

"Strongbuck?" Dark asked in disbelief, recognizing the stallion's voice from under the carved wolf head.

The stallion reached up and tipped his wolf head back to show his tired looking face. "It's good to see you. It's not safe to talk out here. Where are the rest of the ponies that were with you?"

"I left them out in the western woods. What happened here? What of Meadowlark and my foals? Are they alright?" Dark asked hurriedly.

"The Herd Mother, Celestia and Luna are all okay. They are safely back in the longhouse with the rest of the ponies." Strongbuck explained. "Hopefully, the ponies you left in the western woods won't be noticed. There's not much we can do for them today, it's about to get dark. Come on. We can talk when we get back to the longhouse." As he turned, Strongbuck paused to blink in surprise at Starless. A quick flash of alarm flickered across his eyes as he met her gaze but then he slipped his wolf head back down and trotted off ahead.

Chapter Fifty Four

Author's Note

Sorry for the long delay.

Chapter Fifty Four

Frost Conjure dangled the carrot down to the rabbit as he enticed it to take it. "Come on. I won't hurt you."

Sitting in the grass before him, a little rabbit sniffed at his offering. It seemed reluctant to get any closer, so Frost set the carrot down and stepped back to watch as the rabbit moved in and began nibbling on the orange treat.

"Frost...?" a soft voice called out to him.

Lifting his head, Frost looked around. He was alone in the grassy meadow. Who was calling him? He hadn't seen Radiant since she left to search for the stallions that had been taken from the common stables below. Did she return?

"Frost...?"

This time Frost clearly heard the call coming from the nearby grove of trees. Since the incident with the common stallions, the Keepers had been keeping them contained to one side of the crater for the last couple of days. Today was the first day they felt safe enough to allow them to range free again. Could this be one of the keepers calling for him?

Standing, Frost walked over to the grove. "Hello?" he called out.

"Frost...," a mares voice called to him again.

She sounded like Radiant! Peering inside the grove of trees, he could see a figure waiting for him inside. "Radiant? Is that you?" He'd not seen her in days. Not since she was away hunting for the stolen stallions. He ducked his head under a branch and walked into the grove. The grove wasn't big, and his way got easier as the trees lightened near the center. As he got closer he could see that the figure waiting ahead was a mare. "Radiant?"

"No dear." The figure answered with a soft laugh. "Don't you recognize me? I’m your mother."

Suddenly Frost blinked as the figure became clear and he saw his mother smiling at him. "Mother?" his heart started racing in his chest as he gazed at her. Without thinking about it, he rushed to her and threw his hooves around her neck. "Mother!" He wept into her neck as he clutched her tightly. She was alive!

"It's okay now sweety, I'm here now," she assured him, gently brushing his mane back.

Something about this seemed wrong to Frost. How was his mother here? She was dead. Blinking his eyes, Frost leaned back and the image of his mother grew hazy. "What...? Who...?"

Suddenly her horn flashed and everything was fine again. Of course she wasn't dead. Why would he think that? She was right there in front of him!

Settling into the grass together, she pulled him in close to her side. With her hoof, she tenderly embraced his cheek. "Oh my sweet. I'm sorry for being away for so long." She reached out and kissed him. Not on his cheek or forehead like she normally did, but on his lips. "My, have you grown. You've become such a fine stallion."

Frost smiled and rubbed his cheek to hers, like how he used to do it when he greeted her. Her rich scent filled his nose and he felt a strange thrill rush through him. There was something about her scent that made his body start to stir. "Mother? Are you... really here?"

His mother smiled and nuzzled him along his neck. "Yes sweety. I am." She assured him. "I'm so sorry for being away for so long. I'm here now and I need your help with something." Her lips came to his again, but this time she kissed him much longer. He could feel her hoof travel along his body until it came to his sheathed stallionhood and begin stroking him.

This felt wrong, but he didn't stop her as she coaxed his stallionhood out until it was prodding her teats.

Her lips broke from his and she looked down at his fully erect stallionhood. "Oh yes. Such a fine stallion you've grown into."

"Mother? This isn’t right..." Something was wrong.

His mother smiled at him and nuzzled his cheek before she lightly kissed him again. "Don't you love me?" Her horn flash again as her magic flowed out around him.

The wrongness of what was happening vanished as her magic enveloped his mind. "Yes. Of course I love you." he assured her as everything became right again.

She smiled and took his lips with hers again. Her lips were so soft and warm and he couldn't help but think of Radiant's lips when they had accidently kissed that one time.

“Radiant…”

His mother scowled as her magic tightened around him and all thoughts of Radiant suddenly vanished. Pushing him over onto his back in the soft grass, she climbed onto him and leaned down close to him. "Do you truly love me?”

Frost blinked up at her and nodded. "Yes mother. Of course I do."

She smiled down at him, pleased. She then cast a spell and Frost found he was unable to lift his hooves. "Then show me how much you love me." Adjusting herself on top of him, Frost felt his stallionhood poke up into something very hot and wet.

Her lips came back down to his, and her tongue invaded his mouth as she lavished his tongue with her own. Suddenly she broke away from their deep kiss and moaned out in pleasure as she pushed herself down. Frost felt his mother's heat envelop his stallionhood as she sank down on him. All thoughts about how wrong this was, disappeared from his mind as the sensation of what was happening overtook him.

With a slow steady motion, his mother fully took him in until she was seated firmly onto his lap. Frost was amazed at how hot and smooth she felt like along his stallionhood. Smiling down at him, his mother leaned forward and lifted herself off his stallionhood until only a little bit remained before lowering herself once again back down.

Frost groaned. The sensation of plunging back into her hot depths was incredible! The sound of their wet smacks sounded in the still grove as she brought herself down on him over and over again. Her face twisted in the throes of pleasure as she drove herself down repeatedly onto his stallionhood.

A part of him was still telling him that this was terribly wrong, but he couldn’t quite focus his mind on what it was.

Frost felt his stallionhood throbbing with a need to burst and release his potent seed into his mother as she plunged herself onto him. The need was growing almost painful now as he groaned with the strain. "Mother! I'm... about to...!"

"Give it to me!" His mother cried out as she frantically plunged herself down onto his stallionhood. "Fill me with your fertile seed!"

Frost cried out as she plunged herself down onto him one last time. Groaning with the release, Frost felt a surge of his virile seed gush out deep into his mother's womb, filling every part of it with his essence.

His mother smiled as she caressed her hooves over her womb. "Oh, my son. I can feel it. I can feel your filling me," she moaned out in pleasure.

With a final few jerks of his hips, Frost emptied the last of himself and collapsed back down to gasp for breath. Without pulling herself off, his mother laid herself down onto his body, and lightly kissed and nuzzled his neck. "You were wonderful my sweet little colt. You've made your mother very happy today."

Her horn glowed brighter and she touched it to his head, everything went dark.

When the mare was done, she removed her horn from the colt's head and pulled herself off of his softened stallionhood, slipping it out of her with a wet slick. He'll not remember any of this, and whatever he does remember, would merely seem like a dream.

"I don't understand why you must play this game with him," a older mare said, stepping out of the trees. "Why must you make him believe that you were his mother?"

“Because it’s easier to hold the colt’s mind in thrall with love, and what colt doesn't love his mother?” Glittering Crystal answered. “Also, because I enjoyed it.” Smiling she leaned down and kissed Frost as he slept.

Her mother frowned down at her. "Just as long as you bear a strong foal."

Glittering Crystal stood and rubbed her stomach with a dreamy look. “Oh. I’m sure that our foal is going to be very powerful indeed." She paused to look down at the sleeping colt. "Oh I wish I could see my dear little sister, Radiant's face when she learns that her stallion bred a foal into me."

"Don't ever call her that!" her mother snapped angrily.

"Why not?" Glittering Crystal asked, turning to her mother. "We share same sire after all. You made sure of that when you went to him."

"Don't be foalish!" her mother said, turning to leave. "They must never discover this secret..."

"Oh don't give me that mother!" Glittering Crystal said, following after her. "Just admit that you'd love to spit this in Astral's ugly face that you bred her stallion! Just as I want to do to my dear half sister! I want to grind this into Radiant’s pathetic face and make her choke on it!"

"Enough!" her mother shouted furiously. "I will hear no more of this! Now come. We need to leave before we're discovered."

The two slipped off together through the trees.

Sometime later, Frost woke and scratched at his head as he tried to recall how he had ended up there.

Snap dozed, her face pressed up against something warm. She could feel something resting over her neck as she slowly roused. Blinking her eyes open, she found herself pressed up alongside Wild's body with her head tucked up along his chest. His hoof was draped over her neck.

Suddenly her mind jumped into the recolonization that she was sleeping against Wild and she jerked her head up! The side of his chest was smeared with her drool. She reached up to rub at her eyes, but found them trapped under a blanket that had been draped over her and Wild.

"Finally awake?" her mother asked. Looking up from the cradle she was rocking.

Snap flushed as she sat up. Taking the blanket, she settled it over Wild. "You could have woken me up." she said, checking on Wild Bolt. His breathing was much better and his fever seemed to have gone down. Checking under the wrap, she found his wound was a lot less inflamed. Whatever the Bitter Salt was that Soothing Melody put in it, it was working.

"And ruin a perfectly tender moment between you two," her mother scoffed. "Not on your life. The last time I ever saw you sleeping that deeply was when you were a little filly sleeping with Ground."

"Please don't compare Wild with my brother." Snap groaned.

"I'm just saying," her mother said with a shrug.

Just then the flap opened and Starless came in, her Enchantress mask covering her face. "I can't believe them!" she shouted angrily, flopping her rump down next to the cradle and flipping her mack back to look inside at the sleeping colt. "Taking the stallion like that!"

"I don't really see what's wrong with that." Snap commented.

Starless sighed and rubbed her head. "I wanted to wait before doing anything this drastic until I had more of their Common Blood turned to our cause. Well, at least they only took unclaimed stallions, and only the ones that wanted to come."

Whisper Wisp came in carrying a bowl of strawberries in her magic. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, I am" her mother answered, "but he's still asleep." she looked to the colt's cradle.

"That'll be fine," Whisper said, sitting down next to her mother.

Snap watched, curious about what they were doing. Whisper Wisp took one of the strawberries and smashed it with a stick inside the bowl until it was a sticky paste. She then began applying it to her mother's teats.

"What are you doing?" Snap asked, confused as to why they would do something like that.

"I'm trying to encourage my milk to return," her mother answered. "Whisper Wisp is a Milknurse, and she says that this will work."

"I have helped several mares milk come in," Whisper Wisp said, taking little West Wind out of his cradle. West began wailing as he complained about having his sleep disturbed. "All it takes is the right stimulation." Holding him to one of Tiger Lily's strawberry covered teats, she quickly got him to latch on and suckle. "The strawberry on her teat will encourage him to suckle despite there not being any milk. He will need to be set to suckle as much as possible. It will also help if any family members could assist with this as well. The more stimulation you get, the better."

Snap's ears shot up when she heard this. "Mama, your not going to have me...?"

Her mother smiled at her and shook her head. "No, sweety. Your father will be happy to help me with that. After all, he's hardly left them alone since we became mates." She then turned to Starless. "Which reminds me. You should have Ground switch to the other one for a while. You’re looking a little lopsided."

Starless looked startled. "Really?" She looked down at her udders. "Hmm. Perhaps you’re right."

"Ground always preferred going to the left one when he was a little foal," Tiger continued. "Try putting bitter-root sap onto it to encourage him to go to the other one for a while. It worked for me."

Snap couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Wait!? You let my brother... suckle you!? But he's a grown stallion!"

"Honey," her mother said, turning to her with a knowing smile. "Your a mare now, so you should know this. You can take the teat away from the colt, but you can't take the colt away from the teat. You'll learn this soon enough."

"It was a little strange at first," Starless added. "But it quickly became something… rather enjoyable."

Snap felt her face flushing hot. Was this really something mares and stallions did together?

"Okay, let's switch him to the other one for a bit." Whisper Wisp said to her mother.

Two days later, Wild's condition improved to the point where he was starting to complain.

"Stop treating me like a little colt!" Wild gripped. "I'm a stallion. I can feed myself."

"Of course you can," Snap patiently agreed. "Now open wide." She held out a spoon filled with mashed apples.

Flushing angrily, Wild reluctantly opened his mouth to let her slip the food inside. "Why can't I eat a normal food instead of this mashed stuff?"

"Because it's easier for you to eat mashed food, and it was fun to make," Snap explained. "Now open up for the mama bird!"

Wild glared at her as she slipped another mouthful of mashed apple into it.

Today, Wild was going to be moved to her parents hut with Jennet, to free up this one for some of the stallions who had been crammed all together in a few of the other empty huts.

Spooning in the last of the mashed apples, Wild swallowed. "There, are we done now?"

Snap let out a giggle as she picked up another bowl. "Nope! I also made mashed carrots! Yummm!"

"Definitely not!" Wild exclaimed with a shake of his head. "I am not going through that embarrassment again!"

"Aww, is the wittle colty getting cranky?" Snap said, using her foal voice.

"Stop that!" Wild snapped angrily.

"Does wittle Wildy need to take a nap?"

"No mare's worth this!" Wild groaned.

"What's all the ruckus?" Tiger Lily said, stepping inside. Holding little West in her hooves, she examined the pair with a critical eye. "Feeling better?" she asked, looking to Wild.

Wild quickly nodded. "Ah... yes! Very much so."

"Good." She said with a satisfied nod. "When Hoof and Ground arrive with the litter, they'll take you to our hut."

"I don't need them to carry me," Wild said, looking ready to stand. "I can walk myself."

Tiger Lily frowned down at him. "I'm sure you can, but if you even try, I'll tie your hooves together and have Hoof Strike carry you back like a foal and rock you to sleep each night as he sings you a lullaby."

Wild gaped at her in horror. "You wouldn't!"

The tiny mare met his gaze evenly. "Don't test me on this, colt. You will regret it."

Wild's gaze fell to the ground. There was something about the diminutive mare that made him feel like she was not somepony to mess with. "Yes ma'am."

"Now, Snap dear." Tiger said, looking to her daughter. "You know I don't like food to be wasted. Please finish off what you have there."

Snap's eyes shot wide as she gaped at her mother. "But..."

"Don't doddle dear." Tiger told her, with a stern tone to her voice. "Please have it all gone before your father and brother get here." Turning she slipped back out the door leaving her daughter gaping at her back.

Wild grinned and snatched up the bowl of mashed carrots and spoon. "Open up for papa bird! Here comes the worm!"

Snap's ears dropped down as she glared at the stallion. "You're really enjoying this aren't you?"

Wild Bolt nodded smiling and scooped some of the mashed carrots into the spoon. "Now be a good filly and don't make a fuss, then maybe you'll get a strawberry when your done."

Snap blew out a breath. No stallion was worth this.

Jennet was happy to see Wild when he was carried into the hut. She'd been worried about him since she heard about his illness and asked about him daily. Thanks to Soothing Melody's healing remedies, her injuries were rapidly improving and she was able to move around now without opening any of the gashes on her back.

Sitting up against the wall. Wild Bolt felt awkward as Jennet sat close to his side. She kept trying to bring him things like food and blankets. He already had several of the Unicorns new blankets behind his back and another across his lap with a hot, fire-baked potato in his upheld hoof. Since his arrival, Jennet had been doing everything she could to see to his comfort. Wild Bolt had been flattered by the attention she was heaping on him, but it was quickly growing tiresome.

For some reason, Snap seemed irritated at Jennet's fawning over him and kept trying to engage her in conversation, but with little success. Finally, tired of her hovering over him, Wild asked her to tell them of herself and her journey here.

"You want to hear about me!?" Jennet seemed surprised, even a little embarrassed by his request. "There's not much to tell, and most of it you wouldn't find all that interesting."

"Oh, please do!" Snap pleaded. "I've been so wanting to hear your story."

"Very well then." Jennet agreed. Her eyes dropped down to look into the fire. "I was born in a pit. My mother was a slave working in the copper mine. I don't remember much about her. When I was just old enough to be weaned, I was taken from her and thrown in with other foals my age to start working at another mine. They had us digging through the soil looking for the green ore they use to make copper." Her eyes suddenly became saddened. "It was then that I became friends with Benny and Abelle. We looked after each other and made sure the overseers didn't find us alone."

Wild got the feeling that there was more to her statement, but was afraid to know what it was.

"During the spring, Abelle went into heat and the overseers gave her to one of the other slaves as a reward. When she returned, she had bite marks on her neck and a swollen eye. She didn't tell us what happened, but there was no need to anyways, we already knew. It was a several moons later that she knew that she was with foal. She was happy, but at the same time, she knew that her foal would know nothing but the life as a slave, and begged me and Benny to buck her in stomach to force her to miscarry, and save the foal that life."

Snap covered her mouth in horror.

"We couldn't do it. We couldn't hurt her and her foal. She was our sister. We loved her too much" Jennet said, shaking her head. "As time went on and her belly grew larger and she would start to feel her foal move within her. It was around this point when word of a revolt was rising. The masters had made a mistake and allowed too many of us to work the mine with too few overseers. One day it happened. It was quite sudden and I wasn't sure at first what was happening. There was a lot of yelling and we saw donkeys attacking the overseers. During the chaos of that night, we and many others managed to escape."

Snap clapped her hooves together in joy at the turn of her story, but Wild knew that there was worse things coming. He'd been there and seen it.

"During our frantic flight, we were soon separated from the others when we were unable to keep up." Jennet continued. "Alone, my sisters and I set out, heading for the setting sun. For a cycle of the moon, we crossed over mountains and burning sands until we finally reached this green land. We thought we were finally safe, but somehow a hunting team had tracked us. They had followed us for a while thinking that we knew where the others had gone and that we would lead them to them. When they finally lost their patience, they quickly moved in and before we even knew they were there, they had us surrounded."

Snap let out a moan of dismay at the turn of the story.

Looking over at Snap, Wild couldn't help but wonder if she had actually thought they were going to escape!? Didn't she know that they had been captured?

"The cruelty they brought down on us..." Tears began welling up in Jennet's eyes. "Oh, Abelle, Benny!" She fell down into Wild’s lap and started weeping great wracking sobs.

Wild Bolt didn't know what to do as he stared down at the weeping donkey in his lap. This was well beyond anything he'd ever had to deal with before! Reaching down, he awkwardly stroked her head.

Snap moved around to Jennet's other side to add her support. After a time they heard her breathing even out as she silently slipped off to sleep. Great. Wild thought to himself. He was now stuck with a donkey sleeping in his lap. For some reason, this didn't bother him that much. Without knowing why, he began humming a song.

Snap's eyes grew wide as her ears shot up straight. "Where... did you hear that song you were humming?" Snap quietly asked. For some reason, she looked flustered.

Wild shook his head. He had no idea where he had heard that song or even remembered the words. "I don't know. It was just a melody that's had been floating around in my head. Why?"

Snap blinked at him. "Ah... I was just wondering, that's all. It sounded nice. Almost like a lullaby."

Wild thought about it. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Huh... weird."

Snap let out a chuckle and scratched at the back of her head. "Yeah, weird."

Unable to move with Jennet laying in his lap, Wild Bolt leaned his head back against the wall and let the half remembered melody flow through his mind. Unable to resist its soothing effects, his eyes drifted closed and soon he too was asleep.

Snap sat back as she watched over the pair as they slept. She couldn't help examining Wild's face. He seemed so peaceful. The gash that now ran down his face added character to him and made him seem older in some way. It was a mark he had earned saving a mare. Snap considered him many things, but being heroic wasn't one of them. What he'd been though had marked more than just his face. He'd changed. Not once since he'd returned from the confrontation, had he tried to kiss her or even look at her flanks. His eyes had grown distant and cold. She could tell that he was hurting inside.

Wild face suddenly crinkled up and he let out a moan, his head lolled to the side. "No... don't..." he muttered in his sleep.

Snap reached out and lightly brushed his mane back out of his face. "Shh, it's okay. You defeated him. He can't hurt you anymore," she told him softly.

"Snap..." Wild's face softened as he slipped back into a peaceful slumber.

Snap took a blanket and settled it over Jennet. It was clear to her that Jennet was infatuated with Wild Bolt. It was understandable. He rescued her and slew one of the monsters that had been hurting her.

Suddenly there was a commotion outside. Rushing out, Snap saw ponies looking up at some glowing red lights atop of one of the high ridges. Noticing Tranquil, Snap hurried over to her. "What is it?"

"The sentries have spotted ponies entering the valley." Tranquil answered, her face creased with worry. Abruptly the red light turned to blue and Tranquil let out a relieved sigh. "Blue means that they're Earth Ponies. That would mean that Dark and the others have arrived."

Seeing the blue light from the sentry above, the rest of the Unicorns went back to their tasks. Despite their peaceful lives here, they were always under the constant worry of being discovered. Snap had seen their escape route and sorely dreaded ever having to take it. It was a single pony trail that wound up the edge of the cliff face and let out into another valley. Snap hated heights with a dread and never wanted to set hoof on that path.

Going down to the edge of the settlement, Snap waited for the others to arrive. The sun grew close to the heights above them when she finally saw their distant forms, weaving their way up along the valley trail. Her mother joined her with a freshly fed West, who's little belly bulged out with his large meal. Giving her the colt to hold, Snap cooed down at West and cuddled him close to her chest. She still couldn't believe how adorable his little horn was!

As the ponies drew closer, Snap was able to make out Dark in the lead with Brightstar. Following behind was Dark's little sister, Mirage, Dove, and Dusty's mother, Pebble Stream. Six other stallions and mares made up the spears that protected them. Trailing along with them were two colts. One was Dark's foster colt, Ash, and the other Snap instantly recognized as her little brother, Journey, who she had left behind under the care of Birch Bark and Floral Scent.

"What is he doing here!?" Snap exclaimed.

"Apparently, he wasn't happy being left behind and decided to follow your example," her mother answered, looking over at her in amusement.

Tranquil and Dusty arrived together, with Starless and Ground coming a few moment later.

Starless stopped next to Tiger Lily. "How's Jennet and that colt Wild, doing?"

"They're healing, though I do worry for the colt." Tiger answered.

"Oh?" Starless said, looking down as the smaller mare.

"His physical injuries are healing, but it's the one on the inside that is still a problem." Tiger explained. "If it’s left untended, it will kill him just as surely as his other wound would have."

Starless nodded, silently thinking over her words. "What should we do then?"

"I'm already working on it," Tiger answered. "In point of fact, it’s my dear daughter that is actually working on it, though she doesn't fully realize that she is."

"Snap?" Starless looked over at the young mare as she and Tranquil fussed over little West.

"Indeed." Tiger nodded. "I'll leave his care in her hooves for now, and only help out whenever needed. She's doing a wonderful job as it is."

"Is that why you insisted that he be moved to your hut?" Starless asked, turning back to Tiger.

"Mostly," Tiger agreed.

"Mostly?" Starless repeated.

Tiger smiled and didn't answer as she turned to watch Dark and the others approach. Other Unicorns began to gather around to watch.

"Greetings, Honored Herd Father." Starless greeted Dark, formally.

"Greetings, Honored Enchantress," Dark greeted her back, his voice raised to let other Unicorns hear.

"I welcome our friends the Earth Ponies to our home." Starless continued. "Please, come in and be at home. Places have been prepared for you."

"Thank you for your kind hospitality." Dark finished their formal greeting.

Suddenly, Pebble Stream broke ahead and rushed up to her son. "Come with me. I need to tell you something," she said, pushing Dusty to the side. "You come too," she added to Tranquil.

Dove was next as she hurried over to Tiger. "We came as fast as we could. How is she?"

"Doing very well." Tiger answered. "I'm sorry. You may have wasted your time coming. A Unicorn Shaman came and treated her as well as another that came up."

"A Shaman?" Dove asked. "What's that?"

A type of Unicorn healer, I guess." Tiger answered. "For some reason, the Unicorns are reluctant to talk about her. Starless didn't even know that she was here, let alone when or how she came to live here. Shamans are normally solitary and are only visited on need. She lives alone outside the community in the middle of the valley along a rock outcropping. You very likely passed her on your way here. Her skills are really quite amazing."

"Really?" Dove tapped her hoof to her chin. "Perhaps my time wasn't wasted in coming here after all. I might be able to learn some new things from her about healing," her musing was suddenly interrupted when Dusty cried out.

"What!?" Dusty exclaimed to his mother before wobbling on his hooves and collapsing into a limp heap on the grass. Tranquil let out a happy sequel and hugged Pebble.

"Huh... that's interesting." Tiger mused, watching the scene.

"Oh?" Dove glanced down at her.

"She's pregnant." Tiger said matter of factually.

"How did you know?" Dove asked in surprise.

"Simple," Tiger said with a knowing smile. "I've seen that reaction many times before. Plus, I can just tell."

"Oh really?" Dove said, a smile coming to her lips. "Well then, what can you tell about me?"

Tiger turned to her and blinked in surprise. "You too?"

Dove smile broadened and she nodded, her hoof going to her belly.

Tiger laughed and drew Dove into a hug. "Well, this is joyous news! Strongbuck must be absolutely over the moon about this!"

Dove nodded with a laugh. "It wasn't quite as dramatic as Dusty's reaction, but both Bell and Strongbuck were both very happy with the news."

Tiger caught a hint in her voice that told her that there was something else to her statement. "But what else?"

Dove blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Can't hide anything from you, can I?"

"And you can't stall with me ether." Tiger reminded her.

Dove sighed and sat down next to her. "They were happy to find out that I was pregnant, but they were also very worried," she explained.

"Was it because of your previous miscarriages?"

Dove nodded. "They're worried that it will happen again."

"And you're not?"

Dove rubbed her stomach with an odd smile. "When I was called to Aurora, I met some very strange... creatures. They looked like deer, but I had a feeling that they were something else entirely, and I was only seeing them as deer."

"Do you think they were the Great Spirits?" Tiger asked.

"Possibly." Dove had tried to fathom what they could have been, but never came to an answer. "I'm not sure. Whatever they were, they had magic well beyond that of the Unicorns. When I agreed to take Aurora, the doe did something to me and my milk came in so I could feed her."

"Really?" Tiger said in admiration. "I wish I could have her help with that too."

"I can't explain it, but I feel that she did something else to me that day as well," Dove continued. "I believe she healed the weakness within me that prevented me from carrying a foal."

"She told you this?" Tiger asked.

Dove shook her head. "No. I just feel it." She struggled to find an explanation. "When I first discovered that I was pregnant, I just knew that it was going to be alright. I can't really describe it," she said, shaking her head. "Strongbuck and Bell didn't understand and argued for me to not risk the journey here because it would be too much of a strain."

"Oh, posh!" Tiger waved her hoof dismissively. "A little walking's not going to harm a pregnant mare."

"That's what I told them!" Dove exclaimed, heatedly. She then sighed and looked back down at her. "Little Aurora got so upset over our arguing, she started crying. Once I had her settled back down, we talked more and I convinced them that I was needed here. It broke my heart seeing little Aurora balling her eyes out when I left."

"Oh, the poor thing." Tiger said sympathetically, knowing just how hard it must have been for the filly to see her mama go. "Which reminds me. Journey!" She called out.

Her colt's head suddenly popped up from a stone wall. "Yes mama!?"

"Come and give me a hug and kiss." She held her hooves out to her colt.

Leaping over the low stone wall, Journey ran into his mother's hooves.

"Oh, I've missed you." Tiger said into her colt's head as she kissed him. "I'm sorry for being away for so long."

"It's okay mama." Journey assured her. "I know you were doing good here."

"That's my little stallion." Tiger praised her son. "Now, let me introduce you to somepony." She turned to look for her daughter. "Snap...? Snap? Where have you gone off too? Snap? You'd better not have just stolen him! Snap!?"