TS&F: S1, Ep3: Til the Flutterguy Sings

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six

Prologue

"It's still so hard to believe that nopony has noticed it, this whole time."

"I know," Twilight answered Fluttershy's gentle remark, as the two mares made their way down the ravine's rocky steps, "You'd think that after sending a few guards to watch the cave's barrier, they would've seen something peculiar about the interior, before now. Though, I guess it actually helped that Spider Bite decided to take a look at the place, saying that it wasn't there two weeks prior. Since he and Captain Sentry were the last ones to actually be in the cave, and none of the guards have ever been there, before."

She remembered the excavation crew she briefly partook in, organizing the efforts of clearing the heavy debris, then aided the assembled Unicorns, along with the other regents, to set up another barrier around, and inside the walls of the Tree's habitation. She was surprised nopony had seen it then. Though, in retrospect, given how small it was and how its light blended well with the towering Tree over it, she pondered how anypony could have spotted it sooner.

"Also," the yellow Pegasus added softly, once they reached the bottom, "I could understand why they never would've seen it, to begin with, since they've been focusing on what comes in, instead of what's happening inside."

"Maybe, but still. Then there's the fact that it happened without even Celestia and Luna sensing it. They have been attuned to their Alicorn magic far longer than Cadence and I have, and were deeply connected to the Tree of Harmony long before we were. But it was such a small thing, so quiet an occurrence, that it took a simple sight of it, a failure to recognize a miniscule, yet crucial alteration of the environment."

"Do you think the Tree may have given us a new box," the soft-spoken mare inquired, "Like the last time?"

"It's highly probable," the lavender Princess tilted her head, "But if that were the case, then how come it hasn't bloomed to show us what's inside, yet? And the fact that it's such a small bud, I doubt even a key can fit in there."

They halted before the three, white guard ponies before the shielded cavern, to which Twilight presented her bright, crimson seal of credentials, matching that of her Cutie Mark, which glowed as she magically raised it. The soldiers firmly nodded, then stepped aside, allowing the two mares access into the interior.

"What I don't understand is why post guards here," Fluttershy pondered, "And what was Spider Bite coming down here for, anyway?"

"Even though the shield repels any creature who have ill intentions," answered Twilight, "It's important to observe if there's any suspicious activity within close proximity of the Tree. Which is why Cadence and Shining left Captain Sentry posted with other Crystal and Canterlot troops to watch the barricade above."

"In case Chrysalis might try to contact her trapped Changelings? Or even found a loophole in breaching the spells of the shields?"

"Exactly. As to why our new friend decided to come down here," she huffed with slight frustration, as the pair reached the object of their intended sojourn, "He's been…a bit too restless in the castle, lately. Exploring the rooms, reading several, various volumes in my library, which I have nothing against per se, then conducting experiments in whatever space that he thought was available. He even went ahead and actually pulled the cobwebs that have been accumulating on the ceilings. Just trying to make some productive use of his time, I think."

"Sounds like he's been very helpful," attempted the Pegasus with a bright comment, but then noted the slight snort from her lavender friend. "But also, like you said, restless. Maybe even anxious."

"The way he's been rambling, quipping and talking to himself aloud, I would've sworn he was hallucinating about some crazy, evil, manic villain he keeps passively reminiscing. I even jotted all the names down on a list to keep my mind from climbing up the walls. Twenty-three altogether, so far. So, I simply suggested that he went outside to get some fresh air."

"And he took your advice, apparently." Fluttershy was still attempting to regain her timid composure, after hearing such a high multitude of adversaries. "No wonder he seems unstable."

"Just…not in the way you'd think," the Alicorn lowly trailed off from their current dialogue, to eye the little bud before them, but only momentarily, "And on both statements. He began to leap off the highest point of the palace, and just kept falling, until he spun a quick web onto the nearest balcony. Swinging off of that, he landed onto the closest roof in town, then jumped out of sight."

"Considering the circumstances, for him, I'd say that's definitely a good way to help clear the webs out from his head." Fluttershy giggled at her own playful remark, to which Twilight chuckled, knowing that such a thing said from her was a rare occurrence, in itself. "Not in a mean way, though. Besides, I think he really feels uncomfortable about being kept in a castle all the time. Kind of like how you were when you first moved in."

"That, or he knows he needs to keep things to himself again." The somber addition from the Princess shifted the duo's demeanor slightly, as they regained their focus onto the little lily that seemed so feeble, and insignificant. Its white radiance emanated a form of soft comfort, as would the stars on a clear, night sky.

"You're right," the yellow mare breathed with delicate attention, "It is too small to hold anything inside. I don't even see how it's able to grow in the first place. Just, why did the Map want me here?"

The two reflected on her curious statement, as they recalled how the Cutie Map summoned Fluttershy. Once the two had reached the room, and saw her Cutie Mark hover over the table, they noticed its position to be far nearer than either anticipated. Much to the gentle mare's dismay, she witnessed her Mark make an abrupt halt over the Everfree Forest, more specifically, the gorge near the ancient ruins. That was when Twilight explained to her about the lily that Spider Bite had spotted, raising in her a slight intrigue that helped her overcome her unease about the forest. "What kind of friendship problem could be involved with this little, sweet bud?"

"Given that the flower's an enigma, in and of itself," the young Princess offered, "I think the real question for now is, who's been connected to it, since it came here, the most?"

"Well," the yellow pony quietly pondered, "It grew sometime after that big fight with Chrysalis, or more like her stone giant, because Spider Bite knew that was never there while the Tree was burning, or else it would have been a pile of ash, since it's so close. Then there's the fact that Spider Bite and his friends came to this world during that whole thing. And he was the one who discovered it. And lastly, like you said, it's a real mystery, kind of like him."

"And I believe that might be the problem you'll have to deal with."

"What makes you say that," she lightly gasped in mild shock, "How could you say that he's a problem?"

"Not him, exactly," the Alicorn answered evenly, "But more like, something about him. I think the Map wants you, out of the six of us, to know something more about him. At least, for a start."

"But what kind of problem could be so drastic that would make the Map send me here, just to let me know who I'm supposed to help? Especially when he's right here in Ponyville?"

"Whom you're supposed to help. And I think I know the answer to that."

"What do you mean?"

"Because he probably won't stay in Ponyville for very long," solemnly replied her lavender friend, "He's actually thinking about moving to Canterlot, or probably even Manehattan."

Chapter One

Til the Flutterguy Sings

Back inside the Tree Castle, and more specifically in Twilight's elaborately collected library, the two mares and Spike were gathering a few volumes from the numerous shelves displayed. As the lavender Princess levitated the books into a pile, while marking them off from a checklist, also floating beside her, the yellow Pegasus aided the young Dragon in packing and loading the material into the bags and luggage set out to be filled.

"But what makes you think moving to a different place is a bad thing," Spike pondered, after hearing the ponies' discussion concerning Fluttershy's current task, "I mean, maybe all he's looking for is a nice change of pace. A different type of atmosphere. Nothing wrong with that."

"I don't think it's wrong to want that, Spike," Twilight answered, her attention still towards the manuscripts in question, "It's only a supposition of what the Map is directing our attention towards."

"But since the Map showed us that I should be here," the hovering Pegasus added, "looking at the flower to know about our most recent friendship problem, instead of Canterlot or Manehatten, like Spider Bite plans to go, maybe it's telling us that he should stay for some reason."

"True," Spike shrugged, as he placed another set of books into a case, "But maybe it's not about moving, at all. Maybe it's just finding out more about this guy, like you said, Twi."

"Perhaps," she answered, "And it's probably something even simpler than that. All we know, for sure, is that this involves the newcomer, in some way."

"But what about his lessons in magic," the Dragon continued to ask, "Is he having any trouble with those?"

"Actually, he's been excelling at each and every one of them." Her tone remained even, yet slightly hinted a surprised approval. "In fact, he's surpassed most lessons that would take any average novice months, in such a brief period of time. So much so, I actually decided to keep his lessons and reviews at a reduced rate of instruction, so as not to rush through them."

"Did he have any problems with that," the Pegasus wondered.

"On the contrary, he was more than satisfied with it, saying that he trusted my better judgment on such matters that he was unfamiliar with."

"What does he do after those slowed-down lessons?"

"Same, as always," she huffed her reply to the purple and green assistant, "Scaling the castle, inside and out, looking at books, working to adjust his gadgets and making more of his web fluid. Wants to increase its durability and integrity even more, he said. Found a dozen rooms covered in the stuff. Gave even Starlight a scare when he mistook her room for his."

"Oof. Well, there are so many rooms, and many of them do look alike," puffed Fluttershy, as she heaved another load into the piles of baggage, "Where is he, anyway?"

"My guess is he's checking on his three fellow travelers, right now. And possibly Miss Watson, in particular, since she's coming with me, Spike and Zecora to Manehatten." What Twilight summoned before her, next, was a pile of index cards, a projector, and an instructing rod, then trotted towards her packing bags. "This seminar on Everfree vegetation and herbs might prove to be a great step towards gaining a better grasp of that place, which has been left largely unknown for the past millennium."

"Did Rarity get in touch with Miss Pommel, like she said," asked Fluttershy.

"Mm-hmm," she nodded, in turn, "Coco was actually very excited to have somepony with stage experience looking for work. In fact, she was even more thrilled to hear from Rarity that Mary Jane can help with costume designs, also."

"What's up with those two ponies, anyway," the purple and green Dragon inquired, "Mary Jane and Spider Bite? Doesn't anypony think there's something funny going on between them?"

"They do seem to get along rather nicely together," pondered the soft-spoken mare, in response, "Maybe that's also why he's thinking of going."

"It may be the case," the Alicorn replied, "that they share some sort of bond. But the fact that he still conceals his face from the public, as well as his friends, tells me that they're not so much close, as much as familiar with each other. After all, he did say he only knew them through a photographer he's acquainted with, a good friend and family member of theirs."

"Yes, he did tell me that," Fluttershy spoke with a nod of her own, "So he might feel especially concerned for their safety, along with their return home, as much as his friend would. Or, at least try to be."

"But why move away, if he's really into taking care of them?" Spike's question formed a slight pause of contemplation from the mares, as Twilight began the completion of her packing.

"I'm willing to believe it's because," she firmly, though delicately offered, "in some way, like Mary Jane, he's looking for familiar trotting grounds, himself."

"Don't you mean swinging grounds?" The reptilian's remark caused a slight smirk from Twilight and Fluttershy, as the three friends completed their task of traveling preparations.

"Sure you don't need a hoof?" The peach redhead tossed a few accessories that she received from the white Unicorn into a bag, as she heard the web-head speak.

"I think I can manage, Spidey, thanks," she chuckled, "Besides, it's not like I can't do anything other than travel light."

The web-slinger simply crouched laterally, his hooded head protruding from the wall, over the sofa the case was on. Shifting his head between the mare and her current task, he shrugged his horizontal shoulders, and said, "True. I guess that's a problem when you're somepony who's looking for something to pass the time."

"Two weeks without fighting crime," MJ offered, "That's got to be a rough change for a guy like you."

"Don't have to tell me," he huffed, "I mean, I'm not complaining. Everything here's beautiful. Great. Gorgeous, even. But it's just so…so peaceful. So…way, too quiet. It rattles my spider brain to find ways of doing something useful, when all you see around you is pure, complete, total silence and tranquility. Plus, everypony here's got a job to go to, and lending a helping hoof when needed, not requiring a wall-crawling pony to help save the day. Heh, I've actually gotten used to saying those idioms around here, now. And I know it probably won't be any different in Equestria's equivalent to the Big Apple from this. No crime rate, whatsoever. If not, the occasional troublemaker or pawn broker, hanging out in dark alleys. But I think what I'd really like is some city noise. You know, shouting ponies, saying, 'I'm trottin' 'ere! I'm trottin' 'ere!' and the hustle and bustle of a major metropolis. I mean, that's what you're trying to do, right?"

"I don't think it's so much what I want to do," she replied, "as much as what I need to do. I really think this is necessary, in order to get well situated around here. I also think you've managed to do that for yourself, already."

"You mean with all our new friends?"

"Looks to me they could use a tough guy like you, once in a while. And aren't you still taking lessons from Twilight, for that new ability of yours?"

"Yeah, but," he strove to counter, "I-I mean sure, I've picked up a few, very valuable tips from her, but it's not like I can't do that still by mail, or, you know, go to the nearest magical academy, and enroll. Kind of makes me wonder about that strange doctor that I kept hearing about back at home."

"Not so keen about her house rules, huh?"

"I don't know," he shrugged, ignoring her slight tease, "That's kind have been like starting boot camp. Very strict, early hours, very impatient and intolerant with my antics."

"Sounds more like a squabbling couple, to me," MJ persisted in her jests.

"Yeah, good luck with that, Matchmaker," flatly stated the wall-crawler, making the redhead grin. She also could not help recalling her attempts of bringing her friends, Gwen and Peter together, with a warm reminiscence.

"I'm not looking to catch my eye on Tzeitel, anytime soon," she heard him continue, "Besides, it's not really how the Princess runs things that gets me. Or her, in general. She just likes a solid, well established order of things, in a nicely set routine. Nopony can blame her for that. It's practically her job description. I'm just so bored out of my skull, that I don't even know what I should do next. In fact, I think I might even be deliberately getting on her nerves, just to get something to happen. And it's a flipping castle! Closest thing I've been in one of those is an old pal's penthouse, and I can honestly say I might have developed a slight case of agoraphobia from a few sleepovers there."

Mary Jane chuckled at the irony of the scarlet stallion's final remark, before asking in a more serious tone, "What about May and Nick? Aren't you worried about how well they'll be, while you're gone?"

"Well, that's where Canterlot fits into all of this, in terms of an option," Spidey said, "It's not a metropolitan area, like Manehatten, but it's definitely the size and scale of a city that's more my speed than a small town setting, like Ponyville. Plus, it's close enough for me to check in on them, once in a while, but also not too close to be hovering over them. Even that can be annoying for anybody. Sorry, anypony. Guess I'm still not used to that. They're well situated, and well looked after. I just think the last thing they need is my pestering company."

"You're thinking a good distance means a safe distance." The green irises of the mare read the stallion's shaded countenance most accurately. Once he offered a silent, stoic nod in return, she could tell this was as much about his concern for her friend's aunt and the physician, as much as finding a comfortable fit. Just then, the slightly opened door to the guest room she stayed in widened, prompting Mary Jane to shift her focus towards it, and Spidey to raise himself to a perch against the wall.

"Mary Jane, I was hoping I could catch you before your departure," her lodger spoke, "I'm rather curious if you might be interested also in possibly co-managing my third shop, while staying in Manehattan. I could cover for expenses at the nearest suite for the first few months, if that'd be the case."

"Sounds like a good offer," answered the Earth Pony, "I'll take it into consideration. Thanks."

"You know where to reach me, darling," Rarity smiled, then shifted her attention towards her latest guest, "And, Spider Bite, I was wondering if you'd be a dear and come down to give me a few measurements?"

"Wait, you want my measurements," he asked, his awareness now sharply attentive, "Am I being fitted for a tux, or something?"

"Just a lateral project that's been under wraps lately," she answered plainly, though with a curiously slight gleam, "Would you be so kind as to offer me assistance, in that regard?"

"Um, sure, I guess," tilted the beige Unicorn's head, in reply, "I don't see why not." Noticing the white mare beam a little more, MJ heard Rarity thank the perched stallion and bidding her safe travels, before making her own exit. With a raised brow, she looked at the wall-crawler to see his own reaction, in which he turned his head towards her, and asked, "What's she up to, exactly? Any idea?"

The peach Earth Pony simply shrugged in reply, wondering if Spidey was even aware of the Unicorn's shift in demeanor whenever around him, or simply chose to ignore it. "Though she seems nice enough to go out of her way, and make something for you."

"Yeah, well, she's the embodiment of the Element Generosity," he tilted his head again, "Really shouldn't expect anything less from her, I guess. But that's been going on around here a lot, lately. Just yesterday, the Apple family sent a cart of their fresh goods to the palace, as a token of gratitude. I thought looking after Mrs. Parker and the Doc was more than enough thanks. And that's another reason I think I should get out of Dodge. All the sudden recognition. I mean, it's not like I did everything on my own. And even then, I didn't make much progress in helping to stop Chrysalis."

Mary Jane recalled how gracious Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash had been to her and Spidey, both during, and after the party, for rescuing the little fillies. Considering the circumstances of his customary reception in New York, which has been widely mixed, at best, she could understand his discomfort of such an unusual amount of kindness directed towards him.

"Look, Web-slinger," she spoke, "Like I said before, I think you've got a good thing going here. Just need to give it more time to settle."

"And the restlessness? Am I supposed to get over that eventually, too?"

"I think that's just you still adjusting to all the serenity. You're just not used to it yet, is all. So what, if you don't save the day on a regular basis? Every…pony could use a nice vacay, now and then. Every soldier needs some rest after a tour. What I think you need, to help calm your nerves, is finding something that helps you fit in around here. Like you said, find a job, become part of the normal, everyday life here."

"I'm a genetically altered metahuman, transformed into a talking, equinoid creature, in another dimension where, quote-unquote, Friendship is Magic, crouching laterally onto a wall of a Unicorn's home. I don't think you can detract from normal any further than that."

"So, try and get a good taste of normal around here, first," she shrugged once more, "Then let the normality grow on you. You can't go wrong with normal, daily living, you know."

"You know something," he sharply stated, "I have no idea why, but despite not agreeing with everything you said, I feel totally comfortable talking to you about stuff."

"That's probably because I have that kind of effect on others in general," said MJ, with a smile, to which he offered a small grin of his own.

"Parker's really lucky to have a good friend in you."

"Yeah, I know," she nodded, her smile fading only slightly, but noticeable, as she closed her small luggage, "And I know he knows it. Just wish he could trust that completely. With me, and his aunt. Like I know he used to with another."

"Believe me, I know what you're talking about."

I don't know. Maybe MJ's got a point. Is my tenuous friendship with these ponies what I've needed all along? Just a small anchor on something substantially good, while I'm here? Maybe I should also try to find ways of earning my keep. But what about Celestia and Luna? They know my secret, and my past. I can confide in them about something, and they trust me completely. Though they would probably say something similar. But it's ultimately my call to make, right? If I think it's for the best, then I should do it. Or maybe I just…need to take a step back, and review. Take this time to, I don't know, try and figure things out? With a little help, along the way? And I was the one who found that little flower when I was aimlessly wandering around with my thoughts. When no one else would've noticed it. Seems important enough, given the circumstances. Where did it even come from, anyway? And why did it decide to come up after all of this randomness? When Aunt May, the others and myself showed up? Is it a way back? Or something completely different?

The cloaked, beige Unicorn with dark blue lenses simply stood on the wooden platform of the station, as the steam locomotive pulled in. The engine made a great huff, as it came to a complete stop. As the lavender, winged Unicorn and peach Earth Pony made their way on board, and the young dragon carried their belongings inside, Zecora turned to Fluttershy and said, "Now, be sure while I'm away, that my home and my things be okay."

"Don't worry about anything, Zecora," the yellow Pegasus answered softly, "We'll be sure to keep everything kept nice, and tidy, while you're gone."

"As for you young stallion, take care," she turned to Peter, and kindly offered, "Your great unease all are aware."

"Yep, that's me," he smirked, "Mr. Great Unease. Anxiety's my middle name. Or do you ponies even have those?"

The striped mare lightly chuckled, as she extended her hoof to him. The wall-crawler took it with a friendly smile in turn, saying, "Thanks. I'll try my best."

"The best is all one can do," she replied, "So long as what's truly best is known by you."

As the train began to depart, it's steam engine chugging and puffing along, there popped up, into the open air beside the remaining ponies, in a bling and flash of light, an odd creature suspended in midflight. The wings were those of a gargoyle, and a bird, the forelimbs of a lion and hawk's talon, and its hind legs were of an alligator and goat. The hide of its tail and bodice were draconian, by the looks of its scaly texture. But what caught Pete's full attention particularly was the creature's face, consisting that of a goat and horse, with a singular fang from its jaw, and antlers of a gazelle and deer protruding above its red irises, which were in a field of yellow for its eyeballs.

"Goodbye, Twilight, Spike, Zecora and Mary Jane," it cried out in a male voice, which somehow made the web-head think of an uptown thespian, as it waved a handkerchief with its talon, "Don't forget to write!"

And…enter the goat-faced dragon. Wonder where all his pals are at?

"Ah, I always do miss those ponies so dearly whenever we part ways," he sighed, with emphatic anguish, "But now's not the time for such sentiment, any longer." He beamed as the hanky vanished from his grasp, then snapped the appendages from his paw. At that, a tray of china cups and spout, filled with a steaming substance, along with a small dish of cookies and muffins emerged before him. "How about we take this chance, and make up for that nice tea visit we've so abruptly postponed, Fluttershy? You may bring your new friend with you as well, of course. Don't wish something similar that happened to Tree Hugger to befall Mister Spider Bite, here."

"Oh, um, Spider Bite," gently spoke Fluttershy, "I would like you to properly meet our other friend, Discord."

"The Master of Chaos, now reformed," he announced with grandiose exuberance, and bowed as he shook Spidey's hoof with his paw. The tea tray were still held by both forelimbs. "A pleasure to meet you, truly."

"Yeah, same to you…Discord." A good taste of normal around here? Check.

Chapter Two

The countryside was opened entirely to the ponies' viewport, as they passed the mountainous regions that was their point of origin. Not so many trees as before, but enough to portray a very thriving atmosphere from the local plant life. The mare could not help but think of how much the passing spectacle gave her the artistic impression, as if from a painting in one of those dusty museums her class visited on a fieldtrip. Huffing quietly, with amusement at the prospect that she had stepped into a pavement drawing or through a looking glass, Mary Jane simply sat in her seat, staring out of her boxcar window. She felt more than comfortable with the way things have been, knowing that despite the sense of wary suspicion that loomed after current events, there still remained a profound, genuine air of peace and calm. And knowing that her wall-crawling friend was conscious of May's and Nicolas' wellbeing, along with her own, aided MJ in believing that things will turn out for the better, in the end.

She may have had second thoughts traveling halfway across this great country to find what she was searching for. However, Mrs. Parker's insistence was certainly the confirmation she needed to press onward. As the brown Pegasus mare told her, the only way of knowing for sure you find what you need, is by actually doing something about it. She knew everything May needed, for the most part, was precisely at Sweet Apple Acres, with the Doc more than happy to offer whatever help he could to her, and the rest of the farm's inhabitants. The peach Earth Pony was also well aware that Spidey can more than look after them, while also knowing that he has caring ponies to watch out for him, in the meantime, even though he has still to recognize that.

Satisfied with where events are leading, Miss Watson took a deep breath to solidify her contemplation, then turned to face the lavender Princess in the seat across from her. She was hearing the Alicorn muttering to herself, while also jotting notes on cue cards, making further preparations for her upcoming presentation in the city. Recognizing an air of uncertainty from the highly intelligent mare, Mary Jane softly smiled at the prospect of another such friend in need of assistance, the kind that was unknown by neither. She then asked Twilight, "Having a little trouble?"

The winged Unicorn shifted her focus between the cards levitating before her, and the casually spoken mare, furrowing her brow, and answered in the process, "I'm just trying to figure out how best to arrange the order of this segment. I don't know if I should mention the properties of poison joke, before describing its adaptation, or after."

"Is that sort of your world's version of poison oak," MJ smirked.

"We actually have that, also," replied Twilight, "But this is completely different. Physical contact with the plant enables it to secrete its magical substance onto the recipient with humorous results. It gave my horn blue spots and made it flop and wobble."

"Amusing," the redhead remarked with raised brows, "What other strange things about that forest can you tell me?"

"Well, there's the cockatrice," the lavender Alicorn said, "A serpentine creature with the head of a rooster that can turn you to stone with its stare."

"Don't want to ask how you found that out, I'm guessing."

"He-heh-eh, no, you don't." This casual line of discourse remained consistent as such between the two mares, as the Zebra beside Mary Jane joined in, on occasion. It was after the part of their discussion concerning the incident with the weeds and bramble that infected the Everfree, as well as the Tree of Harmony, that the newcomer decided to ask, "So, what seems to really be on your mind?"

Perceiving a slight degree of tension from the Princess, she saw a release of said stress with the relaxed motion of her shoulders. Twilight sighed, as she asked, in turn, "How'd you know?"

"We all need something to keep our minds off our worries, once in a while," answered the green-eyed mare, "For me, it's going through my lines in various, comical voices and impersonations. I remember my very first professional performance. To try calming my nerves, I went through them as fast as possible, to make sure I didn't do that on stage." This eased the air between the mares far more, as it elated the two fellow passengers with a light chuckle. Heaving another sigh afterwards, Twilight shifted her purple gaze outward from the viewport, and said, "I'm not entirely sure. I mean, the artifact is safely hidden, with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie watching the castle with Starlight Glimmer, the Changelings held captive finally seem to be calming down, with enough energy in the newly restored emerald to last them months' worth of sustenance. And everything seems to remain calm and still, for the most part. I just can't help but think I'm missing something."

"Is it about how things are going between you, your friends, and the web-head?"

"Well," she softly pondered, "It's a possibility. I don't think there's anything wrong with how my friends and I get along with him, but more about how things might turn out for all of us, including him. I mean, in what direction might his presence lead us? He's a very powerful force to be reckoned with, and that needs to be well acknowledged, yet, at the same time…"

"He doesn't make himself fully actualized, or well understood, as much as he could be."

"Yes, exactly. It's like wading in the shallow end, and not diving in. Not ambitious to test his own limits. Almost as if something's holding him back. Himself, more like. He possesses a great quantity of self-restraint, but I'm just not sure why that is."

"Trust me, girl," MJ said, with a grin, "You're not the first to ask about the wall-crawler. The fact that he tries to keep the spotlight on himself to a minimum, except for crooks, is no mystery. But when he does it in a very smart-aleck way, you just can't help but wonder, more than ever."

"How much do you know about him?"

"Let me put it this way," stated the peach redhead, "What you know about Spidey in two weeks, is almost as much as I do in the five years he's been around. The most any person or pony can really know, is that he's trustworthy, where it counts. For the most part."

"Some ponies find it very hard," Zecora added, "to be seen from their own heart. They use their wit and deeds, not emotions, to speak, for such openness is what makes them look weak. A fear for vulnerability is most common among ponies, but none more so, than the one who faces atrocities."

"Which begs the question," the young Princess lowly stated, "Just what exactly is Fluttershy supposed to do about that? She's the epitome of emotional sensitivity. How could she possibly overcome such a difficult challenge? How can any of us share anything about Friendship, if the recipient of such acts isn't entirely open to them? We don't even know how open the pony is to such things." She then took a deep inhalation, then gently exhaled through the narrow gap between her lips. "Wow. I keep forgetting how helpful it is to talk about my anxieties. Especially the ones I was completely unaware of."

"Don't beat yourself over it," MJ said, "Happens to the best of us. As far as your friend's concerned, if she keeps focused on what she's doing, that's half the battle already over. And from what I've seen of your friends, they do exactly that. It's no wonder how much you and your friends have already accomplished. You girls can practically do anything."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

"Such kindly offered wisdom from a mare shows her inner beauty, a friend most fair."

She could not have imagined this day carrying itself out any more smoothly than it already has. There was no better way to help get better acquainted with somepony than a calm, quiet, small gathering. Especially when one has a dear friend who can sand the rough edges, whenever they arose. The woodland creatures within her abode encircled the pony and draconianesque presence at table, observing the silent observance from the former two, and the glamorous orations of the latter.

"…and by the time I made it to shore, I realized my mistake of leaving the sea floor without its plug, instead of an extremely low tide, as I originally surmised!"

"Oh, Discord," lightly giggled the yellow Pegasus, "You always surprise me with how you find ways of turning something bleak so entertaining."

"Those baby sea turtles must've had a laugh of their own," the beige Unicorn quipped, "as soon as they caught their breath."

"Oh, I'm sure they would have," answered Discord, "Though I doubt they were at an age to comprehend me, even if I told them I was bathing in the ocean, in the first place."

"You certainly have a way of living up to your name, I'll give you that. Mamma and Papa must be very proud." At this, the dragon with the goat-like countenance wiped a tear onto a spontaneous handkerchief, with a sniffle, "You truly think so? I've always done my best to ensure I lived up to their memory in some way, or another."

Fluttershy noticed a light smirk emanating from Spider Bite, as both ponies became aware of a violin being played over in the corner, where another Discord stood and performed. "If I'm wrong, then you can wrap and hang me by my own webs. Seriously, how many of you are there?"

"Oh, believe me," he stated, with a snort, causing his hanky, and his duplicated fiddler to vanish. Poof! "I've lost count ages ago. I suppose you could say that I simply embody all forms of chaos in this world. I can't imagine how many of myselves would be found monkeying about in your dimension. Far too crowded for my taste, I'll wager."

"Never took you for one to draw the line, somewhere."

"Trust me, kiddo. A thousand years being turned to stone can push anypony over the brink, as well as rethink a few matters in one's life."

"Still took you another brief session, from what I've heard."

"Yes, but only because I experienced cramps in places I never knew was physically possible." At this, Discord bent, twisted, stretched and turned at every impossible angle, his frame misshaped completely with every word he uttered. "I...snap simply...pop couldn't...crunchresist my...zipunchecked...rippleimpulse to…Pop!stretch! But of course," he then placed himself near Fluttershy's seat in a poof and ping, "I never would've realized how important it is to have friends, and kept my fun to a less demeaning level, had it not been for Fluttershy."

"I heard about that, too. Nice work. Not too shabby, if I say so, myself." The two remarks prompted a modest blush from the Pegasus, to which she gently chuckled in reply, "Believe me, it was no trouble, at all. I just knew Discord needed to be aware of how much he needed friends, as much as the next pony."

"Can't argue with that." Once the wall-crawler completed his statement, the multi-bred dragon returned to his own seat, the same manner from which he left it, then idly sat, while twiddling his gator toe with his lion thumb, as he asked, "So, tell me. How did you two meet?"

"Oh," the timid mare muttered, realizing she had failed to mention so much to her friend, "Well, um, you see, that's sort of a hard story to explain."

"Well, it's not that hard," she heard the stallion evenly state, then saw him shrug, "Just fell into this world, from my own, but you already knew about that. In fact, I was wondering if you, Luna and Celestia could help me figure out what could've caused it, if I ever go to Canterlot. Anyway, my fellow travelers and I weren't exactly in the best shape to move with the crowds during the whole evacuation. Must've been those transdimensional miles we've accumulated. Should start my own dimension-fare business. Like maybe Multiversal Plane, or something. So anyway, I just called out to the nearest pony available for help. Lucky for us, it was Fluttershy, or else I don't think we would've made it out of that situation as well as we did."

"You were very helpful too, you know," she responded, with another flush of shyness, "You were the one brave enough to keep that giant's attention away from us, so we could get everypony and your friends to safety."

"Yeah, after I couldn't lift one of my own friends off the ground," he huffed, resting his chin onto the crossed forelegs on the table.

"But only because you were still learning how to be a pony," she countered, "And a Unicorn, at that. Having a horn suddenly appearing on your head would make anypony nervous. Especially under those circumstances."

"Still," muttered the stoic web-head, "Just hated feeling useless at that moment."

Fluttershy lost count of the many times she noticed certain qualities of her friends to resound most genuinely from Spider Bite. Not only in what he has done, but also in his words and expressed thoughts. The fact that he spoke whatever was on his mind, albeit with apparent reservations, as well as his fealty, made her think of Applejack. His constant efforts of lending a hoof wholeheartedly, without asking for recompense, reminded the Pegasus of Rarity, and his consistent dependability resembling Rainbow Dash. He even shared a few laughs and banters between her and Pinkie Pie, in a way she never saw anypony interact with the two lighthearted mares before. His amazing intellect, ingenuity and curiosity could even rival that of Twilight's, at any given day of the week. His modest, humble gentility, however, to the point of having anguish whenever he felt others depended on him when he could not help, showed how massive a heart he possessed. One he was striving so diligently to conceal.

"Goodness, Fluttershy," lowly remarked the draconian figure, "he went from a lively, talkative sort like Pinkie or Rainbow Dash, to resembling you or Twilight on a gloomy day, in an instant. Almost makes me want to shudder."

"Yep, that's me," commented the web-slinger, lifting his head with a smirk, "The Master of Mood Swings. Heh. Kind of makes you wonder about my own choice of hobbies, huh?"

Though she held great remorse for his sudden return to his former, comically reserved self, Fluttershy could not resist the urge to smile at his efforts of renewing the spirits of those around him. She imagined Pinkie Pie might offer her own input concerning the matter, as soon as she has the time to come by, that is.

"Indeed," Discord nodded, "I suppose that is why Fluttershy might have taken quite a liking to you."

"Come again?" "W-what?" The exasperated stammer of the yellow Pegasus, and the flustered chuckle of the beige Unicorn made the disorderly creature to beam with even brighter enthusiasm to carry on, "After all, it is quite clear how much the pair of you possess various commonalities. You both share a caring nature toward others, very meek in demeanor, at least somewhat, and often view your good acts as merely performing your own parts. Why, even your Cutie Marks reflect a distinctive arthropod, or three."

"Well, that was way out at left field," Spider Bite squinted his brown eyes, then shifted his focus onto Fluttershy, asking, "What do you think?" Seeing the blank stare of her teal irises at nothing in particular, along with her agape silence, prompted a widening of his own with concern.

"Um, Fluttershy," he said, waving a hoof in front of her, "Fluttershy, are you okay?" Struggling to aid her in regaining a full grasp on reality, he clopped his two front hooves together, directly towards her face, so as to give her a start, at least. "Madame Fluttershy. Fluttershy!"

She blinked wildly in befuddlement, before recovering, then said, "Discord, I really don't think it's come to that. We've only just been acquainted."

"Okay. Good. I thought Puccini wasn't going to work, for a second there. Or would that be Ponnini, here?"

"Yes, I suppose you're right," shrugged Discord, his playful demeanor slightly decreased, as he picked up a folded newspaper from above to inspect, "He seems more Applejack's, or Rainbow Dash's speed."

"Alright, first off-" Poom! A resounding quake and ominous pound of the house interrupted whatever discourse the web-head had intended, knocking both ponies out of their seats, and onto the floor. The yellow, timid mare felt a firm grip on her right hoof, as she was raised back up, with a slight throb from her cranium.

"You alright?" The evenly offered question helped her in retaining composure, as she answered, "Y-yes. Yes, I think so."

"Now what do you suppose could have caused that, I wonder?" The suspended draconian figure above gave a slightly startled expression, as Spider Bite made a quick leap towards the nearest window, opened it, and crawled out. Fluttershy hovered cautiously through the door upon opening it. Once she had done so, she looked outward to see a great creature the size of a bear. In fact, it was a bear of sorts. She recognized the animal instantly from a previous encounter, in which she and her friends confronted its assault against Ponyville. Its black and white fur, along with the ferociously sharp lance for a tail, resembling a hornet's, as well as its six limbs gave such a horrifying appearance she was hoping to never see again. The roar that emanated from the bellowing, beelike mammal, however, was not what caught the easily startled Pegasus off guard. She heard the sudden remark from her stallion guest in exasperated satisfaction, "Finally."

"F-f-finally?"

"Sorry," he responded, after Fluttershy's bewildered reiteration, "Guess I got a bit overly enthusiastic. You know, having something to do."

This following statement caused the frightened mare to think of another friend Spider Bite reminded her of, besides Rainbow Dash, who then placed himself in midair beside her. "Oh, dear. Now this is a rather terrible situation. How exciting!"

"Alright, Fluttershy, any idea what that is?"

"It's a bugbear," she shuddered, in answer to Spidey's question, "We had to fight it when it recently attacked Ponyville."

"Bugbear? Seriously, what is it with this place and insect hybrids?"

"Speak for yourself, Spider Bite," muttered Discord.

"Okay. Again, I keep telling everyone, spiders aren't insects. They're arachnids. Arach. Nids." Just then, he noticed the draconian multi-bred appear simultaneously around the creature in question. Three of his forms encircled the bugbear, causing it to growl in confusion and frustration. "Hello, bugbear. I believe we haven't been introduced."

"Though I do believe you are familiar with my friends. You remember Fluttershy, there, of course."

"I am Discord, reformed Master of Chaos."

"A pleasure to meet you." "A pleasure to meet you." "A pleasure to meet you."

Huh. Talk about better than one head. Seeing the animal strike furiously against the trio surrounding it, all efforts to no avail, Pete took this chance of a diversion to ask the timid Pegasus next to him, "You said you ladies took it on before. How'd you stop it last time?"

"Well, th-that's," she shakily replied, "kind of hard t-to explain. B-because we didn't."

"Run that by me one more time," asked the Unicorn, tilting his head with a furrowed brow.

"We fought it," Fluttershy clarified, "But it wasn't us who stopped it. It was Bon Bon, or at least, Pinkie thought it was her. She called herself-" Suddenly both snapped their attention towards a frightful shout, as they witnessed the bugbear pinning down one of the Discords to the House Tree. Its lethal sting held tightly against his talon and paw, and warily prevented from reaching its intended target. "Fluttershy, I know I may be new to this sort of thing, but…a little help, please?"

The wall-crawler turned to notice the other duplicates of their disorderly friend knocked down in a daze. You're kidding me, right?

"Hey, Buzzy-wuzzy," he shouted, as he casted a line onto the sharp puncture, "Why don't you go back to whatever hive you came from, and pick on something your own size!?"

The pull from his web detracted the sting away from Discord, as the growling beast shifted its attention towards him. Noticing this window of opportunity presented to him, the web-head leapt from his perched position above the two combatants, and joined in the fray. He flipped downward, with a firm kick from both his hind legs – bam! – launching the bugbear back, away from Fluttershy's abode, and onto the dirt road with a thud. Landing soundly into a crouching stance, he added, "Unless, you know, you're still looking for a hive to take."

While it rolled off its back, and shook the delirium from its head, Spidey turned back to the yellow mare, and asked, "So, you were saying something about Bonnie and Clyde?"

"Bon Bon," she gently corrected him, still eyeing the grounded creature before them, as she assisted Discord back onto his own feet, "She called herself Special Agent Sweetie Drops. And she came, sent it back to Tartarus, where she said she took it before, then just left."

Another pony with a secret identity? Maybe this place isn't so far from what I'm used to, after all. His head then profusely rang an alarm, as he turned to find the beelike bear, now assaulting him with its sting. With barely enough time to spare, he reached for it and bent back into the projectile's momentum. As the creature passed over the yoga-like feat he maneuvered into, he flipped upward, then landed squarely onto its furry, and somewhat prickly back. Wow. Guess he's a very fuzzy bear.

Once the animal halted in midair, before ramming its massive frame against Fluttershy's home, it turned its head in to spot its currently unwanted passenger. As he attempted a leap off of it, with a firm buck from all fours, however, Pete felt a massive paw from the midsection grabbing his hind hoof, and felt a swinging motion of his body. Oh, not this again.

Pow!The three friends were forcefully sent onto the ground upon the beige Unicorn's impact against the other two. As they struggled to regain their stances, they all felt a massive weight collapse atop of them. Poom! There was hardly enough time for Spider Bite to retaliate with his strength, or for Discord to cease his eyes from rolling deliriously, as the tackling bugbear loomed above them, and roared voraciously at them. "Woo-hoo! Seriously, pal…brush your teeth."

"Hang on!" He turned to share the same response as the gasping Fluttershy, as both witnessed a cyan Unicorn, at full charge towards them, levitating a bag of sorts within a golden glow that matched the eyes. Great, so where's Clyde?

"Stay back," he grunted, "Don't get too close!" The bugbear's focus seemed to detract from its prey, as it noticed the floating sack briskly being opened, then rushed towards it with a soft whish. Flying out of the bag was a great dispersion of dried, crumbled leaves, which landed squarely onto the pinned ponies and draconian malady with a puff. After a brief cough and sneeze from them, the beige stallion gruffly asked, "Aim's…a little rusty…huh, Bonnie?"

"I'm not Bon Bon," the standing mare sharply answered, still aware of the situation, "Or Sweetie Drops, or whatever! Name's Lyra!"

"Wait, what?" Just then, the towering beast bellowed in fury, directly onto their stunned faces, once again. Rooooar!

Chapter Three

Left. Right. Front. Back. Inside, and out. Backward. Forward. Rim. Center. Her constant vigilance, and thorough scan while on patrol enabled her to analyze every room, chamber, hall, door, balcony, and roof branch with both speed and efficiency. She would always be on the lookout for any change in the environment, or sudden shift in movements, as she observed the palace with narrowly focused, maroon orbs. The Pegasus' naturally acute awareness of her surroundings enabled her to memorize each, and every sector of the Tree Castle, to the smallest detail. Fortunately for her, the web-head managed to help Spike scrub and clean every inch of the place spotless, which kept everything well placed, and simpler to assess. She would even be aware of the newest, crumbled tissue or dropped needle, if it ever occurred.

Deciding to take a ten-minute reprieve after her morning shift, Rainbow Dash casually, yet still with diligence, hovered into the foyer, where Pinkie Pie and Starlight Glimmer were sitting, and having their lunches.

"Sheesh," she grunted, "No wonder Twilight was not so psyched about moving in here, at first. Everything here's just so…so…big. Like you can put a maze in here, or get freaked out about way too much space."

"I think it's already a maze, in and of itself," commented the Unicorn, with brief contemplation, "And I believe Spider Bite already mentioned having agoraphobia from being in here also."

"Which is kind of ironic, you know, if you think about it, because he's got all this space to climb and swing around in. But I guess, too, you know, if you think about it, being inside an enclosed space for such a long, long, long time can make anypony climb up the walls, no matter how much space is inside."

"Speaking of inside spaces," the sky blue Pegasus spoke after the rosy Earth Pony, "Weren't you girls supposed to keep an eye on the place, too?"

"Actually, Twilight and I found a little something to contribute to that," Starlight answered after completing a bite from her meal. She then ignited the light blue aura of her horn, which sent out a gentle sound wave with a soft pong, extending its border throughout the entire palace, prompting a look of awe from Pinkie. "Ooooh!"

"It's that sonar spell that I previously used against the Changelings," she continued, "But instead of a massive blast of energy, it gently reaches out to a broad range of the environment the spell's caster is in, alerting me to whatever presence that may seem unwarranted."

"Yeah," huffed Rainbow, crossing her forelegs with annoyance, "Just wish I had known about that, you know, sooner."

"I'm actually getting something, now," she heard the light purple Unicorn sharply state, "It's coming from outside. And it's nearing the doorway."

"Well, what is it? Because I would really, really like to know what something is. If it's too dangerous, or scary, or bad, or evil, or scary. Oops, I said that last one already. Silly me."

"From what I can tell," Starlight answered the ecstatically pink pony, with an even demeanor, "It's tied up in something, and being dragged here by another figure."

"You think maybe somepony managed to somehow find Chrysalis, and captured her," Rainbow Dash pondered, somewhat gawking at the monumentally miniscule possibility.

"No, its shape and size is nothing like Chrysalis. Or a Changeling, for that matter."

"Then, what could-" The Pegasus received her answer in the form of an opened door, done so in a field of deep scarlet, as the newcomer trudged along, more out of unease and discomfort than weary. With his scarlet hood up, and deep, blue shades on, he dragged the load of his web-net, which then came to view. Behind that, hovered Fluttershy, her "Stare" firmly locked onto the source of the burden within.

"No. Way." Dash's pupils narrowed in utter shock and amazement, recognizing the ensnared beast that entered. Just then, she noticed a cyan Unicorn entering into the castle beside the yellow mare, viewing the interior with an awestruck, yet also cautious demeanor. "Lyra!"

"Hey, Pinkie," the mare responded, with a friendly wave, "Thought it'd be nice to drop by to visit you, for once." She then received a crushing embrace from the pink pony, who zipped over to her in a blur. "Are you kidding me? It's not nice. It's super-duper, fantastically amazing!"

"What happened," asked the light violet Unicorn to the newly arrived trio, "How did you even manage to capture this thing?"

"Yeah," said the raspy voice of a bewildered Rainbow Dash, "How could the three of you take on something that all six of us girls only weakened, you know, for Bon Bon to finish?"

"For now," quickly answered Spidey, "don't ask. And apparently, whatever Lyra's friend did to it the last time, didn't work so well then, and also not now."

"I tried using the stuff she left for me, before going off on vacation," joined Lyra Heartstrings, "She said it would work on almost any serious problem, but just only to use it when it's really necessary. After seeing the bugbear coming back, and knowing that Bon Bo- Sweetie Drops, and Twilight were gone, I figured now was the best time. If only it worked."

"Thanks for trying, though," spoke the wall-crawler, who finally released his grip on the line from over his withers, "But your aim could use a little work."

"I was only told to throw the dry leaves in the closest vicinity of the danger," she simply shrugged, aware of his sincerity, "Sorry I got it in you ponies' faces, in the process."

"Anyway, it was a good effort," continued the beige Unicorn with a sigh, who seemed to be more wary of his manner of speech, since he arrived.

"What dry lea-" Suddenly, they all heard an irritating repetition of pounds and bumps from the outside walls, interrupting Starlight's question. Looking out through the open door, the occupants saw the scaly figure of their disorderly friend, laying flatly at the very step of the entrance. "Oh, how humiliating this is! To think that this would happen to me! Of all ponies!"

"Just think the opposite of what you're trying to do," shouted back Spider Bite, with a roll of his eyes. At this, Discord drooped his head down onto the ground, laying woefully with discomfort, then appeared inside with a bling, as he floated above the group with renewed vigor, but then another sour face, "Ah, yes! Much better. Though it is still quite the nuisance to adjust to."

"And so complains the reformed Master of Chaos," evenly announced the web-head, "Seriously, I would've fot a gah wa'uk yoo wud-ov welupht in wevuhth contwohlf."

This prompted a clearing of his throat and pursing of his muzzle, the furrowing of the three inhabiting ponies' brows, a snigger from Lyra and Discord, and a deep exhalation from Fluttershy.

"What," sharply asked Rainbow, Pinkie and Starlight, tilting their heads at once. Their response forced a moan, and another eye roll from the web-slinger, as he turned to the yellow mare behind him, "Ugh, aph if I diduhn have enuhf taypht ov a nohmow wahf awoun hee-uh."

"What?"

"Fluttershy," he spoke, while striving to maintain a certain level of composure, "Would you please explain to them what happened? Because I don't think I can manage."

"Me neither," chuckled the cyan Unicorn, raising a hoof to her muzzle.

"I'm with you, both," spoke the draconian multi-bred in kind, who then vanished out of sight. Then, they all heard a shout from an unseen sector of the palace, saying, "Oh, bother! I meant I am not with either of you!"

As a result, Discord found himself returning to the company of the present ponies. In response, the timid, soft-spoken Pegasus removed her firm "Stare" from the captured, hornet-like bear, which decided to rest for now, and looked up at the rosy Earth Pony and colorful Pegasus with a groan of her own. What they heard from her, to the light purple Unicorn's utter shock, and the other two ponies' amusement, was not Fluttershy's gentle, light voice. Instead, in its place, was a low, strong, masculine tone, that said, "Okay. I'll start from the beginning."

Rrrrrrrrr. The towering beast bellowed in fury, directly onto their stunned faces, once again. Just as it stared wildly upon its prey with reddened eyes, it ceased in mid-growl, at the sight that it received in return. The firm, constant retaliation of those teal orbs were piercing enough to send forth a vast multitude of daggers. It forced the creature to veer back, causing it to shift its great mass off of the animals it ensnared. At first, there was a snarling attempt to regain its declining advantage, however the words spoken by the source of those authoritative eyes, made it cringe all the more.

"How dare you." The sweet, gentility was strengthened with integrity and determination, a slight tinge of anger emanating with a soft growl of its own. "Is this how you treat other creatures that you meet? Is this how you behave yourself, wherever you go?" The bugbear had completely removed itself from its position atop the three friends, allowing Fluttershy to hover directly towards the animal's cowering face, and Discord and Spider Bite to rise and view the spectacle with silent admiration. The creature, itself, began to back away, as the Pegasus sternly progressed towards it. "How do you expect any of us to treat you nicely, if all you do is scare and terrify whomever and whatever you encounter? As far as I'm concerned, you don't get any respect for being a frightful, horrifying monster, because it only shows how much you prefer to be on top of everypony, all by yourself. And since you don't seem to be ashamed of that," she then spoke with a low, fortuitously heavy tone, "then you should know how that sort of attitude gets you nowhere, because you'll have to deal with every creature you bully, completely on your own."

Once she had finished her statement, Fluttershy covered her muzzle with sharp realization of what had transpired. The beast, itself, had curled most quaveringly onto the ground, allowing for the beige stallion to cast batches upon batches of adhesive onto it, forming a massive shell of webs that engulfed the bearbug entirely.

"Wow. Got to hand it to you, Fluttershy," Spidey spoke with great surprise, as he finally lifted his hood and wore his darkened lenses, before the cyan Unicorn could get a good look at his face, "Never thought I'd hee-uh a Toomthtohn impuhthanayphun from anee-ponee, buh yoo did ut in thpaydth."

"Wh-what did you just say?" She was startled by the incomprehensible remark, so much so, she momentarily lost focus of her own, bass predicament. The yellow mare noticed the arachnid stallion clear his throat, before he continued, "Sorry. Something in my throat. Must've been those dry leaves. Puhthunollee, Aw pwefuh-"

She eyed him with worry, knowing that whatever caused her familiar change in voice, had an effect on her new friend also. But she knew something like this was far too soon, especially since neither came to contact with the plant at all. He seemed to move his lips and tongue with cautious precision, as he enunciated, "Aw pweh-fuh. Ahem! Thumpheen maw-uh. Ha-ha-hem! Hyah-hem! Wiph a…kehk? Really!?"

Fluttershy observed, in her peripheral, Lyra Heartstrings joining her side, as the two mares turned their focus onto the draconian multi-bred, with both confusion and concern.

"Oh-ho-ho-ho, my! Both of you…stop this instant! I'm...I'm afraid I can't-" They witnessed him laughing hysterically at one moment, then soaking himself in his own tears, inside some invisible tank, entirely submerged during the next. Seeing the shock from his countenance, due to his sudden awareness of the situation, indicated that it was not his intended jest. Raising his talon, with a snap of his claws, he drew all the water into his mouth, causing his cheeks to expand erratically further than any would expect. Discord spat out the sweet fluid out of his flustered face without hesitation, engulfing the three ponies into a massive puddle before him. Spitting, coughing and gagging, they heard him mutter, "What in the…blazes…was that about? I never would have…made myself…drown in my own…tears of laughter like that. Nor have it swallowed whole…in such a tasteless fashion. Where is my agent, when I need him? I tell you, those comedic writers will get a piece of my mind, for this. And when I am through, I will show them to make a mockery of me!"

He tightened his paw and talon into balls of fists, which then became spheres in themselves, their exceedingly dense mass forcing him to drop from his suspended position with a thud. "Oof! Curses."

"Twutht mee, pahl," started the wall-crawler, as the drenched trio shook themselves dry, "Thaph naw weelee hahd tuh doo. Ah! Can anyone please explain to me what's going on, here?!"

"I second that motion," scowled the disorderly goat-dragon, raising a spherical limb, who noticed himself appearing by his side, mirroring his movements and speech. "I second that motion."

"That's not what I meant!" "That's not what I meant!"

"Oh, dear," Fluttershy deeply muttered, her ears lowered with unease.

Well, that's just great, Parker. You never thought you'd say "I wish I burnt my tongue again, instead." At least, not under these circumstances. And back then, it was only for a short while, and it didn't seem to come up at random. Sort of. Peter watched as Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were desperately gasping for air, sprawled onto the floor, from their uncontrollably merry mirth. The cyan mare only viewed the hilarious spectacle of the two mares with a smirk, striving to remain soberly aware of the situation, once Fluttershy completed her tale. Discord sat most callously on a sofa, not attempting any further use of his abilities or speech for the moment, while the beige Unicorn simply crossed his forelegs in a stoic manner, his shades and hood still worn. He strove to maintain his silence, despite his urge to mock the two laughing ponies on the floor. Fluttershy, herself was merely sitting on the cushion adjacent to the web-slinger, holding a cup and saucer provided by Starlight, who was examining the substance from Lyra's sack under a microscope, both possessing a mild grin of their own. The yellow Pegasus then seemed unable to resist a chuckle also, being that she was more than aware of, in fact, reminiscing with the rosy Earth Pony and colorful Pegasus together, about the occurrence. And at least one of us doesn't think this is so bad.

"Oh-ho-ho-ho-hoh, man," exhaled Rainbow, as she wiped another tear from her eye, "Guess Discord got a…good taste of his…own medicine. Pffffft. And it looks like…Spider Bite, here…bit off…more than…he could…chew. Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! S-s-seriously, where's Spike with the nicknames, when you need him?"

Pinkie was faring no better in recovery than her friend was, screaming in untamable hilarity alongside her. Fighting for breath, she made an alarmingly loud wheeze and pant, then closed her muzzle, keeping a massive bubble of air from escaping. Lips quivering, however, the blue eyes of the pink mare grossly enlarged, with more water pouring out, as she set off the most uproarious Snort! imaginable. "HA-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-hyack-hyack-hyack! I know! Twilight, Applejack…Rarity and Spike not being here…is the only thing…that I'm sad about!"

"I shall have you ponies know," Discord sharply spoke, turning his venomous glare unto them as well, "that this is only temporary. I'll be sure to make you rue ever succumbing to such rude behavior on behalf of our grievous misfortunes, as soon as Zecora returns." The moment he said the word rue, another ruse sharply appeared over his head, consisting of a wide, faceless mouth, laughing with wild hysteria above him, which he swatted away with great irritancy.

"Yeah, like…another three days," scoffed the colorful mare, "Trust me, pal. We'll definitely get…our laughs' worth…by then."

"And then some!" As the mocking duo continued with their breathless merriment, the disorderly goat-dragon gave a menacing stare in response, prompting flames to erupt from his eyes, and catching onto his cringed brows, in the process. "Oh-hoo-hoo-hooo! Curses, again!"

"Okay, is there any chance that we can get back to the issue we're dealing with here? Anytime, soon would be preferable." The firmly agitated statement from the stallion did very little to settle Rainbow and Pinkie's nerves.

"Now he's being serious?! Web-mouthed is right!" However, Starlight seemed to have completed her analysis shortly after, for she evenly, though stifling a snort, came and approached the ponies at lounge. She placed the small slide containing dry leaf particles on the table between them, in a floating, light blue glow. "From what I can tell, after doing some research with Twilight on this particular section in her seminar, these leaves didn't originate from poison joke."

"I suppose that kind of explains why it had no effect on the bugbear," the bass reply of Fluttershy was heard, forcing another chuckle from her Earth Pony and Pegasus friends.

"It's a start, at least," continued Spidey, "Just where does the humorous plant fit into all of this, exactly?"

"Let me see," the light violet Unicorn said, examining both him, and the yellow mare more closely. She then inspected places on the ponies' faces where the dehydrated plant fragments had landed, some still on their coats. Igniting her horn, she lifted a few particular specimens from them both, and placed them onto another piece of rectangular glass, returning for a second session at the microscope. She placed a front hoof under her chin, humming most contemplatively, as she diligently stared onto her latest sample.

"Spider Bite, take a look at this." He left his seat from the cushion, and went towards her position with mild curiosity of his own. As Starlight stepped aside for the beige Unicorn to closely examine also, he placed his brown orbs, after slightly raising his blue lenses, directly through the magnified pair before him. "You see the brown and green, parched leaf fragments, right?"

"Yeah, I do," he answered evenly, then added, "Along with something else. Doesn't look as dry as the rest. Looks to be even brighter in color, too. Maybe blue?"

"Fluttershy mentioned the bugbear roared directly at you three once it tackled you."

"Yep. I tawl ut tah bwuph uth teeph, had suph bah bwehth. Nngyah! I mean, yeah, it did."

"I think it wasn't just its breath that you took," offered the light purple mare, "Like you suggested indirectly, its teeth had crumbs of food that it ate between them, left there for who knows how long, if not recently. My hypothesis is that the creature consumed some poison joke, having developed some kind of immunity to it, then attacked."

"Preventing whatever was in the bag from Lyra's friend of releasing its full effect onto it. Somehow cancelling it out, altogether. Wait, I think I'm seeing something happening, now. Look." He moved away from the instrument in question, lowering his shades, and allowing Starlight to return to her previous station. Once she viewed upon the magnified substances again, she saw what the arachnid pony was referring to.

"The crumbs…they seem to be…absorbing some kind of energy from the dry leaves. And they're vibrating more erratically by the second."

"Maybe the joke not only boosted the hornet panda's immune system from those other leaves, but the dried plant pieces also amplified the effects of the joke on whatever else came to contact with it."

"So, no matter how old the poison joke crumbs were," concluded Starlight, "Their effects became rejuvenated by whatever's in the sack."

"But why work on us three, only," asked the masculine voice of Fluttershy, "and not the bugbear, when the two mixed together like that? Some of it must've flown onto it, from the air between us."

"According to Lyra's friend, the creature's been to Tartarus and back," the Unicorn mare suggested, "Since that place lacks any stable magic down there, that could be a possible explanation for its immunity to the joke in the first place. I mean, it ate from the plant, itself, after all. Having crumbs of the blue leaf in its teeth, and everything."

"Do you know if Agent Sweetie Drops left anymore of those leaves for you to use," asked Pete, turning to face the cyan Unicorn, "These aren't any good, now. So we're going to need to figure out if there's more where they came from."

"I'll go back to our house, and take a look around in her stuff. I'm sure she'd understand, roomie and all. You know, crisis, and everything." Lyra Heartstrings sprinted into a full gallop out of the room, and the castle, with great haste.

"Oh! And be sure to tell Rarity and Applejack to come here, right away," Starlight shouted back.

"On it!"

"And while she's doing that," Spidey continued, "do any of you know the proper treatment for this kind of exposure? You know, since you've all been affected by the joke, before?"

"Yeah, sure," Rainbow shrugged, able to contain herself to a mere smirk this time, "But Zecora's got the recipe in that book that she and Twilight have, and both are using them. To share a bunch of notes to each other during the presentation, or something."

"But there's the town spa," quickly countered Pinkie, "They got the recipe from her, afterwards. So, they should still have that, and the ingredients to make it. It's a very, very, very popular spa session, around here!"

"Aw cahn onwee uhmaj- Ugh!" Spider Bite quickly shook his head in self-admonishment. Clear head, Pete. Focus. Just like everything I've gone through with the Princesses and Starlight. Sounds like a fairy tale title-Focus!

He ignored the renewed chuckles from the two mares, and asked Fluttershy, "Isn't there anywhere else we can find the treatment?"

"Sorry," she lowly rumbled, possessing a small smile herself, "But I'm afraid the spa's the only other place to turn to." Great. That's just great. The last place I ever wanted to be in, right now, is somewhere feeling exposed.

"Problem with that, tough guy," asked Rainbow Dash, with a snide grin.

"Nuh, nothing personal," he shrugged with a sigh, "Just something we'll have to worry about later, is all. Right now, we don't have time for it. So, basically our means of curing Fluttershy, Discord and myself are left to one final resort, while the main source is off with those who left us to literally hold down the fort, while they're gone. All we can do, for now, is one: find out what Sweetie Drops used, and somehow amplify its potency (we've just got started on that). And two: keep the panda wasp from escaping. But I guess we could already put a checkmark, on tha-" Crash! Boom! Clang!

Me, and my big, fat mouth. Even when I don't make quips. "Don't tell me that was the bugbear, making its escape."

"The bugbear's escaping," screamed Pinkie.

"Aw apht yoo not tuh- Ah! Nevermind!" He quickly leapt towards the doorway that led to the foyer, and the main entrance, casting a quick line to swing hastily outward. "You ladies coming, or what?!"

"Woopsie," stated Fluttershy, in bass realization, "Okay." As she hovered past the other three mares, she turned to ask Rainbow, Pinkie and Starlight, "Um, don't you want to help, too?"

"And enjoy the show," stifled the colorful Pegasus, "More than anything!"

"But we just have other duties to worry about," added the rosy Earth Pony in kind, "You know, like the whole keeping an eye on the castle, to make sure nothing sneaky or suspicious happens, while Twilight's gone, and everything. Sorry we're party crashers, right now. And, believe me, this is one party that I didn't want to crash!"

"I'm sorry Fluttershy," the light purple Unicorn offered, "But we were instructed by Twilight not to leave the premises, under any circumstances. We'll be sure to inform Rarity and Applejack of the situation as soon as they get here, and during that time, find out more about the dried plant from Twilight's library. Plus, you've still got Discord to help you out."

"I beg your pardon, but you say that as if you assumed that I would," the draconian multi-bred said in mock exasperation, "What makes you think that I would ever desire a second encounter with that beast, after the humiliation it has caused me?"

"I guess it's because I thought you wouldn't want to stick around, you know, with these two laughing ponies, instead," Starlight humorously countered, eyeing the grinning Pinkie and Rainbow Dash with a smile, "But, I guess I was wrong."

"Oh, fine. Have it your way!" At this, as Fluttershy flew out of the room to follow the leaping wall-crawler, Discord popped into another area inside, one that was further away from the yellow mare. "Oh, dear. Hold on, Fluttershy, I'm coming!"

He then blinged into another chamber, at the opposite side of the palace. Realizing where he was, he grunted with a slouch of his shoulders. "Oh, balderdash. I mean, don't wait up, Fluttershy. I am not going anywhere, at all." Poof!

Peter swung determinately atop of the doorpost, shortly after he opened the main doors with his horn, and landed on all fours against the outer wall. Lowly bent, he turned his head this way, and that, scanning his surroundings, particularly any sightings from the air. He climbed up towards the front balcony above him, then flipped his frame onto its railing, so as to receive a better view of the environment. All he could perceive, however, was the ominous roar that echoed in the distance, the sound's vibrations against the surrounding mountain range prevented him from determining a more precise location of its cause. Isn't that just my luck for you? Just when you think you've gone through half the battle, said half breaks loose, and goes off on another, buzzing rampage. Careful what you wish for, Parker.

"Weh, oh weh hath maw wittow, tuhddee bug gawn?"

Poof!

"Please, Spider Bite, you do need to enunciate your words more clearly," said the suspended Discord with his arms crossed in an irritant manner, for he found his position to be upside down. As soon as the yellow Pegasus flew up to join them, shortly after, she deeply muttered in worry, "So, what're we going to do, now?"

Looking back to the wide open spaces of Ponyville, and the valley in which it was settled, Spidey took a deep breath before saying, "I have no clue."

Chapter Four

She was not anxious. Nor was she nervous, far from it. Today, she never felt any more confident or comfortable in another state of being, than this. Her collaborative work and research concerning the wildlife and ecosystem of the Everfree with Zecora, she felt, was a groundbreaking, earth-shattering, and hoof-stomping task, another for her personal collection of achievements as the Princess of Friendship. As a matter of fact, the reception that she and the Zebra had received was nothing short of mutual towards her sentiment. Her discussion with the peach, red-maned Earth Pony aided in calming her nerves significantly, also providing her with the enthusiasm to believe that she and her friends can, indeed, overcome any obstacle that comes their way, simply by trusting in their most Friendly Bond to one another. However, something else was not entirely sound for the young, lavender Alicorn. And since her motivation to carry on has been surged by this standing applause as well, she became determined to settle the matter the first opportunity she gets, and begin attaining a firm hoof on it.

The clopping and stomping of hooves shook the very foundations of the oratory, while the pillars and beams, themselves, were vibrating from the amplifying acoustics of the fray. The many faces of professors, scientists and arcane masters that came to congratulate the Princess and Zecora were enough to make anypony feel a slight sense of modest discomfort, causing her a momentary blush of the complexion, before reaching the exit. She saw where the green-eyed mare and Rarity's friend stood, waiting for them, and could only imagine what must travel through her striped colleague's mind, given her accustomed abode in the Everfree. She has seldom been seen in public, aside from Twilight and her friends. She noticed Spike, her assistant, carrying the projector and its slides down to where the others were also, and briskly picked up the pace to do the same.

"Great job, Twilight," exclaimed Coco Pommel, who decided to join the other ponies, and spectate the event, "I hope to bring the house down in that fashion, someday."

"Yeah, congrats," meekly nodded Mary Jane with a soft smile, "It was nothing short of amazing. Same to you, Zecora."

"Yes, and great work to you too, Spike."

"Thank you," Twilight nodded in kind, as the Zebra and young Dragon did the same, "But enough of the flattery, and let's find someplace quieter, why don't we?"

"Couldn't have said better, myself," MJ replied. The four mares and their adolescent, reptilian friend found a well, shaded area in the nearest region of Manehattan's most reputable park. With a red and white, checkered sheet underneath, and a picnic basket with their choicest snacks set among them, the five companions relished in the serenity they found themselves in. Zecora simply sat in a meditative pose, as Coco and Spike decided to talk about matters concerning Rarity, and her boutiques in Ponyville, Canterlot, and Manehattan, so as to relay between the vanilla Earth Pony, and the white Unicorn everything current with the three businesses. In the midst of these separate activities, the lavender mare viewed this as the most available opportunity, clearing her throat before taking it, and said, "Mary Jane, I was wondering if you could help me with something."

"I'll do my best," she shrugged in modest, "Spill, girl. What's the other penny?"

"Well," she began, though with an awkward change in pitch, and pressed on, "You seem to be well versed in offering friendly advice, and you're also familiar with friends you know about, yet you don't really know about, right?"

"Depends on who's asking," smirked MJ in reply.

"Well, here's the thing. I made a friend in another world, and we kind of began things rather well. In fact, we've also developed, sort of, kind of, a mutual affection, he and I. But when I got back home, here in this world, I met his alternate, pony counterpart. Because, you see, the one that I previously knew was inhabiting a human dimension, sort of like your own, only more of the Equestrian variety, though the geography, technological, cultural and dietary parallels might have been uncanny, but still…" At the raising of a hoof from the silent, though smiling redhead, Twilight heaved a sigh as she continued, "So, anyway, I know that it's highly unlikely for me to see him again, if not as often as I would like. And I see his counterpart often enough to acknowledge how awkward it is to encounter somepony I've only met, yet became very fond of at the same time. Ugh."

"Wow. Isn't that the head scratcher, for you?"

"He-heh. You have no idea."

"Look," Mary Jane began, "I'm no expert in long-distance relationships, especially of that kind. I think none of us really should consider ourselves one, as far as I'm concerned. It's just impossible to tackle. But it just sounds to me like you're dealing with another, ordinary, run of the mill issue about someone you've met before, but never really gotten to know."

"Simplifying it into those terms," pondered the lavender Princess, "is actually, very consoling."

"So, I think the best thing that you can do about that is simple, then: do something you normally would do to get to know a friend better. Just invite him to hang out with you and your group, let him know about you all in the process also. Don't really need my help, for that kind of advice."

"No," she giggled, "No, I guess not. But thank you, all the same."

"No problem. And don't worry too much about whether, or not if it's possible to have anything more between the two of you. Just savor the moment, enjoy being with each other's friendly company. Let things come and go naturally. And if it ever does come to that, well, girl, you've basically reached unchartered waters for each, and every one of us. Both guys and girls, alike. Just take a breath, casually surf each wave as they come, and don't rush things."

"You would think the Princess of Friendship would be more, well versed in this kind of thing, huh?" Perhaps she could consider Cadence's input on such matters, should it ever come to that.

"Books can be a good help, for starters. And sure, there are proper channels to go through, well established by both experience and heavy thinking. But trust me, they don't fully prepare you for the unpredictable that is called human…and pony nature." They share a brief chuckle between themselves, as they continued with the momentary solace together, before parting ways.

"After hearin' from Lyra 'bout what went down, Ah jest had to come by and find out fur m'self."

"Indeed," Rarity joined the ruggedly, orange mare, "To think that such…ludicrous events would occur a second time, and on both accounts, is beyond unusual." The two ponies simply observed the movements of their three, affected friends, or lack thereof, after hearing a jovial description of much further details from Pinkie and Rainbow. Fluttershy simply sat quietly, her head lowered in wait for any further response, while Discord essentially behaved in the same manner, which would have been considered out of his character, had he not made his signature pout of annoyance. As for the arachnid stallion, he was devoting all of his attention between the samples he has been examining, as well as jotting notes with a quill and ink, after viewing a few entries from a book that was set beside his microscope, scale and Brisket burner. His focus was so, silently determinate, he hardly had spoken a word either.

"Jest glad we don't have to waste time foalin' aroun' in the shenanigans, right this minute." Applejack could not help but smirk at the prospect of Spider Bite entirely devoid of speech, much less speaking gibberish whenever he had a quip in store. Although, his diligence and concentration on full display for the ponies was an extremely rare occurrence, in itself. It has been made quite clear that he possessed the mind of an astounding genius, however it had never been so, well shown, before now. "Recon Ah can't recall ever seein' yuh this focused, so far, Spidey."

"Two days. Forty-eight hours without even a buzzing sound close by," the beige stallion began, "The plant meant to stun the animal in the first place is not indigenous to this particular region, according to this notebook from Lyra's friend, which has been our only lead in finding out what it is, exactly, and how to use it. And, if we're lucky, we'll barely salvage a quick grab and tag before the Princess gets back to find another problem to worry about, along with Chrysalis."

"Goodness," lowly remarked Fluttershy, "All those words spoken, and still no sign of an impediment."

"That should definitely tell us all how much he has taken the matter seriously," answered the white mare, "Though I still fail to comprehend why he, or any of you, haven't taken the treatment session at the spa, just yet?"

"Too busy to make the time for it," he evenly, but quickly responded, "As for those two, Aw wan ow-ov awdee-uhs faw an eghyooph day kuhd kum up wiph."

"Say what, now?" "I beg your pardon, dear?" Both ponies sniggered, alongside the colorful Pegasus and rosy Earth Pony, to which Spidey groaned in answer, "I never bothered to ask."

"I just thought," the yellow mare giggled, as she deeply spoke, "that since he was willing to keep working on finding a solution to our problem with that bugbear, I should stay to help in some way, also."

"And you certainly did so in spades," he added, "Giving Starlight and myself an extra set of hooves to bring stuff over here, and a spare set of eyes to help find them."

"Devoting all his energy to that, instead of his own condition until later," she continued, "made me want to simply do the same, by just being a friend close by. Besides, there's no way of knowing when or where the bugbear might come back. So we need to be ready."

"Rather thoughtful of you to share the burden, Fluttershy," nodded Rarity, "as well as a sensible supposition. And I suppose Discord felt that way as well, yes?"

"I'm only waiting for these ponies to finally make enough progress, so as to attain the opportunity for said treatment," the disorderly multi-bred bitterly answered, "I would like to keep my humiliating presence in the public eye to a minimum, especially after yesterday's searching party fiasco, thank you very much." Just then, in a bright flash, the entire chamber was packed full of everypony in town, pushing and shoving to make room for themselves most begrudgingly, nearly causing the smothered web-head to lose his specimens and instruments, had he not sensed it coming. All eyes turned towards one another, in befuddlement, then looked directly at Discord with suspicion, correctly presuming, by habit, that he was somehow involved. "I meant I would absolutely cherish the spectating eye of everypony from Ponyville, and bear witness to my most recent conundrum. Except for my friends, already with me, of course. I despise having them here for this."

At that, the chamber was cleared of the town's inhabitants, excluding the company that had been present in the first place. Had it not been for the sudden discomfort of all during that incident, the four mares would have made for a substantial chuckle in turn.

"Aw cah beweef hee'th thtill naw yooth to-Ahem!"

"I'm sorry, Spider Bite, you were saying? I keep telling you, you need to speak up." Discord, fully aware of what the stallion attempted to convey, offered a brief, low snigger of his own. What happened next, was a sight none were anticipating, for the disordered malady, himself, morphed into an elongated piece of furniture, with his eyes rolling with irritancy, down from the hoof rest that was his head, and onto the seat that was his belly, and taking the shape of two bulbous vegetables.

"Hah ubawh vat, kowpht pohtaytohth!" AJ huffed with slight amusement from the pair's momentary exchange, as well as Pinkie and Rainbow's renewed merriment, then shifted her attention back towards the work before Spider Bite. A part of her wished she had not returned home from exhaustion to conduct the searching party Discord mentioned. She and Rarity both had their respective, full day's work from the farm and boutique, themselves. "So jest what exactly have yah and Starlight come up with, so far?"

"Before I was taken and sent back so randomly," they heard the light violet mare's begrudging voice entering the chamber, "I was able to determine the plant described by Sweetie Drop's log entry."

She placed a great volume onto the table, adjacent to the notes that Spider Bite had been writing, and stood beside him and the approaching Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity. "According to this, it's called impulse vera. It's native to the southern regions of Equestria, in the deserts and Badlands, past the Notorious Bog, and used in moderating the neural responses to produce vast amounts of adrenaline, mostly during episodes of provoked anger to the point of violent encounters."

Looking at the sketch of the vegetation in the book, the four other ponies examined the detailed notes of its various properties as well. Its three-tipped, rounded shape offered a resemblance of a triple-edged heart, with the color of the illustration portraying a fiery red.

"Well, that would explain why its dried, decayed state looks like any ordinary leaf," the beige Unicorn stated, "Unlike anything we have to look at here. The substance it secretes might also be the cause for rejuvenating the poison joke crumbs."

"For untamed animals," she continued, "It is widely known for use in tranquilizing them up to twenty-four hours, before sending them off to inhabit someplace that is less threatening to local settlements."

"So Bon Bon, or Agent Sweetie Drops," said Applejack, "got her hooves on this here stuff, to help her knock out that bugbear, before sendin' it back tah Tartarus. With a spell that Twah helped her with, the last time."

"And the spell for such a difficult mode of transportation is found right in here," the light purple Unicorn pointed with a hoof, "Twilight had this page bookmarked for further reference after the experience, fortunately."

"Such a pity Spike isn't here to send a correspondence to Bon Bon, asking where we could find a means to attain the plant." As Rarity commented, Starlight Glimmer returned her light blue glow onto the book, so as to flip the pages even further into the body of text. "For now, that would have to be addressed at a later date. But I think I might've found a substitute for the impulse vera, though."

At this, they looked closely at the maroon coloring of another sketched plant, portraying a clover of eight leaves. Reading the caption above and the following text, Spidey spoke, "Tranquil clover. A sleep inducing plant of the highest potency known to ponykind. Calms the senses to the point of deep slumber, which can take its effects on a subject from one to fifteen days, depending on the size of the creature induced, as well as the amount discharged."

"Sounds like a rootin'-tootin' fit, to me," the orange Earth Pony commented, "Fur the time being, anyways."

"Just where was this hiding," asked the web-head, who had scoured the shelves with Starlight extensively the night previous.

"Twilight's personal 'Volumes on Previous Encounters for Future Reference' section."

"Huh," nodded the stallion. Then Rarity stated, "Can't say that I am surprised. Twilight always finds a way to organize and prepare for every possible scenario out of something."

"Couldn't have said it better, myself," said he, as his eyes continued to travel across the ledger, "Found in small batches scattered throughout Equestria. Origins unknown. Considered to be the plant used to induce deep slumber unto Mulysses, and his crew. Myoowutheez, ha. Fugyuhth."

"There's a marked map of the country, enfolded on the other side," Starlight stated, as she flipped the page with her magic once more. On the parchment, was drawn an elaborately detailed atlas that conveyed such regions to search for the plant in maroon. As the page before dictated, scattered segments of the page were in the color matching the illustration before it, spotted throughout the map, but one place, in particular, caught the ponies' eyes.

"The Everfree Forest," shakily rumbled the yellow Pegasus.

"Perfect," beamed the wall-crawler, as he engulfed the pages in a scarlet gleam, flipped back to the previous sketch for visual aid, then turned them back to the marked section, where the spell was located. "Is there any chance this doesn't have to be adjusted for the substitution?"

"There might be," the bright violet mare muttered in contemplation, "But I'll have to do a bit more research on the magical properties concerning both plants, to see if we need to compensate."

"Alright, you do that, while Fluttershy, AJ, Rarity and I go collect the clover. We're also going to get some more poison joke, to use as a test sample for further study. You know, just in case."

"Jest need tah be sure not tah touch neither o'them, though," Applejack commented.

"Yes," spoke the white-coated mare in agreement, "Wouldn't wish to find ourselves sleeping in the Everfree, nor in some deplorable repeat from before, especially during such times as these."

"What? And nah haffeen dah chanph too thtaht an odduthee ov ah-ohn? Wehth dah fun un vat?"

"Heh, trust me partner," Rainbow Dash and the rugged mare chuckled together, "We're havin' enough fun, already."

"Yeh, too twoo. Daph alwayth me. Dah wah-uf ov dah pahtee."

"Hey," rebuked the pink pony, "You're a close runner up to me and Cheese Sandwich, at best!"

"Aw'd wahk tah tayk vat bet, thohmday." Just as he was about to depart, Spider Bite turned to Pinkie and asked, "Pheeth Thanwiph? Welee? Wuh hith pawenth Tohtht and Tohmaytoh Thohth, oh thohmpheen?"

"Spidey," snorted the colorful Pegasus, "The only way you're getting us to laugh…is by talking like that, no matter how much we don't understand you."

"Wath'n vat dah genuwaw idea," he asked, with a shrug, "Uth finawee gwohn on mee. Thoh what?"

"Of course, he, of all ponies, would develop such a sentimental attachment towards his own predicament," the white Unicorn stated, with the roll of her eyes, then trotted on ahead of him. "Much like with his costume."

"Aw. Theeth gottun yooth too ut to dah pohn ov total comwehenphun. Theeth becohm attaph to ut, too."

"I'm sorry, darling," they heard Rarity call back, "But I'm afraid you need to enunciate more."

"Thee wahkth ut."

"I most certainly do not."

"Do, thoh!" He leapt onto the walls and ceiling in pursuit of her, as Fluttershy and Applejack followed suit, with a deep giggle and amused roll of the eyes from the two, respectively.

"Now you are being a deliberate brute!" The banter between the two Unicorns made Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash roll on the floor in uproarious laughter, once again, to which the couched form of Discord rolled his potato eyeballs in response.

"O-okay-hay-hay-hee…" the rosy Earth Pony stammered, wiping the tears from her eyes, "He-he's definitely…a runner up! But only by a margin!"

"Yoo nevuh thed bah how muph," they heard his response echoing back towards them, "Oh in hooth favuh!"

"Because I like to keep you guessing!" Poof! Suddenly the draconian multi-bred transformed into a sloth, the colors of his fur matching those of his original bodice, head and limbs, to which the two ponies guffawed even further, with Starlight passively observing with a snide grin, before returning to work.

"Oh, curses again," growled the disorderly Discord, as he rose from his slouched position, then floated through the air, inflating as though his belly slowly became full of it. Pihssssssssssh.

"Of all the states of being that I am in," he said in a high-pitched voice, "it is most definitely[/I ]one filled with hot air!" To this, his stomach deflated gradually, as he carried on with another groan, still maintaining his slothful appearance. Wheeeeeeeeze.

"You two are exceedingly greater than the public eye," he vehemently spoke to the sprawled ponies, as he vanished.

"I finally got it," Rainbow Dash stifled, losing her struggle for self-containment, yet again, "Discorded! Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaah-ha-haaaaah!"

"Discorded and Web-mouthed," squeaked Pinkie, "HA-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaaah!" Eventually, at long last, the pair caught their breaths from the ordeal. "Classic."

It was not as though she were entirely frightened of these ominously foreboding woods, with every, single mention of it. As Pinkie Pie had offered, she simply faces whatever seemed terrifying at first glance with a laugh, while also knowing that she is never really alone during those situations. But, like any child that eventually grows up, though not as easily scared of something as during their youth, that former object of fear might still emanate a certain sense of discomfort. It would cause that pony to reawaken such sentiments, but only slightly. Significantly less, absolutely, but noticeable, such as that of walking into an extremely dark area, without any source of light. However, knowing how safe she truly was, when merely along the borders of the Everfree Forest, alongside her closest friends, Fluttershy, as always, plucked up the courage to step into something that was uncomfortable for her, for the sake of her friends and home.

"Alright," said the hooded Unicorn with dark blue lenses, "How do you three want to handle this? Split into two groups, and get both jobs done spontaneously? Or go find the clover first, then get a sample of joke together?"

"The more, the merrier I believe, dear," said Rarity.

"Yes," added the yellow Pegasus, in her currently dense, low tone, "Two is company. Four's even better company."

"Ah can't rightly say that Ah argue with them two," nodded the Studson-wearing Earth Pony, "Best we stick together."

"Fair enough," spoke the web-head in kind. He took a great leap onto the highest branch that could carry his weight, so as to scan the area from overhead, as Fluttershy hovered more closely to the ground with her friends, then they all progressed into the edge of the forest, keeping the clearing in sight. As the beige Unicorn jumped from tree branch to tree branch, stopping to analyze their surroundings, the three ponies below watched for any unwarranted creatures to emerge from the brush, while also checking for the vegetation they sought.

"Always glad to remember how much of a good head that pony's got on them shoulders."

"He certainly knows when to take matters seriously, when the situation calls for it," uttered softly the well-groomed Unicorn towards her rugged friend, "Fully aware of the complete necessity for communication with his comrades."

"Yep, he sure knows how to be a team player. Or else Ah doubt he'd have never even made it this far. But he only seems to be countin' on others, while at the same time, also not completely trustin' in that help. Always keepin' his fair distance, for some reason or 'nother. How 'bout you, Fluttershy? What'chyah make of 'im, bein' you're tryin' tah solve a friendship problem with him, and all?"

"Oh, um, I'm not so sure. We seem to be doing well, so far. He's very considerate and thoughtful. Always made sure to give credit where it's due, and seems fully aware of my sensitivity to jokes like the ones he usually makes towards Rainbow, Pinkie and Discord. But I just haven't really figured out what the problem is, just yet."

"Seems to me he's a mighty fine, hard nut tah crack open."

"Indeed," Rarity added to AJ's remark, "Perhaps that very, well may be the issue at hoof. Simply to find some manner of finding the slightest flaw in his defenses."

"And make 'im sing."

"It sounds like you girls are talking about interrogation, more than helping a friend to me," rumbled Fluttershy, with slight unease, "Not that I thought that's what you two meant, but still. Makes it sound even more difficult to do."

"Sorry, Fluttershy, but I do believe my point still stands. Perhaps the best way to assess and attain a firm grasp of the matter, is to simplify."

"Yep," stated Applejack, in agreement, "Can't go wrong with jest takin' a step back, and look at somethin' in a different light."

"I suppose," deeply sighed the timid Pegasus, "And if I look at this problem in that sense, you think I shouldn't try really hard to find out more about Spider Bite?"

"I believe you've done a marvelous job so far, darling, by simply being the stallion's friend throughout this whole ordeal. Speaking of which, what have you noted about his behavior concerning his current condition?"

"Well," she replied to the white Unicorn, "He seems to be taking it one step at a time, and making the most of it, as you probably noticed. Almost like he usually does. But I think that's just it. He's seems more comfortable solving really big problems, instead of finding something simple or relaxing to do, despite how stressful that could be for him."

"He did seem mighty uncomfortable at the mention of the spa treatment," said the orange farm pony, "Noticed how he tried to crack a joke after givin' a quick excuse why he hadn't done it, 'mself yet? What's that about?"

"I fear your guess is as good as our own, Applejack," Rarity answered, as the trio observed the wall-crawler remain perched on a particular branch in front of them. He then casted a short line of adhesive, as he slowly lowered himself, upside down, nearer to solid earth. After shifting his head, left and right, the arachnid stallion turned over, and touched the ground with his four hooves. They all drew their attention directly ahead of them, to find the maroon, eight-leafed clover in patches abound.

"Alright," said rugged mare, "Let's get to it, then." Just as soon as she spoke, a sharp ruffle and shift of the leaves caused the ponies' ears to twitch in response. Fluttershy took a quick glide backwards in startled terror, yelping what would have been in a light shriek. "Yipe!"

The white Unicorn, though moaning with anxiety as to what may become of her violet mane, raised her hoof in defiance, as she ignited her horn. Shuffling the ground with her own front hoof, the orange Earth Pony sent her fiery green eyes towards the source of the sound, with a great huff through the nostrils in frustration. The beige wall-crawler silently lowered himself into a readying crouch, with one hoof lifted to the side, as if he were about to pounce onto his prey.

The ruffling continued, as the four ponies heard the snapping of twigs, and the grunting and growling of whatever creature that was being heard, deep within the woods. They continued to listen intently, readying themselves for whatever might- "Haw-eeeeeeh!"

"Ahhhhhh!" The low exclamation from the yellow mare was met with great looks of befuddlement from the other three ponies at the sight of what crashed into the soil and tree roots before them. Shaking the dirt, leaves and bramble from off its grey, brown coat, it made a woeful whimper of embarrassment, showing its single fang from its disheveled muzzle. "Curses, again. I just can't seem to get a firm grasp on this sort of thing, now can I? Oh, the irony!"

"Discord," exclaimed AJ, looking with even further bewilderment at his current state, which was that of a burro, "What in tarnation are yah doin' out here?"

"We thought you wanted to not be seen in public," Fluttershy, now calm, politely stifled a rumbling giggle at the sight, "like this."

"Well, why else would I not trek this journey through the woods," he shrugged, in reply, "Nopony around to point and laugh – I-I mean, everypony besides my friends, whom I do not wish to help, especially Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie." At that, the two mares suddenly appeared in a flash, in response to the unclear statement that was made. Though startled at first by their abrupt change in location, they saw the recently retransformed Discord, knowing fully well the cause for it. This aided them in regaining their vigorous merriment, in the process. "That's not what I meant! Shoo! Away with you both!"

"Oh, boy," muttered Spidey, rubbing the back of his head. Puff! Bling! The four ponies witnessed the colorful Pegasus, pink Earth Pony, and disorderly morphed Mule vanish together, from out of their sight.

"Thenk wee phuhd wayt foh hem?" After only receiving a tilt of the three mares' heads, along with their furrowed brows that showed less amusement, he said, "I know. I know. No time for that. Come on."

Chapter Five

Alright, that's one job down, three more to go. And may I just add how useful this horn has actually become? Don't have to worry about picking things up by hoof, when the time calls for it, like right now. Not to mention saving time and energy just to put on gloves while conducting experiments. Starting to figure out how to assemble and craft gadgets and equipment with it, also. Wonder if it could be used for my web fluid? That could be really handy…or hoofy. Anyway, all that's left to do, for now, is get a few samples of the funny, blue plant, and Starlight and I can get started on the second phase of the plan. Just hope the third comes more readily available. Preferably, sometime during these next twenty-four hours. Think we can get something rolling, by then. I hope.

Peter followed the three mares through the wide, naturally laden pathway that was under the arching branches of the Everfree. Knowing how familiar the deep woods have become for the local heroes, he decided it best to allow their lead this time, while still maintaining his position in the trees. Striving to remain mindful of his surroundings, Spidey scanned the local area with great care and precision, always mindful that the danger could also be prowling behind the leaves and bramble beyond the pathway's borders. As far as his spider sense is concerned, the environment throughout has been very, well serene, without any sign of disturbances in the air pressure, no creatures showing any impulsive indications of attack, nor even the soft sound of an ominous weapon slowly being drawn from a sheath or holster, or retracting claws, beforehoof.

However, the web-slinger learned that such an ability, so attuned to everything he, and everypony is connected with, was not flawless. It may warn him of a great many dangers, a vast majority of which have been thwarted by such a feat, but not always, at the most perfect of timing. Always on the lookout, he continued to view the movements of everything in sight, as well as out, keeping his colleagues in his peripheral, at the very least. Got to make sure not to get too jumpy, though. This forest isn't completely unfamiliar to them, after all. Don't want to overreact. Discord could come back when we least expect it, in good-old, comedic fashion, like last time. Or maybe some little fairy of the Everfree would guide us to our intended destination. Though intended by us, or it, would remain unclear, until it's too late. Wow. Even that crossed the intersection at Anxiety Avenue and Paranoia Parkway a little. Guess some more action wasn't what I needed, after all.

"There they are," said Rarity, "I was beginning to worry if we had already passed them." Clustered before the ponies was a brightly ornate patch of royal blue. Possessing a combination of flower petals, and simple leaves, the poison joke grown there offered a slight gleam, in contrast to the dark, surrounding wood. Though it definitely brought back embarrassing memories to the three ponies.

"Heh," AJ chuckled, "Tah think we made such a mighty big fuss over our problems with that there plant. Now we're goin' to use it to help us catch us an even bigger fish in the drink."

The Unicorns of the expedition wasted no time, as they ignited their horns in their respective auras, collecting small samples of the vegetation, fewer than those of the tranquil clover, but enough for further study. Placing the additional items into small bags, then into the pack that has been strapped onto the farm pony.

"Perfect," beamed Pete, "Just need to take all this back to the castle, and then half our work will be as good as-" Grrrowwwel.

Man, guess somepony forgot their snack. However, after turning to see the startled expressions from the entire company, the beige stallion became fully aware of the situation. Okay. Just hope that something doesn't think we're appetizing.

Grroooowwwelll. Upon recognizing the tone of such a bestial snarl, Spidey sharply spun a quick line onto the branch that hung between the brush and the joke, then swiftly zipped onto it with a firm pull.

"Um," deeply stuttered Fluttershy, knowing the cause, as well, "Spider Bite?"

"I'm not picking up anything yet," he answered, "So no immediate threats to worry about, right now."

"And just how precisely should we know when it will be, darling?"

"Trust me, you'll know."

"Not very reassuring."

Grrrrooooowwwelllll. The sound seemed to have emanated from the south, south-east, deeper into the bleak shadows of the Everfree. Though it most certainly provided a more ominous air to the forest, the noise itself, however, sounded faint, not as though it were far away, so much as weak.

"Don't sound like a horrifyin' growl to me, Ah recon," the orange Earth Pony lowly stated, "Almost as if that bugbear was trapped, or somethin'."

"That's what I'm getting from the noise, too," nodded the yellow Pegasus, "Not so menacing, but more…more…"

"Uncomfortable," both she and the web-head completed, then she said, "Yes, exactly."

"How'd yah…?"

"Met an old acquaintance that made that same sound once," he responded to AJ. But it wasn't his own wounds Kraven was licking.

Slowly, and quietly, the beige Unicorn crawled off the tree, then proceeded onward, minding his step of any dried twigs, as well as straggler joke plant. Don't want to risk getting a double dose of laughing herbs. Seeing Fluttershy hovering beside him, as much with concern as caution, the two ponies gradually made their way closer to the rumbling animal they kept hearing, with Applejack and the white Unicorn following in kind. The moment that Spidey pulled aside a few, thick bushels, they viewed the prostrated creature, sneering and growling at the approaching ponies, but never budged an inch towards them. In fact, it seemed to veer back slightly, its six limbs clenching at the earth it was lying upon.

"Spidey," whispered AJ from behind.

"I know." What they all noticed in particular, was the appearance of white, thin, substance that seemed to be in a mushy, sticky state of matter, firmly connecting the bugbear's wings to its back.

"No wonder we never heard it buzzing around," lowly rumbled the yellow mare.

"But how did this happen," Starlight asked, "Didn't you tell Twilight that your web fluid was biodegradable?"

"Was is the key word," Spider Bite replied, as he continuously examined the separate petri dishes of clover and joke samples, mixed in various proportions, and states of matter. "I've spent the past couple of weeks trying to enhance its strength and durability, that I failed to compensate for its compositional breakdown. Once the adhesive was exposed to the much warmer environment of the outside – a clear, sunny, summer day – it began to melt, then solidify onto the wings and back."

"But if you made the stuff so tough and strong," said Rainbow Dash, "How the hay did that thing break out of it, in the first place?"

"Must've bided its time," was his response, "The bugbear was probably using its claws to slowly cut its way out, instead of brute force. Gradually making as many cuts into the webbing as needed, to weaken its integrity. Enough for one, huge outburst of rage."

"I probably should've kept my 'Stare' on him, then, huh?"

"Fluttershy, darling," Rarity raised a hoof towards her masculine-toned friend in consolation, "You could only do so much. Do not place such a blame onto yourself, when there's absolutely no call for it."

"Exactly," beamed Pinkie, "If you just keep thinking about what could've been different, and then start to think about what you think should've been different, every time you think about every, single, little thing that happened, you'll wind up with a bunch of incredibly, super-duper headaches from thinking absolutely way too much about the different things that never happened."

"Yeah, ditto," muttered the scarlet-donned stallion, "Believe me."

"What Ah don't get, though," Applejack stated, returning their current issue to the forefront, "is why the bugbear decided to camp out near the poison joke, instead of tryin' to get as far away from us as possible."

"The bugbear is mainly a predator, despite its apparent omnivorous nature," the light purple Unicorn replied, "Because it was grounded without the proper use of its wings, it couldn't hunt as effictively as it would prefer, I think. Causing it to resort to a simpler means of food source that it knows it can consume."

"So," deeply uttered the yellow Pegasus, turning her focus back onto the dormant creature, "what do we do now?"

"Right now," the wall-crawler said, eyeing the newest layer of web wrapped onto the bugbear, "I don't think it wants to repeat the same mistake it made earlier. But that doesn't mean it won't try to find another way to escape. Plus, with the room temperature just right for the web to properly decay, I better keep a close eye on that, and find out when it does."

"Hopefully we will have no further need to carry that brute with our magic again," spoke the white Unicorn with a slight groan of annoyance, recalling how they brought it back. "And what about the immobilizing plant with the transportation spell to go with it? How is that coming along?"

"A lot better than I had originally hoped," answered the web-slinger, returning his attention towards the test subjects on the table, "Glad I was able to quicken the corruptible properties of these plants for simultaneous experiments. Or else, we'd be here another week. Thanks again for that, Starlight."

"Was just a simple degradation spell," she shrugged, with a modest grin, "Nothing too complex."

"Still, it actually helped in determining the state and proper amount ratio of the tranquil clover to the poison joke in a much shorter time span. Drying the clover into small, parched fragments, like with the impulse vera, makes it the most potent. Lucky for us, too, it doesn't take that much to counter the joke's effects. No idea how much we need, to weaken the bear's immunity, though. Or, if eating any more of that plant actually made it more resilient to the clover also."

"Let's start with hourly sessions of contact with the dried clover," offered Starlight, "increasing its potency if we need to, while just dispersing it onto its fur."

"At least we won't have force-feed it," grunted the colorful Pegasus, "Hate to get bitten by that thing again."

"It also won't be so uncomfortable for it, while we send it back," Fluttershy lowly added.

"As for the spell to transport it," the light violet mare continued, "I did have to make a few, slight alterations to it."

"And what are those, exactly," asked the beige Unicorn, as everypony viewed Starlight opening the ledger, magically flipping over to the page in question. "The written word, as well as the mental capacities of containing a spell is very powerful. But sometimes, to enhance the strength, and widen its capabilities, it requires the spoken word. Or, in this case, the word that's been sung."

Upon viewing the spell written on the parchment, Spidey began, saying, "What once was-"

"Uh," she warily cut him off, "best not."

"Right," he nodded, "Yeah. So, we're basically doing an actual incantation?"

"Not exactly," Starlight tilted her head, in response, "It's not so much summoning the power of spirits, like sorcery, which, you know, actually has extremely bad results. And it's not a prayer for mystics, either, which is the exact opposite, because no spirit's power is summoned, only granted, for the sake of attaining peace, first interiorly then exteriorly."

"Ha," scoffed a hovering Rainbow Dash, forelegs crossed, "Thought Twilight said that was a bunch of hooey, or something."

"She admitted to being adamant against such things, at first," replied Starlight Glimmer, "But after her lessons from both the poison joke and Zecora, as well as the Pinkie Sense, she began to have a more open mind about matters viewed by many nowadays as superstitious, or unrealistic."

"Like a true scientist," Spidey uttered, as he examined the text further.

"Such as miracles, demons, curses, and the like, which have been recorded throughout Equestrian history, though several choose to ignore. Even Chrysalis told Captain Sentry and Spider Bite her source of power on that emerald and the Elements was witchcraft. Dark magic. A perversion of nature."

"Thoh no Hawwy Pottuh wefwentheth fwohm me," quirked the web-head, "unweth yoo awe dah viwuhn."

"Anyway," rolled the eyes of Starlight Glimmer, as she continued, "this isn't anything like that. Instead, it's a means of attaining the proper volume, strength, and meaning of the words and applying your natural magic unto it for its fullest effect. Also, the correct pitch, in this case."

"Now jest what d'yah mean by that, Starlight?"

"In order for this spell to reach its optimal capacity, with all these adjustments," she answered AJ, "it requires a low bass to solidify the spell's meaning, as well as the magic of one who was affected by the joke to cast it."

"You specifically need Fluttershy's help, and my own, to make this work."

"Like with medicine and vaccines for diseases, we find the solution from the problem, itself."

"Y-you," Fluttershy rumbled a slight stammer, "You need us to use magic, in order to send the bugbear away? You need my help in casting a spell onto a creature?"

"Hey, don't sweat it, Fluttershy," spoke the rosy Earth Pony, "It's not like we're asking you to help us force a bunch of animals to shift their natural instincts, and then turn you into a giant, apple-sucking, scary, Flutterbat, that creepily lurks in Sweet Apple Acres, at night."

"Yes, dear," Rarity added, "And in that instant, you helped us find a more sensible solution to Applejack's problem. This, however, has been the only solution available, to prevent such a brute from destroying everything with wild, mindless fury. We can't accommodate for something that is naturally incompatible to the way of life we have here, including your friendly, woodland creatures."

"Well, I don't know," lowly pondered the yellow Pegasus, as Spider Bite and Starlight began their first application of the dried clover fragments onto the bugbear, "Like with the bats, it could backfire."

"Heh, you mean like with Discorded," chuckled the colorfully-maned mare, who then looked around, scanning her surroundings, "Where is he, anyway?"

"Huuuooh, don't ask." The familiar voice echoed throughout the entire chamber, as though it were inside the room, as well as coming from the hallway, and into it, from the door and windows. "Theweeuthwee, uf yoo needed thum awohn time, juft wet uth naw, okay?"

"Ah recon he don't need to tell us so, but that was probably yur point, huh?"

"Do you think we could cast a spell that temporarily adjusts somepony's vocal chords," asked the web-slinger to his light purple colleague.

"Can you honestly both sing, and focus your concentration on a spell? You?" In response to the furrowed expression from Starlight's face, he replied, "No, not me. I'm practically tone deaf, anyway. But maybe somepony here, with a good set of lungs."

"And just whom exactly do you have in mind for that, Spider Bite," the white mare inquired, with slight discomfort in the discourse's direction.

"Weh, wifout evweeponee vowuntyuween, ah-wunth."

"I'm afraid that'll mean another factor into the project that requires adjusting," huffed the light violet Unicorn, "The pitch has to be precise. And Fluttershy's matches perfectly, out of all the sonic vibrations I've tested."

"I know, but if she's not comfortable with it, she doesn't have to," he evenly countered, "She's got the worst effect of the joke out of us three, and she still chose to stay and help in any way she could, and she actually did."

"Only because you were too stubborn to get treatment, yourself."

"Yeah, I know. And I've also given the bear hornet a hard time with my own webs. But my point still stands. She's been having to deal with it around the clock, while Discord and I got around loopholes, for the most part. Out of the three of us affected, I say she's done more than her fair share in this effort, already."

"Oh, fine," grunted the multi-bred thespian's voice before he reappeared, struggling to keep himself from falling apart, "The frequency of those radio waves have been exactly music to my ears, anyway. Though I most dreadfully prefer here to be worse than there, any day of the week."

"Awe. Thaynf, Tham-Aw-Am."

"Yes," deeply offered Fluttershy, with warm gratitude, "Thank you, Discord."

"It's no trouble, at all, Fluttershy," he politely bowed his head, "And I don't mean that most sincerely." He then shifted his furrowed gaze onto the stallion arachnid, and said, "I can still hardly believe you actually caused me such a guilt trip, there. Was it deliberate?"

"With all sincerity," Spidey answered Discord, "we may never know."

"And just how exactly is Discorded better than using a voice-changing spell," asked the raspy Pegasus.

"You forget, Miss Dash," Discord evenly replied, altering his tone to match that of Fluttershy's current voice, "I am the Master of Chaos. I simply need to attempt a Fluttershy impersonation, so as to attain her 'Flutterguy' voice, as Spike so quaintly dubbed it."

"Alright," stated the beige Unicorn, rubbing his front hooves together, "You can go over the spell, while Starlight and I work on finding the right amount of clover for the bugbear."

"Yes," Rarity added, noting the gradually restless behavior from the creature in question, "And you better start sooner than you were anticipating, darling, because that last testing batch didn't seem to suffice."

"Weth hope thith beg gah-ee endoyth a nahth, wawn nap."

"Yeah," Rainbow joined, "Before it goes back to Tartarus, where it belongs."

"Oh," uttered the timidly bass Pegasus, "I just hope nothing else goes wrong."

"Trust us, Fluttershy," stated the disorderly malady, "what couldn't possibly happen now, that hasn't already occurred?"
In response to the mere shrug of Discord's shoulders, the bugbear behind him suddenly began to rise from its lying position on the floor. Still wrapped in vast amounts of adhesive, it snarled with a sharp grind of its jaw, as if the animal had been greatly provoked, rejuvenating the continuous cycle of bestial rage and fury.

"Discord," snapped the farm pony, upon viewing the webbing being pulled sharply apart from the back. Whick! Snap!

"Believe me, Applejack," stammered the draconian multi-bred, in turn, "That wasn't any of my doing. At least, I hope not."

"Oh, come on," groaned Spider Bite, realizing the location from where the webs were breaking, "That stuff wears out adhesives, too?"

"Heh-eh," anxiously chuckled Pinkie, "Look at the bright side, Spidey: you've just found what you could use on your webs for that, now."

"Not the sort of morale needed, at the moment, Pinkie Pie," the white Unicorn warily responded. By now, the entire wrapping was completely let loose from the beast's tremendous form, freeing its six limbs to stretch and retract its claws completely, and its wings to fully outstretch, and whirl. Whizzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Hovering overhead, the bugbear viewed its former captors with dreadful voracity, licking its salivating jaws with a rumbling through its throat.

"Yah fawgot tah feed ut, diduhn yah, Dithcawd?"

"Well," shrugged the malady thespian in reply, "It's most certainly difficult to remember one new pet, when one already has another to begin looking after."

"Hey," Pinkie snapped, "Gummy hasn't been in here that often!"

"Would any of yah three quit yappin', and start doin' somethin' with us?"

"Yeah," hoarsely added the colorful Pegasus, "Like, maybe, I don't know, right now? By getting the clover?" It was then they all noticed the suspended creature had suddenly encircled them to the point of making itself an obstruction towards the trays and bags of the substance desired. The beige stallion answered her, "Waydeeth futht."

The web-head spun a quick line onto the ceiling, as Rainbow Dash flapped her wings more rapidly, soaring to the air. "I go high, you go low?"

"Ready when you are, partner," he evenly stated. She darted swiftly onto her intended target, anticipating any sudden maneuvers of evasion. Once she observed the momentary descent of the bugbear's airborne position, Rainbow sharply twisted her form, adjusting from her straight-arrow momentum into a hook, turned back, and sent a hind leg swinging onto the creature's head. It roared with great ferocity in response, then turned to see Spider Bite lift himself from his line into a somersault. Originally expecting him to swing directly towards it, the raspy Pegasus was befuddled by his sudden land back to his former spot, which seemed to cause the animal to impulsively respond with another lowering of itself, in the process.

"Mayd yah fwinph!" Fuh'jiiiih! He sent a second line that sailed past the bugbear, to which it reacted with a mere twist of its torso. Turning to see that the adhesive attached itself onto the cart full of dried plants, the hovering mare smirked at his ingenuity of striking low, as well as from behind.

However, the bugbear looked back to see what the web-slinger had done, and saw the line being pulled to bring the substances directly onto it. It retaliated by simply leaping back into the air, in a renewed hovering position, allowing for the cart to fly directly towards the assailant and his comrades, instead. Eyes widened, Spidey leaned back onto his forelegs, swinging his back ones against the approaching carrier, and launching it into the air, to which Rarity and Starlight responded with levitation spells onto the vast multitude of falling samples. With the tranquil clover greater in measure than the poison joke, the two Unicorns, began to send the floating substances unto the bugbear's direction, though sparingly.

The creature evaded and dodged the trajectory of every object sent its way, with a simple zip and buzz from one place in the room, to the other, some of which went towards Rainbow Dash's direction. "Whoa! Wa – Wai – Hey! Watch where you're aiming, why don't yah!"

"Yee-haw! Buckball's back in season, y'all!" Interpreting the orange Earth Pony's meaning for a turn in the fray also, the white Unicorn quickly sent a sack of clover in her direction, allowing for Applejack to send a wild kick to launch it. Puck! F'disssh! As this occurred, the arachnid pony swung a line of web that was attached to another airborne container of leaves. The bugbear maneuvered away from one, only to be struck by the second. Fwuh! Wham! Poom! Just then, it felt the sharp pound against the back of its neck. Turning to see the source of the attack, the beast observed the smug grin from Rainbow Dash, who had returned the first volley with a kick of her own. Enraged, it let out a ferocious roar, as it aggressively advanced towards her.

"My turn!" Jumping and bouncing amongst the thrown, flying, and falling projectiles, the rosy Earth Pony accumulated her fair share of ammunition, before rapidly sending each one spontaneously onto the waspy bear's back, herself. Whoosh! Whuh! Whuf! Sput! Pat! Ponk! Not enjoying these sudden turn of events, it growled venomously at the latest assault against it, shortly after the colorful Pegasus dodged a strike from the bugbear. It then gradually reduced its momentum and outrageous attack, decelerating its wings significantly, to the point of a low hover.

"Can't get too close to it," stated the wall-crawler, observing the massive piles of the dried plant fragments that had accumulated throughout the room, "So let's gather the rest of that stuff into the bear's general area, before it can get back up."

The three Unicorns immediately ignited their horns for the task before them, with glittering glows of blues and scarlet surrounding the mounds of dried plants, and shuffled them into piles, which completely surrounded the bugbear. "Mekth me wiph ut wuh weaf waykeen tahm aw-weddy."

"I know," beamed Pinkie, "Makes me want to jump right into those big, fluffy piles of leaves!"

"Discord, hate to interrupt your rehearsal," Starlight sharply spoke, "But we could use that spell to be sung, right about now. Better to be safe than-" Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! "…sorry."

Afraid of what the ponies may find, they turned around, and saw a couple sacks of tranquil clover had already landed, and dispersed their contents atop and around the draconian multi-bred.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding!"

"Well, in fairness," deeply offered Fluttershy to Rainbow, as she strove to somehow attend to him, "he was able to dodge mostly what came our way. But when he tried to send a few back…um, they sort of, uh…did come back."

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking," asked the beige pony to the light purple Unicorn.

"We're toast?"

"Weh, Aw wath finkeen maw twaynkul ahn leth dohk, nekft tahm. Twah tuh be maw optumuthtuk, Thtahlah-eet."

Chapter Six

"Spike, please tell me you've got a reply from Agent Sweetie Drops, now."

"Sorry, Twilight," the young dragon shook his head, with equal unease, "I haven't heard from her yet. Or anypony else, since we got that correspondence from Celestia at the Crystal Empire."

"Ugh!" It had been shortly after they reached the train station to transfer that Spike received a letter from Princess Celestia, explaining the current situation in Ponyville. Due to her and Luna's absence from Canterlot, they only had just received word of the incident a day after it occurred. A detailed summary explaining the event concerning her friends was quickly sent to their palace, only to be sent by forwarded mail the next day, despite its urgently labeled notice. "Why do trains always run late when you least expect them to?"

"Celestia said the train sending the mail that day was delayed by a huge landslide," her assistant replied, "But at least we got this news when we reached Stomp Clovis. We've got a very good head start." The adolescent dragon struggled to hold tightly onto the straps of Twilight's book bags and satchel that was packed with necessary equipment, as she flew with great resolve, frequently teleporting themselves further towards their destination. He was sorely disappointed about missing the Frowning Archway over the Misery River, though, meaning to take a photo of it to share with Pinkie Pie.

"Still," panted Twilight, as her wings maintained their diligent constancy, "I just wish we left things better suited, if situations such as these would arise. And how come the guards at the shielded ruins and the cave had none to spare? Have some been called back, already?"

"They must've." Of course, despite the vast strides that were made to narrow the distance between themselves and Ponyville as swiftly as possible, the young Alicorn Princess would land for brief, periodic intervals of respite, knowing the importance of pacing herself. She would allow for ten to twelve minutes at a time, before continuing another half hour, or so. It was during such a period in their hasty sojourn, when she placed herself firmly onto the ground, allowing for air to carry on through her lungs, she saw the looming mountains ahead of her, that had been growing larger with each passing moment. She grunted, as she caught her breath, "I just can't believe something like this would happen, when everypony that could help is away. Do you think Chrysalis is somehow behind all of this?"

"The bugbear was in Tartarus before, during, and after Chrysalis attacked us both times. I don't see how she could've found out about it, even if she found a way into the castle, and looked at all of your recorded entries. Believe me, two weeks wouldn't be enough time to cover even one of those books thoroughly enough."

"I suppose that's true," she heaved a sigh, hanging her head in contemplation, as more oxygen traveled into her lungs, with each breath that aided in soothing her racing mind. "Nor would she have been able to find anything on the hidden artifact from there, either, thank Celestia. It'll be okay. I know it will. Our friends have never been beaten before, always finding a way to get back up whenever knocked down."

"You bet they will!"

"I just hope nothing too bad has happened. Also hated to leave Zecora on such short notice like that. Speaking of which, you think I forgot anything that could help us?"

"Actually," her youthful, dragon friend answered flatly, as he pulled out a written piece of paper, "According to your quick-but-thorough, back-up-to-your-back-up checklist, nothing's unchecked. We went through it three times, already."

"Right. Okay. Good," nodded the lavender Alicorn, already eager to return to their urgent flight back home, "Though I wish I had been better prepared for a calamity, such as this."

"I just wish I had been there to come up with nicknames for Discord and Spider Bite," grunted Spike, "They never even gave a hint to what their jokes were."

"I'm sure there will be a chance to divulge in that later, Spike. But I'm afraid time is of the essence, and we have no need to ponder on such matters, at the moment."

"I know. I know," he shrugged, then sat down, crossing his arms, "So what's the plan, when we get there?"

"We get to the castle, right away. The moment we've assessed the current situation, Starlight and I will work on the spell and find the proper plant for it, while the rest of our friends are out, searching for the runaway bugbear."

"But it's already been two days," countered her reptilian friend, "Alot could've happened, by now. And what about Sweetie Drops?"

"If we don't see, or hear from her within the next two hours, then I'm afraid Starlight and I will have to make do. And, if necessary, have Spider Bite make another impromptu lesson on magic to help us."

"You really think he'd be able to jump to that high a level this early?"

"He's already made incredible strides. Like Starlight is, and myself previously, he's practically a prodigy, himself."

"But you think he'd be willing to give something like that a try, and so soon?"

"From what I've seen, I think he'll be more than willing to give it a shot, if desperate times called for desperate measures. Especially in striving to help us protect our home."

"Okay," he shrugged again, with a tilt of his head towards the ground beneath her, "You got eight more minutes before break's over." Looking down towards her shadow, Twilight examined its position, and recollected her previous instance of doing so, shortly after she landed. "Seven minutes, and forty-one seconds. What did we say about rounding up during a crisis, Spike?"

"No room for mistakes," he huffed, in response, "Need to be exact."

"Alright. So what do we know?"

"Well," Starlight answered Spider Bite's enquiry, with a slightly wavering attempt at self-collection, "We know that first batch we tested not only weakened your webbing, but also didn't even last five minutes with that bugbear." Looking at the creature in question, they all observed its stillness, as well as its vengeful heaves and growls, which gradually grew stronger and longer during the past half hour.

"Rarity and Applejack went to collect more clover," she continued, "With Rainbow Dash speeding off after them, forgetting to stay here, regardless of what's happening."

"She just wants to watch their backs, if push comes to shove," the beige Unicorn evenly countered, "A little reckless, I know, but can't fault her for that, completely."

"And Pinkie's busy, trying to wake up Discord," she grunted, as she progressed. She remembered the pink pony's erratic attempts to awake the draconian multi-bred, from clashing cymbals, clanging gongs and horns, to even pepper whiffs, only to forget avoiding exposure from the clover on Discord, herself, in the process. "Or, at least she was."

"We also know that the bugbear likes to eat poison joke," rumbled the timid Pegasus, "There must be something special about that flower's leaves and pedals. Or even the pollen and nectar that it likes."

"Oh, right. BugBear," exclaimed the web-head, slamming a fore hoof against his head, "No wonder the stuff doesn't bother it! Spidey, you big idiot!"

"Because it was actually affected by the joke, before, right," asked the light violet mare.

"Maybe," he shrugged, "Or that's how its species eventually evolved and adapted, over the years. Anyway, that's not the point."

"Then what's the point?"

"Here's the point. It's attracted to the poison joke's pollen and nectar, something both bees and bears have in common. It's not only immune to the joke's effects, but also nourished by it. It's probably the bugbear's primary food source, and not secondary, like we originally thought."

"You think there might also be something in the nectar that makes the animal behave so viciously," Fluttershy lowly inquired.

"It's probably got some kind of stimulus, yeah," answered the arachnid stallion, "And maybe that's exactly what we need to focus on."

"What do you mean," questioned Starlight.

"Like you said, find the solution in the problem. We can use the dried clover we've got piled up, already, and find some way to siphon the nectar from out of its system. It's lying down next to the stuff now, breathing some of it in. But imagine what would happen if we actually did feed the stuff to it?"

"There's only one way to find out," she sighed, lowering her head, and pondering how best to carry out their next test, "Think you're strong enough to hold it down, in case?"

"Whoa, hey. Bahk off thithtuh. Aw dohn pway dah toff, thtwong gah to umpweth dah waydeeth."

"Take that as a maybe," Starlight sharply remarked. Her ear twitched to the sudden stomp that emanated from behind her. Swiftly turning to see the hornet bear rising ferociously onto its hind legs, with its other four raised in venomous rage behind the surrounding piles, she took another fighting stance. Whoof! Before it could advance, however, she noticed a scarlet blur landing atop of it, to find the wall-crawler placing the creature into a headlock within a blink of an eye. Seeing him struggling to maintain his grip, while also receiving a few scratches of retaliation onto his hoody from the bear's side limbs, Starlight wasted no time to take this opportunity. "No time like the present."

However, just as she advanced onto the beast with a batch of levitating clover, Starlight felt a great weight thrust onto her, as she watched the animal throw Spidey over its shoulder, and towards her. Bam!

"Ah!" "Oaf!" They both skidded roughly across the floor, and she looked up to see the beige stallion sharply halting his horn from reaching her barrel, before leaping back onto his four, bent hocks, into a crouch. There was no chance for the two Unicorns to respond against such an attack, however, as they felt the crushing weight of the menacing wasp bear atop them both. Barely allowing enough space to breathe with whatever strength he could muster in that position, Spidey noticed Starlight's horn glowing, as she devoted whatever energy she had in focusing on a small hoof-full of parched clover from the piles. But it was to no avail, as she lost her attention on the plant, due to the frightful outburst of rage sent mercilessly towards the two ponies. Rooooaaaar!

"You stop right there!" The bellowing exclamation ceased the bestial attempt to consume the bugbear's prey instantly. Already familiar with the voice's source, it began to turn and send another vehement roar against the yellow Pegasus, only to desist at the sight of her stern, adamant expression. "I thought you would have learned your lesson from last time, but I guess I was wrong."

Her hovering form slowly progressed towards the creature, causing it to lift itself off Spider Bite and Starlight Glimmer, allowing a great gasp of air from them both. It cringed at the sight of those burning, teal eyes, not from spite, or fury, like its own, but the kind of anger one sees in a parent protecting her young. "I thought you deserved a second chance, by being away from Tartarus, and start living in the Everfree, but I guess I was wrong about that too. I know it might not be completely your fault, eating those plants you need are maybe the ones making you so angry all the time, in the first place. But until we know for sure, and until we find a better way, it's time to stop your wild rampage, and put you down for a nice nap, before taking you back to where you belong."

At this, Fluttershy sent into the bugbear's jaw a bag of dried leaves after another, prompting it to swallow with every pass into the mouth she had made. Gliding back, after seeing the creature momentarily cough some of the substance out, she turned her eyes briefly onto the two risen Unicorns with a nod. She then took a deep breath, as the animal slowly began to lower itself into a lying position, and sang deeply:

"What once was sent,
Has now returned,
Angry, Tartarus-bent,
Enraged eyes burned.
It's endless fury,
Must be ceased.
To Tartarus, bury,
Or destruction's the least.
Should there be found
A calming means,
Then heal the wound
Of imprisoned beings."

The bugbear had fallen into a deep slumber, from the consumed tranquil clover, as well as the lullaby that seemed to emanate from those seemingly masculine set of pipes. Just then, two glows of glittering energy formed around the creature, one light blue, the other scarlet. It engulfed the animal, as would a blanket, placed softly over the sleeping beast, before it vanished, out of sight.

"Whoa," heavily exhaled a shaking, beige Unicorn, "No wonder it takes an Alicorn for that spell."

"Teleportation for great distances requires vast amounts of energy," spoke the light violet mare, in kind, "Teleportation to Tartarus itself, is practically Alicorn level of magic."

"Practically is the key word there," he smirked, "Ah weetht tooh Unehcohn thtoodunth."

"Don't get too cocky, junior," she chuckled. Turning to face their friend and rescuer, the yellow hero of the day slowly landed onto her haunches, with a soft whimper.

"Fluttershy," asked Starlight, with concern, "Fluttershy, everything's okay. You did nothing wrong."

"I know," they heard her deeply speak, though trembling, "I was just afraid that…that…"

"You knew the spell," asked Spider Bite in confusion, "But you were afraid to do it, anyway? How come?"

"I only knew it from what Discord read aloud to himself," answered the rumble of the timid Pegasus, "And when I heard the last part, I knew that I couldn't go wrong with it. But I was just so…so…uncomfortable with it."

"What do you mean by that, Fluttershy," persisted the light purple Unicorn, "What could possibly make you think that you'd make something bad happen."

"Because that's what happened…before." Her teeth were chattering as tears began to roll down her face.

"You mean with the bats," Starlight asked, "But that's been over and done with, and you returned to normal after that experience."

"How could you believe something that's been used before have negative effects on you," joined Spidey, "I mean, sure we had to make a lot of changes from the original, but overall, we thtayd twoo to dah buhk."

"Not helping," gritted the light violet mare, shoving a sharp elbow onto his shoulder, then looked back at Fluttershy, "Did you think it would turn you into a bugbear, or transform you in a similar way, also?"

A swift shake of the head in the affirmative was her reply, to which the web-head responded, "But that's only happened with the bats, right? So, what? That was only temporary. Unless, you not only transformed into a…werebat, but also still remained one. I mean, I don't know exactly what happened. Never been told the details. But it seems to me that's where this story's-"

"Yes!" The sudden outburst and sob caught the two Unicorns off guard, at first, who then listened to the weeping Pegasus further. "When I found out I still turned into Flutterbat, I went to Twilight for help, and she said she could come up with something, but it would take time. Until then, I had been going to the bat orchards at Applejack's farm at night, whenever it happened, and I asked Twilight not to tell anypony else about it. And she…she…never said a word. I must've helped her with her secret-keeping, somehow. Or I…really…really s-scared her. That's why I couldn't let the others know."

"Because they would be afraid of you?"

"No. It's because…I would make them feel bad about it. That I'd…make them think it was…was t-their fault for what happened. Like the way T-Twilight…must've f-f-felt. And Twilight did find a remedy, just in time, before the next Nightmare Night."

There was total silence from the spectating ponies, as the deep sobs continued from the yellow Pegasus, uninterrupted from further questioning by either Starlight or Spidey.

Well, that's just great. Parker, you've just been promoted to Grade-A Hypocrite. Heaving a gentle sigh through the nostrils, Peter slowly approached the weeping Fluttershy, and sat on his hind quarters as well. Uncertain of what to do next, he simply brushed his hoof soothingly down the Pegasus' rosy mane. I'm just as bad at this, as before with Gwen.

"Fluttershy," he whispered evenly, "Believe me, I know exactly what that's like."

"Y-you do," she asked, finally starting to clear the crystalline droplets from her eyes.

"I mean, probably not exactly, but pretty close," he shrugged, "You see, there's a reason why I don't want to take off my hoody, despite how uncomfortable it is during the summer, let alone go to some spa for treatment."

"W-which is…what, exactly?"

"I saw the way you were looking at my scars," he answered plainly, catching Starlight's full attention, and causing her to look under the scratches of his hoody. "Fluttershy, you're so…so…precariously sensitive. And when you first saw me waking up, out of costume, seeing all those old battle-wounds of mine, you always caught yourself staring, then avoiding them. I didn't want everypony looking at me in that kind of light, because I knew it would change the way they saw their beautiful, peaceful world. Only slightly, but enough to know how fragile it can be."

"Well," she sniffled, then smiled, "If I have seen them, being so sensitive, I don't see how it could get any worse. Not everypony reacts the same way as I do. Besides, hiding that kind of truth doesn't help anypony, at all."

"No, but still," he nodded, in kind, "Can't imagine seeing somepony not looking at life more dimly just from the sight of me." It was then he felt a sudden force wrap around his neck, prompting an Oof! from under his breath. His front hooves outstretched, and brown orbs narrowed with dazed uncertainty, Peter simply sat still, then gradually returned the Pegasus' embrace.

"Thank you, Spider Bite. But you should know that there isn't a single pony who can't stand looking at you. Because you're a very, very good pony to be around."

"Um," he gulped in response, making Starlight smirk in the process, "You're welcome, I guess. And thanks, to you too."

"So," deeply offered Fluttershy, placing a gentle hoof onto his shoulder, "What are you going to do about it? I know I'm going to need to tell Twilight my own experience. But what about you?"

Before the stallion could reply, he sensed a sudden disturbance in the atmosphere of the room, as well as a slight tingle from his horn. Knowing the cause, which was just about to appear, Pete took a firm hold of Fluttershy, and leapt them both away from their original position. Startling both Unicorn and Pegasus mares, the web-head joined their befuddled gaze onto what took their place in a flash. With a pant and groan, a familiarly lavender, winged Unicorn, with a small dragon jumping off her back, stated, "Woo! Sorry we're late. Got here as quickly as we could. I never got your message from Celestia, until this morning on the train, because the train that sent the mail to the Crystal Empire, where Celestia and Luna were visiting, got delayed by a landslide. So I flew myself and Spike here, with the occasional teleportation, and brought with us everything we need. Huuh, so let's get started. Where's the bugbear? Are Rarity and Applejack still searching? Why are Pinkie and Discord asleep? And how come I can't find Rainbow Dash anywhere in the castle?"

The rapidity of Twilight's pronounced entrance, along with her exhaustive sigh near the end, lightened the mood for the three ponies significantly, causing Spidey, Starlight and Fluttershy to giggle and chuckle slightly. After a brief look of bewilderment from the two travelers, the beige pony stated, "Twuft me, Pwintheth, yoo awe in faw uh wee-oh whoppuh."

"What," both Twilight and Spike asked at once, prompting a gentle laughter from the trio, this time. Getting used to the norm of this place? Check-check.

"Sorry, Twilight," said the light purple Unicorn, still smirking, "I'll fill you in on the details. Because I don't think either of these two can manage."

"Neither do I," rumbled the yellow mare, to which Spike stifled a snort, then made an outburst, himself.

"So what made yah sing that spell, anyways," asked AJ, "if you was so uncomfortable about it?"

"Because," deeply replied Fluttershy, "after the way Spider Bite risked his own life, both when he helped save me from the stone giant, and facing the bugbear, he did it knowing there was a chance that he wouldn't make it, himself. And I saw how he kept fighting, until he thought it was the very end for him. I knew I just had to do the same thing for my friends, despite the risks."

"Maybe I should take a few pointers from that also," commented the raspy Pegasus.

"Wah? Becahth yoh afwayd tah wooth?"

"Hey! I've never lost, Web-mouthed."

"Aw dah maw tah be afwayd, den."

"And I never will. So put a sock in it, why don't yah! Oh, wait." The seven mares, stallion, and Dragon all stood near the enormous barrel filled with water, nearly steamed, sharing a great mirth together from Rainbow Dash's remark.

"Oh, by the way, Princess," he stated, "That friend of yours, Lyra, she wanted to know when our next Q&A would happen. Something about 'learning everything there is to know about humans.' Any idea where that obsession started for her?"

"And how come the spell that you got from Sweetie Drops to use didn't work the first time," inquired Pinkie Pie.

"Nopony knows," giggled the friendly, lavender Regent, "As for her friend's previous attempt with me to imprison it again, some of the poison joke's seed and pollen was probably caught onto the bugbear's fur, and somehow managed to grow in Tartarus, providing food to replenish its strength."

"Guess that means Cerberus has more of his work cut out for him, huh? Oh ith ut deh wuhk?"

"I only wish you were more open with your issue before, Fluttershy," she continued sincerely, "I never was afraid of you, or what you might do. I admit feeling a bit responsible for it, but not enough for me to doubt myself. I also never said anything, knowing that you would eventually let the rest of us know, yourself, as you and Rarity did for each other before. I'm actually surprised it took this situation for you to finally do so."

"Yeah, and imagine what it would've been like if you told us about the Flutterbat problem, sooner," Pinkie Pie stated, then shrugged, "But I guess it worked that you helped Spider Bite with his problem of coming here, to begin with, in that way."

"So, what about you, Spider Bite," Rarity inquired, "Anything you wish to share with us?"

"More than you know," he firmly answered, "I can tell how much you all expect to know more about me, so you could better understand where I come from, and even trust me more. But for me, unloading everything onto everypony is just so uncomfortable to me. In fact, I think I should take it one step at a time, and that you should too. Because I'll tell you one thing. I'm never going to complain or quip about how tranquil this place is, ever again. So, after seeing Fluttershy stepping outside of her own comfort zone, just to help out and do the right thing, I felt I should do the same. But like I said, one small step, for starters."

With that, he removed the white bathrobe that replaced his torn hoody. Seeing that the nine members in the steaming chamber were without anypony else, Spidey had also removed the shades from his brown irises, and blue hanky wrapped around his tail. After slowly disrobing to merely his beige coat, he felt a comforting touch on his scarred shoulder from Fluttershy, as he heard the soft gasps of slight shock seemingly pierce his heightened, cringing pony ears. Still, not quite used to that.

"Oh, dear goodness," uttered the white mare.

"Hatchings, matchings," exclaimed the pink mare, "That's a lot of scratchings!"

"And aren't some of those," gulped Spike, "burns, too?"

"Land sakes," exhaled the rugged Earth Pony, "Ah recon Ah ain't ever seen anypony with that many fightin' marks before in my life. Those could amount tah three lifetimes' worth, by my count."

"You got all of those in just five years," gawked the colorful Pegasus, "Are you insane?"

"Heh, appawenwee," he chuckled with awkward, downcast eyes, "Though Aw geff thith meenth Aw can thtaht wehween a cap, now, huh?"

"Only if you would like to," Twilight offered, with a small gulp to retain her slight loss of composure. She then mirrored Fluttershy's kind gesture as well, saying, "If not, then you don't have to show these in public."

"It's not so much what I'd like to do," said Pete, "as much as what I need to do."

"Maybe, wait until next week, or something," deeply spoke the yellow Pegasus, "Get used to this, first. Starting with small steps, after all."

Just then, the nine companions turned to see Fluttershy's Mark begin to glow vibrantly, radiating white beams of light, as three butterflies matching it flew inward. "Okay. What's that about?"

"We'll explain that there to yah's later, Sugarcube," replied AJ, with a grin of her own.

"So," Starlight began with a short gleam, "Does this mean what I think it means?"

"Sorry, Starlight," he smirked, "But I think I'm sticking around a little, bit longer. So sad, for you."

"Wait," stuttered Spike, "Did he just…and without…but how…?" Just then, they all shifted their focus onto the hind hoof wading in the steamed water, before it lifted with a sharp kick that splashed some onto the others. "Ohhhhhh!"

"But how," gasped Twilight in shock, from the sudden contact of hot water, "It requires a pony to completely soak for half an hour, to get its full effect."

"Wow," he chuckled, "If I had known that was all it took for me, I never would've taken the robe off."

"You're still going in, Web-head." At that, Rainbow shoved Spidey into the tub, but not before his hoof stuck onto her front leg, taking her with him. They resurfaced, splashing and tackling one another with joyful mirth.

"Cannonball!" Pinkie's excited scream resounded throughout the entire chamber, as the remaining friends playfully joined in. Yep. Still a whole lot to get used to. But this is a very good, fresh start.

The six mares and their young Dragon friend stood over it, with a slight tingle of comfort that somehow expended from the white, faint glow it gleamed. The dark cavern around them could do nothing to quell its light, nor could it be outshone by the towering Tree of Harmony before them, though still, it was less noticeable.

"Just what in tarnation y'all think it could be?"

"I'm not sure. In fact, I don't believe any one of us can be certain, until its proper time."

"So, small," hoarsely whispered Rainbow, after Applejack and Twilight, "But still, so alive. How's that little guy even hanging in there?"

"Given that it's from the Tree of Harmony, itself, dear," Rarity spoke, "I can't rightly say that it is a surprise to know what appears to be sustaining it."

"Still," said Pinkie Pie, "You can't help but wonder why something is, or why something happened, until you keep going and start to figure things out, one step at a time, and one day at a time, and when you start figuring things out, you'll realize that those things that were and happened brought you to be the pony you are now, doing the things that you're doing, right now."

"And that's what I believe is the purpose of this bud. For now, anyway," spoke the lavender Alicorn, "By pointing out to Fluttershy how she could be a good friend to Spider Bite, it showed us how we could be his friend as well. By knowing that there is so much we can learn from him, as much as he can from us. So simple, yet always part of the perfect foundation, the groundwork, and roots of Friendship."

"So," Spike muttered, "Does this mean he's going to be another Friendship student? With Starlight?"

"I surmised that also," she replied, "Which is why I offered him the chance to be one. He only accepted under one condition."

"Which was," asked her assistant.

"So long as he finds a means of earning his keep. Apparently he's interested in finding a job also."

"Well, shoot," grinned the orange mare, swinging her fore leg, "He's always got a way tah surprise yah, don't he? Nothin' wrong with havin' somepony lookin' for honest work. Ah can always hire him for the orchards, harvestin', gard'nin' and plantin', and the like."

"Ooh! Ooh! He can help me deliver cakes, and pies, and cupcakes, and muffins, and pastries for the Cake Family!"

"I could use some extra help with the woodland creatures, now and then," sweetly offered Fluttershy, "Including that poor bear, on occasion."

"Yeah," cringed the colorful Pegasus, rubbing the back of her head, "I think we could use a little R&R on the bear department, for a bit, if you ask me."

"Well, he is most certainly welcome to assist me in organizing and moving materials around, at my Boutique."

"Actually," offered Twilight to the white Unicorn, "He told me he needed a reminder of why he's really here, in Ponyville, and said he's looking into photography."

"Yep," AJ smirked, "Still surprises yah."

"Oh, well, that would be absolutely marvelous, darling," beamed Rarity, "He could most definitely take pictures for my fashion displays, and could travel abroad, if that's to his liking! Just imagine the inspiration, just from the sort of angles he could take! The possibilities are endless!"

"But on a more, friendly note," the young Alicorn said, "he doesn't have to take a job from any of us. Only if he wants to. And when he does find work in Ponyville, I'm sure Pinkie would love to host a small party for all of us to enjoy."

"You bet I would!"

"And maybe invite some other friends, so they can make new ones with us, along with Spider Bite. I'm sure Captain Sentry would like to spend time with us, too. Those two stallions seem to get along nicely, after all."

"Oh, I'm sure he would, Twilight," Rarity spoke, "But I'm afraid he was sent back to the Crystal Empire, along with the other guards that were recalled from their posts, and left the Canterlot soldiers to carry on."

"Oh. Okay. Since everything that has happened with Chrysalis has settled overall, I'm sure Cadence and Shining felt they were needed back there, now. Maybe next time, then." The slight tension sensed from Twilight could not go unnoticed by all, except for the now-silent Pegasus. "Um, Fluttershy?"

"W-what? Oh, um, sorry," she stammered, after removing her gaze from the lily, "It's just that I thought it had grown a little bit bigger, from last time."

"Yeah, that was probably you're hopeful nature imagining things," smirked Dash, crossing her front legs.

"Ah don't know," the farm pony offered, "The ways things are goin' on 'round here, and since that there bud managed to pop up, and with a great load of willpower to do so, tells me there might be more to it than that."

"Whatever the case may be," the white mare added, "As Twilight said, there is only one way to know for absolute certain."

"Just wait, and see," lightly whispered Fluttershy with a simple nod. The six ponies and adolescent Dragon continued to stare at the small lily with curious intrigue, admiring its humble glow that seemed to have sparked a deep sense of hope within them.