Twilight Gets a Puppy, Season 3

Chapters

The Crescent Empire, part 1
The Crescent Empire, part 2
The Crescent Empire, part 3
The Crescent Empire, Part 4
The Crescent Empire, Part 5
The Crescent Empire, part 6
The Crescent Empire. Episode 2, Part 2
The Crescent Empire. Episode 2, Part 3
The Crescent Empire. Episode 2, Part 4
The Crescent Empire. Episode 2, Part 5
The Crescent Empire Episode 2, Part 6
The Crescent Empire Epilogue 1
The Crescent Empire Epilogue 2
Selene in Ponyville
Selene in Ponyville, Part 2
One bad Apollo
Callisto Mania
Apple family Rheita, Prologue
Apple family Rheita Chapter 1
Apple family Rheita Chapter 2
Apple family Rheita Chapter 3
Apple Family Rheita, Chapter 4
Surveyor 1, at your service
Mitchell Duel, prologue
Mitchell Duel, part 1
Mitchell Duel, part 2
Mitchell Duel, part 3
Mitchell Duel, part 4
Mitchell Duel, part 5
Gibbous ponies play, Part 1
Gibbous ponies play, Part 2, Interlude
Gibbous ponies play, Part 3
Gibbous ponies play, Part 4, Interlude 2
Gibbous ponies play, Part 5
Just for Seleucus, part 1
Just for Seleucus, part 2, Interlude 3
Just for Seleucus, Part 3
Season 3 Interlude, 'Moon Lit Wings'
Keep Calm and Frigoris On, Part 1
Keep Calm and Frigoris On, Part 2
Keep Calm and Frigoris On, Part 3
Keep Calm and Frigoris On, Part 4
Waters Academy, part 1
Waters Academy, part 1, again.
Nightmare Night Special.
Waters Academy, part 3
Waters Academy, part 4
Too Many Moon Pies
Too Many Moon Pies, Epilogue
Magical Mystery Chibiusa, Part 1
Magical Mystery Chibiusa, Part 2
Magical Mystery Chibiusa, Part 3
Magical Mystery Chibiusa, Part 4
Magical Mystery Chibiusa, Epilogue
Magical Mystery Chibiusa, Epilogue 2
Endor Girls, Part one
Endor Girls, Part two
Endor Girls, Part three
Endor Girls, Part five
Endor Girls, Part six
Endor Girls, Part Seven
Endor Girls, part eight
Endor Girls, Epilogue
That's no Moon Dog. Season 3 Epilogue One
Blue Moon.Season 3, Epilogue Two
The Crescent Empire, Prologue
The Crescent Empire. Episode 2, Part 1
Apple Family Rheita, Epilogue
Surveyor 1 at Your Service, part 2
Gibbous ponies play, Prologue
Waters Academy, part 2
Endor Girls, Part four

The Crescent Empire, part 1

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

The Crescent Empire,
part 1

[Ponyville, summer, 1 month after the wedding.]

“Sparkles.... meet the Sparkles, they're a textbook mental famillllly. From the, town of Ponyville , they all live in a great big treeeee...”

“Pinkie what are you singing?” Twilight asked looking up from her daisy sandwich. The group of friends had gone out for lunch and were seated out on the patio of the restaurant. They had just been served when Pinkie Pie started humming.

“I'm working on a new theme song the old one doesn't quite fit anymore” Pinkie Pie shrugged popping a loaf of corn bread into her mouth. “It's a work in progress.”

“Err, right, okay” Twilight shrugged, going back to her meal. "So what were you saying about a new buyer Rarity?”

“Oh right,” Rarity offered, dabbing her mouth with a napkin as she looked up from her souffle. “It seems word of my work on the royal wedding dress, dresses, not sure which one of the three I made garnered it? Anyway, word has gotten around and I'm flooded with orders. One mare in particular has offered to buy over a hundred dresses for herself and her entourage. She has already paid for half of them and has taken a good portion of my old stock. She also says she's not in too much of a rush to get the rest of her order, but she wants them in a variety of styles with the only caveat being that they need to be functional as well. She's also said if she's pleased with them she would see what she could do about helping me set up a proper store in Canterlot.”

“Sounds like yer gonna be busy fer a while. Might bit of planning tah do mai self too. Got a big family reunion coming up in tha spring ah gotta plan for. First year Granny's letting me run it myself.” Applejack pointed out.

“Oh, that sounds wonderful Applejack” Fluttershy offered. “I don't really have anything planned myself, but I could do for a nice quiet rest for a while. Especially after the wedding, and the changelings, and then the real wedding.”

“Speak for yourself shy, that was great. For me, the Wonderbolts Academy has sign ups for this fall, and I plan to get in this year.” Rainbow Dash smirked.

“Seriously at least the wedding stuffs over with. They finally got hitched after yer brother recovered.” Applejack pointed out.

“While it was a lovely ceremony, did it have to be so... small?” Rarity sighed.

“Given that Cadence tried to beat Celestia with her own wings by the end of it? It was probably for the best.” Twilight sighed.

[ Two weeks prior, Cadence and Shining Armor's second wedding, Princess Luna presiding.]

“Auntie why is there ANOTHER banner with that image?” Cadence grumbled looking up at the 'rural princess' front page picture posted on another banner at the reception.

“Oh, I've got a few hundred copies of it.” Celestia grinned.

“We agreed never to bring that up!” Cadence snapped.

“You agreed, I did no such thing.” Celestia's grin widened.

“Ah don't think ah'll ever understand alicorns.” Applejack shook her head taking another sip of her cider.

“I'm starting to wonder if part of becoming a god is going nuts.” Twilight mused.

“Might be the other way around.” Pinkie Pie suggested. “Maybe they were nuts and that's why they became gods.”

“Then how come you're not a god?” Rainbow Dash smirked. “You're the craziest pony I know.”

“ How do you know I'm not?” Pinkie Pie grinned wiggling her eyebrows at Rainbow Dash.

“That would explain a lot.” Rarity pondered. “But any way what are your plans now Twilight. You and your brothers have been here two years.”

“Ooh a two year anniversary party!” Pinkie Pie chimed up.

“You know I'm not even going to try and stop you.” Twilight smiled. “Just no strong smelling chocolate or strawberry stuff. Rahs still has issues. As for what we are going to do, I don't plan to do anything but just try and relax. Spike has school before long and Rahs is still trying to audition for parts in various plays. Beyond that nothing comes to mind.”

“Speaking of issues, yours seem better.” Rarity pointed out.

“I agree, you don't seem to have as big a deal with crowds, or panic attacks any more.” Fluttershy smiled looking up from her soup. “ You might have anger issues now though instead.”

“I think those probably developed in dealing with all the stuff that goes on around here.” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “Let's face it Ponyville is rarely boring.”

“Would be nice if it calmed down a little.” Fluttershy muttered.

“Now way, there needs to be more excitement, we go weeks without something cool happening.” Rainbow Dash smirked.

“Yer tempting fate there Dash. Reign it in.” Applejack rolled her eyes.

“What because I want something to happen? Please.” Dash snorted. “My saying something isn't gonna do anything. That's like saying, 'What's the worst that could happen?' or, 'Nothing can go wrong'. Nothing's gonna happen. It's just silly supersitiooooof!!!”

Rainbow Dash might have continued her rant if a large scroll hadn't impacted her face with the force of a boulder, knocking her out of her chair and to the floor. The scroll flipped around a few times in the air before landing perfectly on the table.... in the middle of Twilight's sandwich.

“BORK!!!” Rahs screamed out as he and Spike stormed towards the table.

“Yer brothers throwing arm's pretty good.” Applejack nodded.

“Don't blame me. I didn't say anything, it was Rainbow Dash!” Twilight protested as Rahs and Spike both glared at her.

“Ow.” Rainbow Dash muttered from the floor as Twilight opened the scroll.

“Do you know how hard it is to get the crusaders together for a O&O game during the summer, even with a new guy joining?” Spike grumbled. “I finally managed it, FINALY, and then this. We just had our seasonal major disaster, why is there another one already?”

“It's season three.” Pinkie Pie pointed out.

“What?” Spike questioned.

“Twilight. Gather the Elements of Harmony, pack for cold weather, and make arrangements to be gone for a few days to a week. A chariot will be down to collect you and your friends shortly. Make haste and I will tell you more when you arrive.” Twilight frowned. “Signed Princess Celestia.”

“Well that's ominous. Think it's changelings again?” Applejack pondered.

“Well I guess we'll know soon enough.”Twilight sighed. “ At least I can finish lunch this time.”

The Crescent Empire, part 2

Author's Note

Due to a screw up on my part, this chapter was taken down and reposted. If you already read this chapter, nothings changed aside from a touch up to the editing.

The Crescent Empire, part 2

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

The Crescent Empire,
part 2

[Canterlot Castle]

The doors to the throne room were pushed open allowing a unicorn stallion with his starched collar pulled up over his head, and tied fast with his tie to stagger through and collapse, flailing onto the ground.

“Does Starched Collar do this every time?” Rarity asked.

“Pretty much. Nice work there Dash.” Twilight nodded.

“Twice with the same trick, that stallion's not that bright.”Rainbow Dash cackled.

“Hey Princess we're here, this better be important” Spike grumbled.” You interrupted my game night.”

“You shouldn't have even come you know that right?” Twilight sighed.

“Right just like I shouldn't have been there for Nightmare Moon, when I saved every one at the town hall. And just like I shouldn't have been there with Discord, and I saved you all from a obvious trap you were gonna run into. Oh then there was when I shouldn't have been there for the wedding, and I figured it out first that they were changelings” Spike grumbled pointing at his sister. “My track record is better than yours.”

“Twilight......” Celestia's eyes narrowed as she approached the group of Sparkles and Bearers.”I should have told you not to bring your brothers. Luna will not be pleased.”

“Like they would listen” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Woof.” Rahs stated flatly.

“Yeah, it helped with Discord and you didn't want them here then either.” Pinkie Pie shrugged.

“It wasn't my call this time, Luna was rather adamant” Celestia sighed. “There isn't much time. The Crystal Empire has returned.”

Celestia narrowed her eyes as she was greeted by blank stares.

“Is that like tha name of a group of villains or something?” Applejack asked.

“No it's a literal Empire, I remember that much. It's mentioned in a number of old tales and legends but there's not much about it” Twilight sighed.

“Grrrrrrr” Rahs growled.

“You mean that was what Nightmare Moon ran?” Fluttershy shuddered as Rahs nodded.

“Back before the Equestrian Civil War, there was a conflict that led into it. This war was called the War of Night. The War of Night lasted decades and finally ended with the death of King Solomon. Solomon's death freed Nightmare from his control and she set out into the world to marshal her forces, leading us into the Equestrian Civil War. His son King Sombra took over and continued to run the Empire in darkness for several years. Seeing the forces of darkness weakened a coalition of forces attacked, this included several gods, a number of nations and the last collection of Element Bearers.”

Celestia sighed at the memory her ears flattening.

“Before we could end his reign, the empire itself vanished, taking a portion of our forces as well as half the Element Bearers of the time with it” Celestia monologued.” I need all of you to go to the Empire and help Shining Armor and Princess Cadence restore it to it's rightful state and ensure that if Sombra still lives he cannot take it over again. The train is waiting at the station and will depart in one hour. Go and do your best to save the Crystal Empire.”

Celestia turned, heading back to one of her aides standing by her throne speaking with them quietly and leaving the Element Bearers staring after her.

“SERIOUSLY!?!?!” Twilight fumed, drawing Celestia's attention. “You did not just thirty second info dump on us, and then tell us to scamper off!?”

“That is all I have time for, there is far too much to do.” Celestia responded.

“We need more information than that!” Twilight snapped.

“Well, hold onto your questions and ask me on the train.” Celestia snapped back.

“What?!”

“No offense to any of you, but this is a entire empire possibly filled with death and destruction waiting to conquer all of Equss again. Not to mention the population at risk. You are going as Bearers of the Elements and advisers to Cadence. I am certainly not trusting the fate of the world just to a caretaker, a seamstress, a baker, a farmer, a weather pony, a librarian, a student, and an actor “ Celestia rolled her eyes. “This isn't a fated prophecy or a idiot ex of mine that would have given up if more than three gods turned against him, this is serious. Cadence and Shining Armor have the full company of the Heart Guard with them. A division of the guard are boarding the train now, and Luna and I will also be joining you. I need to make arraignments so that the government still functions while we are gone. Prince and a few others I trust need to be briefed on what to do and any emergency plans, and I have less than an hour to do so and get armored. We should have left yesterday, so I am in a bit of a mood. If you have questions ask me on the train. Now go!”

The group stared at Princess Celestia as she went back to what she was doing, then looked to each other, then promptly left.

[Train to North Base Ski Resort, Frozen North. Closest point to the Crystal Empire.]

“The ski resort, along with the train terminal has been cleared Princess. All vacationers and non essential personal were on the last train back, the Guards are currently fortifying the location.” A unicorn in Guard armor reported.

“Thank you Steel Spear. Keep me posted” Princess Celestia ordered. The Guard saluted and left the train car. The Elements of Harmony and the Sparkles sat watching Princess Celestia be fitted with what looked like some sort of golden scale mail armor by a pair of smiths. Princess Luna was already fitted but she sat off to the side, glancing with worry at Rahs occasionally, though she had been silent most of the trip allowing Celestia to explain.

“The actual goings on inside the empire are unknown, we are unsure of what to expect inside. You will all stay close to the Guards we are assigning you. We have been unable to establish communication with Cadence since the shield went up aside from the occasional runner message. She has pointed out there is something wrong with the Crystal Ponies, but she cannot check on them and Shining Armor does not have the magical knowledge necessary to figure it out.” Celestia explained. “I'm sending in a team of doctors this time as well to see what they can find out. Twilight you will head the research team in finding out the main issue. Moon Dancer and Sunburst are your contacts in the team.”

“What am I supposed to find out?” Twilight asked

“I do not know, the Crystal Empire has never truly been part of Equestria, even before the three tribes era the Empire was it's own place. We were on friendly terms with them for decades after the founding of Equestria, but with Solomon's rise to power, that all collapsed. The main thing I wish you to look into is the shield barrier that has formed around the Empire. When Cadence set hoof inside, a barrier formed and started shrinking. Cadence and Shining Armor managed to stop it, but Cadence's own power is all that is keeping it at bay. We found that the spell is triggered by a god crossing the threshold of the main city, likely as a booby trap left by Solomon or Sombra to send the Empire back to where it emerged from, taking the god or gods with it. A rather devious one if it managed to capture a god with a power that Equss needs to survive like myself or Bleu. Luna and I will not be able to join you past the barrier for fear of making things worse“ Celestia explained. “We will remain at the base camp and assist as we can from there. Spike's breath mail should still work despite the barrier. That is the only reason he is allowed to accompany you.”

“That is a lot tah take in.” Applejack frowned.

“I am sorry for this, with luck the Element's of Harmony themselves can be used some how and we can all go home as a success” Celestia sighed. “However if you cannot save the Empire, then you are to get out as fast as you can. We were lucky I had all of the Element's of harmony with me last time and had not given them out to the others yet, or we may have lost three of them then when the Empire vanished the first time. You six need to get free more than any one else there. There is still more to that prophecy I was given. I do not even want to risk you on this, but if this is part of it.....”

“Sister.” Luna finally spoke up with the one word.

Celestia sighed. “And if he is still alive, do not engage Sombra. The Guards have orders to try and take him alive, but to use their judgment. If he cannot be captured then he needs to be destroyed.”

The faint shift of the train car and the scream of brakes announced their arrival.

“We are here. We are going to see to the base camp. Meet up with Major Comet Trail and Captain Lodestone outside and ready for your trek, it's three miles to the barrier through the blizzard. Good luck.” Celestia offered as she vanished with a teleport.

“Rahs. Spike.” Luna spoke up. “If there is danger, do not hesitate. Do what thou can to protect the Bearers first. Guards are expendable, you six are not.”

“It can't be that bad.....” Fluttershy whimpered. “Can it?”

The Lunar mare let out a long breath.

“Rahs Sparkle. You need to be more wary than the others.” Luna frowned. “We did not want you to come here. This is where the army of Witch Wolves, and worse, was made.”

With those words Luna too vanished with a pop of teleportation, leaving the group looking worriedly at Rahs.

[Ski lodge.]

Luna popped in with a flash of light, appearing a few paces behind her sister in the snow.

The older sister was staring out into the snow fields to the east of the barrier. Out in the field was a collection of forms of varying sizes.

“That didn't take them long.” Celestia sighed, having sensed this group before she left the train.

“We are going to need to deal with them.” Luna frowned. “We do not like that idea, they are all going to accuse us of this.”

“Most likely, but avoiding them would only make matters worse.” Celestia smiled slightly. “Besides Kaz and Bleu are here and you already met favorably with them.”

“Kaz and Bleu are not the gods we worry about sister.” Luna frowned as she followed her sister to the gathering of Equss' gods.

The Crescent Empire, part 3

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

The Crescent Empire, Part 4

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
by TDR

The Crescent Empire,
Part 4

[ Out side the barrier in the snow plains.]

“I'm surprised to see you two here, Rhino, Ascepius, this is a little out of your usual stomping grounds.” Celestia frowned lightly as she and her sister came to a stop at the edge of the group.

“Bleu was kind enough to offer us a lift.” the gray skinned Rhino muttered.” While I am not a fan of the air, I cannot deny that the idea of lost knowledge might have sent me running.”

“While losssst knowledge issss all well and good. Thisssss place has been sssssealed away for over thirteen hundred yearssss. The chance of maladyssss that we have desssstroyed being rampant in thisssss place issss too high for ussss to sssssit back and let it fesssssster.” Ascepius hissed.

“I understand, thank you for the assistance.” Celestia looked up at the towering buffalo mountain standing above them all.

“You know why I am here.” Iinii glowered staring down at Celestia and Luna, his expression still unreadable.

“The problem is, we can't go in. The whole place is rigged to vanish again, probably for another thirteen hundred years.” Lockheed snapped. “And since most of us rushed here we didn't manage to bring any servants of our own to send in. Yet you did Celestia. Curious.”

“The Empire was closest to Equestria and we had a rail line up this way for a resort. When I first heard I sent a Guard contingent and Cadence here. We are just now getting here ourselves with a research team.”Celestia explained.

“And the Elements.” Fledge stated ruffling her feathers, the Raven now the form of a snowy owl.

“Better to have them in case they are needed. I am unsure if this is part of Velkorn's propachy or not. I am skeptical that Chrysalis played the part of Envy, but if so that would make the next Greed.” Celestia explained.

“Perhaps they are more to keep your sister in line?” Teacup questioned staring at the darker alicorn.

“ The Elements have purged her of the darkness...”Celestia began.

“Like they did with Discord?” Kodiak snarled.

“To be fair, Discord is Discord.” Martle sighed. “ They did seal him for a long time and once freed the only one he bothered was his ex. So they might have done something.”

“Forthe had other suggestions for that.” Kodiak snapped.

“And we all know that Forthe certainly doesn't have any ulterior motives, and harbors not a drop of malice towards Luna at all.” Bleu snarked.

“Forthe was here?” Celestia blinked, her ears flattening to her head. “Why was he in the north?”

“A good question.” Rhino pondered.” There is nothing up here but the abominations and now the hidden empire. Even the Yaks and Rams steer clear of this valley.”

[Train station.]

“Alright I want two per civi and three on each of the Element Bearers. Tribe teams, no doubles even If you're working with another Guard unit. All business ponies, this is a high risk area, when the escort gets here we are moving with a purpose, no stopping or lollygagging. If you forgot something we are not coming back for it, we move as fast as the slowest member of the detail. If something happens you are to pick them up and bring them with you. Guards on the Bearers, we are code black, no matter what the happens those mares are to come back alive, everything and everyone else is expendable, am I clear!?” Comet Trail bellowed over the snow.

“YES SIR!” was the barked report from the gathered guards.

A little distance away between the Guards and the train station a gathering of well bundled up ponies, and a Moon Dog stood.

“I for one, am not thrilled with this” Sunburst sighed.

“Ain't sitting well with me either” Applejack muttered.

“Then we simply need to make sure we make sure there's no need for them to risk themselves for us” Rarity frowned.

“Dang... this is heavy stuff.” Spike muttered looking around from his perch on Rahs shoulder, a morose expression on his face. “There's so much that can go wrong here.”

“Not the first time we've been in a situation like that Spike.” Rainbow Dash smirked. “Doubt it's gonna be the last either.”

“Woof.” Rahs responded his ears perked up as he looked up at the dome in the distance.

“You smell something? What is it?” Twilight asked.

Rahs frowned before shrugging lightly. He didn't know what the scent was, but it was coming from the empire. It wasn't pleasant either.

“Looks like the escort's here.” Rainbow Dash pointed out. A long heavily bundled pony strode through the snow towards the group. The Guards quickly moved into position around the research team, the doctors, and the three sleds that were being pulled with them.

The pony wore a strange set of sun glasses that covered his eyes save narrow slits and had a thick scarf wrapped around his face in addition to the bulky coat he wore.

“Halt and order.” The massive form of the Nox-cal, Lodestone approached the newcomer, staring down at the bundled figure.

“Double sized Mocha, with three drops of caramel and a swizzle straw.” the figure called back. “Hold the froth picture.”

“He's clear.” Lodestone called back before turning to the bundled figure with a grin. “Nice to see you're still alive prince.”

“I told you not to call me that.” Shining Armor muttered as he pulled down the scarf and pushed the goggles up over his horn.

“Shining! You're alright!” Twilight called out.

“What? After all I've been through you think a little snow is gonna stop me?”Shining Armor smirked. “Glad you're here though sis, this is a bit of a doozy. And a crappy honeymoon too.”

“Sounds about your luck though Armor. Anything to report or can we move out?” Comet Trail questioned.

“Quite a lot, but we can talk on the move. We've made no progress on the barrier and even before it started closing in we had to put up the shield to keep out the snow. There's also something outside that's been hitting itself against the barrier for the whole time we've been here. Some sort of smoke thing. It shows up around sunset and stays all night. If we head out now we should be able to get back before it shows up. Spells and physical attacks don't do anything to it and even my shields only partially effective against it. The one Cadence has up stops it, but she's had the shield up for three days now. And she hasn't figured out how to set it and just recharge it like mine, she's literally holding the Empire in place. Not sure how much longer she can hold it.”

Shining glanced to the wagons.

“There better be some damn strong coffee on one of those.” the unicorn added.

“Oooh, ooh, I can make some Pie family coffee if that helps.” Pinkie Pie bounced up and down in the snow.

“Pinkie I don't think we need to kill Princess Cadence. You're the only one I've ever seen drink that and not need to be rushed to the hospital.” Fluttershy frowned.

“Alright we're moving now. Talk on the march. Hustle ponies, we've got an empire to save.” Comet Trail called out.

[ Some time later]

Twenty ponies, three carts of supplies, a moon dog, a dragon, fifty guards and Shining Armor made their way through the expanse of snow towards the empire. The groups fliers were grounded due to the snow storm and high winds in the area. The weather making the two miles seem like forever.

Twilight, Moon Dancer, Comet Trail, and Dr. Hospice walked ahead a bit speaking with Shining Armor.

“The barrier has moved in about a mile since we first got here, we're already past the zone of inclusion Those rock towers a bit back were where the compacting of the barrier started when Cadence passed.” Shining Armor explained.

“So the Princesses can't come past that point without making things worse?” Comet Trail sighed.

“As far as we know. No one really wants to risk it.” Twilight theorized, she was heavily cloaked with matching boots and leg warmers, rather stylishly, thanks to Rarity of course. All the other girls were much the same with Rahs wearing a brand new and rather thick bright orange coat. When asked about the near blinding color of the coat, Rarity pointed out it was the material color she had left after making the others, and Sweetiebelle's help.

Rahs didn't mind. It was warm.

Spikes coat was the soft yellow of Applebloom's fur. The others thought it was cute until Spike mentioned it felt like he had skinned Applebloom to wear her flesh. It became slightly unsettling then, but they stopped teasing the little drake wearing something that matched his filly friend, which had been his plan all along.

“You said there was something wrong with the citizens here?” Dr. Hospice asked, the dappled brown and white unicorn stallion was half buried in a thick cloak, though wisps of his gray hair fluttered out from under the hood.

“I'm not sure what is wrong with them. All of them are skittish and with faded and muted colors. “ Shining Armor explained about the ponies they had found in the Empire. “They are all earth ponies but a large number are weak and frail, which is weird, but not unexpected given how they have been living. What is unexpected is that they also have no memories, or it's more like they can't recall anything. Some can't even remember their names or what their jobs are. It's obvious what some are, like the armored ponies were clearly Guards, but they don't recall what they were doing or who they worked for. We've got the lot of them disarmed and secured in their barracks under guard. But it's like they can't process anything.”

“I can understand the fearful given what I've heard about this place, but the rest of it.” Twilight muttered.

“Some sort of dissociation disorder perhaps. “ Dr. Hospice frowned. “I didn't bring a professional psychiatrist on my team, though Jaspers did have a stint in it.”

“I'm inclined to think if it's affecting the whole empire it's magical based and not clinical, doctor.” Moon Dancer added.

“Well the whole place is odd. Everything feels muted. None of the Heart Guard are suffering from anything, just the citizens, so it might be an after effect of the displacement.” Shining Armor added. “ It doesn't explain the rabbits though.”

“Rabbits?” Comet Trail questioned.

A roar from the sky cut off any response.

“Crap. It's early. Talk later, start moving now” Shining barked. “Run... RUN!”

The group took off as a massive smokey shape approached from out of the storm. Two of the cart pullers were starting to lag behind a bit as the others galloped on. Two of the Guard Nocturne thundered up behind the carts, the massive Nox-cal put their shoulders against the back of the cart and started pushing. The sudden increase in speed making the pullers scramble to keep ahead of the carts.
Applejack surged on pulling the third supply cart with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie helping push having no issue keeping up.

Magic blasts lit up the sky firing into the darkness, shields formed in the air trying to deter the thing, the snows melting around the focused fire from the unicorn guards. The shadowy creature screamed out as the shots of light passed harmlessly through through it, the mass chasing after the fleeing ponies flowing around and through the shields raised.

The group thundered towards the barrier shield, the fastest runners of the team passing the edge of it already. The unicorn guards stopping at the edge to turn and face the threat as the others pushed through to protect those on the other side.

“Don't stop just run right through it, it'll be fine.” Shining Armor bellowed turning to add his own energy blasts to the attack. He quickly formed a shield as a dark beam of energy burst from the creature, the energy bouncing off the hastily raised protection. The last of the civilian ponies made it through the shield, the unicorns started falling back though as well.

The smoke beast lashed out a tendril at them, slapping three of the guard into the air sending them flying back through the shield. Another lash of darkness crushed a Nox-cal Kirin to the ground with a horrendous crunch of bone and screaming. Shining grabbed the fallen guard in his magic yanking him back through the shield as the shadowy thing roared slamming bodily into the shield trying to reach the fleeing ponies.

Author's Note

Well I finally got this thing moving.... 4 chapters later........

The Crescent Empire, Part 5

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
by TDR

The Crescent Empire,
Part 5

[Inside the Crystal Empire]

“MEDIC!!!”Shining Armor bellowed carrying the wounded kirin through the shield in his magic.

“HERE!” Doctor hospice shouted back, his horn glowing as he yanked a collection of equipment from a cart, including a gurney. The rolling table was quickly set up as the group of doctors took the injured kirin from Shining Armor.

The others that had been hit by the smoke were hurt, but no where near as bad as the kirin and were being helped away from the shield by other Guards.

The kirin guard, Corporal Star Drive, was quickly stripped of his armor, the metal nearly melted off of him to get to his wounds with the armor removed, the damage became much clearer. The night Guard armor's protective enchantments likely the only reason the rust colored Nox-Cal was still alive.

“What the buck hit him, both his back legs and his pelvis are crushed.” one of the doctors muttered, her horn glowing brightly as she let her magic run over the kirin in a scan.

“Check the internals, worry about the bones later.... what tha?” Hospice demanded as his horn winking out as he winced. A wince that was shared by the other two doctors.

Black crystals started forming along the Nox-cal's horn, trailing along his temples and across his spine, pushing up through the skin with wet splorts of rending flesh. Thankfully the guard had already blacked out from the pain. “I can't scan, somethings blocking me.” Dr. Jasper snarled.

“Doc we've got more of that over here, four unicorns have black crystals sprouting from their horns.” A earth pony guard called out.

“More than that,” shouted a pegasus. “Every one of them is developing the damn things!”

“Armor what is this crap?” Hospice shouted at Shining. “Jasper get the trauma kit we're going to have to do this the hard way. What the hell is this shit!?”

“We've been avoiding that thing. I haven't seen anything like this here yet.....” Shining Armor stated looking over to the afflicted unicorns, all of them were ones who had been touched or used a shield to block the creatures attacks. He had done that himself, but no crystals were forming on his horn.

He quickly looked to his sister and her friends. He hadn't wanted any of the civis to be exposed to this sort of thing, let alone his sister. They were all staring with varying degrees of shock, revulsion, or worry. Twilight was simply staring blankly, a look he recognized as usually a form of panic attack where she froze. Better than running screaming he supposed. Spike had his face buried in her mane not able to look at the wounded guard. Rahs was..wait... where was Rahs?

“WOOF!” The large moon dog demanded pushing a pegasus away from one of the afflicted unicorn guards. He crouched down sniffing the black crystals on his horn before looking over at Twilight. “ Bark!”

“Licorice? “ Twilight blinked snapping out of her frozen state, her mind switching gears quickly. “ It smells like Licorice? That means....” She glanced over to Shining staring intently at him and his untouched horn. “ Do it, Shining's got no sign of it.”

Rahs nodded, ducking his head down and biting down on the unicorns horn lightly.

The unicorn flinched like he'd been slapped wincing but not daring to move with the moon dogs fangs clamped around his horn. Rahs pulled back after a moment and spit out what looked like a small pile of gray rocks. The unicorn's horn however was free of the jutting black crystals.

“Anything, any surge?” Twilight demanded giving Spike to Fluttershy and approaching, her face a mass of focus as if she now had a problem to solve.

“I feel like shit.” The unicorn muttered rubbing his head with a hoof.

“Perfect. This affliction is a spell. What ever it is isn't stronger than what Rahs can break down” Twilight offered. “ basicly he can digest the spell by either biting or licking the crystals. You sure you're alright Rahs?”

The moon dog considered before licking his muzzle and shrugging. “ Wuff.”

“I'm sure one day you'll find a cider flavor...” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“No offense Miss Sparkle, but I'm not comfortable with your brother licking my horn.” One of the other unicorns muttered.

“He can pee on it too, that has the same effect as his saliva.” Twilight offered as Spike offered an amused snort..

“So..... licking it it is.” the unicorn responded.

Rahs moved quickly to the wounded kirin frowning as he looked at the damage closer up. He let out a sigh before growling a little and spitting on his paws. He hand them down along the guards back working the saliva into his fur and scales and the black crystals matting down the rust colored fur.

The effect was near immediate, the black crystals began falling out of the kirin like grapes being popped off the vine. He added more spit as needed, and although the Kirin's back and horn were soon soaked in drool, all the black crystals were out.

“I'm still being blocked.” Jasper cursed trying another scan.

Twilight shuddered as she approached and cast a cantrip spell that cleaned all the drool from the kirin's fur along with a great deal of his blood. “Try it now.”

Twilight swallowed as she flung the mess to the side of the cobblestone road, her brother going to help the others with more moon dog spit.

“Alright I've got it. Jade start checking his organs work your way up from the worst damage.” Jasper barked.

“I've got a rupture, fixing it now.” Hospice muttered “Jade make sure he stays under. I've got to fix this and clean it out before it goes septic, heart and lungs check out, two ribs puncturing his stomach lining. Liver's clear though, damn lucky there...”

“Saved by spit... that's a new one, we could use that for magic maladies...” Jade muttered.

“The effect doesn't last long once he's away from it maybe twenty minutes tops. We tested it while we were still in Princess Celestia's school, she had the same idea when she found out about his magic eating.” Twilight explained.

“Pity.” Jade offered before turning back to the kirin with the other two.

“Make him ready to transport. We'll set everything back up in the palace.” Shining Armor ordered.

“We need to make sure he will survive first, he's in no condition to be moved more.” Jasper snapped at him.

“We've already lost a mile to that barrier doctor. If Cadence so much as flinches we could lose more, and if that happens while you're here you'll learn if you can treat some one in the snow with a smoke monster trying to kill you. Prep him to move.” Shining snapped back.

“You heard the stallion lets move it, if you lot can walk do it. “ Comet Trail yelled at the afflicted unicorns.

“I feel drained as all crap, but yeah I can walk.” One of them stated, even the ones who's horns had been cleaned of the crystals seemed lethargic.

“That's an after effect, you'll be fine after some rest.” Twilight started before looking back at the triage center. “ Moon Dancer, Rarity, Sunburst! Take up cardinal points here, here, and here.” Twilight snapped pointing a hoof at the spots around the operating doctors. “I'll take point on this you keep it balanced. Doctors don't be alarmed, I'm going to try and make this as steady as possible.”

Twilight's horn glowed brightly, flowing into the cobble stones below the gurney . After a moment the purple mare grunted and a massive slab of stone rose into the air with the doctors perched atop of it, Twilight turned and slowly started walking along the road, with the other four following behind her making sure the slab of rock and it's occupants didn't tilt or tip.

“Spike send a message to Celestia. We've encountered an enemy and it's an asshole” Twilight grumbled.

[In the snow field.]

“It doesn't matter if the mutt was here or not,” Kodiak snarled!” What matters is the night mare empire has returned and 'that' has as well!”

The large bear pointed a claw at Luna who flinched.

“We have already established she was under control....” Celestia began.

“I find that unlikely Celestia.” Lockheed stated.” For a mortal to have developed a spell that allowed them to control a god is far fetched enough. Then you state the Elements of Harmony cured her when they have consistently failed to do anything about Discord and were completely useless the first time the Crystal Empire appeared. Both of us lost a large portion of our population due to her actions and the monsters she created, one of which you still allow to be free. That you are so willing to forgive that after a mere thousand years shows how young and stupid you are ...”

“I'm two hundred years older than your race, Lockheed.” Celestia snapped. “And as stated, when Discord escaped this time he didn't bother any one other than me.”

“Of course not, because you had my focus. And every one else is so dreadfully boring” Discord stated making the group jump as they looked for the chaos god who wasn't even there.

“My point stands.” Lockheed muttered warily.

“Do I need to point out, that Celestia was one of the leaders trying to stop her sister and was the one who ultimately succeeded” Martle spoke up. “Only the Buffalo were more proactive against the darkness.”

A few of the gods looked back at the hill towering behind them, though if Iinii noticed he made no sign of it, and stared on at the dome of the Empire.

“We should have put her in Tartarus after what she did to Forthe. It was fairly clear she was up to no good then.” Kodiak snapped.

“Forthe is an ass, and it wasn't as if we even had a law about that yet. All she did was try to save a few mortals and Forthe lost his shit about having to share his portfolio when he didn't even have to in the end.” Teacup muttered. ”As for the selective breeding rule, need I remind you about koalas and raccoons, BEAR god??”

“She did try to fix the issue too. Forthe was very against any sort of help aside from her killing the ones she saved. It is hardly a crime to NOT take a life.” Kaz stated. “Forthe was the one who was at fault for refusing.”

“Until she turned loose her monstrosities on Equss and nearly destroyed him because of it.” Kodiak snapped.

“I'm afraid I wasssssn't part of thisssss when it happened. Sssssso I am unsssssure here.” Ascepius offered.

“I will fill you in later if you wish, but it was not of my matter either at the time.” Rhino stated.

“She has been freed for two years now and has been checked out by a number of gods to show she is free of Solomon's control and the dark taint.” Celestia responded her tone starting to get a bit uneven at the constant bickering circle.

Luna had yet to respond and simply took the accusations.

“In your care, with your allies.” Lockheed stated.

“Are you questioning my skills Lockheed?” Bleu glared at the griffon.

“Please, you are capricious at best, and lazy at worst, you probably just waved a claw and said she was fine.”Lockheed responded.

“We can settle this now if you all...” Celestia tried.

“She has been rather silent this whole time.” Fledge pointed out, looking like some sort of vulture now.

“Because she knows she is guilty!!” Kodiak roared.

“Silence on a subject does not mean guilt!” Kaz growled.

“Yet to not even try to defend oneself from accusations...” Lockheed countered.

“It would be easy to simply.....” Celestia tried again as the bickering continued.

“Body language could be interpreted as guilt if the accused is unwilling to speak.” Rhino pondered. “ I have several texts on that.”

“I thought you had no ssssay?” Ascepius questioned.

“It is a simple bit of knowledge, I am not siding.” Rhino huffed.

“Please just listen....” Celestia frowned.

“What was that Lockheed!?!” Bleu snarled.

“ I shouldn't think something as uncultured as you would understand what I was saying.” Lockheed snarked.

“Bitch, your race came about when a full bird fucked a cougar, and I'm not talking about military rank OR attractive older females.” Bleu hissed. “Don't talk to me about culture!”

“ENOUGH!” Kodiak snapped, shoving past Martle and Rhino. “If none of you fools will do anything about the danger before us I will drag it to Tartarus my self to be rid of its corruption.”

“Kodiak stop... “ Celestia moved to stop the massive bear.

“Out of my way mare, this no longer concerns you!” the towering bear god snapped and shoved Celestia aside, storming towards the unmoving Luna.

There was a flash of red light.

[Where mares glow, and stallions plunder ]

The night sky over the plains lit up with a red glow. A whistling sound sent a number of smaller animals scurrying for their dens. And sent the larger, deer like creatures with thick tails hopping off towards safety.

A falling star arced through the sky slamming into the earth with an explosion of fire and a great gout of dirt and rock being flung into the air as it impacted.

A few of the braver roo's hopped closer, peering over the lip of the massive crater that had formed and still radiated heat.

At the bottom of the crater was a large ursine form of that looked vaguely like a chard kola.

The first roo blinked noting the two burn marks on the underside of the brown figures chin that looked like horse shoes.

“Huh.. drop bears getting a bit more aggressive now,coming in from space.” The second commented looking up at the sky.

“Ow.” uttered Kodiak

[ Former ice fields near the ski resort.]

A plain of black ash and rock radiated out from a central point near the ski lodge stopping just short of where Princess Luna stood.

Steam filled the air soaking the gathered gods, save Iinii who remained unmoving and uninterested in the goings on near by.

The snow and ice had not even had time to melt before it was steam, or in some patches here and there , on fire and burning merrily.

In the center of this clearing, which also held the other gods, all of whom seemed slightly chard, save Iinii who was still outside the ring, was a pure white alicorn.

The mare was standing on the bare ground, the rock melting or turning to glass under her hooves. Her mane and tail were lit up in a fiery orange that whipped in the air like it was flame itself. Her eyes were bright crimson and her breath sent blasts of heat hot enough to ignite the air before her nostrils.

“DOES ANY ONE ELSE WANNA FUCK WITH THE SUN TODAY!?!?” Celestia bellowed.

Author's Note

In which Celestia has finally had enough.

The Crescent Empire, part 6

Twilight gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

The Crescent Empire,
part 5

[Former ice field]

“NO ONE!?” Celestia snarled, the tone enough that even Iinii had turned to watch her.” GOOD, shut up and listen. I just got my sister back and I'm not letting any of you lock her away again for no damn reason. You have a problem with the scanning spells we used to see if she was clear, blame Ascepius, she's the one who taught them to me. If you have a issue with Rahs Sparkle, tough shit as well, I helped raise him and he mauled Discord, so none of you are so much going to look at him funny.”

The naga blinked at being addressed.

Bleu after staring blankly at first started laughing, and then promptly fell off Kaz's shoulder with a thud clutching her sides as she cackled on the ground.

Kaz simply rolled his eyes

“Rhino! Fuck off! You're friendly as all get out if there's some information you want we have , but even getting so much as a sentence of information from you when lives are on the line is like pulling teeth!!” Celestia screamed out jabbing a wing at the rhino god.

“That is hardly....” Rhino began.

“FUCK OFF! OR LEARN WHERE KODIAK WENT FIRST HOOF!”

“Fucking off.” Rhino stated turning and very quickly headed south.

“Lockheed the only reason your over grown feather dusters of a race are not all dead is because of all the bits we send to keep them alive, your race is in shambles, your damn nobles all mostly live in Equestria. We allied ONCE to deal with the fall out of the Nightmare, that lasted three hundred years before you tried to take some of our territory and it cost you didn't it!? You're about as noble as what I wiped off my ass this morning in the bath room. You come here and try to start this nonsense with me? Guess what, that's it . You're cut off, and I'm deporting all your nobles living on my bit the moment I get back to Canterlot. Let's see how long it takes before your lower cast eats them.”

Lockheed's eyes had gotten wider and wider the more the mare ranted.

“Martle I told you centuries ago to keep your monsters out of my cities and every year I still have to deal with them.” Celestia snapped.

“I'm the god of sapient beasts, getting the dumb ones to do anything is like herding cats.” Martle muttered.” You need a Chimera to wander off somewhere, easily done, you want me to talk to a hydra? The moment it loses a head, anything that was in that head is forgotten by the others.”

“Fair enough” Celestia grumbled.

“Fledge...” Celestia glared up at the swan sitting on the buffalo's back. “For bucks sake pick a damn form and stick with it longer than thirty seconds.”

The harpy god frowned.

“Teacup, you're fine, our deal is still on with the breezies. What are we two hundred years away from completion?” Celestia muttered her hair at least no longer burning.

“A hundred and eighty nine.” Tea Cup answered.

“Good... Bleu seriously shut up....” Celestia rolled her eyes.

“No .” Bleu gasped before cackling more.”You punted him into orbit, hahhahahahahha.”

"BURLAP!!" Celestia started, staring at the orc god who was still standing in the same place he had been when they trotted up. A moment of study showed the massive green boar had fallen asleep where he stood and had likely missed the entire exchange.

"Never mind" sighed Celestia.

“And Iinii you already know what's going on, you're the oldest one here, you should have said something!” Celestia glared at the buffalo mountain.

“There was no need, you have dealt with the problem.” Iinii stated and turned back to watch the Empire.

“To be fair Celestia you knew you were going to have some problem here. Particularly with Luna turned inward so much at the return of this place.” Kaz commented.” Despite this not being her fault she is still clearly feeling guilty about it.”

“Had Kodiak not come after her, it would have stayed civil. But I have found I can only be a diplomat so long before I reach my limit. Threatening my family gets to that limit damn quick. Yes i expected issue, and yes she needs to get over it . We've dealt with this when she first came back.” Celestia looked back at Luna. Her fire having died down enough that snow was falling again. “No one with any common sense blames you Lulu.”

“Indeed.” Iinii stated. “Though there are other things here that we are still to deal with.”

“But what about my...” Lockheed began to whine.

“Stuff it Lockheed, I'll build some soup kitchens on the border, they're your people, fix it yourself for once. Bad enough I have to deal with Chrysalis on the loose again.” Celestia grumbled glancing up as a scroll burnt into existence above her horn. She unrolled it in her magic and read it. Her attention quickly going to the barrier, as she looked for the smoke creature.

“It is on the other side of the barrier. It stays too far in the inclusion zone for us to deal with it.” Iinii stated. “It is strong, but it is not showing enough power to be a god of any kind I have seen. A remnant of the darkness perhaps?”

“Sister.... what has happened?” Luna began, moving up to look at the note.

“Twilight's group was attacked. The Bearers are fine but one of your guards is badly hurt and several others are wounded. According to Spike if Rahs hadn't been there the guard would have died and the others would have been useless.” Celestia frowned noting a bit of easing on Luna's features. “They've made it to the palace.”

“Attacked huh...... this is gonna get interesting.” Bleu muttered, finally stopping her laughter.

[ The base of the Crystal Palace.]

“Letter's sent Twi.” Spike offered his gaze shifting around at his surroundings.

“Did you mention the rabbits?” Twilight asked.

“No.”

“We'll send another later, let me put this some where” Twilight muttered shifting the stone slab with the doctors on it down to lightly place it on the cobblestones near the door to the palace.

Surrounding the group, scattered all across the city, sitting on the ground, the tops of buildings, random windowsills, atop lamp posts, under mail boxes, on the sides of walls, in midair, on beams of light, or on the edge of a shadow, were thousands of white rabbits. They were in reflections, under the water of a fountain they passed, clustered on the under side of awnings and wandering around in mid air.

The red eyed creatures paid them no mind and seemed to wink in and out of existence as any one got within a certain distance of them. Rahs was the only one they seemed to look at and the moment they noticed him, they vanished. Once the group had passed some of them reappeared but others did not.

They occasionally seemed to be nibbling on the edges of a building or a mote of light in the air. The one time they saw another pony, it had several of them in it's mane that seemed to be eating the strands of hair without the mare noticing. The mare quickly ducked into a building slamming the door behind her.

“This is new.”

“Yeah I'm not even going to try to figure out the rabbits at the moment.” Moon Dancer sighed glancing up at Rahs oddly.

“Right, we talk to Cadence first. Then we get started trying to fix this.” Twilight agreed. “Shining is there a library?”

“Yeah, two of them. A patrol found one down the main drag, looked excessively unused and there were chains on the doors. Had some of my team break in and the whole place is covered in dust like no one has been in there in a long time. Guess Solomon sealed it and forgot about it. The other ones smaller but it's in the palace here, probably a personal library. I've kept every pony out of it just in case there were traps, we haven't had time to do more than secure the main areas yet.”

“Okay can you spare a couple Guards to lead the research team to the locked up library?”Twilight asked as her brother nodded. “The six of us and Rahs will go see Cadence then check out the library in the palace. Moon Dancer you take over the research team for now. Spike, I need you to go with her, if you find anything, flame mail me. If we find something I'll send you something back.”

“You can flame mail each other now?” Sunburst asked.

“Yeah tuns out it's pretty easy to lock on to a target. I can send to Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, Twilight, Mom, and Bleu on top of Princess Celestia. “ Spike beamed. “It just takes a really expensive gem infused with a ton of magic to give me a lock.”

“Huh, something to look into later.” Moon Dancer pondered “ Alright ponies lets go, times a wasting we have a job to do.”

“Are you sure this is safe?” Spike questioned. “ We're splitting the party, 'in' the dungeon here.”

“Come on Spike, it's a library, what can go wrong in a library?” Twilight stated.

Both her brothers stared at her.

“Never mind, don't answer that.”Twilight sighed.” Look Spike, you'll have a bunch of Guards around, including Lodestone and you can flame mail me if something goes wrong.”

“Fine....” Spike sighed.” You're lucky my paladin code puts the needs of the many before the few.”

Despite their magical numbness the guards still split as needed and followed their respective groups with the exception of the fallen kirin. Two of the Heart Guard joined the research group and another two fell in with Shining Armor and the Element bearers as they entered the palace.

[Inside the Crystal Palace throne room.]

A pink alicorn lay slumped over the throne groaning softly as she struggled to raise her head, her horn glowed brightly, though there were heavy enough bags under her eyes to make her look like a raccoon. Her fur was some what matted and her mane a mess, she clearly needed a good preening as well.

A Heart Guard stood nearby with a campfire brewer, making several pots of coffee at once.

“Cadence.” Twilight called out as she rushed into the room with the others right behind her.

“Oh wow you look like crap.” Rainbow Dash pointed out, only to get an elbow to the ribs from Applejack.

“Greetings Princess we haven't seen you since the wedding.” Rarity chimed up. “You're looking..... well.”

“This is the worst honey moon ever.” Cadence joked. “I'm glad you're here, I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this up. No pony will talk to us and the few who will don't remember anything. I'm hoping you might be able to find something or at least Fluttershy can ask the rabbits.”

“Oh I tried princess. But whatever they are saying sounds like gibberish to me.” Fluttershy frowned. “ they also don't act like any rabbits I know of.”

“Well so much for the easy way.” Cadence sighed.

“Scuse me fer asking Princess but why are you holding up that shield, ain't those more a Shining Armor's thing?” Applejack asked.

“I tried to start with, but the barrier passed through my shield like it wasn't anything, it was only when Cadence tried to help that it stopped. “ Shining Armor muttered. “Her shield is the only thing that is stopping the barrier from closing............”

“Well we passed through it pretty easy shouldn't be hard getting out.” Rainbow Dash offered.

“Yes well...” Shining looked to Cadence. “Cadence can't pass through the barrier, she's trapped here. We already tried to leave once. This place is like a trap designed for alicorns or gods or something.”

“You mean?” Twilight gasped.

“Right, if the empire vanishes, so does Cadence.” Shining Armor growled.

Author's Note

And thus ends part one of the Cresent Empire..

This also hits a 10 day streak of a chapter a day for ten days......

Damn am i tired..

The Crescent Empire. Episode 2, Part 2

Twilight gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

The Crescent Empire.
Episode 2, Part 2

[Crystal palace library]

“It's a spell book.” Twilight frowned flipping through the pages. “ And not a very impressive one... why was this hidden away?”

“To be fair Miss sparkle, the room had a unlocked door leading to the back of the store room next door. The only reason we even felt the draft was that the room was cooler than in here and the wall had partially rotted away.” Comet Trail answered. “It wasn't well hidden.”

“There are a lot of places we haven't looked in the palace” one of the Heart Guard with them added. “ We've been focused on questioning every pony and keeping what places we have looked into secure. There were a lot of maids and guards wandering around here aimlessly when we first showed up.”

Twilight hummed as she looked over the book. “The sheer number of magical traps that were on the book means that there was a reason it was put in there. But everything in here is a basic spell with only a bit more focus on combat magic than most spell books. I know all these, even if they are written weird.” Twilight frowned. “Rahs have you found anything else about that book stand?”

“Wuff.” Rahs commented prodding the tinted crystal stand that was still in the hidden room, there were no more spells on either the book nor the stand that he could smell. There was however a flip up top on the stand that he had taken the book out of. The see through smoky crystal acted like one of those fancy glass cases you saw in the museum.

“Nothing.... but this book has to be some sort of clue, you don't just stick something in another room and trap the fool out of it for no reason.” Twilight snorted.

“Red herring?” a guard suggested.

“Dude was an ass?” another guard added.

“Maybe, on both of those, but something tells me not. Look here. The lettering is odd, at first I considered it some sort of odd script of old equish, but no other book I've looked at here has used this sort of type. It's not hand written, it's print and the spacing for this sort of print makes it seem like there's something between the letters, like a secret message, but there's no indents on the page and none of my spells reveal anything.”

“A secret message? You mean the sort you used to get from cereal boxes?” one of the guards asked.

“So that means we need a decoder ring or some special glasses?” another questioned.

Twilight considered before getting up and moving into the small room with her brother. She placed the book back inside the crystal pedestal, closing the lid and looking at the page she had left open.
Well so much for that, it's just a spell book under glass now.”

Rahs however was staring at the book with a frown. He opened the glass case to check again before closing it and looking at the book more.

“Bark.”

“Somethings magic?” Twilight questioned, her horn glowing as she started flipping through the pages of the covered book curiously, seeing nothing change at all.

Rahs frowned watching, still feeling the magic there, but not seeing anything. He opened the case again as Twilight got to the end of the book and flipped it over before slapping the book face down and closing the case.

The cover of the book glowed in shadow cast by the tinted case, a number of runes visible in the leathery binding.

“Well. That's new.” Twilight muttered as she looked over the runes her horn glowing.” Wow... that is some strong magic.......”

Rahs hissed.

Twilight's ears perked up at that.

“Dark magic too...”Twilight muttered. “But it's a spell. Enchantment in fact, self targeting, odd.”

“Woof!”

“Not sure what he said Miss Sparkle, but if it was 'don't even think about it', I agree.” Comet Trail responded.

“My sister in law and this empire are in danger.” Twilight snapped her horn still glowing.” Besides I already cast it.”

[Outside in the 'less snow than before' field]

“Another message from Spike, the Bearers and their Guards are trying to set up the faire they found out about. With luck the familiarity might jog some of their memories. “Celestia sighed reading the scroll.

“A long shot, but it's not as if there are other options we've come up with” Martle shrugged.

“There is a lot of ground to cover in the empire, there are places that exist there we do not know how to access. Solomon had a number of hidden passages.” Luna offered.” Even we... were not allowed to go into some of them back then.”

“We should prepare to evacuate the civilians at least. “ Kaz offered. “There is a river frozen over that runs to the sea at the edge of the ice shelf. Celestia and I should be able to clear it for ships to come up. I can have a force here for transport in a few hours. That will take strain off your train lines,”

“There are over a million ponies in the empire” Luna stated. “We would need a way to get them past the inclusion zone without the smoke creature attacking them. And if the message from Cadence is correct they are barely able to do more than hide and struggle to recall what they forgot. We cannot be sure we would get even half of them to safety. “

“It would be better than nothing.” Teacup stated. “ Your niece may be a lost cause at this point, but we could at least save as many of those that she is trying to protect as we could.”

“ I trust in Twilight to find a way. That whole family has surprised me countless times.”Celestia sighed

“What concerns me.” Ascepius pointed out. “ Are the rabbits.”

The other gods nodded.

“You know he won't show up until after every things already over right?” Lockheed sighed.

[Palace library.]

Twilight Sparkle flipped through the spell book rapidly, her eyes scanning over the newly revealed spells and the information contained within.

The Guards were much more concerned with the glowing tendrils of shadow that flowed out of her now green eyes, like smoke.

They were also highly concerned that Rahs sported the same feature, and the points of light at his ears and tail now looked like the moon in eclipse with only the faintest glow of light around the edges of the orbs.

They grew slightly less concerned when Rahs cuffed his sister upside the head and let off a rather lengthy tirade of barks at his sister.

Twilight for her part was ignoring him and focused on the spells in the book.

“I was right there's another set of words between the odd lettering. I've never heard of any of these spells, but I'm not sure I understand what they do...” Twilight frowned stopping at a page and staring at it with a look of disgust on her face.” I take that back... I know what this one does.”

Rahs looked over her shoulder to the spell and growled, the rumbled rattling some of the guards teeth.

“What, what is it?” Comet Trail demanded, having sent some pony to get Shining Armor.

“This is the spell used to turn Princess Luna into Nightmare Moon, all the details weaknesses and explanation for it is here. It turns gods into slaves...... This has to be Solomon's spell book.” Twilight grumbled flipping through more pages before stopping near the end of the book. “ Found it..... oh...... oh wow..... this is evil.....”

“You are not filling me with confidence here Miss Sparkle.” Comet Trail muttered.

“It's the spell around the empire. It's just wow, this is not a simple or nice spell. That barrier Cadence is holding back is only part of it. This thing is purely designed to trap gods and kill gods. Sort of like a crab pot, where the crabs can go in, but they can't get out. If a god comes in the trap springs and starts closing around the god in question until it closes completely and vanishes again taking the empire away with it. Anything caught in the spell at that point would have it's memories blocked and have a basic fear spell implanted so the only thing the victim wants to do is hide, not run, but hunker down in place.”

“That's bad” a guard muttered.

“It gets worse. It creates some sort of focal point under the ice. If that object is disturbed the Empire will return but only until at least one god enters it, then it will try to close again. Any captured gods will have the same effect as anything else caught in it and will forget everything. A new focal point will spawn and the process will repeat.”

“Sounds like the guy had a hard on for taking out gods.” a guard muttered.

“I think I can break it though. It seems that he used an artifact called the Crystal Heart to power the spell the first time. Any subsequent vanishings would be powered by those who were trapped in the empire and afterwards any gods that were trapped would be drained. Eventually everything in the empire would be drained of life to power the trap. And the only way it would never activate again was if the empire never trapped another god. But the power released each time it formed would act like a beacon to the gods, and if enough time passed between appearances every one out side might forget it's a trap.”

“This guy was a dick.”

“So Princess Cadence is food for this trap?” Comet Trail frowned.

“That's what it looks like, though if I can find the Heart I, well Rahs, can break the enchantment on it and disarm the trap. “ Twilight theorized as her brother nodded.

“So we just need to find an artifact of unknown power hidden somewhere in a massive city before the Cadence blacks out from lack of sleep and gets eaten by a magic trap devised by a psychopath. All with only about a hundred guard.” Shining Armor stated as he walked in hearing the last bit. His eyes narrowed as he looked at his little sister and brother. “Okay first off, I'm telling mom you're screwing around with dark forces again. Secondly... what do you need me to do?”

The plan was rather simple. The Element bearers minus Pinkie and Twilight, would keep trying to set up the faire. At the very least the faire should draw enough of the Crystal ponies into one place that the ritual that Moon Dancer's team discovered could take place. Given that Moon dancer found out the Crystal Heart was supposed to be the center of the ritual and what was powered up, if twilight couldn't find it, perhaps the ritual would reveal it.

Moon Dancer's team was going to continue to scour the library for anything else about the fair and any other information they could get about the Empire.

Pinkie Pie was going to keep Cadence awake and comfortable... well awake at least. Shining was threatening to demote the Guard that gave her a flugal horn to full time latrine duty for life. Evidently the coffee Pinkie was making wasn't ready yet.

Shining Armor and a team of the Heart Guard were going to head out into the city and check out various places of note where Solomon might have hidden the Crystal Heart. Slave mines and workshops supposedly dotted all four cardinal directions of the Empire. The rest of the Heart Guard were to search the palace for anything that might be out of the ordinary, checking over rooms that they had skipped, or simply sealed during their time here.

There were a lot of rooms in the palace.

Twilight, still glowy eyed, and Rahs, no longer glowy eyed, along with their assigned Guards, were checking out the throne room and one of the known work labs that had been found before they would head to check out the wine cellars.

However it seemed that they didn't need to go any further than the throne room. Upon entering Twilight let out a shriek and stopped dead staring at the floor as everyone else moved in as if there was nothing there The mares Shriek brought every one about at the ready for an attack only to be confused as she started at the floor.

“Miss Sparkle what is it?” Comet Trail asked looking at the floor in confusion.

“There's stairs here....” Twilight muttered before moving around to one side and starting to fade out as she descended into the floor.

Rahs growled leaping out to grab her tail and landing face first on the ground. A moment later there was a growl and Rahs bit the floor yanking back and seeing to rip reality away revealing a large hole with a spiraling stair case going down. The magic shredded as the Moon dog slurped it up like noodles before rushing down to grab his sister who was still following the stairs.

She yelped as she was grabbed and held up meeting her annoyed brothers gaze as well as the glares of the Guards assigned to her.

“Oh, ummm, secret tunnel?” Twilight smiled sheepishly.

“Another one?” a guard questioned.

[Crystal Palace upper floors.]

“Is this a foals play room?” Green Bean muttered as he and his earth pony partner moved through one of the abandoned rooms.

“Looks it. Whole bunch of toys, lot of chipper painting son the wall and old books. Whole place is covered in dust though.” the second guard Ramshackle replied, the pegasus ruffling his wings.

“No rabbits though. Worrying sign. Should we get back up?” Green bean asked picking up a old teddy bear and looking it over before setting it aside.

“Let's check the doors there first, this isn't the only room we found without any rabbits in it.”Ramshackle responded advancing on the double doors on the far side of the room, there was some sort of plaque on one of the doors with a name. “ Hey bring that light closer, there something on the door.”

“Odd to see a foals room here though.” Green Bean commented moving closer to the door, the lantern on his back lighting up the room.

“Might have been from before Solomon or whoever that guy was that took over. They don't tell the grunts anything.” Ramshackle sighed, his wing grabbing the door handle to open it.

The sudden explosion as the doors burst outward, flung both the Heart Guards through the air. The pair slammed into the wall opposite the door, fur and armor smoking from the explosion as they both crashed to the floor, smoke starting to fill the room as the lantern was smashed against the wall as well.

The earth pony guard winced trying to push himself up from the floor, a glance over to his companion showed the crumpled form of the pegasus was still breathing, though the odd directions a number of his limbs were in and the blood pooling under him was not a good sign.

He turned his head to bellow out for aid when a energy gripped tight around his muzzle, sealing his mouth and yanking his head back towards the door as the sound of heavy hoof falls echoed in the burning chamber.

Out of the doorway a black furred unicorn in metallic breast plate and shin guards strode forth. Smoke billowed around his form, fluttering the red ,white trimmed cloak he wore and blending with his dark mane. His horn curled up a little taking on a red coloration as it neared the tip a black aura around it. Red eyes regarded the armored form of the guard he held with mild interest.

“Not mine.......” the stallion grumbled, his fangs flashing as he spoke. This close the guard could see that it wasn't smoke, but the figures own black mane that flowed and whipped about, much like the alicorn sisters.

Any further thoughts from Green Bean were removed as he was slammed back into the wall and rendered senseless before he was tossed away to crash against a small book shelf.

The figure regarded the fallen earth pony his eyes darting over the room in a mild confusion.

“Familiar...... something else.” The unicorn frowned looking at a wall as if staring through it. He felt something that way.

Stepping out into the hall he left the room burning behind him as the first cries of the other Heart guard sounded as they rushed towards the explosion.

Golden Orb web was on of the first of the heart guard to make it to the burning room. She had thought she saw something headed down the hallway towards the throne room but with all the smoke she couldn't be sure. The 'unicorn' pushed forward into the burning room spotting Green bean and lifting him up to carry him outside to the other Guards before she rushed back into the room.

Looking to the hole in the wall as a pair of pegasi rushed in pushing small rain clouds, she could see it was a foals bedroom, well decorated and thus untouched by the fire. She moved forward glancing over as another unicorn carried Ramshackle out of the room, her hoof crunching on something.

Looking down the mare noted a crystalline plaque mounted on the remains of the detonated door with a name on it.

“Sombra?” the guard questioned, before being called over to help put out the fire.

The Crescent Empire. Episode 2, Part 3

Twilight gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

The Crescent Empire.
Episode 2, Part 3

[Crystal Empire Library.]

“Alright. Here's what we have. Moon Dancer snapped looking at the large collection of books spread out and open on the table before her. Most were various history books but a few larger ones were large atlas' showing the Crystal Empire in it's heyday had settlements that dotted Equss pre-unification.

There were a number of clearly doctored histories about the Empire's prowess in combat, but there were enough other books showing that the empire began it's decline a little before the creation of Equestria. The main city of the Crystal Empire was simply renamed the Crystal Empire by some egotistical king or another as a slight to all the colonies that broke off from the Empire as a way to say they were not welcome there.

Because you can't go back to Consantan-opal.

“The Heart is the power source of the Empire. The magic from it is what makes this city, and a good bit of the surrounding farmland, habitable despite being in the middle of a frozen tundra.” Moon Dancer stated.

“Check.” Spike agreed.

“The Crystal Faire is a yearly ritualistic ceremony which draws on the inhabitants of the empire to empower itself some how...” Moon Dancer frowned.” Mana drain perhaps though it doesn't seem to drain their spells in fact it seems to make them stronger.”

“Some sort of emotional feeding like was explained with the Changelings?” Sunburst offered.

“I still say it's a symbiotic resonance.” One of the other researchers added. The others starting to get indignant and about to voice their own theories when Spike cut them all off. The fact they listened proved the smart ones didn't mess with a dragon, even a little one.

Also the Guards liked him for keeping order and listened to the drake more than the researchers.

“Look, we spent an hour arguing about this last time, let's just call it friendship magic and move on. The 'what' is less important than the 'how' at this second. We know the faire is what brings this power out and that channels into the heart itself. And the heart fixes things to make this place livable.” Spike sighed.

“There's also the idea that this is the fabled Rainbow valley of legend...” Another researcher pointed out. ”Which would make the power they produce Rainbow...”

“ STOP! “ Spike growled glaring at the one who had interrupted, shutting him up. “Worry about that later. It all comes down to we need to find the heart.”

“Correct. The current goal should be the location of the heart or how to create one if we can't find it. We have a collection of gods outside, whom if we can find out how, are willing to try and make another heart if we can't find the original.” Moon Dancer offered.

“I've let the Guards outside relay the message to the Element Bearers to keep the Crystal ponies distracted from where the Crystal Heart should be.” Sunburst sighed.” Worst case if we can't find or remake the Heart we try the Element's of Harmony on the shield and hope it works.”

“From what Twilight said the heart is at the center of this trap.” Spike frowned.

At this point Lodestone trotted in, the massive night Guard's heavy hoof falls seeming to shake the building.

“More bad news, we can't evacuate the crystal ponies. I just got a report that a team tried bringing some out and they couldn't bypass the barrier that's closing in. The shield touching them made them disoriented all over again.”Lodestone spoke clearly as he relayed the report. “ And more bad news a number of our guards are suffering from the same effect. Namely the ones that had been infected by the black crystals. So not only do we now run the risk of losing Princess Cadence, we are also going to lose all the civilians and about a dozen of our guards.”

Two unicorn Guards that had been with the research team since the start flinched. Lodestone took note.

“Star Glitter, Grape Shot, take five... write out what you need to. I'll make sure it gets to who ever you want it sent to.”Lodestone spoke before turning his attention back to the researchers.” If you don't get out any way....”

The researchers took the hint and got back to work at a more frantic pace , with a number of worried glances to the two guards who were filling out their own last words.

Spike to had quickly started writing. If the crystals kept the others from getting out, what would happen since Rahs ate that magic?

Twilight and the Princesses needed to know.

Spike paused his writing , before crumbling it up. He would inform the princesses, but Twilight didn't need any more piled on her, from the letters she sent she was already taking the whole thing on her own shoulders. More stress about something that couldn't be helped wasn't going to do anything.

Of course Spike was also worried that none of them might get out if that dark magic worked like the Poison joke did.

[Under the Palace.]

“This is absolutely ridiculous. Who designed this thing with so many stairs?” A guard bitched.

“A hippogryph maybe?” another suggested.

“What?”

“Met a foal or chick or whatever a hippogryph kid is called a good while back during a out post posting. Little thing was obsessed with the stairs the outpost had going up to the watch tower.” the second Guard explained.” Cute, but weird.

“More like it's a deterrent.” Twilight added. “There's layers of magic around the middle which is why I told you all to walk. Try to fly down and set off traps, who ever made this probably set it up to annoy and deter any one looking to descend while he had his own quicker way to get down here. A way I don't have time to look into.”

“We're almost at the bottom.” Comet Trail interrupted. “ Looks like there's a door down here.”

The group moved off the stairs heading over to the door as Twilight scanned it.

“It's not obviously trapped, but it is enchanted heavily.” Twilight frowned.” Illusion, and transmutation. Traps are normally evocation or enchantment. Odd.”

“Bedrock, open it.” Comet Trail told the earth pony of the group. “Everyone else get ready. Miss Sparkle, Rahs, get back behind us.”

“Woof.” Rahs grumbled.

“ Right, he is the magic eater here.” Twilight grumbled.

“Don't worry about it, Bedrocks got the highest magic resistance of us and his armors reinforced if it's a physical issue. If any thing affects him Rahs can break it so long as he isn't caught up in it. That would hit your whole family, wouldn't it?”

“Well, yes, but...” Twilight began.

“No buts Miss Sparkle, we're here for a job, so let us do it.” Bedrock grunted reaching out to shove on the door latch with a hoof.

The door however had other ideas and zipped away from him, skittering along the wall to the other side of the room.

“The buck?” Bedrock asked as they all looked at the door that was now behind them.

[Entrance to the Crystal Mines of the north.]

“Nothing.” Shining Armor cursed throwing down the paperwork from the office they had found.
Shipping receipts, slave work orders and solider patrols. Nothing at all about the heart or the trap.

The scouts he sent into the mines also found nothing, at least nothing they would talk about. Shining had seen the rage on a few of the teams faces, and horror on the others. All he got when he pressed was a sickened Guard muttering about, mass graves and crystal bones that looked gnawed on. He let it drop after that.

The research station they had visited first was an old weather outpost on the west side. While there was nothing of note there either, the entire place was designed with pegasi in mind.

Something about this bothered Shining Armor as he had yet to see anything but earth ponies in the Empire. The weather station however had clearly been designed with fliers in mind and there were even a few items like old preening kits in some of the lockers they found that stated this was a pegasi run facility. None of the crystal ponies he had met had wings so who used the place?

[ Crystal Faire ]

“Ain't fully sure this is working.” Applejack muttered, her hoof running over the necklace pressing against her chest. The others had decided that putting the Elements on, just in case, was the best option at this point.

“I disagree. We have gathered quite a sizable crowd for this. Some of them have even started to recall what they were before the Empire vanished.” Rarity pointed out her horn glowing as she put together another hat for the stall she was working on.

“Yeah and one of them recalled he was in Sombra's Guard and tried to punish the rest for gathering without his leaders orders.” Rainbow Dash growled.

“Well with him being taken down so quickly, more of the others have come out of hiding. “Fluttershy offered. “It seems the Heart Guard are starting to be well liked already.”

“Still, fer a Empire there have to be far more than the maybe two or three hundred ponies we've seen.” Applejack muttered.

“Frankly that is likely for the best. It is hard enough to keep every one away from a non existent center piece. “Rarity let out a sigh, working on another hat.” The Crystal Heart is the first thing most of them remember, even if they don't recall why.”

“This is very stressful.” Fluttershy let out a sigh. “I'm glad all the Guards are here, I can't imagine trying to do this ourselves.”

“Setting up a whole faire to restore an Empire with just us? Yeah that would be pretty dumb.” Rainbow Dash agreed.”Ehh maybe Pinkie could do it. I mean Rarity some how managed to set up a hattery.”

“Haberdashery dear.” Rarity corrected.

“Isn't that a type of cabbage?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“In either case we need to keep an ear open and try figure where the heart was stored. Ask around, see if any one recalls that much. Git as much info as yah can, we'll have a runner pass it on tah Spike an his team. “ Applejack frowned.

“Right.” The others agree splitting off to make sure the events run smoothly.

Far above them a shadowy cloud clawed at the top of the shield.

[Under the palace]

“YAAAAAH!!!!” Bedrock screamed out before Rahs yanked him away from the doorway.

The door itself had led them on a merry chase around the room before Rahs managed to sink his claws into the frame of the door holding the struggling thing in place. Twilight added to that by striking the gem at the top of the door with a bolt of black magic which made the door stop moving.

It also got her glares from everyone present, especially Rahs.

Bedrock again moved to open the door, the door opening to a simple rock wall, though Bedrock froze, staring at it and after a moment or two he started screaming.

Even as Rahs yanked him back he felt the pony sag in his grip as he collapsed, the massive earth pony crashing to the ground like a limp rag. Rahs whirled on the door seeing absolutely nothing but the rock wall before the door slammed shut on it's own.

“He's alive, elevated pulse, sweating and he's burning up. Scans show all green otherwise. I think he fainted.” the unicorn medic offered. “My magics not back up to full yet, so i'm not completely sure.”

“Transmutation was the animate object. That must be the illusion effect.” Twilight considered.

The purple mare went over to the door and pulled it open. She too froze as she stared at a blank wall.

“Shit.. Does your sister have any impulse control at all?” Comet Trail cursed.

Rahs simply shrugged, Twilight was in a rush to solve this puzzle and all her focus was on it. She always got a bit haphazard when she was rushed.

“Umm, her horn's glowing....” another Guard pointed out.

“GET BEHIND THE STAIRS AND GET A SHIELD UP!!” Comet Trail bellowed as the black magic around Twilight's horn grew even brighter, her eyes widened and she started prancing in place.

Rahs ignored the order and walked up cuffing his sister in the back of the head again. Her head rocked forward, horn hitting the rock wall in the door frame as the spell discharged.

Out side the Faire goers were treated to a earth shattering kaboom as a black beam of light lanced out of the side of the Crystal Palace, chunks of the wall striking the inside of the shield on the other side of the city.

The Heart Guard and the crystal ponies all stared at the spot for a few minutes before slowing starting to go back to what they were doing a little nervous about the beam. Many of the crystal ponies went back to hide in their homes, though those that were already hiding heard the noise and poked their head out to look, getting drawn into the faire, increasing the numbers of those present.

The Heart Guards went on a higher alert and some pony was sent to contact Shining Armor.

The Element Bearers stared at the palace with a frown before Rainbow Dash broke the silence.

“Twenty bits say that was Twilight.”

“Sucker bet Dash. Twenty it was Twilight and something surprised her.” Applejack countered.

“I'll match that, though I say she saw a snake.” Fluttershy added.

“I would say Rahs did something to make her mad.” Rarity suggested, “Put me down for that.”

[ Inside]

“Huh. How about that there's a staircase outside the palace.” A guard muttered. Didn't the Heart Guard do a fly over?”

“Magic probably.” Comet Trail shuddered glancing over to Twilight who was cussing out her brother, then back to the new 'door' in the side of the palace. “ I'm more freaked out that we went down, and are now higher up the palace than we started.”

“So what now?” another Guard grumbled.

“Alright, Lighthook you stay here with Bedrock. I hate to split the group, but I doubt we can convince Twilight to stop for a moment. Rahs is just going to have to be a bit under protected. Starscream, Swift shot, you're with me. We're down our tank and healer, so we need to be careful. And take this slow......” Comet trail let the statement die as he noticed the other Guards looking behind him.

“They already went out didn't they?” Comet Trail sighed.

“Yes sir.” a gray furred and blue and red maned pegasus chuckled.

“Lets go.” the three guards rushed out after the Sparkles.

It had been about four minutes since the others left and Lighthook had tried a number of small spells to get Bedrock to wake up with no success.

Lighthook sighed looking over the large earth pony he was left with , frowning as he considered trying to wake him up by dousing him with water.

His ears perked up a hearing something from above. Looking up he spotted a shadowy figure trotting down the spiraled stairs, the heavy thud of armored hooves echoing in the now silent chamber.

Narrowing his eyes he caught a glimpse of the figure, his eyes going wide at the armor the figure wore, this wasn't a Guard.

Lighthook grabbed his weapon, a billhook, leveling it at the descending figure, placing himself between the stairs and the fallen earth pony. Before he could issue the command for the figure to halt and identify himself, his billhook glowed in black energy and came alive. The steel bent and twisted like a snake, wrapping around his head and neck, the blade striking at his horn to keep him from casting spells. The shaft of the weapon grew tighter as he flailed until he was stolen from the waking world, collapsing in a heap as the animate weapon choked him out.

The descending figure didn't even look at the fallen guards, only focusing on the door frame and the hole in the wall it was around.

After a moment of pondering, King Sombra stepped out of the hole and followed the Sparkles and their remaining Guards.

[?]

Something woke with a growl.

There were trespassers.

Three felt familiar, but three others did not.

There was also something wrong with two of them.

One would be forced to leave, they were not allowed here, the other two would be examined to determine why they felt odd, his reaction would be based on that.

The other three.....

Well.

He hadn't eaten in a long time.

[ Crystal Library]

“Nothing at all on where it's stored“ a researcher cursed. “What good are books that don't tell you anything?!”

“Well, we learned who to blame for the creation of the flugal horn.” another added.

“Less bitching and more reading.” Moon Dancer shouted.

There was a general grumbling from everyone, then a loud crack and a shattering sound that resembled glass breaking.

The Guards were quickly on high alert and every pony, and dragon looked up from their books.

“I didn't do it!” Sunburst protested.

“Do what?” Moon Dancer asked.

“What ever broke, not me.” Sunburst smirked at his little joke.

Spike simply stared at him.

“Hey that was funny.” Sunburst sighed.

“No it wasn't. That was a dad joke and I'm pretty sure I'm not with foal..... “Moon Dancer considered a moment. “Maybe I should double check....”

Spike continued to stare

“Okay maybe it wasn't that funny, but the mood needed to be lightened with something..... “Sunburst sighed, before noticing Spike wasn't staring at him, but behind him.

The unicorn stallion turned to look behind him, Moon Dancer also following the little drake's gaze.

Behind them, on the center display shelves of the room, the massive black crystal buffalo was shaking off the black crystal covering it as it started to move.

[Outside the Barrier]

The smoke monster paused.

It felt something.

It was unsure what it was it felt, but the drive to destroy was only increased.

It recalled it's purpose.

Somethings could get in the barrier that could also get out.

It was to make sure they stayed in.

Alive was optional.

Correction.

Dead was preferred.

[ In the, slightly more snow than before, seriously does this white crap ever stop falling, field.]

The gods had been discussing things.

The news sent by Spike that the evacuation could not be preformed had disheartened Luna, even more so when it was found that a portion of the Guards sent in would not be returning. Both from Luna and Celestia's forces.

Those were personal visits to family members that the rulers never wanted to make.

Distracted as they were, all of them took note of Iinii when he gasped and took a step back, the first real movement the giant buffalo god had made since any one else got here.

Turning as one, the gods all looked up at the shield.

A dark form was pulling together from a billowing cloud of smoke that had been swirling atop of the shield.

At first it was hard to tell what it was, though very slowly a solid form emerged.

The creature was hunched over, four limbs jutting from the still forming main body. The limbs ended in massive wicked black claws, claws which immediately sank into the shield sending, a spider web of cracks across it from each puncture.

A massive body formed, atop the legs. Scales the color of blood glistened in the sunlight, plates of some sort of metal shone brighter than the dulled scales in the light. Patches of what looked like metal covered the creature, though on closer examination it was less worn and more bolted to the creatures flesh. The magic resistant mithril prevented natural healing and kept the creature in constant anguish. A pain it had learned to enjoy when it inevitably went mad. Black crystalline shards burst out of the spine of the creature like a row of spikes on the back like most dragons. A long serpentine tail lashed out, striking against the shield as well.

A massive set of wings burst from it's back, the smokey miasma between the outstretched digits replacing what webbing might have once been there naturally. The spined head formed, two jutting black crystal horns that curved back over the serpent like neck and a draconic muzzle filled with sharp teeth dominated the main features of the head, many of the teeth seemingly replaced with black crystal as well.

The eyes were glassed over, black ovals of void.

The creature roared, ebon and green flame flickering around it's muzzle as the cry echoed off the mountains, starting avalanches and rock slides on nearly all the surrounding peaks.

Bleu barely seemed to move, though suddenly there was a massive form looming over all the gods. The now gargantuan blue dragon towered over them. Where Bleu's sons were perhaps the size of a moderate castle or keep, Bleu at full size could look down on Canterlot, the city not the castle.

The red scaled smoke dragon in the distance was only a little bit smaller than she was.

Lightning crackled along her form as she ground her fangs, the sound like glaciers meeting.

“ A dragon?” Martle questioned.

“Dreadnought.” Iinii corrected staring at the monster atop the shield.

“A what?” Ascepius questioned.

“An abomination, created when the darkest of magics are turned on a dragon. It is then augmented with armor plate and countless ward spells. A number of demi gods and at least two gods were lost to such things in the War of the Night. It is why there is no longer a god of Rams, and why Fledge is the second god of Harpies.” Celestia stated with a shudder. “The witch wolves were bad enough, but these... To think one remained....”

“We had no say in the corruption of these. Nor the juggernauts.” Luna frowned. “But the magic that twisted them into existence was ours. Drawn from the nightmare and made to suit what Solomon wished.”

“It's Kayete.” Bleu snarled.

Iinii blinked and Celestia and Lockheed winced.

“My condolences Bleu.” Iinii stated not taking his eyes of the twisted form of Bleu's former mate.

[Inside the shield]

The roar drew Shining Armor's attention faster than anything else. His team had just scouted the most likely location for the heart, a mages tower at the southern point of the empire.

Like the weather office, everything in the building seemed designed to be used by unicorns, though like the pegasi he had seen none in the empire yet.

Also there was no Crystal Heart.

Granted that was neither here nor there, a massive dragon was currently hammering at the top of the shield Cadence was using to keep the barrier back from swallowing the city.

As he galloped back towards the palace he watched in horror as the shield flickered and faded, the barrier rushing forward, as the gargantuan dragon dove in. The shields flickered weakly back to life a moment later, the barrier having claimed all the outer farms and some of the buildings at the edge of the city as it encroached.

The black monstrosity however didn't seem to care about that and winged it's way towards the palace, it's massive form ripping the roofs off houses with just it's wing pressure, it's breath lighting the homes ablaze with black and green flame.

Shining Armor's panic rose as the massive creature continued on towards where his wife and siblings were.

At this point Shining did something he had never managed before.

With a flash of light and a faint pop, Shining Armor teleported, leaving the guards behind.

[ Inside the palace throne room.]

Pinkie Pie was freaking out.

She hadn't had panicked this much since that time she forgot Limestone's birthday until the last minute.

Princess Cadence had dozed off on the throne.

The flugal horn was no longer effective.

Right now the Princess was dripping went and shivering a little, the bucket of ice cold water Pinkie had used had worked. The bucket of water was the last trick she had though, noise no longer worked and the ice bucket barely did along with some shaking.

“I'm sorry Pinkie, I guess I dozed off a moment.” Cadence yawned.

That the Princess hadn't heard the super scary roar, nor even noticed the deep hole in the floor they found when they came back from the kitchen was even more worrying.

Pinkie was wracking her brain trying to come up with something else to keep the Princess awake.

There was a soft ding. A chime like a deus ex machina plot point coming to bear at the last second, either that or the bell she had set on the timer.

Okay it was the timer.

Pinkie Pie turned looking to her alchemy lab, and the steam rising from a coffee pot that was slowly starting to fill.

A thick scent wafted through the air, one that the pink princess opened her eyes wide from the moment she caught a wiff.

“What is that!?” Cadence asked, sounding more awake than she had since Pinkie got there.

“Coffee's done.” Pinkie Pie cheered.

Author's Note

I realized this chapter is all over the place with dark and comedic moments.

Good news is , the monster throw down starts next chapter.

Bad news is some of those buffalo tales were right.

The Crescent Empire. Episode 2, Part 4

Twilight gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

The Crescent Empire.
Episode 2, Part 4

[Crystal palace, dungeons.]

“This place is creeping me out” Iron Plate muttered. The charcoal colored earth pony stallion strode along the dark hallway. His copper and coral colored armor marking him as one of Cadence's Heart Guard.

Water dripped somewhere, echoing across the nearly black and mold covered stone. Piles of debris and old rusted chains lay heaped along the floors, some times with larger masses of old bones and rotted clothing. Cells lined one wall, thick steel doors with only small grates that allowed viewing inside.

“You're telling me.” Kulbit, pegasus mare in the same sort of armor uttered. The slate colored pegasus floated over the floor, the lantern she carried illuminating the mess of the hall.

“Cut the chatter you two, we need to keep our eyes and ears open. There's a lot riding on finding that crystal heart thing. “ A orange unicorn mare ahead of the other three snapped. Her armor was the same as theirs, though the rank pips on Ghost Pepper's armor marked her as a sergeant. “We'll clear the hall first then come back and check the cells.”

“There must be a hundred of them sarge.” Iron Plate grumbled. “Most of them look like they saw heavy use too. What the buck went on in this place?”

“Nothing good.”Kulbit added.

“Focus.” Ghost Pepper ordered.

“Well, well, what is this? After all this time am I finally getting a conjugal visit?” a male voice called out.

“Really? I would say you disgust me, but you are far beyond that flirting with our captors.” another voice snapped.

“You two need to be silent and listen. They are not of Sombra's ilk.” a third female voice stated.

“Oh, I knew that. They sound way to pretty to be one of those guys. “the first voice chimed up again. “Well two of them do. So what are your names sweethearts?”

Ghost Pepper moved closer to the cells the voices were coming from, her magic lifting up the metal flap to peer in.

Staring back at her was a large form, with two glimmering green gemstones for eyes.

[Outside]

The faire was pandemonium. The appearance of the dragon had the crystal ponies running around in a screaming panic, a stampeding herd that had no regard for any one they trampled or smashed into in their desperate attempt to get away from the Dreadnought's notice.

Not that it mattered.

Black and green fire ripped through the city center setting the very stone of the roads ablaze and igniting buildings, blocking off avenues of retreat and forcing even more crystal ponies out of their homes lest they succumb to the inferno. What had been hundreds of crystal ponies poking around the fair soon became thousands, all milling and being herded by the fiery dragons breath.

Some escaped the circle of fire that was being made only to find themselves trapped against the much smaller barrier that was pushing in, barely out of the fire on the other side of the green and black ring of death. If the shield faltered again, this lot would be pushed into the flames as the barrier constricted.

The Dreadnought swirled around the ponies on the palace side of his firewall, the black eyes looking down at them as they milled about trying to take shelter any where they could.

Rarity and Fluttershy were taking cover in Rarity's hat stall. Rarity was shouting out at any crystal pony nearby to run towards the palace. Fluttershy was hiding under the work table.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash were trying to control the herd to force them towards the palace itself, though there were far too many crystal ponies who were not listening and were running every where , trampling the faire grounds in a blind panic.

Pegasi Guards were darting over the crowds grabbing any ponies that fell and bringing them to a more secure location.

Unicorns and earth ponies with ranged weapons fired at the beast, the magic and bolts glancing off it. Shields were raised but simple exhalation of fiery breath shattered them and infected the casters with black crystals.

The Pegasi were about to launch themselves at the creature to drive it away from the civilians, or die trying when another shield formed in front of it.

This shield was far to thin to block anything and as the guards and terror stricken ponies watched, it narrowed more and slashed at the Dreadnought.

The monsters eyes widened and it rolled to the side, the spell blade dragging over it's scales ripping off a number of the metal plates that fell with a crash into the burning buildings.

The creature roared more in rage than pain as it's gaze whipped around to a lone white unicorn with a blue mane standing on the palace balcony over looking the square. A flash of light and the unicorn was now in the open field to the west of the palace staring up at the Dreadnought as it winged around.

Shining Armor had seen what was going on, what the creature was doing as he ran up.

He wasn't sure how he was able to teleport, he wasn't sure where the energy he was using was coming from, but he felt he should thank his brother if he survived this.

No.

He was damn sure going to make sure they survived this.

It had been a long time since he felt this mad at something. Most monsters he had fought in the six hundred and sixty sixth division had been hungry or territorial. Easy enough to drive off. Most of them he almost felt sorry for as ponies had encroached on their old hunting grounds leaving them little choice if they wanted to survive.

This thing was herding ponies, driving them in a direction. It wasn't out of hunger or territory, but amusement.

He wasn't mad. He was pissed.

The Dreadnought stared down at the creature that had actually injured it. While the wound was barely a trifle, that made this one more a threat than any of the others.

The Dreadnought roared in challenge to the lone guard.

Shining Armor lifted his left fore leg and waved his hoof towards himself, beckoning the monster to bring it.

[ Crystal Library]

Screams came from the researchers as the beast broke free of the black crystal encasing it. The buffalo was massive, towering over even the Chief Spike saw when he went to Appleloosa.

The fur of it was black, though white at the roots as if this was some odd dye job. The creature's onyx black eyes shifted over the group and as it moved Spike took note that it's hooves were shod in some kind of metal, and it was covered in armor plate of the same.

Spike's eyes widened as he noticed the plate moved when the buffalo did, he wasn't wearing armor, plates were bolted on to him as was the steel shodding and the metal horn extenders that were sharpened into blades.

“Umm hello?” Sunburst asked hopefully. “Err how do you do I'm Sunburst. Did you know you were trapped there for a while, it's been quite a long time outside the Crystal Empire... Are you feeling alright? Do you need help?”

The buffalo stared at the unicorn before him, his gaze shifting to the collection of armed guards, taking special note of all the Nox-cal and particularly Lodestone who moved up to push Spike back.

“Intruders and traitors.” The buffalo stated, his voice rumbling like a train at full steam who's boiler was about to explode. “The master bade me to guard this place. The penalty for trespassing here is death.”

“Oh... so it seems you're doing alright then.....” Sunburst frowned. “Pity.”

[Upper parts of the Crystal palace.]

Rahs was on edge, there was magic here, a lot of it. He could smell it in the air, taste it with every breath. It was a horrible blend of flavors, bitter black coffee, hints of licorice, and a overwhelming taste of strawberry. Not natural strawberry either, but the super sweet type like those hard candies Twilight always said left a film on her tongue. There was also the scent of smoke from burning wood, though that was faint.

Outside the hole in the wall they had found a staircase that led upward on what seemed to be the outside of the palace. It only took one of the guards bouncing off of the illusion of open air to show it was in fact a wall. That no clouds or anything else were moving in the scene as they walked up the stairs gave the impression that it was simply an illusionary image of the empire spread out below them.

Rahs took a few bites of it and found it tasted like old mints.

Of course after a few minutes of climbing Twilight got annoyed at the speed and cast a spell, which brought a great deal of cursing from Comet Trail.

Rahs added to the swearing as gravity suddenly reversed for him and his sister and where she was expecting it, he landed hard on his back and immediately started sliding up the ceiling behind her.

The guards quickly took wing and followed, though at a slower pace along the narrow stair well.

As the siblings made it to the top of the stairs Twilight cut the spell and and dropped down onto the upper platform skidding across the stone.

Rahs thankfully was expecting it by that point and whirled around to land on his feet, lashing out to grab his sister by the tail and yank her back from entering the door on the stone landing.

“BORK!”

“What do you mean slow down? We're almost there?”

“WOOF!”

“Of course I'm in a rush, everyone is counting on me to...”

“BORK!” Rahs snapped cutting her off and bent over to glare at his sister eye to glowing black eye.

“Those have been acceptable risks...”

Rahs growled.

“They turned out fine in the...”

He growled louder.

“You were the one who walked in there and ate the spells around the book without letting me even try to see what they did!”

“Bark.” Rahs stated crossing his arms.

“Alright fine, it's magic and that's sort of what you do, but still... fine.... I'll try to be more careful.” Twilight sighed looking over as the Guards started to catch up. “But I'd rather just be risking me, not them too. I'm not some sort of princess they're swore to protect. How many have already been injured because they came with us... and that Kirin nearly died...”

Rahs glanced over at the guards and let out a sigh as he uncrossed his arms nodding in understanding.

“Miss Sparkle..” Comet Trail snapped glaring at the purple unicorn.

“I get it. I get it. Sorry, it's just we have a time limit and I'm not willing to lose my sister in law after I barely welcomed her to the family, or let my brother become a widow on what was supposed to be his honeymoon.” Twilight sighed. “I've got a great deal of energy from all the magic Rahs has been eating I need to burn off as well. But this is it. We're at the top, either the Heart is in here or this has been a wild goose chase.”

“I've chased wild geese before. Those suckers are mean.” Swift Shot offered, the pegasus guard nodding sagely as the other four stared at him.

“Annnnnnyway, there's no spells on the door.” Twilight added though Rahs was the one to open it and step through first.

The chamber they entered was larger than the palace throne room.

Once the small group entered they all noticed different things.

Starscream the Guard noticed that the room was open to the air and had little more than some railing around it with a crystalline covering over the top, like some ridiculous gazebo.

Swiftshot noticed that there was a great deal of smoke in the air and a distant roar.

Twilight Sparkle noticed the floating Crystal Heart spinning slowly over a pedestal in the center of the room.

Comet Trail noticed the collection of well gnawed crystal bones that lay littered and broken around the room including some obvious wing bones and skulls with horns.

Rahs took note of the smell of death in the room and the large hulking creature that rose up from a pile of bones shaking them off as it clamored to it's feet.

The creature’s fur was a deep brick red. It had a canine shape, with it's front limbs built differently with longer, retractable claws on the ends of fingers for manipulation and attacking. It's head was more cat-like than canine, with a longer muzzle, and much longer ears that were currently plastered to it's head. It had red eyes with black sclera that were slitted like a cat’s, wide and staring. Its tail whipped wildly behind it, the tail being whip like, rather than the club tails Diamond Dogs had. It had a rougher mane of hair that ran down its head from between its ears, along the back of its neck, and between its shoulders like a short mane.

The most prominent thing about it, aside from the slowly widening grin that displayed it's sharp teeth, was at the end of its whip like tail, as well as the points of each long ear, there sat a small free floating globe of light. The light it shed was dim and barely perceivable in the well-lit chamber, though black clouds seemed to flicker and pass over the silvery orbs.

The creature growled, drool falling from it's maw as it regarded those that had come into it's den.

“Witch wolf.” Rahs said in rapidly rising panic as the creature lunged at them.

Author's Note

And thus everything comes to a head.

Let's get this party started.

*cracks knuckles*

Roll for initiative.

The Crescent Empire. Episode 2, Part 5

Author's Note

Offered musical tracks for when you read this chapter.

Choose a path.

Path One
or
path 2

The Crescent Empire. Episode 2, Part 5

Twilight gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

The Crescent Empire.
Episode 2, Part 5

[Top of the palace]

Rahs Sparkle was in no way, a warrior.

He was lazy, fixated on his own personal interests, and not very inclined to put too much effort into things that didn't interest or immediately affect him.

Sure he was super naturally tough, and given the very nature of the world he lived in with it's plethora of magic, able to heal from anything that didn't kill him outright.

The Bone Hounds had shaken his world view quite a bit, and although his traits had remained the same, he had taken the time to learn how to defend himself.

He was still not a warrior.

The thing that was lunging at them now WAS a warrior. He was a foul creature, twisted in darkness to serve as a shock trooper for an evil empire. He was larger than Rahs in both bulk, fluff, likely training, and also sadly, other parts.

Because clearly real warriors didn't wear pants.

Had to be a intimidation thing.

This thing had been sneaking around in the shadows when they came in and Rahs had barely caught sight of it as it lunged at them.

Rahs didn't have the genius of his sister, nor the cleverness of his younger brother, nor even the training of his elder brother. All his fights, with the exception of Discord, had been against things that his size and magic eating ability could easily deal with. Heck even Discord was 90% magic by mass.

Despite his penchant for slacking, the need to protect his siblings was ingrained in his very nature since birth. It might have only been to guard their dreams as a pup, but out here that translated to something else. As such he had been in more than a few fights.

In situations like this ponies often said time slowed. While time might have seemed to slow for the others, Rahs didn't notice and reacted instantly. Pushing his sister down with a rear paw and grabbing the pouncing witch wolves arm, shoving his other paw into his chest, claws first, as he used the beasts momentum to send him over the group to crash on the floor. Preventing the witch wolf from landing on Twilight.

He had to thank Jynx for teaching him that throw.

The beast was up again in a second snarling at Rahs, a snarl the moon dog returned .

Rahs quickly shucked his coat, jamming the element of magic atop his sisters head as he did so as he advanced towards the witch wolf.

Against a trained combatant, an amateur like him stood no chance.

This thing was yanked out of the Oneiroi, was born from a race that prioritized survival in a harsh landscape, and was stronger, faster, and more vicious than he could ever hope to be.

He was clearly the underdog here.

But, underdog victories were some of the most dramatic sort there were.

Twilight shrieked as Rahs stepped on her, the roar and the rush of air as something passed over her brought her attention away from the Crystal Heart.

It took a moment for her mind to process what Rahs said, but she was up just as quickly, her horn lighting up even as her brother flung his coat over her and engaged with the larger creature.

Twilight cursed shoving the heavy coat off of herself, yanking whatever Rahs had stuck on her head off to stare at it, she grumbled putting her Element back on.

She hated wearing this thing, she really would have preferred a necklace to a tiara. This thing made her feel like a little filly playing princess dress up.

Readjusted so the Element of Magic was facing the right way on her head, Twilight took a shot at the witch wolf as Rahs managed to break away from it.

The magic blast was snapped out of the air by the feral looking beast and the few claw wounds Rahs had made on it healed up instantly as the creature seemed to bulk up as well.

Rahs flattened his ears and glared back at Twilight as she cried out and rubbed her head. The distraction enough for the witch wolf to plow into him, sending the pair crashing about the room in a snarling ball of red and blue fury.

“Damn.. So that's what it feels like.” Twilight cursed at having her own magic bitten for once.

“Sparkle are you alright?” Comet Trail questioned as he an Swift Shot rushed over to help her up, Starscream moved to place himself between the brawling canines and the others, a pair of wing blades snapping out as he watched the fight looking for a way to get involved.

“I'm fine, just don't use magic. That's a witch wolf, it will eat it and get stronger.” Twilight flinched as Rahs howled out, the larger beast chomping down on his shoulder only for a claw across it's eyes to force it back giving both of them time to heal.” We need to help Rahs......

“BORK!!” Rahs snapped before the pair closed of beasts closed once more and started trading blows, growling and hissing at each other.

“ Wha... but... DAMN IT!!! “ Twilight snapped. “Never mind, I need to remove the spell from the heart, cover me in case something else shows up.”

“Right.” Comet Trail stated.

“The Crystal Heart...... now I remember.” another deep voice said. Whirling about the Guards and Twilight took note of a black unicorn stallion standing in the doorway, his red cloak fluttering in the wind behind him.

“You should not be here Prince Sombra.”The witch wolf growled his attention switching between Rahs and the unicorn at the door.” Your father forbade you from approaching the heart.”

“That's King Sombra, you foul beast. My father is dead, Managarmr and it is my title now. While you play with... what ever that is, you let the traitor and the other three get close to the heart, clearly you cannot be trusted to do your job any more.” King Sombra snarled. “I will deal with you after I deal with this lot.”

Rahs and Twilight's eyes both widened. Managarmr was the name of the first true moon dog, and the first of the witch wolves to be made.

“Just what we need...” Twilight grumbled.

“Fix the heart Sparkle.” Comet Trail frowned a massive weighted chain dropping from his wing to strike the floor, cracking the crystal.

“Fools do you even know who I...” Sombra snarled before he was forced to throw himself to the side as with a wing movement Swift Shot had filled the air he had been in a moment before with a trio of blades that sunk into the door behind him.

“You're a dumb ass monologuing target.” Swift Shot responded.

“FOOLS!!” King Sombra roared as the three Guards rushed him.

Rahs too had taken advantage of the witch wolves distraction and slammed his fist into the jaw of the larger wolf, the blow lifting him off the floor for a moment.

Managarmr growled before returning the favor and sending Rahs stumbling back.” You should have gone for the throat pup!!”

Twilight ducked behind the pedestal with the heart on it, quickly starting to scan over the spell tied to it. Her black glowing eyes widened as she saw the massive overlay of dark power that had been threaded into very core of the artifact like a demented tapestry.

“Shit.”

[Crystal Empire Library]

Spike was freaking out.

Screams of terror filled the air as the researchers ran and tried to find a safe haven in the library. They only found out that aside from being a massive beast, the buffalo was amazingly spry. The destroyed third story stairwell was proof of that. The buffalo had just hunkered down a second, then lept straight up and through the crystalline structure. Gauss and Brahe had been blown off the top floor from and if the pegasi guards hadn't been so quick to catch them the two unicorns would have smashed into the floor three stories bellow like the remains of the staircase.

Two of the others had tried the front door only to find the front of the library was on fire preventing them from escaping.

Lodestone and the other guards were attacking it, but even the massive Nox-cal's attacks barely seemed to phase the creature. The unicorn guards fired off spells at first only for the magic to bounce off the metal plates bolted to the beast, doing more damage to the Guards and the library than the buffalo.

“What the hell is that thing made out of?” one had shouted.

“That's mithril, it's heavily magic resistant and can even reflect spells if properly treated, save your energy.” Moon Dancer yelled out from where she, Sunburst, and Spike were hiding behind the middle row of book shelves in the room the buffalo had been standing on.

“I really should have studied more combat spells. “ Sunburst grumbled.

“You mean any.” Moondancer countered.

Spike blinked at that. "Did you say mithril?”

“Yes, it's a very...” Moon dancer winced as a guard screamed and was thrown through a book case with a sickening crunch. “... rare metal that is highly resistant to magic......”

“And tastes like blue raspberry candy.” Spike added.

“... and tastes like blue raspberry... wait, what?” Moon Dancer demanded looking down at Spike, though the little dragon was already on the move.

No one was having any luck hurting the buffalo, the spell casters had the best chance but the mithril was making their efforts useless.

He had eaten mithril once, Chrysalis' blade in fact.

It wasn't very filling.

Princess Luna had told them. 'If there was danger, do not to hesitate.' The bearers were outside, somewhere, out of the fire he hoped, but if this thing wasn't stopped here it would probably go after them next.

Curse his paladin code.... he really should have tried to identify more with the O&O rogue or something.

Scrambling up a toppled bookshelf that partially leaned over the battle. Spike waited for his chance and when it was presented to him, he took it.

The buffalo barely noticed the scant added weight to his back. He did notice when an armor plate slid from his back to crash to the ground as Spike bite through all the bolts keeping it bound to his flesh.

The Guards took advantage of the unarmored portion of hide and attacked, the buffalo ignored them and focused on bucking the small dragon off his back.

“This is my worst idea since I joined the Cutie Mark Crusaders.” Spike screamed out as he clung on for dear life.

[Outside]

The Dreadnought roared as it slammed into another shield, it back winged and took off into the air again, not able to get through the ponies defenses enough to close on him.

Chunks of it's armored plate and scales had been sliced and cut open by the annoying gnat, none of the attacks had been deep enough to wound it, but the audacity that something dared challenge it that it couldn't instantly kill drove it's fury.

Shining Armor darted among back roads and alleys of burning stone making his way towards the large park to the west of the palace. He wanted to get the creature away from the buildings that it was destroying and give the civilians time to seek shelter in the palace.

He also wanted the blasted thing to land again. The dragon kept in the air most of the time, a lucky strike on a wing joint had grounded it briefly and allowed him to close on it and strike at vital points, though it hadn't been down long enough. Drill Sergeant Kaisur had pointed out that if you fought a dragon, getting it on the ground made it far easier to deal with than if it was airborne.

Thus far he hadn't been able to keep it down however.

The other Guards around occasionally took a pot shot or launched a spear at the Dreadnought, but their actions barely seemed to be noticed by the massive thing.

Shining's strategy was simple, strike and move. The creature was trying to herd him as it had done the larger crowd now gathering at the base of the palace. Plenty of the ponies were trying to get inside, but the design of the palace made this near impossible. Small stairwells and narrow doors kept the crowd bottle necked. Shining had to acknowledge the designer of the palace clearly knew how to build to stall invading armies.

The pegasi Guards had flown the Elements of Harmony up to the main the balcony of the palace, he hadn't been able to tell for sure, but it seemed one was missing and the Guards were frantic to find the lost unicorn.

Hopefully they would find her, he had more important things to focus..... Wait, what the hell was it doing?

The Dreadnought had turned it's head and breathed a gout of green flame flecked with black at a three story building that was already on fire.

The building was quickly consumed from the onslaught and reduced to ash.

Shining Armor blinked curiously as he tried to figure out why it had bothered when a shadow appeared over him.

He barely had time to glance up as a three story burning building materialized in the air above him covering the whole street he was on as it fell.

“BUCK!!” Shining cursed and vanished with a pop as the building impacted the street.

[ At the top of the palace.]

Twilight cursed under her breath. Her brother wasn't doing that well against the witch wolf. Buck this was THE witch wolf of the first three ever created. How much power had Luna used in a panic to pull and corrupt them from another world?

The Guards were fairing a bit better, the three fliers were keeping Sombra distracted, but all it would take was one mistake or one time for him to get lucky and it was over.

The Crystal Heart itself was a mess of intertwined spells. It was like a puzzle box from Tartarus. Who ever had done this did not want the trap to be undone. There were other strands too, things that stretched down into the mana lines under the palace, was that what powered the heart? No, these lines were draining power from the heart not feeding it....

“GAH, focus, unravel first.... this is impossible........” Twilight narrowed her eyes looking to Sombra and the Witch Wolf. She couldn't get this done in time, there was too much going on and she couldn't take the time to study it and simply stealing it and running would probably cause more issues than she wanted.

Seems it was time for the usual approach the Sparkle family took in situations like this.

'Why use a mallet when you have a sledge hammer?'

She was pretty sure that was what the family crest motto said anyway.

“SWITCH PARTNERS!”Twilight shouted letting out a blast of magic that ripped between the Guards and struck King Sombra directly in the chest forcing him back even with the mithril armor he wore redirecting the blast.

The Guards blinked at that and Comet Trail nodded, whirling away from Sombra as his meteor hammer screamed through the air. The weapon lashing out to slam into the side of the witch wolves' head sending it staggering away from Rahs.

Rahs took the distraction as a chance to flee the fight, blood soaking his fur. He rushed over to where Twilight was as she switched off to attack Sombra. He recalled the brief discussion of plan B, took note of all the magic around the heart, and then took a big bite.

[Inside the palace.]

Pinkie Pie winced as she heard the roar, nearly stumbling as the palace shook when something crashed outside.

She spared a glance to the open balcony as Applejack was dropped off on it. The farm mare turned yelling back at the guards and pointing as another pair kept Rainbow Dash from rushing back outside.

Pinkie Pie didn't see Rarity.

She licked her lips carrying the small mug onward, holding it carefully in her fore hooves, presenting it to the Princess of Love with the reverence of some pony transporting a high yield and highly unstable explosive.

Cadence didn't really notice as she was too busy struggling to remain awake. The smell of it had helped for a little while, but Pinkie had insisted that she wait for it to cool before she drank.

Cadence took the mug with a small nod to Pinkie Pie before she treated it like every other cup of coffee she had over the last three days.

She knocked it back in a single gulp, ignoring Pinkie's order to just sip it.

Pinkie Pie stared at her in mute horror, before backing away and then running off screaming to take refuge in the kitchen.

Cadence smiled tiredly at her antics, Pinkie Pie was just being silly, it was only a cup of coffee.....

Princess Cadence's eyes shot wide open.

[Outside in the, yep it's still snowing, snow fields.]

“Get out of my way mare, that thing needs to die!!” Bleu snarled glaring at the Solar Princes who's magic gripped one of her horns hard enough to keep the dragons massive head down on the ground where Celestia was. The other gods had attempted to stop her as well, though none of them managed to even slow her and they all backed off when Bleu had stepped on Burlap and flattened him to the ground.

He was fine..... and still asleep.

“Calm down Bleu if you go in there you'll be trapped too and only feed what ever that spell is.” Celestia shouted.

“Kayete is going to kill everything under that shield and none of your group can stop him. If I kill him I'll be able to give Cadence more time to get free.”

“I am not going to let you go in there Bleu it's suicioOOOF!!” Celestia's protests were cut off as a train sized tail snapped out and belted the solar mare through the air. Princess Luna tried to catch her sister and both of them cried out at the impact and went tumbling across the ice fields.

Bleu wasted no time launching herself at the barrier only to slam into it like a foal running into a wall in one of those funny recorded moments that win prizes in front of a studio audience.

The shield had grown and forced the barrier back to it's starting point before shattering it completely like glass and expanding another few miles to stop just shy of the train station and the gods standing there.

The sudden expansion flung Bleu back and the gargantuan dragon was launched through the air head over tail to slam bodily into a distant mountain range. The impact of it leveling at least two of the distant peaks.

“What in Equss is going on in there?" Martle demanded as the glimmering pink shield stood out strong in the snowfield, with no sign of the barrier that had been trying to crush it.

[ Crystal Library]

Another Guard screamed out as as the buffalo slammed into him flinging the earth pony across the room to impact another book shelf dropping the whole reference section on insects atop of him. Several spears and a number of crossbow bolts stuck out of the side of the buffalo where the metal plate had been removed, though it barely noticed, if at all.

The creature thrashed and bucked trying to throw Spike off of him though the little dragon had lasted longer than expected on Rainbow Dash and Applejack when they were trying to throw him. Compared to those two this thing was nothing.

Granted Rainbow Dash and Applejack didn't have armored plates to remove, nor did they smell like the death and rot that permeated the buffalo's fur once a plate was removed. It smelled worse than Featherweights arm when he had that cast removed after an accident.

There was also the uneasy fact that Spike had to scramble around the beast s back as it smashed into bookshelves and other trophy cases trying to dislodge him.

So far his luck had held out, but like any run at a casino, luck didn't last forever.

The buffalo stopped bucking suddenly and lowered it's head, the brief pause allowing Spike to bite through another bolt and let another massive chunk of plate armor fall from it.

Though before the guards could take advantage of the new weak point, the beast started to move, slamming into Lodestone and sending the massive Nox -Cal flying before continuing forward and smashing into and through the front wall of the library.

Spike screamed out as the hard stone and crystal pelted his form, the rush of heat from the fire barely felt as they plowed through the ring of flame out into the city street before the palace. Fearful screams from the crystal ponies were accompanied by cries of 'Juggernaut'.

A sudden stop from the creature was enough for Spike to lose his grip and send the baby dragon tumbling up over the buffalo's head.

The massive beast lashed out with a jerk of his head as Spike fell past. The bladed horns impacting the youngest Sparkle launching him away from the buffalo, bouncing across the cobblestone road to land before the palace in the street in front of a Rarity's hat stall. One arm was bent at a bad angle and a trail of purple scales littered the ground between where he landed and the buffalo Juggernaut .

[In the burning City]

Shining Armor smiled as he noted the shield expand. It seemed that coffee or whatever it was of Pinkie's had done something.

Unfortunately this gave the Dreadnought more room to fly around in. The dragon made the most of this by strafing him and dropping more buildings and anything else it could, on him.

Seems his little brother wasn't the only one with messenger flame.

It was getting harder and harder to find a clear spot to attack from, he had led the fight away from the palace into one of the parks nearby, but there were still plenty of buildings and other things nearby for the Dreadnought to use against him.

He had gotten a bit of a breather as two balista bolts had slammed into the dragon, the massive crossbows brought to bear by a few of the former Six Sixty Sixth he had convinced to join the Heart Guard. He hadn't even known any pony had brought those things.

Still they had lost the element of surprise after only three shots found their mark and the team was forced to drop their equipment to be able to avoid the dragons counter attack.

Still the bolts allowed him a chance to recover and find clear ground from which to fight. Something he was rapidly running out of as the whole park was on fire and covered with rubble.

Of course it was going to get worse.

On the other side of the street he spotted a white unicorn mare with a purple mane. Shining's eyes widened as he recognized Rarity. The Element Bearers were supposed to be safe in the palace what was she doing over here?

The dozen or so crystal ponies following her gave answer to that, as did the soot stains and slight chard bits of her mane and tail. The mare had braved the fires to try and rescue ponies.

Unfortunately the Dreadnought spotted them too and swept the edge of the park with green fire and a large gathering of burning debris appeared over the group and began to fall.

“You bastard.” Shining Armor swore, his horn blazing as he raised a shield over the group, the massive chunks of burning building material bouncing off the shield, bringing screams from the crystal ponies and forcing Rarity to turn them around and herd them back down the side street to get clear of the falling rubble.

The Dreadnought however didn't care about them and the moment Shining's attention was diverted, a blast of black and green flame was launched, enveloping the elder Sparkle.

[ Upper tower]

King Sombra roared out, a sphere of black energy flaring out of his horn, ripping into the surrounding crystal and turning it black. The material started growing spikes as the darkness swept through the crystalline room. The jagged crystals rushing across the floor towards Twilight who telported away.

“SWITCH PARTNERS!!” Twilight screamed out again as Rahs rushed forward, darting around the crystal spikes to plow into King Sombra, ripping apart the radiating spell the evil king was using to form the crystals.

Twilight herself appeared behind the witch wolf. Managarmr immediately turning away from the guards to lunge at her and her magic only for a hoof ball size chunk of crystal to be ripped from a wall and slammed into him with the force of a cannon ball.

Managarmr howled as Twilight grabbed anything in reach lobbing it at the which wolf with her considerable magic power, bones, chunks of the crystal walls,Swift Shot's thrown blades, a pedestal, the Crystal Hea... wait nope not that.

The beast could do little but brace itself against the onslaught as everything she was throwing had no magic powering it and what magic she did use was spent well beyond his reach.

Rahs was doing much better against Sombra. The unicorn clearly didn't know what to do when something like his minions attacked him and Rahs was easily laying into him and feeding off every spell the edge lord threw at him.

Seriously black and red? Who designed his outfit?

Twilight stopped channeling her inner Rarity and focused on beating down the Witch Wolf. It was still the most dangerous thing here.

The guards had fallen back to the heart and Comet Trail was passing it off to Swift Shot shouting the order to get it to Cadence if she was coherent or the gods outside the shield if she wasn't.

As Swift Shot took off clutching the Crystal Heart Twilight allowed herself a moment of hope that this had been it, and they could fall back and let the Princesses deal with these two.

Of course that's when things went belly up.

A black crystal shard shot from the wall stabbing into Swift Shot's side as he tried to fly away, the pain of being impaled caused the pegasus to scream out and drop the Crystal Heart. His wings snapped to the side yanking him away from the black spear before it ran him through. The pegasus barely made it a flap or two away before falling out of the air and crashing to the floor against a wall.

Rahs mean while had been smashed with a jutting crystals and was currently flying across the room.

“FOOLS! I've lived around these monsters my entire life. Did you think one as weak as that would be able to stop my magic!?!” King Sombra bellowed as the crystal walls and floors around him started turning black.

“Starscream get to Swift Shot.” Comet Trail shouted as he tried to dodge the black crystals growing rapidly around him, only to find he was trapped in a cage of them and the darkness took up the whole chamber, another wave black crystals swarmed over the fallen pegasi and his tender.

Twilight flattened her ears to her head sparing a glance at where her brother landed, only for a crystal skull to smash into her face with the force of a ice box launched by a bomb that had some stupid adventurer in it.

She tumbled head over tail crashing to the ground by the railing, her magic sputtering as all the things she was holding aloft to throw crashed to the ground around her, blood flowing out of her likely broken nose.

Managarmr rushed forward tossing aside the other skull he had grabbed to throw at Twilight. His prey was down.” It's been far too long since I tasted unicorn flesooof!”

The witch wolf was almost on top of Twilight when a blue form slammed into the side of him claws and fangs slashing and biting anything they could get. The impact was accompanied by a roar that Twilight had never heard her brother make before as the pair of them slammed into the railing along the side of the room, and kept going over the side to Twilight's horror.

Sombra cared nothing for this turn of events and strode across the room, ignoring the fallen and trapped as he advanced to the Crystal Heart.

The King picked up the Crystal Heart with a hoof, smirking at his victory.

The Crescent Empire Episode 2, Part 6

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

The Crescent Empire Epilogue 1

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

The Crescent Empire
Epilogue 1

[ In the burning city.]

Rarity screamed out as a massive chunk of black crystal smashed into the street in front of her as the palace top exploded. The massive chunk of crystal bounced once and plowed into the side of a building , sending a collection of white rabbits scampering away.

The crystal ponies behind her all scattered for cover, her trek having picked up a few more after the dragon had focused on something else.

The black crystal rocked before smashing open and a black unicorn staggered out. Cracked and burnt armor was half melted on his form. Blood ran from his mouth and nose and he spit off to the side dislodge another tooth as he cursed yanking a melted crown off his head, tearing out some of his own fur as he removed the ruined bit of metal.

“This is not over Twilight Sparkle.” he snarled looking up at the broken tower.”I will destroy you mare, and you damn dog too...”

“Assuredly not.”

“What?” Sombra demanded turning his head only for another white hoof to cold cock him across the face. After all the punishment he had been through already, that last bit was more than enough to drop him like a sack of potatoes.

“I am not sure who you are darling, nor who dressed you in such tacky things but you do not threaten my friends in my earshot without....... never mind you're unconsciousness.” Rarity sighed looking at her hoof idly. “Alright, shows over darlings, you can come out now.”

“Is that.. is that King Sombra?”one of them whimpered poking her head out from behind a barrel she ducked behind.

“Sombra...?”

“The ruler of the Empire, he .. he took over when Solomon was killed.....” the crystal pony continued.

“I have no idea darling, but we can't simply leave him here to burn... or to wake up and go after a friend of mine.... Hmm.” Rarity shrugged, her horn glowing as she grabbed the stallion by his tail and started walking, dragging him along after her. “Come along darlings, I'm sure this is the way out.”

Ten gods rushed into the Crystal Empire after a streak of pink.

Two stayed back watching over the burning Empire as the others went to help.

“Not going in?” Bleu asked simply, her form about the size of Luna who sat beside her.

“Our presence will not help at this point. We came in case we needed to fight something. The crystal ponies do not need to see us, it will simply add to their panic.” Luna sighed. “Better to let my sister deal with this.”

“Probably.”Bleu offered letting the silence linger a bit before speaking again. “I don't blame you for Kayete..”

“Thou are lying.” Luna responded sadly.

Bleu stared for a moment more at the city, before looking over at the alicorn who hadn't moved or changed her gaze from the city. The flames were dying down rapidly, putting themselves out, likely Kaz's doing.

“Yeah, okay, pretty much. Even after Solomon died you continued on as Nightmare Moon. You tried to kill your sister and usurp her throne. You would have killed the world to spite your sister.” Bleu agreed, “ So yeah, I do still not like you.”

“We are fine with that, we feel far too many did forgive us too soon.” Luna responded.

The pair sat in silence for a bit longer watching a blast of light fill the air and cover the empire, the few Crystal ponies they could see moving around suddenly taking on a crystalline sheen.

“Wonder how the whelp is doing.” Bleu questioned.

“Thine son?”

“He's not my son.”

“Thou are lying.” Luna responded.

Bleu snorted, “Fine, whatever you figured it out still so what I've got lots of kids dragons don't care for them after they get to be a certain age....”

“Thou are lying.” Luna responded.

“Stop doing that.” Bleu sputtered.” What are you the Element of Honesty or something?”

“We were.”

Bleu stared at her a moment before sighing. “ Yeah forgot about that.”

“He is Kayete's isn't he?”

Bleu remained silent.

“We are sorry...”

“Always was a headstrong bastard, took a flight of our toughest to deal with the trouble himself. Left me with a clutch to tend. Never came back. I thought he was dead for years. But I never hatched that last egg cause I wanted him to be there to see one of his sons born. Then I thought, well I'll wait until the Darkness is beaten then it will be safe to hatch him. The empire vanished and I thought well Nightmare Moon is still out there better wait for her to be stopped. Then you went to the moon and I found another excuse and another.”

Bleu sighed as Luna looked over at the dragoness finally.

“So I gave the egg to Celestia, made her think it was some sort of peace offering. It worked, but the real reason is for as long as I had that last egg I'd never get over Kayete. And if I hatched him I'd just see Kayete in him and who knows what I would do. My other whelps from Kayete were either killed in the war or left for parts unknown. I'm still not sure there's any left alive out there or not. Every so often I see a little bit of him in one of my other kids. Ember has his horns, for instance. Torch wasn't his, but from another after I moved on, but his mate might have been a descendant of one of the others, or one of Kayete's brothers.” Bleu frowned. “ Doesn't matter, Kayete's finally at rest and Spike's got a family that actually won't see any one in him but himself. I won't distract him with my emotional shit.”

“Yet you still care for him?”

“Yeah well, no shit. If Celestia had done anything to him or let anything happen to him I would have raised Equestria to the ground and there's not a damn god or thing out there that could have stopped me.”Bleu said flatly. “ Despite the stuff I hear he gets up to he's in a better position now and he's got some dangerous siblings watching his back. Seriously, that one soloed a Dreadnought. That's gonna make some of the older dragons piss themselves.”

Luna pondered a moment before speaking again.“You know he has a filly friend......”

“Oh? So I should expect another half breed in my family line?” Bleu smirked. “So which one is it, not that prissy white unicorn is it? Stars. I hope he has better taste than that.”

“Nay, tis one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders that has his eye.” Luna smiled.

“Oh shards, that's worse. He's got his fathers bad taste in females.” Bleu cackled. “ We hear about them all the way in the Dragon lands.”

[ Crystal Library]

“So due to the temporal instability in the spell, I will have my followers take care of all the whirls and eddies around the empire when it comes back. Due to everything being out of phase with the proper flow of time, we have yet to realign it. Some places were already aligned properly so we will have no need to be there. It seems that was intentional, and the dreadnought will correct himself back into the flow of time again before he fought.” White explained.

The researchers gathered around the rabbit god were writing things down quickly trying to translate the rabbits odd tenses as best they could. The bunny sat on the metal dais the buffalo had been on and occasionally some where else without seeming to move.

“We left a number of the empire's citizens out of phase simply due to if we brought them back in they would die in a fire or from an attack or old age, or when they were born, the only ones we couldn't keep from getting hurt, were the ones who were already awake, in one of the temporal dead zones, or will come in from outside.”

“So you're saying there are no deaths despite all that out there?” Moon Dancer asked.

“Just three. The dreadnought, witch wolf and juggernaut. Solomon will call the witch wolves, reavers but the name never stuck.” White added.” You will be welcome, or maybe you already are.”

“How did all those rabbits manage to fix this?” Sunburst asked.

“Most of them are my brood, or will and have been mates. The were called vorpals or will be called Chenrenbog, depending on who you ask and when.” White offered waving a paw to the three dozen smaller white rabbits that now moved around the library nibbling at things.”They eat the time issues.”

The rabbits all stopped and turned to stare at Sunburst as he looked at them. They all then opened their mouths showing lamprey like maws with rabidly spinning teeth.

“GAAAH!” Sunburst shrieked.

“Knock it off, you're not Langoliers!” White snapped as the bunnies all giggled.

“Are you sure this is a good idea Princess?” Lodestone muttered from the door of the library. The massive nox-cal sporting a number of bandages, though he seemed unperturbed by his injuries.

“They need a break and it keeps White out of my mane.” Celestia sighed heading off to check on the others.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

“WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!”

Ascepius stared.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

“WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!”

Ascepius raised a brow looking at the moon dog, dragon, and white unicorn she had been treating. The larger two shrugged, the smaller was trying not to laugh, as it clearly hurt him to do so.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

“WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!”

The naga goddess of snakes and healing sighed.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

“WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!”

“How long isssss sssshe going to keep thissss up?” Ascepius asked.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

“WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!”

“Her record is seventy two hours.” Spike pointed out.

The green naga slapped her face with her hand. Twilight Sparkle was in a fear filled panic run around her brothers. The only thing keeping her from tearing off into the crowd was a shield put up by Fledge, who was watching the mare go around in a circle with a tireless morbid curiosity.

“And the pink one?” Ascepius asked.

“See, that's new.” Shining Armor admitted.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

“WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!”

Holding onto Twilight's tail with her wings out was a pink alicorn, who was acting like she was water skiing, clearly enjoying herself. Her cheering only paused when she was near Rahs in the circuit so she could belt out a rapid fire explanation of some new plan she had involving boats or something that was too fast for any of them to understand.

“Thisssss cannot be helping her concusssssion.”

The great buffalo god Iinii strode through the crowd, passing the crystal ponies who gave him a wide berth. His massive size making it easy to push past any one trying to stop him, though none were dumb enough to try.

The massive white buffalo stopped under the huge palace, taking note of the Crystal Heart that now floated and pulsed in the air under the palace. Though his attention left it quickly as he searched the area.

“There you are.”

The massive buffalo god whipped around with more speed than any one had ever seen him move. Snow slung from his back coating the area with a carpet of white.

Approaching him was a much smaller buffalo cow, though one who would be considered large by the average buffalo. Her golden fur was marred with a number of black scars including several that went across her face and over her eyes.

Green glittering gems lay in the sockets of her eyes staring at the buffalo god, a gift from Iinii long ago.

The pair stared at each other for a long time as the great god of the Buffalo smiled.

“Maohk. You are safe...”

“I told you I would be Iinii.” Maohk smiled.” But you never lisooof..”

The buffalo cow's words were cut off as the massive god of the snows hugged her to him, weeping openly at the return of his wife.

“Let go of me damn it!, don't you know who I am?!” Lockheed crowed scrambling against the stone road as a figure drug the griffon god along in a one armed headlock. Pulling the flailing bird towards Celestia, who paused and waited for the pair to approach.

The griffon dragging the god along was not a pretty bird. The war bird of the, now defunct, Fairchild Republic was scarred, with a oddly shaped beak and clearly carried a bit of weight with him despite his time imprisoned. He had a slight list to one side as he drug the griffon god with him and he moved with the authority of some one who got things done. Despite his state and status he was barely in his mid twenties.

He was also one of the few mortal creatures that Princess Celestia would not risk messing with.

Also the only one who still rated higher than Pinkie Pie.

The former bearer of Loyalty was lost when the empire vanished, Celestia was surprised that that would slow him down.

“Lord Thunderbolt the second.” Celestia smiled at the griffon. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you are alright.”

“I expect so. But that can wait until later. Who is this lout that thinks he can command me?” Thunderbolt questioned holding up the golden and silver feathered griffon god who was clearly indignant and confused that he was being tossed about so easily by a mortal.

“That is Lockheed, the current god of the griffons.” Celestia pointed out.

“What?! What happened to my grandmother?” Thunderbolt demanded, dropping god of the griffons to the ground with a thud.

“Southern Cross retired not long after the empire vanished and passed on her title and portfolio to Lockheed.” Princess Celestia sighed. “The loss of her only grand chick did not sit well with her.”

“How long?”

“Over a thousand years. Much has changed in your absence.” Celestia frowned looking to her friend with pity.

“So was this whiny git correct? The empire is fallen?” Thunderbolt frowned gesturing with a dull gray wing at the much fancier looking griffon god.

“Whiny git!? How dare ymmpph.” Lockheed was silenced as the other griffon grabbed him by his beak holding it closed.

“Quiet chick, the adults are talking.” Thunderbolt looked expectantly at Celestia.

“Not completely, but it is hardly the place you knew. Greed, corruption, apathy, and laziness has infected the society, hardly any of the nobles even live in Griffonstone now. They reside in Equestria on my bit. Well they will until I get home any way. The land has been without a proper leader for quite some time....”

“Stop.”

“What?”

“You're going into your chess master mind set, I hate that.”Thunderbolt frowned.

“I wasn't..... honestly, I had not planned to... it's gotten me in trouble in recent years, but old habits I suppose.” Celestia sighed. “ Look Thunderbolt, it's been a long time, and the world has changed. I have ponies who can help you catch up as they did with Luna....”

Celestia continued noticing the griffon's eyes go wide as she mentioned Luna.“ Right, look, long story there too. Just, when you get caught up on the modern world, whatever you want to do is fine. You want to wander and fight things, go for it. I can point you to hot spots. You want to retire, I can point you to some decent resorts and the crown will pay for it for what you've done. You want to head back home and fix things, the crown will support that too. All of it's you're choice my friend, just let me know what you want and I'll try and help.”

“Wait you're throwing me and the nobles to the wolves, but this random bird shows up and he gets a free pass!?” Lockheed snapped.

“Because you're an asshole and I trust Thunderbolt to make proper decisions regarding the well being of the griffons” Celestia stated. “ I wouldn't trust you or the nobles to clean up after your own dogs after you took them for a walk.”

“I am the god of griffons and the hunt Celestia.. I will not be talked down to by you....” Lockheed snarled.

“God of the hunt? Well now... That's a new title? Bit of a hunter myself. What do you usually hunt, big game I mean, foods barely a thing.” Thunderbolt questioned, interrupting the other griffon.

“Cryo hydra's mostly, there's a plethora of them in the north along with the usual abominations.” Lockheed stated with some disdain, but no small amount of pride.

“Ahh those things. A bit gamy if you ask me , but easy enough to take out if you got a bit of fire on yah.” Thunderbolt nodded with a shrug. “Fairly large and good in a pinch rather than starve. The hydra not the abominations, those taste like shit.”

“And what exactly did you hunt to be so unimpressed.” Lockheed snapped.

“ Tanks.” Thunderbolt smirked.

“Tanks..” Lockheeds eyes widened.” You mean....”

“Discordian era dragon turtles, yes.” Celestia smiled. "You know the things that eat ships and are known to pretend to be islands so they can drown the settlements that are built on their backs for a free meal. I do look forward to your next hunt Thunderbolt. It's been a long time since I had that wonderful soup you make.”

[ Much later in the day]

Shining Armor rested his head on his hooves barely, listening as the gods sat at the table around him talking.

Twilight was finally checked on by some one other than the naga god. She had a concussion as predicted as well as a number of smaller injuries and a small taint of black magic that was quickly removed by Celestia. Though it was expected the spell would have worked out of her system and been eaten by Rahs before too long. She was treated and put to bed with several doctors watching over her.

Rahs was in fairly good shape considering. He was covered in cuts, punctures, and bruises, some of them fairly deep. The impact damage from the fall as well as the bits of the haberdashery that impaled him healed up fine as soon as the offending objects were pulled out. The burst of energy from the heart more than enough magic for him to recover. The rest of his injuries would take longer to heal as he had evidently overtaxed what he body could convert to healing. And given the wounds were made by a magic eater, they were immune to any form of magical healing. He had also opted to take a nap after proving to Rarity that he had not destroyed another coat.

Shining himself had a number of burns, some minor wounds and had burned out his magic for a while with that last spell. His fur was scorched to the root around his horn and the white was evidently burned out of the fur. He would be stuck with a black spot around his horn and temples. Still better than going gray. The doctors made him wear a few suppressor rings much like Twilight to avoid accidental casting so he could recover.

Spike was the worst off, though he was doing his best to power through it. His arm was broken in two places, a few of his ribs were cracked and he had deep gashes in his back and arm. One of his spines had also been ripped out of his back and was probably the worst of the wounds, though the naga doctor had pointed out he would probably regrow it after a few moltings. The bruise on his head was minor despite the black eye he was getting from it. He was currently dictating his story to the guard assigned to watch him and had full plans to turn this whole thing into an O&O adventure.

Shining Armor had met with the few city leaders that remained, helped pass judgment on a number of Sombra's soldiers and had been busy all day even while getting treated. The weird crystalline effect that had taken hold earlier was thankfully fading from all the non crystal ponies.

Much to Rarity's annoyance.

Despite the gods in the room, every crystal pony who had come to speak with them had deferred to what he said, not what Princess Celestia or any of the other gods said.

Some listened to Cadence as well, but given that she still had not sat still for longer than five seconds, and that was to only to almost crush him in hugs and kisses, he understood the why of it.

The weird thing of it was that Celestia said that they expected Cadence and Shining to take over running the empire.

He protested of course, he might have made Guard Captain, but he wasn't fit to lead an Empire. Cadence had never expressed a desire for anything like that either. Besides they were still supposed to be on their honey moon.

Teacup 'helpfully' pointed out that his wife had the Crystal Heart branded on her ass, so she was probably related to the last bit of proper royalty the Crystal Empire had had before Solomon took over. Of course by association and more importantly 'deed', so were he and his siblings. Over half the empire had seen his battle with the dreadnought and his siblings fights with the witch wolf, juggernaut, and saw the end result of Twilight's fight with Sombra. The Sparkles were on their way to becoming legendary folk heroes of the Crystal Empire.

Shining just wanted to rest and recover from this, he was no royal, he was a guard. Still since the Crystal Ponies were listening to him now that they all were more aware of themselves, as well as blatantly ignoring all the Gods walking around, he relented to a point.

The first thing he did was draw up a battle plan. Recovery and care for the wounded was first. Securing of all the new prisoners, release of all the old ones, and a full sweep of every part of the Empire was next.

Turned out there were only three old prisoners, and they did their own thing. He was more than happy to let them, well two of them any way.

The two buffalo left. Iinii and Mahok clearly had catching up to do.

Once he was done talking with Princess Celestia and the griffon god, Lord Thunderbolt offered his assistance in dealing with any thing else that might crop up and filled in any blanks he might know of on how things were around here before the empire vanished.

Shining Armor was going to pair him with Comet Trail, but the griffon seemed rather aggravated by the nox-cal, so Shining put him with a wing of standard pegasi to check out a few places.

He was not happy with the report on why there were no more unicorn or pegasi crystal ponies, though he had no reason to disbelieve Thunderbolt. It did make him far more leery of what Rahs might have been when Discord touched him, and far more satisfied at what had happened to the dreadnought and witch wolf.

The third prisoner, a one Rhedric Pelt, hero of the Crystal Empire, sadly not self proclaimed, took care of himself as well.

As in he hit on Princess Celestia, and was ignored. He hit on Cadence and nearly got thrown off the balcony by Shining himself. Then he hit on Pinkie Pie and got knocked right the buck out by an angry, and rather possessive, butter yellow pegasus.

The Element Bearers themselves went back to working on the faire and trying to help out any way they could.

Rarity's …. guest.... was slapped in chains, a few dozen magic suppression rings, a gag, tossed in a cell in the dungeon and was watched over by Teacup, who was practically frothing at the mouth in hope that Sombra tried something.

He got White to have his rabbits guide the rescue teams to any one trapped, injured, or still out of phase. Kaz dealt with the fires, Fledge acted as messenger between the base camp and the empire, and he had Princess Celestia advising him.

Ascepius was still running a medic triage, though at last check she was preparing to vaccinate every crystal pony in the entire city against modern viruses. Martle was tasked with watching Cadence as she set up a new shipping room and Burlap went back to sleep in the middle of the road ignoring everyone.

Lockheed did his own thing as well. Despite his arrogance, he still tried to help how he could. He joined another of the flight teams to scout the perimeter and see if anything else came up.

Food and necessities were scrounged and passed out and the least damaged buildings and homes were turned into shelters for those who had become homeless due to the fires.

Messages were sent back and forth between the Crystal Empire and Equestria thanks to Fledge and the supply trains would be coming along with engineers and construction ponies. Another wave of Guards would come in and all the nox-cal present would ship back out, due to the Crystal Ponies reactions to them. It would take some time for the nox-cal to be accepted here given they were once Nightmare Moons warriors.

All and all, this had been a long day and he was glad it would be over soon.

Granted it looked like Shining Armor had a lot of long days in his future.

Author's Note

one or two more Epilogues

The Crescent Empire Epilogue 2

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

The Crescent Empire
Epilogue 2

[ 3 Days later. Canterlot]

The hollow clack of hooves on stone echoed in the normally unused dungeon of Canterlot Castle. A rustle of wings heralded the sudden rattle of armor as the four guards posted there snapped to attention the noise echoing over the scant few holding cells that were there.

The dungeon was small in truth, having only five cells. It had been unused since it was built save as a tourist attraction, and once to hold a particularly famous cat burglar, who had only been in the cells to show he could escape them.

The cells had been upgraded since then, but Princess Celestia had never felt the need for dungeons. There were jail cells in Guard posts across Equestria for the few crimes that needed them, mostly disorderly conduct, theft and the like.

It was a rare pony indeed that did things worse than that. Still it happened and if it was bad enough for jail time, but not bad enough to be sent to Tartarus, banishment, or being added to a particular garden of the princesses, there was always the island of Alpacatraz. Granted there were at best twenty to thirty on that island, mostly violent dissidents and at least three failed assassins.

While some might consider the number of prisoners there rather low for the sheer number of ponies in Equestria, one also had to consider the volume of property damage done by the nations 'heroes' to realize that most crimes could easily be dealt with on a lower judicial level. Ponies also tended to be rather big on forgiveness.

That and the thieves guild had their own rules and morals, given they drew in most of the worst, they minded their own and any one who broke their rules tended to vanish.

As it stood, a great deal of work had gone into upgrading one of the dungeon cells in the last day for a very specific guest.

Chains rattled as a black furred head lifted, red eyes glaring as a blue alicorn strode up to the other side of the bars.

“Well. I see you finally decided to show up.” Sombra snarled. “ Here to torture me more with your 'dentist' ?”

“That was to help thee..” Luna began.

“Spare me the platitudes. I was strapped to a chair and had a mare jabbing sharp metal into my mouth, that was torture pure and simple.” Sombra snapped.

“That is a modern medical practice that even we had to submit to.” Luna rolled her eyes.

“And I thought the doctors of my time were barbaric.” Sombra snapped

The former king was bound in the cell with numerous chains and six limiters on his horn. His burns had already healed and his teeth had also come back in. Even without his magic he was dangerous as two unwary guards, now on medical leave, had found out.

“We are not here for that. Our sister shall be deciding your fate in this once she has a list of your crimes. We simply wish to talk.” Luna frowned.

“Talk?” Sombra snorted.” You wish to talk?!”

“That is what we have stated.”

“And what would we even have to speak with YOU about mare? Your inability to do anything without deferring to your sister? Your grandstanding? Your utter incompetence? Your murder of countless innocents through your creations? Perhaps you mean your utter failure as a ruler?”

“HEY!” one of the Guards snapped.” Mind your tongue or else...”

“Or else what colt? You'll lock me up further? Try and come in here to force me to mind my tongue? How well did that work for your useless companions? There is not a thing you can do or say to me that will matter a wit colt, so do yourself a favor and shut your own damn mouth because I WILL tear out your tongue and beat you to death with it!” Sombra snapped back fangs bared.

The Guard took a step back at Sombra's snarl before starting forward again only to be blocked by Luna's wing.

“Enough!” Princess Luna snapped.” We did not come down here for thou to get into an argument with the guards, we came here for answers.”

“Spare me the lies mare, you came to talk to me to make yourself feel better, to try and find something to blame all your issues on that was not yourself.”

“Sombra....”

“Don't Sombra me mare. You want to talk fine how about I tell you a story? This is a little tale I like to call 'buck off and die'. It's a little tale about a colt who grew up as royalty, was given every material thing he could ever want and denied what he most needed. It stars a psychotic stallion of a father who's whole purpose was to become a god and rule everything. And a twisted abomination of a mare who hated both the son and his father, even though the colt didn't do anything wrong. In fact the little colt did everything in his power to please both of his parents as he needed, if not outright mindlessly lusted for that connection, that little spark of caring that even the slaves received from their families. And at one point his desire for that was so high, so driven into his very psyche that when the mare asked of him something, in a tone that was caring and warm, something he had never known, he jumped at it as a pony dying of thirst in the desert would go for a cup of water. “

Sombra glared straining against the chains his eyes locked on Luna.

“ He listened to her like a good little colt and did as she asked. The little colt crept into his fathers room at night and slew the monster in cold blood because the mare said she would take him with her when she fled. A murderer before his twelfth birthday”

The guards and Luna both stared as Sombra was practically frothing at the mouth at this point, the chains binding him straining as the rings around his horn started to glow as they absorbed the magic he was putting out.

“And low an behold just when he thought he was done, that he had achieved the love and caring that he had desired his whole life, what happened?! The mare decided that since she was free, any promises she made were no longer valid and she took off into the night with all of her followers, leaving the colt behind with a corpse and a empire to rule devoid of nearly all it's protectors. An empire that was besieged on all sides by enemies. Enemies that took advantage of the weakness and started destroying everything he had known around him. He held on for ten years keeping those wolves at the gate at bay, hoping against everything that the one who promised to free him would return and rescue him from the nightmare she had left. And THEN!! THEN!! when it was all said and done and the enemy was rushing in seeking to kill and destroy, not even trying any other way but complete annihilation, did he find his dead father had left A GIFT. And oh what a wonderful gift, the young stallion had all his memories stripped away and was flung out of time and space along with everything he knew to BE BAIT FOR A TRAP!!!”

Sombra lunged forwards two of his chains snapping off completely as his face pressed to the bars, the unicorn still contained but still straining against his bonds.

“All of that, because he was betrayed by ones he loved who used his desire for acceptance and caring against him. Quite a story isn't it?” Sombra snarled.” And I'm sure you know exactly who that mare was don't you 'mother'?”

Luna flinched at the words, the venom in his tone enough to make a blue ring octopus jealous.

“Oh don't get me wrong. I know why you did it. I'm not the same little colt you tricked into doing your dirty work. I realize now you were controlled and had no say over your actions.... at least until I killed Soloman any way. After that well... I'm a lot less understanding.” Sombra hissed the words at Princess Luna. “ So go ahead mare. Do your worst. You've already ruined my life any way, what's a bit more, go a head and finish it. Finish what you started.”

Sombra snarled as Luna turned and left. The stallion glaring at the shocked guards before turning and settling back into the shadows of his cell.

[ ? ]

“There was one left...... damn....” Forthe growled as he shifted and moved though the jungle he was in, paying no mind to the trees as he passed around or through them.

If the witch wolf had gotten out it would have weakened him further, possibly enough to destroy him completely if it got into any of the nearby packs. He was somewhat thankful to his targets that they had destroyed it, pity they hadn't died as well however.

If what he heard was true, aside from making Luna suffer, the act barely did anything at all, most of the gods were indifferent to her return at best, and wary at worst.

He had thought the object under the ice sealed the empire away as a foci, but to think the whole thing was a trap for gods. Well, he had been a lot closer than he liked to it. Though if he knew he would have done things a little differently , and tried to get Luna inside instead of the pink one.

Still despite Kodiak's attempt Luna was unharmed, the moon dog and his summoner were still alive, the only advantage he had was that the witch wolf was dead and the pair of them were hurt.

The ponies would also be distracted by the empire and their prisoner now and he would have time to try something else.

The was still the problem of the bitch interested in the abomination. She wouldn't listen to him and she was too strong for any of the ones he could convince to try and take over. If he sent another pack after her there would be a war and the ponies would get involved and any attempts he made after that would be foiled as they would be looking for him to make a move.

No he needed something else. Something they would never see coming.

[?]

The darkness cursed.

It wasn't enough power.

The trap had been sprung and broken before the one caught could be drained completely.

Still it had been enough.

Barely.

He clung to the world again, not quite existing as more a ghost. Less alive than he should be , but more than he was. It seemed the spell he had taken from Grogar was effective after all.

He could get more power later, he could complete this and it needn't even be as complex as the trap. That had been a fail safe any way. To think he expected Nightmare to be the one to do it.

He needed time to recover fully.

But for now.

Time was something he had an unlimited amount of.

He would have it all, everything would be his soon enough.

The darkness smiled.

[ Abandoned grove outside of Ponyville]

If you asked the local weather ponies about the Everfree Forest they would all agree on the same thing, 'the weather there was unpredictable'.

Now most would chock this up to the idea that beings that controlled the weather of course would worry about a place where the weather did it's own thing, and they would be partially right.

The forest did have it's own weather, but it really was unpredictable. The forest was known to have a summer drought in the middle of winter while surrounded by snow. Or have a blizzard in the dog days of summer. Hurricanes formed over it despite the fact there wasn't enough water there to feed such monstrous storms, not to mention the few rains of fish and frogs that Equestria knew of also happened here. Some ponies blamed Discord, but the history of the Everfree Forest went back much much further than Discord.

So it was of little surprise to any one when a tornado erupted from the forest seemingly at random.

Most only thought it odd that it was a Sunday rather than a Tuesday this happened.

The tornado screamed and howled, but it stayed away from the town, tearing through a bit of government protected land away from any pony homes before it dissipated.

With the danger passed the weather team made a note of it for their records and everything went back to normal, just another crazy thing for the town, and not even one worth really noting, or bringing up.

The area of forest the tornado hit however was destroyed , shattered trees and broken limbs littered the area. The tornado had come through with a savage howl ripping apart this section of the forest before crashing into the largest tree in the clearing, splitting it open just as the tornado had petered out.

The massive trunk of the tree crashed down, smashing into the monument erected by Princess Luna. The black stone not even showing a scuff from the impact as heavily enchanted as it was.

An hour or so after the storm faded, the area was again filled with the sound of snapping limbs and creaking wood. This was soon joined by howls of rage and frustration.

And as the sounds of grinding wood and snarls of canines left the area, what damage had been done by the storm seemed worse.

Few if any living trees were left untouched. Most were altered in some way shredded or simply reduced to toothpicks.

And in the center of it, a black stone monument lay crumbled to rubble drained of it's protection.

Author's Note

And thus ends the first part of season three.

Selene in Ponyville

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Selene in Ponyville

[Ponyville Library, 2 weeks after the Crystal Empire, Wednesday]

“Thanks for coming guys. Dash, Pinkie, and Shy should be on their way. I wanted every one here by three.” Twilight sat back a little in her chair, her hoof flipping the pages the book she had been reading. She placed a book mark where she had stopped with her teeth, a pair of suppressor rings on her horn keeping her spell casting nonexistent, at least for a few more days.

Across from her at the reading table in the middle of the main room sat Applejack and Rarity, both of whom had just come back from their camping trip to Winsome Falls.

Rahs as usual had fallen asleep on the couch nearby. The moon dog was still covered in a number of bandages as some of the bite wounds he received had gotten infected, though his body was fighting that off fairly well he complained about the itching quite a lot. There was also currently a raccoon curled on the small of his back sleeping. Blakeney had decided to stick around for the free food and shelter by agreeing to be Rahs' pet. Rahs didn't even really want a pet, but Fluttershy convinced him, though he still occasionally referred to his new pet as emergency rations.

Spike still had Peewee, though the phoenix chick was still in Canterlot being tended by Phillomenia until he got a little older and could fly on his own, something Spike couldn't teach.

Every so often Rahs' ears perked up at a noise, though thus far he hadn't opened his eyes, but Twilight knew he was listening and waiting like she was.

Spike was at the other end of the table counting out the bits that Rarity had forked over to him from the crusaders betting pool. The little dragon looked better, but he too was still bandaged and had one arm in a cast and sling.

The little dragon had been rather upset that he couldn't join the camping trip, but with his injuries and Twilight's, the pair had to pass.

“So what was the bet?” Twilight asked, looking at her brothers new payout with a sigh.

“Tree sap.” Rarity answered with a frown.

“And you bet against him?” Twilight raised an eyebrow.

“Tah be fair, there were three of us there counting Dash, an we each were keeping an eye on one of tha girls.” Applejack sighed. “We almost made it too, then some one had to annoy them beavers...”

“Ugh, please stop Applejack, the less said about all that the better.” Rarity shuddered. “Suffice to say tree sap is murder to get out of ones fur. Particularly white fur.”

“So did anything else interesting happen or was it as relaxing as you thought?” Twilight smiled despite herself.

“Bit of a kerfluffle with Scootaloo the first couple of nights, but spect she was just excited tah be around Rainbow Dash.” Applejack shrugged. “Not a bad trip, tha girls jumped right back into making their parade float again soon as they got back. Mac and Granny are keeping an eye on um.”

“Cool I'll have to head over and see that.” Spike offered.

“Not until you're cleared by the doctor.” Twilight retorted. “We don't need you getting hurt again.”

“How would I get hurt just going to see a float?” Spike questioned.

“Bark.” Rahs offered from the other room without moving or opening his eyes, though his ears were perked up and focused on Spike.

“Seriously they are not that bad.” Spike protested.

“I agree with him, they may not mean too, but those girls are disaster magnets. And if they did something dangerous you'd do what you could to get them out of it and get yourself hurt in the process.” Twilight frowned.

“Changing the subject a little,have you heard from Shining Armor?”Rarity questioned.” About Cadence?”

Twilight rubbed her temples with her fore hooves. “Princess Celestia said she finally crashed two days ago. She also said that probably every female of every species within miles of the empire was probably going to be expecting soon. She hearkened it back to the first Hearts and Hooves day event.”

“Starting to think we got outta there in time.” Applejack frowned.

“Quickly changing the subject again.” Rarity stated flatly. “ Why did you want us all here before three?”

“Well when we got back from the Crystal Empire, we had a visitor in the library.”Twilight rolled her eyes as Rahs growled.

“Skiddi doot skiddi doot”

[One week after the Crystal Empire, Ponyville library, Monday]

“Ugh I'm gonna sleep for a week.” Twilight groaned shoving the door to the library open. The mare looking much worse for wear and having a number of inhibitor rings on her horn, she also carried a number of bags on her back.” Spike if you could can you check see if anything spoiled while we were gone, we'll go shopping tomorrow..... wait no it's Monday, the day after tomorrow.”

“Right, your poor wounded younger brother will certainly fall back to menial work against the doctors orders....” Spike snarked as he walked in carrying nothing.

“By the stars Spike, I'm not asking you to reorganize the entire library, or even cook, just see if anything's spoiled while we were gone.”Twilight grumbled.

“Oh, I'm gonna still be cooking. Rahs barely makes anything passable and you set fire to the kitchen trying to make toast.” Spike snarked.

“I did no such thing, I may not be the best cook, but I can cook.” Twilight snapped.

“Sandwiches and cold cereal don't count.” Spike continued .

“Bork!” Rahs stated as he headed, in pulling a luggage trolley behind him. The station manager hadn't wanted to let him take it from the train station yard, but the Sparkles were already in full irritable snippy mode when they got off the train with the other Element's of Harmony. No one wanted to poke the landmine, so they were simply reminded to bring it back, from a relatively safe distance.

Twilight whirled glaring up at her brother.”I did not catch the milk on fire last time I made oat flakes!”

“Did I come at a bad time?” a mares voice asked from further in the library.

The trio whirled about looking towards table in the main room of the library.

Sitting at the table was a tall black carapaced green maned changeling. She had a little crown on her head and was idly flipping through a book called 'To serve pony'.

It was a cook book.

Part one of three in fact.

“YOU!” Twilight snarled at Chrysalis who did little more than jot down one of the recipes on a bit of parchment she had.

“Yes?” Chrysalis asked finally looking up at them curiously. “What in Tartarus happened to you three?”

“What are you doing here!?” Spike demanded.

“This is a public library...... and I'm here during normal hours.” Chrysalis pointed out.

“You should be in jail. You're Equestria's most wanted!” Twilight snapped.

“I thought that was the Serial Grapeist?” Chrysalis questioned.

“Nah they caught her and she's being forced to pay for the treatments for all the ponies coats she turned purple.” Spike added.

“Why are you here?” Twilight snapped.

“Well to start with I was looking for a recipe for steamed broccoli that didn't make it taste like ass, and I don't mean a donkey. They taste awesome, they're so angry and cranky all the time that when they do love something it's super sweet....” Chrysalis drooled a little.

“You.... why.... “ Twilight stammered.

“Anyway Sparkle I'm mostly here to talk and see if you could get a message to Princess Luna and Cady for me.” Chrysalis shrugged.”Going through normal channels would likely be bad. But I also don't expect you to trust me any so I figured I needed to explain things for a bit first.

“Today is not a good day.”

Chrysalis blinked in surprise at the voice. “I would like to get it done soon.... perhaps tomorrow....”

“NO!” Spike snapped. “ Nothing on a Tuesday.....”

The changeling queen blinked in surprise again.” Alright when would be the best time for a conversation?”

“A fortnight.” Spike stated thinking of all the things they still had to do and by then Twilight would have the suppressors off and be cleared.

“Can't really wait that long, my vacation ends next Friday” Chrysalis shrugged.

“Fine next week, Wednesday at three pm.” Twilight growled.

“That works” Chrysalis stood up walking towards the trio and the door. “Well I suppose I will be off, until then Sparkles, do me a favor and don't invite sun butt. Quickest way to get a town leveled is to let her think I'm hiding there. I wouldn't even show up to tell you anything and it would still happen. Just 'boom' orbital bombardment from the sun. No survivors, so much screaming and burning...”

“Chrysalis.” Twilight growled.

“Right leaving now.”

The siblings moved out of the way as Chrysalis slapped a big bushy fake mustache on her face that looked like she had stolen it from Celestia's tail before she strode out into the street, walking down the road without any pony so much as glancing at her.

After all who would believe their own eyes that Equestria's most wanted was walking about in the open with a fake mustache, that was just silly and not something they needed to pay attention to.

“Skiddi doot skiddi doot”

[ Back to the present, part 2..... you know the good one, before that stupid old west thing.]

“Chrysalis is coming here?” Rarity gasped. “Why haven't you notified the guard!?”

“Ah agree, after what she pulled tha only place she needs tah be is a jail cell.”Applejack nodded.

“While I agree, I also can't do that.” Twilight sighed.

“What? Why?” Rarity demanded.

“Because we don't know what her real plan was in Canterlot. Not to mention Cadence still seems to like her.” Spike pointed out. “She stopped Luna from sending out a hit team after all.”

“She's a god ain't she? Would a hit team have even done anything?” Applejack questioned.

“No clue, but she came here not in a disguise for some reason and I want to know why.” Twilight grumbled.

“Well.... “ Applejack began before she was cut off by the front door opening. Pinkie Pie pronked in followed by Fluttershy and a complaining Rainbow Dash.

“Seriously, I leave for a week and she gives Thunderlane my spot as storm breaker. I'd have the sky cleared by now, but he's still out there struggling with the cumulonimbus. Like seriously just break it up or put it over the Everfree stop playing with it, it's not your dick.” Rainbow Dash ranted.

“I thought you wanted more time off Dashie.” Pinkie Pie questioned.

“I do, but not because some one else took my job.” Dash rolled her eyes.

“Won't Prince help you if you get too far behind in bills?”Fluttershy asked.

“I'm not asking him for money. Geez, I'm dating him cause he's pretty cool not cause he's rich, that's more Rarity's thing.” Dash fumed as she walked up to the others.

“Rude...” Rarity snapped only for Dash to stick her tongue out at the white mare.

“Hey Twilight what's going on?” Pinkie Pie asked.”Is this about all those letters we're getting from the Crystal Empire? It's like the Element of Harmony zerg love rush part two. Kee kee kee...”

“What?”Twilight asked looking at Pinkie Pie before shaking her head.” No, it's not that...”

Rahs grumbled loudly and Blakeney lifted his head up to chitter angrily along with the moon dog.

This drew Fluttershy's attention and she immediately went over to talk to the raccoon.

“So he didn't get any letters again?” Pinkie Pie questioned at hearing Rahs' grumbling.

[ ?]

“ BY MY MOTHERS HARD PLATED ASS, WHAT THE BUCK!?!?!” Saturnia screamed as another cartload of love letters from the Crystal Empire addressed to Rahs was dumped into the room. Seems despite the fear of witch wolves, Rahs had made a very positive reaction among the females, and a number of males, in the empire.

Princess Cadence probably helped with that.

“No and even Spike got a ton of them again. I'm starting to think something screwy is going on with our mail.” Twilight admitted. “ But no, I called you all here because Chrysalis is coming by at three.”

“Wait, the evil queen bug?” Pinkie Pie growled.

“Calm down, she wants to talk. “ Twilight sighed.” She came here undisguised and wanted to have a word with me. I figured I would get all of you together in case we needed to use the Elements and blast her. But if she wants to talk, I want answers.”

“Well I guess.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “Still rather knock her upside her head a few times.”

“You and me both, but as Princess Celestia taught, we're going to try diplomacy first.” Twilight offered.

“Which is pretty weird given Princess Celestia wants her dead.” Applejack offered.

“Has any one else noticed we seem to be rather dismissive of some of these threats we face?” Rarity considered. “ We really should at least have Princess Luna and Princess Cadence here. Princess Celestia was the only one you said she didn't want.”

“Given how things went for us in the Empire compared to what Chrysalis did, I can't even bring myself to consider her an actual threat. From what you guys told me she has no interest in doing anything to us given we hold the Elements of Harmony and are the front line against other things. If she wanted to she could have taken out just one of us and that would have been it. She had Cadence and Shining at her mercy as well as all of you and she barely did anything but keep you occupied.”

“Plus I wanna know what other plans happened during the wedding. I have ten bits riding on more than just attacking Celestia and trying to woo Cadence.” Spike added.

BONG!!!!!

“GAH!!!” the collective group, minus Pinkie Pie screamed out.

BONG!!!!

“What the heck is that!?” Spike screamed out.

“BONG!!!!!

“New Ponyville bell tower.” Pinkie Pie stated.

“Where did they even get that thing?” Rarity whined watching as Rahs picked himself up off the floor from where he had fallen at the first overly loud bell gong, the raccoon on the floor cursing up a storm.

“Sent away.” Pinkie Pie shrugged.

“Why is it so loud?” Spike grumbled. “And why was this the first time I heard it?”

“Dramatic tension.” Pinkie Pie shrugged.

Rahs pondered that for a moment, then gave Pinkie a thumbs up.

“If it does that again I'm melting the bell.” Twilight growled. “ And the tower, and maybe whoever thought it was a good idea.”

“Doesn't that mean it's three o clock?” Fluttershy asked. “When Chrysalis should be here?”

The front door was shoved open with a thud showing a black carapaced changeling queen looming there as a bolt of lightning arced through the sky right behind her with a booming crack of thunder that shook the library with it's nearness.

The effect might have been overly dramatic or even terrifying to witness, if the changeling queen hadn't screamed like a filly at the boom, and dove through the door, crashing down behind the book check out counter.

The Sparkles and Bearers watched as she shoved herself back up to her hooves and stormed over to the door screaming up at the sky.

“HEY, CAN'T YOU SEE I'M WALKING HERE!!!!” Chrysalis screamed at a black furred stallion messing with the clouds far above.

“Sorry.” Thunderlane called back from the sky.

“See the guys an idiot.” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

Author's Note

Selene is the Greek god of the moon.

Wayne's world joke is old and Discord should be disappointed in himself.

"I'm not."

Selene in Ponyville, Part 2

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Selene in Ponyville
Part 2

[ Golden Oaks Library. ]

Chrysalis sat calmly at one end of the table as eight individuals glowered at her. She could feel the anger and fear coming off of them. While she wasn't a fan of that sort of meal, she was more than willing to feed on it. She had been silent since she sat down, as had the Element Bearers and the Sparkles, though a few of them had been passing notes.

After a moment more sitting there she allowed a smile to cross her face. ”Well given that no fiery ball of cake fat has come out of the wood work to try and smite me, I suppose you've held up your end of things and not told her?”

“I want answers to a number of questions and that's not going to happen if I have to keep Princess Celestia from squishing you.” Twilight frowned.

“Ahh bug humor, I see. So were you going to play the proper host and offer me something to drink or do we just sit and stare at each other while you figure out who gets to play the good guard and who plays the bad guard?” Chrysalis chuckled.

“Spike, would you and Fluttershy make us some tea.” Twilight stated flatly.

“Just some hot water full of sugar, or some cider for me thanks. I'd rather not start getting sloshed this early in the day.”” Chrysalis continued to smile.

“What?” Spike asked.

“A number of insects and spiders display what could be considered an 'intoxicated effect' when exposed to caffeine.” Fluttershy offered.

“Bold of you to expose a weakness of changelings.” Twilight frowned. “I don't think for a second that was accidental slip.”

“Who said it was a weakness? Perhaps I can't hold my caffeine like others can, much like some ponies can't hold their booze.” Chrysalis offered noting that Applejack was staring daggers at her her right ear twitching from the annoyance. Odd she expected more anger from the pink one.

The farm mare might be a bit of a issue, but Chrysalis wasn't sure yet how everything would play out. She had zero plans to attack them, already of the mind set that if they attacked her she wouldn't even defend herself. The three Sparkles were injured, and if she did defend herself there was a chance they might get hurt more. If anything happened to Rahs any agreement she might make with Luna would be moot. If anything happened to Twilight, she could kiss getting back together with Cady goodbye, and if anything happened to Spike, Chrysalis really did not want to get Bleu on her case. It would be easier to let them kill her then pop back up some other time.

She expected that the others could keep Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash from coming at her, though seeing Applejack this intense worried her a little.

“So how did the trip go, I'm assuming Sombra was something to do with Lust?” Chrysalis smirked feeling the faint shock at the statement. Time to keep them interested, and preferably non violent.

“I'd ask how you knew that, but it's not much a surprise you do.” Twilight stated.

Chrysalis took note of the placement of all the ponies. Twilight sat at the end of the table opposite her. Pinkie Pie was between Chrysalis and Fluttershy on the right side. Applejack was in the middle on the left with Rainbow Dash closest to Twilight and Rarity closest to Chrysalis. Spike stood between Fluttershy and Twilight and Rahs loomed over both his siblings. The moon dog worried her more than the others, the way he was poised made it clear he was ready to pounce the second she did something he didn't like.

There was a brief spacing issue as the pair called went to get the drinks, but they took their places right where they had been before as they came back. Twilight floated the tray with what Chrysalis wanted to the other side of the table, the purple unicorn not taking her eyes off the Goddess of Change.

Smart mare.

“It shouldn't be a surprise, no. Though I am a little miffed that my part was little more than envy...i mean seriously.” Chrysalis rolled her eyes.”My actions were more of wraith or lust ….well... maybe a bit of envy.”

“I doubt the prophecy is exact, it's a prophecy. Princess Celestia has expressed annoyance at them quite a number of times.“ Twilight offered. “ Now onto the meat of it. What do you want?”

“A griffon saying? Well I suppose that works given your siblings. So did you want to know what I want over all, or just why I wanted to meet?” Chrysalis asked flippantly.

“Why did you come here?” Twilight gritted her teeth.

“Straight to business then hmm? Fine. Simply put, I need a go between. Between myself and Princess Luna I mean. I can't exactly send a letter to her that she wouldn't share with Celestia and I want to avoid the cake flanks notice. The white train wreck waiting to happen would ignore anything I brought up and simply try to kill me again, or stuff her face with more cake. It's fifty fifty shot with her royal lard ass.”

“Could you at least try to show some respect for the Princess?” Rarity questioned.

“No.” Chrysalis readily denied.

“Why do you want to meet with Princess Luna specifically?” Twilight asked her eyes darting over to Applejack briefly.

“Because any negotiation that could be done between changelings and ponies can't happen so long as ton o fun is involved. I've had very little interaction with Princess Luna, good or bad, so unless her sister has turned her against me already, she's the best bet for any sort of deal.”

“Ah would think that invasion would have turned her against you more than anything Princess Celestia would say.” Applejack snapped her left ear flicking.

“Really then, answer me this? Aside from some property damage, who was actually hurt by my invasion?” Chrysalis questioned.

“Well yah cut off Princess....” Applejack began.

“She doesn't count. She regrew it any way.” Chrysalis snapped.

“My brother.” Spike added. “Both of them.”

“Shining Armor recovered rather quickly, which was the intent. I'm not petty enough to try and eliminate my possible competition for Cady permanently, particularly when I can simply outlive them by being a god. If I 'was' that cruel I simply would have destroyed him, had a ling impersonate him then have that ling break it off with Cady. At that point I would swoop in and make her forget all about her break up without even setting hoof into Canterlot personally. The the ling could simply turn up missing on the next outing with the monster hunters. It happens often enough no one would bat an eye.” Chrysalis smiled, noting Applejack's frown deepen as her left ear twitched. ”And as for Rahs, that was in no way intentional, I've some interest in keeping him around.”

“That's not ominous at all.” Pinkie Pie grumbled.

“Yes it is and had I the inkling I'd let out one of those evil laughs everyone seems to think I enjoy. The rumbling thunder in the back ground makes this the perfect time to do so.”

“Seriously … that guys an idiot.” Rainbow Dash sighed.

“Anyway, the fact of the matter is the level of destruction actually caused by changelings was far less than the property damage you did personally,Twilight Sparkle. In fact most of the damage to the city was either done by you, Pinkie Pie, or fat flank herself. Most of what the changelings did was little more than vandalism on par with your average hoof ball win or a slightly out of control protest. Which is, in fact,exactly what it was.”

“A protest?” Rarity scoffed.” That was decidedly an invasion, you said so yourself. What would you have done had we not actually beaten you?”

“Ruled Equestria.” Chrysalis shrugged. “And been very disappointed. I mean I warned you I was coming.”

Applejack's right ear twitched.

“You didn't send that note.” Twilight frowned.

“Of course not, Forthe did.” Chrysalis smiled as Applejack's left ear twitched. Something was up with that Chrysalis thought paying a bit more attention to the farm mare while pretending not to.

“Who?” Twilight questioned as Chrysalis sipped her now slightly cooled sugar water.

“Another god.... well what was once a god any way. The interesting thing about those who are gods Twilight Sparkle is once they have their portfolios nothing can kill them unless what's in those portfolios is wiped out, or they willingly step down. Granted Forthe is in a odd half state that is unique since what he was a god of is no longer a pure species and the other part of it is stronger than what he represented. If he got over himself and agreed to sharing a portfolio with Princess Luna he'd be fine, but he stubbornly refuses and as such he's in a strange half existence trying to make trouble.”

A left flick.

“But that's not why we are here is it? I agreed to answer some questions but I want to know things too. I feel it's now my turn to ask one.” Chrysalis clapped her hooves together with a grin.”First off is your brother there still single?”

The changeling queen pointed a hoof at Rahs suddenly and she could sense the sudden confusion from the whole group before that switched back to anger again.

“Wha.. oh no, you screwed with Shining, I'm not letting you even try to get a hold of Rahs.” Twilight growled.

“Oh don't worry about me … I'm still interested in Cady..... and maybe a bit in your older brother.... but that's not why I asked.” Chrysalis grinned as Applejack's left ear twitched. “If you didn't know, he is the only single Sparkle left, and given his family and how famous you all are surely you all have realized he's one of, if not the, most eligible bachelor in Equestria now. Of a minor noble family, granted the title of Prince by Princess Luna herself, last of a extinct race, slayer of Discord, and now one of the Four Legendary Heroes of the Crystal Empire. I figure every mare from here to Moss-cow would be all over him. Well I mean, those who don't mind that he's not a pony. And from what I've seen and the emotions I've tasted as of late, not many mind.”

Chrysalis lit up her horn and pulled a photo of Rahs cursed with poison joke from some where, the image showed his earth pony form in a dress.

“Well, I mean at least, most of the time he's not a pony.” Chrysalis smirked as she took note of Rahs becoming embarrassed and annoyed as he glared at Spike. Twilight just slapped her face with her hoof.

“Woof.” Rahs glared down at his little brother.

“Oops.” Spike shrugged.

“Did you come here to do anything, but make Twilight and Rahs mildly uncomfortable?” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Of course, that's just an added bonus.” Chrysalis smirked noting Applejack frown as her right ear twitched.

“Right so you just want to contact Princess Luna.” Twilight grumbled.' But you never explained what for.”

Chrysalis' smile dropped, as all pretense of her amusement fled her features. She leaned forward over the table a little as her tone darkened.

“I want to discuss with Princess Luna a way to start integrating the changeling race more with Equestrian society. We've lived on the fringes because of sun butt for a long time now. I'm not willing to risk any ling but myself in dealing with her, because neither of us is ever going to one up one another for long. Both of us were butting heads long before even the three tribes situation came about, and I don't see that changing anytime soon, and I'm the god of change so I know. Princess Luna doesn't have the same hang ups with changelings as her sister does and given my kind was sealed in a volcano during the time she was Nightmare Moon means that she doesn't have to worry about any undue prejudices from me as none of my kind suffered a wit from any action of hers. My species needs others to survive, so that gives you a larger bargaining chip in the end, but we've been feeding off and living among your race for as long as you've been around. So if some sort of agreement cannot be reached we will continue to do as we have been doing. The only difference this will make in the end is if changelings can or can't walk around undisguised, and if we have to pay taxes. After all this time I would rather like to settle this where changelings don't need to worry about being hunted or killed, but I can't do that with cake ass, as her only goal involving my kind is to murder us or seal us away somewhere. With Princess Luna sharing the throne there's a chance that a peace can be achieved and I'm willing to take that chance to avoid having to keep stay in the shadows forever. We can always move to another country, but we're established here. I'd prefer not have to uproot my whole species and move somewhere else. Particularly given some of the positions changelings hold, if we all cut and run there would be some rather sizable repercussions all over Equestria.”

Applejack's left ear twitched as the group stared at the Changeling Queen.

Twilight steepled her hooves as she stared at Chrysalis.

“So why does Princess Celestia hate you so much?” Twilight asked.

“Ugh I knew this question was going to come up.” Chrysalis sighed leaning back and picking up her teacup again. “I murdered her father.”

There were a few gasps of shock, though Applejack only flicked her right ear after a pause and Twilight narrowed her eyes.

“You're lying.” Twilight stated.

So that was it. The Element of Honesty was a lie detector. Good to know. Chrysalis thought, ignoring the glares.”Thing is.. that wasn't really a lie.. well not to sun butt any way.”

“You wanna clarify that a bit.” Applejack demanded, her ears flat to her head.

“I'm maybe about ten to twenty years older than cake flank. I sprung into being pretty much at the same point in time my race did, instant goddess, just add love. In the early days we were starved constantly hungry. Waring tribes, abominations, so much unsettled land, instant distrust of strange ponies. There was very little love to go around and we were desperate. So when I found an older earth pony stallion on one of my attempts to find food and discovered that he had a great love for his absent wife and daughter, I jumped at it. He was well liked in the village, and was still pretty good looking despite his age. It didn't take much to find out what his wife looked like, he had a painting of her in his home. Going by that I snuck in, waited until he went to sleep, cast a clouded mind-scape spell on him and turned up as his wife after waking him. He thought he was dreaming about his wife and just had a delightful surge of love and caring for her. We made small talk through most of the night as he talked about what was happening and how he missed her he didn't even seem to notice he was doing all the talking. Well things got a bit, steamy, and I was a bit drunk on the rush of food I was getting. One thing led to another and well..... Bang, bang, bang, goes the headboard, and after a few rolls in the hay the that lasted until the next morning, old stallion keels over from a heart attack.”

Applejack flinched a little though her left ear flicked.

“Of course at this point in time I start freaking out, cause I just killed a stallion with my mad sex skills. First time for that. Not a good feeling, I can tell you that much. But any way, of course his daughter just happens to be visiting the town that morning and after she lets herself in the front door she feels the magic I cast over him. So she busts into the bed room and what does she see? Me, in my natural form dancing about in panic over her dead father with a mind altering spell print all over him.” Chrysalis sighed. “I suppose you can guess who the daughter was.”

“Celestia was an earth pony?” Pinkie Pie questioned.

“Well her father was, mother I think was a unicorn. Looking back she was probably a bit more than that. Of course I didn't know that at the time.” Chrysalis sighed.

“Wait if you killed her father why wouldn't Luna be mad at you too?” Rainbow Dash frowned.

“It wasn't Princess Luna's father. He was a pegasus, she was born about a hundred years later. I only heard about it during one of fat asses attacks on me where she swore she would protect her baby sister. Not sure when she ascended, but I expect it wasn't long after she was born, much like her sister.” Chrysalis shrugged. “Keep in mind most of my information on Princess Luna comes from a long time ago and it was second hoof then. I know Rahs is one of hers, but not the how and why of it, and I know what I've been told about the War of Night and the Equestrian Civil War. Most of that is fairly colored however.”

“Is this some sort of trick to take over ?” Rarity asked flatly.

“No subtlety at all...” Chrysalis rolled her eyes.

“There were a number of attacks on Ponyville last year coupled with everything else that happened. “ Rarity scoffed. “Forgive me for wanting a direct answer.”

“You want a direct answer so your orange furred lie detector can see if I have an ulterior motive.” Chrysalis offered feeling the twinges of annoyance and anger from them.

“So much for that.” Applejack grumbled.

“I've been doing this a long time. Though to your credit, that was a new one.” Chrysalis smirked. “ But to answer you directly, there's no trick and I certainly don't want to take over.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow.

“What, you expected me to want to take over and shove every pony in pods to feed off of?” Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “We're emotivores, the happier our prey is the more food we can gather from them, and if things go properly they won't even notice we're eating. The best way to make sure things don't go properly is to put ponies in pods and try and farm them. We feed off all sorts of emotions and while love is a favorite of most changelings, there are some who prefer sadness, anger, and every other emotion out there. Shoving ponies in pods stops them from feeling anything if they're asleep and only terror or anger if they are not. I assure you we would all get sick of those two emotions real damn quick.”

“You ain't lying.” Applejack frowned.

“Why would I have reason to? I'm trying to wave an olive branch here.” Chrysalis smiled. “ And or get back into Cady's pants.”

“Cadence doesn't wear pants.” Pinkie pointed out.

“Oh I know...” Chrysalis offered a lecherous grin.

“ So what's an emotivore?” Spike asked curiously.

“We can sense and feed off emotions. Generally we can tell what some creature is feeling at any given point in time. Take these two for example.” Chrysalis waved a hoof at Applejack and Rarity.” I can sense there's a deep seated if somewhat hidden love between the two, barely repressed and ready to spring forthe into a delightfully heated affair at any moment.”

Rarity had taken that moment to sip some of her tea and Pinkie Pie across from her wound up wearing it instead. Applejack frowned though a few others looked at the pair in surprise.

“What .. I never..” Rarity gasped.

“Calm down, she's lying.” Applejack stated.

“Of course that's what you want them to think, to hide your secret affair.” Chrysalis grinned.

“Tha only secret affair that's gonna happen is my hooves routeing with yer face if yah don't quit it.” Applejack growled.

“Finnne, but you should have seen the look on your faces.” Chrysalis cackled.

”So how many changelings are in Ponyville?” Spike asked changing the conversations direction.

“I won't answer that. I don't want a witch hunt. I can say that no changeling in Ponyville has taken the place of some one else. All the ones in Ponyville have their own identities.” Chrysalis stated looking in annoyance at the little dragon for that question.

“Good enough I suppose, you did admit there are some here and I've got a pretty good idea on three of them. I'll have to ask Kevin about them, he always seems to be hanging around that group.” Spike questioned, noting Chrysalis' eyes widen a bit. “Okay so next thing, do all gods have named weapons or something?”

“I'm not letting you eat my other sword.” Chrysalis snapped. “And no, but given how long most of us live, things that seemed funny when they were done, have evolved into something most ponies would think is madness. Like weapons with names or personalities.”

“You mean like Dr. Choppy's doctorates.” Twilight stated smugly.

“Oh no. Dr. Choppy earned those. I've read his thesis for both his doctorates and it's rather spectacular work.” Chrysalis offered.

“Please tell me she's lying Applejack.” Twilight muttered.

“Fraid ah can't” Applejack blinked.

Twilight slapped both her hooves to her face and grumbled barely coherent curses into them.

“So are changelings like a divine race?” Pinkie Pie asked suddenly.

“A divine race?” Chrysalis blinked.

“Yeah, devout, pious, blessed, just, that sort of thing.” Pinkie Pie elaborated.

“I'm a god of changelings, but religiously I'm regarded much the same as cake flank and her sister to you ponies. Why do you ask?” Chrysalis pondered.

“Cause all you guys are holy.” Pinkie Pie grinned.

Everyone in the room stared at Pinkie Pie for a moment before the sound of six hooves, a paw, and a claw slapped into their owners faces.

“The holes in my body are all old scars from the time my entire race nearly starved to death. They're called 'voids' and even with a surfeit of food they would exist now as a reminder of that time. Many burned out their own bodies to provide subsistence to keep each other alive. The scars of that time are still prevalent today, though not as much as there used to be. Gnarled horns and holes, all signs of magical starvation that progressed beyond what we should have been able to survive. Between the warring tribes and cake ass' vendetta against us , it was small wonder we lived at all. Just when we were starting to recover, the fat wench sealed us in a dormant volcano I was using for a hive. She magically reinforced the rock around it and set her spell to be powered by the sun. I don't even know how long it took us to get out of that I lost over half my race to starvation. Have any of you ever truly been hungry , or starving, watched friends and family waste away to nothing then simply die. Watched your young wither and die out because there was nothing for them to survive on? I may have accidentally killed her father, but because of what she did to me an mine I will never forgive her nor will I ever stop doing my best to make her miserable. But unlike fat ass I won't make every pony suffer just to get at her. She tried to kill me off by killing off changelings as a whole. One death does not equate to thousands.”” Chrysalis snarled.

“So Princess Celestia tried to wipe out a whole species? I find that hard to believe.” Rainbow Dash stated.

“Woof.” Rahs offered getting a shocked look from Pinkie and Fluttershy.

“Right . She has before. She hunted the witch wolves down and killed every last one of them. She might have done the same to Rahs if things hadn't played out as they did.” Twilight stated flatly.

“What are you talking about?” Applejack demanded.

“Princess Celestia lent me her journals and Princess Luna provided a number more that Celestia kept from me. This included the one she made on the day that I took the test to get into her school. She wrote about how she was part of a force that hunted down and destroyed every single witch wolf they could find.”

“Now do you see why I have issue with her.” Chrysalis snapped.

“Your actions might have been accidental, but they still killed a family member. While i don't like it, I understand it fully. Had you harmed Shining Armor personally or gone with that plan you described and I found out about it, I wouldn't have left enough of your kind intact to be sealed in a cigar box, let alone a volcano and I would have left you alive long enough to watch before I destroyed you.” Twilight stated flatly.

Applejack stared wide eyed at the mare, Twilight had meant every word of that.

Chrysalis' eyes widened as well, though she smirked. “And that statement right there, is why I tried to keep you away from the wedding. Given what you, your brothers, and your friends have done in the last three years alone, coming after you directly is foolish at best, and suicidal at worse. I wanted none of you even near Canterlot and your brother circumvented that attempt. That you became suspicious of me immediately meant I needed to keep you distracted. I planed to replace your friends and have them try to talk you down from doing anything. The goal was to keep them out of the way and get the wedding over with before releasing them unharmed.”

“Yeah well that Rhino guy didn't seem to share your 'unharmed' sentiments.” Applejack frowned.

“He was stressed from having lost half his team capturing you. He was reprimanded for his actions..... well, when he woke up any way.” Chrysalis sighed. ”It's not like I have some stupid hive mind thing that allows me to watch and order around my entire race. Which is why I had to go to plan B when plan A failed and you came after me.”

“Fair enough.” Twilight stated.

Chrysalis let out a small sigh she didn't know she was holding. The spike of anger from the three Sparkles as Twilight spoke about what she would do lead Chrysalis to believe they would have been hunting right along with her. That worried her. With the slight relaxation of tensions she felt herself relax a little as well. Progress, was always good.

“I asked Princess Celestia about why she hated you and she told me she viewed changelings as a threat to pony kind. I could tell there was more to it than that, but I believe her. “ Twilight offered. “If the negotiations between you and Princess Luna bare fruit, I would expect it would be wise to appoint one of your changelings to be the one who talks if there's any negotiations in Canterlot. It would be best if you simply avoid the city.”

“Please give me some credit. I can chess master and delegate just as well as cake flank. I'd rather all of the talks go under her nose.” Chrysalis sighed and rolled a black orb across the table towards Twilight. “ Here. Use this to contact me.”

“What's this?” Twilight frowned.

“Dragon glass fused with some of my magic. You can have your scaly little mail dragon add me to his contact list. “ Chrysalis smiled.

“ Dragon Glass?” Spike frowned at being called little, more than the other things.

“Obsidian. Dragon glass is an old name only used in the Crystal Empire.” Twilight explained. “ I'll check it out then we'll send a test message.”

“Best I can ask for, if Princess Luna agrees you can use that to get a message to me.” Chrysalis chuckled. “ And with that I think this little Q&A is over.”

Chrysalis rose and turned heading for the door before stopping.” I do thank you for offering to deal with me like this Twilight Sparkle, here's hoping this turns into some sort of friendship.”

“Don't count on that any time soon.” Twilight responded as the Queen of the changelings left.

Author's Note

There were a number of good questions, but some didn't fit the tone and had to be left out

One bad Apollo

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

One bad Apollo

[ Canterlot. Two weeks after the meeting with Chrysalis, mid summer]

“Did you need anything sir?” the receptionist asked.

“Nah, I'm good.”

Rahs shifted on the couch in the waiting area, these things tended to be a bit uncomfortable for any one not pony shaped. The moon dog sighed and shifted again, adjusting his teal coat to stop it pulling at his shoulders as he sat back, picking up a magazine and sighing as he read through the better Homes and Stables.

Normally he would have a book with him, but it had been quite a while since Twilight had visited Dr. Katts, and getting her to do so again hadn't been an easy thing. Luckily the shrink had had a rather sizable part of his day clear today to allow him to see Twilight and when she found out she wasn't getting out of it, his sister relented.

Applejack and the others had expressed some concern over Twilight's reactions to things lately particularly after what she had been through in the Crystal Empire. Her friends insisted she get some sort of counseling. It came to no surprise to any of them she already had a doctor she saw.

His sister had never been the most stable of ponies to begin with, in truth out of the lot of them, Spike was probably the most sane. Twi had her list of phobias and assorted other issues, Shining was crazy enough to join the guard to hunt monsters and think he could date a princess, granted that last had worked out for him. Rahs was a displaced carnivorous creature from another realm who was raised by vegetarians and along side a dragon and a basket case like his sister. While that in of itself wasn't enough to cause any issues, the fact such a odd and slightly tragic upbringing was perfect for a method actors tragic backstory was perfectly acceptable to him.

Still after the last few months it was a wonder any of them were doing well mentally.

Twilight was the worst of the three. She hadn't actually killed any thing, but the head trauma coupled with a near nonstop barrage of conflict and fighting in the last few months was taking it's toll. PETA, the Crystal Empire, the wedding invasion, it seemed like there had barely been any time to relax and the chaos and conflict was causing issues with his list loving sister.

He was rather surprised she didn't try to throw the changeling queen into the sun with how wound up she was. Thankfully Chrysalis seemed to realize that and aside from a few friendly jabs here and there, kept things civil and interesting enough that Twilight was more in 'study mode' than her recent 'burn the land and boil the sea' mode.

Still if Chrysalis was being honest with her intentions then that was one less problem they had to worry about, any further negotiations would be done by Luna, not the Sparkles.

Shining was doing the best. He was used to killing monsters. Rahs didn't know exactly how Shining was doing, but mom had mentioned he requested one of the guard psychiatrists from Canterlot. Evidently it was one he used after his first few missions with the six sixty sixth. Ponies were not naturally violent and being forced to kill never sat well with them.

Heck the whole Empire would probably need an army of shrinks.

Spike seemed to be doing alright, right now he was more than a little miffed he was missing the parade in Ponyville. Mom had come to take him to a doctor in Canterlot who was an expert on dragons to see how his arm and spine were doing. Most of his scales had grown back, but they were a different shade of purple than the rest of him. Velvet had eased his annoyance by promising to take him out for ice cream later, but he was still upset at missing the parade and the float his friends had worked so hard on.

Spike wasn't sleeping well, between the injuries hurting if he slept wrong and whatever was troubling his mind lately he always seemed tired and sluggish. He had watched his two older brothers kill a dragon and a witch wolf respectively and he was smart enough to know what happened to the buffalo he burned. Thankfully he seemed to be getting better on his own. Applebloom and his friends helped with that. Even if their little relationship never went past 'first crush' levels it was helpful to him.

Rahs himself... that was a bit trickier. He had never killed anything sapient before and while necessary,
he had spent a good week compulsively washing his hands as if trying to rid them of the blood that wasn't there.

Even when the Bone Hounds grabbed him he hadn't killed any of them himself. Still all three of his siblings got hurt and he felt like a failure for allowing that despite the fact he had done all he could just to keep Managarmr away from Twilight. He hadn't even known about the buffalo or dragon until later.

Beyond that claw washing compulsion, which he was over now, he didn't feel anything. No sadness for the life he took, no joy which he had expected if he really had become one of those monsters, just … nothing, it was like he had just killed something he was going to eat, he had no emotion over it one way or another.

No that wasn't quite true.

If he thought about what Managarmr was going to do to his siblings he felt a great deal of anger, enough to know that he wouldn't hesitate if put in the situation again. It reminded him of what he was told happened when he was still a puppy to the attempted foal nappers.

His training with Jynx had gotten a great deal rougher as he put more of his attention into it. Jynx had upped her own game to counter his growing skill. The alpha still trounced him more often than not, but she had to put more effort into it.

She had asked what had happened to him, evidently only getting a few details and noticing the new scars he had, though he hadn't wanted to talk about it. Maybe he should, her pack had been in conflict with the Bone Hounds before they were destroyed and she had to fight more often than not to keep her position and protect her pack, so perhaps she would understand.

That was something to look up later.

In short though they all needed a break, Twilight more than anyone else. Fortunately, one looked to be coming soon, at least for Twilight. As a reward for their aid in freeing the Crystal Empire, the Princesses were not only allowing, but paying for the expedition to Whinnyshire castle in the Everfree.

While this was not Rahs' idea of a vacation, it would be to Twilight. Anything found there would be Twilight's responsibility to check over and document. The scouts that had been sent in there recently had already started some of the clean up of the old castle and a path was being cleared through the forest.

They had found a number of artifacts and items of historical interest, but most importantly they had found a massive library untouched by time weather or animals, the spells protecting the place still in effect. Nothing was taken out of the ruins, but a number of repairs and wild life removals had taken place to make it safe for the research team.

It would be a different one this time as Moon Dancer and Sunburst had opted to stay in the empire to work on catching every pony up to the modern age as well as study anything they could find about the Empire. The pair were also secretly looking into was anything that might have been left behind by Solomon or Sombra, before whatever was still hidden was found by some pony less prepared. Although the Sombra was in a cell some where, he was supposedly not being very cooperative.

The only thing major the pair had discovered so far was a well fortified null room. Null rooms up until now had only been theorized due to the large amount of mithril needed to make one. Solomon had enough for quite a sizable room in a secure part of the palace's upper levels. What was already stored there would be investigated and either left there or moved some where else depending on use and risk. A number of the artifacts that Canterlot had would be moved there as well, including a strange puzzle box, a severed paw of a monkey holding two fingers outstretched, and a mirror rumored to be a prison for evil, created by Starswirl the Bearded.

The Monkey's paw Rahs was very familiar with. Celestia had checked to see if his magic eating ability could destroy it at one point.

All that had happened was one finger went down and Rahs had gotten too sick from the glut of power he ate to do anything else with it. It tasted like rancid fish.

Before Twilight's appointment they had met up with Luna and he had taken the lead in explaining the meeting with Chrysalis. Thus far Celestia still didn't know what Rahs was saying.

Luna was surprised at the situation, though it was fairly easy to prove that neither Twilight or Rahs were changelings, as Luna could still see the link. Given the singularly unique nature of the Sparkle's connection, none of them could be replaced without it being a easy check.

Luna agreed to a meeting in Ponyville as neutral ground, though she then made herself scarce, citing other business.

Rahs and Twilight didn't think much on it as they expected Luna was going through her own issues in regards to the return of the Crystal Empire.

Perhaps they could all meet up later for dinner.

[The Crystal Empire]

Shining Armor sat back at his desk with a small sigh. The reports were not good. There was going to be a lot of recovery needed for the crystal empire to be able to sustain itself. It was already too late in the season to grow anything and there was hardly any stores of food in the empire as it was.

The Princesses had offered what support they could, as had the dragons, but food and medical supplies were going to be tight for a while.

Bits were the easy part. Solomon horded wealth like a dragon and then when he turned on the rest of the world he had no where to spend the money. Even with that wealth if they had to pay for everything they needed they would be broke by next summer.

Not that it was all bad news, it turned out his sisters friends had some rather important connections as well.

Moon Dancer and Sunburst were pulling their own weight and then some with the glut of information recovered, even managing to find out that Cadence was legitimately of a noble family line that escaped when Solomon came to power. The town where Cadence grew up had a number of ponies who were distantly related to the empire simply due to the unusual surnames they had.

The pair had fended off or set fees for any other groups wanting to come and investigate the Crystal Empire. They had used those fees to recruit a number of curse breaker and other skilled unicorns to aid them in dealing with the information and the possible dark artifacts they might find.

On top of that both of the unicorns had taken to teaching classes to bring the time lost crystal ponies up to speed on the modern world.

Shining and Cadence were strongly considering offering them tenures in the empire.

The farm land around the Empire was mostly abandoned, most of the ponies that lived there fell victim to the monsters of Solomon's rule. Applejack had come through on that front speaking with members of her family and a number of other farming families they had contact with. The first of that crew had arrived last week and were currently surveying the farmland for what could be grown and what was already growing wild that could be re-cultivated. If enough of the farms that had run wild still produced food, the shortage wouldn't be as bad as it seemed. There had also been talk about setting up unused land at the edge of the protective shield with green houses as it was too cold at those points to grow anything naturally.

By next year food would no longer be any sort of issue, that was the one thing all the farmers had agreed on.

Shining and Cadence were prepared to offer the land to any that would stay to tend it provided family of the real owners couldn't be found.

Rarity's help turned out to be unexpected and a number of crystal ponies were already singing her praises for helping them escape the fire and being the one to capture Sombra. That she then managed to convince some of the wealthiest fashion companies and designers to send supplies to the empire was a surprise. While textiles were not quite a necessity, the bulk materials sent along with older fashion lines and outdated work cloths could be turned into bandages, blankets and tents for those still without homes.

Then there was the other help Rarity gathered.

A veritable pack of Diamond Dogs showed up in the empire at the behest of their alpha to help shore up the mines around the empire and bring them up to code. The Jade Wolves had cut down on the time that it would take to get the empires primary export back up and running. It might take some time to find any crystal ponies willing to go back into the mines, but even though the Diamond Dogs were only here for a short time they had already taken care of the burial of the crystal pony remains from the mines and set everything up for when ponies would be able to work the mine again.

Shining and Cadence had made the offers for them to stay to keep working the mines if they wanted, for decent pay and provided housing. Their Alpha Jynx had considered it, after all there would be no competition from other packs this far up, but thus far she wasn't comfortable with any of her subordinates enough to leave them alone. She did say she would look into it however.

The biggest surprise of that encounter however was the massive diamond dog asking Shining's permission to pursue Rahs more openly.

Cadence had quickly agreed for him.

They kept the agreement on the down low however as Rahs was gaining a rather cult like following of mares and stallions in the Crystal Empire for being the only one of their saviors who was still single.

Fluttershy had been surprisingly helpful. With the rise of Solomon the swarms of vermin grew as the standards of living fell. Her response had been rather quick and the city soon found itself the recipient of a large number of stray cats one of her friends had 'adopted' from a less than welcome situation.

Pinkie Pie had translated that statement to, three more PETA installations had been raided. Then she rambled something about a pony named Ted with a zip line and Shining had tuned the pink mare out.

While many of the felines still remained wild to hunt the rats, quite a large number had made themselves at home with the Crystal ponies and decided that a particular pony or another had adopted them, whether the pony in question realized it or not.

Fluttershy had also brought in a number of other ponies, who with a great deal of searching had come across a number of formerly extinct Crystal Dragon Flies. The group was quite certain that with a proper program, they could reintroduce them to the world to help curb the growing parasprite problem.

The yellow pegasus had also had a number of her animal friends pull fallen logs out of the Everfree forest to be shipped to the empire to help rebuilding a small gesture after the rest of what she did , but still welcome.

Rainbow Dash had surprisingly managed to help as well. In addition tot he support Prince Blueblood drummed up, Rainbow Dash managed to recruit a whole weather team to come up to the empire and take over the weather duties for the empire. The end result was a decent weather team that was far cheaper than the ones being offered by Cloudsdale. The team itself was paid a little better than they would have been in other places, even for working cheaper than what Cloudsdale had offered. Dash pointed out it was probably a estimate based on how desperate they were for a team and how much some stuck up bureaucrat could swindle for their own pockets.

Then there was Pinkie Pie. She had promised to help as well, though Shining wasn't sure what she had planned until a swarm of entertainers had come in on a train, Circus acts, musicians, confection artists and even simple street performers had shown up and started plying their trades.

While Shining wasn't sure of the how or why of it, there was a noticeable improvement of morale around the empire.

The problem now was the crystal ponies themselves. Out of three tribes of crystal ponies that had existed only the earth caste remained. The witch wolves and other monsters of Solomon's reign had found the flying ponies and magic rich unicorns the perfect meals and had wiped them all out. The trauma of the events shown through worse when it was found that most of the civilians left had never known anything save Solomon or Sombra's rule, and while the prince had not been as bad as his father, he was still horrid.

With them in the state of just now starting to accept that they were free, he and Cadence were put in the odd position of being stuck as rulers as no one knew anything else.

Rhede turned out to be immensely helpful at this point. Despite the stallions tendency to flirt with anything female, he also took no for an answer. He was something of a legend to the Crystal Ponies for being a robin hood type, or heck perhaps he even was the original legendary figure. In any event he was very well respected and knowledgeable of everything that was going on, even if the populace wasn't willing to speak to their new rulers for fear of reprisal, they were willing to speak with Rhede, and a number of issues were corrected because of his bringing it to Shining and Cadence's attention.

There were also the anonymous donors of goods and supply's. One of them had even supplied a few hundred repair ponies with gear at no cost what so ever to the empire. The workers had set out to rebuild the burned houses and even better, bring modern plumbing to the time lost empire. The crew mostly kept to themselves and evidently brought their own food supplies as they didn't dip into the Empire's stock. They also worked rapidly on full rotation shifts, they changed out rather rapidly however as a number of them left with every train as the same number of other ponies replaced them. There must be something wrong as the ones leaving always looked a little ill and bloated, but there were never any complaints. Still perhaps he should have some one look into this 'Favorable Change' construction company, something seemed fishy despite the welcome help. It might be nothing, but Cadence seemed rather irked by their presence, though she wouldn't say why.

All in all Shining Armor knew nothing of how to run an empire and Cadence was only trained in the political aspects of it, so after a good bit of discussion they decided to split the issue. Cadence dealt with the legislative stuff as well as the other political fluff and negotiations and Shining would deal with the judicial stuff and keeping everything in motion.

To that end he set out to run all of it like it was one big Guard brigade. Repairs and food preparation would be first and for most. Getting everything back in working order was first, modernizing everything was second. He had the Heart Guard patrolling in shifts at all times to maintain order and offer aid when they could. He himself took a few of these shifts as well, doing his best to be out and seen among the recovering populace.

The few upper class nobles that remained or had risen to power under Solomon and Sombra's rule were under a strict watch. The soldiers that worked for Sombra were kept locked up to be dealt with later.

They didn't have the resources to watch them all all the time if they were freed. They were fed and watched over and the less angry or violent ones were allowed out on work crews to work in some of the more strenuous or unsafe tasks that were needed. The ones that did so without any complaint or went beyond what was expected were noted for later as possible parole candidates. The ones that were violent or tried to escape were left in the cells with plans to send them to Alpalcatraz after there was time for a trial.

There was a lot left to do before there would be time to relax, but things were looking up. Though he still wasn't sure he was fond of that statue the Crystal Ponies had insisted be raised.

[ Crystal Empire]

Trixie Lulu moon's left eye twitched as she looked up at the massive statue in the central courtyard of the Crystal Empire. She had been hired to come work as an entertainer for a while though one of the talent agency she was a part of. The pay was decent and the timing was good, plus she would be one of the first to see an empire that had been missing for a long time.

A perfect crowd who had never seen any of her tricks of course she had been allowed to set up in the main courtyard before the palace.

That was where she say the statue. A life sized rendition of the four legendary heroes of the empire with their new Princess.

The four figures stood facing out ward towards each of the cardinal points on the compass. Posed as if floating above the other four, wings spread wide and clutching the Crystal Heart in her fore hooves was Princess Cadence herself. She was facing north towards the palace with the inscription of ' The Hyper and Beloved Crystal Princess Cadence Sparkle.'

Also facing north was a statue of Shining Armor. The stallion was depicted as much more robust than he was in real life, but that was clearly artistic license was taken. His plaque read, The Heroic and Stalwart Crystal Prince, Shining Armor Sparkle.'

Facing the west towards where Trixie had learned a college had once stood and would soon again was perhaps the most expected of the statues given all the mare had done already. Twilight Sparkle had her own statue that had artistic license added.

That mare had never looked like a super model.

Her plaque had read, ' The Noble and Mighty, Twilight Sparkle.'

Facing the east towards a library was a smaller statue that had been raised so it looked like the little dragon was standing tall on a jutting bit of crystal. They had captured Spike's likeness fairly well.

His plaque had read. 'The Honorable, Brave, and Glorious Prince Spike Scale Sparkle.'

Evidently the little dragon was a local favorite as he had three titles.

It was the last statue that had started Trixie's eye twitching and it was also the one she had first noticed.

Her favorite moon dog was posed giving a sweeping theatrical bow, his fanged face split into a smile as his pose had his eyes focusing on whoever stood in a certain spot under his statue. He was facing south towards the main gate and his pose seemed to convey that it was bidding welcome to any who entered.

Trixie didn't notice any artistic license with his statue.

What she did notice was the plaque.

'The Great and Powerful Prince Rahs Sparkle.'

The eye twitch increased a little before the blue mare sighed.

“Fuzzy's gonna get it for this...” The Great and Powerful and upstaged Trixie growled.

Author's Note

Apollo while the name of the sun god was also the mission name for many space flights including Apollo 11, which carried the first men to walk on the moon.

Callisto Mania

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Callisto Mania

[Castle of the two sisters, Whinnysor, late summer]

“BoOOOOOOOOoooooOOOKss!!” Twilight cheered loudly bounding around the library grabbing anything that looked interesting to her and dancing off further into the library with a small collection of books hovering behind her.

The purple unicorn mare was happily bounding around looking over everything, popping in and out of book cases acting very much like Pinkie Pie.

Rahs was embarrassed for her as she started using the collection of books to build a book fort as the Guards posted at the castle watched on with amusement. The moon dog let out a long suffering sigh wondering what might happen if she saw the massive library that Spike had been at in the Crystal Empire. Perhaps it was better she had been focused while there.

Rahs was less interested in the books here, a number of them being simply tomes of various spells or construction techniques. A few were birth and death records and countless others were history and treaties. The few fiction works he had seen were some what dull and dry, though he had found two unedited works of The Bard in his original script. Any one who wanted to get those from him could pry them out of his cold dead claws, Princesses and siblings included.

Rarity and Fluttershy had shown up to look over some of the old tapestries and see what could be salvaged, while Applejack and Rainbow Dash were simply poking their noses about the castle seeing what was what.

Spike and Pinkie Pie were absent however as Spike didn't want to come, and the Cakes had a large order to deliver leaving Pinkie to foal sit the twins after giving them their first birthday party.

Rahs was rather curious how that was going.

[ Sugar Cube Corner]

“WHY IS EVERYTHING ON FIRE!?!?!” Pinkie Pie screamed as the giggling foals bounced around the smoke and flame filled kitchen.

Perhaps he was better off not knowing.

Twilight was constructing the rear parapet on her book fort based on a authentic model of Mustang Fort in the Unicorn Range when he decided to walk around himself. He hadn't seen much of the old castle last time he was here and Twilight would be far too distracted to stop him from exploring.
Once again Spike got to miss this due to it being a school night and he already expected to be walking back under the moon.

He padded down one of the side halls in the castle not really having a direction to go. He was surprised as Rainbow Dash tumbled out of a wall crashing to the floor before him.

“Ow.” Rainbow Dash muttered looking up at the moon dog.

Rahs raised an eye brow looking at the wall she had fallen from and the lack of any where she could have come from before shrugging and walking on. Dash and AJ seemed to be enjoying finding the old hidden passages in the place.

Walking on he took note of Fluttershy and Rarity carefully removing some old tapestry or another, while Rarity gushed about the skill of the weave or something. He gave angel Bunny a glare, which the rabbit returned, before Rahs walked on, he doubted any one would appreciate a fight in this place. Pity that would have helped his boredom.

Wandering around and dodging the sudden appearance of Applejack this time she dropped through a new trap door in the ceiling, Rahs came across a partially sealed door. A large star spider skittered across the wooden frame to get away from him. Rahs watched it scamper before ignoring it. He had found out that while they were magical, they tasted like old socks.

He was not eager to have a repeat taste.

Pushing open the door the rustle of paper drew his attention as the scent of old crumbling parchment assailed his nose. Forcing the door open further he pressed on into a room that was covered with old papers. The piles were thick on the floor, rustling like old leaves as the scant breeze from the now open door way blew into the room. Reaching down to pick one of the papers up he took note it was a postcard like slip of paper, the ink on one side too faded to read. The other side had a peeling stamp and heavier ink that had the post mark reading;' Whinnysor SL4 1NJ, EQ'.

Looking around he sniffed the air, ears perking up as he caught the scent of old magics, much like was in the library, though not as strong. Picking up another bit of paper he saw it was an old envelope. Opening it with a claw he found a letter in fairly decent condition, though not with anything interesting in it. It seemed to be a report of crop yields in a district of the Unicorn Range.

Moving through the papers carefully Rahs advanced further into the mail room noting a number of boxes and larger packages that had been dumped as well. The room wasn't very large, but it was packed to the brim with mail. Picking up another letter he could make out it was addressed to Princess Luna with the return address on Gallopagos islands, home of the Nox- Cal.

Frowning a moment Rahs sighed looking at the piles. Well if he did something it would alleviate his boredom here.
Heading back outside of the room, he later returned with a couple of shipping boxes for moving things out of the old castle and started dropping various letters he could understand into various boxes. He opened one every so often when he didn't know who it was to to see if the interior ink was any better than that on the outside. While he expected he was breaking some iron clad code of the postal service, they had been given permission by the princesses to look through anything here they wished.

More often than not Rahs found himself reading a insult to Luna, a indecent proposal to Celestia, or some boring bit of drivel that Twilight would love.

It didn't take long before the first box addressed to Celestia was filled. He wondered how long letters had come here before Celestia left the place to rot and started building Canterlot, there had to be years worth of letters here.

The sorting took Rahs a good part of the day as he ignored the screaming of Rarity, Fluttershy , Rainbow Dash, and Applejack as they crashed around the castle and were screaming about ghosts and shadow ponies. He then ignored the screams of the guard who was pretending to be said ghosts as a prank and now had three angry mares and, a 'very disappointed' one, chasing after him.

By the end of the day most of the mail had been sorted. Four full crates to Celestia, two for random unknown ponies who were probably census or accountants, and a few dozen letters for Luna. He also had a number of packages that were strewn about.

He quickly sorted them and was left with three that were unmarked.

Opening the first to look it over he found it was a novel by some one named 'Eclipse'. He read through a few pages and opted to tuck it into his coat to read later, it reminded him of one of his favorite romance drama novels 'Wolf of the Harvest Moon'.

The second book was a collection of names numbers and dates that filled a fairly thick tome. Figuring that was to go into the business pile he dropped it in.

The third item was marked but only with a angry hard pressed scrawl that was illegible. It almost seemed carved into the box by the writing implement. Even looking at the cut lettering though he couldn't make it out. Opening the box found it only had a small note and a hoof written journal. The note wasn't helpful as it only had one message.

'These were his last words you heartless tyrant, READ THEM! Read them and tell me what you did to him was justified, monster.'

Rahs frowned, not sure if the letter was addressing Princess Celestia or Princess Luna, with how things trended in this place it was most likely Luna. Opening the journal, it took him a few moments to understand the writing, but once he got that the script flowed along.

Twilight practically skipped down the corridor to where a few of the guards said Rahs had gone. So many books to go over, so much information. And Rahs had found a mail room, even better as if any of the old stamps survived she could give them to her father for Hearths Warming for his collection. Maybe she could trade some with Sunburst for some of the ones he was likely picking up in the Crystal Empire as well. It truly took nerds of their caliber to collect and trade stamps.

The other girls had headed back already and the Guards were looking to call it a night as well, one bruised one in particular.

Trotting into the room she spotted Rahs sitting on a crate staring at a journal in one hand, the book was closed though his ears were flat to his head as he glared at it.

Twilight glanced around casting a small scry spell and taking note of the weak spells in the room. Although nothing seemed to directed at her brother, the journal he had wasn't magical beyond the residual effect of the rooms preservation spell, she knew something was wrong.

Her spell did draw Rahs' attention and he rose offering her the journal.

“Read the last six pages.”

Twilight blinked, taking the journal and flipping to the back, pouring over it. Her eyes narrowed then widened at the words written there.

She finally lowered the journal lost in thought a moment.

“ You don't think....”

“Woof.” Rahs frowned shaking his head.

“Luna might know for sure. Or Sombra.” Twilight grumbled

“ Woof.” Rahs sighed not expecting the former king to be very forthcoming, Luna was the better bet.

“I need to warn Cadence and Shining Armor.”

Rahs nodded and the pair headed out of the castle with a brief stop over for Twilight to grab the large cart she had packed most of the libraries books into before they headed back to town with a Guard escort.

Along the way back to town, the small group took note of the howls of Timber Wolves in the distance.

Author's Note

As a side note, that address listed is a parody on the actual address for Winsor Castle which Whinnysor is based on.

Apple family Rheita, Prologue

Twilight gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Apple family Rheita,
Prologue

[Sweet Apple Acres]

“Gesundheit granny.” Twilight offered glancing in the box that she had just floated down from the barn loft, the older mare sneezing up a fit from the dust that billowed out from her attempt to open it.

“Ah knew ah saw that box some where.” Applejack chuckled climbing down the ladder from the loft where she had found it.

The new Apple family barn was a massive affair, dwarfing the farm house it self and even town hall. The newest Ponyville land mark was a gleaming spire made of white crystal with a large section of dome under it that the Apples had walled in and built off of making the massive structure their new barn after the last one was totaled by the arrival of the new one.

Twilight had done everything she could to redirect any questions of her involvement in it's present location.

Applejack had let it slide so long as Twilight got Princess Cadence to let them keep it.

Cadence was a little too busy with the empire to bother to send the number of ponies that would be necessary to recover it, and had already contracted some ponies to rebuild it.

Still, Twilight had gone over it a few dozen times to make sure nothing nasty was still lingering in the towers remains before she felt safe letting them build around it.

“So how are those RSVP's coming Applebloom, Spike?” Granny asked. ”Who's showing their muzzle at the reunion?”

“EVERY PONY!” Applebloom shouted sending letters into the air and getting a sigh from Spike who went back to stacking them up with one arm, his other arm still in a sling.

“Every pony?” Granny blinked.

“Every pony!” Applebloom exclaimed again.

“Yah sure?” Granny questioned.

“Well we have RSVP's from Yonder hill, Hollow Shades, Galloping Gorge, Fillydelphia, Unicorn Range, Appleloosa, Canterlot, Bayston, Wilmingtrot, Baltimare, Vanhoover, Macentosh hills, and Dodge city.” Spike listed. “Heck there's even a couple from Nox-cal in Lion Heart and at least three Apples were found in the Crystal Empire. And they wanna come tah meet their descendants families.”

“And Manehattan! Babs is coming!” Applebloom grinned flinging the letters into the air again much to Spike's annoyance.

Granny stared into space as Applejack and Twilight watched the filly bounce around them and then out the barn door as Spike started picking up the letters again.

“Well it sounds like you have quite a fun time ahead.. or at least a super busy time.” Twilight smiled.

“Don't cha mean we have a busy time ahead?” Applejack smirked.

“What? Isn't this your family reunion? I figured you'd want to deal with it like you do most of your family things.” Twilight shrugged. “I'll be happy to help if you need it though.”

“Oh dun worry girly, yer gonna be in tha thick of it too.” Granny smirked.

“What?” Twilight blinked.

“Well ya are knocking horseshoes with mai grandson and ah expect he ain't sharing yah, so yer pretty much family there, wed yet or not.” Granny offered.

“Ugh, did not need that mental image.” Spike grumbled.

“Me either.” Applejack agreed.

“Don't think yer gitting out of it either youngin. Applebloom's sweet on yah so you'll be helping us set all this up too.” Granny stated gesturing at Applejack. ”Now if ah could git this one tah look at a stallion with a bit more interest ah'll be set”

Applejack rolled her eyes at the 'not in the slightest bit', subtle hint.

“Really?” Spike blinked in surprise before looking at his sister.” This has got to be better than the last Sparkle reunion we went too.”

“Ugh, don't remind me. Uncle Placid Lake kept hitting Rahs with a broom and screaming about him stealing his dentures.” Twilight sighed.

“To be fair, Rahs did steal his hearing aid at the end of it.” Spike grinned.

“Yes, and then you planted it in Aunt Gem's purse where he could spot it. That turned the whole event into one big family brawl.” Twilight grumbled. “You two are the worst...”

“I don't want to hear it little miss 'aim for a elliptical orbit' they had to call the guard to help the family out of the duck pond after you got tired of the screaming while you were trying to read.” Spike pointed out. “ And you're the one who moved his teeth to begin with.”

“He left them on the bathroom counter! It completely disrupted the orderly flow of the sink and cabinet I had set up. I had to rearrange everything in order to get them to be fit and orderly.” Twilight ranted.

Granny stared as the siblings argued, before she leaned over close to Applejack to whisper in her ear.”Is it too late tah change mai mind about invitin them?”

Author's Note

Rheita refers to, the lunar crater Vallis Rheita

Apple family Rheita Chapter 1

Twilight gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Apple family Rheita,
Chapter 1

[Sweet Apple Acres, main house. ]

“Are you sure you want me to help with this... this is fairly big...” Twilight sighed looking over the letters scattered over the kitchen table. She was still having some doubts about being considered 'family' enough to help with this.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac countered with a smile.

“Ooh, lots tah do. It's been a while, and Granny's a little bit rustier in tha giddiup since tha last reunion.” Granny Smith chuckled.

Twilight blinked and looked to Applejack for a translation, though the orange mare shrugged.

“It's fine Granny yah might be a bit old, but yer feisty and full a spark as ever...” Applejack offered only for Granny Smith to slap her fore hooves on the table, forcing herself up so that she could lean over it and give Applejack the gimlet eye.

“Who you calling old!?!” Granny nearly growled.

Twilight's eyes went wide as she leaned back in her chair away from the pair, she spared a look to Big Mac and saw he was doing much the same to stay out of the mare's line of sight.

“What I mean is, why don't you let me an Twi here deal with tha preparations an everything . Then all yah need to worry about is enjoying yerself.” Applejack quickly placated. ”She's a wiz at checklists organization an stuff an ah ken keep her informed of what she needs tah know.”

“They'll be checklists?” Twilight said hopefully.

“Uhh, sure Twi...” Applejack blinked looking at her now grinning friend.

“Hmmmmm” Granny pondered. “Alright youngins, yah got yerself a deal. You're in charge this time.”

“Not to interrupt, but didn't you all just have a family reunion when I showed up to Ponyville the first time?” Twilight asked. “That wasn't that long ago.”

“That? Nah that weren't no reunion. That was a buncha vistin family who popped by tah see Celestia raise tha sun from Ponyville fer tha celebration.” Granny offered with a cackle. “ Woooooo did they git them self a few stories to tell there. Bet they ain't ever seen anything like that afore.”

“Hopefully we won't again.” Spike added from near Applebloom at the other end of the table. The idea that Princess Celestia had other time lost villains around or perhaps seven evil exs left to defeat was left unsaid, but not unacknowledged by the ones at the table.

“Great. So what ken yah tell us about what were gonna need and we ken get to it.” Applejack smiled.

“Ah ken do better than that, ah ken show yah.” Granny smiled wickedly.

Big Mac's eyes widened at that grin and he quickly excused himself from the table. That sort of grin meant only one thing, Granny was busting out the photo albums. He had never been able to get a hold of them without Granny present to remove some of his more embarrassing foal hood, and school pictures. At this point he was better off hiding in the fields for a few hours, particularly with Twilight here.

Maybe Granny would focus on what was asked and not any of the old stories.

Nah he wasn't that lucky.

“Hey Spike.. Where's Rahs at any way?” Applebloom asked as they followed their sisters and Granny into the living room.

“Hmm, oh. Shining asked him to come back to the Empire for a little while to see if he could do something with a couple of things they found. He's kinda in high demanded as a magic garbage disposal.” Spike offered. “ Of course he's gonna play it up like he saved the Empire a second time when he gets back.”

“Drama Dog?” Applebloom smirked.

“Eeyup.” Spike grinned as Applebloom giggled.

[ Crystal Empire, Crystal Palace]

Rahs raised an eyebrow staring at Shining Armor.

Shining Armor was grinning like a fool as he stared at one of his younger brothers.

Cadence sat there looking completely confused.

The trio were seated at a still rather sparsely furnished sitting room on various couches. The room was rather small, though they had opened a door leading to a small balcony to let the cooler evening air keep the room from getting too warm. Seeing the sun set over the mountains from the balcony had been a fantastic view too.

Breaking the artifacts found hadn't taken anything for Rahs, and he was getting used to the taste of black coffee that was Solomon's magic. He wasn't fond of it, but he could deal with it better than Chrysalis'.

“Woof?” Rahs asked again, glaring at Shining.

“Hey it's not my fault they chose that name. We just let them build the statue.” Shining grinned, practically bouncing in his chair.” No idea why they picked 'great and powerful' after that face plant you did .”

“BORK!” Rahs snapped.

“Watch it now, she's your mother too.” Shining returned still grinning.

“I'm missing something here.” Cadence blinked.” Do … do you actually understand what he's saying?”

“Yes!!” Shining smirked wider with a shout.” After twenty years I can finally understand what this idiot is saying!”

Rahs responded with a well used griffonese gesture towards his older brother.

“Yes well, even I understood that.” Cadence rolled her eyes. “But why?”

“Eh Twily could explain the science of it, but with all the magic being thrown back and forth when we saved the Empire it probably opened the link between us to the levels Twi and Spike have.”

“And just like that you can understand him?” Cadence blinked.

“I know right... he's done that barking thing for so long, I keep forgetting what he really sounds like.” Shining grinned as Rahs sighed leaning back in his chair, he was going to have to cut down on insulting his big brother to his face without him knowing now.

“I've been meaning to ask about that. Cadence frowned. “I've heard Rahs speak normally, why does he bark?”

“Woof.”Rahs frowned.

“Yes we know you're right there.” Shining waved a hoof still elated at the development.” As for the barking thing , basically he just....what is that?”

Shining paused his ears perking as they three of them looked around hearing music coming from somewhere.

“...but which ever way I go... I come back to the place you are......”

Getting up from the couches the three of them look around ears perked before they make their way to the open door and out onto the short balcony hearing the music grow louder.

“All my instincts , they return
And the grand facade, so soon will burn.
Without a noise, without my pride.
I reach out from the inside......”

Shining Armor, Cadence, and Rahs all stare down off the balcony at a figure standing before a blue cart on the road below.

The black carapaced figure was half hidden in a brown trench coat. It was standing on it's back legs and holding a large box over it's head. The trio recognized it as an old crystal 'boom' box that had been all the rage when Shining was in school.

The figure was holding completely still and was letting the music blare up to the balcony where the three stood.

“In your eyes....
the light, the heat
In your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes.....”

“By my aunt's cake filled gut.... is that...... “ Cadence covered her face with her hoof.” She isn't......”

“Is that Palomino Gabriel?” Shining asked blankly his ears twitching at the music.

Rahs held up a score card with a 7 on it.

Chrysalis smirked.

Author's Note

I could not stop laughing at that last scene as i wrote it. Clearly something is wrong with me.

Apple family Rheita Chapter 2

Twilight gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Apple family Rheita
Chapter 2

[Sweet Apple Acres ]

Applejack rubbed her chin with a hoof as she pondered. There was a lot to go over with this. The quilt, the fritters, the events, everything. She ignored the squee of Twilight as Granny got to the pictures of Big Mac as a foal, she had seen Granny heading in that direction after the first few pages.

Clearly so had Big Mac given how quickly he made himself scarce.

Granny was in high spirits with the only down side being the lack of a response from her half sister that was supposed to live in Canterlot. Granny hadn't seen her since she was a foal and went to school in the city.

Applejack wanted to find her for Granny, but Granny told her not to bother she didn't expect the mare was still alive at this point.

Still even ignoring that there were a whole mess of cooking supplies, quilting supplies and materials she would need to collect. Just the set up alone would take a few days and the first of the family would start trickling in a few days before the event. Heck the first few would be here by the end of the week.

Looks like Twilight would get her checklists.

Twilight smiled as she looked over the images. listening to the stories that Granny told about each of them. She didn't just focus on Big Mac, but there were plenty of tales about him.

What Twilight noticed however was a pair of ponies that were in nearly every photo that Applejack and Big Mac were in. A pair of ponies that were ignored or quickly distracted from in Granny's stories.

Twilight remained silent about it because of how intently Granny was avoiding talking about them. Applebloom seemed a little more sullen as she pressed against Spike's good arm and Applejack had wandered away muttering to herself as they passed the first of those photos.

Twilight didn't need to have who they were explained, she and Rahs had already heard about what happened to her friends parents. While she wasn't on the best of terms with her own family she was at least better about it now than she had been. Between the wedding and everything else there wasn't a real reason to be mad at them. Until dad tried threatening Mac, or mom went on a grand foals rant again.

Still she wished there was something she could do for them, but at the very least she could make this the best reunion ever.

[ Crystal Empire]

Rahs couldn't hide a grin as he sat back in a chair and watched the three at the table. This was great, he had even gotten one of the palace servants to bring him some popcorn.

“Can you please stop flirting with my wife?” Shining Armor glowered as Cadence actually had a blush from some of the Changeling Queens suggestions.

“No promises, though I could flirt with you if you prefer stud.” Chrysalis grinned as Shining blushed and Cadence glowered.

“Chryssy......” Cadence grumbled.

“Right right fine. Look I came here to apologize for that whole wedding thing. None of it went according to plan really...” Chrysalis offered.

“Except where it did.” Shining pointed out.

“What?”Chrysalis raised an eyebrow.

“ After the wedding there was a convenient influx of new guards and ponies looking to live in Canterlot with no real backgrounds past a certain point. Most of the damage to the city was limited to public works with only Guards and nobility being targeted with anything more than simply keeping ponies in their houses. It was a terror tactic designed to get us to look the other way while you slip changelings into positions that could be taken advantage of. I've also broken down the new adjustments I some how know how to make to my shields. You taught me a very specific type of shield spell and added the suggestion while I was in that daze spell to use it to only affect changelings who were out of their disguise, not the race as a whole. I know how to do that now by the way, and it's been tested as hundred percent effective before we came up here.”

Chrysalis' eyes widened.

Cadence was clearly surprised as well.

“I sometimes forget he's related to Twilight.” Cadence smiled.

“Doesn't show it very often?” Chrysalis asked.

“No.”

“I'm right here you know.” Shining sighed as Rahs cackled.

“So I gather he's right?” Cadence sighed.

“Of course. I needed changelings in position to be able to work a vote to allow us a space in Equestria. Sunbutt's not going to allow it on her own and basically you and Princess Luna are the only ones I can work with without risking losing my head.” Chrysalis sighed. ”Of course you may have also given us another option with this empire thing, but I'm still leery going through with that until I find out more about that Crystal Heart of yours. It does me little good to try and move up here if our presence has any detrimental effects to it.”

“Why would I let you, let alone tell you anything about the heart? I'm still mad that you tried to steal away my husband, and you slept with him.” Cadence glowered.

“You weren't even married yet and it's not like I forced him to, he's the one who suggested it.” Chrysalis protested.

“Because he thought you were me.” Cadence snapped.

“I slept with you too and I don't hear him complaining about that?” Chrysalis offered.

Both the mares turned to look at Shining who had taken that moment to pretend to take a excessively long drink from his tea, and hoped to what ever god or universe writer that might be out there they would move on with the conversation soon.

Sadly the rabbit was not that generous.

“In my defense, I wasn't even born yet.” Shining finally offered when the stares continued far past the emptying of his tea.

“That's hardly a defense Shining Armor, I remember what you said at the wedding.” Cadence glared.

“Well that makes one of us. That whole bit was rather hazy.” Shining placated, rather glad Applejack wasn't here. His brothers hyena like cackling wasn't helping.

“See I broke his mind with my mad sex skills... I'm always doing things like that.” Chrysalis smirked.

“Please....” Cadence scoffed. “ You're not that great.”

“Don't give me that Cady I taught you everything you know.” Chrysalis grinned.” But I didn't teach you everything I know.”

“I've taken that teaching and expanded quite a bit on it over the years.” Cadence frowned. “The student is now the master.”

“Unless she has the collar on.” Shining added getting a blush from Cadence a grin from Chrysalis and a retching noise from Rahs. Shining smirked before he turned to yell at Rahs “That's what you get for listening in hair ball!”

“ Shining......” Cadence growled.

“Cadence. Stop. Do you know how often you've brought up Chrysalis in conversation since the wedding? A lot. It's pretty clear you've still got feelings for her in some shape or fashion. And given her …. hmm... about it.... what's the word?”

“Constant harassment?”Cadence sighed.

“Shameless flirting?” Chrysalis smiled.

“Blatant innuendo?”

“Insistence...” Shining glared at his brother.” She clearly still has a thing for you. So we need to work this out like the reasonable adults we are, sorry, are supposed to be.”

“Fine. Though I am married now Chryssy and you're going to have to respect that.” Cadence huffed.

“Fine, but you're also Empress, and Emperor of the Empire and those titles tend to come with concubines and stuff.” Chrysalis offered.

“You're willing to settle for being a concubine?” Shining blinked.

“I mean you studly.” Chrysalis grinned.

“Chryssy...” Cadence snapped.

“What!?! Just picture him in one of those transparent lace outfits they have in those Arabian books.” Chrysalis grinned wider.

Cadence blinked and looked over at Shining thoughtfully.

“I am not going to go out and get fitted for that sort of outfit....” Shining grumbled

“Why would you need to?” Chrysalis grinned. With a flash of green flame she turned into Shining Armor. Granted it was a Shining armor with some artistic liberties taken, and one who was dressed in flowing transparent silks with quite a bit of gold jewelry and even a few obvious piercings.

Shining Armor narrowed his eyes in annoyance and his horn lit up. His burn out was not completely recovered from, but he had more than enough power and skill to lift a napkin up to cover his wife's mouth as she drooled.

“Seriously?” Shining asked as he ignored Rahs who had fallen over onto the floor clutching his own eyes as he rolled about in dramatic anguish at the sight.

“What? This more to your liking?” Another flash of green flame and it was now Cadence in the same outfit with the same piercings and jewelry, as well as a fancier version of the aforementioned collar. .

Shining's mind stopped working, as his wife offered him a napkin for his own drool.

“Bork!” Rahs shouted snapping Shining Armor's mind out of the gutter.

“What do you mean get a room? This whole place is our room?!” Shining snapped at Rahs.

“Ahh breaking the place in are we?” Chrysalis smirked as she let the form she had flash back to her own.

“We still have the kitchen and a few hundred other rooms to break in. This is a big palace.” Cadence nodded.

Apple family Rheita Chapter 3

Twilight gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Apple family Rheita,
Chapter 3

[Sweet Apple Acres. 2 days later]

Twilight smiled thinking back on all the charts, graphs, and plans that Applejack and she had put together. This was probably the most fun she had ever had with her friend. Not to say she didn't have fun before, but who knew Applejack was so good at spread sheets.

Every moment of the day was going to be filled with something, from the moment the others arrived until it was time for them to leave.

This was going to be a reunion long remembered in the Apple family.

That actually sounded rather menacing in her head for some reason.

They had spent the last few days preparing, getting help from their friends with supplies and snacks, Twilight also spent more time covered in candy glitter than she was comfortable with thanks to Pinkie.

Although Big Mac had helped with that issue.

“Think that'll do it.”Applejack smiled tying off the last bit of rope on a banner.

“Just in time too. Ah see a couple of kin heading up tha road there.” Grannysmith smirked.

A number of ponies were trotting up along the road, some pulling wagons others simply on hoof, one or two were flying under their own power and there were several in small airships.

“Wow.”Spike stated gawking at the throng of ponies converging on the farm.

“Seventy three RSVPs not including spouses and foals. “Twilight nodded watching as the gathered ponies started talking and milling around. Some hitched their wagons and started unloading supplies that they had brought, some had planed to stay a few days and brought their own tents, though the sight of the massive crystal barn that had already been set up for a few days lodging made most stow their gear back where they got it.

Applebloom had already set off looking for her favorite cousin and Spike was quickly surrounded by three rather nervous looking crystal ponies two mares and a young colt.

Twilight rolled her eyes at the snippets of conversation she was hearing from the three, though they spotted her and quickly bowed. Twilight rolled her eyes the other way and trotted over to the trio.

“Stop that, no bowing, I'm not royalty.” Twilight sighed. “ I'm here as a family member of the Apple's same as you are.”

“Technically you are royalty through marriage and kinship.” Spike grinned.

“Shush you.” Twilight chided.

“You're an Apple?” the apple green mare asked

“Technically since I'm dating one... So is Spike here. In either case I'm not royalty so just call me Twilight. Now I expected you to be nervous about coming out here for this so I already made the adjustments to the plan for me to help you around for the day. I've got a checklist made out on who to introduce you too.” Twilight smiled. “ Since I suppose the first thing we need to do is find out which branch of the family you're most related to we need to talk to Goldie Delicious. I was told she keeps most of the family records. I have also been informed to ask you to please not mention the cat smell.”

“ Cat smell?” The reddish hued mare asked.

“Not sure, Granny just warned me about that so, I'm passing it on.” Twilight shook her head. “Anyway let's go and mingle. You guys are safe here, having some actual family help you catch up will be better than Moon Dancer's classes. Not that I'm against Moon Dancer's classes I'm sure they are brilliant, it's just Princess Luna is my only frame of reference for how well Moon Dancer teaches and well.... any way not the point.”

Spike took note of the colt looking at the other foals running around playing.” Hey Twi. You gonna be good with the crowd?”

Twilight inhaled looking around before letting out a sigh.”Yes. I have a mission and I know exactly where Big Mac is if it becomes too much.”

“Alright.” Spike nodded before he tapped the spotted crystal colt on the shoulder.

“Come on. I'll introduce you.” Spike smirked waddling off with the colt. The red mare looked on worried.

“It's okay Aventurine, the Honorable, Brave, and Glorious Prince Spike is with Jasper, he'll be fine...” The green mare said.

“I just said that.” Twilight sighed. ”Without the titles.”

“Don't mind her Noble....”

“No, no titles. Just call me Twilight. I didn't even want any titles.”Twilight sighed. “I'm not a Princess, I don't need titles. And neither does Spike. I deal enough with his ego.”

“Err sorry, it's just this is the first time we've been away from the Crystal Empire and Jasper's all she has left....please don't be mad.”

“I'm not mad, it's just I don't want any titles, you're with family here. Everything's going to be alright... umm you were Chrysoprase right?”

“Yes N... Yes Twilight.” The green mare smiled.

“I'm sorry as well, it's just coming from the train station we over heard some of the locals talking about their new bell tower by the library being destroyed. There was a blast of mysterious fire that launched the bell into orbit. So I'm a little leery about letting Jasper out of my sight.” Aventurine admitted.

Twilight's ear twitched. “I'm sure it was just faulty wiring, that bell was rather loud....”

“Oh, will the Great and Powerful Rahs be here?” Chrysoprase perked up at the thought, with a rather odd look on her face that Twilight was certain she had seen on Applebloom in regards to Spike.

“I'm afraid not, he's actually in the Crystal Empire now helping Cadence and Shining deal with some dangerous magic items.” Twilight explained.

“Oh.” The mare deflated.

“Any way, Big Mac is got the oil for the fritters going and they should be ready in a while.”Twilight offered changing the subject and silently cursing Cadence for starting up another Cloudsdale incident. “ Until then I'll introduce you to every pony once Applejack makes the opening announcements. Now, just a heads up, there are a couple of nox-cal here and I know there's a bit of issue with them. Please bear in mind that despite what it seems like it's been over a thousand years since any of them worked with Nightmare and all of the ones here are members of the Apple family, same as you. Now my plan was to stick with you most of the day so you can adjust, but don't let me stop you if you feel you want to talk to some one more or do something else. And try to enjoy yourself, I can assure you there's no danger here, nothings going to attack.”

“No offense, but.. how do you know that?” Chrysoprase asked nervously.

“It's Friday.” Twilight shrugged with a small smile as if that explained everything. The purple unicorn spared a glance towards the edge of the Everfree in the distance, feeling a small tingle of her magic.

[Edge of the Everfree.]

The timber wolf reared back with a his as two of it's pack mates were vaporized to splinters. The third growled at the one before it before turning to run only for a massive steel war hammer to smash into and through it from the armored figure that had come up from behind.

The armored unicorn moved closer looking down at the remains of the timber wolf before setting it alight to make sure the creature didn't reform.

The massive armored nox-cal Guard stepped away from the burning twigs and brush before she reached up to tap a crystal on her chest, the soft glow of it showing it's activation.

“This is unit seven. Three timber wolves dealt with in quadrant two.” The guard grumbled.

“Acknowledged seven, cancel movement to aid three and four with hydra, situation green.” the com chimed back.

“Understood base, continuing patrol route.” The nox-cal nodded..

“And here I thought Miss Sparkle was just being paranoid requesting a heavier guard presence in this part of town.” The unicorn smirked.

“She was, but she's lived here long enough to know that's not a bad thing. Besides she asked the Princesses for the extra presence and with all she and the Bearers have done in the last two years alone I say if she says jump, we ask how high.” The nox-cal grinned as the pair started on with their patrol along with six other three pony units running a heavy patrol route along the border of the Everfree and Ponyville for the next three days.

“This is unit seven airborne, I'm seeing what looks like a manticore in sector three.” the crystal com unit chimed.

“Understood airborne, unit seven is on our way.”

“Howdy ya'll and welcome to the Apple family reunion.” Applejack announced from the stage with a grin at the loud collection of cheering and hollering. “Ah'm Applejack, and ah just want tah let yah know ah got a real big day planned fer all of yah.”

“Spike Spiiiiike!!” a voice called out as Applejack continued with her announcements.

“And that's Applebloom.” Spike offered pointing with his good arm to the approaching yellow filly and the some what larger caramel colored filly with a reddish mane and short tail.” And I have no idea who the other one is.”

“She's you're filly friend?” Jasper asked.

“Yep.”Spike smirked.”The yellow one not the other one.”

“Bleh.” Jasper stuck his tongue out. “ Girls are icky...”

“Give it a few years.” Spike smirked wider looking down at the six year old.

“Hey Spike, who's this?” Applebloom asked as she thundered up with the other filly.

“Holy carp, he is a dragon...” the other filly stated.

“Why yes, yes I am.” Spike chuckled puffing out his chest a bit only for Applebloom to poke him in the belly and force him to lose the pose.

“Told yah.” Applebloom smirked. “This is mai cousin Babs. Babs this is Spike, mai colt friend.”

“She won't shut up about you.” Babs and Spike said at the same time before both laughed much to Applebloom's annoyance.

“Any way this is Jasper, he's here from the Crystal Empire with his mom, not sure where he's related on the family tree but it's pretty far back.” Spike explained. “ Jasper this is Applebloom and Babs, they're like super distant cousins to you some where.”

“Hey there y'all are, we got tha obstacle course set up fer yah . Why don't yah head on over and go fer it.” Applejack stated suddenly appearing behind the small group in a way that made the small group jump in surprise.

“Uhhhhh. We were gonna catch up.” Applebloom blinked.

“Yah ken do that during tha race.” Applejack stated starting to push the fillies along.”Come on Spike.”

One overly complicated, and quite silly, race explanation later.

Spike narrowed his eyes as the fillies took off. He looked down at the binding he had on one of his legs tied to Jasper's foreleg then back up to Applejack.

“Twilight helped you with this didn't she?” Spike asked with a deadpan tone.

“Yeah , she was a right big help. Plenty of memories tah be made in this reunion” Applejack admitted watching the others race off towards the distance flag.” Yah better hurry up Spike or they'll get too far ahead of yah.”

“Doctors note.” Spike stated flatly, “ No heavy exertion until my arm and ribs heal up more.”

“Oh right... umm “ Applejack pulled a list out of her hat. “ Oh okay Twi did give you a pass here, but ah spect you ken participate in tha apple bobbing.”

“Sure because dunking my head under water with a bunch of other fillies and colts and biting at things is a great idea.” Spike grinned showing off his 'very' sharp teeth.

“Right... well ah, yah, ah better go check on tha quilters.” Applejack shoved the list back under her hat quickly, the end of it still draped over her back as she raced off.

Spike sighed pulling his leg out of the binding and looked to a clearly confused Jasper.

“What was that all about?” Jasper asked.

“My Twilight sense is tingling.” Spike grumbled. “Come on lets see what else is going on and if it needs to be stopped.”

“Okay.” Jasper shrugged, having no clue what was happening, but it sounded fun. More fun than running a mile tied to a dragon anyway.

Author's Note

a bit slow going here, but given i'm redoing the episode a bit that is hopefully acceptable.

Apple Family Rheita, Chapter 4

Twilight gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Apple Family Rheita,
Chapter 4

[Crystal Empire, several days later]

“Absolutely not!” Shining Armor stated flatly crossing his fore legs in front of his chest in a X.

“Aww come on.” Chrysalis whined. “It would only be for a little while.”

“I am not letting you 'borrow' my wife.” Shining Armor growled.

Cadence did her best not to look amused and failed.

Rahs of course found it hilarious.

The talks had been going on for a few days with Chrysalis staying in one of the guest rooms under guard. Shining still expected her to wind up in bed with them at some point, but thus far she had behaved.

Mostly.

Much of the discussion the three had, had revolved around the possible benefits of the heart to Changelings as well as the potential benefit Changelings could have to the Empire.

Moon Dancer and Sunburst had teamed up again to study the heart while Chrysalis actively tried to drain it. The effects were noticeable, but well within the expected range.

The heart could indeed sustain quite a number of changelings, though it would need to be recharged more often. Given the bolstering effect it had on the crystal ponies discussions were considered to double the Crystal Faire events.

The plan was to have it in the Fall and the Spring. With the Summer sun Celebration and the Winter Moon Festival adding to the power at their times.

Of course there was a great deal left to work out. Particularly after it was revealed why Celestia wanted Chrysalis dead.

There was a pair of real apologies for the wedding, and a large number of fake ones, still things were going well.

Well until Chrysalis decided to be Chrysalis and tried to have Cadence added as part of the deal.

[Sweet Apple Acres]

The thunderous roars of the generators firing up made Spike turn and head in another direction away from the farm house. Jasper was less than thrilled about approaching the horrendous beast that was making all that noise, though if the Brave and Glorious Spike wasn't concerned, he would try not to be either.

When the colt caught up the purple dragon was yelling something that couldn't be heard over the roaring.

Jasper was a little confused, as the sound was clearly coming from under the tent, but all the colt saw was an odd device and three old mares working on a quilt using machines connected to the roaring thing.

The green mare hit a button on one of the machines and the place went silent.

“..... Freaking oatmeal!! Where did she even get a crystal generator any way!?” Spike shouted only to trail off as he found he could hear himself. “Right. Seriously, what is this?”

“Applejack got us these things so we can finish tha family quilt.” Granny-smith offered.

“What?” Spike blinked.” Isn't the point of a family quilt that it can never be done? Don't you have to design and add a patch to it every time a new family member is born or marries into the family?”

“Yup.”Auntie Applesauce added.

“How does she expect you to get done with that then?” Spike groused.

“Dunno, but it was on that checklist of hers.” Granny-smith shrugged. “Plus she hid our rockers.”

Spike rolled his eyes and stomped off grumbling about checklists.

Jasper blinked trotting past before looking at the trio of old mares. “ I like your teeth.” he stated before darting after Spike.

“My what a polite young colt, clearly some ponies have taste.” Auntie Applesauce scoffed as the other two mares giggled.

[ Crystal Empire ]

“Absolutely not!” Princess Cadence stated flatly crossing her fore legs in front of her chest in a X.

“Aww come on.” Chrysalis whined. “ It would only be for a little while.”

“I am not letting you 'borrow my husband'.” Princess Cadence growled.

Shining Armor did his best not to look amused and failed.

Rahs nearly choked on his drink laughing as the negotiations continued.

[ an hour later Sweet Apple Acres]

Applejack and Twilight hid under a wagon as fruit bats dove down with shrieks around them.

“This makes no logical sense.” Twilight frowned.

“ AHHH, THEY'RE IN MY MANE!!”

“ How would a swarm of startled fruit bats...”

“ THEY STOLE MY FRITTER!”

“... forced from their slumber in the middle of the day...”

“THEY GOT UNCLE STEM, OH THE PONANITY!!!”

“.. ignore an entire orchard of trees full of fruit....”

“GAME OVER MAN, GAME OVER!!”

“...and focus soly on a wax apple on some pony's hat?” Twilight concluded.

“Well cousins, Cyanide and Codling Moth seemed tah be thrilled about the fruit bats.” Applejack offered sheepishly.

“They ate six of them... apiece.” Twilight explained in a dead pan tone.

“Reckon they're changelings?” Applejack frowned.

“Probably, you did say they married into the family.” Twilight agreed ignoring another scream.

“Ehh, ah suppose every family tree has a few bugs in it.” Applejack nodded sagely.

“Literally in this case.” Twilight agreed. “This is going to to wreck the schedule something fierce.”

“Might be a bit late for that Twi.” Applejack sighed.” Though ah am pretty sure ain't no one gonna forget this reunion.”

A loud roar echoed across the field followed by two more rumbling snarls that rose to match the first in volume. The swarming fruit bats fluttered about in terror scattering to the skies to get away from the horrendous noise.

Twilight and Applejack blinked, crawling out from under the wagon, and looked around for the source only to see Spike and Jasper standing by the roaring sewing machines watching the bats fly away. Cutting the machines off ,the purple drake and his excited colt tag along stomped over towards the pair. Glaring up at his sister and Applejack , Spike held out his good claw.

“Lists.”

“What?” Twilight asked.

“Your check lists.” Spike growled. ”In my claw. Now.”

Twilight and Applejack looked at each other before Twilight offered her list and AJ took the one from under her hat hoofing it over.

Spike took them looked them over a moment and nodded.

“Your back up lists.” Spike demanded of Twilight.

“Seriously Spike what are...” Twilight questioned before she staggered to the side from an unexpected weight. Looking back she saw a red crystal colt had lept up and buried himself half way in her saddlebags.

“Hoff um!” Jasper exclaimed pulling a collection of scrolls out her saddle bag before dropping back down and trotting over to Spike.

“Hah, totally a rogue.”Spike chuckled taking all of the lists and setting them on fire with a burst of orange flame.

“AHH!!” Twilight yelped.

“You made the foals run themselves ragged on some stupid obstacle race, you put the quilters inside a Pikey Sweatshop, you had the cooks acting like they were working at Hay King during rush hour, then you attacked every one with bats on a hay ride. Don't even get me started about what you had planned for dinner and bed time. You set out a specific amount of sleep and time to eat!” Spike growled. “How are you two considered responsible adults?”

“Spike that's a bit harsh, we were trying to make this the best reunion ever.” Twilight offered.

“Well it's certainly one that's gonna be unforgettable.” Spike sighed. “I'm sure plenty of therapists will be hearing about this for years. And I need to send a message to Luna about expecting nightmares about fruit bats tonight.”

“So what we should just leave everything in a unplanned disorganized chaotic mess?” Twilight demanded looking quite shocked at the mere implication of that.

Spike glared up at the pair with a frown. “Let. Ponies. Enjoy. Themselves.”

The little dragon turned and waddled off with the colt hopping along with him clearly excited to have seen the flames.

Applejack and Twilight watched Spike then glanced down to the pile of ash that was all that remained of the lists.

“Well, ah think he's a might mad.” Applejack offered.

[ Crystal Empire ]

“Absolutely not!” Queen Chrysalis stated flatly crossing her fore legs in front of her chest in a X.

“Aww come on.” Cadence whined. “ It would only be for a little while.”

“ I am not going to......... wait a tick... this is pretty much what I've been trying to sneak into these negotiations for the last few days.” Chrysalis blinked as she caught on finally.

“Ehh I'm still mostly against it but you and Cadence make a convincing argument.” Shining Armor shrugged.

Chrysalis smiled.

Shining Armor rolled his eyes and chuckled.

Cadence purred.

Rahs fled the room.

[ Sweet Apple Acres.]

“Well …. this coulda gone worse.” Applejack smiled as she watched her family mingle about chatting and talking and having a grand time now that everything was back to normal.

“So evidently, I did over do it.” Twilight sighed looking out from where she sat on the edge of the podium. “Sorry about that.”

“A might bit. Still getting every one tah pitch in tah help with the clean up turned out to be in our favor.” Applejack chuckled.” And it ain't yer fault Twi. I had yah helping me with that lists cause ah knew yah were good at that sort of thing. Figured packing that day full of events would make it tha most memorable. Didn't even think it would make ponies unable tah even do any reunioning.”

“That's not a word.” Twilight smiled.

“Which one?” Applejack smirked. “Any way, glad Spike was here tah talk some sense into us.”

“He's good at that. Dealing with my issues and Rahs' theatrics he needed to find his own nitch.” Twilight sighed.

“So he's the one with the common sense?”Applejack chuckled.

“In the terms of his games he's got the highest Wisdom, I've got the highest intelligence and Rahs has the highest charisma.” Twilight shrugged.

“That brother of yours don't seem that charismatic.”Applejack offered.

“Tell that to the two cities worth of ponies, the show mare, the Diamond Dog Alpha, and the mysterious mare that are all dead set on making him their 'special some dog'.” Twilight smirked.

“Really, yah noticed all that?” Applejack sighed. “Me an tha girls jus lost ten bits to Fluttershy.”

“Really betting on me not knowing my brother was being chased after like that? Why would I miss that when I can use it to mess with him?” Twilight grinned.

“Figures. So who you betting on tah git him?”

“I can't. Family members can't bet with the Ponyville pool.” Twilight sighed. “It's a tough choice any way. I know he's attracted to Jynx, but Trixie has the whole 'foal hood friend love interest' drama going on. Rahs eats that stuff up. Then we have the mysterious Saturnia, who's just enough of a 'mare of mystery' to catch his interest.”

“Not even including the cities in tha running?” Applejack smirks.

“ No.” Twilight snorted.” The pegasi will stay away if they know what's good for them. I can't say anything about the Empire save I don't think he likes the hero worship they do for him.”

“Well hopefully yer brothers love life 'll be the most interesting thing we have to deal with fer a while. We need a bit of down time.”

“Agreed.”

Author's Note

I also have the epilogue posted.

If this seemed a little rushed it's because, i've been stuck on this chapter for a while. I wasn't even going to do anything with the reunion, but i got dragged into it by the characters. i really just wanted to end it two chapters ago and move on.

Surveyor 1, at your service

Twilight Gets a Puppy,
Season 3
By TDR

Surveyor 1 at your service

[Canterlot, Start of fall.]

Princess Celestia looked down from her throne at the pony before her. Those who were familiar with the court recognized that the Princess usually looked impassive when she dealt with her court, rarely letting anything bother her.

They also knew to duck and cover any time green magic floated around her horn, but that was a new lesson.

As such most of them were rather concerned when the Princesses' mask slipped and she looked confused.

“I'm sorry Red Tape, could you repeat that?” Princess Celestia asked.

The yellow earth pony before her clearly had some zebra ancestry due to the red lines running through his coat and around his limbs. If she recalled correctly he was of a minor noble house that focused mostly on law and politics. He was not one to frequent the court due to his heritage, but his skills were well known and often used by the 'less than cranialy blessed' nobles to write up some of their proposals. That he was here meant his current employer was paying well.

“Yes your highness. I represent a group of concerned ponies...”

“No no... just the important bit.”

“It is all important, Princess.”

“The relevant bit about Twilight Sparkle.”

“It is all about Twilight Sparkle.”

“A summery then.” Celestia snapped.” A BRIEF summery.”

Red Tape blinked at her tone and suppressed a small shudder as he made a mental note to to raise his fee to those who had hired him, he was quite certain that one word had rattled his teeth. Clearly the princess had understood the legal babble he had first uttered and wanted him to get to the meat of it. Asking him to repeat himself had been a courtesy.

“Of course Princess. The nobles I represent view Twilight Sparkle as a danger as well as a valued resource.....”

“Twilight is not a danger.” Celestia interrupted.” She's harmless....”

[Ponyville]

“NO.” Spike stated swatting Twilight in the head with a rolled up newspaper.

“What? OW stop it!” Twilight winced glaring at Spike.

“You are not doing this!”Spike growled.

“Spike relax it's only a 4th tier spell. I take a snow casting ritual template and use an ice cube in the casting and the spell has the cold descriptor, then I use Flash Frost from my runic training and it makes the area slick and does about as much damage as being pelted by a slush ball. Of course then we put the energy substitution therom on it to make the spell electric. Then adding the Reeves Matrix 'Born of three thunders', which makes the spell half sonic as well as electric, but then it would require some skills to avoid it, but that allows us to apply the explosive spell matrix which shunts anything that doesn't have the training to avoid it, outside of the area of effect. Of course the base spell which I added all this to is the Seek Settlement spell which has a base range of ten miles...OW.” Twilight explained before getting smacked with the newspaper again.

“I didn't let you do that as a GM and you are not allowed to cast the Locate City Combo in real life either!” Spike snapped walloping Twilight again with the newspaper.

[Canterlot]

“.... mostly harmless.” Celestia finished after a brief pause to consider.

“ Never-the-less my clients wish her to be brought back to Canterlot where she can be properly secured to prevent her level two PDR rating from escalating further. Here it is believed that she can be properly harnessed for the good of the nation rather than some unknown back water town. My clients believe that with the proper training of her magic we may not have to worry about the danger she represents.”

Celestia sighed softly.

“Red Tape. What this proposal is suggesting is we imprison a civilian who has done nothing wrong because some rich ponies want to. That alone sets a horrible precedent that I will not accept. Then we add to that, that this is Twilight Sparkle, the mare who freed my sister, stopped Discord, and helped restore the Crystal Empire by defeating the evil ruler of it in one on one combat. This mare is also the sister to the Dragon Gods son, the sister to Luna's Grandson, and even if you ignore those things, she is also practically a member of the Apple family, the family that owns 95% of Equestria's fruit and technology industries. A mare who was chosen to be the Element of Magic, who's brother and sister in law are the current rulers of the Crystal Empire. “Celestia rose and strode towards Red Tape strolling around him like a hunting cat looking at it's next meal.

Red Tape mentally added a few more zeros to the end of his bill.

“Baring the fact that dragging her back to Canterlot away from the other Element bearers would render the nations greatest defense completely useless, imprisoning her here would have all of the aforementioned individuals and nations they represent coming down on Equestria rather harshly. And as a side note I assure you, you do not want her brothers all focused on and mad at you at the same time, to say nothing of her parents and their connections. Granted you also need to deal with all the ponies of Equestria themselves, who would possibly revolt in learning that a national hero was being treated as a criminal for doing nothing wrong, I expect the term 'lynch mob' would come up rather often. While I find it rather flattering that you are so certain of my power that you think I can stand against my sister, nearly every other god of the world, and I would like to point out she has become close friends with Bleu, Kaz, Rhino, Odin, and was granted a boon by Iinii himself for freeing his wife. And after dealing with them also stand against every pony in my own nation. Flattery such as that would not stop me however, from being the one who would supply the rope to the lynch mob. Particularly given it is a back hooved compliment simply due to the line from your statement saying 'proper training in magic', particularly as I was her magic teacher for twelve years.” Celestia continued pausing to lean down to look at Red Tape eye to eye.

“The main reason, Red Tape, that I seem so calm about this proposal of yours is that I know you are only a representative of some nobles who wish to remain nameless because they know it's a dumb idea. Had one of them come in themselves I would have been trying to beat my high score for distance and see if I could hit Santa Whooves' front door from here.” Celestia stepped back and returned to the throne taking a seat. Red Tape couldn't help but notice the little droplets of molten gold that had splattered on the tile around him.

“Red Tape please go back to your clients and inform them if I ever see this proposal or any like it before me again, or hear about it coming before my sister, I shall do something, NOT, NICE.” Celestia concluded as Red Tape swore one of his fillings had popped out from the volume.

“Of course Princess. Thank you for your time . Have a good day.” Red Tape stated turning and walking with all the dignity he could while also trying to haul ass at the same time.

“Flowery Text, would you please call the next petitioner.” Celestia asked calmly to her assistant.”Lulu was right, that was rather cathartic.”

[ Sweetapple Acres, the next day]

“Yah sure Rahs ain't gonna be a problem this time?” Applejack asked as she slammed her hooves into a tree, the apples it contained shaking loose and falling. Before any of them touched the ground the mass of fruit was caught in a magic field and floated towards a near by cart before being placed gently inside a collection of buckets.

Applejack was alright with Twilight using magic to help, but at the same time the farmer was still a little leery about using magic on the trees themselves. Thus a compromise was made that seemed to work favorably and kept the apples from risking getting bruised at the end of their fall from the tree.

The harvest season was in full swing, though like last year the extra help of the girls made the job that much easier.

Twilight was paired with Applejack as the last time she paired with Big Mac they worked a little too slowly and spent a little too much time trying to sneak off behind the barn.

This year Rarity and Pinkie were working with Big Mac doing much the same as Twilight and AJ were doing with the added help of Pinkie pie doing..... something to speed them along. Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Rahs were harvesting by claw and hoof, and Applebloom and a freshly healed Spike were running supplies. The pair teaming up to pull the filled wagons of apples to the barn.

“Yep, I'm not saying he might not eat a few here and there, but he's not going to gorge himself. “ Twilight smirked.” I'm holding his ticket to that ' Hamlet with lions' thing he wanted to see, hostage.”

“Hamlet with lions?” Applejack asked.

“Beats me, that's what he called it, point is I snagged his ticket and it's a sold out show. Since it's not showing in the Canterlot Theater he can't use his connections to get in either.” Twilight smirked.

“If he didn't wanna help he didn't have to. Not sure ah like that yah have tah blackmail him.” Applejack frowned.

“He's not being forced to help. He did want to help, it's just you know how he gets around the apples and he has the self control of a two year old.” Twilight sighed.

“You're one to talk little miss, 'I have to be at the book store three hours before they open on new book day'.” Spike snarked as he waddled up pushing a wheel barrow full of more baskets.

“So how's yer arm Spike.” AJ cut in before Twilight could retort, any argument between this lot could take hours to simmer down and would draw all three of them away from any work they were doing. Not to mention it often involved some property damage, and she didn't need that here.

“Not bad. It still feels weak, and I thought I'd never get the smell of that cast off my arm, but it doesn't hurt, not like my back. That missing spine itches like crazy.” Spike offered squirming with a grumble.

Applebloom smirked and brought her hoof up to drag it along his back at a spot getting a sigh of relief from Spike and a giggle from the filly.

The pair dumped the baskets and went off to deliver more baskets to the others.

“Fer such a little guy he sure is helpful.” Applejack smirked.” A bit snarky, but alright.”

“He's grown up having to look out for my problems, Shining's issues, and Rahs' overly dramatic existence. It was either he becomes the responsible one or becomes as crazy as the rest of us.”

“Well glad he went this route, got enough crazies in mai family that ah don't need one tah be a dragon.” Applejack chuckles.

“It causes problems though. You know he's worried about Apple Bloom right?”

“Hmm? How so?”

“He worries he's going to get too big to be with her , or that something might happen like when he had that chaos Spike and he might hurt her. He's even worried about inevitably outliving her.” Twilight sighed.

“Worrying a lot ain't he?” Applejack frowned.” He's way to young tah be thinking bout all that.”

“That's just how he is, he doesn't worry about every little detail like I do , or blow everything out of proportion like Rahs does, but he has some rather deep thoughts. Ones with no real answers. I told him to just enjoy it while he can, if it doesn't work out it shouldn't be because he didn't try.”

“Given how Bloom's still crushing hard on him near a year ah don't doubt it'll last.”Applejack smirks.”Once any of my kin git their sights set on some one, ain't nothing gonna shake um. Heh, reminds me of tha story Granny told us about ma and pa....”

“INCOMING!”

The sudden cry made Applejack dive to the ground, and Twilight fling up a shield around them a moment before the cart Twilight and Applejack had been loading exploded.

Applesauce and shattered bits of wood rained down around the cart as a form surged up from the mess almost instantly.

Rahs growled, three large gashes were ripped into his chest letting blood flow freely down his front. The wounds didn't seem to be closing that quickly either and Twilight felt her shield weaken a little as her brother drew more magic from her trying to heal.

“Rahs! What happened!?!” Twilight demanded.

“BORK!” Rahs snapped as a collection of howls sounded in the area. The whole orchard sounding alive with the echoing reverb.

“Timber wolves?” Applejack gasped at the howling.

[Canterlot]

“.. and finally.” Red Tape stated, glaring at the unicorn stallions before him. “You may take your contract, and shove it sideways right up your plots!”

The half breed turned with a growl yanking open the door.

“I will send you my updated bill, failure to pay in a timely manner will have me returning to the Day Court with a grievance against you and a full list of what services I have provided, that included today's fiasco.” Red Tape snapped.” GOOD DAY!”

The door slammed shut leaving the office quiet for a moment before the stallion seated at the desk looked to the other unicorn standing near by.

“Well it seemed that didn't work.” The sitting one offered.

“To be fair plan A was a long shot.” the standing unicorn responded.

“Does that mean we have to go to plan B?” the sitting unicorn grumbled.

“Unfortunately, I hate plan B. It should be plan CM for complicated mess.” the standing unicorn sighed.

“Well we are the ones who decide such things.” The one at the desk shrugged.

“Very well. Plan CM it is. Hehehe Ha HA BWAHAHAHAHA...... “The standing stallion started laughing tapping a button on his cuff link. “ Hmmm...”

“Something wrong?”

“It didn't work?” The standing stallion tapped the button again and a flash of lightning appeared in the window followed by an ominous peal of thunder.

“What?” The sitting stallion questioned.

“It has a sleep mode? It seems I have to press it twice? Seriously what do I pay those mages for? It's supposed to simply activate whenever I push the button.” the standing stallion complained.

“Sending it back to the shop?” the seated stallion asked.

“No, I suppose not. I wouldn't want it going off at the wrong time from an accidental push. Still....” The standing stallion sighed.

“Care to try it again? It's only us here and I can pretend the first time didn't happen.” the seated stallion shrugged. “ Just be sure to say something more ominous this time.”

“Hmm alright, I have it.” the standing stallion nodded moving to the window.

“Plan A might have failed but plan CM shall not, and soon Twilight Sparkle shall be mine! HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA” the standing stallion cackled as a flash of lightning lit the room and a roll of thunder rattled the windows.

“Very nice.” The seated stallion offered with a small golf clap.

[Sweet Apple Acres]

Flames burst from the little dragons mouth setting a wooden wolf ablaze. The animate foliage screamed and yelped, rolling around on the ground trying to put itself out.

This might have continued, but a large brush ax came down, lopping off the head of the flailing timber wolf, silencing it.

Applebloom frowned biting down harder on the brush ax's handle, before she rushed back into the barn. Spike spat more flames keeping the others back as the filly closed the door with a slam as Spike slipped inside. Three more Timber wolves slammed into the barn door as the pair made their way up to the hay loft, throwing open the upper doors to look out at the bedlam that was the orchard.

Timber wolves were everywhere.

Scores of the creatures rushed all over the place rampaging and attacking anything that moved, their claws tearing up the ground, clawing at the trees and destroying the carts and baskets full of apples.

There was something larger too, as a deep rumbling roar echoed across the orchards.

Looking out from the top of the new crystal barn hay loft the pair could see most of what was going on.

In the far west field they could see Big Mac's team. The boom of a cannon sounded as Pinkie Pie blasted one of the wolves to pieces, back flipped in midair, still holding her party canon, and smashed it down atop of another wolf.

Rarity had gathered a number of farming implements and was going to town on the attacking wolves like she was a lumber jack. So far she was okay.

Big Mac had ripped up a fence pole and was batting them away from him like he was trying to learn to play golf.

Fluttershy was floating about nervously in the air near Pinkie Pie.

Rainbow Dash was all over the place. The mare was slaloming around the trees as a rainbow colored blur, smashing the creatures apart with kicks as she flew by or catching them and slamming them into one another or any other solid object she could.

Spike frowned seeing the problem with this immediately. Every time a wolf was knocked down, even if they were set on fire, before long the bundle of sticks reformed and joined back into the fight.

Spike frantically looked around, recalling his talk with Celestia and Luna after the fight in the Crystal Empire.

“Spike there's a whole bunch of them around tha barn trying tah git in. Ah don't think we shoulda hid here.”Applebloom whimpered.

“Of course my packs in the farm house......An entire apple farm and no apples....” Spike growled as he looked around the barn fanatically, the harvest was still parked outside. “ Applebloom.... dang it.. sorry about this.”

“What?” Applebloom asked as Spike grabbed her tail, cutting a fair chunk of her red hair from it with his claws.”Spike what are you doing!?”

The dragon breathed out, green flame consuming the patch of hair. “I'm calling for help.”

Spike swallowed, leaning over the edge of the barn door and letting out another belch of green flame that consumed a trio of timber wolves that had been trying to rip through the barn door.

[ Canterlot.]

The entire Day Court held it's collective breath as they spotted the spark of green flame forming around Celestia's horn.

The current petitioner chose the better part of valor, and dove behind one of the seating pews.

Celestia frowned as the spell completed, she took note of the red hair drifting down, the strands looked cut rather than burnt..

After Spike had sent her the fallen buffalo in the Crystal Empire, Celestia had praised Spike on his fast thinking in protecting the ponies and himself. She had asked if he needed to do that again, to try and send some sort of warning first, or at least a hint of where he might be so she could help faster. She trusted him not to abuse his power and the dragon fire spell was the fastest way to get a message to her.

The strands of red hair drifting before her might simply have been an accidental sneeze. That had happened before.

Though the feeling of something heavy in her magic made her realize it was not.

“Day court is canceled, clear the court immediately!! Flowery go wake my sister tell her to meet me in the armory. Captain I want a team of your fastest fliers dispatched to Ponyville now, check Sweet Apple Acres, a large apple orchard to the west of the city, first.” Celestia ordered. Flowery Text long used to Celestia's tones took off like a shot. The new Guard Captain hesitated.

“Princess why, what's going on?” the Captain asked.

The glut of green flame that formed over Celestia's head discharged a large pile of sticks and logs that crashed to the ground in a pile of shrubbery and sticks like a discarded mulch pile.

Celestia frowned at the pile, wondering if it was a false alarm after all, though that thought vanished the moment the yard waste started moving. Three wolven forms pulling themselves out of the entangled pile, the forms scrabbling around on the tile having no traction but clearly seeking to go after the nearest ponies.

Celestia's horn flashed.

Motes of burnt dust drifted down into the newly melted marble.

“Timber Wolves..... Now Captain.” Celestia ordered, vanishing with a flash of light.

[Sweet Apple Acres]

BOOM!!!

“What?”Applebloom gasped looking towards the farm house as an elderly green mare stepped out on the front porch clutching a large metal tube, with a crossbow stock, and a funneled end like a trumpet, an end that was still smoking.

Flailing about before her was a timber wolf that had been blown back through the front door. It was filled with nails, shards of metal, and was also on fire.

“Git cher paws off me, yah dang durty mutt!” Granny Smith snapped ,spitting out a strand of wheat she had between her teeth.

Two others that had rushed up towards her hesitated as they noted the flailing burning one. They started to circle and growl as they looked at the mare.

Granny calmly reloaded her pappy's gun and looked at them.

“Ah came out here tah kick flank and chew bubble gum. And mah dentures can't handle bubble gum!” Granny shouted, blasting another Timber wolf with her reloaded weapon. The third lept at her only to get a frying pan to the face hard enough to send it crashing to the ground in pieces.

“GRANNY LOOK OUT!!” Applebloom shouted as the first burning timber wolf surged back to it's paws lunging at her only to vanish in a blast of purple arcane energy. The other two quickly followed the first into arcane oblivion as Twilight Sparkle strode up towards the house, her horn crackling with magic.

The pack of Timber Wolves around the barn met much the same fate as the purple unicorn blasted them to nothing the moment she saw them.

“Applebloom did you and the girls try for a 'raising a Timber Wolf puppy cutie mark' and do you have one you named Fern hidden in the barn some where?” Twilight asked.

“No.... but if ah was gonna have a plant puppy, ah'd ah named it Sprout.”Applebloom admitted. “ Can yah get a cutie mark for that?”

“I doubt it. Timber wolves are an abomination of natural magic, there shouldn't be any puppies, they're just gatherings of dark and chaos magic that took a wolven form out of whatever happens to be available.” Twilight sighed. “I was just hoping there was an easy to explain reason for this attack, they're every where. I've never even heard of anything like this before.”

“HUZZAH!!”
WACK.
“YIPE!”

“Sound's like the cavalry arrived.” Spike smiled, waving at Princess Luna who had appeared near the farm's main gate with Dr. Choppy.

“Where's Applejack?” Applebloom asked.” We can't see her or Rahs from up here.”

“She went after Rahs and I came over here to make sure you two and Granny were safe.”Twilight frowned. “Granny, get everyone in the storm cellar, they seem to be trying to get into the barn more than any other place for some reason. Better we stay away from it for now.”

“Alright, come on youngins let's get in...” Granny Smith started to say before a scream of pain echoed over the farm followed by a loud roar that Twilight and Spike translated as a massive swear from Rahs.

Twilight vanished in a flash of light.

Things were not going too well for Rahs today.

First, his sister had taken his show ticket from him and was holding it ransom to keep him from eating twice his weight in apples, which he wouldn't do any way if they weren't so delicious.

Then he got stuck on the team with the laziest pegasus in the world, and the weakest.

He thought both the mares were great, though Fluttershy had a hard time pulling her own weight, and Rainbow Dash was lazier than he was, and he was part cat!

Still he thought they were making fairly good time with Dash bouncing like a pinball between trees shaking the apples loose into the buckets that Fluttershy placed around, leaving him to do the heavy lifting when the baskets were filled and put them in the wagon.

The only warning he got that something was wrong was Fluttershy's shriek, he turned to see what the issue was and was hit by a tree.

He was sent flying across the orchard crashing through the branches of other trees tearing his coat and finally managing to call out a warning right before he slammed back first into a wagon.

He was back on his paws in moments though he nearly feel to his knees, he felt like several ribs had been cracked, he had three large rents across his chest, and a multitude of splinters embedded in his back.

And another ruined coat.

He should just ask Rarity if he could buy in bulk.

His score cards were bent too.

He was healed up by the time Twilight and Applejack started moving. Twilight went off to find Spike and Applejack stuck with him as he raced back to the field he had been in.

They met what hit him rather quickly.

A gargantuan timber wolf as tall as the trees around it was skulking through the grove headed towards the barn and the farm house where Spike and Applebloom were.

This thing had already sucker punched him, so Rahs was more than ready to throw down.

Of course he had to figure out how to fight such a massive thing.

Ehh, maybe he could just keep it busy until Twilight got back and blasted it.

The massive timber wolf it seemed, had other ideas. Namely trying to kill him directly.

As soon as the mobile grove saw him, it started attacking, snapping teeth, claws, it even spat gobs of poison joke at him.

Rahs was hard pressed to dodge most of the attacks, the massive plant monster evidently had a score to settle with him. Rahs wondered if it was one of the ones he had met on one of his hunts, he didn't have too much to fear from timber wolves as they tended to be little more than animate snacks wrapped in twigs.

This one was different.

This one was massive, very quick, and was able to hurt him, it was also doing it's best to keep him at a distance, clearly it knew that if he could get his teeth in it, he would eat the magic keeping it alive.

Applejack was doing her best to deal with it as well, though the creature was largely ignoring the earth pony in favor of trying to maul Rahs. This played against it when a double kick from Applejack caused one of it's rear legs to explode in a shower of splinters.

Rahs lept on it's head, biting at the wood trying to draw the magic out of it only for the timber wolf to slam it's head into a tree, crushing Rahs between the creature and the apple tree for a moment.

The moon dog cursed, pushing up to his paws only for a log sized tail to whip around and send him flying across the field tumbling across the ground to slam into another tree. The thick apple tree splintered and crashed down on top of him pinning him under the trunk.

Applejack raced over as he was trying to get free, smashing her back hooves into the wood and flinging it off of him, only for the massive maw of the giant timber wolf to snap closed on the distracted farm pony.

The earth pony mare let out a scream as the wooden jaws closed around her, spear sized fangs piercing her form.

Rahs was moving before her scream died out, grabbing the beasts jaws, trying to wrench them open and off of the bleeding and struggling mare.

The beast clawed at the moon dog trying to rip him off his muzzle.

“You should not have done that.”

The timber wolf froze, turning it's head to the left, glowing red eyes widening as a white form stepped out of the tree line.

“Burn.” Princess Celestia stated flatly.

The timber wolf giant burned.

Rahs watched as the core of the creature caught fire from the inside, bursting out in a flash of flame that left the head untouched. The creature glared at him a moment before the light faded from it's eyes and it's magic vanished. With it dead he finally managed to wrench the jaws open enough to free Applejack. He scooped up the farm mare and darted away from the head of the timber wolf as it was consumed by the sun and turned into less than ash.

A flash of light announced the appearance of Twilight who gasped loudly seeing the bloodied body of her friend.

“Luna!” Celestia called and her sister appeared next to her with a gasp at the sight of Applejack.“Take her to the hospital, we will finish up here and make sure there are no more.”

“Of course.” Luna nodded before both she, Rahs, and Applejack vanished in a flash of light.

Mitchell Duel, prologue

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Mitchell Duel,
prologue

[Three weeks after the attack on Sweet Apple Acres.]

“Rarity.... I'm gonna kill yah.” Applejack snarled.” Maybe not taday, maybe not tamorrow, but some time in tha future there's gonna be a front page spread in tha paper reading' little ole mare got mutilated late last night'.”

“Oh pish posh Applejack. I am simply helping you look your best for your release today. Besides I am hardly older than you.” Rarity hummed as she fiddled with Applejack's mane. The orange farm mare was sulking as she tried to look over a menu her brother had given her for a Chineighs place that had opened up. Lei ho Foxs. Applebloom swore it was run by a Kitsune.

Applejack winced as Rarity worked on a snarl, the beet chow mein sounded good. Anything was better than the food here, crappy food in tiny portions. She needed a great big bowl of this stuff.

The door to the room opened admitting the rest of the girls, plus Spike and Rahs.

“Oh Rarity, her hair is perfect.” Fluttershy cooed.

“Aa-hoo.” Rahs greeted.

“Pinkie Pie. You better stay away from her. “ Twilight frowned. “If you hug her and she gets hurt again Granny Smith is probably gonna rip your lungs out.”

“I said I was sorry!” Pinkie Pie protested, but she stayed away from the bed where AJ was.

Spike looked over the open back gown Applejack was in and snorted in amusement.” Nice outfit Applejack, I'd like to meet your tailor.”

Rahs slapped his brother in the back of the head.

“Aa-hoo!” Rahs griped.

“I was being nice.” Spike smirked.

“Twilight seriously can we go, tha food they give me ain't crap, and tha portions are tiny. Tried tah sneak down tah get more, but ah guess they heard mah stomach howling round tha kitchen door. Seems tha doctor told um they better not let me in.”

“Yup. We got you cleared, but one of us or other family members is going to have to stay with you for another week just to be sure. Also you will not be working on the farm for at least another three weeks. Pinkie Pie has agreed to watch you to make sure.” Twilight frowned.

“Yup I even have a new Pinkie sense for it, waggy tail, floppy ears, and pokey teeth means Applejack's trying to do something she's not supposed to.” Pinkie Pie smiled.

“Wait, you can......” Twilight started staring at Pinkie before shaking her head and flattening her ears. ”Nope, not doing it, not even going to try to look into it, not gonna do it.”

“Well given you're going to be under watch for a couple a weeks you can come with me up to Canterlot
for a day. “ Rainbow Dash grinned. “Blue found a place called Trader Nick's. We can get you a pina colada.”

“A what?” Applejack asked standing up and yanking off the backless gown. Fluttershy turned a bit red as Pinkie Pie giggled. Rahs covered Spike's eyes.

“Aa-hoo.” Rahs explained.

Applejack stared at him then turned to Rainbow Dash.” Ah say again, a what?”

“Trust me you'll love it.” Rainbow laughed offering Applejack her hat. A hat she quickly pulled over her head and new mane do much to Rarity's horror.

[Ponyville]

Hooves thudded in the dirt at the crest of a hill. The creak of a wagon heard as it's puller paused a wide grin on her face as she looked out over the town from the top of the rise.

Finally, Trixie Lulumoon had come back to Ponyville.

Author's Note

You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it. From out there on the moon, international politics look so petty. You want to grab a politician by the scruff of the neck and drag him a quarter of a million miles out and say, "Look at that, you son of a bitch."

— Mitchell on seeing the Earth from the Moon.[[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Mitchell#cite_note-20)

There's a extra little thing in this chapter. i'm sure some of you caught it.

Now the question is . Does it mean something, or am i screwing with those of you who made so many comments?

Mitchell Duel, part 1

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Mitchell Duel,
part 1

[Ponyville, two days later. Tuesday, six am]

“Twilight Sparkle!”

“Oh stars! I was so close! SOOOOO CLOOOSE!!” Twilight whined gesturing with both hooves to the train station right across the road from them. She tossed her fore hooves in the air and flopped down on her, belly rolling onto her back and kicking her hooves into the air while screaming in frustration.

Applejack raised an eyebrow as she looked down at her friend. The farm mare was clad in her usual hat, though she was still limping a little and was covered in bandages. Her gaze shifts from the screaming purple unicorn to the approaching blue one with a frown.

“Twilight. It's Trixie. “ Applejack offered, her gaze not leaving the blue unicorn mare, dressed in her trade mark purple coat and hat. No really she had trademarked the pattern in Las Pegasus, Rarity was mortified.

“You say that like it's going to make things better, it's Tuesday Applejack, Tuesday! We were going to Canterlot to get away from it.” Twilight whined still laying on the ground.

“Did Trixie come at a bad time?” Trixie asked trotting up and looking down at the flailing mare on the ground. “ Trixie thought Rahs was the dramatic one.”

“It's been a bad few months.” Applejack sighed.

“Trixie expects so. You look like a mummy.” The show mare pointed out with a flourish of her cloak the movement revealing a silver amulet of some kind around her neck.

“Arrrghabbled rab.” Twilight grumbles, before getting back up to her hooves, dusting herself off, and putting on a bright, and very much forced smile.”So Trixie what brings you back to Ponyville, doing another show?”

“Something along those lines. Hold on, Trixie rehearsed this.” Trixie offered before stepping back a little and rearing up.

“By Celestia's wavy tail here it comes.” Twilight groaned to herself.

“Twilight Sparkle, Trixie challenges you to a duel for possession of Fuzzy!” Trixie shouted out with a flourish and a explosion of fireworks.

“And there it is.” Twilight bemoaned.

“Who tha heck is Fuzzy?” Applejack demanded.

“Rahs.” Twilight supplied.

“What? He ain't no object tah be traded or fought over.” Applejack growled.

“Of course not. But Trixie must first defeat Twilight and the others seeking his affections before Fuzzy can be hers. The magic link connecting the two must be broken and if Trixie proves herself more powerful she can take over that link and be connected more closely to Fuzzy.” Trixie explained starting to trail off as her eyes glazed over a little. “ And we shall have a love affair like Morticia and Gomez...”

“Pretty sure it doesn't work like that.” Twilight dead panned as Trixie ignored her.

“ Don't yah mean Romeo and Jenniette?” Applejack pondered aloud.

“Of course not , those two were a cautionary tail about keeping it in your pants. Seriously if either of them had the slightest brain cell between them or more patience than a four year old in a candy shop there wouldn't have been as many deaths.”Trixie explained continuing to ramble.

“I really don't think the link works like that, we've even tried to sever it before....” Twilight was again ignored.

“And we'll have a nice little split level home with a white picket fence and three point two foals, and a little dog house for a small poodle of some kind and a brick patio in the back for barbecues on Sundays and he can be a door to door sales pony and Trixie can be a stay at home wife with a blue frilly dress, a bouffant, and and pearls and he'll come home, and Trixie will ask how his day went, and he'll say better now and kiss Trixie, and eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee” The blue mare pranced in place seemingly lost in her own 50s house wife fantasy for a moment.

“Wait, why would that happen? Don't you wanna be a show mare and ah know he wants to be an actor. Where'd the sales pony thing come from?” Applejack questioned.

“Do not destroy Trixie's fantasy with something as mundane as facts!!” Trixie snapped at the earth pony.

“Seriously?” Twilight sighed.

“Trixie does not need this sort of abuse from you and your mare friend Twilight Sparkle.” Trixie demanded.

“She's not my mare friend.” Applejack snapped.

“Really, because Trixie heard you were dating one of the Apples and you always seemed the type to prefer mares and then there was the show where Trixie may have accidentally broken this one and the rainbow haired one up.” Trixie ranted.

“I seemed the what!?” Twilight demanded.

“She's dating mai brother and ah ain't ever dated Dash either!” Applejack grumbled.

“Really, do we have to do this? Do you know what day it is?” Twilight frowned ignoring everything else.

“What does the day matter? Trixie is on a mission from god!”

“Which one?” Applejack asked deadpan.

“That one over there.” Trixie pointed.

Twilight and Applejack looked, and Twilight's blood pressure spiked.

Sitting on a bench in front of the train station watching the altercation were three figures.

A tall pink alicorn mare with a crystal heart cutie mark was sitting there lifting kernels of popcorn from a small white and red striped bucket. She had a large mustache and goatee made of sea green hair on her face and was wearing both sunglasses and a fedora.

On her left a tall midnight blue mare with a wavy blue mane full of stars and a crescent moon cutie mark sat with what amounted to a big gulp cup filled with steaming coffee. She also sported a hat and sunglasses. Her mustache and beard were massive and seemed to be waving with a life of their own with light blues, yellows, and streaks of pink.

On the pink ones right sat a black furred mare with a number of carapace segments on her body and holes in her legs. She was sitting there looking on expectantly wearing a top hat and monocle as well as a massive handlebar mustache and floor length beard made out of the same sort of material that the one Luna was wearing was.

[Canterlot]

Celestia stared at herself in the mirror as she struggled to wake herself up. She yawned wide glaring at the mirror as she tried to figure out what felt off. Her sleep addled mind told her something was wrong, but it refused to give clues or any more information on the subject.

Celestia tilted her head to the side, turning a bit. Her mane was flowing fine, she needed to tend it as she had a bit of a bed head look. She wondered what would happen if she went out like this.

Oh wait she did that before.

It became the style for a few months. Seeing the nobles like that was hilarious.

So that wasn't it. She spread her wings idly nope still had those.

Her eyes suddenly opened wide, all traces of sleep gone from her mind as she turned shoving her rump to the mirror, showing the tiny little stub that was left of her tail.

Her mind whirled as she processed the idea before she growled.

“LUNA!!!!” Celestia bellowed

[Ponyville]

“Your sister is awake.” Chrysalis pointed out her ears perking at the echo.

“Indeed.” Luna nodded.

“WHAT ARE YOU THREE DOING HERE?” Twilight nearly screeched thinking of the collateral damage three goddesses being in Ponyville on a Tuesday could bring.

“Shipping sense was tingling.” Cadence offered as Luna pointed a hoof to Cadence and nodded in agreement.

“Don't look at me, I'm just here for the buffet.” Chrysalis smiled.

“Nope, nope, nope.” Twilight shook her head.

“Twilight, Trixie challenged you to a duel...” Trixie stated.” loser leaves Ponyville... for well at least a little while. Trixie has no plans to banish the sister of her paramour.”

Twilight twitched, a strand of her mane popping out of place as she gazed longingly at the train. She whirled about suddenly on Trixie her eyes wide.

“Right, fine, A duel it is! Onetwothree go!” Twilight shouted firing a beam at Trixie, the mare yelped and dodged out of the way as the beam hits a wall behind her and made it glow briefly. Trixie managed to right herself and fired a beam at Twilight who blocked it with a shield sending it into the ground where it erupted into a cluster of daisies.

“Oh noooo daises my one weakness... I cannot continue, I yield.” Twilight bemoans before darting over to Trixie rapidly scribbling out a list before grabbing the mares hat and shoving the list into it.” This is a list of all the things you can do today as well as the location of all my research notes on the link, good luck screwing with that as Princess Celestia was clueless. Rahs is still asleep, wake his butt up around eight or he will literally sleep until eight tonight then go to bed tired at nine. Spike should be up and he can help you but he has to go to school by eight so he can't help you wake Rahs unless you get him up earlier. Now I need to get Applejack to a doctors appointment so have fun storming the castle and don't break anything expensive in my lab. Peace out.”

Twilight Sparkle and Applejack both then vanished in a flash of light, reappeared on the train platform and quickly boarded the train. The train held up a minute more before chugging off at top speed with a clear magically assisted boost judging by the fact the smoke turned purple and the engineer was clinging to the engine for dear life.

Trixie blinked watching the train leave. She closed her eyes a moment looking down at the flowers then back up at the train.

“What?” Trixie questioned.

“Who cares, she left thee alone with our grand pup. Go and git to making great grand puppies, we are not getting any younger!” Luna called out waving a light blue pennant banner that had Trixie's name on it.

Trixie blinked and looked at the goddess before finally realizing she were right, before darting off with a giggle.

The three goddesses sat there a moment more before they looked at Luna who waved her banner in the air harder.

“Really auntie? “ Cadence asked.

“What? Her last name is Lulu-MOON. Of course we were going to support her.” Luna stated before. “Besides we know thee made thine own banner for thine favored suitor.”

Cadence sighed pulling her own flag out of her mane and waving a white banner with the name Jynx on it.

“Seriously Cady... Saturnia's gonna be mad at you for that.” Chrysalis frowned pulling out a green flag with her daughters name on it bopping Cadence in the head with it.

“We take you have informed your choices in this matter of todays situation?” Luna asked.

“Of course.” The other two mares agreed.

“So.... ten bits on whom he chooses?” Luna asked.

“Deal.” the other two chuckled.

Author's Note

i was dying while writing this.

I still can't get over Trixie as a ' Leave it to Beaver' style housewife.

Mitchell Duel, part 2

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Mitchell Duel,
part 2

[Golden Oaks Library.]

Rahs Sparkle was confused, annoyed, and worried in that order.

The annoyance he understood. He was not a morning moon dog, heck that was in his species name even. Moon did not happen in the morning. Also he was rather miffed that his sister had 'noped' right out to the train station and promptly buggered off as fast as she could.

It had to be a Tuesday.

The confusion however came from Trixie being the one to wake him up.

Okay correction.

Trixie had tried to wake him up, gently in fact.

It didn't work.

Spike had decided to help with a couple of ice cubes. The little bugger only managing to get away when Rahs paused to try and figure out why Trixie was there in his room. She was being oddly coy with her answers too, clearly nervous about something, and that made him worried.

Breakfast was little more than small talk while Trixie explained what had been going on with her for the past few months.

She had made pancakes.

Rahs didn't know she knew how to make pancakes, they were good pancakes too, not as good as Spike made, but he didn't have to worry about eating one of the wrong batch and chipping a tooth on a gemstone.

Of course at this point things started to get into more confusing territory.

Jynx showed up.

Rahs still found the large bitch attractive, but highly intimidating. He ran through a mental checklist to make sure he hadn't accidentally missed one of their training sessions. After that last time and her efforts to make sure he 'caught up' to where he was supposed to be, he really didn't want to get behind again.

Her explanation of being there to see him confused him further, as did the fact that she and Trixie seemed to dislike each other instantly. He wasn't sure why, he didn't think they had met before and Jynx didn't seem the type to be a heckler at one of Trixie's shows. That was usually the only way to annoy Trixie.

And then it seemed to get even more confusing when Saturnia showed up.

He had met the pegasus not long after the wedding. She had come in for a book and wound up talking with him for a while. While she wasn't exactly a theater buff, she was quite a fan of some of the stories he read. Wolf of the Harvest Moon, and it's unlicensed spinoffs were favorites of hers. The pair of them spent a few hours of speculation on who the mysterious author' Double Moon ' was that wrote most of the books beyond the first.

He had seen her a number of times after that and she was pleasant enough. Her coloration seemed odd, rather close to his in fact and strangely she smelled like a diamond dog rather than a pony. Least he thought she smelled like a diamond dog. This time she smelled like a griffon.

Even having no idea what was going on he could tell that she wasn't happy to see Trixie and Jynx there. The same could be said for the other two when she was let in.

Breakfast became strangely tense after that and that worried him too.

“My brother is an idiot and I am going to kill my sister.” Spike growled to himself as he looked over the three females sitting around the table, all of them trying to sit as close to Rahs as possible and block the others from doing the same.

He had no idea how that was working since it was a rectangular table with Rahs at one end.

Rahs seemed lost in thought and or focused on his food.

Now Spike might be sorta dating some one, he still wasn't sure what to call it. Applebloom liked him and he liked her, but aside from that one kiss and enjoying hanging out with each other they hadn't done anything the books said couples did. Plus nine times out of ten the other crusaders were with them as well.

Despite being taken he still had a appreciative eye for females.

His scale went from his sister, who he viewed as a zero, up to Cadence who by all rights was a solid 20+ on the Charisma stat, simply due to the fact she looked the way every other mare in fashion mags and stuff wanted to look.

The ones before him were interesting, but they all lost at least one point for being interested in Rahs, clearly none of them were that bright.

Saturnia he was certain was a changeling. She was too perfect looking and her scent seemed to change every time he saw her. That said, she was very pretty and pushed right up into sexy when she wasn't glaring at the others like this. She was playing on Rahs romantic side rather well. Out of the three she was the best looking in his eyes, but given that was probably by design and she was a bit abrasive he dropped her to a Cha of 16. Decidedly a Rogue.

Jynx was a hard sell in his mind. She was well built, looked pretty good in that dress and had huge boobs, which he had heard was a big plus for certain species. She was decidedly the biggest and most intimidating of the three. Unfortunately the intimidation worked against her and Spike could tell that it made Rahs nervous. Still she was trying, though she didn't do cute that well. The fact she was the closest to a moon dog worked in her favor and Spike knew Rahs had some interest in her. 12 maybe 13 cha. She seemed like she was trying to hard. Clear barbarian sort there.

Then there was Trixie. She was open and honest in what she wanted, pulled off cute well enough and also managed to do sexy some as well, not as good as Saturnia, but decent. She had the best rapport with Rahs, though by that token Rahs couldn't get past the 'old friend' mentality. While that worked against her it also allowed her to get closer to him than the others. That she was shy and nervous about it kept her from just telling him outright how she felt. She was a solid 15 in his eyes despite not being able to sing very well at karaoke. She was clearly a mage of course.

After a stern warning of what would happen to the three if they damaged any of the house, his room specifically, involving a lot of fire, Spike left for school.

On the way out the door he spotted two princesses and a queen with fake beards looking in the kitchen window and sighed.

He would need to let Cheerilee know so she could move class to the school fallout bunker.

Sparks darted between the three females sitting around the table as they all glared at each other. Rahs had gone upstairs to wash up leaving the three alone at the table.

The arguing almost immediately started.

“What are you two even doing here!?” Trixie demanded with a hiss.

“Getting in your way obviously.” Saturnia smirked returning the glare Trixie was giving her.” I've finally got the time to try and get closer to him and I refuse to let you come in and ruin my efforts.”

Jynx frowned, thus far she hadn't managed to talk to him about much more than training, but there had been a few times she had managed to talk about other things. And she had been looking into this 'Bard' that she had heard him speak of before, just to have some conversation that didn't involve fighting. With the Crystal Empire mine work having taken a lot of her more rebellious mutts she could focus on what she wanted rather than keeping the pack in line.

The large black furred diamond dog pushed one of her thick white braids back over her shoulder. “ Do you think I would let you win this so easily? Clearly the Princesses want a more even competition to win his heart or they would not have warned me that you had come.”

“And you came here to get in Trixie's way too.” Trixie growled. “ Trixie has spent to long trying to get the nerve to say something and to put together this plan. Trixie is not going to allow you two ruin her chance no matter what.”

“Was that a threat?” Jynx frowned.

“Really, like I'm scared of a show mare.” Saturnia snapped back. “I'll just have to pod you up until Rahs is soly in love with me.”

“That was a threat, little flea. I find it hard to believe you will be able to do that after I drop you in a cave six miles underground.” Jynx snarled.

“Please, my minions can deal with you any day of the week” Saturnia snapped back.

“I have a whole pack to call on, your minions would be green smears on the rock, little flea.” Jynx snarled looming over the table.

“Ladies please.” Trixie spoke up. “There is no sense in bringing others into this fight. It is simply a conflict between the three of us and should remain such. I seriously doubt we want the Princesses to get involved if we take this too far. All of us want Fuzzy correct?”

“Of course.” Jynx stated, sitting back down her ears flattening to her head at the thought of Princess Luna getting personally involved.

“Right.” Saturnia sighed not liking that the show mare made sense.

“Excellent.” Trixie stated. “ So then it is agreed it shall just be the three of us competing for Fuzzy's attention, no one else shall be involved.”

Elsewhere, in three different places, three other females sneezed at the same time.

“Agreed.” Saturnia sighed. She could easily out vamp the show pony. She might have to work a bit more to draw attention away from the diamond dog though.

“Fine. Just the three of us.” Jynx frowned. The bug was still hardly a threat, though Trixie was closer to him than any of them. She briefly considered if Rahs was worth all this effort before deciding rather quickly that he was.

“Perfect. Therefor may the best mare win......” Trixie stated tapping her hoof on the table. The blue mares horn glowed bright red, her eyes and a odd amulet around her neck glowing crimson as well. Suddenly there were two pops and a flash of light and Trixie was alone in the kitchen.

“...And Trixie certainly will.” the show mare grinned.

Two loud pops sounded and a pair of disoriented females appeared on the outskirts of town drawing the attention of a few ponies milling around.

Jynx shook her head trying to clear it from the sudden transport and Saturnia screamed out in inarticulate rage charging back towards town.

She made it a good dozen steps before slamming nose first into a barrier that formed around the town, the impact knocking her out of her disguise.

Jynx blinked looking at the pink maned changeling before her. Her eyes were pink, her mane and tail were pink even her black carapace had a pearlesent sheen of pink coloration on it. She also didn't have all the holes in her legs most changelings did. Instead she looked like a pony in a changeling disguise.

“That bitch!” Saturnia snarled the shout drawing the attention of a few ponies who had gathered on both sides of the shield to her instead. A few of them gasping and running off.

“Was that an insult?” Jynx asked curiously.

“Of course it was an insult, what..... oh right,... never mind. I need a new swear...” Saturnia cursed looking up at the globe over the whole town. “How did she manage this?”

[Canterlot throne room]

“ Princess Celestia!!!” a Guard shouted running into the throne room, cutting off what ever noble was complaining this time.

Princess Celestia silently thanked the guard, and made sure to find out his name so she could see a few extra bits into his paycheck for the interruption. This had been an amusing day. Showing up in court with her tail cut short was likely going to start a trend of short tails for the season. And given winter was fast approaching the nobles who acted first rather than think for them selves or asking questions would literally be freezing their plots off.

“Calm down my little pony, what's wrong?” Celestia placated raising a hoof to silence the noble before he could protest.

“ We've just received a report that a magic dome of some sort has risen over Ponyville.” the guard panted clearly having run up from the communications room.

Celestia frowned though she let out a sigh. ”I see It is probably nothing to worry about. Both my sister and niece are in Ponyville today.”

And Twilight is in Canterlot so it isn't her freaking out, though given how Tuesdays seem to get in that town Celestia understood why Twilight might have opted just to seal off the whole place for a day.

“That's not all Princess there are reports of Changelings spotted.” the Guard continued.

Celestia raised an eyebrow.” Explain.”

“One was seen outside of the shield along the road cursing at it, and arguing with a black furred diamond dog with white hair.”

“A diamond dog?” Celestia questioned.

“Yes Princess. The report stated she had … HUUUUGE tracts of land as well.... what ever that means.”

“Lady Jynx.... I see.” Celestia frowned, she was unaware Cadence and Lulu were allowing a changeling into their game. Perhaps it was that mysterious Saturnia Spike told her about. “ Empress Cadence is there and the changelings have been flocking to the Empire, perhaps she is with her. So long as it's not any sort of invasion, and she is not causing any harm it's nothing to worry about.”

Princess Celestia took note of a few nobles and other ponies who seemed relieved that she wasn't calling the guards to send down to Ponyville enmasse. Seems there were some infiltrators, that would bear looking into later.

Honestly it was likely a surprise to the hidden changelings in the crowd that the Princess was so lack luster in her response to this information. She didn't really hate changelings as a whole, well not any more since it had been found out they were not abominations, but still Starswirl's fault.

“There has also been a sighting of Queen Chrysalis in town near the Golden Oaks library.” the guard continued.

“DAY COURT IS CANCELED, RALLY THE GUARDS TO HIGH ALERT. CLEAR THE COURT AND INFORM THE ARMORER I'M COMING BY!” Princes Celestia bellowed, shooting up to her hooves fast enough to knock over the throne before she stormed out of the room.

Author's Note

Next chapter might take a bit. Cause yah know. Borderlands 3

Mitchell Duel, part 3

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Mitchell Duel,
part 3

[Ponyville]

Rahs padded along the road listening to Trixie with a small smile on his face. It had been a long time since they had hung out like this, all that was missing was Shirley for it to be the full group again. One never forgot their first play and the friends they made from it after all.

He was a little surprised that Saturnia and Jynx had left, particularly without telling him why they showed up in the first place. Still it wasn't unexpected, Jynx was in charge of a pack of mostly unruly diamond dogs and had to take care of running things there first and foremost.

He was pretty sure Saturnia was in charge of honey production or the like on one of the farms around town, she always seemed to be complaining or grumbling about bees.

Still this was nice, it had been a while since he and Trixie had talked, she wasn't thrilled to find out he hadn't gotten any of her letters, though Rahs pointed out there had been some issues with the mail system as of late.

He had a small chat with Pinkie Pie as she popped up and Trixie thanked her for her help with her wagon.

A little later a conversation with Rain Dancer on the other paw seemed to cause Trixie to bristle up. Rain Dancer must have picked up on it because when he looked away for a moment the pegasus evidently skedaddled. Rahs was fine with that as Rain Dancer was rather forward in her interests in Rahs and although he didn't share the interest with her, she hadn't gotten the memo that the rest of the town did regarding his lack of interest in being turned back into a pony. Particularly for dating purposes.

After that encounter though, the streets of Ponyville seemed to be clearer of ponies, some of the shops were even unoccupied.

There was also the prevalent scent of a very odd magic. He wasn't sure what it was but it seemed to be coming from Trixie, she smelled like her usual gunpowder, but her magic had the vague taste of coffee along with the blueberries it usually tasted like. He couldn't be certain without asking for a direct taste, and he didn't want to quite abuse that. He still couldn't stand even the smell of strawberry shortcake thanks to Cadence.

[Just outside of Ponyville]

A rather large crowd stood around staring up at the barrier. Some of the unicorns attempted to breech the barrier with no luck.

Occasionally a flash of light appeared and another pony popped out of nowhere standing around confused, particularly when the ponies around the new arrival either cursed or cheered.

The current betting pool was on who would be telported out of town next.

Rarity was winning the most as she had taken note of the path the pair were on as well as noticing they were the cause.

However all of the ponies gathered were staying away from a pair of figures at the edge of the shield . A rather large diamond dog and a very angry changeling.

“There is no way that show pony could be this strong!” Saturnia cursed her horn blazing as she tried every spell she had to cut through the barrier with no luck.

Jynx simply watched.”Perhaps it is not her who is strong but you who are weak, little flea.”

“Oh that's it, you wanna have a go!” Saturnia snarled whirling on the diamond dog.

“And deal with the Princesses? Not a chance.” Jynx smiled. “Though you are free to take a shot, afterwards everything I do would be in self defense and the Princesses would not allow you to try any more.”

Saturnia growled though she backed down.”You're one to talk you're not even trying to get in.”

“I know how to get in.” Jynx stated.

“Pig shit! If you knew why would you still be out here!?”

“Because seeing what you try gives me an idea of what to expect from Trixie.” Jynx stated simply. “Also watching you fail is amusing.”

“I hate you.” Saturnia snarled.

“I am glad.” Jynx smiled baring her fangs. “ But you are correct, there is no sense leaving Rahs to Trixie for too long particularly as most of the town is out here now.”

“WOOOOOO!!” Rainbow Dash shouted as another figure appeared, looking rather disoriented. “It's Kevin! Pay up!”

The crowd grumbled a little.

“Fine then lets see you get in there.” Saturnia snapped.

Jynx turned, took one step, and fell forward seemingly seemed like she was going to face plant though a quick motion had her burrowing into the ground with a shower of dirt. After only a few breaths the diamond dog popped up on the other side of the shield dusting off her dress.

“What!?” Saturnia snapped, glaring back at Jynx's grin.

The changeling cursed diving into the hole to follow. Jynx grinned wider and stomped on the ground collapsing the tunnel on top of the changeling, leaving her with her flank in the air, back legs kicking wildly as she stuck up out of the dirt.

With another smirk Jynx darted off to find Rahs, leaving the bug cursing behind her on the other side of the shield.

[In Ponyville]

“So … what's the deal with the necklace?” Cadence asked curiously as they trio of goddesses watched Rahs and Trixie walk past, the group still in their disguises.

“Tis an alicorn amulet.” Luna offered.

“A what?”Chrysalis asked.

“ An alicorn amulet, or as they used to be called a 'dog treat'.” Luna explained. “We... when we taught Sombra magic we had him practice his enchanting by making empowering amulets. Solomon thought it amusing and didn't realize we were giving them to the resistance so they could try and kill him. Sombra simply thought it was a lesson. The amulets themselves do not offer much of a boost in power, they simply open the pathways to allow more power to be accessed than a unicorn normally would. Of course the feeling of being overpowered gained them the name of Alicorn Amulet, despite the fact they were barely worth feeding to the witch wolves as treats.”

“So you are saying that Trixie is naturally this powerful? She's cast nearly sixty teleports to the cities edge on top of this shield.” Cadence gasped.” And that's with Rahs around.”

“She was accepted into my sisters school as a filly for a reason my pinkest niece.” Luna offered.

“How...... you researched her didn't you?” Cadence narrowed her eyes as Luna grinned.

“Of course, we wanted to know everything we could about the horse we were backing as they say.”Luna blinked, glancing up before pulling off her beard and offering it to Chrysalis. “Would thou hold this for me a moment.”

Chrysalis blinked looking down at her hoof at the swath of Celestia's tail she had been given.

Luna and Cadence both suddenly vanished in a pop of teleportation leaving Chrysalis alone on the bench.

“What?” Chrysalis asked, before looking up.”Well shit.”

The sudden impact of a comet like mass of white and gold slammed down on top of Chrysalis with enough force to cause the changeling queen to explode in a shower of green goo like she was a particularly vile bug that was smashed.

The bench also did not fare very well

Stepping out of the crater with a large bag on her back was Princess Celestia. The goddess of the sun was clad in heavy golden armor, a newly made set to account for all the cake. The solar princess shook out her legs a little as she glanced down at all that was left of Chrysalis, taking note of her tail fragments in the mess. She glared over to her sister and niece who were both sitting there wearing fake beards and mustaches that looked to have been made out of Chrysalis' tail.

“Was that necessary auntie?” Cadence frowned.

“Impressive, her shield is warded to allow gods free passage, she truly is gifted.” Luna acknowledged looking at the unblemished shield top.” Even if she fails to woo Rahs perhaps she will accept an offer of training from us.”

“She'll be fine.” Celestia offered to Cadence only for a blast of magic to slam into her sending her tumbling down the street, her armored helmet and shoes left spinning in the air where she stood as a reformed Chrysalis stomped after her.

“This day just got a lot more interesting.” Cadence frowned.

“Five bits on Tia getting the higher count.” Luna stated.

“Done. One point for Auntie and one for Chryssy already.”

Trixie growled as Jynx started walking on the other side of Rahs. She wasn't sure how the diamond dog had gotten back through the barrier, but Rahs had noticed her so Trixie couldn't simply just throw her out again.

Trixie was not thrilled as she noted Rahs' reaction to the alpha.

She had seen the look on several of her own fans that were interested in her, but either too shy or too intimidated to try and say anything about their feelings for her.

Rahs was crushing on the larger mutt.

This would not stand, but she needed to get him alone again before she could say anything, mostly too keep from embarrassing herself in front of an audience, and because she expected Jynx or the other one to try something.

Luckily a distraction happened rather quickly as a large black pony like bug soared past them to crash into a building on the other side of the street.

“That's six for Tia.” Luna called.

Rahs stared after the flying changeling, puzzled by it as Trixie poofed Jynx away again, only to be surprised herself as Princess Celestia in damaged battle armor trotted past with bent 9 iron held in her magic.

“Excuse me my little ponies. I'm just playing through.” The Princess said with a smile trotting off after her alicorn bug sized golf ball.

Rahs turned back to say something only to notice Jynx was gone and Saturnia was at his side now.

Trixie was not thrilled that the pegasus was back.

An explosion sent the Princess of the Sun spiraling into the air to crash down on the other side of a building with an irate looking green maned bug pony rushing after her with a snarl on her face.

“Seven for Chryssy.” Cadence called.

“Mother?” Saturnia blinked in surprise, though when Rahs turned to question that statement Saturnia was gone.

“Was that completely necessary?” Jynx asked looking down at Trixie from the other side of the mare.

“How do you keep getting back in here!?” Trixie snapped glaring up at the diamond dog.

“You're not going to win this.” Saturnia stated trotting back up.” I will keep coming back as many times as it takes.

Rahs raised an eyebrow as the three glared at each other.

“What will it take to get you to leave Trixie alone!” Trixie snarled.

“More than just sending us outside this stupid shield of yours.” Saturnia snapped.

“Acting like a story villain and trying to get rid of your competition is not going to work.” Jynx stated.

Rahs blinked looking up at the red dome over the town. That was new. How the heck had he missed that?

“Fine then.... Trixie was trying to be nice, but if you want Trixie to be the bad guy, Trixie will be the bad guy!” Trixie snapped her eyes glowing red.

Rahs wasn't sure why they would want Trixie to be the bad guy, as she did a fairly weak job of it in the auditions for Maleficent.

That thought was quickly derailed as Trixie's horn flared and everything went red.

Mitchell Duel, part 4

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Mitchell Duel,
part 4

[Ponyville]

Chrysalis tore across the town dodging the multitude of statues of Trixie that dotted the town, formed out of rock, old wagons, shrubberies, or whatever else was around and loose. There were just as many of Rahs, though all of his statues were clearly from the point of view of some pony who thought a lot of him.

Chrysalis wasn't concerned with that at the moment. She was more concerned with the massive mallet that Celestia was trying to smash her with. The damn solar princess had brought a bag of props with her.

“GOT YOU!” Celestia cried out bringing the five ton hammer down.

“Thirty four points to Tia.” Luna yawned.

“So thirty four to thirty..... wow I never thought this sort of thing would get boring.”Cadence sighed.

“The golf clubs were amusing, as was the cake bomb, but we really should separate them before Twilight gets back.” Luna added.” We doubt she will be amused at all.”

“Right, you only suggest that because you're winning.” Cadence scoffed.

Luna smiled. “Well that and we want to figure out what Trixie and the others are up to. We have not seen hide nor hair of them since the statues and illusions started popping up.”

“Jynx and Saturnia are currently besieging her tower, the one that used to be town hall.” Pinkie Pie offered popping up between the two with a plate held in her hooves.”Cupcakes? They're fresh.”

Cadence fell over with a yelp of surprise at the pink mares sudden appearance. Luna took a cupcake.

“Pinkie Pie we beseech you again to let us try your families coffee, it might be the last thing we need to gain that portfolio we are after. We have tried and brewed every other roast.” Luna commented.

“I don't think that's a good idea.” Pinkie Pie frowned.

“Please consider it, if thou requires some boon or another and it is in our power to give in payment we shall.” Luna stated.

“Well... I'll think about it.” Pinkie Pie frowned a bit more. “I'll have to ask Ma, she wasn't too happy I gave some to Princess Cadence.”

“I was awake for a month solid. I could see smells.” Cadence shuddered

“ Any way if those two stop fighting I've got cupcakes for them too. I think I'm the only pony left in town. Every pony else is outside the shield.”

“ Every pony ?”Cadence asked.

“Yep. Except me and, well you guys, and the school foals, though they're in the bunker with Miss Cheerilee. And I think Snips and Snails are in here too but they're currently hitched to a chariot without wheels and forced to drag it around. Trixie's still not happy with them.” Pinkie offered.

“I don't like that she is treating some poor foals like that.” Cadence frowned.

“If they didn't skip class they would have been fine.” Pinkie Pie shrugs. “Besides she's not hurting them and they cost her her home and all her stuff last time.”

There was an explosion and a white alicorn was blasted through a building. Pinkie Pie took that as her cue to vanish again.

Luna's horn glowed bright and the building reformed itself as if it had not even been touched.

“Thirty one points.” Cadence added. “Alright I'm officially bored with this. Auntie do you have any idea why these two hate each other so much? I get the sealing them away and killing her father but that can't be everything.”

“Hmm oh that. We have pieced together everything we could. Keep in mind we were not yet born when this feud started. Our mother remarried and had me so we never met Tia's father. But from our understanding Tia and many others thought the changelings were abominations and acted accordingly.”

“I've heard the term but what's an abomination?” Cadence asked.

“An error of magic mostly. Something that defies the rules of the world and has no other purpose but to cause harm and feed off the other races. Windigo, Smooze, Psionic Dragons, Mind Flayers, black licorice, Sirens, and several other oddities that exist or existed to do nothing but destroy. Changelings feed on love and thus seem to be very much like abominations. However they can cross breed with ponies and other races and they have a god, thus making them as their own race and not abominations. At the time though no one knew that and so they sought to destroy the creatures as a whole. The changelings fought back of course, but they never went for a straight up fight. Sabotage, fires, assassinations and replacements. The changlings spurred on witch hunts that had the whole country turning on itself. Many innocents were killed because their neighbors cried changeling. We are not sure what happened in the end, as we were busy trying to fix the Oneiroi, but somehow Tia forced the Changelings together and sealed them inside a volcano for several centuries. They only survived due to Chrysalis feeding them of her own self and keeping all of the eggs in stasis as their parents died off. When she got free she let them all hatch and became like everylings mother. “ Luna explained. “ Both of their actions are considered war crimes in the modern day. Celestia could have found out for sure if she had not taken the crusade personally and spoken with other gods, just as Chrysalis could have avoided being considered an abomination by finding another god willing to talk to her. Had she done that it would have been Tia who was sealed away for trying to wipe out another race, but because Chrysalis did nothing but fight back she was considered an abomination.”

“ And when she got out the first one she talked to was Bleu, got sponsored and then vanished for a while to raise her race back up. All without Tia knowing.” Cadence sighed. “Which was when Bleu and auntie started to fight.”

“ Indeed.” Luna sighed before smiling.” Still Tia is accepting of the Changelings as a whole now as she recalls the witch hunts and would rather not repeat them. However mention Chrysalis..... and this happens.”

The pair watched as Celestia tied Chrysalis to a pole, piled explosives around her and then set them off while cackling like a mad mare.

Luna sighed fixing the new pot hole in the street as Chrysalis Hadoken'ed Celestia through a wall.

Saturnia was getting tired. She had shifted form and come at Trixie from all angles and she couldn't get past that damn unicorns magic. Something was off in this situation. She was the daughter of a god, well two gods unless her mother was bullshiting her, but she doubted it. Though now her father was married to another stallion as his wife, yet mother still was seeing them both....

Filling out Hearth's Warming cards were going to be interesting this year.

What, you didn't think Changeling celebrated that? If that event didn't happened they would have all starved to death. Changelings party harder than ponies on the holidays.

Right now though Saturnia had one goal. She was going to make sure Trixie didn't get a chance to say anything to Rahs, she was starting to realize something about her crush as well, and that was that he was as dense as a rock. But that was okay, she could work with that. She just needed to get the words out to him first.

Maybe she should have asked mother how to do this instead of trying to find the answers in pony romance novels.

Jynx was getting annoyed, she was no closer to saying what she wanted to to Rahs, and her dress was messed up.

Rarity wasn't going to be happy about that.

What had started as a passing interest had become a great deal more than that the harder she had to work at his attention. The training she had been giving him was toning him up nicely and she had thought he looked good before. Not to mention his scent when he got worked up.

No bad, down girl. Focus.

She couldn't let Trixie speak to him first. Like most males he was stupid where it mattered. The first of them who could get through that thick skull of his they were interested was likely the one who would get him.

Why was it so damn hard to say anything?

It was easier to stop the others from saying anything then saying it herself, the timing just had to be right. Why the crap did she decide to play by pony rules. If she played by Diamond Dog rules she'd have just drug him off and not let him go until she had pups.

Probably because she didn't just want sire for pups anymore, she wanted a mate.

Damn Rarity and the pony courtship reading materials she had.

Trixie was mad. She hadn't had a moment alone with Fuzzy not even after going all evil queen on this place. The town hall was well fortified she had illusions of herself all over town with Fuzzy, several of which were giving a particular pair of colts Tartarus, though that was just a side thing.

All this to get herself alone with Fuzzy and yet the bug and the dog still found her.

Yes, finding out Saturnia was a changeling was odd, but not exactly a surprise. Knowing she could see through the Changeling glamor however made many things in her life make more sense.

She really didn't think that many stallions and mares could afford illusions of the quality she was used to seeing everywhere.

Still it had taken her forever to get up the nerve to tell Fuzzy this and she was certainly not going to let those two stop her.

Oh crap they found her again.

“Wow they've been at this a while.” Cadence tilted her head.

“Mine sister or the lovers?” Luna questioned as Celestia flew past blasting fire at a scrambling Chrysalis.

“Both. It's been most of the day, the towns turned into a battle field, not to mention all these illusions of Trixie and Rahs running around. There's even some of Jynx and Saturnia.” Cadence pointed out.

“Likely set up by Trixie to confuse the other two as they are not working together. Still there should have been some...” Luna began before she was cut off by an explosion from town hall that sent all three of Rahs' suitors flying through the air as Celestia slammed into the side of the building. The three crashed to the ground and quickly got back to their hooves finally forgoing civility and attacking each other out right.

“Oh dear.” Luna sighed.

“Well it has been a long day we can't hold this against them.” Cadence sighed tilting her head. “ Huh I expected Jynx to be able to take the others in a physical altercation.”

“Saturnia can change her form, and Trixie pulls her wagon across the country by herself.” Luna offered.” None of them are weak.”

The conversation died out as the shield dome above the town shattered like glass, Luna was reminded of one of her favored wrestlers. Sure costumed murder ballet was fake but burly stallions in spandex, what wasn't to love? .

“Uh oh.” Cadence and Luna offered realizing what the shields destruction and the sound of the train whistle meant.

“WHAT..”

Jynx, Saturnia , and Trixie froze locked in an loop of trying to punch and or strangle each other.

“...THE...”

Celestia and Chrysalis froze, the changeling queen had the solar princess in a head lock , and the solar princess was biting the queen's tail.

“...BUCK...”

“Yay,” Fluttershy cheered as she collected her winnings from the betting pool about what would end this Tuesdays madness.

“...IS GOING ON HERE!?!?!”

The students in the bunker lifted their heads up looking around at the scream. Spike raised his claw.

“Yes Spike?” Miss Cheerilee asked from behind her sandbag desk peering out from underneath her steel combat helmet.

“Permission to go stop my sister from finishing off what's left of Ponyville?”Spike asked.

“Aren't the princesses out there?” Applebloom asked.

“Hence why she needs to be stopped.” Spike added.

“Point.” Applebloom nodded.

“Granted. Good luck and godspeed Spike.” Cheerilee saluted.

Mitchell Duel, part 5

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Mitchell Duel,
part 5

[Ponyville]

The imminent destruction that many in the Ponyville betting pool were waiting for was thankfully not coming.

Despite her tone, Twilight had had a rather good day. After escaping Ponyville she and Applejack had stopped for breakfast in Canterlot at Doughnut Joe's, gotten the farm mare to her doctors appointment on time. As such Applejack was cleared by a specialist. That was good news as now Twilight wouldn't have to listen to Applejack whine about sitting around for that much longer. Though Applejack was still very limited on what she was going to be allowed to do, she wouldn't be forced to do nothing but rest like she had been.

Pinkie Pie was tired of having to hog tie the mare to her bed.

And not in the fun way.

The pair had wandered around Canterlot for a while, had a nice lunch, talked to some of Sweet Apple Acres buyers and checked out a few bookstores. They were going to have tea with Princess Celestia, but it seemed she was out, so they used the time to pick up Spike's comics from his pull box at the store and few things here and there for the others.

After a nice day like that, and a few more doughnuts for the road, they headed back to Ponyville on the afternoon train fully expecting to deal with something.

Seeing the dome as they headed towards town, Applejack and Twilight both agreed that if they ever needed to go to Canterlot for something they would schedule it on a Tuesday from this point on.

Breaking the shield for the train to pass wasn't that hard. There was more power in it than she expected, but Twilight had dealt with worse far more often than she liked.

Of course once inside she couldn't help let out exactly what she was thinking seeing the multitude of illusions, statues and topiary of her brother around.

Twilight let out a small sigh rubbing her temples with a hoof. She should have asked more questions this morning. Though to be honest she didn't really want to know. The towns ingrained mentality of 'let it happen and clean up later' still didn't sit well with her.

Now She was standing with Applejack, Spike, and pretty much the rest of Ponyville, staring at three females who looked like foals caught in the cookie jar, oh and the other three that were clearly brain damaged given they liked her drama prone brother.

Chrysalis had run off the moment she saw Twilight.

Twilight mentally ranked her up a notch in terms of intelligence.

“Princess Celestia....” Twilight began.

“I'm allowed to take a day off every once and a while.” Celestia stated firmly.

“Fair enough, but we were supposed to have tea.... and evidently you left with enough speed to panic half of Canterlot.” Twilight sighed.” Ehh whatever the nobles are your problem.”

Twilight looked at the next one as Celestia let out long held breath in relief.

“Princess Luna....”

“You know our reasoning Twilight. Besides, some pony needed to clean up after mine sister.” Luna offered.

Twilight raised an eyebrow glancing at the few craters and all the fake Rahses about.

“We said we were cleaning up after our sister, not any pony else.” Luna added quickly.

Twilight rolled her eyes before looking at Cadence.

“What? I needed to give your big brother a break sooner or later. I mean we're almost finished with the palace and the rest of the empire isn't quite cleaned up yet for that sort of activity....” Cadence began.

Twilight winced. “ No, stop, stop, don't care TMI, TMI.... ugh”

Moving past the three princesses who seemed quite pleased with themselves for getting away unscathed, Twilight looked at the Three females who seemed to have caused the greatest mess.

“Okay... Trixie I know is after Rahs, and I take Spike was right about you two?” Twilight offered frowning at Jynx recalling her last encounter with diamond dogs. That glare shifted to the still undisguised Saturnia who Twilight thought was very pink for a changeling.

“I find it very hard to believe that there's some one other than Trixie with such a horrid taste in males.” Twilight sighed.

“ There is nothing wrong with Rahs!” Saturnia stated.

“He's my brother , there's plenty wrong with him.” Twilight corrected.

“Trixie agrees there is nothing wrong with Fuzzy he is quite the handsome moon dog.” Trixie stated getting glare from Twilight.

“Okay you know what. Don't care, I've got shopping to unpack. Just clean up this mess and I'm pretty sure every one will agree today never happened.”

“Except Shy, cause she won the pot.” Dash added.

“Right, what ever.. Where even is Rahs?” Twilight asked.

Trixie, Jynx, and Saturnia looked at each other then looked around confused.

Twilight slapped herself in the face with a hoof as Spike laughed.

“Seriously you've been fighting over him all day and you don't even know where he is?” Spike cackled.

About this point a pair of foals struggled into the middle of town pulling a large gold colored block of stone. The pair managed to get almost to the middle of the road in front of the gathered towns folk before both collapsed panting hard as a illusion of an over sized Trixie sat on the block dressed as a queen glared down at them.

“Please great, huff, and powerful Trixie can we stop...” Snips whined.

“Yeah we've been pulling this thing for days...” Snails panted.

Twilight raised an eyebrow looking at Trixie.

“ It's hardly been an hour and if they didn't want to be stuck doing menial labor all day they shouldn't have skipped school.” Trixie stated.

Twilight glanced to Spike who nodded though any more conversation was cut off as Rainbow Dash whistled shrilly.

Also sitting on the slab of stone the colts had been pulling was one of Rarity's fainting couches, reclining on that and eating grapes from a bowl was Rahs.

The whistle from Rainbow Dash brought to everyone in the towns attention what the dark blue furred moon dog was wearing, which wasn't much. Wrapped gold sandals around his rear paws and ankles with matching bracelets and collar around his arms and neck. A thick ornate gold belt hugged with waist with a fine purplish red loincloth that fell to his ankles but left his legs free. His top was covered by what looked like a metal bikini of the same gold and maroon coloration as the belt and loincloth. The outfit some what matched the over sized Trixie illusion staring down at Snips and Snails and was very reminiscent of a certain famous sci-fi Princess.

Jynx, Trixie, and Saturnia stared.

“When did you put him in that?" Jynx asked trying not to drool.

“Trixie did not, but she wishes she had.” Trixie muttered.

“Uhhhhhhh.” Saturnia stated eloquently.

Twilight however was not impressed. "Rahs.. that had better not be my Nightmare night costume!”

Big Mac who was watching on confused, heard that, looked at the costume on Rahs, looked at Twilight picturing how it would fit on her, and promptly excused himself very quickly.

“Bork” Rahs taunted.

“IT DOES NOT LOOK BETTER ON YOU!” Twilight snapped.

“Disagree.“ Rahs' three suitors stated together.

“Take that off right now!!” Twilight shouted.

“SLOWLY!!”came the cry from most of the towns ponies, much to Rainbow Dash's annoyance that her line was being stolen.

Rahs for once seemed a bit embarrassed by that much attention, though he shrugged.

“Bork!”

“What! ? You did not just .. it is not too baggy on your fat ass... !!” Twilight shrieked leaping onto the slab rushing her brother, who wisely stood up and fled. Spike sighed tugging on Pinkie Pie's mane and pulling her head down to his level before reaching into her poofy hair a moment and pulling out a rolled up newspaper and a spray bottle of water before chasing after his siblings.

Every one stared after them as the first explosions started down the street before turning their attention back to the Princesses. Sparkle shenanigans were old news. All three princesses being in town at once was new.

Besides there were bets on the line.

“Well as much fun as this was if you three are serious about courting Rahs you need to tell him how you feel. Today.” Cadence ordered as she trotted up to the three. “If he's anything like Shiny, he's as dense as lead.”

“I also would ask that you accompany me afterwards Miss Lulumoon. I have questions on where you acquired that amulet.” Luna added in.

“I'm sure your pack is in need of supervision given I saw a few of them being chased by a skunk when I was knocked over the edge of the forest.” Celestia pointed out to Jynx.

“And we need to have a talk any way.” Cadence added as she looked to Saturnia.

The three looked at each other clearly about to argue again before Luna sighed. “Trixie speak first , Saturnia then Jynx. Do not interrupt each other, state your feelings and intent to him directly, grand pup or not he is not that bright when it comes to his relationships.”

The three nodded then darted off after the screams of Twilight and the taunting barks of Rahs.

With that done Celestia looked over at the rest of the town who was still staring at them. She took note of some bits changing hooves still.

“Soooo who wants to watch me lower the sun and Luna raise the moon?” Princess Celestia asked.

“Does that mean party?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Sure why not.” Celestia chuckled as Pinkie Pie squeed.

Cadence however was looking over the crowd curiously. For a moment there she thought she felt a rather intense burst of lust from the crowd that didn't come from the trio of Rahs' possible suitors. It wasn't Dash either. Had she missed some one? Scanning the crowd she didn't see any one who looked like they might have a interest in Rahs and the flare was over rather quickly despite how strong it was.

Curious.

[3 fires, 6 explosions, and a angry flock of chickens later ]

Rahs harrumphed, shifting his coat back on over his shoulders before trying to wipe the excess water from his face. Spike had gotten good with that sprayer.

Of course now he was just confused again.

Jynx, Saturnia, and Trixie had shown up before him with Luna and Cadence watching in the background near a bush. Oddly the pair of goddesses, including the bush, had little flags they were waving with the girls names on them.

The three had evidently something planed and it worried Rahs a little, particularly as Trixie approached with other two glaring at her.

Rahs raised a eyebrow as Trixie trotted up to him her horn glowing forming a rather elegant and very familiar yellow dress around herself with illusions. She rose up on her back legs one fore hoof on his chest as she smiled.

The scene was very familiar to him though by this point he had usually been replaced by the pony playing the Prince.

“It is you.” Trixie said softly before kissing his cheek lightly, fire works starting to go off in the air above them all. “ And I do mean that more than just in a scene Fuzzy.”

Rahs blinked as Trixie sighed softly before she moved off with a glare at the other two as she let the illusions fade leaving Rahs wide eyed at the meaning of that.

The two goddesses and the bush all held up score cards, with Luna giving a 10, Cadence a 8 and the bush a 4.

Saturnia sighed frowning a little as she revised her plan , then she smiled shifting back to the blue pegasus form Rahs knew briefly before approaching him.

“Ancient Armour, scene eight page one twenty, line four. “Saturnia stated leaning up to kiss Rahs' other cheek. “And yes, I mean it like that.”

Rahs turned bright red red recalling what that scene was.

Luna was also red and held up a 9, Cadence had a confused 5 held up and the Bush held up an 23 before Cadence smacked it with a wing.

Jynx watched Saturnia and Trixie backed off with a frown. She didn't have any sort of secret thing to pass on like the other two did that confessed their feelings. Still she wasn't going to give up.

She moved up to the still blushing Rahs and smoothed down her ruined dress a bit before looking down at him. The moon dog blinked up at her a moment before she quickly swept his legs out from under him, caught him with an arm, and planted a rather deep kiss right on his lips.

Luna offered a 9 though Cadence and the bush both held up 10s.

Jynx lifted Rahs back up to his paws smiled at him and walked off her scared tail wagging.

The other two glared at the diamond dog Alpha who simply stuck her tongue out at both of them as they left along with the goddesses to deal with their respective issues.

Rahs stood there a moment alone staring blankly into the night one ear half drooped.

“What?”

“HAHAHA suck it !. 'Stop making stupid bets Lyra.' 'Where do you come up with these ideas Lyra?' ' Here to waste more of your bits Lyra?' Who just won the TRIXIE POOL SUCKERS!!!” Lyra cackled dancing past with a very large bag of bits floating in her magic and a clearly long suffering Bon Bon walking beside her as Lyra kept yelling back at the main crowd of the Ponyville betting pool.

“WHAT!?” Rahs demanded of the night.

Author's Note

For those wondering Trixie went with the last scene of beauty and the beast[fitting for her] only without the 'beast' being replaced by the prince.

What the Chapter Saturnia brought up said well... i ain't telling.

And Jynx... yeah .. one of them had to do it.

And now that Rahs knows that there's three females vying for his attention what will he dooo?

find out next time.

Same Puppy Site, Same Puppy story!

Gibbous ponies play, Part 1

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Gibbous ponies play,
Part 1

[The Next morning, Friendship Express]

“… I mean Cloudsdale should have hosted the games one year.” Rainbow Dash sighed leaning back against her seat on the train her wings drooping. “I was super excited as a foal too, but it went to Fillidelphia..... AGAIN! These games only happen every four years and Fillidelphia has had it the last eight times! What the heck are they bribing the inspector with?”

The group of six sat in their own train car as the train chugged northward. Twilight and Big Mac were sharing one seat... not the bench, one seat, Mac looked some what uncomfortable with the purple mare in his lap. Rarity was reclined over another seat nearby, with Rainbow Dash alternating hovering and sitting in various seats as she rambled. Fluttershy sat near by Rarity and Pinkie Pie was pretty much all over the train car.

“A lot of bits and a manor or two according to many of the gossip columns darling, but that is thus far only rumors and speculation.” Rarity added with a wave of her hoof.

“Hmm...is that what they say?” Twilight muttered, her ear twitching as she looked out the window at the snow covered landscape.

The five of them looked over at Twilight, or in Mac's case down at Twilight.

“Care to elaborate on that darling?” Rarity asked.

“Legally I can't.” Twilight sighed turning back to the others.”That case was, however, one of the Day Court sessions I sat in for while I was under Princesses Celestia's tutelage. Suffice to say several ponies were fired, a couple jailed, fines were levied, property seized, and Fillidelphia is banned from hosting the games for no less than forty years. Plus there are a host of new rules and regulations involving the games inspector. To start with no one even knows who it is until they step off the train.”

“Huh.. well then. The Crystal ponies lost a thousand years to that stupid curse...”

“It's not a curse....” Twilight corrected.” There's no such...”

“... There's no way we're going to let them feel the pain of losing out on hosting the games!” Rainbow Dash continued ignoring Twilight's protest as she slapped her hooves together in determination.

“Exactly, we're gonna make sure everything goes off without a hitch and every pony has fun... or is it every pony and buggy now?” Pinkie Pie added.

“There is a limit to what we are allowed to do. And while Princess Celestia would have loved if Applejack came as well to help due to her honesty, she trusts me to make sure we follow the new rules. Posh accommodation and food are allowed, as is checking the local spots to make sure everything is perfect for the tourists and competitors that would be there. Out right bribery, of any sort, is right out. The amount of bits that will be changing hooves for these games is insane and that's before the games even start.” Twilight sighed. “With the Empire just now starting to recover, the games could bring attention to a number of possible pit falls and plights of the Empire that still need to be addressed by Equss as a whole. Not to mention I expect Chrysalis to try and show that changelings and ponies can live together peacefully.”

“Really? I didn't think it had been that long since Chrysalis went to talk to Princess Cadence and your brother.” Fluttershy added.”If changelings are already in the Crystal Empire she certainly works fast.”

Twilight rubbed her temples.” You have NO idea Fluttershy and I'm going to have a word with my brother about that when we get there.”

Big Mac let out a sigh, he wasn't looking forward to finally meeting her big brother directly in a situation where Shining knew who he was and what he was doing. Spike didn't care, Rahs could be easily bribed with a few apples and was pretty much all show on his threats any way just for drama's sake. Twilight Velvet just wanted grand foals and was quite vocal about it, how the mare had gotten a hold of his medical records he had no idea. Night Light was the only other one who worried him. The older stallion had yet to say anything directly beyond trying to stare him down, but there were plenty of rather iffy situations that he had been put in due to Twilight's father. The crossbow flock came to mind readily as well as a few rather intimidating dinners with them. Now he was meeting the over protective older brother, a older brother who had crushed a dragon in his shield and regularly hunted monsters before he got married and moved up here to the Empire. And given what Big Mac had planned for any one who went after Applejack, he couldn't do much about Spike and Applebloom considering...

This was not gonna be fun.

Big Mac glanced at Twilight's suitcase that had been stuffed under one of the seats.

This was mostly, not gonna be fun.

[Crystal Empire]

“So how were we going to work this?” Chrysalis sighed looking over the breakfast table in a smaller side room of the palace. “I've only got a hundred and one in the empire including myself and Saturnia as per the agreement. I understand studying the Heart for a year before I can bring in any more is needed, but it's going to be hard to convince any one that changelings are living in harmony with ponies with such a small number.”

“Most of the changelings are out in the open now and working on rebuilding parts of the city. “ Shining armor added sitting back in his chair on the other side of the table as he munched on some toast. ”While the crystal ponies were a little leery of them at first, the fact that they are trying to help and that no one really remembers anything but old mares tales about them is helping quite a lot. Generally they've been accepted save a few hide bound ones here and there and a few of the more stubborn Heart Guard.”

“But is it enough to show what's needed? And better still is it going to cause issues with the games inspector.” Chrysalis sighed. “If I would have known plan A and B would have come back to bite me like this when something better came along I would have done things differently.”

“Hind sight is twenty twenty.” Cadence offered taking a sip of tea, she had avoided coffee like it was a venomous snake since the Empire had been reclaimed. “Given the games are supposed to showcase how ponies live in harmony the changelings here shouldn't be any issue. I plan to have Saturnia with me when I speak with the inspector as well.”

“If you can manage to keep her awake during the day.” Chrysalis rolled her eyes.

“She's trying to match Rahs' sleep schedule.” Shining offered. “ Granted she needs to sleep nearly all the time to pull that off.”

“Still that's probably the better plan. I'm not well liked in Canterlot.” Chrysalis sighed.

“Neither are my siblings.” Shining chuckled.” But I've got to over see the basic running of everything and Cadence has to get gussied up for the meeting. That means you get the job of helping my sister and her friends.”

“Okay full disclosure sweet flanks, your sister scares the crap out of me, and I regularly fight Celestia to the death.” Chrysalis added.

“Which is why you should try to make friends.” Cadence smirked. ”Besides if I let Shiny be their point of contact he'd spend the whole time trying to threaten Big Mac away from dating her.”

“Not the whole time.” Shining Armor protested getting a halfhearted glare from both the mares.

“At any rate you can try to guide her to heavier concentrations of changelings working with the crystal ponies. I'd suggest bringing the games inspector to many of the rebuilt areas and perhaps one of Sunburst's classes. Hosting the games here next year would be a great boost to the economy as well as to the morale of the empire as a whole.” Cadence finished. “So lets try to make sure everything goes well today.”

Author's Note

I forgot to do this before.

Gibbous (of the moon) having the observable illuminated part greater than a semicircle and less than a circle.

Gibbous ponies play, Part 2, Interlude

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Gibbous ponies play,
Part 2,
Interlude

[Canterlot, mid afternoon]

Trixie let out a small sigh as she sat back in the surprisingly comfortable chair in the meeting room she was currently in. She wasn't fond of being stuck in one place, least of all Canterlot, but she had little choice. It had been a month since the whole mess with Ponyville and when Princess Luna demanded she come back with her to Canterlot, Trixie expected a whole lot more trouble than she had really gotten into. She gave up the name and the price she had paid for the alicorn amulet and was not surprised to be forced to give it up. She was however surprised that she was reimbursed for the purchase.

She had been put in a guest room in the palace and a number of psychologists, doctors, and high level mana experts had come in to talk with her and run a few diagnostics.

It was a lot more invasive than Trixie liked, but it did mean she wouldn't need a physical for a while. She had been hoping to spend the winter months when she couldn't travel in Ponyville, snuggling with Fuzzy by a warm fire.... but it seemed Princess Luna and Princess Cadence were rather intent on letting Fuzzy figure things out on his own without any of them trying to guide him one way or another. Saturnia was up in the Crystal Empire, and Jynx was told to stay out of Ponyville for a bit.

To tell the truth, she expected the bug to sneak out of the Crystal Empire before she thought Jynx would try anything when she was told not to. Of the two she was more comfortable with the massive diamond dog, she didn't trust the bug at all. Jynx at least tried to play fair.

Still she couldn't complain, she was allowed to wander about, though a Guard or maid was always with her with an itinerary. Seems Celestia's school wanted to ask her a lot of questions for some reason. Meals were covered and were some of the best she ever had, the room was rather plush and comfortable and far more ritzy than she was used to, it was more like a vacation than a prison setting.

She wasn't the only 'guest' either but the black furred unicorn that she had seen once or twice was surrounded by Guards and had a number of suppressor rings on his horn. These weren't the standard guards either. Unlike the palace guard their armor and weapons looked well used rather than polished. She had asked about it and was told the unicorn was a private matter, but the guards were from the Six Sixty Sixth. They were the only ones not intimidated by the black unicorn.

Trixie had taken some time to see her aunt, watched a few shows and opted to sign up for a Hearths Warming play this year just to keep busy. She was hoping to sign up for one that Fuzzy would also be in, but usually he had no luck getting into Hearths Warming pageants as they tended to only want ponies.

Rather speciest to be honest, but understandable given Hearths Warming was a pony tradition after all.

Still this meant she would be close enough to Rahs to actually visit him for Hearths Warming, and given it was a Pony Holiday she wouldn't have to worry about Jynx or the bug. She had missed his birthday this year, but this....

Plans were forming in her mind when Princess Luna came into the small meeting room Trixie was sitting in.

Trixie stood up rather quickly to bow only to have it waved off.” None of that, this is not an official thing. We have simply come to explain a few things and garner thine opinion of it.” Princess Luna placated drawing out a larger chair and taking a seat.” Do you know why we have kept you in Canterlot?”

“Umm because Trixie found an item she wasn't supposed to?” Trixie added slipping into her stage persona again before the Princess, it was a habit that was rather hard to break when she was put on the spot for anything.

“The amulets were never considered illegal, before now any way. Though we are surprised one was even found to be used. What we are concerned with is the now. Th... you once were successfully enrolled in my sisters school?”

“Um yes... though Trixie dropped out after … some incidents.....” Trixie sighed unfortunately recalling her time in the school. Her parents had put together the bits to get her into a nicer school than she normally would have. Trixie was a some what shy introvert at the time and she had been bullied relentlessly until she snapped and fought back. She was left alone for a few weeks after each outburst before the bullies started again, so Trixie stopped trying to hold back. It resulted in her getting beaten up more often than not and labeled a problem foal by the faculty. Eventually it had been too much and she refused to go any more. Her parents had pulled her out of school and returned to the road where they met bringing her along with them.

“We have read the notes on those and we wondered how Tia had not noticed the pattern before that point. Still the issue is not that you left, but that you were admitted to begin with. We have read the transcript of your entrance exam. T.. you managed to convince all three judges, highly trained mages in fact, for a full ten minuets that you had successfully hatched the dragon egg, before the strain of the illusion became too much for you?”

“Trixie recalls that. She thought it was just a painted rock at first, one of those classic stories of 'How will you handle an impossible task'. When Trixie saw it though she knew it was a real dragon egg. She had seen a few when she was younger when she visited her great grandfather with her grandmother.”

“Beatrix Lulumoon was your Grandmother, you were named after her? A Kirin Nox Cal?” Luna asked.

“She wasn't a Nox Cal, her father, Trixie's great grandfather, was... or maybe still is a dragon. Trixie hasn't had much contact with that side of the family after Trixie's grandmother passed.”

“We see, continue.”

“Well when Trixie saw it was a dragon egg we knew how to hatch it , but Trixie didn't think Trixie had the power to mimic a mother dragons breath weapon, nor a suitable volcano nearby so Trixie decided to focus on what she knew she was good at. Illusions. Trixie recalled seeing some of her distant cousins hatch when she was little so Trixie poured on the power, and mimicked that. The image we used was of Trixie's cousin Feldspar hatching.”Trixie sighed. “Trixie remembers his scales being the same color as her fur and thought he was cute. At least until he tried to eat Trixie.”

“The report stated that you managed not only to fool the observers sight and hearing, but their noses and hooves when they touched the illusionary dragon as well. One of them reported they could taste the brimstone of the egg hatching in the air.”

“Trixie does not recall all that.”

“Trixie, thee managed an illusion that fooled six senses of unicorns trained to know if they were being fooled with magic.”Luna offered. “We have seen some of your shows Trixie, we have not seen anything like what was in these reports.....”

“Oh well perhaps it was a surge. Trixie got a few of those as a foal....”

“.... until you sought Rahs in Ponyville. Several of your illusions of Rahs and his other suitors were fully fleshed out like that with sound, smell, touch, and magic sensitivity. We feel that if your theatrics hadn't drawn them to you in the town hall Saturnia and Jynx might not have been able to find you. You had two colts pulling a slab of stone that didn't exist that Rahs, a magic eater, was sitting atop of eating illusionary grapes.”

“Trixie made the grapes to keep him occupied until she got rid of the other two, Trixie had no idea where he ran off to with the bowl until he was pulled up by the colts.”

“Trixie you fooled reality into making a object that could be used as a solid object. Certainly it was a basic block but that is still incredible.” Luna added.

“Trixie only managed that with the amulet, nothing was real, not even the shield.”

“We disagree. The amulet might have opened up unused pathways of mana, but it does not give you more than you can tap into.” Luna offered.

Trixie considered that a moment before sighing.

“Trixie believes you are mistaken Princess. Trixie is just a show mare with a odd crush..”

“Trixie we have spoke with our sister and examined the records of those who were in that years class. Moon Dancer created a low power shield that repels and hides from gods. It can hide an entire city block from all senses. Minuette made a number of time spells, one of which White showed up to intervene with before taking the scroll she wrote the formula down on, he then told her that if she came up with any more to please keep them to herself as he didn't want to have go back in time to force her father to wear a condom. Lyra regularly plays to a sold out crowd of enraptured listeners and if her mare friend is to be believed she has some sort of precognitive ability. Twinkle Shine is responsible for six new cures for previously incurable sicknesses, the mare has discovered how to give sight back to ponies who have lost their eyes with a topical cream that allows them to 'see' through their skin. Lemon Hearts has managed to create a recipe for a simple flat bread that a piece the smaller than your hoof can feed a stallion for a week, and it tastes divine. Twilight is well... you know Twilight.”Luna considered. “In the end no pony who was in the same class as Twilight and her brothers is in any way 'normal' or 'just' an anything.”

“Trixie was never in Twilight's class. Trixie dropped out...”Trixie protested.

“And? You were going to be and that seems to be what mattered. All of the ponies of that year are beyond extraordinary even if what they chose to do with their lives winds up ordinary.”Luna offered.” Moon Dancer is a researcher and teacher, Lyra lives in Ponyville well below her actual means as a musician just to help in her mare friends candy store. Minuette is a dentist, something she always wanted to be. Twinkle Shine is head researcher in her own pharmaceutical business. Twilight is a librarian. Lemon Hearts is the head cook of Canterlot Castle.... granted that was clearly going to happen the moment Tia tasted her angel food cake..... remind us to have her brew the Shoggoths milk if Pinkie ever gives us the recipe.” Luna considered.

“What?” Trixie questioned.

“Never mind. The point is just because you became a show mare does not mean you do not have a great deal of potential. The amulet simply showed you what you could do if you were properly trained.” Luna added smiling to herself that she had managed this long without falling back into anything other than the royal we. Honestly modern language with all the slang was still aggravating.

“Trixie is not sure where you are going with this.” Trixie added finally.

“Simple. We wish to train you as our apprentice as Tia has done with Twilight Sparkle.... only with much less chess mastering and pointless random tests.” Luna smiled.

Trixie stared a moment but shook her head. “We thank you for the offer Princess but.....”

“Need we remind you that the competitors for our grand pups heart are the child of a goddess and a Alpha of a pack of diamond dogs whose numbers seem to be growing considerably lately.” Luna added trying a different angle. “One would think thee would want every advantage thee can get.”

Trixie paused closing her mouth clearly reconsidering the offer.

“As Trixie said Princess, we thank you for the offer and the humble and thankful Trixie accepts.” Trixie added.

Luna smiled. She would win that bet with Cadence and Chrysalis yet.

Author's Note

A brief interlude to cover what was going on with some one not in the Crystal empire.

Gibbous ponies play, Part 3

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Gibbous ponies play,
Part 3

[Crystal Empire, Train station, mid morning, Saturday ]

“Whelp.. I'm blind.”Twilight frowned squinting her eyes as the sunlight glinted off the spires and buildings of the empire making the whole place shine like a beacon in the sunlight.

“Oh pish posh darling, it's gorgeous.” Rarity cooed looking over everything, her eyes sparkling behind her over sized sun glasses..

“It is very pretty.” Fluttershy agreed.”Every pony seems to be working hard to clean up.”

“Every changeling too.”Rainbow Dash considered, noting a small number of them flitting about.

“And the shield around the empire is neat. Look look!” Pinkie Pie giggled hopping through the edge of the barrier near the train station into the snow.” I'm in winter.”

She hopped back across.

“I'm in Spring!”

“Winter. Spring. Winter. Spring. “ Pinkie shouted happily hopping between one side of the protective shield and the other. “I'm in both!! Weeeee!”

“Seems every pony is excited over this. Like they should be.” Rainbow Dash nodded sagely before getting plastered in the back of the head with a snowball. She whirled, glaring at Pinkie who was pretending to be innocent only for Dash to tackle the pink mare back out into a snow drift.

“Oh dear. Don't play too rough we still have a job to do.”Fluttershy chided.

Big Mac's gaze was directed at the top of Buckinghowlite Palace which still hadn't been rebuilt. It was odd seeing the rest of the Apple families new barn where it was supposed to be. He mentally calculated the distance and let out a small whistle. It was one thing to hear how far it was blown and a whole nother to take the trip himself.

“Alright so we need to meet Cadence in a salon on the corner of Geode and Quartz ave to find out what she wants us to do.“ Twilight stated.

“It's her!” Called a voice.

“What?” Twilight asked before she was suddenly swarmed with a crowd of crystal ponies all shouting and yammering at once to her as they surrounded her trying to get closer to one of their heroes.

The others stared a moment. Rarity smirked at the crowd of followers Twilight had here and more seemed to be coming as word got around. Both she and Dash were a bit jealous at the popularity. Pinkie thought it was amusing, though Fluttershy was staying behind Pinkie away from the growing crowd.

Big Mac however frowned at the massive crowd for two reasons.

The first was that he heard quite a number of salacious propositions from the gathered ponies and that didn't sit will with him. He didn't think Twi would take any pony up on them, but the offers were some what annoying.

The second reason was this was a large unknown crowd pressing in on Twilight from out of no where and for that reason he started walking forward into the gathering throng.

A few of the crystal ponies turned to glare at the pony shoving his way past them, though all of them had to look up to do so and promptly decided perhaps they would let the rudeness slide, just this once.

By the time he got to Twilight she was already wide eyed and starting to panic, he shoved past the last couple of crystal ponies not even trying to be gentle and swung her up onto his back where she promptly clamped her fore hooves around his neck burying her face in his mane.

The crowd blinked a little as they all focused on the large red stallion that now had one of their heroes on his back.

Big Mac glared back at them and in a tone that dared one of them to argue spoke one word.

“GIT.”

There was a momentary standoff where the crowd stared at the stallion. A standoff that was broken by the sound of cracking crystal. Looking down, the crowd took note that the crystal road they had been standing on now had a large number of spider web cracks in it all originating from one of Big Mac's hooves where he had stomped, lightly, on the ground to get his point across.

The crowd promptly 'got'.

“So then shall we go meet Princess Cadence?” stated Rarity taking the lead since Twilight was out of commission for a bit.

[Ruby's Spa]

“I told them to leave her be.” Cadence sighed. “I blame Rahs for this. I said the same thing about him and when they ignored me then, he reveled in the attention he got. It's actually a good thing Spike isn't here. While you fought Sombra and I caught the heart, every one saw your brothers take out a threat each. Spike being a baby dragon is the most popular Sparkle in the Crystal Empire, with Shining a close second.”

“Seriously? Twilight blew up the top of the tower taking out Sombra and she's what third?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Fifth... after me....” Cadence sighed.

“Popularity wasn't the point.” Twilight grumbled.

The Empress of the Crystal Empire sighed softly brushing a wing over her sister in laws back.

“It's fine.. I'm fine... It's just.... it's been a while since I've had a moment like that.” Twilight let out a long sigh. “I've been in crowds in Ponyville I've not had a panic attack since Iron Will's presentation and that was minor.”

“That's because I made sure you knew everyone in town. You can't be nervous in a crowd if they are all your friends.” Pinkie Pie chimed in.

“While I don't know if that really helps, it certainly doesn't hurt.” Twilight chuckled still clinging to Big Mac much to Cadence's amusement.

“Well we have a few hours before the games inspector gets here. Feel free to make use of the Spa. Anything you want it will be taken care of while I get my ceremonial headdress figured out.” Cadence offered.

“Ceremonial Headdress!?!” Rarity questioned, suddenly zipping over from where she was admiring all the well it was hard to tell what she 'wasn't' admiring in this place.

“Yes, it was tradition for the Crystal Empress to have certain Crystals braided in her mane when meeting important guests. A few of our advisers have suggested I try to get it done before greeting the Games Inspector. The problem is it was a specialty position passed down from master to apprentice, and the last one who knew the technique didn't survive Solomon's rule. So we've pretty much been trying to figure it out based on old notes and a few images in books we've found.”Cadence stated. “ Our advisers think it would also show the Crystal Ponies that we are taking this seriously so they give their all for it.”

Rarity looked over the drawings that had been copied then to the crystals that would be used. “Hmm I suppose I could give it a shot if you like darling. I think I see how all this would go together.” Rarity frowned poking the image with a hoof. “ It looks woven in... “

“Oh. really? That would be great Rarity. All the stylists here are reluctant to try. Despite my telling them it would be fine if they made a mistake, most of them are still too skittish to attempt it.” Cadence smiled.

“Working on the hair of royalty for such an auspicious occasion? How could I pass?” Rarity smiled.” I will give it everything I've got. Fluttershy dear would you mind assisting me in this?”

“Oh really? Well if you want.” Fluttershy smiled running her hoof over one of the local cats that she had brought into the area that had chosen to live at the spa.

“Well good we have several hours before the games inspector is supposed to be here so there's plenty of time to plan out how we are going to do this.” Twilight let out a long breath.

“Sorry Twilight if I'm going to be stuck here getting my hair done I can't do much to help and still keep the Empire running smoothly. Plus I still haven't nailed down the ancient greeting yet...” bah weep something something...” Cadence frowned.

“Ba weep granna weep ninny bong.” Pinkie chimed in.

“Right that.“

“So is Shining going to help us?” Twilight asked.

“He's currently busy checking over the security and construction of a number of important things such as the stadium itself. “ Cadence frowned.

“So wait if you're not helping, and Shinings not helping us .. that means...” Twilight flinched as the doors burst open.

Standing there was a black carapaced changeling queen that loomed as a bolt of lightning arced through the sky right behind her with a booming crack of thunder that shook the crystal spa.

The effect might have been perfectly dramatic or even terrifying to witness, if the changeling queen hadn't screamed like a filly at the boom, and dove through the door, crashing down behind the spas check in counter.

“I'm sensing a trend.” Pinkie Pie offered.

“Sorry!” called a voice from outside.

“Wait a tick, I know that voice!” Rainbow Dash stated before she darted over to the door looking up at the sky. “ Thunderlane!? What the crap are you doing here!?”

“Giving me a complex! Chrysalis hissed.

“Oh hey Dash. Fireball sent me up here cause you were busy and she heard they needed some help with the weather.” Thunderlane called down from the cloud.

“And she sent 'you'!?” Dash screamed back.

“Well yeah. My little brother Rumble wanted to see the Crystal Empire and it was on some pony elses bit so sure.” Thunderlane shrugged. ”It's just pushing some clouds out of the dome...”

“No you idiot, this is a enclosed biosphere with it's own weather patterns that go against the outside of the dome if you push the clouds in here out it won't rain or anything here until the factory is working again and the egg heads at the Weather Bureau haven't even figured out how to turn it on yet. We can't even bring in normal clouds because the shield keeps them out!”

“Oh....”

“How many did you push out?”

“Well this is the last one sooo..... all of them.”

“GAH! We need to go get those back inside the shield!”

“But it's cold out there.” Thunderlane protested.

“Don't give me that, you screwed up, you fix it..... Crap . Twilight I gotta go before this idiot screws up more. I swear if he wasn't dating Fireball I'd freaking....” Dash made a choking motion with her hooves before throwing her hooves into the air and taking off shouting orders to the other scattered weather ponies.

“Lovely another problem.” Chrysalis grumbled climbing out from behind the check in stand.

“What are YOU doing here!?” Pinkie Pie growled popping up nose to nose with the Changeling Queen, glaring at her. Chrysalis yelped falling back over her self and crashing back behind the check in stand.

“What the pfft... I live here!” Chrysalis snapped.

“In the spa?” Pinkie Pie questioned. “Wow that would explain why there was a spa under Canterlot...”

“Not the spa the... you know what never mind.... Cady the games inspector is almost here. She took an earlier train than we were told.” Chrysalis explained.

“How earlier?” Cadence flinched.

“According to what I've heard it's just crossed into the valley and is slowing down to enter the dome.” Chrysalis offered trying to pull a towel away from her leg that had some how gotten caught up on the limbs holes when she fell behind the counter.

“I'm fairly sure this is a weave.” Rarity muttered looking at a image then another.” Though this mare might just have long hair....”

“I think that's her mane color at least.” Fluttershy pointed out.

“There's also a small problem with the welcome party.” Chrysalis sighed.

“What now?” Cadence grumbled.

“The posh group you hired on sun butts word to cater that was supposed to be here this morning canceled, unforeseen illness.” Chrysalis sighed. “We can get a couple of the palace chefs, but the best ones... well you know. No one wanted to be a cook around Solomon and Sombra.”

“I've lived on more sandwiches since I came here...” Cadence sighed.

“Ooh, ooh! I do parties!” Pinkie Pie grinned.

“Fancy parties?” Chrysalis asked.

“Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabye” Pinkie Pie grinned.

“Ehh good enough. We're still low on a number of dietary staples so don't over do it. Small fancy party.... and no coffee.”Cadence shuddered. “The staff in the kitchen will help as they can. It's being set up in the main ballroom, the staff will show you the way.”

“Okie doki loki!” Pinkie Pie chimed and zipped off in a puff of smoke.

“Well this is not going well already.” Twilight sighed.

“Sorry Twilight, I didn't expect this to be that big of a problem.” Cadence offered.

“It's fine... no plan survives after all.” Twilight let out another long sigh looking up at Chrysalis. “So I guess it's just you, me, and Big Mac.”

“No need to sound so thrilled.” Chrysalis offered.

“So do we have a description of this inspector?” Twilight asked.

“No, the only message I got from a infiltrator was that she had a flower print suitcase. “ Chrysalis sighed.

“That's it?”

“Look I found out she's getting here early and that it's a she, her names Harshwhinny and that she has a flower print suitcase. And I got all that while this mare is TRYING to hide who she is.” Chrysalis grumbled. “I think I'm doing fairly well for only getting roped into this yesterday, thank you very much.”

“Well you got a name so that's at least a start.” Twilight grumbled.

“I'd like to see you do better....” Chrysalis grumbled back.

“Girls... play nice. You need to work together here, or at least don't be openly hostile..... Big Mac do you think you can keep them in line” Cadence asked.

Big Mac looked back at the two who were still glaring at each other before looking back to Cadence and shrugging.

Gibbous ponies play, Part 4, Interlude 2

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Gibbous ponies play,
Part 4,
Interlude 2

[ Canterlot ]

A brown furred stallion sat back in a chair, his horn glowing lightly as he held up a clipboard before him in his magic. A quill scratching lightly on the paper as he took notes. His blue eyes looked over the top of his glasses at the patient laying on the light gray couch to his left, the entire room done in warm and neutral colors, the combinations of colors having a number of studies done. His cutie mark reflected this showing a soft gray outline of a pony head with a puzzle piece seemingly missing from the silhouette.

They had had a number of sessions and while things had not started out well, patience and understanding had won out, though the patient had yet to open up fully, they at least were talking most sessions.

This ones issues ran deep, trust issues, anger issues, a bit of megalomania, though the latter was slowly being repressed, he retained the 'better than thou' attitude. Dr. Katts had learned to speak with a respectful tone when conversing with him, as such he had yet to have any sort of violent confrontation with his patient, particularly since he required the stallions Guards to remain outside.

“And how are you doing today sir?” Dr. Katts offered to start with.

“Hmmmph..” was the reply.

It wasn't much of a surprise in truth, getting this one to say much of anything had been tricky. But it had been a wealth of information. Initially he almost diagnosed him with Palomino Pan syndrome, though it turned out not to be the case. He had no desire to remain a child, despite the speed in which he had professed to have grown up and his lack of a cutie mark, usually those were signs of such syndrome.

“ Have you been allowed to see the gardens yet? I always find them rather nice this time of year. I never knew so many flowers still bloomed in the winter.” Dr. Katts continued wondering if this was another day where he would be doing all the talking.

“I have. Quite a number of them I am familiar with from my home, but botany was never something that interested me.”

This was good.

“I see. You said before you were interested in enchanting and creation magic. Have any of the restraints been lifted on that yet?”

“No.”

“I'll see if I can't speak with some pony in allowing you at least the time to design something even if they won't allow you to implement it. It's good to do something you enjoy every once and a while. I've been told you've spent a lot of time in the library, though your reading selection seems a little odd to me.”

“It is mostly for the information. Much of the modern slang and manners of speech can be found in the short stories and modern books as well as the proper ways to use them. Given the one who was to teach me these things is both incompetent and far too easily intimidated. I found myself needing to learn on my own.”

“And you are doing quite well with it as well.”

“Do not patronize me.”

“I am not. In such a short time you have a better grasp of the modern language than... 'She' does and that is after classes for the last few years..... is that why you put in the effort. To be better than 'her'?”

“Hmmph.”

Dr. Katts smiled, though he knew not to press further. She was one of this patients hot issues. Really he had never seen a case quite like this, but many of the issues were ones he had worked with before, though not on this scale.

“I forgot to ask last time, but did everything arrive like it should?”

“Surprisingly yes. I expected something to be destroyed, or taken as some sort of trophy by the winners, but no. that was everything I recall.”

“Princess Celestia was quiet insistent. While I'm sure they made sure to check everything it is good nothings missing.” Dr. Katts offered.” Would you like to discuss why you asked for these items?”

The patient was silent a moment though he spoke before Dr. Katts could.

“There was one point in my life where I was optimistic, where I thought I was cared for and everything was going to go well. A calm time before everything went down hill at an alarming rate. That room... everything in it was the only place I felt any sort of security , any control of my life. Fleeting as it was. I spent far too much time in there trying to recall that feeling as my empire was torn down around me. It's where I was when the trap was sprung. I woke up confused and disoriented with only the pull of a source of power I knew to guide me and when I saw it I remembered and well..... you know the rest. I'm sure my aunt told you...”

“You consider her your aunt now?”

The stallion on the couch tensed.

“.... She.... has been insistent. Logically I cannot blame her for what she did. Not like I can the other two... Emotionally however.” He trailed off.

“We often do not have any say on what we feel, no matter how hardened we make ourselves. It is good you are making some connections though. This is a strange new world for you. It may be hard to find your place but there are those looking to help you.”

“Hmmph.”

“Was there anything else you would like to share?”

“No, no doctor. I do not think there is today. I have things to think about however.”

“Shall I see you again next week then?”

“Yes. We can't have you missing your paycheck.”

“I'm on salary sir. I get paid whether I see any one in a week or not, but I do take my job seriously and I do wish to help those who I can.”

“Hmmph.”

“Until next week then. If you wish to talk at any time before that I can most certainly make the time to do so.” Dr. Katts offered.

The stallion rose and stared at him a moment before nodding.

“Thank you for your time then doctor.” Sombra offered back heading out the door to the waiting guards.

Author's Note

Another small interlude to show what another pony has going on with them. Should be one more before this episode is done.

Gibbous ponies play, Part 5

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Gibbous ponies play,
Part 5

[Crystal Empire.]

Everything went perfectly.

No, seriously.

Twilight, Chrysalis and Big Mac went to the train station to meet Miss Harshwhinny. Twilight and Chrysalis spent the time getting on each others nerves, there was a moment where Twilight was going to blast her for giving to much information on her relationship with Cadence and Shining Armor, though Big Mac kept the peace.

The two separated to look for the mare with the floral print suitcase.

Mac made a sign with Harshwhinny's name on it and stood near the platform.

The games inspector came to him.

Chrysalis and Twilight found six other mares with floral print suitcases.

After that it was all business. Twilight could answer anything Harshwhinny asked about the Crystal Empire, and Chrysalis could show her anything she wanted to see having learned the lay out of the Empire almost perfectly given her changelings had scouted every inch of the place for any more traps, and places for a hive.

Rainbow Dash managed to get the weather under control and most of the missing clouds back into the dome. Thunderlane only managed to set off a thundercloud one more time in the process.

Against all odds Rarity and Fluttershy managed to make Cadence's hair look perfect for the meeting. Granted Rarity had to magically hold several of the gems in place the whole time from behind a curtain, but it still worked.

Pinkie Pie.... well. It was a party, though Pinkie Pie's idea of fancy was using the good plates for the cupcakes. Thankfully, it being over the top, but not super fancy seemed to work for Miss Harshwhinny.

When all was said and done Miss Harshwhinny pointed out that while the place was not suitable just yet, by the times the games would be held it could be. The idea that Ponies, Crystal Ponies, Changelings, Diamond Dogs, and a few Griffons were working together to restore the Empire said more for what the games stood for than any number of fancy stadiums.

In the end, with Rarity holding her hair still, Empress Cadence made the announcement from the palace balcony that the Crystal Empire would host the next Equestrian games.

[Buckinghowlite palace, early evening.]

Twilight let out a long sigh and settled back into a plush chair. Big Mac was some where avoiding Shining Armor who was currently hunting for him, and all the other girls were busy. It finally gave Twilight a chance to relax after today's nonsense.

“Hello.”

That only lasted so long.

“Yes?” Twilight sighed turning her head to look over the mare standing nearby.

Twilight regarded her a moment thinking she had seen her some where before. The pegasus mares coat was a coral coloration similar to the Heart Guard's armor. Her long mane was black but streaked with green and seemed to have been braided heavily, the same as her tail. She looked rather similar to Cadence in her body shape though she was much smaller. The cutie-mark was a drama mask pattern with a wreath of green flame around it.

It took Twilight a second before she recognized her.

“What do you want Saturnia?” Twilight asked with a small frown. She really didn't have anything against the mare, she just didn't think she was that bright for wanting Rahs.

“Errr right sorry to bother you but...”

“You want to ask me if it's alright if you try to date Rahs?” Twilight sighed.

“Err yes.”Saturnia blinked.

“Well I have no plans to stop any one from trying, he's a grown dog he can decide this sort of thing for himself.” Twilight sighed. “That said... If you try anything funny, or are looking to take advantage of him... it will not be words we will be having. Understand?”

Saturnia flinched. “ Perfectly, father.., I mean Cadence, said I could as well... evidently she and Princess Luna are watching over this.”

“Of course they are.” Twilight sighed before her ears perked up and she squinted her eyes at the changeling.” Wait, what were you saying? Did you just call Cadence father?”

“Errr..... maybe?”

“Explain.” Twilight stated flatly.

“Well when a mommy alicorn and a mommy changeling decide to get their freak on, and the mommy alicorn decides to get a little more freaky and cast a spell to grow some parts that normally are only on stallions ….” Saturnia began before Twilight cut her off.

“I really did not need to know that.” Twilight shuddered.

“How do you think I feel? I was twelve when I first asked who my sire was.” Saturnia sighed.

“Your mother is decidedly something else.” Twilight grumbled.

“You have no idea. You've only known her for a couple of months, I've been dealing with her for forty three years....”

“You're forty three? Twilight blinks.

“Child of a goddess. Age is barely a number, and most of that has been in hiding from Princess Celestia any way.” Saturnia explained.

“Fair enough.” Twilight shrugged. “ So why are you trying to date your uncle any way?”

“My what?”

“Rahs. With Shining married to you father..... I have no clue how I'm going to process that, Rahs is your uncle.” Twilight offered.

Saturnia's eyes widened at that and her ears drooped. Twilight blinked recognizing the signs of a melt down, she could practically hear the internal screaming. She found it rather odd to see this sort of thing from this side, and found it even stranger that she seemed to have caused it.

“By the stars our grubs would be hideously deformed freaks!”

“They would be any way... have you seen my brother?” Twilight snarks.

“Of course.... I met Twilight Velvet last week when she came to visit and she brought the photo album, he was adorable when he was little...”Saturnia cooed

“Oh shards.... Does mom carry that thing around with her now?” Twilight face hoofed.

“But he's my uncle.......?” Saturnia whined.

“Oh relax it's not by blood even if you some how wound up being Shining's foal.... shards I don't want to think about that either. Look if you want to go after that idiot and Cadence gave it the green light that means there must be some demented sort of love there, so feel free. “ Twilight ranted. “That said I would very much prefer if we did not have another brawl like what happened last time out of Ponyville.”

“That was mostly Trixie's fault.” Saturnia pointed out.

“Don't care.”

“Errr right... okay..”

“And stop screwing with the mail!” Twilight ordered causing Saturnia to flinch.

“Why would....”

“Spike already found out Bees is a changeling and we've been missing mail since he started work at the post office. Even Rahs could put two and two together eventually. Also Ditzy the mail mare has noticed and given she's dating the Captain of the Ponyville Guard do you really want an investigation?”

Saturnia swallowed.”Right. I'm.... gonna go now....”

“I suppose I will see you around since you live in Ponyville. Oh also, Pinkie Pie.”Twilight smiled.

“Pinkie Pie?” Saturnia questioned.

“Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees?” Pinkie Pie asked suddenly standing next to Saturnia. The changeling mare yelped and lept to the side falling over the coffee table there.

“Saturnia, this is Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie, this is the mare who's been avoiding you for the last year who lives in Ponyville.

Pinkie Pie let out a loud startled gasp.

“Oh my gosh , I've got to do your welcome to Ponyville party and then your congratulations on hiding from me for a year and a happy birthday party cause I missed at least one, oh but what if I missed two, I better throw another party to be sure...” Pinkie Pie grabbed Saturnia as she was trying to slink out the door hugging her in a death grip.

“You are an evil mare.” Saturnia dead panned staring at the grinning Twilight.

“I can't play the scary older sister to Spike, as I like Applebloom and Big Mac won't let me, Nor can I do that to Shining as Cadence is one of my first friends. “ Twilight grinned wider.” Any one after Rahs however is fair game.”

“We need to start planning these parties STAT. No ones been able to beat me in hide and seek for this long. OOHH we can have a hide and seek champion party.” Pinkie Pie squeed dragging the flailing pegasus mare off.

Twilight relaxed again with a small smirk. She had nothing against any of the girls after Rahs, but if she could keep the town property values from tanking any more she'd probably get a medal from the mayor.

“Sounds like you're having fun.” a deep voice offered as the heavy thud of hooves as Big Mac slipped into the room.

“Eeyup.” Twilight grinned wider as Mac Chuckled.

“I see you lost my brother.” Twilight giggled.

“One ah mai cousins is a Heart Guard here. Got her tah send him on a wild goose chase.” Big Mac smiled.

“Next time just ask and I should be able to teleport you out of his reach. “ Twilight smiled. “Thanks for putting up with me today. I figure I was close to blowing it a few times when Chrysalis got under my skin.”

“Eeyup...”

“You're not supposed to agree with me like that.” Twilight laughed as Big Mac leaned over the back of the couch nuzzling her neck. “Least we finally have a moment alone.....”

Twilight go an odd expression on her face.

“Of course I had to ruin it some how.” Twilight sighed as a swirl of green flame formed over her horn dropping a scrap of paper that had a drawing of Rainbow Dash done in crayon on one side of it.

“ Crap.” Twilight grumbled looking at the tattered image before picking it up and reading the other side. Her eyes went wide and she launched herself off the couch.

“CADENCE, WE'RE COMMANDEERING THE TRAIN!!!” Twilight roared rushing out of the room. Big Mac picked up the paper reading it before he galloped out of the room after Twilight.

The paper drifted back down to the floor showing a hastily claw written note on the back from Spike.

'Timber wolves attacked again. Princesses called. Rahs in pursuit. They got Applejack.'

Just for Seleucus, part 1

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Just for Seleucus,
part 1

[Ponyville morning, just after Twilight and the others left, Saturday]

“You really should have let me feed this check list to Mr. Whipple the second.” Spike sighed waving the paper at Rahs.

“Woof.” Rahs shrugged attaching the lock to the ice box like was on the list.

Blakenly chittered in annoyance that they were foal proofing the house specifically for him.

The worst part was he didn't even do it, Peewee had been the last one to break into the fridge.

The phoenix of course would admit to nothing.

“And we are doing extra chores for her why?” Spike grumbled.

“Ruff.” Rahs replied standing back up and dusting off his paws.

“She's not the only one stressed

“Bark.” Rahs reminded Spike of what happened when Twilight was stressed.

“ Ugh...... fine whatever.” Spike relented.

[Later]

Why the heck do we even have gutters?” Spike grumbled from his perch on one of the awnings. “ We live in a tree.”

Rahs stepped off to the side as a wet splatter of leaves hit the snowy ground.

“Woof.” Rahs rolled his eyes the only reason it was Spike up there instead of him was his paws wouldn't fit in the drain spout to pull out the leaves. Still this was something they needed to do before Winter Wrap up. They should have done it in the fall but far too much had been going on. He wasn't worried about the little dragon falling as with as many layered coats as Spike had on, he'd probably bounce on the snow.

Owlowiscious sat on a branch above him watching. The owl was braving the morning sun for the chance to get one of the overly fat squirrels that tended to hang around the library. Rahs might have been told not to hunt the evil little things, but Owlowicious certainly wasn't going to pass up the chance for a easy meal.

[ Later, Carousel Boutique ]

Spike sighed filling the cat bowl with dried food before setting out a perfect crystal glass with the wet food.

Rahs was standing off to the side holding Opal to keep her from rushing Spike.

How they had gotten roped into feeding Rarity's cat on top of everything else was beyond him. Still with Sweetiebelle terrified of the white feline it wasn't a surprise really. Given Opal's tendency to go after anything she viewed as prey with extreme prejudice he could understand her fear. The fairly fluffy feline frequently forgot foals weren't food. That wasn't to say that larger things were not considered a target as well, but Opal knew better than to go after any of the Sparkles, or Fluttershy.

It had been a hard lesson on those counts however.

Opal did make the mistake of going for the Sparkle pets once before. Blakeny responded to the attack by trapping her in the shower stall and turning on the water before eating all her food and stealing as many of the cans as he could carry.

She had stalked Owlowiscious for an hour only for the owl to dodge her attack effortlessly and snag her in return. He then flew her around town before dropping her in the tallest tree he could find.

Peewee set her on fire. Only a little bit. She was fine when her fur grew back.

She also tried once to go after Angel Bunny.

There were missing cat posters up for a week.

In the end Opal tended to be well behaved around the Sparkles, and Fluttershy. As such Spike or Rahs usually wound up taking care of her if Rarity and Fluttershy were out of town.

[Later still, Fluttershy's house. ]

The moon dog stared at the white rabbit.

The white rabbit stared at the moon dog.

“So everything's good here Treehugger?” Spike asked ignoring the two behind him.

“Oh yeah. Everything's cool, heh cool.” Treehugger chuckled poking some of the snow by the door with a hoof. ”My assistant is running my shop up in Canterlot I needed a bit of a break any way so I don't mind watching Flutters pets for a weekend. Though your brother there seems to have a bit of a harsh vibe with Flutter's bunny.”

“Long story, ask Fluttershy about it when she gets back, we've still got half a list to take care of before we're done.” Spike rolled his eyes. “Let's go Rahs”

“Bork!”

“He did not just insult our mother.”

“ WOOF!”

“No he doesn't LOOK like he insulted our mother either.”

[Later again Ponyville market square ]

“Hey Spike!” Applebloom called waving a hoof to the bundled dragon. The filly was bouncing about in snow boots and a parka.

“Hey Bloom. How're things?” Spike asked as he and Rahs walked through the market square, stopping at the Apple's booth.

Applejack sat on a chair behind the booth looking a little worse for wear bundled in a thick coat. They were mostly selling some off season cider, dried apples and oddly fresh apples. Seems one of the benefits to having the Crystal Palace roof in your yard was some of the magic of the Empire still channeled through it. A good portion of Sweet Apple Acres was snow free this year and unseasonably warm. Of course the farmers took advantage of it and had another crop before long. Fresh apples in the middle of winter was nice. It also helped offset the loss of their main harvest due to the attack.

“ Wow.. are you okay Applejack?” Spike questioned.

“M'fine. Got a new prescription and it ain't sitting well with me. My stomachs causing all sorta issues. Ah feel like ah ate way too much all that time an ah gotta force myself tah eat something. Going back to the doc on Monday tah see if ah ken take somethin else.”

“Well we're getting pizza for the sleep over tonight, we'll be sure to save you a piece.” Spike offered.

“Much obliged. Hopefully ah ken eat it.”Applejack smiled.

“if you don't Rahs will.” Spike rolled his eyes as Applebloom giggled.

“Bark.” Rahs pointed out.

“Don't take that tone with me ah'm fine. Ya'll won't let me work that fields so ah'm at least gonna deal with tha transactions of selling apples.”

“Well good luck with that, we'll see you this afternoon.” Spike offered hurrying Rahs along to finish the shopping. He still had a non gem filled cake to make.

Applejack grumbled as she watched them go and her little sister wave goodbye to Spike. “Take it easy mah flank... Probably tha issue is that ah am taking it easy....”

Author's Note

Seleucus is a lunar impact crater located in the western part of Oceanus Procellarum.

Just for Seleucus, part 2, Interlude 3

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Just for Seleucus,
part 2,
Interlude 3

[Sweet Apple Acres]

Applejack twitched and groaned a little, rolling off her bed. The not so distant peal of thunder barely making her ear twitch. They had seen the storm coming in as she and Applebloom made their way from the market earlier so the sound was little surprise.

Her hooves thudded lightly as she walked over to the mirror, grabbing a brush and straightening out her mane before tying it again. With how she felt earlier Applejack figured a nap would be good and she told Applebloom to wake her up before they headed out to the club house.

Given the giggling and occasional shout from downstairs the other Crusaders were here already. Applejack sighed, feeling a good bit better after her nap. Might be an idea to go and see if Rahs had already brought the pizzas before she took the next dose of her medication.

Trotting down the stairs she was greeted to the sight of the three Crusaders, plus Spike, sitting at the table already pigging out on pizza. Granny was in her rocker rambling on on some story to Rahs who seemed to be doing his best to humor her.

“Hey sis good timing. Pizza just got here. Stay away from tha red box, that's Spike's double ghost pepper one. Rahs had tah sign a waiver tah get it. And tha one in tha blue box is tha griffon feast fer Rahs. Ah ain't gonna tell yah whats on that, specially if yer still feeling ill.” Applebloom commented.

“Heh. Thanks Bloom, ah figure ah will have a few slices of that tha one with tha bell peppers and onions.”

The group of them sat down around the table eating and occasionally going on about some random thought or another. It was mostly the crusaders talking. Either Spike brought up something from a game, or one of the others proposed a crusading idea. Those ideas were either shot down by an adult, considered, or noted as already done in Spike's master check list of cutie-mark attempts.

Applejack had managed two slices and was on her third, pausing only to try not to snicker as Granny's dentures got stuck in the slice she was trying to eat. Of course then there was a sudden wave of nausea again that forced her to put down the third slice and close her eyes.

“Sis, yah feeling alright?” Applebloom asked getting up and moving to her side.

Applejack was going to respond with another complaint about her medication when a sharp pain in her chest caused her to double over slapping both her fore hooves on the table, rattling the plates and causing the others to jump up and crowd around her.

Another sharp pain caused her to gasp and jerk up to her rear hooves sending her chair crashing to the floor as Rahs caught her holding her up as she staggered. Applejack jerked falling back and crashing down atop of the table sending dishes and pizza flying as she spasmed. Spike and Rahs both started to freak out doing their best to hold the flailing mare still as Rahs grabbed a pizza cutter forcing the handle between her teeth to stop her from trying to bite off her tongue.

While Twilight had never had any sort of seizure, the pair of them recognized the signs of it from various sources.

Applejack flailed as every one tried to help though there was a shriek as a splatter of blood seemed to burst from her chest, the pizza cutter falling from her mouth.

Everyone jerked back at that as Applejack managed to lift her head watching as her orange furred chest seemed to stretch and writhe before bursting open in a shower of gore showing a small canine like head made out of sticks and leaves, covered in her blood. It let out a tiny howl before clawing the rest of the way out of her chest and skittering out of her to tear across the table.

There was a great deal of screaming from those present though Applejack heard one voice clearer than the others.

“Europa, Callisto, Ganymede, Metis get back here. No, not yet, stop!!”

Applejack blinked turning her head and raising an eyebrow as she watched the little wooden chest burster skitter across the kitchen floor with four odd looking puppies chasing it.

“Damn it.”

Applejack turned her head to look at the source of the voice seeing a deep purple furred diamond dog looking creature, obviously female judging by the ample chest she had, standing in the door way to the rest of the house. Applejack blinked again as the canine padded over after the puppies grumbling to her self as she scooped them up, her long ears flat to her head tail whipping, all of which had little glowing points of light floating over the tips the puppies all had the same sort of glowing balls over their ears and tail tip as well.

“ A moon dog?” Applejack questioned sitting up, oddly not feeling any pain despite being able to look down into her chest. All the others had stopped moving as well.

“Hmmm?” The purple bitch questioned as she scooped up a gray furred puppy who was gnawing on the tiny timber wolf. The others yipped and barked trying to hop up to grab at the raised pup and his prize. “Lovely, the dreams over. I told Io they were too young for their first hunt, but noooooo.”

“What tha hay is going on here and who are you?” Applejack demanded.

“You're not going to remember, you never do.” the moon dog sighed before blinking and finally noticing the frozen image of Rahs. “Then again you did know what I am.”

Applejack flattened her ears.

“My name is Sheeba, I'm one of the Apple families dream guardians along with my mate Io, and his parents and grandfather. These naughty little things are our pups... Europa.

She points to a solid black puppy who had gotten bored and was now gnawing on a fallen pizza slice.

“...Callisto...” She pointed to a white furred puppy who was attacking one of the other puppies and biting his tail.

“...Ganymede...” she pointed to a deep purple puppy who was getting attacked and trying to fight back.

“And Metis.” Sheeba holds up the gray puppy who had managed to catch the tiny timber wolf, she had already half eaten it by this point too. Sheeba did look rather proud of that. "This was supposed to be their first hunt, but they don't listen very well. Granted they are only three years old.....”

“This is a dream?” Applejack blinked.

“Well yes... ponies don't usually live with a large gaping hole in their chest.” Sheeba commented her head tilting as she looked over the image of Rahs before whistling. ”Damn if I was a few years younger and didn't have a mate, I would be all over this... I've never seen the lost pup before though I've heard rumors.”

The moon dog looked to Spike. "And one of the missing dreamers too. Neat. I know the filly dreams about him a lot, but I don't think I've ever seen him in any of your dreams yet. To be fair I did a lot of the Nightmare Moon dreams and then I've had these little biters to look after.” Sheeba sighed.

“Ah still have no clue what's going on here.” Applejack stated trailing of as Sheeba lifted up the back of Rahs' coat to whistle again.

“Seriously, look at that ass, he has got to work out....”Sheeba considered. “ Unless you're projecting how you view him.”

“Unless ah'm what?” Applejack stated a blush forming on her face at the Moon Dogs blatant comments about Rahs. “He's a friend of tha family that's it. Ah ain't projecting nothing.”

“Riiiiight.” Sheeba grinned.” Still given what I've heard about those other three who dream about him regularly, this is pretty tame....”

“What?”

“Never mind, like I said you won't remember this, you never do.” Sheeba sighed as the whole world seemed to shake. “ There we go. See you around Applejack.”

Another harder shake and the dream faded. One more and Applejack opened her eyes to Applebloom staring at her from the side of her bed.

“Hey sis get up. We're gonna head over tah tha club house here in in a minute. Spike's showed up and Rahs is going tah git tha pizza.”Applebloom fussed shaking Applejack again.

Applejack grumbled sitting up and slipped off the bed, her hooves hitting the floor with a thud. The idea of pizza made her ill for some reason but not in a way she could attribute to the medication.

“Yeah, yeah ah'm up. Go on finish gitting yerself ready, ah'll be down in a sec.” Applejack shook her head before rubbing her eyes.

“Did tha nap help?”

“Lil bit, go on, it's gonna be cold out make sure yah got everything.” Applejack shooed her sister out the door before rising to head to the bathroom. She paused in front of the mirror staring at it for a moment trying to piece together the shreds of memories of the dream she had already mostly forgotten. There really was only one thing that stuck solidly and it confused her.

“Was ah dreaming about Rahs?”

Author's Note

There's yer timber jack.

Thppppppt!!!!

Plant based wer-creatures are weird and likely only possible with a druid. So no no timber jacks for you.

Also happy early Nightmare Night chapter.

Just for Seleucus, Part 3

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Just for Seleucus,
Part 3

[Sweet Apple Acres, Sun Down.]

The rumble of thunder made Rahs look up to the clear and cold sky above him, then to his left, where over the Everfree forest a roiling thunder storm raged.

The weather patrol had stated that the storm didn't seem to be moving out from over the Everfree, but they planned to keep an eye on it for the night.

Rahs kept walking along the path towards the clubhouse. With the possibility of a storm he was going to send the Crusaders to sleep at the farm house rather than try and stay in their club house. Sure the clubhouse was on the other side of the farm from the Everfree, but he trusted the farm house over the girls and Spike's repair skills when it came to dangerous weather. That the place had been 'reinforced' for the winter worried him, though it did keep the heat of the two small magic heaters fairly well last time he was up there.

He pulled the front of his heavy robin egg blue winter coat tighter and made sure the large bundle he had with him was still wrapped up tight with the heating spell still on it before continuing his trek.

The collection of non upgraded magic items around today made him a little wary as he didn't want to drain any of them with his presence, especially not the one keeping the pizzas hot.

Winona darted up and started barking as she bounded around his legs. The farm dog was a bit of an oddity to him. After all he was kinda a dog and the diamond dogs were dogs, but here was a smaller, and dumber..... okay scratch that he was pretty sure Winona was smarter than some diamond dogs he had met, but still. In either event it always felt weird to have dogs as a thinking race and as an animal like pet.

Spike felt sorta the same way about Gummy.

She seemed like she happy to see him, and or she could smell the food he carried. Trudging on he made his way to the crusaders club house shooing the small dog off. He watched her run off back towards the farm house before he walked up to the edge of the clearing that held the clubhouse, looking up at the brightly lit place.

“WOOF!” Rahs called, waiting a moment as Spike poked his head out of a window.

“I told you I didn't set the traps.” Spike shouted back.

“Hey is that Rahs with the food?” Scootaloo called. ”Bring it up I'm starving.”

“Yah just ate six apples, four moon pies, and a box of crackers.” Applebloom chimed up.

“Hey I'm a growing filly!” Scootaloo protested.

“Yeah growing outward maybe.” Sweetiebelle tittered.

“Hey don't start that again....” Spike shut the window and Rahs started up the gangplank to the door. Pushing the door in he sank down nearly to his knees as he ducked inside. The flash of heat coming out of the structure made him pull back before moving inside again closing the door behind him.

The three fillies and Spike had already set up their sleeping bags. An old well used one for Applebloom, a Power Ponies one for Spike, a Wonderbolts one for Scootaloo and an Vicious Nursery Sleeping bag for Sweetiebelle. How those ex Heart Guards managed to get a teen colt band going was beyond Rahs, he was pretty sure one of them was forty.

Applejack was sitting off to one side against a wall, the grown mare nodded to him as he came in though he took note of why it was so hot in here. One wall was piled high with firewood and next to it was a small iron stove with a fire inside that was burning merrily. A pipe went up and through the wall rather than the roof funneling the smoke out and a layer of bricks sat under the stove keeping it off the wood floor.

“Woof?” Rahs asked setting down the pizzas on the little table in the room before sitting down himself, being the biggest thing in here he tried to put himself in a corner to give every one else more room.

“Oh the stove? We set that up a couple hours ago. For some reason the two magic heaters we had burned out.“ Spike explained. “We even kept them at the farm house so you wouldn't be near them so they'd stay working.”

“I'm glad I saved the receipt.” Sweetiebelle harrumphed.

“Any way you figure out why that spell Luna taught you isn't working?”Spike asked opening the first box before passing it off to Sweetiebelle, bell peppers, pineapple and bean sprouts .

“I still have no idea I had it working perfectly when she showed me, then I used it at home a few times, but the moment I come out here to show some pony suddenly I can't get it to work right.” Sweetiebelle protested as Spike handed a box to Scootaloo. Extra cheese, jalapeno, bell pepper, ghost pepper, chilies and a dipping cup of hot sauce.

Spike was to blame for her taste in food as of lately as he had the same thing, only with bacon.

“Sounds like that … what ever it is, the rule where everything works fine until it's shown off.” Scootaloo shrugged already having inhaled her first slice.

“I know what you mean but I don't recall what it was either. Twilight would know.” Spike suggested as he handed a blue box with a griffon feast to Rahs. Pepperoni, sausage, bacon and anchovies and lots of cheese.

“Woof?” Rahs questioned over the sounds of frenzied eating.

“Yeah it does sound like a Murphy's law thing.” Spike agreed grabbing a slice of his own. “ Did you want some Applejack?”

The orange mare paled a little tilting her hat down as she shook her head. “Nah ah'm good Spike, still feeling a bit ill and something's turning me off pizza any way.”Applejack offered.”If Rahs is here ah'll probably head back to tha house then before it gets too late. Gonna waste away if ah don't eat something soon though ah' spect.”

“I thought you said you gained weight?” Applebloom asked around a mouthful of food.

“It does take a bit before not eating starts losing you weight. The body thinks it's starving and starts trying to hold onto all the fat, it eats away at muscle first.” Spike offered.

“Every time ah start to ferget yer related tah Twilight.”Applejack chuckled. “ Yah good here Rahs?”

“Woof.”

“Ehh?” Applejack questioned.

“Great.” Spike grumbled.” And after all that work getting the stove set up.”

“What?” Applebloom added.

“He's going to run us all up to the farm house after we've eaten. That storm over the Everfree is worrying him.” Spike sighed.

“Awww. “ The trio of girls offered.

“Hehe, well better safe than sorry. I'll see ya'll when yah git up there.” Applejack chuckled ducking out the door into the cold.

“Well shoot, Granny's not going to let me practice if I'm back at the farm house.” Sweetiebelle pouted.

“Well give it another try. With Rahs here he might be able to figure out what's wrong.” Spike offered.

“Won't he eat it?” Scootaloo asked.

“Bork.” Rahs rolled his eyes and ate another slice of pizza.

“Wow rude much.” Spike scoffed at Rahs.” Nah, if he's in an area for a long amount of time he'll screw with the ambient spells in the area, but if it's a short direct cast not targeting him the effect should still go off even if the duration will be shortened.”

“Ummm” Sweetiebelle stared.

“Just cast it, you'll be fine.” Applebloom frowned.” Yah ken show Applejack later if yah git it right again.”

The white unicorn filly closed her eyes her horn starting to glow. The others watched curiously a few gasps as the room noticeably darkened like a shadow was covering all the light sources. Motes of white light started appearing scattered at random in the darkness, adding faint light to the darkened room. The whole effect looking like the night sky had come down around them.

The others look on with awe at the scene as Sweetiebelle bounced in place.

“I did it! I did it!”

“Woah, cool.” Scootaloo offered.

“Nice one Sweetiebelle. I haven't seen anything like this before. Is it an illusion?”Spike asked.

“Big sis said it was a two part spell. It makes the shadows bolder and then adds the light illusions. It's kinda hard to set up, but it's easy to hold in place.” Sweetiebelle smiled.

“Does it have a purpose or did she tell you what its for?” Applebloom asked.

“She said there's a third part of the spell that's a lot harder and I might not ever be able to do it, but she'd let me try.” Sweetiebelle offered. “Hey … they're moving.”

The Crusaders watched as many of the little motes of light drifted through the air, all of them slowly heading towards Rahs. As they got with in a certain range of him they winked out.

“Behold my brother. Magical black hole.” Spike snarked.

Rahs was about to hit his brother with a scathing retort when a howl cut through the night making everyone in the club house go silent.

A scream quickly followed.

“APPLEJACK!” Applebloom shouted as a blast of cold filled the room, the door to the club house was ripped off it's hinges as Rahs didn't even bother trying to open the door inward in his effort to get out.

The moon dog was already on the ground and tearing into the trees as the others got to the door.

“We need to stay put and barricade the door and set the traps....” Spike shouted only to realize that the three fillies were already tearing across the ground after Rahs.

“Fuck, no one learns.” Spike uttered before racing after them.

Rahs broke through the tree line along the path to the house from the club house skidding to a stop under some apple trees along the path within the snow less zone of the farm.

The ground was littered with sticks and twigs and a wolf head made out of wood that had a hoof print embedded in it's fore head.

There was also a great deal of blood and a shredded stetson.

“What tha hay. Where's mai sister!?” Applebloom shouted running up. Rahs turned quickly, snatching the filly up before she could see, tossing her back to her friends pointing at the farm house where Granny had come out onto the porch with her grand pappy's gun.

“GRRR!” Rahs yelled at Spike making it clear what he wanted of them before he turned back to the scene sniffing the air. The timber wolf head was devoid of magic, so the thing must have reformed. There was a trail of blood leading off towards the woods. He flinched as another howl sounded from the forest.

A flash of green fire drew his attention as the timber wolf skull and scraps of the hat were sent off to the Princesses. ”I'll send for help, go!”

Rahs nodded as Spike went to help the others drag Applebloom to the farm house to keep her from running off to find Applejack.

Rahs took off again following the trail.

Running out of area of warmth made by the Crystal tower Rahs crouched to check the snow. The blood splatters showed up clearer and numerous timber wolf tracks covered the ground. Another broken timber wolf body lay splintered to the side and he saw what he was worried about. There were larger tracks along with the timber wolves and the trailing blood was around those tracks.

The big one must have come back and grabbed Applejack. Rahs wasn't sure why she was snatched up, but he didn't think it was anything good.

Darting across the snow covering the edge of the Everfree he was barely a score of feet into the woods before the temperature shot up and the whole area became like a humid jungle, rain fell steadily as the thunder rolled almost constantly the sky above the thick canopy flashing with light that barely reached the forest floor.

The rain washed away the traces of blood, but the scent of the timber wolves magic still clung in the air and kept Rahs pointed in the right direction. He cursed lightly as the heat hit him in his thick winter coat, though the rain soaking him kept him cooled down enough to progress. He yanked off the heavy coat tossing it over a branch within sight of the Apple farm in case one of the Princesses showed up to help, before he tore deeper into the forest following the scent.

A number of timber wolf bodies littered the ground giving him hope that Applejack was still fighting and thus still alive.

Of course that hope turned to complete confusion as when he passed the forth timber wolf husk the scent of magic stopped.

Rahs skidded to a halt as thunder crashed. He sniffed the air looking for any scent of any sort of magic and there was nothing. It was like the timber wolves had just vanished.

A sudden scream further in caused his ears to perk and he was off like a shot. Rahs burst through the trees, sliding down a muddy slope as the river came into view. Great roots of trees rose into the air as fallen trunks of old wood leaned precariously over the river, tilting in the soft soil. The river raged , swollen from the storm, whole trees rushed past in the foaming water as it splashed up on the banks.

At the edge of the river near a pile of logs washed up on the shore was a body only briefly illuminated by the flashes of lightning in the open air above the river.

Rahs winced smelling blood though no magic was in the air.

He moved forward quickly nearing the unmoving form staring down at it a moment before a flash of lightning lit up the area for a brief second showing the corpse of a wild pig. The feral hog had been recently killed judging by the occasional muscle spasm and still growing pool of blood. The pigs throat had been torn out, it's head nearly removed.

Rahs frowned, had he come across a manticore's kill somehow?

A scent snapped him back to focus and raised his hackles, his amber eyes widening.

He knew that scent, it hadn't been that long ago since he fought one.

A witch wolf.

Whirling about he was barely able to dodge the attack as the beast came at him from down wind, hiding it's scent until it was nearly on top of him.

Rahs cursed lashing out with his claws driving the beast back. His tail whipped wildly, his amber eyes narrowed as he growled and readied for a fight. This had been a trap, likely for him, another of his cursed kin had found him it seemed.

The witch wolf responded in kind with a low rumbling hiss. Glowing points of light over it's ears showed they were flat against it's skull and that the tip of it's tail was lashing.

The beast was large, a little bigger than he was in fact, but no where near the size Managarmr had been.

A lengthy flash of lightning lit up the river bank like it was day time and Rahs got a good look at the witch wolf.

The massive form was all muscle, had it been standing on two legs it would have been about the size of Jynx, and in terms of bulk it wasn't much smaller than the Alpha. Green eyes glowed brightly as it growled at him not speaking anything other than an animistic anger. It's fangs were bared and judging by what he could see in the tuft of dark orange fur of it's chest it was female. A mane of longer wild hair spilled over it's shoulders hiding it's face from view though the blonde hair was hardly what Rahs was focused on at that second.

Given it's position crouched on a log slightly above him he could see it's haunch....

…..and the three red apples marking it.

“Applejack?!?!” Rahs asked in confusion before the orange furred wall of muscle slammed into him.

Author's Note

Now then I went on quite a bit about how i was not putting Timber-jack in my story.

I said nothing about Witch-jack.

Next chapter we find out what was in the journal.

Well you find out.

I already know.

And for those interested the Discord server is still there.

https://discord.gg/hx6pcda

There's chapter discussion on my work as well as a bunch of others as well as the usually chat room nonsense. I offer future chapter spoilers at times too.

Season 3 Interlude, 'Moon Lit Wings'

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Season 3 Interlude,
'Moon Lit Wings'

[ Journal entry one, translated to modern Equestrian by Twilight Sparkle]

I don't know why I'm bothering to write this. I suppose it's in some vain hope that some day she might read this and know that I was thinking about her in the end.

My last hope is here. It could be for nothing, that Lunar servant could have been lying, but in truth he's still dead and I have no other options.

I suppose I should explain this to any one else reading this. I'm not foolish enough to think my wife would be the first to find it, I only hope that she receives it if I fail.

My name is Terry Cairn, I am... was, an earth pony captain in the Solar Guard. One of the elite units tasked with hunting down the last of the Nightmare's forces. Particularly the monstrosities known as Witch Wolves. My last endeavor was a joint operation with a flock of griffons against a small pack that had sprung up in a little hamlet called Hollow Shades. There were three of the creatures. A male, a female, and a young one.

I had been part of teams that had killed a great number of these monsters. We were mostly earth ponies and pegasi, given their magic eating the only unicorns we had were medics who remained away from the actual fighting. Princess Celestia and a number of other gods were also hunting down the threats given the nature of what they could do a whole team of ponies might not be able to beat them, but like most things the gods were far more than enough to deal with them. My team had a total of six kills, the highest of any unit and we were cocky as Tartarus about that.

The brains back at HQ thought the whole situation was odd, they were trying to figure out where all of these witch wolves came from. If the Nightmare had this many, why would she not use them all on us at once. Our forces were hard pressed to deal with two or three of these beasts at a time. An orderly force of the hundreds we have been overpowering and would have wiped out everything that stood against her.

I found out why personally.

We encountered the beasts in Hollow Shades. We fought them and we killed them. There were injuries of course. I for one took a nasty bite on the shoulder, I was likely going to be one of the casualties of the conflict if I hadn't been saved by a griffon hen who took the beasts attack on me as an opportunity to drive a spear through it's eye. I got to watch the life fade from it before it's jaw was removed from my shoulder.

While I didn't like being thought of as bait to these damn cat birds, I did recall to thank her for the save.

My wound was treated and I was given leave to recover.

So of course I went home.

Cinnamon Teal was waiting for me.

My wife is a farmer in a bit of a niche market. Equestria has a export with poultry farmers to the griffon empire. It's rather disturbing to think they eat meat, but the bits are good and they are sent some where else still alive to be shipped so we don't have to think about it much.

I spent several weeks in that mares loving embrace before the first problems happened. At first it was only a few of our magical devices failing around us. Nothing drastic. Soon I started becoming sick constantly. I couldn't hold anything down. The medical scans the towns doctors preformed did nothing and only made me feel worse.

Then one morning I awoke to find myself in the duck pen with dozens of half eaten corpses of the foul around me, and the taste of blood on my lips.

Cinnamon Teal had seen what happened and watched me change.

I left immediately, not wanting to put her in any sort of danger. She begged me not to go, to stay and seek help, but I refused to risk it.

My travels after that were mostly uninteresting. I changed a few more times drew the attention of the guard here and there, I tracked down a number of members of the Lunar Republic, including a mage who told me where their goddess had found the first moon dogs as they called them.

And so here I was. The dark continent, New Holland. Before it was discovered there was a indigenous people here, prisoners used to be dumped off to try and survive. Given nearly everything in this place from the sea life to the smaller creatures was able to, or at least tried to, kill ponies, not to mention the larger wild life, no one ever expected the prisoners to live very long. In most cases they were right, but enough survived that there was now a native population of ponies who lived there. A shipping route was run from Equestria to the port city of Saxton Hale as the place was a gold mine of resources and there was always a noble or two looking to capitalize on that.

None of that really matters in truth. I knew I was being followed. I managed to jump an earlier ship before she caught up with me but Cinnamon Teal was tracking me down.... as was a contingent of Guards. Some pony must have put together that I was cursed and informed the Guard.

I hear the drums echoing tonight. The heavy beat of the waves against the hull as we approach the shore thudding almost in time, drowning out the whispers of quiet conversation going on around me from others looking to disembark.

Given that it was guard business the next ship was likely right behind this one. She would be coming in around twelve thirty. Maybe sooner, the Princess Bride was a faster ship than the old steamer I had rode on.

I needed to be elsewhere when they got here, both to protect Cinni and to avoid the guards coming after me.

[ Journal entry six, translated to modern by Twilight Sparkle, editors note most of the journal has been damaged and a great number of the entries are simply the writer stating that there was no change or that he was still searching, or more personal messages to his wife, and have thus been left untranslated as irrelevant.]

It's been days and I'm no closer to anything. There's tribes deeper inland that might know something. But still I know I'm being followed.

Still I saw a sign.

A shadow hawk.

These dark birds are rare, the reverse of a phoenix, birds composed out of mostly shadow looking like little more than small pieces of the night sky. During the war they were considered a bad omen and were killed on sight and hunted. No pony had seen one for years, but here..

It might still be a bad sign, it might be a blessing.

The creatures moonlit wings reflected the stars that might guide me towards salvation.

My hope blossomed again.

If one of those birds was here, surely the Nightmare had been here as well and there may be a cure to this curse.

[ Journal entry eight, translated to modern by Twilight Sparkle]

I stopped an old mare along the way.

The dark furred unicorn clearly had seen better years. One milky white eye stared at me, the other as far as I could tell was no longer in it's socket. The discussion was rather one sided at first though after she got a look at me she was quite talkative.

I had changed after that first transformation, though I had hardly noticed until much later. I had fangs, my ears had lengthened and my fur had become a great deal shaggier, not hard to keep hidden save for the fact that there were two glowing orbs of light resembling the moon that floated above my longer ears.

I had taken to wearing large hats and hoods to try an hide, but unless my ears remained flat to my head the lights would show up over the hat or hood.

I had been only hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies about the source of the 'moon dogs'. What I found was a mare who had been to the place where they all vanished.

I had a location now, a few days travel away, there had to be something there. She told me of a shaman that lived in the area that might be able to help. A zebra that had fled the destruction of her homeland years ago when the Nightmare and her forces rolled over their homeland. While many Zebra fled to Equestria and had settled down in an area near Cape Cod, this one had come out here.

Looking to the old mare no further words were exchanged, she turned to me as if to say, 'hurry colt it's waiting there for you,'

And with that I set off again.

[ Journal entry 10, translated to modern by Twilight Sparkle]

I had been here a week and a half.

I hope you will be reading this Cinni.

It had taken a lot to drag me away from you.

If not for the idea I might hurt you, there's nothing that a million stallions or more could ever do.

But here I am trooping through mire and desert and savanna trying to find a cure so we can be together finally.

It seems on top of all that I showed up here in the rainy season.

I had stopped by a small village the locals called Africa

I bless the rains down in Africa. They were natural and untouched by pegasi magic, thus keeping me from changing into that monster.

When this is all over.... when this is all over, and I'm cured, we're gonna take the time to do the things we never have..... maybe... maybe one or two foals wouldn't be bad... not with you....

I love you Cinni. ..

[ Journal entry 13, translated to modern by Twilight Sparkle]

I was woken by howling.

The wild dogs crying out in the night, likely they grew restless longing for some solitary company.
The worst part about this was that I could understand them. I knew what they wanted. The calls of a hunt the calls of the ones in heat, the cries of the pack finding prey.

It hurt.

I could hear them and understand them and part of me wanted to join them. To go with the pack, to hunt and live. The creature inside of me wasn't a loner. Being alone meant it was sick or injured and had been abandoned. The feelings of seeking out this pack to join it were immense.

I kept myself from joining barely.

I know I must do whats right, sure as the Canterhorn rises like the sun over the Unicorn Range.

The beast seemed displeased by this. It was getting harder to keep it calm, simply walking this place had allowed me to draw in the magic of the land. A magic that was feeding it's next release.

I had to continue I had to hurry.

I seek to cure what's deep inside, I'm frightened by this thing I have become.

[ Journal entry 16, translated to modern by Twilight Sparkle]

She's dead.

The shamaness I came out here to find. She's dead.

Her body lay in her home, dried from the heat and the long dead fire in the center of the hut. The bugs had not even made it to her due to the charms and protections I had destroyed coming in here. The excess magic however was enough. I could feel the beast clawing at the inside of me struggling to get free. My last hope was gone. The zebra mare had no books, no notes, nothing I could find that might have anything to do with the old ruined village on the hill.

That place was stripped bare, looking nothing more than a town that all the inhabitants decided to pack up and move out of. Only the size of the doors and the buildings gave me a clue that this might have been the moon dogs first home

And now I was writing my last. I say this because the guards are here.

But it's worse.

Princess Celestia is here as well.

The magic flowing around her is far to much I can.. I can't stop the change.... they're going to destroy me and I was this close, I found the source …. but for nothing.....

So are you … Why did you come Cinni.... I told you to stay home.... that I got to see you a last time.... even from the broken window of this old hut.....

[ several torn pages follow filled with unintelligible scribbles follow before the last words. ]

Cinni... I'm sorry....

[The last page of the journal is scribbled with a note, one in different hoof writing than the earlier parts.]

She killed him.

The beast he was stepped out of the hut, it didn't even attack it just stood there and rather than allowing it a chance or listening to me at all she killed him.

The damn bitches horn lit up and the bucking sun it self vaporized him.

He wasn't attacking her, he wasn't hurting any pony. She wouldn't listen to me, none of the damn fools would. And now... Terry's dead.

She tired to say something after the murdered him, some stupid comfort or placating words or some bullshit about the greater good.

Buck that.

I nearly had a guard skewer me when I spat in her face and told her exactly what I thought of her.

They left after that. She offered me passage back but I'm not going back. I found his journal.... his last words to me.... I know why he came here what he was trying to do.

I'm sending this to the that fat sun sucking whore. So she can see, so SHE CAN SEE, she killed an innocent! One that wasn't a threat, one who was trying to save himself.

Buck Equestria and that stupid sun bitch.

I HOPE SHE READS THIS... and knows how much one of her precious little ponies hates her.

I'm going back up to the port. I'll mail this journal to Whinnysor. Then I'm going to find a spot and join Terry... there's nothing but spite left for me here any way.

Cinnamon Teal

Author's Note

For those who don't recall. This is the journal that Rahs found in the mail room of the old castle.

This was an event that was set up at the very beginning of this story 3 seasons back.

Granted i couldn't resist adding my own... musical take on the whole thing. And i wasn't as subtle about it as i like so i'm sure to see some links in the comments.

Oh and look up 'Terry Cairn' for more amusement

Keep Calm and Frigoris On, Part 1

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Keep Calm and Frigoris On,
Part 1

[Sweet Apple Acres, morning]

“Alright we want every pony back out there. Celestia is raising the sun early to aid in the search. Pegasi we want that storm fully moved out. Ground forces move out now, teams of six two pair of each pony type in each, we have mapped the quadrants to explore. Anything hostile is to be dealt with as quickly as possible and the search is to continue. If you cannot drive off the wild life you are authorized to remove it. We are missing an Element of Harmony and one of the Sparkles. We do not need to tell you why that is problem. Now go.” Luna bellowed.

The Guards took off as ordered and Luna turned to look back to her sister.

“We will head back to let the court we left know of the situation and then we shall return to aide in the search.” Luna yawned.” Spike keep me informed if there is any sign.” Luna offered before taking to the air to do a last fly over before heading back up towards the castle, once she was clear of the forests edge there was a flash of light as she teleported back up to Canterlot.

Will do princess.” Spike nodded trying not to yawn along with the night princess as he huddled in his puffy coat, warmer area around the farm or not, it was still cold.

Princess Celestia stood by the tall crystal spire of the Apple's new barn. Spike looked tired but with all the stress and excitement of the night he was still wired. The CMC were much the same way , though neither Sweetiebelle nor Scootaloo could keep their eyes open past four am and were put to bed in the farm house. Applebloom had nodded off once or twice leaning against Spike, but the moment any one tried to move her she fought tooth and hoof to stay put. Granted it was only Spike that was keeping her upright at the moment. Granny Smith sat in her rocker on the porch still holding her grand pappys gun and still awake as well.

“They have been missing for nine hours.” Spike offered.

“I am aware.” Princess Celestia noted with a bit of sadness.

It had taken several hours to get the troops to mobilize and get down here, her sister had teleported herself and a small contingent of guards almost immediately. By time they got there, there was no sign of any threat. The guards had secured the area and were waiting to search in mass until there was light. A few smaller groups had gone in though with the storm there was no trail to follow, though they did find Rahs' coat, the lack of damage and position over a branch made it clear it was removed rather that lost.

The Princess of the Sun's horn glowed brightly, the moon lowering and the sun being guided up over the horizon. The solar object had barely reached it's zenith when there was a cry from the woods and several forms emerged from the treeline.

A very tired looking navy blue figure strode out of the woods flanked by a number of guards. Rahs looked like Tartarus. The moon dog was clawed up with several deep bite marks and one of his ears was ragged, there wasn't much left of his pants to speak of either, only the belt and a swath of the leg material wrapped tight around one ankle.

Over one shoulder he carried the limp orange furred form of Applejack. She was muddy and her fur seemed to have been mussed up, though she didn't have any visible wounds on her.

Rahs approached the farm house slowing as he spotted Spike and the Apples, though he came to a dead stop, his ears flattening to his head as he saw Celestia.

“BORK!” Rahs called out.

“Of course I called her. It's SOP for crap like this.” Spike rolled his eyes glancing up at Celestia curiously. “Why?”

“ Woof.” Rahs sighed as Spike's eyes widened. He glanced down at Applebloom as she rushed over to check on Applejack though Rahs kept her lifted above her much to the tired fillies annoyance. He turned his head and caught one of the guard's eyes, flicking his ears.

The guard nodded moving forward with another to pull the protesting foal away.

“Git offa me that's mai sister he's got, is she okay lemmi go!” Applebloom flailed.

“Bark.” Rahs offered snapping Spike out of his shocked expression.

“He says she's fine, just tired.” Spike added. “ Princess I think we're good now, I'll send you a message later about what happened.”

Celestia blinked glancing to Spike then back up to Rahs and Applejack before walking closer. “ Are you certain, this is the second time such a thing has happened there certainly must be more than....”

Celestia froze staring at Rahs as the moon dog backed up away from her.

She looked confused a moment before her focus turned fully to Applejack laying over his shoulder. She might not have noticed at first, but it wasn't just that the farm pony was a bit ruffled, her fur was actually longer.

Rahs took another step back and seemed ready to run his ears flat to his head. Celestia took note of the wounds on Rahs, they were not closing properly, that didn't make sense, the last time she had seen him with wounds like that was after he fought.....

“Rahs put her down.” Celestia ordered.

Rahs narrowed his eyes and stepped back further.

“I will not ask again. Put her down.”

Rahs this time turned to break into a run.

Celestia's horn flared and the moon dog was stopped in his tracks lifted into the air. She tilted him nearly upside down so he flailed reflexively and plucked Applejack from his grip, bringing the sleeping mare closer to examine her.

The first thing she noticed was that the farm mare was larger than she last recalled. Not quite as big as her brother but she was decidedly bigger. The second thing she noticed was that the mares ears had gotten longer and more pointed, and that there were two glowing dots of light above the tips of each. The third thing was that the mare was drawing in the magic that Celestia used to keep her floating there.

Celestia's eyes widened in fear.

“CLEAR THE AREA !” Celestia's voice boomed in the RCV. “ All guards fall back to Ponyville. I want the whole town cordoned off with no one in or out of the town. I want every pony who has had any contact with Applejack or any member of the Apple family in the last month isolated from the others and kept under lock down. Halt all shipments to and from the town of anything. I want everything within five miles of the town in full DR5 contagion lock down!”

The guards were trained well and scattered, gathering the others who had come back from the forest at the noise.

Celestia flinched, her magic opening the mares mouth spotting the fangs, her own ears drooping.

“Oh Applejack … I'm so sorry...”

The heat around the solar princess flared as she set down the sleeping pony in the grass, her horn blazing brightly as she prepared to cast.

Suddenly her face was filled with blue fur as Rahs broke free of her grip and slammed into Celestia , his fore head pressed to hers as his amber eyes stared into the princesses pink ones. A low throaty growl left his bared fangs as his claws gripped the regalia around her neck forcing her back.

“Rahs....” Celestia stated digging in her hooves to prevent herself from being pushed back. “Stand down.”

“You first.”

Celestia frowned her magic grabbing the moon dog again and yanking him away from her. Rahs flailed and clawed at the magic only for Celestia to pour on more power and fling him away towards the Apple's swimming pond at the edge of the eastern orchard. The water hadn't frozen and he would be fine even if she missed.

She turned her attention back to Applejack sparing a glance to Granny Smith and the flailing Applebloom still held by a guard. She would need to check them all was well, there was no telling how far this had spread. The home might need to be burned as well. Granny wouldn't like that, but the risk was too great.

She looked back at the sleeping Applejack her horn flaring again before she dumped power into her spell and brought down a blast of solar fire from the sky to destroy the body fully.

There was a scream from the younger sister and looks of horror from the others present.

Celestia frowned ceasing the attack, the area was blackened to ash, the dirt under the spot glassed, save a small circle of green grass with a orange mare still sleeping on it.

The purple shield over Applejack winked out.

“What the buck is going on here!?” Twilight Sparkle demanded, storming up with the rest of the Element Bearers as well as the older brother of Applejack.

“SHE TRIED TO KILL MAI SISTER!!” Applebloom screamed.

Twilight and the others looked to Celestia with a mix of confusion and anger at the statement.

Before Celestia could explain she was hit in the side by a soaking wet blue furred missile and actually sent sprawling.

“BORK!” Rahs snapped.

Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy looked more confused at the mention of a journal.

Twilight looked shocked, than mad as Celestia again flung Rahs away from her. Her horn flared as she gathered up a coil of chain from near the barn ripping it from the plow and wrapping it around Rahs sun welding a few links together where it wouldn't burn the moon dog before dropping him aside.

“Princess. Stop.” Twilight ordered.

“There is too much at stake here Twilight, you don't under stand what is happening, but I have seen this before...”

“Terry Cairn” Twilight said flatly.

“Oh...” Celestia trailed off recalling her former captain and his bid to escape her. “So you do know. Then you know why I need to end this as quickly as possible. I cannot let the scourge that was the witch wolves run loose again, particularly not when there are so many more innocent ponies now than there were last time.”

“You didn't seem to have any issue with Rahs.”Twilight demanded.

“I had him under twenty four hour a day watch, I kept the thieves he mauled in solitary isolation for three years before I let them go to any sort of trial just to make sure. When I was certain he was not a witch wolf I relaxed. I was prepared to wipe your whole block out of existence if I saw even a sign he could spread this.” Celestia stated. “They are all supposed to be dead and gone Twilight. If the one in the Empire had gotten to any of you I would have been ready to do the same, but the only one he injured was Rahs, who still showed no signs of infection. “

“Princess.” Twilight stated.

“I bore witness to groups of no more than two of them wipe out whole towns, rip through battalions and when we finally killed them, three more would pop up, and attack. Just when we thought we had killed them all, more showed up. This went on for years Twilight, years. More lives were lost in the time after the Equestrian Civil war than during it. We finally found out they were infecting others, spreading it when several of my Guards became the monsters. I tracked down each one personally after that was discovered. They didn't come back from my magic. …. One more regrettable death to save who knows how many others.” Celestia stated.

“I'm not going to let you kill Applejack.” Twilight growled. There were sounds of agreement from the others, if hesitant at the idea of going against Celestia.

“No I expect not. She is your friend. But it is not as if I am allowing that choice in this instance. That sort of loyalty has caused more suffering in instances like this before.” Celestia's horn flared and Twilight vanished with a flash of light.

[Crystal Empire train station.]

A bright flash of light and a pop announced the arrival of a purple unicorn who landed with a thud in the snow just beyond the shield wall.

To those Crystal ponies who had missed the light and her appearance, Twilight Sparkle made sure every one knew she was there by the loud string of profanity she let out.

[Sweet Apple Acres.]

Celestia looked at the others, noting the anger among them, though the moment one stepped forward, Big Mac in fact, she stopped them.

A massive wall of flames erupted between her and the rest of the farm, the circle of flame roaring hundreds of feet into the sky, the heated updraft designed to blow even flying creatures off course.

With the world sealed off Celestia turned back to Applejack, the mare hadn't moved, her chest rising and falling still as she slumbered.

“Again I am sorry for this Applejack. I wish you peace in your next life.” Celestia's horn flared again.

“So … you ever wonder what would happen if I dragon mailed you to yourself?”

Celestia paused, and looked back as Spike strode through the firewall, his coat turning to ash as he passed through the heat, unbothered by the flames.

“Spike...”

“Cause you know, I figure it will either fizzle out or maybe just maybe it will drop you into a nonstop loop of agony as you're burned alive forever and ever with no way out and no way to be rescued.”

“Spike....”Celestia's ear twitched a little.

“But you know what? If you try again kill my filly friends sister in front of her and her family like you're threatening, we're gonna find out together right here and now.” Spike stated flatly letting a flicker of green flame dance along his teeth as he narrowed his eyes at the larger figure. ”Wanna see who's faster on the draw?”

“Spike I don't want to do this but if Applejack infects any one...” Celestia frowned.

“Yeah I get it. It's a nightmare scenario. A TPK. A wipe. I've run a few games like that, every DM has. Not to punish the players... well not most of the time, but to see what they can do.”

“This is hardly a game.”

“I mean I ran one game with a zombie outbreak. But a lot of the zombies didn't even know they were infected and it resisted any kinds of detection. I even threw in a Zombie t-rex cause who doesn't like an old fashion dinosaur zombie?” Spike continued glaring at her, but ignoring her attempts to interrupt.

“Are you going some where with this Spike Or is this going to remain a mexicolt standoff. Because I am more than willing to risk your threat if it saves every pony from another outbreak of witch wolves.”

“See that's what I was thinking too. And I set up a way for the players to turn the town to ash in order to save the surrounding countryside from the infected in the town. But you see in my game the players didn't try to escape or burn the place to the ground... though they did blow up an inn and that's kinda been their trademark move since in every other town they've been to. The thing is they did stuff I didn't expect. They noticed things and put them together and found the source of the plague. They met and fought a boss who by all rights should have destroyed the low level players. But they used tricks, trapped the body snatching big bad in a inverted circle of protection from evil and killed him, ten levels before they should have been able to, it was awesome.”

“Spike.....”

“The point is did you ever think to investigate the why of this? Why there were so many witch wolves? If you could save those infected?” Spike asked. “ How many angles did you look at the problem from?”

“Sixty three died in Canterlot when I tried to do that. Some pony made a mistake and got infected and it spread. It is why the north face only has a large park on it and no buildings. I had to destroy a whole district to contain the outbreak. Nothing was discovered.” Celestia let her ears droop.

“Ouch harsh. So tell me this did you use all your resources?”

“Of course. I tried to help them all before it was found to be useless. All I could offer was a painless death to stop the spread.”

“Did you have a moon dog helping you? This sounds like magic and Rahs eats magic..”

“No but...”

“Did you have a Twilight Sparkle? A pony you've stated yourself is beyond gifted in all things magic?”Spike continued.

“Spike, you know...”

“Did you have the Element's of Harmony? Something that we've seen has cleansed a taint from Nightmare Moon and returned your sister? For that matter did you have your sister? The very creator of both the witch wolves and the moon dogs?”

“.....”

“What about Sombra? Or Soloman's notes and books? What about a good half dozen plus gods that owe favors that we can call on for aid? Did Ascepius even exist back then? The goddess of healing? What about your school and all the gifted ponies in it Moon Dancer, Minuette, Twinkle Shine, Lyra, Lemon Hearts, you think they wouldn't try to help with all they've done?! Did you have any of that when you first looked into this?” Spike shouted, the little dragon pointing a claw up at Celestia.

“No.... I did not.”Celestia stared at Spike for a moment.

“Well?” Spike demanded.

“I am tempted to offer you a position as an adviser to the court.” Celestia stated simply.

“That's not an answer.”Spike huffed.

Celesita's horn faded, the glow dying out, the fire wall dropping as she stared at Spike. The large white alicorn turned away from Applejack, her horn lighting up again to break the chains holding Rahs. The moon dog moved quickly placing himself between Celestia and Applejack. He looked a little surprised when the solar mare tossed him the coat he had left behind on a tree branch.

Spike nodded and moved quickly to catch Applebloom before she ran over to Applejack again.

Another flare of the alicorn's horn along with a pop of white light and a pissed off Twilight appeared again before the Solar Princess.

“YOU!” Twilight growled.

“Applejack is fine for now Twilight. Spike convinced me to hold off. I am putting you in charge of the research to help her. I want her quarantined from every other pony and I want to make sure that no one else has been infected. Ponyville shall be in lock down as well. Keep mind you must be wary of every bit of blood, every drop of saliva, even her excrement as it was never known what exactly caused the spread. I will put any resource you need in your hooves for this and I will call in any favor from other gods I have if you think it will help. But if even one more pony shows signs of this Twilight, even one. I will be forced to purge Ponyville. I will not allow this to spread again, do you understand?” Princess Celestia demanded.

“Yes. I do.” Twilight let out a sigh her eyes steeled against the Princesses' gaze.

“I will give you what ever time you think you need, but I want daily progress reports. If you can find out how to stop the spread of this, I will consider lifting the quarantine, if you can cure it that would be even better. Aside from Gods however no one will enter or leave this town. Any who try will be stopped under the DR5 contagion rules. Make sure they all know that in town Twilight.”

“What does that mean?” Rarity asked.

“If any one tries to leave and refuses to turn back the Guard is authorized to kill them.” Pinkie Pie explained deflating.

“I truly hope that you will be successful in this Twilight. I do not wish for the alternative, but I will do it if I need to.” Celestia stated sadly.

“I don't like it. But I understand.” Twilight stated.

“I am sorry..... is there anything you need right now that I can get you?” Celestia offered a bit softer.

Twilight let out a sigh as her mind raced. “Any book that you can get written by Solomon, no matter how simple it seems. A full range of sensors including an earth pony MP scanner. And.....” Twilight trailed off with a frown.

“And what? I did say I would get you anything you think would help, what is it?” Celestia asked.

“I need Discord.” Twilight explained.

“Done.” Celestia answered with no hesitation.

Author's Note

Mare Frigoris (the "Sea of Cold") is a lunar mare in the far north of the Moon. It is located in the outer rings of the Procellarum basin, just north of Mare Imbrium, and stretches east to north of Mare Serenitatis. It is just north of the dark crater Plato.

Keep Calm and Frigoris On, Part 2

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Keep Calm and Frigoris On,
Part 2

[ 2 days later]

A great deal can happen in two days.

Oddly the quarantine was hardly an issue in Ponyville. The long time residents upon hearing about it checked their day planners and discovered that, yes, Tuesday had come a day early. Upon realizing this most residents went home and back to bed.

The Flower trio did not retreat to their bunker and instead simply put on full hazmat suits and covered themselves with wolfs bane, and silver jewelry. Afterwards they simply went about their business of tending flowers as usual.

But that was the strangest thing to happen in town.

Outside of Ponyville however was a different story.

Lockheed caught wind of what happened and locked down the border to the Griffon lands, no one in or out, sea ports closed, and everything.

Kaz did much the same though he offered his own aid if it was needed..

Rhino was visited by an irate pair of pink princesses, one of whom was fake, and found himself parting with some books he would rather not have, though he valued his reproductive organs far more than a few medical books.

Bleu while normally one to ignore politics gathered a score of fire dragons who took up positions around Ponyville startling most of the guards, though again the residents largely ignored them. Save Dinky, who thought they were cool.

The Crystal Empire went on a level three lock down with Shining Armor finding and putting any one who had contact with any of the Element Bearers, in a higher lock down in a secure building at the edge of the city, just in case. They were all housed in a large structure that was to be one of the new high end hotels and kept under close surveillance.

There was mild talk of making their interactions into a crystal theater series as some of it was hilarious.

Canterlot was in a full blow riot, one that made the Changeling invasion look like a class field trip. Applejack had just been up there with Twilight and the city was tearing itself apart trying to figure out everything from who she might have had contact with to what bathrooms she might have used.

And this was all without any of them even knowing what a witch wolf was.

Princess Luna was less than thrilled at what she missed after she decided to take a quick nap.

When her sister started explaining it, there were a large number of pauses in the story. All of said pauses were preceded by an immense flare of magic and a rather impressive blast of power. There was then a bit of silence until Princess Celestia reformed to continue the story, until she said something else Princess Luna didn't like.

Rebuilding the east wing would need to be put into the following years budget.

Finding out that she was the last to know, Princess Luna sent a strongly worded letter to Spike for not waking her, only to have a hastily drawn missive return from the small drake that was not spoken of in polite company, though it revealed that he had evidently finally just gotten to bed.

Celestia was sent to bed without any cake and Princess Luna and the Guard set out to stop stupid ponies from burning the city down around themselves.

[Sweet Apple Acres.]

A large barn had been constructed at the edge of the west field with a speed that would have surprised anyone who hadn't lived in Ponyville more than a week. The building was a two story, reinforced, self contained structure with no windows and only one door leading into an observation area and lab. That looked down into a room that didn't have a ceiling, but had a large thick glass window reinforced by science rather than magic. It was the same sort of glass Twilight had replaced all the windows at the library with.

Rainbow had bounced off them a few times and stated the tree trunk was softer.

Inside the main part of the building was a very depressed orange pony. The place was set up and furnished with everything from her own room, but a cage was still a cage.

Though at least she had another hat.

“Good morning Applejack.” Twilight stated walking in with Rahs, Spike, and a worried looking Applebloom. The filly was followed by Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity. The group of them were on the other side of the glass ceiling standing on a walk way that surrounded it.

Applejack felt like she was in a fish bowl.

“Howdy.” the farm mare sighed.

“Did you sleep well?”Fluttershy asked.

“Not in the slightest.” Applejack frowned.

“Well Princess Luna says your dreams were normal last night. Do you recall anything else about what happened in the forest. Rahs is rather... unhelpful on what went on in there.” Twilight glared at her brother who seemed to think the roof was looking lovely today

“Like ah said, just bits and pieces. I remember fighting off tha timber wolves and every time ah got a good hit on um, they collapsed, ah remember being angry and looking to take out more of um after tha first fell. After I ran into that woods and got tha second one... Ah don't recall much after that.” Applejack offered a small glance directed at Rahs before she turned a bit red.

“Alright I do have good news.” Twilight smiled clearly missing the interaction.

“Twi...I'm locked in a box, cursed with something, far to damn fuzzy, and worst of all, ah can't taste anything but water when ah eat one of mah apples. This better be damn good news.” Applejack snapped.

“Hmm? Oh that. I've already figured that part out I think, here.” Twilight placed an apple in the rooms supply slot, sliding it through for the mare. “You won't be able to taste any apples you grew yourself due to putting your own magic into it and therefore it's like tasting your own saliva. It can sustain you, but well... you get the idea.”

Applejack frowned picking up the apple as the dumbwaiter brought it down. She wasn't sure what was used to sanitize it but it smelled bad and was usually damp. Thankfully that only happened on the way up so the apple was untouched. She picked it up wiped it a bit on her fur and took a bite. She chewed a moment before she relaxed a little. ”Tastes a little odd but ah ken tell it's an apple..... a golden delicious from Appleloosa ain't it?”

“Sis knows her apples.” Applebloom grinned.

“Of course she does.”Rarity rolled her eyes.

“Any way onto the good news. The six sixty sixth have captured a wild timber wolf for me so I can study it. Zecora is doing her own research into this. I've also got Iinii and Maohk coming. She's the only other one I know of who was attacked and wounded by a witch wolf directly who hasn't turned. I'm curious if it's due to her being a buffalo or if it's something else. I've also got a number of ponies who've been attacked by timber wolves being brought here for study as well.“ Twilight listed. “Also Asce..... Asce....”

Rahs put his hand on his sisters head as she twitched.

“Woof.”

“What's the snake lady got to do with it?” Applejack questioned.

Applebloom blinked looking between Rahs and Applejack. “Yah understood him?”

“What? Course ah did he 's speaking pony...... he ain't speaking pony is he?” Applejack sighed.

“Eeenope “ Applebloom offered as Rarity and Rainbow Dash shook their heads.

“Ehh, that makes seven who can understand him now. Me, Twilight, Shining, Princess Luna, Pinkie, and Fluttershy.” Spike shrugged. “No big deal.”

“Ruff.” Rahs retorted.

“He thinks it's a big deal.” Applejack stated pointing a hoof at him.

Spike rolled his eyes “Of course he does the more ponies who understand him the less he....”

“ASCEPIUS!” Twilight shouted pushing over the fear the snake woman's very name brought. “She's got a medical scan of every one in the Empire when she was vaccinating ponies and that includes all of us. So I have a base line of what you should be coming, and a current baseline. Alright... I am also going to need another base line, and you're not going to like it.”

“What?”

“Rahs explained that when you were a witch wolf there was a great deal of magic that he ate out of you before you turned back...”Twilight glanced at Pinkie and Rainbow Dash who were sniggering, though no one was sure why. “With that bit of information, I can only assume that if you absorb or eat enough magic you'll revert to the Witch Wolf form. From there I can get a base line on that form.”

Applejack winced.

“Do we have to do that?” Applejack frowned.

“If I want to cure you I need to check out everything. Including the cursed form itself. “ Twilight explained. “Rahs managed to revert you back once and he says he can do it again so he's going to be in there with you to pull you back once I have everything I need.”

“Bark.” Rahs offered.

“Great ah can't taste apples, but ah taste like apples.”

Not likely relevant to the research, but I made a note of that any way.” Twilight stated jotting something down in a book.

“Might I suggest darling that you start with a set amount of magic and time it so we can tell exactly how much it will take to trigger the change.” Rarity offered.

“Ooh, good idea.” Twilight stated jotting down more notes.

“Does every one have to be in here fer this?” Applejack grumbled.

“You know why Rahs and I are here. Spike is here in case I need to send a message and lets face it he's the reason Ponyville isn't a smoking crater and Equestria isn't in another war with itself. Rarity just proved she was valuable with her eye for details. Fluttershy might be able to talk to you in the other form. Rahs said you didn't speak, and Pinkie and Rainbow Dash are here to add their own unique views on what happens. I want as many eyes on this as I can Applejack. It might be uncomfortable, but the more data I gather the closer I can get to fixing this.”

“And Applebloom?”

“Would you rather her try to break in here with the other Crusaders to see what's going on?” Pinkie Pie snorted. “Any way the sooner we get you fixed the sooner we can have a 'You're cured' party.”

“Seriously?” Rainbow Dash stared at the party mare.

“I like parties.” Pinkie giggled.

“Fine.” Applejack grumbled as Rahs took off his coat and headed into the 'airlock' Twilight had set up.

Rahs had done more in this situation that Twilight had expected given he was the only one who likely couldn't be affected by this. But to have him willingly go out of his way to help said quite a bit. Seems he had gotten just as protective of the other girls as he had of his family.

"Alright every one pay attention. Applejack stand in the middle of the room with your left side to us. I'm going to start directing some spells to you, let me know how you feel as we progress. Every one else point out anything of note you see Spike and I will take notes.”

“I'll write my own darling. You might be hard pressed to hear everyone if they all notice something.” Rarity offered.

“Okay, I'll talk to Spike, Pinkie you tell Twi what you see, Rarity can you get Shy and Bloom will let Spike know too. “ Rainbow Dash offered.

“Alright let me turn on the recording crystals as well I don't want to miss anything.” Twilight stated, her horn glowing as she set up a few things. Alright are we all set up here.”

Rahs set what looked like a colander covered in wires and lights on Applejack's head , though he didn't strap it in place. He gave a thumbs up to his sister above him before backing away to the other side of the room.

“Good. Applejack, I'm going to begin.” Twilight offered. “I'm going to utilize a basic runners buff spell. I'm familiar enough with it to know exactly how much MP I'm using with it even with Rahs present.”

"I predict 1.21 jiggawatts!" Pinkie Pie chimed in.

Twilight droned on further with something else and Applejack easily tuned out her sciencey stuff, the glass muffled their voices enough that she could easily do that. Applejack's attention was on Rahs.

In particular the new mass of wounds covering his body, wounds she had inflicted.

She let out a small sigh frowning.

“Sorry bout all that Rahs.” she gestured to the wounds on his bare chest and limbs.

Rahs glanced down at his bandaged form and shrugged slightly.

“Woof.”

“It sure as heck ain't nothing..... Yah, should get outta here, ah dun wanna hurt you again.” Applejack sighed.

Rahs smirked and shook his head.

About that point Applejack winced as she could feel the magic start.

[ Diamond Dog Warrens.]

Jynx was not happy.

Not only had Princess Luna and Cadence asked her to give Rahs time to figure things out, now the entire town of Ponyville was quarantined and Rahs was inside it.

Not that she had the time to go see him anyway.

Which was really too bad after that packet of notes about his likes and dislikes and numerous other tidbits she had gotten from Cadence. There were a few things in that information dump she wanted to try out.

Of course she had other problems.

Things had gotten insane in the Jade Wolf pack.

For starters the pack size had grown massively. A multitude of diamond dogs had shown up upon hearing the rumors coming out of the Crystal Empire of a witch wolf. Many had sought to go to the empire to find this fabled ancestor of their kind, only to be told that it had been killed.

They were also told it was killed by a moon dog named Rahs Sparkle.

Many saw the statue, and nearly all of them then flocked to Ponyville. The calmer of the newcomers settled in, trying for their own niche in the area, either joining the Jade Wolves, or finding a spot to set up their own home in the large swaths of countryside and rolling hills near the town.

Others had decided that they wanted the land for their own pack and had challenged her for it thinking they were better than some female to lead.

Six other packs had been absorbed into the Jade Wolves and she had to ensure that they knew their place under her rule.

Their former leaders were all being watched closely. Well the two who hadn't straight out challenged her for possession with a fight to the death anyway. The two survivors had wanted her as their bitch, not dead.

She expected trouble and it was there, only it wasn't what she had expected. Her own training with Rahs had made her better as he got better, but she didn't realize that her pack guards had taken it upon themselves to learn from what she was showing Rahs. And because of this, they got better. The ones who truly believed her to be their Alpha saw she was studying ponies and did so as well picking up a host of new skills and abilities.

They were still a bunch of dumb asses, but the number of pure idiots was growing fewer.

Then some mutt found out she was courting the moon dog.

Mutts that were causing her issues stopped being problems, some dogs left in a hurry, yet far more showed up seeking to join her pack. The warrens population had at best been about fifty dogs. Now it was rivaling the size of Ponyville in sheer numbers.

There were some who were starting to consider her the Alpha of Alphas. Her pack had grown massively and although it took most of her efforts to keep everything smooth, it was working.

Jynx was not sure she was ready to deal with this many dogs following her like this.

[?]

They won't listen to me. None of them will.

Forthe fumed.

That damned bitch and that vile monster of a dog were causing far more problems for him now. There was not a single dog that would even acknowledge him as their god any more. Even Peabody who had listened to him before was not only ignoring him, but actively looking to settle down with something of another species just to spite him.

This would not do. Particularly since there was now supposedly a witch wolf in Ponyville with those damn Sparkles. And the Sun bitch hadn't blasted them like she did before.

That had been a glorious time, he hadn't needed to do anything, the pony sun bitch had gotten so panicked over the cursed children of the night that she went out hunting them herself and wiped them out. He had nearly a thousand years to get his race on track again and then the abomination had shown up. That abomination and its summoner were ruining everything.

Now he just needed to find another way to destroy them, and he had an idea of how to do just that.

It would take time, but he had that if nothing else.

[Sweet Apple Acres]

“Alright.” Twilight frowned. “Observations please?”

“They are absolutely adorable!” Rarity squeed.

“Wonder what they got up to being in those woods so long if she's like this now.” Rainbow Dash grinned wiggling her eyebrows.

“Oh My.”Fluttershy added.

“Well shoot. I owe Lyra a plate of cupcakes.” Pinkie Pie pouted.

“This is gonna add a new wrinkle in the betting pool.” Spike frowned.

“Is she purring?” Applebloom asked.

On the other side of the glass, pinned under a large orange witch wolf was Rahs. Witch-jack was stretched out on his chest purring loudly as she rubbed her head against him. The moon dog was clearly confused as to what to do and nearly blushing through his fur.

“Relevant observations please?” Twilight sighed.

Author's Note

Happy back to the future day.

Keep Calm and Frigoris On, Part 3

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

~~Keep Calm and Frigoris On,~~
~~Part 3~~
'SPACEBALLS', THE TWILIGHT GETS A PUPPY CHAPTER

[Canterlot]

“Sombra please, your help could benefit every pony in this instance....” Luna pleaded.

“In the words of the current generation, 'mother.'” Sombra nearly spat the word. “Fuck off.”

Luna huffed and headed out of the library, taking note of her sister standing by the door watching her with concern.

Sombra, satisfied the point was made, returned to his reading.

“We cannot get him to help sister. It is most infuriating, neither bribes nor anything we have tried will get him to share what he might know.” Luna sighed.

“I think perhaps Luna that you might simply be asking wrong. He is approximately a teenager after all.” Celestia responded with a small smile. “ Let me try.”

Celestia moved past her sister and part ways into the library before she spoke out.

“Sombra, how would you like to prove you know more than the mare who beat you in the Empire as well as possibly screw over something your father may have setup?” Celestia asked.

Sombra paused his reading and lifted his head. He remained silent a moment more before he spoke. “I'm listening.”

[Two weeks after the quarantine]

The massive form of a white buffalo god took up far more space in the lab than Twilight was comfortable with, though she was also unsure how he had managed to fit inside in the first place.

Iinii and Maohk were both peering over the railing down at the orange earth pony below who was trying to read a book and failing a bit as she felt all the eyes on her.

Applejack was getting more than a little stir crazy, despite the visits from her friends and the constant presence of the Sparkles.

Still quite a lot had happened in the last two weeks. Twilight got the Timber wolf, who was in a cage outside. She had tested all the ponies mauled by timber wolves by pumping magic into them to see if they changed, none had.

Going by that she started work on a testing everyone in town only for Spike to question what was she going to do if some pony changed?

After some consideration it was Applebloom that had a suggestion for testing that worked.

The spell Luna taught Sweetiebelle was drawn to those that ate magic and Sweetie couldn't even cast it near Applejack.

Getting Princess Luna to teach Twilight the spell was easy. Finding out the third part of the spell was what Princess Luna used to change the very stars in the sky.

Twilight protested the alteration of stars that had been followed for a thousand years, and Luna placated her some by saying many stars didn't change at all, including all of them used for navigation.

Checking the spell over Twilight found that the motes of light were indeed drawn to Applejack just as they were to Rahs, though at a faster rate. She also found that they were drawn to the timber wolf.

Using this as a base, Luna tested all of Ponyville and found no other magical draws.

Save Pinkie Pie who used her hooves to push the motes around to make funny pictures.

She was ignored.

The second test was done in the Crystal Empire and while none of the ponies drew in any magic, they did find three more hidden null rooms and a few more veins of mithril near the mines.

The final test in Canterlot showed no sign of a pony drawing in any power, but it did locate a cash or two of mithrial weapons in some antique collections as well as some items in museums.

While this didn't change the fact the lock down was necessary, it did however remove all of the quarantines from the Empire and Canterlot.

Kaz reopened his borders to the minotaur islands, though Lockheed kept his lands on lock down. Bleu didn't move her flight of dragons either.

“Alright, thanks for coming out, but I'm not seeing anything with you. There's traces of odd magic in Applejack when she changes and because of that flare I can follow it some, but when she's a pony and when she's a witch wolf I can't find the magic at all, it's only during the change. There's nothing like it in you or the timber wolf.

“With all I have been through if I was thus cursed I'm sure it would have shown up by now.” The buffalo cow smiled.

“Umm not to offend, but I do get a rather odd scan from your umm eyes.” Twilight offered.

The green gem eyed buffalo cow smiled again. “Well, you would have to ask Iinii about that. My sight was lost in my first fight with a witch wolf, but I recovered and these gems allow me to see better than i had before.

The red furred buffalo cow chuckled running a hoof over the claw marks crossing her face.

“I was friends with the former god of harpies Raptor. On top of being the god of harpies he was also quite skilled in gem cutting and shaping. He was attempting to gain gemstones or jewel craft as a secondary portfolio. Sadly his people were wiped out by the dreadnaughts before he was able to do so and he passed on.” Iinii explained. “Harpies have never been a very prolific race, but they are fairly easy to bring back from extinction as they are usually the result of a diamond dog and a griffon's union, much as the hippogryphs come from the pony and griffon unions. He made her eyes at my request and a such i owe him a favor I can no longer repay, thus I tend his successor, Fledge. He is the youngest god after Cadence and he has taken the secondary portfolio of the air at my suggestion. If it flies, and is not some one elses, it is Fledge's.”

“I still wish we could have been more help.” Maohk frowned looking down at Applejack. “This cannot be easy for any pony involved.”

“It's not but I'm getting closer to something. The timber wolf might have been a red herring, but I don't think it is, there has to be some sort of connection. Rahs has said that their magic has different tastes, and Chrysalis says they have emotions. But what is the connection?” Twilight grumbled her ears flat to her head.

“I have heard you have asked for Discord.”Iinii questioned.”The Coyote will be a problem. But he may have the answers you seek.”

“After a bit more thought I agreed he was a last ditch effort. We need to use the Elements to remove him from stone, and we would need them all again to put him back if he does something. “Twilight sighed. “That's a lot of magic that would probably trigger Applejack's change. The last thing on the list altogether is to try and force the Element's of Harmony to cure her. The problem there is she is one of the Elements and forcing them to turn on her is likely to break off their connection from us, thus removing Equestria's greatest tool of defense.”

“You may be over thinking that.” Maohk suggested.

“Probably, but in this sort of situation I'd rather over think something than under think it. Besides there are avenues we have yet to try.” Twilight sighed.

“Like the former dark king?” Iinii growled.

Maohk placed a hoof against the larger buffalo's leg. “Calm down, he was not guilty of half the things he is accused of.”

“He still kept the empire enslaved and practiced dark magic. He turned some of his own people against the others as his soldiers.” Iinii growled.

“You are simply mad he was going to try and use me as ransom so the buffalo would stop attacking.”Maohk offered.

“And?” the great buffalo asked.

“He's still on a short leash and he's cooperated with everyone except Princess Luna as of lately. No one trusts him, but if Sombra will help, it will be a step in the right direction I think.” Twilight offered. “ Plus you forgot assaulting and injuring several guards and two equestrian citizens, vulgar conduct, threats, attempted regicide, and generally being a dick.” Twilight listed. “But supposedly he's a skilled enchanter and if this is some sort of enchantment he might spot something I missed.”

[Later]
[ “Wait a moment where the heck am I?This is supposed to be my big return!”]

Sombra raised an eyebrow looking down at the earth pony in the room below him. Princess Celestia, Twilight and Rahs stood around with him. Twilight made the guards wait outside much to their protest.

“It's still alive?” He asked simply.

“We are trying to save HER from whatever is making her turn into a witch wolf.” Twilight explained.

“How are you going to figure anything out just watching it? You need to cut it open and see if anything has changed. Clearly you are not a doctor.” Sombra snorted.

“Hard pass on that cutting me open thing.” Applejack grumbled.

Celestia rolled her eyes as Twilight huffed.

The former king still cut a rather imposing figure, his black mane flowed around his head not unlike Celestia's though it was much shorter, giving him the look of constantly being windblown. The curved red horn was covered in inhibitor rings, though he barely seemed to notice them. He had also exchanged his fancy fur lined cloak for a simpler one, though the black material covered his back and most important to him any way, his blank flank. Twilight took note that he had fangs as well, and if he wasn't a total ass he might be attractive.

“We have full medical scans that check everything now a days, there's no longer a reason for a doctor to cut any one open unnecessarily.” Twilight explained.

“I am well aware of that after several physicals since my confinement.” Sombra stated.

“Then why would you suggest cutting her own, that's barbaric!” Twilight snapped.

“The scans you use are magical in nature and that thing eats magic. Your scans invalidate themselves.” Sombra snapped.

Twilight opened her mouth to say something before closing it and considering.

“Still a hard no on cutting me open.” Applejack stated.

“Alright I see where you're coming from, but she only absorbs magic at the rate of point four three six one mp a second. I can easily over compensate to account for that bit of drain.” Twilight stated.”The main issues are we need to figure out how this is spread and how to stop it from spreading AND save her.”

Sombra grumbled as he looks down at the farm mare below him.

“I doubt it can be saved from it. Note how its ears and mouth have altered themselves to what it's become. An enchantment that changes the fundamental properties of the target will not allow the target to go back to what it once was.” Sombra stated.

“I was aware of that, but living things can adapt. And even if we can't revert her we need to find a way to make sure she's not contagious, and how to keep her from changing.” Twilight stated.

“Moving it away from any sources of magic would be prudent. Locking it in a null room would suffice.” Sombra pondered.”A mithril coat of some sort would reduce the rate of absorption of magic as well. Perhaps less than that.”

“I had considered that, but that doesn't cure the contagion.” Twilight offered.

“Have you found out what the transmission agency is?”Celestia offered.

“No. We've ruled out standard contact and airborne. Current thought is blood born.” Twilight answered. “So saliva, blood, and other bodily fluids might transfer it.”

Sombra frowned looking over some images on the table of witch-jack.

“It is surprisingly brightly colored.” Sombra frowned. “ I do not recall ever seeing a witch wolf of this coloration. They tended towards grays, purples, blues, and blacks with the rare red and brown. I have never seen orange.”

“Never?” Celestia asked.

“No. Is it fertile?”

Rahs nearly fell over at that question and the others in the room simply stared.

“Tha buck?” Applejack demanded.

“Why?”

“The few witch wolf females that were around were not fertile, Nightmare claimed something about the process of bringing them to this world sterilized them. I find that ridiculous, likely she only brought the ones that were already couldn't breed to stop my father from raising an army easily. It was a reason the males were sent out to breed an army with the local diamond dogs.” Sombra explained.

“None of the diamond dogs have ever shown signs of being able to eat magic. There have also been conflicts with them that led to injuries and no pony has changed at all in over nine hundred years. The diamond dogs have been back on the surface for a little over seven hundred.” Celestia informed.

“These are still oddities.” Sombra stated. “Out of curiosity what is that golem you have outside in a cage? Does it have a relevance to this?”

“The timber wolf?”

“Apt, if simple name.”

“A big one of those bit Applejack and despite evidence to the contrary I can't shake that there is a connection.” Twilight explained.

Sombra said nothing and simply turned walking out the door.

Twilight glared at Celestia though the alicorn simply followed the stallion out.

Sombra was staring at the wooden creature in the cage curiously. The wolven creature oddly was not snapping or growling at him but was simply watching the dark unicorn.

“ I will need use of my horn.” Sombra stated.

Celestia raised an eyebrow and Twilight glared.

“Do you expect me to help or simply keep pointing out the obvious? You have eight actually skilled guards, that thing,” Sombra snapped gesturing at Rahs who growled at him. “ A witch wolf, a goddess, what ever paltry hedge spells you know and I don't have my sword. I am not going to try anything 'funny'.”

“Ooh what's funny?” Pinkie Pie asked popping up next to Sombra sending the former king crashing to the ground as he yelped and lept away from the pink pony who was simply there.

The guards and Princess Celestia stared as Pinkie Pie stood there, looking down curiously at Sombra who was clutching his chest and trying to get his breathing under control.

“Pinkie Pie what brings you out here?”Twilight asked with the air of some one long used to this sort of thing.

“Oh, I came to tell you Rarity and Fluttershy are bringing lunch by for you guys, though I didn't know we would be having more guests. I'll need to make some more food.” Pinkie Pie offered.

“Why would I care for any of the common fare youhmmmmph!” Sombra growled as he stood up only to have a cupcake shoved into his mouth.

“So any way Princess are you going to stay for lunch because I need to know if I should bring any cake or not.”Pinkie Pie smiled darkly. “Cause you know, you're not getting any.”

Celestia sighed, but let it go.” No Pinkie, we do not plan to stay..”

“What.....!?” Sombra began again only to have another cupcake shoved in his mouth.

“Anyway, Twilight I should be back in about an hour, did Applejack want anything special?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“I'm not sure, why don't you go ask her” Twilight suggested before Pinkie Pie pronked up the stairs to yell down at Applejack.

Sombra grumbled as he licked his lips clear of the confection.

“The rings?” he grumbled.

Celestia sighed , her horn lighting up pulling the collection of rings from Sombra's horn. The dark unicorn grumbled rubbing his horn with a hoof to make sure they were all gone before his horn lit up in a red aura.

Rahs could taste the flare of magic from the unicorn, oddly it tasted like coffee and milk. His sister was wrong about the olive thing.

Despite every pony tensing up Sombra's magic simply ran over the caged timber wolf. The unicorn blinked and his eyes started flaring with black tendrils of energy.

“It's not any sort of enchantment, but this feels different from what the thing inside is. This one isn't pulling on my magic like it should be if it was a true witch wolf.” Sombra pondered. “ The draw is there, but barely present.”

“We noticed that issue earlier. Though a secondary conformation that it's not an enchantment is good. Though that does open some avenues to try, perhaps to see the result of poison joke.” Twilight considered.

“I have no idea what that is either, but this is not some basic magic. It has traces of imperial taint.” Sombra frowned.

“Necromancy.” Celestia frowned.

“Well that explains why I didn't recognize it. I was banned from looking into that school.” Twilight spared a glance at Celestia, though the princess didn't react.

“I know little myself. My father dabbled as far as I know, but given there were no raised dead in the empire he clearly didn't put much stock in it.” Sombra grumbled.

“There is far more to necromancy than simply making zombies and undead. Life drain, disease spells and anything dealing with souls is in necromancy.” Celestia sighed.

“Yeah you have to be careful with necromancy, do it to much and you'll get hickeys.” Pinkie Pie stated popping up next to Sombra again sending the unicorn toppling over the other way with a crash.

Once again no one else saw her appear there.

“Pinkie what do you know about necromancy?” Celestia narrowed her eyes.

“No offense but it's none of your bees wax what Fluttershy get up to. We're two of age, consenting adults and if I wanna give her a lil hickey...”Pinkie rambled.

“PINKIE...” Twilight shouted cutting her off.” Necromancy, not Neck Romancing.”

“OOOOOOOoooooh... I don't get it.” Pinkie Pie shrugged.

“Must you do that every time!?” Sombra snapped.

“Oh right, sorry bout that, here you go.” Pinkie Pie gave him a small paper plate with a cup cake on it.

Celestia frowned before noticing that all the guards had cupcakes as well. Then she frowned deeper.

“Why are you giving me this?” Sombra demanded.

“What you don't want it?” Pinkie chimed.

“I did not say that.” Sombra grumbled.

“Okay, you looked like you could use one Mr. grumpy pants.” Pinkie Pie smiled.

“Harrumph.” Sombra harrumphed as he picked it up to take a bite that he wouldn't choke on this time..

“Sombra... what do we say?” Celestia stated staring at him.

The dark unicorn blinked then flattened his ears before letting out a small sigh.

“Thank you for the treat, common mare.” Sombra growled.

“You're welcome.” Pinkie Pie stated and pronked off.

“See was that so hard?” Celestia smirked.

“You are by far, my least favorite aunt.” Sombra grumbled.

“That means I am also your favorite aunt, as I'm your only aunt.” Celestia chuckled. “So how about sharing a bite of that with your favorite aunt then?”

Sombra raised an eyebrow at her. “No” he stated before shoving the whole cup cake into his mouth as Celestia pouted.

“Wait, what, Aunt? What?” Twilight demanded as Rahs looked on confused as well.

["I am quite cross"]

Keep Calm and Frigoris On, Part 4

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

~~Keep Calm and Frigoris On,~~
~~Part 4~~

["This is supposed to be my triumphant return? Where the heck am I?”]

Rahs lay stretched out near the edge of the containment building on top of a pile of unused lumber, half in a doze. This whole situation had been a complete mess and he really had no clue what the heck was going on at this point.

His sister was running some test or another and wanted him out of the way to avoid any sort of magic draw he might cause so he had come outside and found a spot to stretch out. The crystal spire was keeping the snow away, but this far from it, it wasn't keeping out the cold, so Rahs was quite content to be bundled up in his coat with a nice warm ray of sunshine beaming down on him.

Changeling invasions, empires returning from nothing, Luna's son showing up and being a dick, and now this stupid shit with the timber wolves and whatever happened to Applejack. This had been a rather insane year, and Hearths Warming hadn't even happened yet.

Still... Rahs couldn't argue that Applejack didn't look and smell good while changed, and as a pony her scent had changed as well. She also seemed a bit too affectionate when transformed and he had no idea what was up with that. Not sure he minded so much, but she denied everything when she was back to normal so who knew what was going on.

Not like he needed to worry about it, Twilight was already super worried enough for everyone and he already had three other females to consider, he didn't want to think what would happen if this was a serious attachment and not some stupid crap from the witch wolf infection.

That was still a weird thing to think on.

Rahs might have continued his rambling thoughts for a while longer, though they were interrupted as something got in the way of his sunshine.

Opening one amber eye Rahs looked up into the red face of Big Mac, the large stallion had what looked like a iron rail road rail sitting on his shoulder. Granny Smith stood next to him with a slight grin on her green muzzle and a bundled up package that was probably lunch.

“Howdy Rahs.” Granny smirked as the moon dog sat up, his ears perking as he turned his attention to her, it would be a bit rude just to keep laying there while she spoke. He offered a yawn and a small wave in return.

“Everything going well?” Granny asked her smirk not getting any smaller. For some reason that unnerved Rahs. “So, Applebloom has been telling us what's been going on out here.....”

The screech of metal drew Rahs' attention to Big Mac, who was casually bending the rail road track over his shoulder like it was taffy. Rahs blinked a little as Big Mac stared down at him before it all clicked.

Rahs flattened his ears and slapped a paw to his face.

Granny cackled at the expression before she started walking towards the building.
“Jus be sure tah have some of that poison joke around, ah want great grand foals not great grand pups.”

Big Mac simply dropped the now pretzel shaped iron rail on the ground before the moon dog before grinning and walking off with a last gesture of pointing his hoof to his eyes then to Rahs before following Granny.

Rahs just let out an embarrassed and annoyed growl.

Twilight dropped back into a chair with an exasperated sigh.

She had no idea what this was. None of the tests helped. She had hit countless dead ends and had even entertained a few of Pinkie Pies stranger ideas to no avail.

She had looked into the necromancy that Sombra had pointed out , but unfortunately neither she nor the former king had enough knowledge about it to do more than detect traces of it in both Applejack and the timber wolf. Princess Celestia knew very little and even Princess Luna was clueless about it. It seemed the the rest of the gods were not sure either. Imperial taint as it was called was not a widely practiced art. It generally wound up being worse for the caster than the targets so dark and shadow magic were much better options for the same level of power. There was a known practitioner in the past, but the Ram god was killed when the last tribe of his race was wiped out by dreadnoughts.

Twilight was pretty much back where she started no closer to curing her friend than anything else. The only thing she had noted was that if Rahs drained the excess magic from her, the necromantic taint got smaller. She had set up several sessions only to find that the taint hit a certain point and wouldn't drain any lower.

Trying to drain Applejack while she was a pony only increased the draw of magic she was absorbing and it wound up that she would actually pull on some of Rahs' magic through the link to keep herself stable.

Rahs was also starting to get sick of apples.

Twilight had even secreted in a couple of lab mice to see if she could duplicate the transference to find out what it was. The lab mice were injected with blood, drool and magic drawn from both forms of Applejack.

Neither of the mice changed in the slightest, though one kept making plans to take over the world.

They also showed no sign of the necromantic taint.

She let Rahs eat the magic of the timber wolf and watched the scan on it finding that Rahs devoured all of it with no trace of the magic of any kind remaining.

She was stumped.

Applejack was starting to go stir crazy, the others were worried, and she had made no new progress for days.

Ascepius, Twilight shuddered, had come by and done her thing as well and found nothing of note. Bleu knew nothing. The books she had been given from Rhino had nothing, Iinii knew nothing, Kaz and Lockheed knew nothing. None of the books that Moon Dancer and Sunburst had found were not any help, even Solomon's journal had nothing. White might know something but it was universally agreed he would show up after everything was done and over with. Even Angel Bunny said that his grandfather had a thing for being late.

Twilight had even raided the restricted wing of the library to look over the necromantic tomes there. There were only three of them on file. One was bound in pony skin and spoke of some distant land called Tamberlane and it's King, Bray, but had nothing on spells.

The second one required a magic phrase to be said correctly, evidently the last time the book was read some one got it wrong, there was an army of undead and some poor stallion had his foreleg replaced with a chainsaw before it was all over.

The final book was just a bunch of necromancer jokes and puns, like 'It's not hard to raise a family, if their buried close enough together'. Twilight almost suggested burning that one by the end of it.

In the end none of them told her anything.

It was stupid, she knew there was some connection right there but she couldn't put her hoof on it. It didn't make sense, it was driving her mad that she couldn't figure out the chaotic mix of spells and conflicting information, it...

...It was time for plan D.

[“FINALY!”]

Author's Note

"Why is the chapter over? Why am i not in Ponyville!?!"

Waters Academy, part 1

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

~~Waters Academy,~~
~~part 1~~

[ “NO! We are doing another chapter of Keep Calm and Frigoris On! We are not moving to spring until I get my part.”]

[“ Cripes you have any cheese with all that whine?”]

[ “Yes, it's American though”]

[“Ugh pass, couldn't you have at least sprung for cheddar?”]

[“No.” ]

[“Fiiiiine.”]

[“ WOOO!”]

Keep Calm and Frigoris On,
Part 5

["The return of the handsome devil"]

[“ I'm already regretting this.”]

[Sweet Apple Acres one and a half months after all this started. One week after Hearths Warming.]

“ So nothing in any of the books?” Rarity asked.

“No.” Twilight responded.

“None of the gods can help?” Fluttershy questioned.

“None that are still alive.” Twilight frowned.

“And Sombra didn't know jack?”Rainbow Dash queried.

“He tried to help but his knowledge was limited, he did point out new avenues of research, but they all dead ended.” Twilight grumbled. “Rather unexpected really.”

“Did you try the poison joke?” Spike offered.

“Yes it made a mini timber-jack who ate both my lab mice.”Twilight grumbled.

“Did you ask Santa Whooves to cure her?” Pinkie Pie pronked chipperly.

“He sent an apology letter and a muzzle.”Twilight responded.

“Ahahmf not comforbl wif dhis.” Applejack griped from behind said muzzle.

“No one is darling.” Rarity rolled her eyes. “But at least you are out in the sun shine again.”

“We even tried using the Element's of Harmony, but they wouldn't activate to target Applejack.” Twilight sighed.” Which actually is pretty good news as they don't consider her disharmonious.”

“Well I still think this should have been plan S for stupid.” Bleu snorted.

“Or plan Q for Q. “ Pinkie Pie added.

Standing before the group was a large statue. Discord stood there with his arms outstretched, dressed in a tutu, with his nose smushed by his own torn off tail, the appendage part of the statue and stuck to his face. The statue was also covered in bite marks and bird droppings.

Celestia had been using him as a bird feeder.

On the far side of the statue with Spike, stood Rahs, ready to maul the chaos god again, though he was also keeping an eye on Applejack. Ready to deal with her if she changed..

On the left side stood Princess Luna with Dr. Choppy.

On the right stood Bleu, currently as large as a house, ready to squish him.

Princess Celestia had opted to stay out of this one as the whole goal was to get his help, not antagonize him further.

“Alright here, we go.” Twilight frowned as she glanced to Applejack. “ Here's hoping this releasing spell works.”

“Hrumph” Applejack grumbled though the muzzle.

After a few moments of tensing, some dramatic posing, a light show seen all across Ponyville, and a epic music score..... nothing happened.

“Well that was a bust.” Pinkie Pie frowned.

“Woof?” Rahs asked.

“Yeaf ahmf fine. Dun efen feel like ah even got any mafic from fhat.” Applejack mumbled.

“Darling once this is all over you simply must let me do something with your hair, you look like a cave pony.” Rarity scoffed.

“I don't get it. “ Twilight frowned as she walked up and poked Discord with a hoof. “ That should have worked, why didn't it work?”

Princess Luna narrowed her eyes. “ Twilight please step back, we would like to try something.”

“Um alright.” Twilight shrugged backing up a little.

“Bleu. Please squish him.” Luna stated flatly.

“OH yeah!” the dragon cackled rearing up to smash her claws down on the statue.

“WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAITTTTT,waitwaitwait......” Discord shouted rolling backwards away from the place he had been, still holding a stone coloration.

Luna smiled as Discord glared at her.

“You are no fun.” he huffed dusting himself off to return to his normal coloration before reattaching the tail and snapping himself clean of bird droppings and bite marks.

“Our definitions of fun are simply different than yours.” Luna snarked.

“So can I still squish him? I'm still a little peeved about that cucumber thing.”Bleu questioned.

“By my own beard woman, that was over twelve thousand years ago, get over it.” Discord flailed.

“Yes, please no squishing when we are trying to ask for aid.” Rarity added.

“ Discord.” Twilight started to speak before Discord pressed a finger to her lips.

“Hold that thought Twiggles.” Discord grinned. “ Award ceremony first.”

“Award what? “ Rainbow Dash asked before everyone found themselves sitting in a large concert style hall, surrounded by countless other Discords in fancy dress. On a stage before them, behind a small podium, was another Discord in a florescent orange tux.

Rarity nearly fainted at the sight of it.

“Welcome to the neverannually chaos choice awards. Skipping all the pageantry this year and the words from our sponsor, since we don't have one, lets get right too it.” Discord on stage crowed. “Winners of the bronze macaroni medals for third place in promoting chaos since last time I did this which was never, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy!!!”

The two mares appear on stage as Discord snapped looking rather surprised as a Discord in a slinky red dress hung a pair of bronzed macaroni pieces over their necks like medals before stepping back clapping along with the rest of the crowd.

“Congratulations on your placing, the stint with PETA was delightful to watch and feeding that coffee to princess love freak was inspiring. Keep up the good work and perhaps next year you'll take first.”

Discord snapped his fingers and the pair were back in the audience and three little fillies, looking rather confused appeared on stage.

The Cutie-mark crusaders... what can I say, your dedication to the cause of chaos is legendary. LEGENDARY!” Discord ranted tossing a gallon of milk into the air with the word' legend written on it.” The date, the gala. You three are just perfect!”

The dress wearing Discord placed three medallions made of bent silverware around the fillies necks.

“Hey can we get our cutie marks in this?” Scootaloo asked, before Discord snapped his fingers and the three were sent back to where every they had been.

“Now for honorable mentions. We have Rainbow Dash with her date, Bleu with not telling her son about his latest crush, and of course sun butt herself. “ Discord snapped. “Enjoy your consolation prizes.”

Rainbow Dash looked down at the toaster that suddenly appeared in her hooves and was hit in the face with toast.

Bleu let out a startled scream and lept into the air as a large cucumber appeared at her claws.

[Canterlot]

Those in day court stared in silence at the throne.

One of the pegasi guards had flown off screaming and the rest were tensing for battle.

Sitting on the throne dressed in Celestia's regalia was a rather large white goose.

The goose stared at the crowd, the crowd stared at the goose.

“HONK!!” Gooselestia grumbled.

“And the winner of the Discord's choice chaos awards goes to...” Discord declared as a drum roll started. “ THE SPARKLES!!!”

The crowd of Discord's applauded as Pinkie Pie's version of the Sparkle's theme song played loudly in the background.

There was a snap and Rahs, Twilight, Spike, and a confused and soaked Shining Armor with shampoo in his mane appeared.

“What tha?” Shining started before cursing and shutting one eye as soap got into it.

“The four of you have done more for chaos than any other being I have ever seen aside from myself. Everything you four do has simply been glorious!” Discord ranted snapping his fingers as four golden pieces of paper appeared on lanyards around each of their necks, the paper stating something about a chocolate factory tour.

“Seriously your life stories should be made into a movie! We'll call it, 'Twilight gets a Puppy!” Discord grinned.

“He said it, he said it, he said the thing!!” Pinkie Pie cheered.

“Umm … thanks?” Spike shrugged looking at the others.

“Quite welcome you little purple zippo, now then.” Discord snapped his fingers and they were back out in the field though those awarded still remained with their awards. Shining Armor was also missing.” Since I seriously doubt this is a social call what might be the reason for this little event?”

“Okay first give us back the Elements you swiped or I'm going to let Bleu do to you what ever she wants with that cucumber.” Twilight stated pointing a hoof at her head where the tiara of magic was missing. Pinkie and Fluttershy's necklaces were also missing.

Discord raised an eyebrow looking over at Bleu as she grinned wider.

“Fair enough.”Discord sighed snapping and returning the Elements of Harmony to their wielders. “ I would much rather stay unmolested and unpetrified again today.”

“Thank you.” Twilight offered diplomatically. “The second thing is Applejack.....”

Discord appeared next to Applejack picking her up and spinning her around to look her over?” Really? What's wrong with her, I mean it seemed you finally got tired of her accent with the muzzle... The glow lights are new......”

“She turns into a witch wolf if she absorbs too much magic.”Twilight explained. “ A largely uncontrolled one.”

Discord froze. He flipped Applejack one more time setting her upright then gently set her on the ground, offered her head a quick pat then promptly dove behind Spike to hide.

“WARN A GUY NEXT TIME!” Discord fussed.

“I was trying to.” Twilight continued. “At any rate we were hoping you could cure her...”

“Nope.” Discord stated.

“We were allowed to parole you for your aide.” Twilight frowned.

“Look Purplenator. There's four gods I don't mess with and a claw full of mortals. Harmony is one, Aqua is another, Iinii, and the fourth is Emu and sun butt's mother. You three are very close to being one of the set of mortals I don't mess with. Sure I'm being flippant, but I'm not out right saying no. Thing is there's nothing wrong with her that I can fix.”

“She's a Timber-Jack that's got to be something! The timber wolves are supposed to be chaos constructs.” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“As much as I love that ponies give me credit for those abominations they aren't mine, They're Grogar's and the later ones are Solomon's.” Discord waved a claw before sitting down in mid air.

“So they do have something to do with necromancy?” Luna questioned.

“Indeed. Timber wolves, sand wolves, rock wolves, fire wolves, and water wolves are all spirits, when something dies, usually violently, it's spirit floats around a bit and tends to forget who and what it is. The soul soon floats off to where ever it was going to go, but the anger and resentment of the death, well, that sticks around for a while. With no higher soul to guide it, it starts making a predatory shape with whatever is around it in the environment. Thus, timber wolves.” Discord explained.” The first ones were made by Grogar and turned loose. Those abominations were wiped out fairly quickly.”

“So what does Solomon have to do with this.” Luna snapped.

“Easy now Loony, I'm getting to that, keep in mind I was a rock for a long time so I could only watch stuff and that whole affair was pretty boring and not my sort of chaos. From what I saw the edge lord tried a number of spells on some of his new test subjects. Most of which resulted in horrid abominations. It wasn't shadow magic that made the dreadnoughts and juggernauts. But his spells didn't seem to work on the nightmare puppy swarm.”

“But the spells did work didn't they?” Twilight considered. ”He remade Grogar's abominations...”

“Oh I am so glad some ones following along while I'm being all smarty pants here.”Discord clapped.

“So if the witch wolves were killed, their spirits became timber wolves?” Spike questioned.

“Not at first, keep in mind that tall dark and dumb-ass didn't know what he was doing. So usually the spirits possessed the nearest thing they had wounded, usually a guard or a local. But since it just died it was weak and needed to gather magic to reappear. Hence there was always a delay before they appeared again. If they were strong enough spirits or the souls stuck around, they went ape shit and right back into fighting.” Discord pointed out.” But eventually the souls always left, either because there wasn't enough magic to remain tethered or they were destroyed by potent magic and had no where to go. But the rage and power passed on to the next and the next until it faded and became the current timber wolves. Too weak to inhabit bodies that already had souls. But near impossible to kill and chock full of hatred and aggression.”

“This explains why our sister thought we called thousands of witch wolves rather than the mere hundred we did.” Luna considered.

“Sure if you believe him.” Bleu muttered.

“He ainf lyning.”Applejack mumbled.

“ I rarely lie, there's no point when the truth so easily screws with everyone. “ Discord sighed. “ Besides being a info dump was part of the deal other wise I wouldn't have been back until season four.”

“Then why was Applejack infected like that if all of the witch wolves were killed so long ago.” Rarity questioned.

“Not all of them. One was very recently killed. That explains why it was going after the tower, and why it went after Rahs. That big timber wolf was Managarmr .....” Twilight theorized.

“So Applejack's possessed by a male witch wolf that want's to kill Rahs?” Pinkie Pie tilted her head. ”That was a pretty weird way to try and kill him we saw.”

Rahs frowned as he turned a bit red.

“Thankfully for the mutts sex life, or lack of it thus far there's no real gender issue. The mana garbage disposal there drove the soul off by draining enough magic that it couldn't hold on. Sure the spirit and emotions of a witch wolf are there, but with no soul, the only things left are the basic emotions of anger and animal like traits.” Discord shrugged. “Oh and well the farm pony, but that's the other side of the coin.”

“ This explains so much but there's still so many issues. Her changing, the possibility of transferring the infection....” Twilight rubbed her head.

“Did any of you plan to let her wound you before you killed her?” Discord asked getting a few looks of shock or annoyance.”If not you needn't worry about it transferring until she dies. And then it might just move float off to be another timber wolf. It's less of a infection or disease than it is a symbiotic parasite, only without the black suit and walking down the street pretending to be The Fonz.”

“... There's still the issue of her being dangerous when she's changed.” Bleu stated.

“Really lets see!” Discord smiled snapping his fingers and dropping a massive amount of magic into Applejack.

The change was instantaneous and the muzzle snapped off like it was made of paper. The orange wolf creature growled loudly as every pony backed away from her.

“Discord.” Twilight growled.

The panic lasted all of a moment more before Witch-Jack tackled Rahs, pinning him down and standing over him on all fours growling at any of the other females who came close to him.

Rahs was trying not to be smothered by rather large tracks of land.

Luna and Twilight were less than amused .

Fluttershy and Rarity gaped at the scene.

Pinkie, Bleu, Spike, Rainbow Dash, and Discord thought it was hilarious.

“She looks pretty controlled to me.” Discord cackled.“Oh I cannot wait to see how this plays out with the others.”

“SIT!” Luna boomed in the Royal Canterlot voice.

Witch- Jack's ears flattened and she promptly sat, as did Discord and Pinkie Pie.

Rahs wheezed as the large form of the witch wolf sat on his chest knocking the air out of him.

“Oh good it works.” Luna smiled.

“ Well. That's a thing that happened.” Spike uttered as he rolled his eyes.

Author's Note

The things i put up with...

Waters Academy, part 1, again.

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Waters Academy,
part 1,
again.

[?]

Applejack stared at the large orange furred witch wolf.

The large orange furred witch wolf stared at Applejack.

Princess Luna stared at them both.

Sheeba looked at all three of them in confusion.

“Ah do not like you.” Applejack stated flatly to the witch wolf.

The witch wolf promptly licked the farm mares face.

“Well this is odd.” Princess Luna commented tilting her head.

“She's been trying to train it Princess.” Sheeba stated.” Though it doesn't listen. It acts like a pup. What exactly is it?”

“A complicated bit of nonsense. But in essence a witch wolf.” Luna stated hearing a surprised noise from Sheeba. “Possibly the last one as well. Also a bit of a wrinkle in one of our plans. We wonder if we can choose her as well as Trixie for the bet....”

“Is she dangerous?” Sheeba asked,.

“Of course.” Luna stated.

“No, Stop that put it down!!” Applejack fussed.

“She's eating the dream.” Sheeba pointed out.

“Well that is interesting.” Luna considered.” We wonder if that will mean anything.”

[That morning, Sweet Apple Acres. Spring]

“AHHH SHE”S GOT ME!!” Applebloom screamed as the large orange witch wolf pounced on the filly trapping her under her fore paws.

Rahs and Big Mac rushed quickly over only for Applebloom to keep flailing as Witch-jack started lapping at the fillies mane trying to groom her.

“HALP!!” Applebloom squirmed.

Rahs blinked not sure what he was supposed to do.

Big Mac went to get a camera.

[Later.]

“Princess Luna said it was eating the dream.” Twilight told Applejack as the farm mare readjusted her hat for the umpteenth time. The replacement old stetson now had a band of mithril around the base of it to try and deflect any magic that she might absorb, but it made the hat a bit unbalanced.

“Great so ah'm gonna wake up every morning changed?” Applejack fussed.

“Maybe, but Witch-jack is looking like there's less and less of a threat. Well I mean aside to every ponies manes.” Twilight snarked.” And Rahs, at least when the others wanting to date him find out.”

“They know and ah keep telling everyone nothing happened.” Applejack growled.” And are we seriously calling it Witch-jack now?”

“We need a name to differentiate the two of you since you still seem to be two souls in one body. Also I don't doubt nothing happened, but you know how rumors get and I'm not too sure on those three having the wisdom to figure out the difference.” Twilight sighed.” I still think they all need glasses.”

“Yah jus can't see Rahs as any sort of attractive. Same way ah can't see the appeal of Mac.”Applejack huffed.

“So you do think he's attractive.”

“Ah didn't say that!”Applejack fussed. “That damn witch wolf spirit certainly does, but ah don't feel any different about him than ah did before.”

“I know I know, but it's not often I have something to tease you about.” Twilight chuckled. “Anyway Luna wants you to come up to Canterlot to be looked over by some of her specialists as well as Asc... asc......”

“Tha snake lady, ah got it.” Applejack sighed.

“Right.” Twilight quickly nodded.”I wish I could join you, but Pinkie Pie's convinced the rest of us to go see Rainbow Dash in her training camp.”

“Wish ah could go with yah,” Applejack sighed. “Kinda curious at what all this hoopla is with her training. Specially after all that nonsense we had to go through to get her to go to begin with.”

“Well she didn't want to leave while there was still issues with you, and, well, we did try the cloud walking spell and... you ate it.” Twilight sighed. “It's fine Rahs, Spike and Applebloom are going to go up there with you. If you wouldn't mind could you give Celestia my report on what Discord's been up to?”

“Sure think, though why ain't yah having Spike send it?” Applejack asked.

“Frankly because I'm not sure if Celestia has figured out what Discord did to her as a goose. Last time I sent a message it came out as a golden egg.” Twilight frowned.

“What like it appeared as a golden egg?” Applejack questioned.

“No.....” Twilight sighed.

“Oh... Ow.” Applejack flinched catching on.

“Discords been scarce since then though Fluttershy said he's stopping in for tea with her and Pinkie Pie on Tuesday.” Twilight sighed. “I suggested another day and he said the floor show was far too good to miss and if he came to town any other day he might have to liven it up.”

“Bet he's been having a blast at mai expense lately.” Applejack muttered.

“Applejack you get down from there!” Berry Punch yelled looking at the large orange furred witch wolf sitting on top of the wine rack in her bar.

The rest of the patrons watched with interest as the dog like feline swatted at some of the bottles on top of the cabinet, most of them were empty displays, but a couple were overstock that wouldn't fit on the regular rack.

“NO, Stop that!” Berry shouted as Witch-jack slapped a bottle with a paw rolling it a little, her ears perking up as she watched it roll with interest the liquid inside sloshing about.

“I said stop, and get down from there!” Berry shouted again as Witch-jack placed a paw on the rolling bottle, looking at Berry and pushing it a little closer to the edge.

“Don't you Dare!!” Berry cursed.

Witch-jack maintained eye contact with the mare and swatted the bottle off the top of the cabinet letting it fall to the ground with the shatter of glass and the splatter of wasted wine.

“AHHH, that's it!! I'm getting the hose!!” Berry screamed.

“On the plus side at least the town is rather accepting of the weirdness.”Twilight offered.

“Good on that, but ah wish ah could get Rahs' groupies to leave me alone.”Applejack sighed.

“So I guess they did find out huh?” Twilight winced.

“Yeah......” Applejack rolled her eyes.

“Just bite me already!!” Trixie shouted as she chased after the orange mare. Applejack for the most part was hauling flank through town trying to get away from the crazy unicorn.

“She kept that up the whole day until Princess Luna came and drug her away.” Applejack sighed.” She popped up at the most inconvenient times too.”

“Yeah we explained to her that it wasn't going to work like that and she got even madder.” Twilight sighed.

“Saturnia wasn't as big a deal.” Applejack shrugged.

“Maybe not to you.” Twilight smirked.

“DON'T BITE ME!!!” Saturnia screamed galloping at top speed as the large form of Witch-jack chased her through town.

“Like I said she wasn't any problem. Not mai fault she forgot she had wings.” Applejack stated. “A lot of times lately it's like ah'm sitting back and watching what's going on like ah'm on mai own shoulder. Sometimes it does what ah want if ah fuss at it, but it's like ah'm trying to steer a runaway cart with a mind of it's own.”

“So you see what it does when transformed?” Twilight asked.

“Most of tha time, some times it's like ah'm asleep and other times ah get the inkling of what it's doing, and other times ah got no idea what it's doing and ah ken just watch bits.”Applejack frowned. “ Though that side seat watching is happening more often.”

“So you saw what happened with Jynx?” Twilight asked with a deadpan look.

“She started it.” Applejack huffed.

The two large canine bitches slammed into each other, crashing and flipping around on the ground all teeth and claws and punching and grappling. Neither Jynx nor Witch-Jack were hurting each other that much, though the pair had gone at it the moment the two came in sight of one another. Witch-jack might have gotten a good hit on the diamond dog, though Jynx often countered with a grapple or a body slam .

Currently whatever Jynx had been wearing was destroyed and the pair had crashed through a number of mud puddles, and front yards left by the rain that morning.

“Rahs we need to stop them!” Spike shouted with panic, looking up at his brother.

Rahs simply stood there wide eyed and staring, a small trickle of blood running from his nose.

“She apologized later quite a bit. Though she still wants a rematch.”Applejack sighed.

“Well I suppose that's the sort of thing you need to get used to if you're going to be chasing my idiot brother.” Twilight shrugged.

“What did ah say a minute ago? Ah ain't chasing Rahs.” Applejack stated her face scrunched up in annoyance.

“Your other forms actions say otherwise...” Twilight started to say.

“That form's actions don't mean nothing as it ain't me.” Applejack protested.

“And Cadence noticed it as well.” Twilight finished.

“Dammit, ah don't care what she says...”

“Denial is not just a famous river Applejack.”Twilight offered,

“Yer enjoying this.” Applejack frowned.

“Your suffering of it, no. Rahs' suffering for it, yes.” Twilight grinned. “Look if you really do want to date my brother, I'm all for it, he needs some one level headed around to keep him in line. If it's nothing more than some lust from the other side of you, and nothing comes of it, that's fine too. Cadence thinks it's more than just the bestial urges and she's pretty good on noticing that sort of thing given love and lust are her portfolios. So are sex toys, but no ones willing to ask how she got THAT as a lesser portfolio.”

“Ah'm not happy with that idea.” Applejack muttered. “We're just friends...”

“So do ponies usually date their enemies?”

“Princess Celestia.”

“She doesn't count Applejack, most of them became enemies AFTER they dated her. Really glad I never developed any sort of teacher/student crush on her.” Twilight sighed. “Still you have been forced to hang around Rahs a lot lately so it might even be some form of Stockholm syndrome. We'll see if we can get Fluttershy to be your go to for a while when we get back, Witch-jack seems to like her.”

“Honestly it's okay with all of y'all. Only people in town it's mean towards are tha ones ah never liked. Everyone else it's either indifferent to or likes same as me.” Applejack sighed.

“Huh... I'll have to make a note of that. What about the Princesses?”Twilight asked.

“Well it acts like Princess Luna is it's mother far as I ken tell. It's more than willing tah listen to her. Princess Cadence well... yah saw how fast Witch-jack ran tha other way from her.” Applejack shrugged. “ Ah guess she's scared of her.”

“And Princess Celestia?”

“Honestly I should be getting used to this by now.” Princess Celestia sighed as Witch- jack stared at her, swatting heavily at the Princesses' wavy tail.

“Big Mac got a few hundred pictures if yah wanna know how that meeting went.” Applejack grumbled.

Any further conversation was cut off as the front door opened and Spike waddled in. The little dragon had recently underwent a spring molt, and while he didn't look any different, his missing spine had grown back in.

It was blue.

“Hey, Pinkie has the balloon ready and they're just waiting on you Twilight.” Spike offered. "Our trains got another twenty minutes Applejack, but we should probably get going. We still need to find out where Rahs ran off too. I've got Applebloom tailing him, but when he doesn't want to be found...”

“Alright I guess I'll head off Applejack. You be careful. I know she lifted the quarantine, and I know she apologized, but I'm not sure I really trust Celestia not to freak out over something else while you're in Canterlot. And then there's the nobles.” Twilight sighed.

“Ain't really worried about that. From what ah heard, they're a lot of bark and no bite. An one good thing about this curse, ah'm both.” Applejack grinned showing her new fangs.

“ See, now you're making me uncomfortable with those.” Twilight grumbled. “I don't go that way.”

“All that teasing an yah don't expect me tah mess with yah back?” Applejack smirked.” Ah ain't that way neither regardless of what Trixie said.”

“I thought you liked fangs, why is that making you nervous?” Spike asked looking between the two confused.

The two mares looked at him before Twilight blushed and Applejack laughed.

Author's Note

Water's academy is a play off Wonderbolts Academy [Natch]

Roger Waters was the bassist of Pink Floyd and contributed to creation of nearly all the songs in Pink Flyod's Dark Side of the Moon.

Nightmare Night Special.

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Nightmare Night Special.

[Ponyville, Golden Oaks library, three days after the release of Discord, Spring]

“Rahs could you hand me that book of Starswirl's spells Celestia sent me?”

“Woof?” Rahs asked picking up a tome curiously.

“Yeah she said Starswirl had a uncompleted spell in that one, I'm rather curious as to what it is.” Twilight offered.

“Probably something that screws up ponies cutie marks or something.” Spike offered.

“Spike, don't be rude.”Twilight scoffed.

“I'm not, we've got a host of gods that met the guy and every one of them called him some variation of 'an egotistical jerk who only got by because he was lucky half the time'.” Spike sighed. “Notice how Celestia and Luna won't even talk about him?”

“ I'm sure there's a good reason for...... do any of you hear a pipe organ?”Twilight asked.

Music started playing from no definable source.

Two snaps filled the air and Discord appeared dressed in a striped dress suit with a black tie. He also sported slicked back mane and a pencil thin mustache.

More organ music played and another two snaps dropped Twilight in a sheer black dress that hugged her form her face done up in make up to make her look rather pale.

Another riff and a pair of snaps and Spike was dressed in a black and white striped shirt , black shorts and had dark circles around his eyes like he hadn't slept.

Another pair of snaps had Rahs' hair burst out until he was a large mound of hair with no features. Discord then put a small top hat on him.

Another pair of snaps had Rahs' raccoon Blakeney dressed in a black dress with a black wig and twin pigtails that both ended in little nooses.

A final pair of snaps turned the library into a spider web laden Nightmare Night looking haunted house.

Discord flitted around the room singing as the music continued.

“They're creepy and their kooky,
mysterious and spooky,
they're all together ooky,
the Sparkle family.”

Discord spun up a wall and put a rose between his teeth some how still singing.

"Their house is a atheneum ,
where people come to see um,
they really are a scream,
the Sparkle family."

The music continued as Discord hopped around the room adding another pair of snaps.

Shining Armor appeared again looking around confused. He was bald and dressed in a black fat suit that made him look like a hoof ball.

“Neat.”

Another pair of snaps and Chrysalis was there dressed in a large suit that puffed her out making her look like a Frankenstein's monster.

“Sweet.”

“ Two more snaps had Cadence appear suddenly dressed in a raggedy old shaw with ragged gray hair and a host of wrinkles.

“Petite.”

The group stared at the prancing Discord who ignored the glares.

“So get a witch's shawl on.
a broom stick as you can crawl on.
we're gonna pay a call on.
the Sparkle family.”

There were a number of further snaps as well as a few odd noises here and there in time to the music before Discord vanished leaving everything changed as it was.

After a few moments of staring after Discord every one spoke at once.

“What?” Spike blinked.

“The Buck?” Cadence demanded.

“Where's my mane?” Shining questioned.

“I've going to kill him.” Chrysalis hissed.

“I am starting to regret letting him loose.” Twilight sighed.

“IT'S THE START OF SPRING YOU DAFT CHEW TOY!”

Author's Note

Ideas that come to you in the shower.....

Waters Academy, part 3

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Waters Academy,
part 3

[Canterlot Castle]

“ Woof.” Rahs pointed out.

“Mai gitting sick because of it is a good enough reason not tah eat chocolate. But a'hm a might pissed that ah' can't have any more of Granny's Mud Brownies.” Applejack retorted.

“If you can't eat um any more ken ah have your share?” Applebloom asked.

“No.”Applejack frowned.

“Dang.”Applebloom fussed.

“Don't worry about it, Twilight and I tried that trick too when we first found about about Rahs and chocolate.” Spike offered.

The four of them were seated at a table in one of the smaller meeting rooms at the palace. Given Applejack's status as an Element Bearer, Spike's status as a Dragon Prince, and Rahs' status as Luna's adopted grand pup, most of the castle staff didn't so much bat an eye at the request to have lunch there.

They were used to nobles trying to use the location to impress dates, or make themselves seem more important to business associates. These four asking politely was hardly an issue.

Also there where bets being placed about when the explosion would happen.

Most of the castle staff knew the Sparkles and the CMC rather well.

The food was a bit more of a issue given what was ordered, but the head chef was used to it.

It didn't take long for the food to arrive and Rahs took note that Applejack was nearly drooling at the smell of it. Spike had known what Rahs was doing and had placed the order accordingly.

Spike was presented some ruby pasta, garnished with garnet and with pearl 'meatballs'.

Applebloom had a large slice of vegetarian lasagna and bread sticks.

Rahs and Applejack however were presented with two dishes of chicken Parmesan with broccoli.

A few side dishes were also added including bread sticks, some sausage, chicken fingers, a filet of trout, and a plate of bacon.

Rahs had fought vehemently against a single shared plate of spaghetti.

Rahs and Spike both watched the other two, gageing the reaction. Applebloom wrinkled her nose a bit at the spread though Applejack was torn between horror and rapture at the sight and smell of it.

“Woof.” Rahs pointed at the dishes before starting to roll a bread stick into the sauce of his meal.

“Ah can't eat this.....” Applejack protested.

“Actually you probably should.” Spike offered. “I've seen the notes Twilight has on you, and your body processes meat a lot better than normal ponies would. You require a much higher protein intake and the Witch-jack side of you has eaten at least four squirrels and a beaver in front of Fluttershy.”

“Was wondering why she was mad at me.” Applejack muttered.

“Bork.” Rahs offered pointing to the bacon.

“Right we might not even get any bacon if Twilight was here. She tried everything Rahs ate at least once growing up and didn't like any of it until it came to bacon. Fights have been had over this stuff.”Spike explained to Applebloom, who was the only one who didn't understand Rahs at the table.

“Tah be fair. Yer sisters weird.” Applejack muttered trying not to drool.

“Says the mare who changes into a wolf when too many spells are cast around her.” Spike grinned.

Rahs simply started eating waiting to see if hunger or the mares stubbornness would win out.

“Lemme try a bit of that.” Applebloom stated reaching for a piece of bacon.

“Applebloom!” Applejack fussed.

“What? You ain't looking like yer gonna eat it, and ah'm pretty sure ah had some of this already at tha gala wrapped around a cheese filled potato.” Applebloom stated.

“They served griffon food at the Gala?” Spike asked.

“Well there were a couple of griffons there so it makes sense.” Applebloom offered

“Bark.” Rahs smirked as Applejack glared at him..

“Ah am not being shown up by mai sister...”Applejack fussed.

“She's eating it and you're afraid of it....”

Applejack glared at Rahs before gathering up some of the pasta on a fork.

“Huh ain't bad. I like tha chewy bit better than the crispy bit though.” Applebloom offered. “ Though that crispy part might be good on a salad.”

Rahs smirked as every one ate, his ears however remained perked up , listening for the tell tale explosions that would mark his sister's reaction to her foal nappers. He rather hoped it would happen before they headed off to the next stop. Spike's comic shop had fliers about a small convention taking place in the East Vale Concert hall off East Vale ave.

Applebloom and Spike had managed to convince them to go have a look. Given Applejack thus far had no trouble, it might be worth a look now that all the doctor's appointments were over.

[Wonderbolts Academy.]

Of all the instructors at the academy the most easy going, and therefore the cadet favorite, was Soarin. He didn't push any pony that hard and was more often than not a push over when it came to the tests he offered. Though he also tended to surprise the cadets with rather telling observations and pointers even when he didn't seem to be paying the slightest bit of attention. He never stressed failures and was more the 'joy of flying' sort than one to push any sort of competition. He didn't yell and barely raised his voice at all. His presence also seemed to soften the usual hard-ass edge that Spitfire displayed, though the pair tended not to work on the same thing at the same time. It was well known that his training was more of a rest break to calm down and reflect between real classes than any sort of Wonderbolt exercise, though it was still training.

That said, the sight of him, dark blue mane crackling with lightning as he stormed across the ground of the plateau towards the gathered cadets and other instructors drew a great deal of attention from every one, including the three ponies and two fillies that had been rescued from a out of control tornado that had destroyed their balloon.

The landscapers were likely going to be mad as well as the grass under his hooves burned and sparked as the electricity crackled along his limbs, flashing blue arcs between his feathers.

His green eyes slid among the group of guests, one filly in particular before they locked on the cadets.

“Explain.”

The words left the easy going stallions throat like a peal of thunder that just brushed ones tail. The cadets all started to talk at once before a snap of the stallions wings and a massive jolt of lightning grounding out at his hooves silenced them.

The other instructors were at a loss, having never seen Soarin like this.

Fleetfoot on the other hoof had, she knew why as well and she needed to do something before the captain found a target. She wasn't sure if she could stop him if that happened.

“Soarin.... Soarin... hey, focus on me, hey, focus.... everything's fine, they're okay. I got this. Why don't you take them to the mess and see if Cookie can whip up some ice cream or something to calm every one down... Soarin, Soarin.. look at me..... focus...” Fleetfoot stated moving between the angry stallion and the others blocking his view with her wings spread. “She's fine, they're all fine and she's right there. Calm … caaalm...it's okay, it's okay.”

Soarin stared back at the mare trying to calm him before he closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

“Alright... I'm fine I'm fine...... “ Soarin sighed. “But I want to know what happened. And if I'm taking them to the mess. You get to explain to Spits.”

Fleetfoot twitched before sighing and nodding.

“Ladies.... “ Soarin spoke, his entire tone and demeanor changed back to the goofy Wonderbolt he was known to be. “Bet that was enough excitement for the day, how about we head over the mess and I'll see about getting something whipped up to help every pony relax a little. I could go for some pie myself...”

Fleetfoot watched them head off with the small orange pegasus bouncing up onto Soarin's back before she let out a sigh.

“Fuck....” Fleetfoot grumbled as she looked to the gathered cadets taking note that Rainbow Dash was missing.

[ Unknown manor, Canterlot]

“You!” Twilight snapped.

The blonde maned white furred unicorn stallion rolled his eyes a little as he strode into the room closing the door behind him His well manicured hooves and horn coupled with the suite gave the stallion the look of being very wealthy. Of course the compass rose cutie mark didn't seem to scream wealth, but Prince Blueblood did well enough without a cash cutie mark.

“ What the buck Prince?!” Twilight jabbed her hoof at the pony who had the decency to look ashamed at this.

“Sorry Twilight. I assure you this wasn't my idea.” Prince offered.

“That doesn't explain anything.”Twilight accused.

“I'm ashamed to bring it up because it's so stupid.” Prince offered back.

Twilight glared.

“Okay look. I've been trying to get my mother off my case about my seeing Dash for months now. You know how she is 'common trash', 'a no pony' yada yada yada. Well evidently one of her friends was having a bit of issue with her son and his obsession and she wanted me to talk to him. So I jumped at the chance to give her something else to focus on rather than how she disapproves of Rainbow Dash.”

“I thought you parents liked her?” Twilight questioned.

“My father does. He's thrilled to have some pony to discuss hoof ball with, despite the fact they like different teams. Mother on the other hoof has her nose so far in the air I fully expect Auntie Celestia's sun to burn it off one day.” Prince sighed. “At any rate the others will be here soon and I'd rather not steal their thunder and just let you see how stupid this is on your own.”

“Translation, you'd rather I be mad at them. And the moment I'm too dumb struck by their stupid to do anything you plan to run before I recover and start blasting.” Twilight growled.

“Good guess. But do recall I am a thrill seeker and being at ground zero for when you go off might be entertaining. I plan to use that moment to take cover behind those sandbags I've already set up in the corner. “ Prince grinned gesturing to the aforementioned bunker near the fireplace. “Should be fine so long as I'm not the target. Now then, please refrain from blasting the wall with the fireplace, as the castle is over there. The wall with the two windows behind you is facing the market district, so please focus your ire towards the doors there or the windowless wall as those aim more into the property and towards the mountain itself. This is also the fall home and has no servants as they are all in the spring home for now.”

“Alright fine....what type of rings are these?” Twilight pointed to her horn.

“Standard medical. Rank three, the highest one can get without a prescription and not be Guard personnel. Seems they don't trust me entirely as I said two would be enough.” Prince sighed.

There were three types of magic suppression rings. Medical, Guard, and illegal. The medical grade acted like a blood pressure cuff that sealed itself around ones horn and was mostly made of mithril, dulling the mana flow that could go through one's horn or could be gathered by it. A strong caster could easily push through.

Guard rings were more like clamps. It was meant to be uncomfortable as possible and the rings had a feed back loop in them that if a spell was cast while wearing them they tended to loop the mana back into the horn causing head aches and disorientation and if the spell was strong enough, knocking the caster out with their own magic. There were safeties to prevent the wearer from hurting themselves too bad, but the Guard level rings were highly regulated and any civilian caught with one was in a great deal of trouble.

The final suppression ring type was the illegal ones. They often followed the same patterns as the Guard rings , but without the safeties. These were usually made with the idea to harm unicorns or to contain slaves. The rings tended not to block the caster from casting, though the moment they gained enough power, they fed it back into the unicorns horn causing immense pain or even blowing the wearer's horn off. Though it was hinted at, the objects were never used in known wars and possession or creating one was a serious crime. As far as Twilight was aware there were only three such rings left undestroyed. Two were in the Canterlot Royal Museum, both deactivated and in the same sort of display as the iron pony and the rack, and the third was rumored to be in a secret room in Canterlot for use on the worst monsters that the Princesses dealt with.

Twilight didn't believe that rumor as Sombra had only had standard Guard models on his horn.

“So why am ah here?” Big Mac questioned.

“I didn't expect you to be, my guess is they wish to gloat. I apologize in advance for anything they might say. Not all the upper class shares their opinions of the other tribes.... obviously.” Blueblood offered as if reminding them he was a unicorn dating a pegasus. “ Also the one with the red bow tie is the one holding the shield. Just an FYI.”

“Blueblood! Not very sporting to sneak in and try you hoof first. Going to have to dock you points for that.” Another voice called as Prince rolled his eyes.

The doors opened again admitting a small collection of six unicorn stallions.

Twilight took one look at them and connected her hoof to her face.

“By the stars......”

Waters Academy, part 4

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Waters Academy,
part 4

[ Wonderbolts Academy]

“:...So after the tornado was formed to clear the clouds she lost control and it went careening into the civilian traffic lane where it hit your friends balloon?”Spitfire asked calmly looking at Rainbow Dash from over the top of her sunglasses. The mare had stormed into her office livid and started screaming at her over Lightning Dust.

Spitfire had planned to let her vent before telling her exactly why she put Dust in charge when the thing that set off the angry mare before her came to light.

“Yes! And when she did she collided with me so I couldn't even start a slow down.”Dash ranted. “there's pushing yourself and there's reckless!”

“I made you her second so you could try and curb those tendencies. You seem to have a better head on your shoulders in regards to that. You want to prove yourself but you can temper that drive.”Spitfire sighed.” Lightning Dust doesn't have a limiter.”

“ How am I supposed to curb that? With brute force? She hasn't listened to a damn word I've said. If you were out there doing your job instead of in here signing autographs you'd know that!” Rainbow Dash snapped.

“Contractual obligations.....”Spitfire let out a sigh looking down at the stack of photos.” Always read the fine print rookie. So are your friends alright? I take it they're the other Element Bearers?”

Rainbow Dash glared, though the let out a sharp breath. “Yeah, a bit shook up, but they're fine. Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy came, but they also brought Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo with them....”

Rainbow Dash was about to throw her pin on the desk and storm out at the nonchalant and dismissive attitude Spitfire was displaying though thoughts of that died out as the temperature in the room soared. Rainbow Dash's eyes widened as the autographed pictures on the desk started to smolder. The St. Equine's Fire Spitfire was known for danced through the mares fur, her sunglasses melting and starting to drip from her face to splatter on the desk.

Rainbow Dash took a step back.

“Where's Soarin?” Spitfire stated, the words a demand rather than a question.

“Um, last I saw him he was taking my friends towards the mess hall.” Rainbow Dash stated quickly.

“Good, go out there and all of you do laps until I call for you, send Fleetfoot in here.” Spitfire growled.

“Umm...”

“GET IT DONE YESTERDAY RECRUIT!” Spitfire bellowed.

Dash was out the door and half way across the field before the words stopped echoing in the room.

[ Canterlot Crater]

[That hasn't happened.]

[“Spoilsport.”]

There were seven stallions standing in the room now not counting Big Mac. All of them unicorns. All of them seeming to fit a 'type' that some one might like.

Prince Blueblood was the A typical Prince Charming. White coat, flawless blond mane and tail and rich enough that he could buy anything he wanted. He was diplomatic, kind, and just a little bit crazy with his hobbies to keep things interesting.

Posh Posh of the Posh family was also rich. The gold maned and royal purple furred stallion was a little more lanky in his build, he was thinner, and taller than Prince. His focus was far more on the business and numbers sides of things.

Third was likely the poorest of the group. Jock Burly. The red furred and blue maned unicorn was built more like an earth pony. His magic skill was negligible however and he was a dense as one of Pinkie Pie's eight layer cakes. Given no one but Pinkie Pie had ever managed to finish more than a slice of those things without feeling bloated, that should say something when you took into account Princess Celestia had tried it too.

Next was the cream furred and black maned Lord Money Bags. He was thinner and smaller than the other two as he was more into art and music than anything else and spent a great deal of his families ridiculous wealth on the arts.

Rahs had liked him.

The feeling was not mutual.

The fifth stallion was Percy Tarus. A steel gray coated stallion with bright orange hair. His build was the closest to Prince's though his focus was on machines and clockwork to the near exclusion of all else. He was a self made rich pony and even now was reading more over the plans of something or another rather than paying attention.

The other two Twilight didn't recognize. Both were unicorn stallions. One was a lanky stallion in glasses with a sea green coat and white mane and tail, he was also wearing a red bow tie. And the other was a yellow coated stallion with a long sand colored mane and tail, he looked like the A typical beach bum pony.

“Posh....”Twilight sighed.”.... The fuck?”

“See this foul mud hoof has tainted her with his base language , we barely got here in time!” Posh stated for the others who nodded in agreement.

“Posh that's triblist.”Prince sighed.”We talked about this.”

“Feh, such things are for lesser ponies to worry about!” Posh stated.”Had that harlot not come along to tempt you you would understand this! What a waste to be pining away with a lesser when you lost the properly powerful noble mare you could have had.”

Prince twitched. “Dash didn't........” Prince let out a long suffering sigh muttering something about his mother under his breath. “ There is literally no proper way to answer you without a lobotomy is there? Posh seriously, this ridiculous. You've foal napped two ponies. It's time to stop.”

“NO.. I will not stop this, And really it's only one, the mud hoof hardly counts as a real pony and Sparkle will not bother to press any charges once we convince her of the truth!. It was bad enough I was rejected by her, but so were all these other fine stallions. We will not accept that we lost to a dirt pony!!” Posh ranted. “A unicorn as powerful as her should be with another unicorn, not stolen away by the likes of you!”

Big Mac raised an eyebrow.

“You realize I started chasing him right?” Twilight offered.” He didn't so much woo me as I showed interest and he accepted it....”

“Stay out of this, it doesn't concern you!” Posh shouted.

“Preeetty sure it does... I'm also pretty sure that I didn't date two of you, and Minuette is missing.” Twilight pointed out.

“Oh, I'm Stocks and that's Coldwell,” The surfer looking stallion offered pointing to the one with the bow tie. “We were next on the list Princess Cadence made to try and date you. Minuette laughed Posh off when he tried to get her to join his evil ex group.”

“That is not what we named the club.” Posh grumbled.

“Wait you dated Minuette?” Prince asked, Big Mac's ears perked as well as both looked to Twilight who turned a bit red.

“After five failures Cadence was getting desperate and figured I didn't like colts. She didn't bother to check and see if Minuette liked mares before setting up the date so things got awkward fast. After dinner we both then decided to go toilet paper Cadence's room and Cadence finally stopped trying to set me up with any pony. Which is good because the next step would have been hot tar and chicken feathers.” Twilight explained.

“Oh.” Prince nodded. “ I wondered how that string of nonsense ended.”

“It doesn't matter, this inferior thing is no match for our magic and we will show him the error of his ways.” Posh ranted.” Twilight Sparkle will be mine!”

A peal of thunder sounded at the tone adding a great deal of menace to it, at least until Posh pumped his hoof and hissed a rather loud yes while several of the other stallions clapped.

“Oh very nice you got it to work right this time?”Percy asked.

“Yes I just had to remember to click it twice this time.” Posh responded.

“Seriously Posh? I never even gave any of you so much as a kiss goodnight and I know I excused myself and never came back in the first ten minutes of dealing with Burly.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “ Okay I'm already tired of this. I was supposed to be checking up on a friend of mine today and instead I'm in a bird cage looking out at seven idiots.....”

“Hey!” Prince snapped.

“It stands, you're not in your bunker yet.” Twilight pointed out.

“Ahh I see.” Prince hastily dove behind the piled sandbags in the corner, popping up again wearing a helmet borrowed from a bomb squad officer.

“.....Six idiots. You have three seconds to back the fuck off or I'm going to...” Twilight growled.

“Eeenope.” Big Mac stated loudly throwing Twilight off her rant.

“What?” Twilight asked.

“Ah got this.”” Big Mac offered standing up finally with a shake of his head.

“You sure?” Twilight questioned.

“Eeeyup.”Big Mac offered.

“You know I'm not into the whole macho posing thing right?” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “ I don't need a knight to ride to my rescue.”

“Never said yah did, but a whole lot's been going on that ah ain't been able tah do squat about. This ah ken do somethin about and ah feel a need to.”Big Mac explained.

“Ahh okay … well have fun.” Twilight offered sitting back to watch.

“Have fun she says we certainly shall. The dumb mud pony is trapped and we can destroy him at our leisure.” Posh explained.

“ Do recall what I told Twilight about the walls Big Mac.” Prince offered.

Big Mac smirked pulling off his yoke and letting it drop to the floor.

Big Mac was in no way a warrior.

He was just an earth pony farmer who once had turned down an invite to a special school because he had a head for numbers and larger philosophical concepts.

Sure he had a lot of power, and sure after his folks had died and his little sister had left he picked fights with anyone and everything whether he was going to win or not, and that earned him a bit of a reputation until Granny set him straight. But that didn't mean he was a warrior...

Though he did have Dash show him some of her kung fu moves after finding out who Twilight's older brother was, just in case.

The yoke hit the ground and shattered it, forming a small crater in the tile ball room floor.

The unicorn stallion's eyes all widened at the sight of the impact, barely noting Big Mac had whirled about , planted his fore hooves and bucked the yoke with both of his back hooves.

The stallion could clear a tree with a kick of just one.

The wooden yoke took off like a shot, smashing through the shield and into the caster and the surfer pony, sending both of them crashing back through the door behind them and causing the shield to fade.

Jock Burly was the first to react of the four remaining. He rushed forward to meet muscle with muscle, the bulky unicorn stallion clearly looking to subdue Mac.

Big Mac quickly showed the large pony the difference between a show body builder and a pony who was actually strong by putting him through the floor and into the next floor down.

Posh and Lord Money Bags both fired magic bolts at Mac.

Big Mac took both the hits with a grunt and kept going, his hoof slamming to the underside of Money Bag's chin launching the stallion upwards into the high ceiling, the unicorns horn impaling a cross beam and sticking there, leaving the now unconscious stallion dangling from the rafter.

Posh charged another shot, clearly going for something more than a stun bolt this time.

Big Mac stomped hard on the broken floor in front of him causing a plank of wood to break loose of the floor and rocket up like a seesaw right between Posh's rear legs.

“What in tarnation is that?” Applejack winced at the high pitched cry.

Rahs smirked, flattening his ears to his head as the small group entered the convention hall. It seemed there were a lot of ponies dressed up in costume for the various books, plays and crystal shows that were out there.

A few impacts of hoof against flesh more and a Battered Posh was flung at Prince's sand bag fort just to make sure the stallion got the odd thrill of danger he was after. Big Mac was annoyed enough that he also wanted to test out the little bunkers durability.

It held.

Posh's face didn't

Big Mac turned to the last stallion, glaring at Percy, who had spread out a parchment in the air with his magic and was writing on it with a quill making notations and size adjustments for his latest project without having noticed anything.

Mac blinked before turning to walk over to the cage pressing his hooves between the bars and pushing them open. Twilight hopped out, taking a moment to look over the faint marks the magic had burned into his fur.

“Are you alright?” Twilight questioned.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac nodded. He had gotten worse shocks from Dash and her pranks and that one thing Twilight had done that one time.

“Well... that was something. Not quite the excitement I was hoping for. “ Prince sighed. “Any way, would you like to get lunch? There's a delightful little bistro not far from here, my treat.”

Twilight looked around and shrugged.” Sure, it's a little late to go see Rainbow Dash now.”

“Oh I planned to pop up to see her later this afternoon if you would care to tag along, it will be after her daily training as well.” Prince offered.” We can take the air ship up.”

“You got the Princess Bride up again.” Twilight questioned.

“Indeed.” Prince smiled.

“Inconceivable.” Twilight shook her head, before looking over to Big Mac.”With the state that thing was in last time I saw it I figured you would have scrapped it.”

Big Mac shrugged.

Twilight considered then vanished in a pop of teleportation reappearing on the other side of Big Mac as three suppressor rings fell to the floor where she had been.

“Alright lets go then. I could go for some food.” Twilight agreed.

[Wonderbolts Mess, later]

“So every thing going good?” Spitfire asked as she trotted into the mess, leaving the rookies still flying laps, minus one.

“Hey mom!” Scootaloo waved, lifting her head up from a big tub of ice cream. The others had bowls save Rarity, who had a bigger tub than Scootaloo and was already done with it.

“Why do you smell like smoke and melted plastic?”Pinkie Pie asked.

Spitfire glared at Soarin for letting her eat that much ice cream in one go, but she didn't say anything about it.” Yeah sorry about that tornado. I had a word with the ones responsible. You guys do know we have visiting hours up here, this is an academy after all.”

“Sparkle sense went off.” Pinkie Pie offered. “ They're all three in Canterlot and Twilight was foal napped.”

“Uhhh.”

“Trust me darling it makes sense why we wanted to get as far away from Canterlot as fast as possible.” Rarity offered.” Though I didn't expect to run into a wild storm up here.”

“She alive?” Soarin asked regarding Spitfire with narrowed eyes.

“Yeah she is.” Spit fire smirked.

[Earlier, Spitfire's office]

“You know what I see when I sit here at my desk and look around?” Spitfire asked, She had a new pair of sunglasses on and all the ash had been cleared away. The room still smelled like smoke though which unnerved Lightning Dust a little.

“Sir?”

“I see a young rookie looking to do anything she can to prove herself. No matter the risks or challenges before her.” Spitfire stated.

Lightning Dust smiled a little.

“Know what else I see.” Spitfire offered pulling off her uniform and calmly folding it as she tucked it away under the desk. “ I see , the ones I care about.”

Spitfire picked up a picture frame from off her desk and turned it around. It showed a younger Spitfire with another mare, she was a orange furred, blond maned pegasus with a single red streak through her hair and tail who stood a little shorter than Spitfire.

“My sister Fireball. Runs the weather branch in Ponyville.” Spitfire stated taking off her sunglasses setting them with her dress uniform. She turned another frame. This one showed Soarin in a suit and Spitfire in a some what racy looking wedding dress.

Lightning Dust's eyes widened. There were rumors about that marriage, but no one really knew for sure, even the media was unsure of it and the pair never really talked about it. Here was proof.

“You have no idea how hard it was to keep this hidden. Of course the contracts we have want us to try and stay sex symbols to drum up fans and the like but ehh that kinda comes with the lifestyle that we'd be fit and drooled over.” Spitfire shrugged before turning the last picture frame around.

“Now regarding you Lightning Dust, you're a bit too reckless and as the Wonderbolts are a team and as close to family as you can get without being related. Wonderbolts can't disregard what their wing pony says while they are trying to prove themselves. It causes injuries, accidents and some times even deaths.” Spitfire explained, her voice level.

Lightning Dust was only half listening, her eyes were wide as she recognized the orange furred and purple maned pegasus filly in the picture as one that had been in the balloon earlier that had been caught in her tornado. Another rumor about Soarin and Spitfire having a kid was just confirmed much to her horror.

Lightning Dust blinked and Spitfire was in her face.

“Don't worry though. This isn't a review. I'm off the clock.” Spitfire grinned.

Lightning Dust's world was fire.

“She'll live... should be recovered enough to try out again next year too. Hate to lose such talent, hopefully this incident will 'temper' her a little to be a better flier and team player next time.” Spitfire smirked.

“Fire puns.... seriously?” Soarin narrowed his eyes.

“So is there any more ice cream or did you guys eat it all?” Spitfire grinned.

[ Canterlot]

“ Well that was a thing that happened.” Twilight sighed as she walked along with Big Mac headed for the air shipyard.

The meal they had eaten was a bit pricey, but good, as well as filling which was odd for a five star place around here.

Prince had hung back to answer the questions of a few guards which left Twilight and Big Mac to make their own way towards the Canterlot Shipyard where one of the Blueblood's sky yachts, The Princess Bride, was docked.

“Eeeyup.” Big Mac offered in response.

“It's kinda funny. I fully expected today to go a lot worse, but it's been rather fun and you got to play Knight rescuing the damsel in distress.” Twilight smirked.

“Eeeyup.”

“Well the day's almost over and Canterlot is still standing. I'm sure some one lost a bet.”Twilight grinned.

Before Big Mac could respond an explosion rocked the street.

The pair looked around in a panic only to see four figures tearing down the road with a massive mob of costumed ponies chasing them with pitch forks and torches.

Rahs lept in the air dodging another concussive blast of magic from one of the angry mob. His coat was on fire and he had Spike held under one arm.

“Did you have to eat that guys porg thing?” Spike shouted at him.

“Bork!”

“It was a stuffed animal it was not made to taste good!”Spike wailed.

Right behind Rahs was Witch-Jack with Applebloom clinging to her back as she ran.

“What tha hey? All I said was I preferred Trek cause it used more science in tha story, glowy swords and hokey space religions is dumb!” Applebloom shouted.

“Please stop taunting them!” Spike shouted back.”It's bad enough Applejack pulled all the magic out of the crystal that held a 'Lost episode'. You're not helping.”

“Fergit that, they need tah chill, no pony calls mai sister a bantha!” Applebloom turned back to yell at the mob. “Mar Mar was the best character in yer whole book series!!”

The mob went wild.

Big Mac and Twilight stared as the group, then the mob rushed past. Several other explosions sounded in the air as the mob's spells and surprisingly accurate cosplay props were used against the fleeing quartet.

“MY CABBAGES!!” screamed another voice.

“YUB YUB SUCKERS!!” Applebloom taunted.

“There that should do it. “Percy smiled tucking his quill away and casting a small spell to dry the ink before rolling the scroll up to look around. His eyes widened at the carnage around him in the ballroom consisting of all the members of that elite club he some how forgot he joined, his ears folding back against his head.

“I say, what happened here?”

Too Many Moon Pies

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Too Many Moon Pies
[Golden Oaks Library, the following Tuesday.]

It was a normal afternoon in the library. The Sparkles had just eaten lunch and gone back to their usual Tuesday in Ponyville activities.

Which consisted of hiding at home, and waiting for the other horse shoe to drop.

Spike was sitting on the upstairs balcony reading a comic and keeping watch for whatever might happen.

Twilight had reinforced the wards around the tree again, and doubled checked for any issues before delving back into her current research project.

Rahs was taking a nap on the couch.

It was Pinkie Pie's turn to keep an eye on Applejack just in case, though she had been stressing that Rainbow Dash was back for the academy's spring break and the day was warm enough to go swimming. She was also supposed to be doing something with Fluttershy. Twilight had offered to help but Pinkie shouted something about an idea and took off like a shot some where.

Twilight had started the day trying to turn an apple into an orange.

After several exploded apples Rahs had suggested trying the spell with a suppressor ring or two to lower the power.

After four of them she finally managed to turn an apple into something other than applesauce.

Since she had become the Element of Magic's bearer, Twilight had been keeping a close eye on her magic power with her scanner. Rahs and Spike were also subject to it more often then they liked.

Twilight had noticed quite a number of spikes in her power level, most noticeably after dealing with Discord and again after Sombra.

Rahs had had a increase in his power and healing abilities as well, though it was harder to get a base line for him.

Even Spike had shown some growth, but Twilight wasn't sure if that was just him starting to enter his teens or if it was an effect of the power increasing.

Twilight had first theorized that the spike in power came from Rahs eating magic from The Crystal Heart and Discord himself. The problem with that theory was that the power level hadn't dropped any no matter how much magic she had used.

So far there hadn't been any problems save her needing to dumb down her power on some particularly finicky spells she was trying to learn.

She was currently trying to figure out if Witch-Jack was some how connected to her and was sending magic along a untapped length like Rahs did when Spike rushed back down the stairs interrupting her study.

“Twilight!!” Spike huffed working to catch his breath.

Rahs and Twilight were both up and in full on ready mode by the time he caught his breath.

“Discord's on the balcony!” Spike stated.

“What why? Shouldn't he be having tea with Fluttershy?” Twilight demanded.

“I asked that. He said it had been canceled, then he just started giggling and pulled a giant tub of popcorn from some where and started eating it..... the tub not the popcorn.” Spike blinked.

“That's not good.”

Any further conversation was cut off as the door burst open and Rainbow Dash tore into the room slamming the door behind her.

“There's too many Pinkie Pies!!!” Rainbow Dash shouted only for a sudden roar of canned laughter to fill the air along with Discord shouting.

“The line, she said the line!!!”

“What?” Rainbow asked looking around for the source of the laughter

“What?” Twilight repeated trying to figure out what Dash was talking about.

“What?” Spike asked not having heard her clearly.

“Woof?” Added Rahs for the heck of it.

“Fun?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“AHHHH!” Rainbow Dash yelled, pointing a hoof at the pink mare that had popped up from behind the couch.

“Rainbow Dash calm down, it's just Pinkie Pie.” Spike sighed.” Weirdness is kinda her shtick.”

“ But there were dozens of her at the pond!” Rainbow Dash protested.

“Changelings?” Twilight asked tapping her hoof to her chin.

Rahs scooped up Pinkie Pie with both hands, holding her by the barrel nearly nose to nose with her. Pinkie Pie giggled like she was being tickled then exploded into a shower of water.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Everyone in the room screamed.

Rahs' eyes rolled back in his head as he fainted and fell over with a crash, while Dash, Twilight and Spike continued screaming at the sight of their friend popping like a water balloon.

Discord cackled.

Rainbow Dash brought Twilight back to the swimming hole where the multitude of Pinkie Pie's had first been seen.

The pandemonium of a pack of pronking pink pony Pies was perfectly present at the paddling pool.

But there were no Pinkies.

Recalling that Pinkie said something about helping Applejack with a barn, the pair raced over towards Sweet Apple Acres.

Upon arrival it looked like a storm had blown through.

The new barn was in shambles, the parts of it lying everywhere. Big Mac and Applebloom, along with a few other Apple family members who had come by to help, were staring in shock at the ruins of the barn they had been trying to build.

The ground was soaked, looking like there had just been a down pour, but the sky was clear and most everything beyond the barn area was dry.

“Mac what happened, where's Applejack?” Rainbow Dash shouted flitting around above the wreckage.

Big Mac simply blinked and pointed a hoof to the front of the house.

Grannysmith was currently standing over by the edge of the porch trying to coax a terrified Witch-Jack out from under the porch.

“Seriously what happened here?” Twilight demanded.

“Like a whooole buncha Pinkie Pie came rushing up screaming bout fun as we're trying ta raise one ah tha walls and they manage tah knock it down.” Applebloom stammered. “ Then Applejack starts yelling at them and they all start bouncing around her an Applejack gets an odd look and all tha Pinkie Pies around her suddenly explode and she's turned into Witch-Jack and she freaks out and tries tah hide under tha porch like Winona does when she's been bad.”

“What tha heck is going on?” one of the other Apple family members questioned.

“Still working on that part.” Twilight muttered. “Though I'm starting to get an idea.”

“Magic water copies?”Grannysmith asked.

“No.. I mean yes.. I mean what?” Twilight stated.

“Old legend round here bout a mirror pool that can duplicate tha user” Granny offered. ”Never put much stock in it as ah ain't never seen it personally, but there's a lot of stories.”

“Is it from an Old Ponytale or an Old Breezy Tale?” Twilight asked getting an odd look from Granny at the question. ”Sorry bit of a tick I picked up being Celestia's student.”

“Ehh hold on a second, think ah got an old book that might have it in there, old local pony tale book ah used tah read Applebloom.” Granny offered meandering back into the house coming out a few moments later with a book.

“A new book!?" Twilight gasped happily.

Witch-Jack simply whimpered as Dash rolled her eyes.

Twilight greedily snatched up the book reading over the story within and raised an eyebrow.

“Narcissus Mirror pool.... I've heard of that....” Twilight muttered as she read over the story.

“Really where?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“One of Solomon's spell books. It's a dark magic spell to create a horde of duplicates of yourself. It was a perversion of the standard mirror image spell used for defense as all the clones had the same powers and abilities of the caster.” Twilight frowned closing the book after looking it over a few more times.” Not sure I like the idea that there's a natural way to replicate the spell.”

“It was in the evil magic book the guy in the Crystal Empire had? If he could do this how did he even lose?” Rainbow Dash frowned.

“Well because the spell's mostly useless. An army of creatures that can be turned back into water just by poking them with a bit of mithril or anything else that disrupts magic makes them fairly useless in combat. Particularly when he was also surrounded by creatures that ate magic and could absorb lower level spells simply due to their presence.” Twilight offered. ”Plus depending on the purity of the water you could have anything from dumb clones, to clones with the same intellect as the caster, clones who might take offense to being just a copy.”

“Huh... so what do we do?” Rainbow Dash frowned.

“Well we make sure everyone else is alright, then we get the rest of the girls to try and find the real Pinkie Pie and figure out what the heck she's doing.” Twilight sighed. “ But first we get Applejack out from under the porch.”

A bit later the trio made their way to Fluttershy's house, with Applejack having taken a good bit of time to revert without Rahs present to bleed away the excess magic.

Upon arriving at Fluttershy's cottage however they were greeted by an odd sight.

A swarm of animals was sitting on the other side of the chicken pens at the edge of the forest. Twilight recognized a number of them as some of the injured animals that had been inside the cottage before, now they were on little gurneys and beds out in the field.

Angel Bunny was sitting on a post overseeing the group. He took a look at the approaching mares, shook his head and ignored them as he went back to fussing at a bobcat that was trying to eat one of the injured voles.

And by fussing, he meant adding another injured animal to Fluttershy's list.

Twilight studied them curiously before shrugging and making her way to the door of the cottage with Dash and AJ . She knocked loudly on the front door, after all if any one knew Pinkie Pie best it would be Fluttershy.

It took a few moments for the shy pegasus mare to answer the door. She opened it only a little to look out, even after seeing who it was.

Twilight took note that Fluttershy was soaked and was covered in a large fluffy pink bathrobe that she kept pulled tight around herself. A small stream of water also trickled out the door and down her front steps.

“Oh sorry about interrupting your bath, but we have a problem with Pinkie Pie” Twilight offered.

“Oh what's wrong with her?” Fluttershy asked glancing back inside.

“There's a whole herd of her bouncing around causing a ruckus.” Applejack commented.

“Oh dear... well that explains a few things.” Fluttershy added, her mane still dripping.

“Yeah there were like dozens of them at the lake.” Rainbow Dash explained.

“Bout that many at tha farm too, but ah kinda popped intah water when ah broke tha magic accidentally.” Applejack frowned, her long ears laying flat to her head under her hat.

“There's dozens more of Pinkie?” Fluttershy gasped.

“Yeah and they're causing all sorts of trouble in the name of 'Fun'.” Rainbow Dash snorted.

“Fun?” chorused at least four voices from behind Fluttershy.

The trio at the doors ears perked as Fluttershy jumped a little at the noise looking back behind her with a glare. The robe she wore shifted a little showing one of Fluttershy's forelegs wrapped tight in a black silk stocking with spiked bands on it that covered her whole leg and ran up to her barrel. Fluttershy quickly covered her limb back up as she turned back to those at the door, and the trio did their best to pretend not to see it.

“Oh dear. Well, umm if you see any more of them send them here and i'll give them a good talking to...” Fluttershy trailed off.

“Errr not a problem. We'll check the town and ummm let you get back to your bath...” Twilight offered quickly.

“Oh, alright. Thank you, and well, good luck.” Fluttershy offered turning back and closing the door quickly, but not before the trio heard her yell at somepony on the other side.

“What did I say?” Fluttershy scolded followed by the sound of a whip crack before the door closed fully.

Applejack, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash stared at the door a moment more before turning to walk away from it in complete silence.

At the edge of the yard Rainbow Dash finally spoke up.

“It's always the quiet ones.” Rainbow Dash nodded sagely.

“ Yeah … ah know that a little too well.” Applejack stated in agreement glaring at Twilight. “Particularly if some pony keeps fergitting that their sound proof spell dissolves after a while near me.”

Twilight blinked at the glare before turning bright red.

“Umm, yeah. Lets.... go find Rarity” Twilight stammered as Rainbow Dash cackled.

Author's Note

I know a few of you have had a bit of a issue with my Pinkie x Shy shipping in this fic. But i would like to tell you, the pairing was kept up soly for this joke right here in this chapter.

And i am not the slightest bit sorry about it.

Too Many Moon Pies, Epilogue

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Too Many Moon Pies
Epilogue

The scene opens with a flying view of Ponyville in black and white.
As the pan over continues music starts playing.

"The story you have read is true, expect for the parts owned by Hasbro and what was made up for laughs. The names and faces were changed to protect the innocent, but everyone got upset and made me put them back."

"The swarm of Pinkie Pies was dealt with by an angry mob wielding medical suppressor rings, bits of mithril, and invites to a 'fun party' at Fluttershy's. No pony asked Twilight Sparkle why such things worked, they just accepted it. It was safer that way."

"Twilight Sparkle was again awarded the key to the city for her actions. Mayor Mare had long ago simply commissioned a bunch of key shaped gemstones, magical doodads, and book marks. It was cheaper in the long run than the big keys, plus the Sparkles were running out of places to put the keys any way. She still had some of the regular keys however just in case some pony else managed to do something impressive on a Tuesday. She had also managed to get the award ceremony down to five minutes, unless Rahs was getting a key then he some how managed to make it last at least ten despite every pony trying to speed it up."

"Rahs Sparkle recovered, ate a whole bunch of food, then locked himself in his room and slept for the next 22 hours. This was normal for him though so no one batted an eye."

"Spike Sparkle was considerably freaked out, though after an explanation from his sister, he chocked it up to Tuesday in Ponyville and pretended it never happened."

"The Apple family recovered and continued on to finish building their spare barn."

"The barn lasted all of a week before a whale and a pot of petunias fell from the sky and crushed it."

"The whale recovered and was returned to the sea VIA the duck pond."

"The pot of petunia's was eaten as a snack by Applebloom."

"Applejack returned home to her family and refused to speak about the events beyond informing the others that it was dealt with and was just Pinkie being Pinkie. She also spent a large number of bits adding non magical sound proofing to her brothers room, much to Big Mac's embarrassment."

"Rarity whined about the damage to her shop nearly non stop for three days."

"Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo did not appear in this chapter."

"Rainbow Dash returned to her training at the Wonderbolts Academy and deflected any questions asked about her week off."

"Hundreds of Pinkie Pie clones died horribly in town."

"Scores of Pinkie Pie clones died far less horribly at Fluttershy's house."

"Fluttershy's animals were stuck outside for several days, during which point some of them simply returned to the wild."

"Mr. Bobcat vanished for a week."

"Angel Bunny denied any direct involvement."

"Fluttershy emerged from her home and spent the next few days drying everything out, explaining nothing to any one who asked."

"No one was dumb enough to ask."

"The Real Pinkie Pie was eventually found, having gone to visit her family at the rock farm. She was forced to reveal the entrance of the Mirror Pool, which was promptly sealed by Twilight Sparkle. She was also charged with causing a Tuesday event, forming a mob, starting a riot, and being a bad pony. She was put on the Black List for two weeks and told very firmly not to do it again."

"Discord had a grand time."

The music plays again as the scene fades.

Magical Mystery Chibiusa, Part 1

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Magical Mystery Chibiusa,
Part 1

[ Ponyville, Golden Oaks Library, Mid afternoon, End of Spring, Friday]

Twilight Sparkle pushed herself back away from the table with her fore hooves and stretched her back, hearing a few pops and creaks from sitting hunched over her book and her notes for several hours.

The library was quiet, no patrons were around and they were as far from Tuesday both ways as was possible to get.

Neither of her brothers were here either.

Rahs was on a hunting trip. Due to most of the local wildlife either knowing there was a large predator here or being Fluttershy's pets, Rahs had to venture a bit deeper into the Everfree than he used to to find something to eat. He would likely be gone a day or two.

Except the squirrels, those little bastards didn't care, but Rahs was sick of squirrel.

Spike was out at the farm hanging out with Applebloom and the other crusaders. Twilight and Applejack were watching the group closely. Both were getting to the point where the hormonal imbalances of the teenage years hit and that was a tad worrying even with Spike barely a teen and Applebloom a few years behind him. Twilight trusted both of them to not be stupid and she knew Applebloom was aware of the birds and the bees. The filly lived on a farm that raised pigs, chickens, and a few other animals. It would be a wonder if she didn't.

Twilight had also given Spike a crash course in the subject. And by that, she meant she got Bleu to do it.

The dragon god was not happy with Twilight because of that little stunt. Twilight countered all of Bleu's arguments by saying that Cadence was the next option if Bleu refused. Bleu went ahead and talked to Spike about it.

Twilight and Rahs both still had nightmares about Cadence's 'Birds and Bees' explanation. That mare was far too thorough. If she and Shining had foals Twilight would need to intervene before Cadence or Chrysalis, gave them the talk.

Twilight sighed shifting back as she stared up at the ceiling. The girls were going to come by later to help her try out a spell from one of Starswirl's journals that she had been studying, and to plan their 'Three years later welcome to Ponyville party'.

Three years ago Twilight, Spike and , Rahs had met the girls, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy for the first time. Had it really been that long already? It felt like two at the most.

As strangers they fought off Nightmare Moon and cleansed the corruption from her to reveal she was Celestia's long lost sister. That Luna was the creator of the Moon Dogs, a race that Rahs was the sole member of on Equss was interesting to say the least , and unexpected. Of course finding out he was from another realm where ponies dreamed was even weirder, but her brother was an odd one any way.

That was also the point that Twilight had started to lose faith in Celestia. A goddess , who before that point Twilight saw as her infallible teacher. But when things started being pointed out , Twilight could see the chessboard that had been set up.

Celestia's chess master mindset that had kept everything peaceful for a thousand years without her sister, but it couldn't hold up to scrutiny when placed under a microscope. With her plans laid bare and the mask removed Twilight could see the goddess as she was, a pony with failings the same as the rest, only with a much longer time to learn how to hide her failings.

That first year had been spent settling in learning about her friends, and discovering things about moon dogs and their corrupted variant, the witch wolves.

Also about Tuesdays in Ponyville...

And a certain older brother of a orange farmer....

That first year ended with a bang as a ancient creature of chaos was freed and started wrecking everything.

Of course he was Celestia's ex.

That led to another round of annoyance with Celestia as she pulled some more chess plays. While Twilight and the Princess were on good terms at the moment, all it would take was one more failing before Twilight would have enough. She had already stopped calling her Princess unless it was needed for a political purpose.

Her ex, Discord, was a interesting one though. When he first came out, he was pissed off and took that out on every pony. The second time he was released he was a great deal calmer, far less threatening and more willing to help. He still had issues with Celestia though.

Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy finding replacements to some of the records he had claimed to be missing helped.

Of course after that he took interest in the pair of them immediately and was now having tea with Fluttershy and Pinkie on Tuesdays when able.

He had also offered to train Twilight in chaos magic, when she was ready.

He had yet to specify when that would be.

A deal was stuck regardless so he could remain free this time. Part of the deal was to allow him to run amuck on Tuesdays here and Fridays in Canterlot, provided that he did not take it too far and he helped out when the need arose.

He agreed and more often than not never even did anything on Tuesdays other than watch. Occasionally he'd get bored and get a ball rolling, or pester locals, but he was far less mean spirited than he had been.

Whether or not it was Fluttershy and Pinkie...., well at least Fluttershy, being a good influence on him, or just the town's own chaos being to entertaining for him to want to miss was hard to say, but so long as it worked.

The second year had progressed with her and Big Mac getting closer, Spike and Applebloom hitting it off more, Rainbow Dash and Prince Blueblood hooking up, and ended with a royal wedding, which became a bigger mess that led to a invasion by a Changeling Queen, and an even lower opinion of Celestia.

Granted her opinion of Chrysalis wasn't any higher

The wedding had been of one of her oldest friends and her oldest brother and the bug had ruined it.

Chrysalis was an unapologetic nightmare of a bug pony who did what she wanted mostly unopposed. She also had a chess master streak like Celestia, though it seemed she was better at it. In the end rather than turn every pony away from Changelings like the nobles were trying to push for given the invasion, the average pony simply took it as Chrysalis presented it, as an angry protest against oppression.

They then promptly ignored it and went about their lives, not rising to the fear or or monster reports that were being aimed at the Changelings.

Celestia being revealed as being indifferent to Changelings other than Chrysalis ,whom she hated, lead to most of the nobles giving up trying to claim the damages on insurance as a 'monster attack' and had to settle for the lesser payout for' hoof ball riot'.

A deal was struck between Luna and Chrysalis, though in the end it wasn't necessary because of the return of the Crystal Empire.

Twilight let out a sigh. They all had nearly died there, but through sheer will power, dumb luck, and overwhelming force, the four Sparkle siblings had beaten back the bad guys and saved the Crystal Empire.

Of course that brought Sombra into play. The son of Princess Luna while she was corrupted.

He was still in Canterlot under a careful watch, though after reviewing everything he had done in his relatively short stint as king, it was found he was far less a monster than his father, and the Crystal Empire had a slightly better standard of living with him than under Solomon's rule.

The Crystal Ponies were still slaves, but it was the difference between getting bit by a ant, and a fire ant, in terms of suffering.

Celestia had considered placing him in Ponyville at some point in order to reintegrate him with the world, while still having some pony's nearby that could keep an eye on him.

The start of the year had been hard, Twilight was not alright for some time, and while she didn't remember her dreams, she often woke in a cold sweat for no reason at all, shaking over some existential thought or horror that lingered in her mind. Spike and Shining also had nightmares from this.

Rahs didn't seem to dream at all.

Some therapy and trying to take it easy helped a little, but life didn't seem to want to let Twilight rest.

This year had progressed with reunions, Rahs finally figuring out there were females interested in him, the revelation that Celestia had a much looser grip on the reigns than many thought. The following revelation that Twilight was willing to blast the stupid out of the Sun Goddess at the drop of a hat and Applejack being infected by the spirit of a dead witch wolf that made her into a Witch-Jack.

That Celestia would back down when presented with proper evidence kept Twilight from going off. Had Celestia actually killed Applejack Twilight would have figured out a way to strip her of her powers then beat her to death with her own sun.

Thankfully cooler heads prevailed in that situation.

Twilight still wasn't happy with her, but she understood why Celestia had reacted that way.

Witch-Jack was an interesting thing. Unlike Rahs she was decidedly a witch wolf. The corruption was there, she was bigger than Rahs and far more dangerous with her ability to draw in magic and where Rahs' claws were retractable, Witch-Jack's were not. Her mane and fur were also much wilder, though the glowing balls of light on her ears and tail remained the same as Rahs'.

The intellect behind the possessing spirit was gone, leaving just the form and ability and also a puppy sort of mentality that Applejack said she could guide occasionally, but not control. Luna reported that the two halves dreamed differently, though Witch- Jack could devour dreams and was never far from Applejack while she was dreaming.

The dreams often tended to be about either food, family, or Rahs.

Twilight had wanted to place her bet in the pool of Rahs' love life on Applejack, but the Ponyville pool wouldn't accept bids from relatives and Cadence's pool was gods only.

Given that it was more of a symbiotic/parasitic infection, unless Applejack died the witch wolf curse wouldn't spread, and the fact the wolf/cat/pony monster acted more like a puppy or kitten than a threat, kept any one from really bothering with the issue.

In fact the only thing to come of it other than the obvious, was Lyra being banned from the Ponyville betting pool, and a new type of coverage in the local insurance policies.

After all that had happened the last few years Twilight was a little leery about what might happen in the next two weeks before the Summer Sun Celebration and what might happen after.

Madness, Envy, Lust, Magic, Greed, and Pride, all with a fiery purple blue center.

Discord was mad.

Chrysalis was envious of Shining of all things.

Sombra...... well to be honest she wasn't sure what he lusted after, perhaps acceptance? Parental love? Lust wasn't always sexual after all.

Still that left Magic, Greed, and Pride before the prophecy would be complete.

Also given the fact that Velkorn had been intentionally hiding, lead Twilight to believe that the Zebra god might be onto something. Particularly since Twilight had been wanting to meet her and demand a straight answer. Clearly she could see the future and knew what to avoid, namely the Sparkles.

Twilight's thoughts were broken up by the sound of the front door swinging open.

“Knock Knock darling. Are you decent?” Rarity called.

“I'm in the kitchen!” Twilight called back, rising to go greet her friends and explain this spell she had found in Starswirl's journal.

Author's Note

For those who don't get the title.Chibiusa wiki

Magical Mystery Chibiusa, Part 2

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Magical Mystery Chibiusa,
Part 2

[ Ponyville, Golden Oaks Library, Mid afternoon, End of Spring, Friday]

Rarity would be the first to admit her friendship with the Sparkles got off to a rocky start.

Beating Rahs' head with a broom was not her best first impression.

After a good bit of apologizing and some time passing, however she was quite happy to have joined their little social circle.

Spike was a darling and quite helpful when needed. He had also reduced the amount of times Sweetiebelle had come home covered in tree sap by at least half. That was worth his weight in gems by itself.

Granted the number of explosions involving those three had gone up, but no one ever got hurt.

Twilight was a dear as well, though Rarity thought she was a bit too excitable sometimes, and more than willing to use brute force rather than the proper grace of a lady. Of course she took more after Rainbow Dash and Applejack in that regard. But given that Rainbow Dash was dating Rarity's dream Prince and Twilight was a minor noble and had gone after Big Mac... Perhaps Rarity had the wrong idea of what a lady should be, the upper class seemed more to like the rough and tumble type.

That might be something to look into another time.

Rahs... well.. the third Sparkle and she got along possibly the best, despite the fact Rarity had no idea what he said half the time. They both adored trashy romance books and the theater, though that was about where it ended. He was a brute to be honest, though a charming one at times. It was due to him that she made such good connections with Jynx and her pack after all.

That made her gem hunting so much easier.

Granted her latest ambassadorial task had been sent directly from Princess Cadence. Rarity was to help Jynx woo Rahs of all things. Cadence had given her a folder with everything she knew about Rahs and his tastes that she had learned foal sitting the Sparkles over the years. Rarity was to help Jynx with winning him over with this information.

That Rarity was on a first name basis with not one, but all three Princesses was something she had never even considered possible.

Even if she did have to talk Princess Luna out of adopting her. The Moon Princess still acted like Sweetiebelle's older sister.

Playing match maker would be delightful and she was all for it. She recalled what Rahs' reaction to her poison joke cursed form had looked like and Jynx was a slightly more buff version of that. In truth it shouldn't be too hard to get the two of them together.

If she couldn't find her own true love, she would have to settle with helping her friends find it.

Now if she could only stop him from ruining so many of the coats she designed.

Pinkie Pie pronked in after Rarity, calling a greeting to Twilight, her mind a whirl with the ideas for a three year party. She had never done one of those before, but she was sure gonna enjoy this one.

The Sparkles were great.

Spike was a lot of fun and Rahs was hilarious, particularly with how he talked, the reason was perfect to it was... ooh was that a squirrel?

Nope, just Blakeney.

Where was she?

Oh yeah!

Twilight was great too, she was super helpful, though a bit stubborn about what she couldn't understand. These past three years had been great and horrid then great and bouncing around, but they got her lots of new friends. Even Discord turned out to be okay in the end, if a little too melodramatic at times.

Fluttershy offered a small wave as she came in after Pinkie Pie. Her mare friends bouncing was a little distracting, but that's what Pinkie Pie did.

When Fluttershy first moved here she wound up being a shut in, only dealing with her animals and occasionally going out to shop when she couldn't help it.

Then she met Pinkie Pie.

Or was rather, assaulted with Pinkie Pie.

The pink mare terrified her and yet she was all over the place, every where, and into everything, wanting to know all she could and be friends with every one. Pinkie Pie spent three weeks just trying to get to know Fluttershy and get her to open up a little. Fluttershy had never had any one focus so much attention on her before and it was overwhelming.

Eventually though Pinkie introduced her to Maud, Treehugger, Rarity, and a few others and Fluttershy found that she wasn't as much a hermit as she was before all thanks to the outgoing pink mare.

Of course it took her even longer to muster up the courage to try and ask the pink mare out, though she did and the rest was history. She had always heard opposites attract though this was the first time she had been part of that.

In time Rainbow Dash showed up in Ponyville too and Fluttershy was introduced to Applejack. Then the Sparkles had shown up.

She got along rather well with Twilight, and Spike was the sweetest little thing, she wished Twilight would calm down more, but at least she wasn't as excitable as Pinkie Pie could be.

Rahs was a interesting one too. She was a bit at odds with him over his eating habits, though she was willing to accept them so long as he didn't eat any one of her local little friends.

She did wish he and Angel would stop fighting though.

Rainbow Dash glided in after Fluttershy flapping her wings lazily and offering a 'wusup' to Twilight.

This was awesome, no problems or world ending dangers for once, just hanging out. It had been a while since they all managed that. Sure Twilight was doing some egg headed stuff with a spell or what have you, but she couldn't argue that, it was kinda her thing.

These guys were awesome, even if she really got along best with Pinkie and AJ. Fluttershy was an old friend of hers and Rarity... well she was alright, she just needed to loosen up a bit.

But the Sparkles, yeah she kinda owed them a little.

Spike was awesome, I mean come on he was a dragon, that was awesome enough. The little guy was awesome despite being so young. Now if she could just get him to stop calling her daddy at inopportune moments.

Twilight was awesome as well, sure Dash didn't understand half of what she said most of the time with the egg headed stuff, but watching her go off was.. well awesome.

Then you had Rahs, he was awesome from day one, he literally flung himself across a chasm to come help her out.

She totally had that, but that was still .. awesome.

If she wasn't dating she'd bang him.

Of course it was because of the Sparkles that she was dating, and it was some guy she would never have even considered.

He was one of the noble types, the sort that she and Gilda used to prank because they had logs so far up their plot's the reactions were priceless when they were pranked.

But Prince, he wasn't like that, he was..... awesome....

So yeah she felt she owed them for that, plus hanging around them always led to some comedy or some awesome adventure or another.

Applejack trotted in right after Rainbow Dash. She had been running a bit late after making sure Big Mac was ready to deal with the girls and Spike.

She had been through one heck of a lot since meeting the Sparkles. She didn't blame them, not really. They allowed her to bring closure on her parents by returning her fathers yoke. It was put up in the living room on the hook next to his hat on the pegs she always recalled that he hung them from when he came in from the field. All her hats were copies of that one and while it was bad losing one, she had plenty. Heck, she had lost three just since this witch-wolf nonsense started.

She liked the Sparkles, she did, but trouble seemed to follow them like a magnet. That Big Mac had eyes.. and other things, for Twilight made it kinda weird. That Applebloom 'like' liked Spike made it weirder.

Now that her other half had the hots for Rahs, Applejack was rightly freaked out a bit.

Not that he was hard on the eyes.. and he did like apples....

No. Stop it. Bad Brain. She didn't see him like that no matter what that curse of hers thought.

Still all three of them were moren' willing to step up when push came to shove, and while she was worried about Applebloom's crush, she was less worried about Twilight and Big Mac.

In fact she kinda felt sorry for any one who thought to get between them.

Still Twilight was her friend and so long as she didn't think to much about the mare shagging her brother, it wouldn't get weird....

Damn it, it got weird again.

“So what's up with this Twi?” Rainbow Dash asked as she floated over the large diagram etched onto the floor. The runic markings set in the same insane detail that Spike liked to put on his miniatures.

“Oh that's the sigal circle for the spell. Try not to scuff it, Spike's already going to have a fit when he finds out I carved it into the floor. It's gonna take a while to buff it out, but it should be worth it.” Twilight explained.” Especially if this works”

“Spell circle?” Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps you should start from the beginning with what this is all about darling.”

“And use small words, yah got Dash here after all.” Applejack smirked.

“Yeah .. I mean HEY!” Rainbow Dash snapped.

“Oh, this is an unfinished spell that was in one of Starswirl the Bearded's journals. Celestia sent it along with all the information that could be found about witch wolves and necromantic magic. The journal has a number of older spells that Starswirl designed himself. The last spell in it however was unfinished.”Twilight explained. “And not for lack of trying either, he had pages and pages of diagrams and alternate casting methods. But what he finally discovered before he gave up was that the Element's of Harmony would be needed to help focus and power the spell for it to work properly.”

“I'm surprised such a super powerful wizard beardy guy couldn't get the Element's himself.” Pinkie Pie pronked about .

“He did have them, but he couldn't make them work, so after tinkering with it a bit I deduced that he needed the Bearers of the Elements not just the Elements themselves.” Twilight grinned.

“Oh that sounds lovely but... what is this spell supposed to do?” Fluttershy questioned.

“That's the kicker. I don't know.”Twilight smiled wider.” Exciting isn't it?”

“Not the words I would use.” Rarity muttered.

“Sounds kinda dangerous to be casting then doesn't it?” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

“Specially with me here and all that witch-wolf hooey ah got going.” Applejack added.

“Not at all. In fact that's why I want to cast the spell. While I don't know what the spell will do exactly because his horn writing is terrible, I do know that it was called The Panacea.” Twilight smiled. " I've copied the circle exactly and the mana will come from the design of it rather than from me. it will be like Starswirl himself was casting it."

“The cure to everything? “ Pinkie Pie gasped.

“I hope so. I also hope that would include fixing Applejack's issue. It might be a way to cure lycanthropy.” Twilight smiled.

“Or he might have been a horrid pony and it's a trap for those reading his journal. “ Rarity frowned before blinking as every pony looked at her. “ What!? I read horror novels too.”

“That was still something Spike brought up. Hence this test. Applejack did you bring it?” Twilight asked.

“Yup. We managed tah get tha Fire Blight contained, but lost a bit of tha harvest. Hung onto this one blighted apple like yah asked. But so help me Twilight if this turns it into a super version of Fire Blight we're gonna have words.” Applejack stated pulling a warped, burnt looking apple from her pannier and offering it over.

“Actually that's a secondary reason why you're here. Any sort of mistake that can come out of this you can take care of it magically. I'd use Rahs, but he's off hunting.”Twilight smiled.” Besides I have warding and shields in place so we can observe what happens without any risk. I've also compensated for the draw you would have on the spell.”

Twilight took the apple and set it in the center of the diagram instructing the others to stand at certain points and put on their Elements.

“I don't know Twilight, this sounds sorta risky...” Fluttershy muttered.

“Relax Fluttershy. I've calculated a one in a million chance of anything even going even minorly wrong, and I have safeties on top of safeties to prevent anything from causing any damage to any one of us. Plus I asked Lyra what she thought might happen if we did this, and she thought the spell would go off exactly as intended.” Twilight explained.

The others relaxed a little at that. Lyra had gotten rather good at predicting which way the crap would fall when the manure hit the fan. So much so that she was kicked out of all the town betting pools.

She had tried to get into the bet about the next big event, but was denied before she could place a bet on some pony stealing the Element of Magic. Of course Bon Bon had made the bet for her and no one noticed.

“Alright every pony in position.” Twilight looked over as the other five took their place. Her horn started to glow as she set up the wards around the apple in the middle of the signal and set up shields around it.

“From one to another, another to one. A mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled. From all of us together, together we're friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end!” Twilight recited.

The runes flared to life as the last words were spoken, the six of them slowly lifting into the air as the Elements of Harmony started to glow brightly.

Distracted as they were by all the glowing and floating, none of them noticed the runes lighting up and flowing around where the apple was placed on the floor.

Starswirl had indeed worked in a trap, the center of the spell was not the target, the point of Magic was the target for the spell. This was to prevent anything from forcing the spell to be cast on them by being in the middle of the circle, and would instead focus on the one who bore the Element of Magic.

Mostly this was due to Starswirl thinking only he was worthy to bear the Element of Magic and therefore be the only one who would ever stand there.

Still by the time the six mares focused back on the apple and noticed this, it was too late.

The Element's of Harmony Flared brightly...

… and Twilight Sparkle exploded...

...Twice!

Author's Note

The name of the spell ' The Panacea' comes from the "Awesome" fic The Great Alicorn hunt by RHJunior.

Magical Mystery Chibiusa, Part 3

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Magical Mystery Chibiusa,
Part 3

[ Ponyville, Golden Oaks Library, Early evening, End of Spring, Friday]

The next few things that happened were only noticed by two ponies and truly understood by neither.

Rainbow Dash having trained her eyes to notice things at high speeds, and Pinkie Pie on account of her being Pinkie Pie were the only ones who saw this part.

Twilight Sparkle had just exploded, twice. Once with a large flash of light and force that for that brief moment the pair of them were quite certain they watched the spell rip their purple friend apart and start to throw the resulting meaty chunks at the others gathered, then the second explosion, in which said chunks vanished without a trace. All of that was in less than a heartbeat

Before they could do anything to respond to that however the second fail safe of Starswirl's spell activated.

In the bearded ones infinite 'wisdom', he deduced that if he was being forced to preform this spell by who ever was in the middle of the glyph, then they would likely not be too terribly happy about being tricked out of what they wanted. And if they could force the Great Starswirl the Bearded to do something he didn't want to do, they were also quite dangerous, and as such needed to be dealt with.

Hence why, the poor apple, already suffering from Fire Blight, was subject to an elaborate spell interwoven into the middle of the runic glyph and blended in with the core spell. Had Twilight known what the glyph within the glyph meant, and to be fair to her, no one but Starswirl, who designed the spell, knew what they meant, Twilight would have 'noped' the journal right into the nearest volcano.

That said without Twilight to hold it up, said journal fell right on top of the already sickly apple, squishing it a bit, just as the inner spell went off.

Across Equss a flicker of magic touched libraries and school shelves alike. Scrabble connoisseurs and curious bibliophiles took note over time that one of their books had something new added.

Though they were a little more confused this time understandably.

A picture of a black buffalo with bladed horns and some sort of armor plate now had a second picture next to it. A picture of a sickly looking, half squished apple, with a book on top of it, under the definition of 'obliterated'.

This bit of information was, of course, lost on the five remaining ponies. As at the time the shields that Twilight had raised were gone along with her, leaving the group of them at the mercy of a spell that would have given Twilight herself pause at the destructive power of it.

Had the world been a different place, this likely would have been the end of the story. The five would have been vaporized along with the library and much of Ponyville.

While the term 'there's no kill like over kill' was thrown around quite a lot involving Twilight and the Sparkles in general, Starswirl was the first one to ever have said it, and for good reason.

Fortunately for the five mares, and Ponyville, several things were going their way in this instance.

The first thing being that Golden Oaks Library was a magical fortress the likes of which Starswirl the Bearded would have creamed his robes to have just glimpsed from a distance, through the second hand tubes of toilet paper rolls.

The millisecond they detected the hostile spell, the wards activated and and shaped shields and barriers formed and set in place. They were designed to channel the blast out the nearest window and into the sky and towards the 'no fly zone' the mayor and the weather team placed over the library for just such a reason.

If one was to ask the obvious question of 'Why would any pony place such warding spells pointed inward, and design them to be able to react to something like this inside the library rather than outside?'

One could then easily give the obvious answer and point to the mare who lived there. At this point the question asker would go 'Ahh, that's why.' and realize how stupid of a question it was.

Still despite the safeguards the magnitude of the blast was such that while the town would be saved, the mares inside would most certainly be cooked more thoroughly than a steak if one went to a cheap restaurant and ordered it medium.

Except again, they were spared by simple happenstance.

Applejack Apple.

Given her interest in the fate of the apple, she had been leaning a bit closer to observe what was going to happen to it, as such she was perhaps a inch closer than any of the others, so when the spell went off she was the first hit.

And due to aforementioned happenstance, she promptly ate it.

Now one has to keep in mind that Applejack was now a witch wolf, not a moon dog. The main difference between the two creatures, aside from witch wolves generally being bigger and and looking much scarier, was that witch wolves can take in a great deal more magic than moon dogs can. moon dogs were designed to deal with dreams which were composed of magic but not often a whole heaping amount of it.

While moon dogs were created to eat magic, that power was bolstered further once they were corrupted.

Now one also has to consider how Applejack became a witch wolf. She was cursed by the very first moon dog born, who was also was the first witch wolf.

Managarmr was also the first to directly curse an Apple family member, and the first to pee on a real rock after being brought back to the real world, so he was a creature of firsts.

Now every pony knows about the seventh son of a seventh son numerical magic, as well as the unlucky thirteen numerical magic. But there was a magic of being first as well, it was why every one sought it. First place, first prize, first born, first discovered, all of these firsts had a power all their own, while not as potent as other numerical magic, it was still there.

And firsts tended towards more firsts.

In this case, Applejack became the first to survive, eat, and counter an attack spell that Starswirl the Bearded had named 'The Giga slave'.

It was probably supposed to be giga slayer or something like that, but as mentioned, his horn writing was atrocious.

In either case it was a spell that would have made Twilight Sparkle say' oh shit' and run.

It tasted like lemons.

At the point of impact with Applejack's nose however, had Starswirl witnessed it, he would have been the one saying' oh shit'.

Again the only pair to catch what happened fully were Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash.

And what they caught was that Applejack exploded.

Unlike Twilight however, this explosion was mostly light and heat as Witch-Jack boiled away the over abundance of magic in a blast of Saint Equines Fire that would have had Spitfire of the Wonderbolts dip her sunglasses in awe.

What the two mares did not notice however was that two other things had happened to Witch-Jack.

The first was that she had lost another hat, this one vaporized to ash.

She was not happy about that.

The second was something no one even could have noticed except Applejack.

Every time Applejack had become Witch-Jack she was always forced to watch what the curse did with her form from a spot floating over her own shoulder. She could fuss yell and some times guide the creature, but in the end it always acted how a big dumb, dangerous, and strangely amorous, puppy acted.

This time, as the energy of the magic coursed through her, she actually was the witch wolf. The feeling of being in an unfamiliar body brimming with more power than she knew what to do with was far more than she was ever expecting to feel. And the sensations of it was beating her over the head like a hammer with all the new scents and tastes and feelings that came along with it.

Still as the spell expended it's charge, Witch-Jack came to one realization above everything else.

She didn't like lemons.

At which point Witch-Jack promptly fainted.

The surge of heat from the Saint Equine's Fire as Witch-Jack ate the spell was more than enough to cause both Fluttershy and Rarity, who were closest to Apple jack, to faint as well. It didn't help matters either that the St. Equine's Fire and the spell from Starswirl sucked all the air out of the room with the burst of fire and flames created.

Rainbow Dash remained awake simply due to her high altitude flying training. Pinkie Pie remained awake because she was Pinkie Pie.

This entire event took place in the span of three seconds.

The shock of it held Pinkie and Rainbow in place for another three seconds before both of them started to move.

Pinkie Pie rushed over to check on Fluttershy and the others.

Rainbow Dash was out the now broken window and halfway to Sweet Apple Acres by the time Pinkie even reached Fluttershy, a trail of rainbow light staining the air behind her.

Dash didn't know what happened to Twilight, she had no idea about this magicy stuff, but she knew one who did, or failing that, had a way to contact the Princesses.

Spike still had his mouth open to take a bite out of the pizza slice that had been left floating over the dinner table back in farm house. By this point he was half way back to Ponyville without even realizing he was grabbed.

A double rainbow filled the sunset lit sky as Rainbow Dash rushed back to the library, barely thirty seconds having gone by since Twilight cast the spell.

Magical Mystery Chibiusa, Part 4

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Magical Mystery Chibiusa,
Part 4

[Canterlot]

The day was over and the night had just begun, as such the royal sisters were both having a meal.

Breakfast for Luna, and dinner for Celestia.

This consisted of a nice meal for Celestia, prepared by the castle's 'five star and beyond' chefs, finished with a bit of cake for desert.

Usually at least three.

She's not addicted, she can quit any time she wants.

On Luna's end of things, breakfast was a lot of coffee, and a bowl of Lucky Charms that she more often than not wound up falling asleep into.

Luna was not a morning pony.

At this exact moment Celestia was starting her second cake, and Luna was making bubbles in her milk as she was face down in the bowl.

At that exact second they both felt a powerful 'PING' of magic energy.

The reactions of the pair were startled to say the least.

Celestia choked and then spit out a mouthful of cake.

Never having seen Celestia do anything of the sort to one of his cakes, the head chef promptly fainted thinking something was wrong with it, and that he was going to be executed for making a bad cake.

Luna's head shot up at the feeling, slinging milk from her mane and off her muzzle with a single statement that displayed her ancient wisdom regarding the sudden 'ping' of magic.

“Ebbeh!?!”

Said statement was distilled heavily through a sleep addled mind.

Celestia lifted her head wiping off the remains of her cake from her face as she looked into the distance her eyes wide.

She knew of a new teleport location.

This had only happened once before and...

“WHAT THE BUCK WAS THAT!?” Luna finally managed to articulate, slamming both fore hooves down on the table on either side of her bowl of cereal.

“It was....”

“WHAT THE BUCK WAS THAT!?” shouted another voice as the loud noise of a teleport pop was accompanied by a louder squelch.

A pink alicorn was now standing on the table, hock deep in cake.

The chef, having recovered at this point, with the help of a guard with smelling salts, was then treated to the sight of a pink alicorn standing in his creation and promptly fainted again for different reasons.

“As I was trying to tell Luna it was...” Celestia began before her horn flared a bright green. The solar princess looked up as a large mass of scrolls, etched bark, rune covered rocks, and one heavily etched bolder, formed over her head and dropped, smashing the solar diarch to mush under their combined weight.

The other two princesses blinked as they looked over the collection of hastily scrawled messages from numerous other gods that had been sent to Celestia. All of which said much the same thing as both Luna and Cadence had first uttered.

Well the first understandable thing Luna uttered any way.

As the pair waited for Celestia to reform and explain, the chef fainted for a third time after being woken upon seeing Celestia smushed like a pancake. Motes of green fire appeared over both of the princesses horns and formed into scrolls.

Luna and Cadence opened the scrolls reading them before letting out a knowing 'Aaaaah' as Spike explained Twilight had done something, thus explaining the ping.

That changed to panic however as the message continued explaining she had exploded.

Twice.

Thankfully before the two of them could work themselves up into a proper tizzy, Celestia reformed and glared at the rock that crushed her.

“Note to self, find out how Chrysalis learned how to contact me like that, then send a BIGGER rock back along the link before blocking it.”Celestia muttered. “Any way, as I was saying.....”

Another scroll formed and bounced off Celestia's nose. She glared at it, saw it was from Spike, then looked at the other two alicorns horrified expressions as they held scrolls much the same as the one that hit her nose before several pieces clicked into place.

“Oh!” Celestia smiled. “ It's Twilight!”

“Spike says she exploded!” Cadence shouted.

“So did you.” Celestia countered. “When you ascended.”

“So did I? What..... OOOOH!!” Cadence's eyes widened and a smile crossed her features rivaling Celestia's.

“Explain! Now!” Luna growled at the pair of now smiling alicorns. She was still not a morning pony.

“Better we have a look for ourselves. Did you learn a new place to teleport?” Celestia asked.

Luna blinked, one ear twitching as she seemed to try to look into the back of her own head before she raised an eyebrow. “ Yes.”

“Good, lets go.” Celestia smiled and the three of them vanished with a series of pops.

The lone guard remaining in the room who was not trying to revive the chef again sighed as he looked at the carnage of the breakfast table, and the rulers of the nation running off again without an escort.

“Sooooo.. I'll just get some pony to help clean this up then.....” The stallion grumbled. “ I knew I should have gone into accounting....”

[ ?]

In a space beyond time and reason. In a starry void dotted with countless glowing souls rather than stars, where reality began and ended and never was. The source and end of all things, where the atmosphere was perfect, the air smelled of warm root beer, and the towels were oh so fluffy. The song of the universe itself sang in a perfect harmonious hum.

Into this blissful place a purple figure floated, bombarded by the pure peace and calm of the very nature of the universe.

“What the shit is this!?” Twilight Sparkle swore.

She couldn't tell which way was up and a near deafening chord of some kind of music was drowning out even the sound of her own voice shouting, though that was slowly starting to fade as large glowing rectangles started forming around her. On each of them started to form images and shapes. Soon the images cleared and she could make out scenes of her life.

At least she knew which was was down judging by how all the images were oriented.

The day she first hatched Spike and made Rahs appear. The time she and her friends beat Nightmare Moon. The time she, Spike, and Rahs unmasked a fake nightmare moon trying to poison foals with sugar free candy. The red worn incident... oh by the stars it was showing the red worm incident.

Rahs' first stage play. Her first encounter with Big Mac. Meeting all the girls for the first time. The fight with Discord. The encounter with her brothers in Hayseed Swamp with the hydra. Her trying bacon for the first time. The fall into the pit of snakes as a foal. Rahs biting an animal control officer. Her rampage through the dragon rest stop. The entirety of the events of the crystal empire. All of it seen from the outside, as if a invisible observer was watching her.

Wait, this was her life.

Aw crap she was dead. She was seeing her life flash before her eyes. Dammit there was so much left to do. She never got to finish that article on fourth dimensional gardening, nor pay Rahs back for filling her checklist notebook full of custard. She also hadn't managed to convince Mac to have a three way yet...

“By our stars they were adorable!”

“Told you!”

“What?” Twilight demanded whirling about and sending herself spinning in the frictonless space.

The sound of wings could be heard and as Twilight stopped spinning she took note of three figures moving through the odd mist that made everything in the distance blurry. Though she could tell the three forms coming towards her had large wings and were white, blue, and pink.

“What?” Twilight stated again and the three Princesses moved up to her, Celestia smiling to her as Luna and Cadence were looking around at the images.

"Interesting, he was quite vicious as a pup with what he did to those thieves." Luna hummed watching one of the scenes.

“Oh wow. So that's why they call him Big Mac.” Princess Cadence whistled. “Damn.”

“Stop looking at that!!!” Twilight screamed out flailing wildly in the air trying to get at the pink alicorn.

“Cadence please stop aggravating her. I would like to know how she got here and ...”Celestia began.

“So that is why Rahs wears pants.” Luna commented watching another image with a wince.

“ANY WAY. Hello, Twilight, might I ask what were you doing before you came to this place. I am not sure how much time we will have.” Celestia offered.

“I was in here for twelve hours auntie.”Cadence growled.

“Oh, well, maybe we do have an idea, but since you're only the second pony I've ever met to find this place. Would you mind answering the question?” Celestia offered.

Twilight narrowed her eyes at the Princess Expecting something, though Celestia seemed actually curious.

“Well, I mean all I was doing was testing a spell that Starswirl the Bearded left unfinished in his journal. The girls were helping me out with that and we were testing it on an apple as the spell was supposed to be a panacea to cure everything and I was going to use it on Applejack if it worked...” Twilight rambled.

“A cure? From Starswirl? Pffft!” Luna snorted. “That egotistical lout wouldn't be able to do something that healed anypony if thou gave him a band-aid to stick on a boo boo.”

“Really, I thought he was a some great wizard?” Cadence asked.” That's what they taught in school.”

“Fie on that. He was a loudmouth braggart with more issues than the periodical section at Canterlot Royal Library. If he were not so good at making attack spells and so paranoid about everyone being out to get him, he never would have lived long enough to have a beard at all.”

“Luna can we please focus?”Celestia sighed.

“He only had the bells on his hat to ward off Hikie Puffs. And he lined the entire inside of it with tinfoil to keep ponies from reading his thoughts through the cloud trails pegasi leave.”

“What's a Hikie Puff?” Cadence asked.

“No pony knows, he would never tell any pony, and he accused any whom asked of trying to steal his secrets.” Luna ranted.

“Luna please... So you completed the spell and cast it.” Celestia considered. “Well the only journal I recall giving you of Starswirls had some of his annamorphic and evocation spells in it. The only spell i I can think of that was unfinished in that book did involve the Elements of Harmony though. I never really read it as I wasn't too fond of being reminded of him either.”

“So what is this place?” Twilight questioned.

“I'm not sure.” Celestia admitted. “Though this is where I found Cadence when she became an alicorn.”

“It has been a while.” Cadence offered.

“So I'm not dead?” Twilight asked.

“Of course not” Celestia offered.

“Oh look there's Twilight and Rahs stealing ice cream.” Luna smiled pointing at an image of the pair coated in ice cream and sitting in two large tubs of it.

“Ah and look that's the first time I foal sat them and Twilight was hiding on the ceiling avoiding a bath!”Cadence cooed.

“Are you sure I'm not dead? Cause this really seems like it's Tartarus....” Twilight grumbled as the other two mares giggled at some of the images.

“Twilight no, it means for whatever reason the universe has decided that you are to be a new god. Well I assume so since this is what happened with Cadence.” Celestia offered.

“What? But why me?”Twilight stammered.

“Seriously Twilight? You helped free my sister from corruption, stopped Discord, dealt with countless other problems and surmounted them, and then you helped save an enslaved empire and break it's curse. And top top it off you completed a spell that one of the most famous wizards of all time …

“In his own mind” Luna snorted.

“.. Couldn't complete.” Celestia continued, ignoring Luna. “Impressive enough given it has only been three years since you were my student.”

The song of the spheres arose from around then growing louder as Celestia started to sing.

“You've come, such a long long way. And I've watched you from the very first day....” Celestia sang.

“That doesn't sound stalkery at all does it?” Cadence muttered.

“To see how you might grow, to see what you might do, to see what you've been through..” Celestia continued.

“Verily. We were unaware voyeurism was thine interest sister.” Luna chided as Cadence giggled.

Celestia whirled smacking both of them with her wings. “Can I not have a moment here with a song without some pony interrupting it?”

“With thine singing voice, we certainly hope not.” Luna snorted, backing quickly away from Celestia with a snap of her wings as the solar mare lunged for her sister.

“Ummmm” Twilight uttered as the pair of sisters started to squabble and trade insults.

“It's fine Twilight. We'll talk more once you're home. This is gonna be a long conversation I assure you.” Cadence smiled. “I'm rather curious as to what you might wind up being the god of. If you wind up a god after all, no one really understands this place and I was in here longer than any one else. Most gods just pass on their power, it's very rare for a new god to be created. I think I was the last one who was, in fact.”

“I don't understand, why I would be the god of anything!” Twilight muttered.

“Look I stopped a witch from draining love from everyone in my old village and all I did to do that was kick an old mare in the head a few times and BAM I'm an alicorn. You've done a lot more than me so this isn't exactly surprising, in any sense other than that it didn't happen sooner. But then again from what I've seen since I ascended the universe doesn't seem to have a rhythm or reason to why some creatures become gods. So we just have to wait and see.”

“How long?” Twilight frowned watching as Celestia got Luna in a headlock though Luna was biting Celestia's wing.

“No idea, I guess until the universe thinks you're ready to come out.” Cadence shrugged.

“Oh “ Twilight uttered, before she exploded again.

And yes. It was twice.

Magical Mystery Chibiusa, Epilogue

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Magical Mystery Chibiusa,
Epilogue

[Ponyville Early Evening.]

A crowd had gathered around the outside of the Golden Oak library. It was hard not to be curious as to what was going on when there was a massive double rainbow arching through the air, still glowing softly in the sunset filled sky.

The crowd found many things odd about this situation. First was the massive fire ball that launched from the tree moments before the double rainbow happened.

The next thing was that the sun should have fully set about an hour ago.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders had only just recently run up and forced their way inside the tree screaming about Spike vanishing in a flash of rainbow colored light.

The few braver, IE. dumber, ponies had snuck up to look into the broken window. They had reported back that the floor was scorched like some pony had set it on fire. Applejack was in her Witch -Jack form and unconscious and the rest of the mane six and Spike were running around in circles in a right proper tizzy and there was no sign of Twilight or Rahs.

Bets were placed.

When three alicorns showed up in a flash of light, the stakes to those bets rose a little more.

“I'll be right back.” Cadence offered vanishing with a flash of light.

“So how long did it take her to return?” Luna asked.

“About ten minutes so we have a bit of time. Best to go calm every one down.” Celestia sighed glancing around at the crowd and offering a smile.

“My little ponies. Do not be alarmed there is no danger...” Princess Celestia began.

“It's okay Princess we kinda figured that since nothing else has exploded yet.” Called a voice from the crowd.

“Yeah where just here to see who wins the Sparkle Shenanigan pot this time.” another voice called.

Princess Celestia blinked a little before leaning over to her sister. “ I think this town might have a small gambling problem.” She muttered.

“Is it a pool or a percentage chance of something?” Luna asked.

“A pool Princess.” Another voice called.

“What pray tell are some of the bets?” Luna asked curiously.

“Pot's at six hundred bits, we've got everything from died horrible, turned into a dragon again, to became an alicorn.” The voice called back.

The two alicorn's eyes widened at the last bit. Something not missed from the sharp eyed ponies close by.

“DANG IT!” shouted a good dozen voices.

“Who won that one?” asked another.

“Bon Bon had it.” a third voice chimed in.

“Why are we still letting her bet in these things?” Another voice called.

“Fine, all those here in favor of banning Bon Bon from the betting pool say 'aye'."

“I'll stop making cream drops.” Bon Bon said flatly.

“NAY” the crowd shouted.

“Can you at least not bid in every one of them?” an annoyed voice asked.

“Fine....” Bon Bon sighed.

A flash of light heralded the return of Princess Cadence along with Shining Armor and Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle.

Princess Celestia smiled taking note of the group of them, her horn lighting up and wrapping around a cart of manure that was sitting at the edge of the street. With a flash of green fire it vanished. Celestia hummed to her self offering over double the amount of bits that the cart and content was worth to the owner, before sealing off the trail of dragon fire sending that lead to Chrysalis.

Princess Luna went inside the library to explain to those there as Cadence explained to the Sparkles what had happened. Twilight Velvet, Nightlight, and Shining Armor's eyes seemed to grow bigger with every word the pink alicorn was saying.

The others rushed out of the library with Witch-Jack and Rarity still a little groggy. Spike rushed over to the other Sparkles talking excitedly with the Cutie-mark crusaders bouncing around them.

Then things started getting weirder.

With the sun mostly set and night encroaching all at a stand still a perpetual twilight remained over the town. Strolling from the direction of the woods out of this twilight was a large moon dog with a large wicker basket draped over his shoulder. Both he and his coat looked a little charred, but given he had gone hunting rous in the Fire Swamp, no one was really surprised.

He clearly was a little annoyed as he pushed past the crowd, his ears perked as he looked over every one present.

“Woof?” Rahs questioned.

He was then treated to a rapid fire explanation of what happened from the Element Bearers and the crusaders before he looked to Princess Luna who filled in a few more details.

Unlike the other Sparkles when he was caught up, the moon dog merely shrugged and went inside to put the meat of his hunt in the ice box before it spoiled. He did this pretending not to be stealing glances at Witch-Jack, who was clearly trying to do much the same.

Of course everything really seemed to start getting interesting when the air above the library tree exploded.

Just once.

Out of that magical arcane explosion drifted a glowing purple figure.

Twilight Sparkle, her new wings spread wide, head held high,the perfect poise of regality, slowly drifted down from the sky, smacking into every branch of the tree in the process before she finally fell out of it with a crash on the ground.

“ Pffft, ha ha ha!!” Rainbow Dash cackled as Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie helped her back up and to pick the leaves from her fur.

At the sight of this several things happened.

The first was that Mayor Mare quickly considered the property damage an alicorn Twilight Sparkle could do, and promptly fainted.

The second thing was that three rather flighty mares shrieked and hauled flank back to their bunker, some how carrying off a massive Nox-Cal guard they had been dating in the process.

The third thing was Major Comet Trail offering a invoice to Princess Luna, one that would increase all the Ponyville guards pay.

The next thing was only heard by dogs as Rarity squeed in delight at the idea of locking down the position of official dress maker for Equestria's newest Princess.

This squee lasted until Witch-Jack cuffed her in the back of the head before rubbing her ears with a wince.

Rahs nodded appreciatively as Witch-Jack had gotten to Rarity first.

The final thing was that Bon Bon was paid the pot.

“Thanks girls, guess I'm not used to this yet...” Twilight grumbled fanning out a wing.

“Whoa... this is awesome!” Rainbow Dash smiled, grabbing the outstretched wing inspecting it, stretching it out to look at the purple feathers.”You got wings!! I am so gonna show you how to be a bad ass flier!”

“What … oh right, guess I will need some coaching... I'm going to have to check my power level too, to make sure every things fine there....”Twilight muttered.

“Twilight are you alright … you kinda blew up....” Fluttershy muttered.

“I..... well, I actually feel better than I have in a long time.......” Twilight offered.

“OOOOh We are so gonna make this a party!!” Pinkie Pie grinned bouncing up and hugging her before pronking around in excitement.

“Well we do have a coronation to plan after all.” Princess Celestia offered.

“A coronation?” Rarity gasped.” EEEeeeeeeeee, OW!!”

Witch-Jack glared back at Rarity.

“Ah ain't sorry.”The large orange witch wolf growled. Her voice sounded like a much huskier version of Applejack's normal voice.

That she said anything at all drew everyone's attention to her.

“Don't ask, ah got no idea.” Witch-Jack muttered.

“Right I will actually check on that later.... now then.... what was this about a coronation?” Twilight asked looking at Princess Celestia.

“Well as a new god of ponies, that will generally mean you're a Princess” Celestia offered.

“Hard pass.” Twilight protested.

“What?” Celestia asked her ears flattening.

“Not doing it. You are more than welcome to your noble whining and tax laws. I will pass.” Twilight offered again.

“ But … “Celestia whined....” My vacation...”

“Shouldn't we find out what she's a god of first and then go from there?” Cadence offered interrupting Celestia's pouting. “I mean I'm not a pony god at all... well, at least not until I got the Crystal Pony portfolio. Given Twilight's actions in freeing them I wouldn't be surprised if I wound up sharing it with her.”

“Ummmm, how am I supposed to check?” Twilight asked.

“Ahh it is fairly simple. Thou are aware how to use a light spell correct? This should be a new spell thou knows that feels much like that. Like how the light spell focuses the light in thine horn, this thou focuses into thine left wing. It should be as second nature to thee right now.” Luna explained.

Twilight blinked, her horn glowed briefly before the magic faded and her left wing glowed instead, a glowing manila folder appearing under her wing.

“What?”Twilight demanded, pulling the folder from under her wing with her magic.

“That is why they are called portfolios....”Celestia nodded sagely.

“So what is it Twi?” Shining Armor asked. “I've seen Cady do that before and I'm rather curious as to what my baby sister is a god of.”

Twilight blinked and opened the folder as a number of others eased forward looking to read over her shoulder.

“I'm the Goddess of Friendship and Magic. “ Twilight read getting a number of gasps and a few wails of horror from the towns folk. “It also says I have two lesser portfolios. Books.... and...... by the stars, seriously?!?”

“What!? What is it?” Cadence frowned.

“..... Tuesdays...” Twilight muttered.

There was a collective silence from the gathered crowd. After a moment, the entirety of the gathered crowd quickly started to disperse, some slowly with a sense of rushed urgency, while others simply said fuck it and hauled flank.

After a few moments only the Mane Six, the Princesses, and the Sparkles remained around the library.

“Did I miss something?” Nightlight asked.

“Possibly because I missed it too.” Twilight Velvet added.

“Come on in. I'll make some tea. And explain. “ Spike grumbled. “And our new Princess can FIX THE FLOOR!!”

“You can't just order royalty Spike!” Twilight protested trying for a haughty tone.

“Forget that, I literally just waxed it yesterday and you set it on fire!” Spike fussed. “Besides you said you didn't want to be princess.”

“Bu...t!” Twilight grumbled.

“No buts dear, if you broke it you should fix it.” Twilight Velvet offered.

Alicorn Twilight pouted as she stormed inside with the rest of her family and friends hating that she was getting called out by her mom in front of everyone.

Rahs stopped watching the others head into the tree house. It was going to get crowded quick and he was a little leery of hanging around his mom, Luna AND Witch-Jack. That would be an embarrassment and a half if those two caught him looking at her.

He lifted his head, his long ears perking up as he heard an argument start up again, a smile crossing his muzzle as every one started yelling over each other.

Rahs grinned looking up at the twilight sky, the suns light not yet properly faded.

It should be safe enough for him to sneak past and get cleaned up from his hunting trip. He stepped forward towards the door humming a song to himself.

The moon dog's tail wagged behind him, the glowing ball usually present at the tip was gone, now a glowing crescent floated there instead of a full moon.

“You've come... such a long long way.....”

Magical Mystery Chibiusa, Epilogue 2

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Magical Mystery Chibiusa,
Epilogue 2

[1 week later. Crystal Express ]

“ So you can just change back and forth now?” Spike asked, looking at Applejack who was sitting across from him on a bench as the train clacked onward towards the Crystal Empire. Spike had a small collection of cards laid out on the table in front of him. He had picked up a number of the sets just for this trip. It seemed the crystal ponies had heard his quip back with the juggernaut and figured it out it was from a card game.

That game was now one of the most popular things in the Crystal Empire and he would look stupid if he didn't know how to play it when he went back.

“Something like that. Still need a burst ah magic or some ambient around tah do so, but ah ken stay a pony if ah like unless ah get too much of it and I'm fully in control now. Spect ah know how yah felt as a dog with tha poison joke curse. It's rather weird going from quadruped tah something bipedal with paws instead of hoofs. Never actually felt it afore, ah just kinda blanked out.”

“Twilight suspects that that flare of her ascending might have been enough magic to evolve you to what the curse is supposed to do.” Spike considered the cards, he was definitely gonna make a dragon deck.

“Ehh whatever it is, things ken go back tah more normal now...” Applejack muttered readjusting her hat over her longer ears. “Still can't taste any apples ah grow, or eat chocolate, and these ears are bugging me with mai hat. Plus don't git me started on how everything smells now, but other wise every things fine.”

“Not complaining about the fangs? Or having to eat meat?” Spike questioned.

Applejack shrugged. “Ah ain't only able tah taste certain things like Rahs so all tha extra food types is only adding more flavors to mai diet than what ah lost. Being able tah taste magic is pretty weird though.”

“Oh? Find any new flavors like that?” Spike questioned not having heard Rahs talk about that for a bit. Three of the blue eyed white colored dragons would be a good starter, maybe some black ones too.

“Yeah, that spell of Starswirl's tasted like lemons, Rarity's magic tastes like marshmellows and Princess Cadence's tastes like strawberry shortcake. Sweetiebelle's tasted like maple syrup.” Applejack smirked.

“Tree sap.” Spike chuckled as he added a couple of spells and trap cards. “What about Twilight's? What did hers taste like? Rahs said she didn't have a flavor and I know she gave you a bit of magic while she was testing.”

Applejack's ears flattened to her head as she looked away from Spike.

“Well?” Spike asked looking up from the cards curiously. “It's been one of the flavors I've been wondering about since I first learned Rahs could taste magic.”

“Her magic..... well doesn't have a distinct food flavor per say...”

“Uh huh....” Spike tilted his head wondering why Applejack was trying to be cagey.

“Well it … her magic kinda tastes like Rahs.....” Applejack muttered turning a bit red.

“Huh... the moon dog spit theory....” Spike considered his tail flicking against the seat as he looked back at his cards before stopping and looking at Applejack. “Wait a minute. How do you know what Rahs tastes like?”

“Yah know, I'm feeling a might peckish ah'm gonna go see if Granny Smith wants anything and then head up to the food car real quick, talk to yah later Spike...” Applejack stammered very quickly before slipping out of her seat and rushing off.

Spike watched her go and smiled. “I wonder how much Twilight will pay me for that bit of information?”

Twilight Sparkle sat in her own train car reading. She had to admit the 'Princess' car was very nice and filled with countless comforts. It had it's own small library, a full bath, and kitchen with sixty types of coffee and at least forty cakes, that was terrible. Mostly because Pinkie had found out, now there were fourteen cakes.

Rahs was stretched out over one of the plush couches with Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash scattered about the room on other high end furniture. Pinkie Pie was currently taking up the bathroom after too many cakes.

“So your very first deity summit... are you're alright with this Twilight?” Rarity asked from where she lounged on another couch.

“Yeah, you didn't seem thrilled about being a Princess when Princess Celestia asked.” Rainbow Dash added.

“This is a little different. Since I'm ascended and also well known and fairly accessible, I'm supposed to meet and present myself to the council of gods, offer up what my portfolios are, get a list of rules from them and a bunch of other ceremonial stuff. It's rather exciting.” Twilight offered closing the book. “And being accepted as a god doesn't mean I have to do any paper work or gain any responsibilities unlike being a princess. In fact unless something in my portfolio becomes a issue that I would have to deal with no one will really expect anything of me.”

“A council of gods?” Fluttershy asked.

“ Yep. Seems a bunch of Equss' gods meet every so often to discuss things that effect the entirety of Equss. The last full meeting was when Cadence ascended. This one is going to cover my ascension, as well as the return of Discord, and Luna's situation. It's also going to address adding Chrysalis and upgrading the changeling race from abominations to an actual species that will be recognized by the council and therefor protected.” Twilight explained. “There are several heads of the council that are the oldest gods. Iinii, The Fates, White, although he has a tendency not to ever show up on time according to Celestia, and Aqua. The meeting is being held in the Crystal Empire as all of them attending want to investigate the place to make sure everything Solomon set up is gone for good.”

“I expect Princess Luna is not happy about this.” Rarity frowned.

“She's not, but there are more gods on her side than are against her.” Twilight offered. “Princess Celestia might not be one of the council's elders, but she has a great deal of pull with them due to her portfolio.”

“Well so long as nothing bad is going to come out of this.” Fluttershy offered.

“There might be a few things.” Twilight offered. “We're still not sure that I count as 'magic' in the prophecy. And there's still the others to contend with. Plus there are always gods that want to give the new comers a hard time. Not to mention the ones who want to try and increase their pull by trying to get the newly ascended to listen to them. In truth I'd rather avoid this, best I take Shining's advice, agree to nothing be polite but give no answers that can be considered favorable or unfavorable to any position.”

“So I take this Velkorn who made the prophecy has one of her portfolios in divination or something? Tea leaf reading?” Rarity questioned.

“According to Celestia her major portfolios are Zebra's and Alchemy, and her minors are prediction, medicine, and beans.” Twilight offered.

“Beans?” Rainbow Dash questioned as Twilight shrugged.

“A lot of gods pursue smaller or lesser portfolios in food types. They're supposed to be easy to acquire and are a decent power versus cost ratio to have a few of them. Though the more you acquire the less benefit you gain. Celestia has Ponies, the Sun, and Day, as major portfolios, and nox-cal and Zebra's as minor, though she's trying to get cake as another minor. Luna has the Moon, Night, Dreams, and nox-cal as her majors, with Moon Dogs, and Ponies as her minors and she's trying to get coffee added as a minor. She thinks she only needs to try Pinkie's coffee to get it as well.”

“This is complicated.” Dash grumbled.

“I know, I only got a week long crash course in it, but the powers are simple to understand. Gods draw more power from their major portfolios and some times take on aspects of that, which is why Celestia's mane looks like a sunrise and Luna's looks like the night sky. It acts a bit like a magical heat sink as well. The pair of them have a lot of power and bleed it off that way.”” Twilight explained. “Minor portfolios don't give as much power and are often shared lessening the power gained further, though having them means if anything happens to your primary power you can fall back on a lesser to avoid being destroyed.”

“Hmm so should we expect your mane and tail to do that ?” Rarity questioned.

“I doubt it. After all Cadence's hair doesn't act all wavy yet either.” Twilight smiled.

“Good thing too, it would probably wind up acting like one of those japony tentacle things.”Rainbow Dash snorted.

“Oh my.” Fluttershy blushed.

“Regardless, thank you all for coming out here with me. It'll be nice to have friends with me after all the scrutiny I'm likely to go through here.” Twilight smiled. “Interesting or not I don't like the idea of being the center of attention like this.”

“I'm sure it will be fine darling.” Rarity stated.” We are all here for you.”

“Woof.” Rahs agreed.

“That's right.” Fluttershy agreed.

“Damn straight, we got your back.” Rainbow Dash agreed.

“Thanks girls I appreciate it. Still I kinda wish Big Mac could come as well.” Twilight muttered.” I can't tell if he's intimidated by me now or not.”

“It's alright dear, with Grannysmith coming up here along with Applejack to check out some of the farm land around the Empire, some pony had to stay and watch the crusaders.” Rarity offered. “Besides if he wasn't intimidated by you before, it's unlikely he is now.”

[Ponyville]

Something exploded on the farm and Big Mac raised his head up looking out across the fields, taking note that there was a fair sized fire around the small area he had given the girls to work on their latest project. He wasn't sure what a 'rail gun' was, but he doubted they would get a cutie- mark in it.

He watched the fire for a moment as it started to die out along with the screams of the fillies, they had it under control for the moment.

Dropping his head back to the book he continued to read. He never knew there was this much detail in preening wings...

The whistle of the train blew drawing the attention of the ones in the Princess car even before Spike opened the door. “ Hey, we're coming into the station now. Everyone ready for this?”

“Not at all.” Twilight offered fanning her wings. “But lets get underway any how.”

The group of them rose and joined Applejack, Grannysmith, and Pinkie Pie moving to the front of the car to begin the Gods Summit.

[?]

The street was dark as a figure stood leaning against an old stone statue,watching the time click by on a small glowing box.

“It's almost time.. soon I'll have the power to get everything I rightfully deserve.”

The figure smirked as the glowing square winked out. Only briefly showing the figure's hair, the pattern reminiscent of bacon.

Author's Note

This seasons not quite done yet.

Endor Girls, Part one

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Endor Girls,
Part one

[Crystal Empire]

This is not what she expected.

Twilight had expected some sort of massive theater like chamber, filled with gods, in massive towering stadium seating, with any petitioning party to be in a low center of the stadium like set up so the mass of gods could look down on whomever was brought before them.

What Twilight got, was a fair size ball room that was filled with cheap wooden chairs, a whole bunch of card tables piled high with food and drinks and one large table that all the chairs were facing with some seats behind it.

The room was full of lions and tigers and bears and reptile and fish like creatures and things that defied description of all shapes and sizes, all of them wearing little sticky name badges with the equivalent of 'hello my name is' written on them followed by a name.

The whole thing was surreal. Particularly when a creature made of what looked like jello and another composed of rocks got into a heated discussion about the proper amount cheese that should go on a cracker.

Cadence stayed near Twilight guiding her around, introducing her to a few of the gods and steering her clear of others. She also blocked Twilight's face with a wing every so often as there were at least three serpent gods present.

Twilight recognized only a few of the gods here beyond the Princesses. There was Lockheed, Kaz, Teacup, Rhino, Bleu, and Fledge. Seated at the long table at the front was the buffalo god Iinii who nodded to her in greeting. She rather wondered how he fit in the room as he still towered over everything around him.

Next to him were three large spiders.

A giant spider with the name tag reading Terrible, was ..sitting there? The large brown fuzzy spider was speaking with Iinii. Twilight decided it was some sort of tarantula, a tarantula the size of a pony.

The second spider was a little smaller than Twilight's hoof and seemed to be a peacock spider with how bright it's colors were. It's name tag read 'Karma'.

Next to it was a slightly bigger, but not quite pony head sized, star spider with a name tag reading 'Murphy'.

Cadence stated they were collectively known as The Fates.

The final figure at the table was half submerged in a large tank of water with the name tag of Aqua. The females lithe form rose from the water and floated in the air over the table, higher than the others, but still not as tall as Iinii. Large multicolored fins fanned in the air behind the her, keeping her aloft. Her front legs were much like a ponies with the slightly wider, fin like hooves like a fabled hippocampus.Where her rear legs would have been, was a thin golden pearlesecnt fish tail ending in a pair of long trailing fins that would have looked at home on a evening gown and slid though the clear water she sat in. Various jewelry, and gems graced her form, though that only seemed to distract from beauty of the flowing teal mane cascading down her back. It glowed softly like Luna and Celestia's with a deep blue hue to it as if one was looking into a perfect ocean pool. Silver flashed within her mane seeming to move about as her hair swayed like waves. They looked like tiny silver fish swimming around in her water like mane, a small grouping of tendrils drifted from her head waving slightly with her watery mane like decorative kelp. Her eyes glimmered like emeralds as she dropped her gaze to regard Twilight briefly before her attention turned back to whatever the peacock spider was saying to her.

Her expression was one that reminded Twilight of Celestia, though she was mostly silent and seemed to be upset over something.

Cadence went out of her way to steer the pair of them clear of certain groups of gods who clearly wanted to invite them over. Twilight glanced up at Cadence, curious as to why she was steering them away from certain groups.

Cadence sighed noting the look.”Some of the interests here are all business but others are romantic, some are simply carnal, you're spoken for, and I don't want to have this argument more than once again.”

“What argument?” Twilight asked.

“The one we're going to have with Celestia... and probably Luna, after this summit. “ Cadence stated with a frown, but said no more about it.

Eventually the pair of them moved to take a seat and Twilight found she was sitting between Cadence and Celestia a few rows from the front, behind a softly snoring orc god with strange plant like hair, and in front of a ibex female who was speaking with a hippo next to her.

Celestia smiled down at her and briefly asked if Twilight had her element before glancing over at the empty seat next to her, then to the gods at the table.

There were a number of flashes of magic as old rickety chairs became things more suitable to what ever types of god was taking a seat on them. Twilight's eyes darted about taking note of the spells and the methods of casting them, mentally cataloging any major differences in those that cast with horns versus those with fingers, tentacles, or feathers.

There was also an overwhelming flare of magic that sealed the room and purged it of any magical listening devices or the like. Twilight was some what impressed with this spell, but spotted eight different ways to bypass it with only a few moments study.

“Alright may I have you attention.” Iinii called, his voice echoing across the room over any of the talking still going on, the gathered gods became silent, their attention moving to the front.

“We have a few orders of business to take care of and then you may return to your socializing.” Terrible chittered. “So let's get it out of the way. The first is the return of Luna Nocturnus, Goddess of the Moon.”

There was a large amount of muttering from a number of the gathered gods and a hiss or two.

“Of course they start with this.” Princess Celestia grumbled from the other side of Twilight. “That keeps three possible allies to her stuck in limbo until they can have their vote.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight questioned.

“A lot of gods still have issue with Luna's time as a a thrall of Solomon. Either they don't know the story, don't believe a god can be enthralled like that, or simply don't care. Some of them suffered from those events, others had nothing happen to them aside from a longer night for a few days. But if her opposition can get a higher vote they can deny Luna's acceptance back into the council at least and they can then push for Tartarus or execution at worse.” Celestia explained. “By making this the first order of business that removes you, Chrysalis, and possibly Discord from voting in favor of Luna.”

“Also if you are not recognized before she is put on trial than bringing up the Elements of Harmony will have to be argued by Celestia rather than the current wielder or another god who has been struck by them. And the only other god that we know of that has been targeted by the Elements is Discord.” Cadence added.

“You think it might be Forthe?” A small voice asked from Celestia's shoulder. Looking up Twilight spotted Teacup sitting there.

“I asked around and no one has mentioned him, which has been odd.” Celestia frowned.” It may simply be Kodiak, which will be fortunate as he tends not to think things through and we can out maneuver his words. Unless he got Rhino or Lockheed to help.”

Luna strode up the middle of the aisle, sparing a worried glance at her sister and the other two alicorns sitting beside her, before moving to stand in front of the table.

“We are going to make this quick because I'm sure by now every one here knows the charges that are being brought up. “ Murphy added. “But just to recap for those who don't. Two gods were killed by Luna's actions and thousands suffered and died. That we are sitting here at the former seat of her power and can look out the windows and see the damage that is still being repaired from her time here is telling, as are the fact that two thirds of the entire Crystal Pony race is dead. There are also two witch wolves still alive and in constant contact with her.”

“Objection! There is only one witch wolf and that individual in question is not a threat, the other is a displaced moon dog.” Cadence shouted.

“I agree. Applejack Apple issss hardly what I would consssssider a witch wolf at thissss point.” Ascepius stated from the other side of the room, making Twilight shudder. “I have been ssstudying the one cursssed asss sssuch and while it hasss been rather intriguing ssstudy, Misss Applejack isss hardly a threat. In fact the only way for the curssse to ssspread isss if sssomeone killsss her.”

“Luna also had nothing to do with the creation nor the summoning of either of them.” Cadence added again. “One came about from a remnant of the Crystal Empire and the other was summoned by a magical surge while Luna was still sealed in the moon.”

There was a bit of discussion at the table and in the crowd before Murphy spoke up again. “Understood, the current state of these beings existence shall not be held against her. The other charges still stick.”

“Objection to the first charges” Bleu stated loudly drawing a number of looks at the small dragon. “The gods and their respective races were killed by dreadnoughts, which along with the juggernauts were created by Solomon, not by Nightmare Moon. The slaying of the two gods there for cannot be brought up as charges against her.”

Celestia blinked not having expected that from Bleu.

There was more discussion. Before Aqua spoke up. “I find it odd that you have changed your mind Bleu. You were the biggest proponent of that particular aspect of this case. What might I ask has changed your mind?”

“I saw Kayete again.... I felt the magic infecting him.... it wasn't Nightmare's.” Bleu offered.

There was a great deal of murmuring.

“There was a Dreadnought freed?” Aqua asked with a bit of worry in her voice.

“Indeed as well as a Juggernaut and a witch wolf. All reappeared with the Crystal Empire along with the son of Solomon.” Iinii stated getting a few gasps from the crowd and worried looks including one from Aqua. “The Juggernaut was confirmed destroyed by several gods who were present. The witch wolf and the Dreadnought were destroyed by mortals, and Sombra was subdued.”

“We should have those lost trying to destroy those abominations added to Luna's charges.” A large bear like creature growled. Celestia rolled her eyes at Kodiak, but remained silent for the moment.

“There will be no casualties from the attacks.” another voice stated and all heads whipped around to focus on a small white rabbit sitting on a chair in the front sipping a drink.

“White?” Aqua blinked before looking at a clock on the wall along with nearly all the other gods in attendance, the lot of them were shocked the rabbit was here, nearly on time for once too.

“What? Did you think I am going to miss this meeting?” White questioned with a smile. “It was quite the epic one.”

“How could there have been no loss of life? It was a Dreadnought of all things. It took armies of mortals to take down even one in the past.” a voice stated. Twilight glanced that way and tilted her head at what looked like a alligator of some kind, though she couldn't see his name tag.

“My husband killed it. Just as my brother in law killed the witch wolf, my younger brother in law helped defeat the juggernaut, and my sister in law beat Sombra.” Cadence smiled getting a large number of gods staring her way. “There is a statue out front that depicts the heroes who saved the Crystal Empire. I'm sure all of you passed by it on the way in...well... maybe not White.”

“Oh, I will see it.” White added. “It looked very nice.”

There was a great deal more muttering before Murphy spoke again.

“Alright reviewing the charges we still have a standing charge of the near extinction of the Crystal Ponies as a race as well as damages caused by altering the day and night cycle.” Murphy stated.

“I would submit that being sealed away in solitary confinement for a thousand years is punishment enough for the issues with the day and night issues, and more damage was done by Celestia forcing her control over the moon and sun than anything done prior.” Bleu spoke up again.

“I second that. And I would add that as the Crystal Ponies are now my portfolio any punishment to be levied against her for her actions against the Empire should be mine to give and not this councils.” Cadence stated loudly.

There was even more murmuring and the ones at the table leaned closer to discuss things before Terrible spoke up.

“It is our decision then the council shall not offer a verdict on this case at this time. More investigation shall be conducted, though the council shall support any punishment that the Goddess of the Crystal Ponies declares is fitting. Luna shall be on a probationary period until such time as we are sure that her actions are again her own.”

“What about her theft of another gods race! That has not been brought up at all!” Kodiak snapped.

“That decision was brought up and decided centuries ago Kodiak. It is the reason we have banned the creation of new species. As the law did not exist before that point and Luna was willing to share the portfolio, the fault falls on Forthe for refusing to accept her offer. It does not fall on Luna for her actions prior to the law being implemented. The incident regarding the witch wolves breeding with the diamond dogs to create a hybrid race is called evolution. We have it from Forthe's own mouth that the diamond dogs sought out witch wolves as mates and leaders, they were not forced to change, they did so out of their own free will rather than running. That the witch wolves killed the leaders of the diamond dogs to become the strongest alphas was in line with Forthe's own rules for his species and thus no fault of Luna's.” Aqua stated. “That brings this bit to a close for now and we can move on to the next agenda. Please have a seat Luna.”

Luna let out a small sigh she didn't know she was holding and move to go sit next to Celestia, amazed she hadn't had to say a word in her defense.

“Next up. The updating of the status of the Changelings as a race from the status of Abominations to a race in their own right. Will the Goddess of Changelings please approach.” Iinii announced.

The thunk of hooves sounded as a figure rose from near the back of the chamber and strode forward. Queen Chrysalis made her way down the main aisle as if she owned the room. She moved up to stop before the five gods at the table, her better than you expression faltering a little at the sight of Murphy and Terrible drooling at the sight of the bug queen. Karma jabbed both of them with a leg and the pair blinked and quickly wiped off their mandibles pretending they hadn't been doing anything.

“Who will speak for the Changelings?” Aqua asked.

“I will.” Bleu offered. “Chrysalis came to me seeking aid and sanctuary when she returned from her race being sealed away.”

“The first to speak for them has been stated, two more willing to speak for the changelings are needed before they are allowed to be accepted.” Terrible stated. “ Are there any others?”

“I will.” Cadence stated.” I have known Chrysalis for nearly as long as I have been a god and while her race shows some traits as abominations, they have far more traits of a actual species including the ability to feel love rather than just feed on it as well as cross breed with other species.”

“That is two, will another speak for them?” Iinii offered.

“We will.” Luna spoke up though she was cut off before she could continue.

“I am afraid I cannot allow you to do that Luna. You are currently on a probationary time and thus cannot cast a vote like this here.” Murphy interrupted.

“We understand.” Luna sighed before sitting down again.

“Are there any others?” Terrible asked.

There were no others that seemed to be willing to speak up. Really it was expected. New races came about surprisingly often. The issue was that there were three types or races. Basic, which generally meant they evolved to that point one way or another, either due to environment or progress, this also included the rare 'discovered and previously unknown' races.

Hybrid, which was usually a cross breed of some kind.

And finally Abomination, which were generally a magically created race that was more often than not detrimental to others and often hunted by other races and gods. While rare, abominations could be elevated to the status of a Hybrid or Basic, though that required a vote like this one.

The problem with being one of the ones to 'speak ' for them, was that if the race turned out to continue to be problematic to others, then the ones who spoke for them would be forced to deal with the situation. And few gods were willing to do so for something that was considered an abomination.

“It seems that there are only two who will speak for your kind Chrysalis, therefor the council cannot grant your species a …” Iinii began.

“I will.”

Every head in the room turned to the speaker, eyes going wide as the white alicorn stood, glaring at the Changeling Queen.

“What?” Chrysalis questioned.

“I will speak for the Changelings.” Celestia stated again.

“You will? You were the biggest hunter of them when they first appeared, and were responsible for sealing them away nearly wiping them all out.” Aqua stated.

“Indeed I was, and after examination of a number of things recently, I will admit I was wrong. I am privy to far more information now than I was then during the conflict that have changed my mind in this matter. A number of new laws that I have seen proposed in my kingdom have brought to light the direction the changelings are going and it is a favorable one. That said while I no longer hold any enmity towards the changelings as a race, as none who fought with my little ponies in the past are still alive, I shall not cease my hostility towards Chrysalis. That said I will not involve her kind unless they chose to interfere themselves with my actions.”

The entire room started whispering and murmuring among themselves, and the gods at the table did much the same. Chrysalis glared in confusion at Celestia as did Cadence and Luna. Twilight watched as well, but she also took note that Celestia was casting a spell that she was somehow hiding. Twilight wasn't sure how she could tell, but she knew whatever Celestia was doing it was aimed at the back of the room somewhere.

“Well. Unless Chrysalis refuses, the changelings will now be documented as a basic race rather than an abomination and fall under the protections thus given by the council.” Terrible stated. “As the god of Changelings, please list your portfolios.”

Chrysalis turned away from Celestia as the sun goddess sat back down. “Right, my main portfolios are Changelings and Change, with minors being Secrets, Bees, and Honey.”

There was a general collection of mummers as well as a few louder comments about a shared portfolio or two with others though the comments died down quickly. Chrysalis would likely have a few other gods to speak with once the meeting was over.

“Thank you, welcome to the council Chrysalis, please have a seat.” Murphy stated.

The changeling god nodded and trotted away from the table, back up the aisle. She spared a confused glance at Celestia who returned the look with a emotionless one.

“ Now onto the next order of...” Aqua began.

SNAP!!

“ARGGGH!!”

The collection of gods quickly looked back to the back of the room to the splatter of green blood that was all over the back wall and ceiling.

Chrysalis' chair had snapped shut on her like a bear trap.

Twilight looked at Celestia who had a half smile on her muzzle.

After Chrysalis reformed, cleaned up the mess, and got a new chair, the meeting proceeded.

“For the next subject....”Aqua let out a small sigh. “Discord.”

“I was wondering if I would ever be called.” Discord stated appearing in the middle of the room in a explosion of light, sound, and banana pudding.

There was a collected chorus of groans and a few amused chuckles.

“Well I suppose that ends that line of questioning.” Terrible stated. “Discord is back.”

Terrible looked rather annoyed at the revelation of Discord being back, Murphy looked amused by it and Karma seemed impassive.

“Indeed I am.” Discord grinned, though that expression faltered a little as he looked at Aqua. “Hello Aqua, looking as lovely as ever.”

“Thank you Discord. We shall return your name to the rolls.” Aqua stated business like.

“Have there been any signs?” Discord asked calmly.

Aqua flinched. “No. There have not been. We discussed this at length in the past Discord, you need to move on.”

“I disagree. I still think you moved on too soon. Particularly since we just had an entire kingdom return after being sealed away. The same thing could have happened.....” Discord started.

“Discord..... let it go.” Aqua pleaded.

“You know I won't.” Discord stated in a softer tone.

“After this long....” Aqua sighed. “I couldn't change your mind then, I shall not now. Though I have to ask one question.”

“And that is?” Discord raised an eyebrow his arms crossing as he floated there.

“Celestia? Seriously?” Aqua cracked a small smile at that.

Discord returned the grin. “Well before she discovered cake, she was quite pretty, and had a sense of humor, and you know me, I'm always drawn to a good sense of humor.”

“Of course you are.” Aqua rolled her eyes.

Discord's grin faded. “Wish you hadn't lost yours.”

With a snap of his fingers he was gone and most of the crowd had on cheese hats, made of real cheeses.

Twilight reached up and pulled the Gouda hat off her head looking at it curiously, then to Celestia who seemed annoyed. A glance to Aqua showed she seemed even sadder for the odd exchange.

“Final order of business. We are to recognize a new god among us. Many of you have likely felt the surge a week ago.” Iinii began. “Twilight Sparkle will you please come before the table.”

Twilight tensed, but with the urgeings of the other alicorns, she rose and made her way down the aisle. She was tense as she tried not to panic at the large crowd behind her all of them looking at her. She focused on the five in front of her, doing her best to ignore the ones behind her.

She let out a breath and considered what Rahs had said about this situation earlier.

[ Earlier]

“They want me to stand in front of them and say what my portfolio is and I don't think I can do that there's a lot of gods out there and they will all be starring at me and ...” Twilight ranted practically dancing in place.

Rahs reached over placing a hand on his sister's back trying to calm her down a little. He tapped his chin with a finger, as if searching for the right words to say before he spoke about how to ease stage fright.

“Woof.”

It had been very profound, but only a little bit of help in this instance.

“Twilight Sparkle.”Iinii smiled. “It is good to see you again, though I am quite surprised that we meet again in this situation. Clearly you were destined for great things.”

“I didn't weave them.” Terrible stated.

“Shhhh.” Murphy hissed

“Twilight Sparkle. When welcoming a new god into the council it is customary to have three other gods speak for you to gain acceptance. “ Aqua stated. “In this particular case you have already had six speak for you. Cadence and Celestia of course, but also Bleu and Martle. Adding to that, Iinii also speaks for you and according to White, he already has, or will speak for your recommendation. Really with White that's good enough.”

The who chamber looked over to the little white rabbit god who was on his fifth mug of hard apple cider.

“I will also speak for her. She was a key aid in getting my race accepted.” Chrysalis spoke up from the back.

“Seven then. An impressive collection of gods are favorable to you. Almost unheard of for a newcomer.” Terrible stated.

“Eight. I will speak for her.” Karma added drawing all attention to the star spider in the middle of the table who had yet to have spoken the whole meeting. “You and your brothers are living in interesting times Twilight Sparkle, your families actions speak well of them and you. But there are still challenges to come. Just because you have achieved this status does not mean it becomes easier.”

“Um.. thank you....?” Twilight blinked.

“You are welcome. And tell your brother I look forward to his next performance.” Karma seemed to smile.

“Please state your portfolios for those gathered.” Aqua offered looking at Karma curiously.

“My major portfolios are Magic and Friendship, my minor portfolios are Books and.... Tuesdays.” Twilight let out a sigh.

There was a bit of muttering about that, as two of those portfolios were unique, and the other two, while shared among other gods, were very broadly covered. How magic and books would work out would be interesting. Few had any idea what powers friendship would convey and Tuesday was even odder.

Twilight shifted some her ears flattening to her head as the talking increased.

“Thank you Twilight Sparkle. Welcome to the council. You may have a seat.” Aqua stated though Twilight remained frozen in place starting to breath heavily her eyes widening as she couldn't help, but look back at the crowd.

She was perhaps a heart beat away from a melt down when a deluge of icy orange scented liquid cascaded over her making her shriek.

Whirling about she glared up at Discord who was dressed in some sort of sports uniform with ridiculously large shoulder pads and super tight white pants standing over her holding a large orange barrel labeled' Gatorade' , the barrel still dripping liquid.

Twilight glared up at the draconequus before she started to growl.

“That's game coach, we won!” Discord grinned dodging the blast of magic Twilight fired at him. “ Well some ones cranky.”

Discord dropped the barrel on Twilight's head and rushed off running down the isle as Twilight flung the barrel at him and raced after the oddly shaped menace.

“Woo woo woo woo, nyuk nyuk!” Discord called as he burst out into the hall way with Twilight right behind him wielding the barrel like a hammer.

Celestia sighed as Luna smirked.

Cadence just shook her head. “Well at least he stopped her from panicking.”

“Does any one else have any new business? “ Iinii called over the others. ”If no then the council is dismissed.”

Author's Note

The forest moon of Endor.......

Endor Girls, Part two

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Endor Girls,
Part two

[Crystal Empire]

The rest of the event went fairly well.

Despite Discord getting away from Twilight, she was able to clean up and return to a much smaller gathering.

While a number of the gods were going to hang around for a bit and see the sights in the Crystal Empire, most had already left for the return trip to where ever they lived. A secondary gathering that was a lot less formal and included a number of mortals was held in a different ball room. Her brothers and her friends were able to come to this one and Granny Smith even plodded around talking with those who were approximately her own age, or made her feel younger.

Applejack and Rahs gathered a great deal of interest, much to Applejack's annoyance and Rahs' delight.

Spike was fawned over by a number of female gods who thought he was adorable.

Much to Cadence and Chrysalis' annoyance Shining armor gathered a good bit of attention as well.

Oddly Cadence let Chrysalis run interference with Shining as she stayed closer to Twilight giving one or two of the gods a glare when they thought to approach.

“Welcome to the after party of a council meeting. More hookups and flirting than a Guard bar after a mission.” Cadence muttered. “Any new comers are often targets of those who like to yell out 'First' when they do something.”

“Uhhuh... and you're … against that?” Twilight raised a brow as Cadence turned a bit red.

“I'm in a relationship thank you very much. And so are you and some of these gods can be most persuasive.” Cadence sighed.

Twilight snorted not expecting to have any issues refusing, though some of them did look interesting purely from an anatomical stand point. I mean would the god of octopodes rip off his own dick and throw it at her? Did the bird gods all have clocoas? For that matter did the reptiles all have that?

Twilight blinked then silenced her own thoughts before they got any lewder.

The after party wound down after a while with a few of the gods retiring to their rooms either alone in pairs and in one case in a gaggle. The ponies split up here and there with Granny Smith headed to bed first followed by Applejack who wanted to get away from all the questions and requests to change forms. Plus she was getting rather stuffed on magic.

The others trickled away with only Pinkie Pie and Luna not seeming to be slowing down any.

Everyone else was guided by Cadence to where they would be staying. Rooms in the palace were a bit scarce with all the deities and their entourages staying there, so some ponies needed to double or triple up.

Rainbow Dash, Granny, and AJ were in a room, Pinkie, Rarity, and Fluttershy were in another, Celestia and Luna had their own and Cadence and Shining had their own bedroom, no one asked where Chrysalis was staying, and Spike, Rahs, and Twilight had their own room.

The rooms were all down a slightly curving hall way along the side of the palace with one of the mithril magic nullifying rooms at the far end of the hall past some converted storerooms temporarily made into bedrooms for other guests.

Cadence let them know that artifact room had the ones that were deemed safe, or mildly problematic. The really dangerous ones were sealed elsewhere.

With a last announcement of when breakfast would be served the group all retired to their rooms for the night.

Twilight quickly put a silencing spell on Spike's cot as Rahs crashed on the rooms couch with a pile blankets and his own coat covering him. Twilight got ready for bed and fell asleep nearly instantly on the rooms main bed once she was sure she couldn't hear Spike's snoring through her spell.

This whole day had been exhausting.

[Earlier, in a locked chamber]

There was a faint sound in the room, like a large drop of water hitting a still pool in a large cave system. The sound died out rather quickly turning to a faint hum as something magic activated in the mithril room.

Most of the artifacts in there were dormant, subdued by the materials that constructed the room.

The tall horseshoe shaped mirror on the other hoof, glowed in defiance of this place. After all, magic nullification was something that happened to other ponies creations, not things made by the Great Starswirl the Bearded.

A figure emerged from the glowing mirror with a sound like a bit striking the pool at the bottom of a wishing well, the air was filled with the faint whiff of ozone and clear water. The surface rippled like water before going still.

The clatter of hooves was heard briefly, there was a small triumphant 'HAH' before the sound of hooves sliding against tile and the thud of a body hitting the floor.

“Fuck... right four legs again. Just like riding a bike..” the figure muttered pushing itself back up onto it's hooves shakily as it turned it's head regarding the darkened room.

“Right let me see where the hell am I?” There was a moment of silence before a horn sputtered to light showing the orange furred face of a unicorn mare in the dim light.

“Huh? A magic Faraday cage? I thought those were only theories.....” Another moment passed before her horn brightened considerable and acted like a normal light spell. The brighter glow revealed a orange unicorn mare with a red mane striped with blonde, and a cutie mark that looked like a divided sun. The mare moved over to the front of the mirror picking up an odd bag and digging into it pulling out a cloak to put on. She fiddled with the bag a moment before with a small sigh she let her horn light up changing the lay out of the straps to make it a half saddle bag before she put it on under her cloak.

“Wow that is a lot of mithril.” The mare whistled lightly looking over the room at the number of boxes and locked chests around.

“She put the mirror in another storage room? Where the hell is the damn, ahh there it is.” The figure moved closer to the door to the room, taking a moment more to get used to walking on four hooves. She leaned closer looking over the lock in the door. She let out a small sigh at the sight of it. It was non magical obviously, but it was also far simpler than she had gotten used to dealing with.

“Damn monkeys make better locks than this.” the figure grumbled before starting to pace a little to get used to this form again and to take stock. “Suppose I better check to see if this works, I only have three days if my calculations are correct and there's no telling when someone might come in here.”

The light faded from the room as her horn went out, though a moment later a green panel lit up in front of the mares face as she looked it over curiously.

“Oh good it seems to be working. That's weeks of theory not wasted. Lets see time to weed out the other powers... a super powerful artifact like the element of magic has got to have it's own … oh wow that's a lot of power around here.”the figure considered. “Hmm might be a god meeting I suppose there was one coming up, bunch of perverts.” She frowned.” That's Celestia's energy and is that some one with her? And i think that's Cadence's, that one's Bleu's Hmm constant fluctuations like these must mean that power with this sort of fluctuation is from something living. Alright time to check on something nonliving. Here's the mirrors read out and it's stable, good. Hmm, nearly everything in this room is a stable magic artifact, might have to look into some of them later. Ooh, wait, here we go. Six readings that are the exact same wave length and are stable.”

The figure muttered as she fiddled with the magic panel looking over the readings curiously as she fiddled with the sensor narrowing down magical surges and powers. The process took several hours before she seemed satisfied she had what she wanted.

“Okay.. there. That has to be the six Elements of Harmony.....HAH I knew she was hiding them in Canterlot, lost power my ass or flank or whatever.....”

The orange mare stared at the glowing panel curiously taking note that another power seemed to be around one of the six artifacts.

“They're moving...” the mare considered. “They have bearers? Great this is gonna make this harder.”

She considered a moment watching as the signals she was watching approached her position then moved off to the sides before ceasing movement. The well of power around what she thought was the Element of magic was enough for two gods. “That much power next to that artifact, a god has that one..... that has to be Magic. What the heck is that one the god of?”

Her horn glowed as she adjusted the panel to sit before one eye resting on her muzzle, she filtered out all other sources of energy save the one she was after and let the spell act as a tracker for it.

“Can't believe I'm this lucky... it can't be that easy to get this thing on the first try.” She muttered. “Ah well might as well see if it is the Element of Magic. If it isn't, maybe it's still something I can use. Also, note to self, stop talking to yourself.”

She moved to the door, her magic slipping into the keyhole picking it easily. She opened the door a little a small spell slipping out like a tendril to act as an eye to alert her if any one was near. The hall seemed clear and the mare cautiously opened the door poking her head out.

Her eyes widened at the sight of the crystal walls and floor running down the hall past a collection of wooden and metal doors like the one she was peering out. The door she stepped out of was more like an alcove of some sort and had she not just come out of the door she wouldn't have even noticed it. She propped the door open with a small box from the storage room and started making her way down the hall. Once out in the hall she cast another spell, her eyes glowing a soft green as a 'Cats eye' spell gave her night vision. Spells on the optic nerves were very fragile by design so she didn't try it in the mithril room.

The mare paused at one of the windows looking outside into the night sky, her eyes widening at the sight of the empire laid out before her, this sure as hell wasn't Canterlot. She couldn't think of any god that had a crystal kingdom like this, maybe it belonged to the one with the Element of Magic.

Creeping her way down the corridor she stopped in front of the room where the magic was coming from. The sound of hoof steps down the hall had her cast a spell and quickly scurry up a wall as a pony made of crystal trotted by under, her wearing something that looked like Guard armor.

She stared at the stallion curiously wondering if it was some sort of golem as he wandered off. Slipping back down off the wall, she pressed her ear to the door listening. She heard a faint snoring and smiled, the god was asleep, time to get to work.

Unlocking the door much the same way as she had the other door, she let out a weak pulse scan not finding any traps, though there was a strange dead area over by one of the couches. Slipping in she took note of the mare asleep on the bed.

The purple unicorn was laying face down on the bed the covers pushed up in a tent on one side and fallen down on the other showing a long purple feathered wing.

A purple alicorn? Who the fuck was this? Her eyes darted around the room noting a small sticky bit of paper stuck to the edge of the bed, with the label 'Hello my Name is' followed by the name Twilight Sparkle.

Well that answered who she was but not WHO she was. Ehh what the hell ever research later, heist now.

“...Would you like to swing on a star... carry moon beams home in a jar....” the orange mare hummed to herself as she crept forward glancing to her tracking spell. The Element of Magic seemed to be in the pile of blankets dumped on the couch.

What kind of ungrateful mare would leave such a powerful artifact buried under a bunch of blankets?

As she approached she took note of a little dragon on a cot snoring loudly, though the sound was muffled by a rather strong silencing spell. She edged wide around the dragon and approached the couch.

Getting closer to the couch, her cats eye spell suddenly broke. She paused, freezing in place her ears shifting around to try and see if there was any change, if some one noticed her. The dragon's muted snoring and the soft breathing of the alicorn was all she could hear. The Element must be in a chest or something that blocked spells. That would be a better theory than simply throwing it on a couch under some blankets and coats.

Shifting up to the edge of the couch she pulled back a few blankets, digging into the mass with her hooves drying to find out where the Element was. It had to be an item like a bracelet, or necklace, or crown, or something, and if it was in a chest that should be easy to find.

Her hoof eventually found something hard, though it was an odd shape, a wand perhaps. She lit her horn up with a dim light to glance down at what she found.

Her teal eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as she looked down at what she had grabbed at.

“That is not the Element of Magic.” She gasped.

“No, it is not.” growled a voice to her left.

Her dimly lit horn showed a dark blue face of some sort of diamond dog that was just waking up, amber eyes narrowed at her and fangs were bared.

“Uhmmm this isn't what it looks like......” The mare started yanking her hoof back. “Ehh, fuck it!”

The words were punctuated by a point blank stun blast to the the diamond dog's face, the impact sending him flying over the back of the couch to smash into the crystal wall.

“ Sorry , not sorry.” The mare winced.

The blast sent all the blankets flying and destroyed a large blue coat. A number of things crashed to the floor and clattered about falling out of the destroyed coat, including a odd crown that set off her scanners tracker something fierce.

“Rahs so help me if you ate the spell keeping Spike from snoring....” The purple alicorn snapped, lifting her head up, her eyes squinting at the odd light in the room cast from the orange mares horn.

“BORK!” Rahs shouted as he yanked himself from the wall, leaping at the orange mare.

“Intruder, what!?” Twilight shouted trying to shake the sleep from her mind.

“Shit.” the mare cursed again, diving under the creatures leap and snatching up the Element of Magic off the floor. The diamond dog crashed into the cot with the dragon waking the small creature who cried out in panic, setting several blankets and the curtains on fire.

She hauled flank out of the room slamming the door behind her only to hear it ripped open as Rahs burst out into the hall way wrapped in burning blankets, with the small dragon clinging to his back still screaming. The noise seemed to have woken up others, as several doors were opening and other ponies and creatures were poking their heads out to see what was going on.

Rahs made a lunge for the mare only for his paws to slide out from under him on the crystal sending him crashing to the ground as he shucked off the burning blankets.

The orange mare froze up as a tall white alicorn poked her head out of one of the rooms directly in front of her.

The white alicorn's gaze locked on the orange mare, her eyes widening as she saw the face under the hood.

“Sunset?” Princess Celestia asked in shock taking a step forward out of the room.

There was a loud click, then the Solar Goddess was crushed under a giant statue of some sort of bug/pony creature that fell from the high vaulted ceiling.

“HA HA HA HAH, I was waiting for that!” Chrysalis cackled from down the hall.

“And this is why we let you go first sister.” Luna stated from the other side of the statue.

“STOP THIEF!!” Twilight bellowed tearing out of the room after her brothers.

Sunset yelped as Rahs nearly landed on her again, teleporting away to the other side of the statue to keep running, leaving her cloak behind for Rahs to get tangled in.

The hall way in front of her was suddenly filled with curious figures and gods, as well as a few normal guards who had rushed to the scene.

“Parkour don't fail me now.” Sunset cursed, tearing down the hall dodging into and around various creatures, Rahs and Twilight hot on her hooves. She dodged a spell blast from the purple alicorn, one of the guards trying to grab her getting hit with the stun spell instead.

She ducked under a llama god, hopped over a turtle, and teleported away from a white unicorn that tried to grab her. She reappeared in the air, planting all four hooves into the cackling bug ponies' face. She kicked off there sending the black chitinous form crashing back into Cadence, another short teleport had her nearly to her destination. Another teleport hit and the purple alicorn was in front of her, flinging spells with abandon.

Sunset shrieked vanishing with a pop as the spells peppered the hallway where she had just been standing, the purple alicorn whipping about to rush after her along with the moon dog.

“Shitshitshitshitshitshitshit...” Sunset cursed teleporting again, behind the charging Sparkles. The moon dog slammed on the brakes trying to spin around on her, only to slide into Twilight with a crash sending the three tumbleing. Sunset lept over them, galloping down the hall and rushing into the mithril room.

A growl and the feel of hot breath on her neck along with a screaming dragon made Sunset risk a leap for the mirror just as Rahs slammed into her, sending Sunset, The Element of Magic, Rahs, and Spike through the mirror portal. Twilight having reached the door as her brothers and the thief fell into it didn't even hesitate diving through after them.

“They went into the mirror!” Cadence stated as the rest of those awoken by the mad rush through the halls. “Celestia what is this thing?”

“Don't yell at me. I could have stopped them if I wasn't crushed by a tacky statue.” Celestia snapped glaring at Chrysalis who whistled innocently.

“Stop playing the blame game and tell me what this is.” Cadence growled.

“We have not seen that in a while.” Luna frowned looking at the mirror as she trotted up. “It is an artifact that Starswirl the Bearded made. He claims to have imprisoned the greatest evils he had ever seen in the mirror.”

“That is hardly damning as he called a chef who forgot to put a sprig of parsley on his meal the greatest evil the world had ever seen.” Celestia grumbled.

“My brothers and sister have just gone into that thing. Where does it go?” Shining Armor demanded approaching the mirror, pushing past every one else in the room, his horn flaring as a pair of saddle bags and various gear and armor and supplies started popping into existence around him as he geared up. “I want to know where it goes and what it does, now.”

“We don't know. We only know that it opens once every thirty years for three days, and when the moon reaches it's apex on the third day it closes again for another thirty years.” Luna stated.

“How long has it been on?”Applejack asked.

“I don't know.” Celestia frowned.

“I'm going after them.” Shining Armor stated.

“Shiny no.” Cadence reached out to stop him.

“We do not know what to expect over there, give us time to gather a guard...” Luna offered.

“Yeah, how bout no Princess. A thief stole the Element of Magic, and my brothers and sister went after her. Does the term inter-dimensional incident mean anything to you?“ Shining snapped.”I'm going to have to drag those three back by their ears. And since I'm the only non god, non Element bearer here, I'm going in after them before they have a chance to get lost, distracted, or blow up something important.”

“Shining.” Cadence sighed not wanting to admit he had a point. “Be careful.”

“We shall not let the moon rise to it's highest point until thee returns, but as we do not know if that matters to one of Starswirl's contraptions, we would suggest thee hurry.” Luna offered.

Shining checked his gear a last time, kissed Cadence and dove through the mirror.

Cadence let out a sigh staring at the mirror.

“So then sister....” Luna stated her attention turning to Celestia who had been mostly silent. “Who is this Sunset?”

Author's Note

Yet another joke I've been waiting to use for a while.

Next chapters might not post as fast cause it's black friday, and i work retail.

Endor Girls, Part three

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Endor Girls,
Part three

[?]

“GAH!!!!”

Thud.

“Ow.” Twilight grumbled.

“Oh good you didn't run off.” another voice stated.

“What? Shining?” Twilight asked blinking the spots out of her eyes as she lifted her head up, she felt really weird.

As her vision cleared Twilight seemed to be sitting on a sidewalk on a field before a large castle like structure in the shadow of a pony statue on a large pedestal. Behind her a series of strange wagons with no pullers moved along a black stone road. Houses and much larger buildings could be seen in the distance. The massive horse shoe shaped structure before her looked to be two or three stories and seemed to stretch to cover a good bit of ground. It didn't seem like any sort of fortress or standard building, perhaps a keep or palace of some sort, maybe even some nobles residence?

Crouching not far away from her was a large bipedal creature. It reminded Twilight a little of a a minotaur, with a bulky upper body and a smaller lower body, though that's where the semblance ended. It was covered in heavy steel plate that bore the symbol of the crystal empire. A sword rested on it's hip and it's hooves looked weird, they were elongated for some reason, sort of like a dragon's foot. The creature had hands, one of them rested on the hilt of the weapon as it adjusted the straps of a bag on it's shoulders with the other.

The visor of the helm was up and a pale white face of some kind was there. It was flat with some sort of protrusion that Twilight assumed was a nose. The mouth was a flat hole in it's face and the large eyes seemed oddly set in it's head. The was a bit of a dusting of blue hair around it's face as if it had been trying to grow a beard but hadn't managed it yet.

“What the buck are you?” Twilight yelped scuttling back away from the thing only to finally look down and see that she was another one of these odd creatures, only with lavender skin and some sort of dress/ blouse combo that Rarity would have had issues with.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”Twilight screamed.

“Well great. Twilight's here now too? And she's one of those things.”Spike stated. “ Who's next one of the Princesses? Pinkie Pie? I really hope it's not Pinkie Pie.”

“Seems it. Though no one else should have come through after me.” The tall white armored thing stated before standing up on it's back legs shifting and adjusting a little, as if it was still getting used to standing.

“What? Shining Armor?” Twilight stated staring up at the armored creature, she turned her head looking at the source of the other voice. “And Spike....Seriously?

Spike sat a few paces away from her on her right, the purple and green dog looked completely unamused at the situation.

“Just great, I'm the only one who walks on two legs normally and has hands out of the three of us and you guys get to be the cool monsters and I'm a dog.... AGAIN!” Spike fussed.

“Are you still a guy?” Shining Armor asked seriously.

“Huh?” Spike blinked and contorted himself a little to look. “ Yeah.... equipment's a little weird, and there's only one but yea.”

“Well we can rule out the universe trying to make you it's bitch then.”Shining Armor smiled the effect showing Twilight that he had slightly elongated canines, not quite fangs but clearly not a herbivore.

“Oh ha ha.” Spike growled. “I'm so gonna pee on your leg...”

“Any way, this place is pretty weird, though there's a whole civilization on this side. Given this place was supposed to be some sort of dumping ground for monsters and villains from Starswirl's era it's surprisingly peaceful.” Shining added.

Twilight grumbled playing with her hands curiously, she remembered having them briefly when she was a small dragon, but this was still weird, at least she didn't have to worry about breathing fire if she sneezed... maybe. She pushed herself up a little trying to mimic what Shining Armor was doing wobbling a little. Shining moved over to help stabilize her, seeming to have little issue himself.

“How are you not freaking out?”Twilight grumbled. “ Cause I'm freaking out.”

“Two reasons really. The first is I'm a Guard. We're trained not to panic no matter what in a hostile situation. Panic can get you killed. “ Shining Armor held up one finger. “And two Cadence is my wife and Chrysalis has made herself our concubine of sorts. Do you honestly think those two haven't used polymorph spells in the bedroom, and that was before I was involved? I've been a minotaur, a diamond dog, several types of Nox-cal, a griffon, and some other really odd things. Granted they've used the spell on Cadence too and Chryssy can just change... But in any case I had to learn to adapt quickly.”

“To much information.” Spike gagged.

“I agree, though how did you get here before me, and where's Rahs? He and Spike were the first ones through with the thief.” Twilight shook her head marveling at the weirdness of the feeling.

“Beats me, the three of you were already gone about ten minutes when I went through. I came through, took some time to orient and started looking for you when Spike came through.” Shining offered.

“I was clinging to Rahs and he had grabbed the thief. But I've not seen either. “Spike frowned.

“I expect we might have to converse with the locals to see if any one matches the thieves description. Our fur and mane colors seem to be the same as the skin tone and manes here, so her's likely are too. “ Shining added. “ Two more important things. I can barely feel my magic, so that's off the table and we have three days or less to find the Element of Magic and get back through the portal or we're stuck here for thirty years.”

“THIRTY YEARS?” Spike yelped.

“That's what Princess Luna said. ”Shining Armor sighed.”But first we need to find Rahs. “

“If Spike was on his back shouldn't he have come out at the same time?” Twilight asked.”Crap we don't even know what he would come out as! If a dragon turns into a dog and a pony turns into... what ever these things are, what does a moon dog turn into?”

“Knowing Rahs, something overly dramatic.” Spike deadpanned.

“Well that's a given.” Twilight rolled her eyes turning to look back at the equine statue an the mirror sheen on the front of the base of it facing them. “Shouldn't be hard to get back, this place is very open and so long as we don't get stuck some place getting back should be easy.”

A low rumbling started, one that increased until the ground under them was shaking violently, the air seemed to quiver as the portal started to sputter and crackle, flinging off magic sparks. The rumbling increased as the outline of the portal glowed bright, rapidly growing bigger. It opened wider showing the mirror surface until the portal was bigger than the statue,then bigger than the building behind them.

Still it grew further until a large cart sized navy blue scaled claw emerged from the portal slamming down onto the side walk in front of the statue splintering it as the siblings took off away from the portal. Another large scaled claw emerged slamming down on the other side of the portal. A massive navy blue reptilian head emerged from the portal fangs as big as a pony sprouted from it's mouth as it's head rose up higher, towering over the surrounding buildings before the body itself emerged , the massive form pulled itself out of the portal turning to emerge out onto the field and avoid the keep. It's wings flared out of it's back spreading wide enough to blot out the sun. It strode forward closer to the black stone path until only it's tail was still in the portal, the great beasts very presence causing screams and shouts from around the town as the creatures living here shrieked and ran. Screams, honking noises in and sounds of metal crashing into other metal and tires squealing filled the air.

The cries were a little strange though, Twilight wondered if there was some sort of language barrier as she only under stood half of what they were saying.

“It's Godzilla!” Screamed some one.

“No it's not!” screamed another voice.

“Well we should run like it's Godzilla!” the first voice screamed.

“ Even though it's not.” the second voice screamed.

“My Cabbages!!” a third voice cried.

Okay that she was strangely familiar with.

The massive dragon moved forward, it's amber eyes regarding the surroundings with some interest before it's front fore claw moved forward and slammed into the side of a cement mixer that had stopped on the road, as the driver had run for it.

“BORK!!!” the dragon cried out jerking back hard to a sitting position, the impact of it's flank on the ground sending another earthquake shaking the soil. It clutched it's claw with the other one as the cement mixer simply fell over from the impact.

“LANGUAGE!!” the three much smaller Sparkles chided Rahs.

Looking out a window a certain bacon haired human's jaw nearly hit the window sill.

“They brought a freaking DRAGON after me?” Sunset cursed looking at the crown she held. “ I need to stash this thing some where....”

[A ritzy apartment complex on the other side of town.]

“What the fuck was that? What did I tell you about watching cartoons so loud.” Cursed a voice.

“It's a dragon.” Another figure stated.

“What kind of fucking dragon barks? The first voice stated.

“Is she watching the Never Ending Story again?” a third voice muttered as the third figure walked into the dark living area with only the open window where the first figure was standing showing any light.

“No it's a dragon.” the first figure pointed out the window.

The third figure yawned and looked out the window. “ Huh a dragon.....” There was brief moment of silence before the third figures brain caught up with her. “WHAT THE SHIT!?”

“What are you screaming about?!” The second voice growled as another figure walked into the room.

“The dragon.” The first voice offered.

“Seriously is this.. HEY LET ME GO!” The second voice snarled as the third figure grabbed her and shoved her to the window to look.

“That's a dragon.”the second voice stated.

“Told you.” the first figure rolled her eyes.

“The portal must be over there. Finally.... Get your crap. We need to get over there.” the second voice stated.

“No shit.” the third voice stated.

“But .. it's a dragon...” the first voice whined.

[Elsewhere in town]

A reddish furred corgi sat on a window sill staring out at the city. It's owner had gone to work for the day and it was watching the little white pomeranian across the complex make eyes at the little spaniel dog who was more concerned with it's ball. It was not a social animal and barely seemed to tolerate it's master who had taken it off the street and fed it. The human considered it a rescue case and was accepting of it's anti social nature. Though he had gotten better about it than he had been since he first was picked up.

The massive 'BORK' that echoed across the city made it snap it's head up, ears perking even as every other animal in the complex freaked out and hid. Save that strange white rabbit owned by the pink haired human, that thing was fearless and dangerous.

Still the corgi stared, watching the massive form of a dragon rear up along the sky line, it's eyes dancing as it watched the blue form rise.

The portal.

The portal was there.

The corgi reared back, smashing out the window and falling ten stories to splat on the hard street below like a overripe tomato. Screams of horror sounded as the body of the dog was spotted along with the mass of blood it's impact had spread across the sidewalk.

The corgi didn't care, it was already on it's paws and running before the first of the humans could even react to it's supposed suicide and near instant recovery.

The corgi was going home.

And hell followed with it.

Author's Note

For those who wanted to know what Rahs was.... Well... here you go.

Endor Girls, Part five

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Endor Girls,
Part five

“Excuse me I'm looking for a mar... um, a girl with a red and yellow man, I mean hairdo with orange... skin. Have you seen any one like that?” Twilight asked.

The blue haired girl stopped, who had the same mane color as her brother tapped her cheek with one of the wiggly things at the end of her palm, Twilight really wished she studied minotaur anatomy more, and shrugged.

She adjusted her purple glasses and made a number of odd movements with her hands that left Twilight blinking.

“I have no idea what that was.” Twilight stated flatly.

Vinyl simply smiled, shrugged again, gave the odd girl a thumbs up and walked off.

“Well no luck there.” Spike muttered from her feet. “You'd think some one would know her.”

“I dunno, we only assumed she came to the closest building to the portal , she could be half way across this bizarre world by now.” Twilight grumbled.

“So what happens if we can't find it?”” Spike asked sounding worried.

“We go back, I work out a way to bring more magic here next time design an Element tracking spell and come back in thirty years, and that's if I can't figure out a way to force the portal to open longer and stay open longer, it was built by StarSwirl the Bearded and I finished one of his spells I should be able to figure out an artifact he designed before thirty years passes.” Twilight stated simply.

“Maybe we can figure out why I'm a dog too.” Spike grumbled. ”And stop that if we come here again.”

[Earlier]

As is the natural order of things Twilight's venturing into the school with just Spike started as an argument.

Shining had wanted to leave Twilight here to watch the gate and go off looking for the thief on his own.

Spike stated that he should go looking, as no one would suspect the dog of being a spy.

Twilight countered saying she should go because she actually knew what the thief looked like having got the best look at her, aside from Rahs.

Rahs suggested he tear the roof off the building and they could watch for her to scurry out.

The others all glared at him until he pouted and complained he never got to do anything fun with this dragon form.

He was promptly ignored as the argument continued.

In the end it was still Rahs who offered the best decision, because jokes aside, a fifty story dragon was going to win an argument.

Shining Armor was not even remotely dressed like any one else who had been wandering around pointing and staring at them. He was the second most conspicuous of them.

He and Rahs could guard the portal while Spike and Twilight went to look for the thief.

After all if something happened to Twilight, it wasn't as if Rahs couldn't get her out.

Spike suggested Rahs sniff out the magic of the crown and Rahs pointed out he couldn't as it would be like smelling your own breath with him. The Element of Magic didn't have any flavor, nor did it have a smell he could detect. He did say he caught a few whiffs of very faint magic in the air , but nearly everything was over powered by the scent of lemon the portal gave off

With no real direction to go Twilight had ventured into the aforementioned school to start the search.

Twilight had been hunting for about an hour now asking any one she could about the red and yellow haired,'girl' as she found the mares were were called.

While some knew of her, most either didn't know where she was or tried to warn her away from looking for the girl. Clearly this girl had a rep.

Twilight had also gotten a name from one of them.

Sunset Shimmer.

Still she hadn't seen hide nor hair of the girl however, she did find out that she was here some where.

Spike had been the one to point out that something was going on down one of the side halls. A group of the students had moved quickly away from the hall , though a number of others had moved towards it , trying to act nonchalant as they moved in to watch what was happening.

“What do you mean you took it!?” an angry sounding voice shouted.

“Well, I mean it was there in the fish tank like a decoration, but I didn't recall putting it there and it was messing up the pH balance of Mister Fish's tank and I recognized it as being the Fall Formal crown so I gave it back to Principal Celestia.” Said a soft voice.

“Because I hid it there. It was there for ten minutes at best!?” the loud voice growled. ”How could you manage to fuck up losing my crown that quickly!”

“It's not your crown.” the timid voice stated.

“What?!” the louder voice growled.

Twilight poked her head around the corner as Spike did the same, taking note of a yellow skinned girl with long pink hair clutching a notebook covered in pink butterflies cowering before another girl.

Looming over her and clearly pissed off, as she slammed her fist into the locker right by the pink maned girls head was a yellow and red haired girl with orange skin.

Twilight narrowed her eyes and moved around the corner approaching.

“Excuse me.. are you Sunset Shimmer?” Twilight asked.

The orange haired girl glanced at her before glaring back at the pink haired girl.

“Piss off, this doesn't concern you." Sunset snarled.

“Oh I think it does...”Twilight snapped. “Thief.”

Sunset looked back at Twilight who had already closed the distance and managed to utter one more word.

“Shit...”

Twilight Sparkle was not a warrior. She was in a different world, with little access to her magic, and even what little she did have, she didn't know how to use.

However Twilight was a quick study. She watched the creatures of the world as she was asking questions, learning mannerisms, and picking things up on how they moved and used hands to gesture and do everything. She wasn't a fan of the soft wiggly things despite understanding how they could be useful. She preferred her hooves.

However she did learn that if you pulled the four long wiggly parts back to touch the palm, and folded the thicker, oddly bent, wiggly bit over them, it form a fairly firm equivalent of a hoof.

This is what met Sunset Shimmer's face at high speed.

“ Seriously?” Spike sighed. “ And I thought Rainbow Dash was punchy.”

The impact knocked the orange haired girl away from the pink one and threw Twilight off balance as she wasn't used to this sort of movement.

Sunset recovered quickly enough and whirled on the other girl lashing out with a blow of her own which knocked Twilight down to all fours.

This was a better position for Twilight who then lunged forward ramming her head into Sunset's belly like she was trying to gore some one with a horn she didn't have at the moment.

Sunset crashed down to the ground the air knocked out of her and Twilight pounced, wailing on her.

Now as said Twilight was in a unfamiliar body, was away from her magic, and despite urgeings from her brothers, still hadn't learned to fight.

Sunset Shimmer knew how to fight, was familiar with her body, and had some actual guard training before coming to this world.

Twilight however was a literal goddess, and while magic might not be much here, the rest of her portfolios were quite fine and despite some nasty blows from Sunset, they were barely phasing the angry former alicorn.

Spike biting at Sunset's ankles didn't help matters for the thief either.

Those watching were some what disappointed to see that the two hot girls hadn't gone full on cat fight with tearing of clothes and such and were wailing on each other properly, which was almost as entertaining.

Still despite looking evenly matched this fight had a forgone conclusion.

In the end it was little surprise when both of them were grabbed by their shirt collars and yanked to their feet by a furious Vice Principal Luna.

“You two are coming with me.” Her voice boomed in a tone that would have given normal people nightmares.

The pink haired girl cringed as the pair were dragged away while protesting and still trading the occasional off balanced blow.

“Well that went about as well as expected.” Spike sighed. “She really needs more therapy.”

“You can talk?” The pink haired girl softly gasped.

“What dogs can't talk here? That's speciest.” Spike muttered.

“Oh sorry, I don't know any dogs that can talk at all.” the pink haired girl offered.

“Oh... umm, woof?”

Author's Note

This thing with this sort of dimensional sideways thing , is despite my not liking the source material it gives me far too many things to play with and i keep adding to it . Which is why the chapters are short and barely seem to get any where despite being constant.

I'm trying to find what is and isn't useful. Because i need to do all the human world jokes now, because i don't plan to return here , this arc might take a bit .

Still progress was made towards the end resolution.

Endor Girls, Part six

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Endor Girls,
Part six

[Vice Principal Luna's office.]

Twilight should be mortified, in another life she probably would have been stricken dumb to be sitting where she was now, in the office of a scholastic disciplinarian. She might even be stuck in a logic loop about getting sent back to magical kindergarten.

In this time and place however, thanks to Rahs' answer to bullies, and her own disapproval of the school system at home, she spent more time in places like this than any one would have ever guessed for such a scholarly mare. As such neither she, nor Sunset, seemed all that impressed with Vice Principal Luna's angry rant, aside from being surprised at how long Luna could go without taking a breath.

The vice Principal had a very neat and orderly office with mostly darker wood furniture with most of the colors in muted purples and dark blues. There was also a cabinet full of mugs and another with little coffee cup things of multiple flavors and at least two devices on one counter called Keurigs.

“What were you two thinking?!?” Luna summarized, finally breathing.

“Don't look at me, she hit me first.” Sunset pointed out. “I'm the victim here.”

“Miss Shimmer I believe that like I believe my sister controls the moon.” Luna growled.

“Sun.” Twilight corrected.

“What?”

“She controls the sun, not the moon, though to be technical if we only count here, since you're vice principal and she's principal and Luna is another name for moon and she's higher ranked then you she does control the moon.” Twilight explained.

Sunset snorted in amusement at that, as Luna looked completely confused, then angry.”How dare you speak to me that way. You're going to spend the rest of the school year in detention for this if I don't suspend you outright.”

“Why would I care, I'm not a student here.” Twilight stated flatly making Luna loose her rant again.

“What!? Then why are you trespassing on school property, and picking fights!?!” Luna demanded.

“She stole something from me and I was about to beat it out of her when you interrupted.” Twilight stated flatly.

“Pfft yeah right, you weren't even close to beating anything but your own face in with my fists.” Sunset snarked.

“Really wanna try again then, and see how you do?” Twilight growled.

“Oh bring it, I'll wipe the floor with you now that you can't sucker punch me!” Sunset snarled.

“SHUT UP!!” Luna bellowed knocking both of them out of their chairs to crash on the floor blown back from her voice.

Luna waited for the two to get back up clearly fuming.

It was at that point that Twilight noticed a couple of award on the wall. Both of them made Twilight flinch. One was a picture of Luna kneeling over what appeared to be a dead bear with a large bow of some kind. There was a plaque under it granting her first place in a hunting contest of some sort.

The second one made her want to fling her chair into a wall, or into Sunset. It was a picture of a large ax with a cap and gown and a graduation certificate framed under it.

“Fine.. what exactly did she steal then?” Luna frowned.

“I didn't steal...”

“I DID NOT ASK YOU, MISS SHIMMER.” Luna snapped.

“A crown. It's gold, about this big.” Twilight moved her hands apart. “It has nine blue gems along the main band, a starburst patterned red gem as the main center piece above the band with connecting filigree. The girl I found Sunset yelling at said she turned it over to the Principal.”

“And why didn't you go to the police with this theft?” Luna narrowed her eyes.

“The what?” Twilight blinked.

“She means the guard, idiot.” Sunset rolled her eyes.

“Oh, well look at it this way, there's a giant dragon outside that's been there for at least an hour and I've not seen hide nor hair of any sort of 'police'.” Twilight explained. “Why would I think they could help with catching a thief?”

Luna sighed rubbing her temples.

[Outside.]

Detective Shining Armor sighed as he drove down the road in his car, the police detective's blue light mounted atop of the car's roof flashing as he made his way through traffic taking note of the after math of the panic that had gripped the streets.

People around here were a flighty lot. Of course word about it being a student theatrical performance had calmed down the town as word of it spread almost as fast as the panic had.

He lifted a hand to wave at officers Flatfoot and Copper as he passed, the pair of them were taking a statement from Jet Set and clearly unamused by it.

Because he was the youngest detective on the force he often got the jobs no one else wanted to deal with. Hence why he was driving towards Canterlot high and the massive dragon sitting on the property. Despite dispatch being told it was actors and special effects, there were enough calls and panic that they needed to at least make an attempt to investigate, hence why Detective Armor was being sent.

“You need to go faster the readings are getting stronger!” His sister shouted from the back seat hunched over her laptop.

Of course this meant that his baby sister and her pets had to tag along or he never would have heard the end of it, or worse, she would have gone any way by herself.

“Engage ludicrous speed!!” Rahs ordered.

“I'm not going to go blazing through town just to get some where faster when there's not an emergency, it's dangerous with this much traffic.” Detective Armor sighed.

“Please, you have the blue lights out already.”Twilight pleaded.

“You will ride eternal, shiny and chrome.” Rahs called excitedly.

“No.” Detective Armor stated.

“Awww.” Twilight pouted

“MEDIOCRE!!” Rahs cawed.

“Bark!” Spike agreed.

Emperor Shining Armor was not in the slightest bit thrilled to be standing guard at the portal.

It wasn't just that his little sister and baby brother were running around in an unknown world trying to find a thief of unknown power and skill, who managed to steal the Element of magic from under the noses of an entire force of Guards, Gods, and his siblings themselves. It wasn't even that a large crowd had gathered and he needed to stay on guard to make sure none of them messed with the portal.

No, what annoyed him right now was Rahs was hamming it up for the cameras and the little glowing rectangles every creature here seemed to have.

Even worse was when the ones with the cameras found out he was responding to them taking pictures.

“YES, NOW SHOW ME FIERCE!! YES, YES, GOOD, GOOD, WORK DE MAGICS YOU GREAT BEAST!!” One of them hollered taking a good hundred or more pictures of Rahs posing.

Distracted as he was with the people, it can be forgiven that he missed the little corgi that slipped behind him and into the portal.

“Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash. Look look!” Fluttershy squeed as she ran up on a chromatic haired blue skinned girl who was bouncing a ball on her knee in the gym.

Dash blinked and looked back, somewhat surprised to see Fluttershy show up after what the quiet mare had said about her. Of course seeing the rather put out looking dog clutched in her arms had it all make sense.

“I've seen a mutt before, what do you want?” Dash snapped going back to her ball.

“Wow, rude much monkey?” Spike snorted.

Dash blinked and looked back again.”What did you say?”

“You heard me, first I get dog napped by this girl, then she runs me across the school to show someone, and then that monkey insults me by calling me a mutt. Clearly she thinks you're important for some reason if she wanted to show you something and you blow her off.” Spike snapped. “ Jerk monkey is more like it.”

“Hey! What do you know, you....,you... talking dog?” Dash blinked, her brain catching up with her.

“I know you're Rainbow Dash, you and Fluttershy here probably came from some place call Cloudsdale or whatever this worlds equivalent is before you moved into this town. You're the sporty type, where she likes animals, and you probably have a lot of dreams about flying.” Spike lists.

“Wah...” Dash blinked.

“He knew about Angel Bunny as soon as I told him my name.” Fluttershy added.

“Somethings don't change. Any way you're also friends with some one named Applejack who's a farmer, Rarity, who likes sewing and fashion, and a Pinkie Pie, who can't exactly be described.” Spike listed.

“What.. I mean no, why would I care what those bastards think of me.” Dash snorts.

“Did they dress up as a super hero to screw with you?” Spike asked.

“What? No that would be stupid, they just betrayed some of my secrets and blew me off....” Dash stated before slapping her forehead with a hand. “ I'm arguing with a dog.”

“Dragon.” Spike corrected.

“What?” Dash and Shy asked.

“I'm a dragon.... okay look, that's not the important bit, a girl named Sunset Shimmer stole something from my sister, and, as is her style lately, rather than simply confront the thief with laws and facts she blind sided her and decked her.” Spike stated.

“Wow... I'd like to have seen that. What kind of dog is she that she could smack that harpy around?” Dash pondered.

“She's not a dog, she's one of … what ever you guys are, any way Vice Principal Luna snatched them both up and drug them off somewhere. Fluttershy says to her office, but I came up with an idea upon finding out that this world has equivalents of things from my world. “

“Wait, your world?” Fluttershy asked.

“Ha good one. Alien talking dogs.... what, are you here to probe our cows?” dash cackled.

“No those are the Grays, King Kaz asked them to stop doing that no matter how many of the cows seemed to like it. I'm from another dimension too, not outer space. You guys are like a mirror verse of weird bipedal things.” Spike explained.

“And I'm expected to believe that?” Dash snorted.

“Wow, just as stubborn here. Look I'm a talking dog, and there's a massive dragon outside!” Spike stated.

“Yeah well, while I don't get you, cause Fluttershy doesn't do pranks, the dragon outside is just the theater nerds doing something. It's a fake like with lights or stage illusions or something.” Dash waved off.

“Illusions don't smash the sidewalk and knock over a big … box cylinder wagon thingy on the road.” Spike shouted.

“Errr... I was wondering why the cement mixer had fallen over.” Dash frowned.

“Okay look, I don't know if this is gonna help, but I need to get you two, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie together. I've got a bad feeling about this and I want to hedge my bets.” Spike stated. “ Where are the others?”

[ The Crystal Empire. ]

In a way Celestia was quite happy that she didn't have to explain anything. She had just been starting to explain when everything exploded.

Granted she was less happy with the glare she was getting from Cadence as half of the crystal palace was now rubble.

Paying for the damages was going to eat into her cake budget something fierce.

To be fair however Celestia never did figure out what had happened to the previous god of dragons before Bleu, she and Luna were always at odds with him, as were many of the other gods, as Forgescale had a tendency to enjoy meat rather than gems.

And if that meat could plead for it's life and scream as he ate it, so much the better.

It seemed Starswirl had not been bragging when he stated he defeated Forgescale.

Pity.

The gargantuan red dragon standing in the remains of half the crystal palace roaring into the night and lighting the sky on fire with his breath was proof the old coot wasn't all talk and rudeness.

Forgescale, the Dragon God of volcanoes, pain, strength, and dragons had returned to Equss.

Princess Celestia smiled.

This was going to be fun.

Author's Note

oh boy .... progress.

Endor Girls, Part Seven

Twilight Gets a Puppy

Season 3
By TDR

Endor Girls,
Part 7

Applejack glared at the dog.

The green and purple dog glared back.

“What tha hell did you just say?!” Applejack growled.

“You heard me.” Spike snapped back.

“Ah heard what you said, and ah was giving you tha chance tah take it back!” Applejack snapped in return.

“Pffft yeah right, but I'm a dog, what the heck do I care about pears and apples, thing is it got your attention and you're not ignoring us any more and pretending we don't exist. I've got Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash and now you. You need to come with me so I can get Rarity and Pinkie Pie so we can fix this mess.” Spike stated.

“What mess?” Applejack demanded staring angrily at the dog still.

“Ehh, the mutt, the dragon, and some other girl came from another dimension after a crown thingy that was stolen by Sunset and the dog thinks the five of us are some kinda buffer against weird shit happening.” Rainbow Dash explained.

“Like ah'd believe anything you say after what you said.” Applejack grumbled.

“By Luna's pointy ears, NO one sent anything to any one, I don't even know what one of those 'cell phone' thingies are, but every one of you have said you didn't send anything and every one else sent something to or about you.” Spike wailed. “Something is wrong here and I want to make sure that if my sister makes it worse or my brothers do something stupid that there is a back up plan. You five are the dimensional duplicates of my sisters friends and hopefully, HOPEFULLY, when the shit hits the fan sideways that will mean something.”

Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy stared at Spike as he ranted.

“If you want to go back to hating each other after I get home, far be it for me to stop you, but all three of you have both accused and denied the saying of something.” Spike grumbled. “Once is bad, twice is coincidence, but three times the same thing, that's a setup. You were supposed to be friends from what I've been told and what I know of my worlds versions so you need to give me a couple hours and still be that.”

Applejack blinked raising an eyebrow at the dog.

“Please, Applejack?” Fluttershy pleaded.

Applejack sighed sitting back in her chair at the sign up desk. “Fine, hey Carrot, take over for me somethings come up and ah gotta skedaddle fer a bit.”

The green haired girl Applejack called to glanced up from her phone and offered Applejack a wave before going back to her phone.

“Alright ah'm only agreeing tah this cause this cause a talking dog is a bit higher grade than Dash's usual pranks an that dragons kinda neat, and ah wouldn't mind a closer look at it.” Applejack offered. “Plus ah know where Rarity is.”

“Great.. here's hoping my sister can keep from blowing something up for a bit longer.”Spike agreed.

[Crystal Empire]

Forgescale the terrible roared out again and frowned.

Something was wrong.

Sure he was back on Equss, and back in his magnificent body, never to be forced into a ugly Christmas sweater to pose for a holiday card ever again, but things still felt off.

He knew where he was, this was the Crystal Empire, he often besieged this place, screaming meat and crystal all in one package, it was a delightful meal.

He considered a moment before looking to his claw as a massive glowing folder appeared in it. He finally understood the portfolio joke from his time in the human world and he hated it.

Lets see, majors are Volcanoes and Strength. Wait where were pain and dragons? Minors? Why were they minors? Shared at that. Who the hell was Scrivello that he shared pain with, and how dare another dragon try and usurp his claim on....... oh, it was her.

“Oh no, Bleu.” Forgescale muttered.

“OH YES, BLEU!!” a voice called before a large blue scaled claw slammed into his jaw, as a little blue dragon turned into a very very big dragon very quickly, upper cutting the massive red scaled beast and launching him up into the air and out over the city. The great dragon bounced as he hit a large pink shield that formed and a blue form larger than even he was slammed into him again launching him even higher into the air and out over the cities edge. ”Miss me Dad? Well I sure as Tartarus won't miss you!”

There was another crash before he could recover and he was sailing out into the northern wastes and over a distant mountain before he even heard the crack of her tail.

He spread his wings with a growl, uppity girl should have finished him rather than simply knocked him away, he was going to be sure that would cost her.

Wait, why wasn't he moving?

Forgescale hung there motionless in the air unable to move anything but his eyes and the reason why was soon apparent as a little white rabbit hopped up to sit on his nose.

“I saw you come back and I didn't let you leave when I gave you my regards. Don't forget I know what you will do, are doing, and have done.” White stated with more than a little anger. “So for the moment. Time Out.”

There were a multitude of flashes in the air above him as at least three score of other figures appeared in the air over him. Some he recognized, some he didn't though the ones he did know, he knew as gods. He spotted Kaz, Celestia, and a number of others who opposed him before he was banished, but this many others. Damn, must have dropped into one of their fucking meetings when he made it back.

White vanished from his nose.

Numerous massive attacks that would have leveled cities slammed into his chest belly and head as he was held there, unable to move, the attack spells froze on impact as well, building until an absolutely insane amount of power was covering his front making him glow like a second sun.

“Time in.” White stated and everything hit at once.

The force of the blows killed him at least eight times and then a ninth time when he hit the ground. The attacks came too fast to hurt and killed him almost painlessly. Even the impact with the ground was barely felt as his spine was driven up though his chest.

Crawling out of the crater left from the explosions, far far from the empire, Forgescale was pissed. The sucker punching fools, he would burn this world to ash so that nothing would be left of those who would dare oppose him like this.

Wait was it growing brighter out here?

“We once loved a mortal. He amused us and we were happy, even though we knew our time would be short.” stated a voice. “We had a child from that union, one who should have been with us even now. Yet Hooper's life was cut short by one whom we never had a chance to met out justice to. His whole guard unit was burned or was devoured and there never was a body left to even bury.”

Turning his head, Forgescale spotted a lone dark alicorn standing on top of a mountain.

“Allow us to welcome thee back Forgescale.” Princess Luna snarled before her moon impacted the massive dragon.

The first impact was felt across Equss, as were the second thru fifteenth.

Aside from annoying the god of the earth, who made sure the shock waves didn't spread too far from the impact point, and a few other gods who were not present, all of whom calmed down when the cause of it was explained, there was very little damage save at the spot the moon hit. That spot however now had a massive new crater that was filling up with water from a underground river and snow melt, it likely would wind up being a new inland sea. That would be of benefit to the Crystal Empire in a few hundred years.

Forgescale growled reforming and pushing himself up out of the rock he had been embedded into staring up at the mare as she dusted off her pet rock and placed it back into the sky.

“Crimes are as follows. Genocide, disregarding laws made by the council, attempting to destroy other gods, killing no less than six gods by wiping out their species, littering, illegal dimensional travel, jaywalking, cannibalism, disturbing the peace, and thirty two unpaid traffic tickets.” Discord read off.

Sitting in the crater was a long stone table that looked hastily made with five gods seated at it. Iinii, Aqua, and the Fates. Discord was floating nearby with a long list that was rolled out and across the ground at the bottom of the crater.

“We do not need the charges brought against him Discord. We were the ones who charged him with such before he vanished.” Iinii stated some how looking down at Forgescale.

“Though the parking violations are new.”Terrible added.

“All the rubble he made when he broke the Crystal palace is taking up all the cart parking near the palace and it's after hours, no parking allowed.” Discord huffed.

“I'm surprised you didn't add vandalism for the damage to the castle.” Aqua rolled her eyes.

“Of course not, he did us a favor there, that thing was tacky, like it was designed to be a fillies plaything.” Discord rolled his eyes back only for them to come out his ears and roll around his head before dropping back into socket.

“I do not see you as having any sort of power over me.” Forgescale roared lunging at the table only for something to grab him and yank him back to the dirt.

Shadows started oozing out of the cracks in the ground wrapping around the massive dragon drawing him down as a massive form composed of shadow rose out of the cracks, six red eyes staring down at the creature it held.

“This council was created to curb the more violent of those who became gods. A great deal of leeway is given in regards to individual events and personality's , but the goal is to keep the peace and achieve a balance. Something that you relished shattering every chance you could.” Aqua accused.

“For your crimes you are being sentenced to Tartarus until the end of existence, or until you have released your claimed portfolios and have died of old age.” Murphy stated. “Whichever comes first.”

Forgescale roared in defiance as he was wrapped tighter and the shadowy behemoth behind him pulled him into the ground, dragging him screaming to Tartarus.

The clack of bones and the thud of hooves was heard as a figure in a black cloak suddenly stood before the table.

“Grace. I do wish you and your husband would come to more of these gatherings as a guest, not only on business.” Karma stated.

“We KnOw YoU mEaN wElL kArMa, BuT yOu KnOw TrOpH aNd I aRe JuSt NoT tHe PaRtY tYpEs.” Grace, the god of The Dead and The Wilds, offered, with a smile on her skeletal face.

The skeletal zebra also had minors in Puns, Beer, Carols, and Welsh, but only a small few knew about those.

A massive shadow reformed from nothing standing over Grace. The darkness seemed form into a massive beast that was vaguely draconic with six glowing red eyes.

” He is contained.”< The shadowy figure stated.

The massive form was Troph, the god of Justice, Rage, and Tartarus. He also had minors, in shadows, Dragon fire, and Tahiti, but even fewer knew about those.

“Thank you for your assistance. We wish you well.” Iinii stated, some how still taller than anything else in the crater.

“Toodles!” Discord waved.”You have to let me know if you ever have any kids that uncle Discord can come spoil!”

The pair faded back into the ground leaving the gods sitting at the table.

“So any one want to get something to eat? I hear Crystal Pony Joes is good.” Karma asked.

[ Other side of the Portal]

“Whaaat are yooou?” Rahs quaked in a voice like a mugger held up on the end of a rope by a guy dressed like a bat.

“Woof.” Rahs responded to the large blueish black bird sitting on his nose.

“RAHS GET DOWN FROM THERE!” shouted Twilight, the purple haired girl jumping back as the massive dragon lowered his head to look at her as well.

“Ground floor, menswear, sporting goods, and pantyhose.” Raven Rahs cawed.

“You two are back here sooner than I thought. Did you find the thief?” Shining Armor asked walking up from the portal his armor clanking lightly as he shifted.

“Thief?” Twilight asked looking up at the armored knight.

“Bark!” Spike added.

“Why is Spike barking? Also where did you get the glasses and the lab coat?” Shining asked curiously.

“What? I left the house with these, how did you get in front of us and where did you get that armor?” Twilight demanded.

“What?” Shining Armor asked.

“Twilight!!! What did I tell you about running ahead of me!” Shining Armor shouted as he ran up towards the dragon and the portal, his duster fanning out behind him before he slid to a stop and smoothed the coat out as he caught his breath. “You know for some one who never exercises you can be way too fast when you want to be.”

Twilight, both Rahses and Spike all blinked and looked between the two Shining Armors. The two men stared back at each other in confusion.

“Oh my gosh a doppelganger. I need to document this and study it!” Twilight squeed whipping out a suitcase from under her lab coat and set it on the ground busting it open to show off a number of instruments. “I'll need a blood sample, and a hair sample, and a skin sample, and nail sample, and a saliva sample, and a brain wave check, and blood pressure check....”

Detective Armor winced as he looked to Emperor Armor who was staring rather worriedly at the ranting girl.

“Sorry she gets like this.” Detective Armor offered sheepishly.

“Trust me I know.” Emperor Armor sighed.

"Forget it darling talking dog or not I am not going any where with these three.” Rarity snapped turning to ignore Spike and the other three girls as she went back to working on the dress set up in the home ec work room. Cloth and materials were scattered every where and the dress on the manikin looked to have taken weeks of elaborate work.

Spike glared at her from where he sat on the table.

“Come with us and help me find Pinkie Pie or I will pee all over your work table.” Spike threatened.

“You wouldn't!” Rarity gasped.

“Rares I wouldn't risk it. Little dudes angry.” Rainbow Dash nodded.

“No kidding.” Applejack admitted.” Tone it down a might will you Spike?”

“My sister has been missing for nearly an hour now. There are no alarms going off and nothing is on fire yet. I am getting a bad feeling along the spines I don't even have at the moment like I get when the CMC are about to do something. “Spike growled.” I am not calming down until I am home again.”

“.... FINE. I will help you find Pinkie Pie but that is it!” Rarity scoffed.

“Good enough, the explosions should have started by that point.” Spike nodded.

“Given it's lunch time she tends to visit one of the shops across the road to eat since she's not hanging out with us.” Rarity sighed.

“Wuff.” dragon Rahs offered.

“Woof!” bird Rahs responded.

“BARK!” real dog Spike chimed in.

“Stop that!” Twilight shouted up at the bird,” Don't start that again.”

Dragon Rahs grinned. “Bork.”

“LANGUAGE!” Two Shining Armors and Twilight yelled back.

“ Uh oh spagetiohs...” bird Rahs chimed.

“Errr Twilight I'm pretty sure he's not going to allow himself to be a test subject.” Detective Armor stated though Twilight ignored him and kept setting up her gear. “Though I for one would like to know what exactly is going on here.”

“Drama troup?” Emperor Armor suggested.

“Yeah, no, I'm not buying that.” Detective Armor stated.

“Kinda surprised Celestia did to be honest.” Emperor Armor shrugged. “Oh course we told her the truth and she chose to believe the drama trope thing.”

“That worries me.” Detective Armor sighed.

“Yeah well the short of it is, the thing behind me is a portal, the four of us came through to catch a thief who stole a powerful artifact.” Emperor Armor added. “The weirdest thing is you and your sister and her dog seem to be me and my sister and brother.”

“Surely you can't be serious?” Detective Armor stated.

“I am serious, and don't call me Shirley!” Raven Rahs called out.

“And that's got to be your version of Rahs.” Emperor Armor sighed.

Dragon Rahs chuckled.

Spike, the dragon who was a dog stared at the brown haired lightly tanned man in an apron standing before him behind the counter.

The man behind the counter stared at the angry looking little dog sitting on his counter.

“This is against a few health codes.” Doughnut Joe pointed out to Fluttershy who had brought the dog in.

“I'm on to you Joe.” Spike grumbled as Fluttershy picked him up and carried back to the table where Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity sat.

“So evidently darling I'm starting to think that all those messages were errors or some sort misunderstanding.” Rarity was explaining.

“Oh I know. Sunset hacked into our chat room and posted it.” Pinkie Pie stated, taking a sip of her drink.

“What? How?” Rarity blinked.

Pinkie shrugged and downed another doughnut.”I read the script.”

“What?” Rainbow Dash questioned

“Not going to ask, but if yah knew, why didn't you tell us?” Applejack grumbled.

“Well for starters no one listens to me. And second if I told any one then Spike here's whole mission to reunite us would be completely pointless.” Pinkie Pie stated.

“What?” Dash demanded again.

“Well.. at least Pinkie seems consistent between worlds.” Spike rolled his eyes.” That worries me more than anything else I've seen.

“My 'fingers' reach through heavy space and you 'see' 'Pinkie', but it is really just 'fingers'.” Pinkie Pie offered.

“What?” Dash questioned for a third time.

“Come on girls lets go meet Twilight.” Pinkie Pie smiled completely ignoring the looks..

“Well... I suppose you are right. I would like to meet a real Princess.” Rarity smiled trying not to think about it.

“Princess?” Pinkie raised an eyebrow. ”No no, the other one.”

Vice Principal Luna rubbed her temples as she knocked on the door to the office of her sister.

Hearing no response, she pushed it open, glaring back at the two girls following her.

Luna stopped and frowned as she took in the office. Her sister was there and she was sitting at her desk half hidden behind at least ten boxes of ice cream cakes from the shop down the road.

Two of them were empty already.

“Seriously?” Luna frowned.

“It's been a bad week.” Celestia grumbled through a mouthful of cake.

“We talked about this, you're going to gain two hundred pounds and make yourself sick. Put down the fork.” Luna chided.

“I don't want to.” Celestia pouted.

Twilight took a moment to look around the room. It was done in a much brighter coloration and style that Vice Principal Luna's. Most of the awards on the wall were scholastic achievements as well, and none for a damn ax.

There were numerous book shelves and books Twilight had never seen before and she was nearly twitching to start reading some of them. Of course her distraction allowed her to miss the crown sitting on the edge of Celestia's desk.

At least until Sunset Shimmer snagged it.

“Yoink!” The red head shouted turning and rushing towards the window, flinging it open with one hand and diving out of it.

“NO!! WE'RE ON THE THIRD FLOOR!!” Luna shouted as she and Twilight rushed towards the window.

Sunset was clinging to a gutter and sliding down safely to the ground. She landed and just before darting off displayed the human equivalent of a rude Griffonesse gesture to Twilight.

“I really hate her.” Luna snarled.

“Screw this.” Twilight grumbled shoving Luna out of the way and leaping out the window to follow Sunset Shimmer.

Twilight however was still not used to this form, missed the gutter, forgot she didn't have wings and fell three stories to crash into the ground with a sickening thud.

Vice Principal Luna gasped in shock staring down at the prone girl. She whipped around to her sister sitting at the desk.

“Tia call and ambulance!!.......” Luna shouted only to be cut off by a louder shout. She looked back out the window her jaw dropping.

“SUNSET SHIMMER, GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!!” bellowed Twilight as she took off running after the fleeing thief.

Luna blinked looking down at the spot the young trespasser had hit, then at the figure as she ran around the buildings corner after Sunset.

Luna stepped back and closed the window and moved over to drop into the chair in front of her sisters desk, slumping over with a sigh.

“Give me one of those.” Luna demanded of her sister with an air of defeat.

“No.” Celestia pouted.

“Oh come on, you have eight of them!” Luna snapped.

Author's Note

Should be wrapping this up next chapter

Endor Girls, part eight

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Endor Girls,
part eight

[Crystal Empire]

“Where is it, where is it!?” Cadence screamed out as she flung large chunks of crystal out of the pile she was digging through.

“It's not over here” Chrysalis called flinging her own pile out of the way.

“DAMMIT!!” Cadence swore as the pair of them continued digging through the rubble looking for the mirror while the other gods dealt with the dragon.

Cadence's mane was completely out of wack as she had been point blank for when the dragon had come through the mirror. She had recovered enough to shield the Empire from the dragons attack, and Bleu's counter attack but a good chunk of her palace was gone now.

Luckily most of the creatures in that section of the palace were gods, unfortunately all of the Element Bearers and a number of servants were there as well.

Fortunately while she had shielded the city itself, Chrysalis had been waiting for a counter attack from Celestia and had a shield ready already. She had reacted near instantly shielding everyone she could when the portal exploded in size and the massive dragon had come out.

The problem was the mirror had gone with the side of the palace and Cadence was freaking out trying to find it hoping it was still okay. A number of Guards and some locals were also helping her look. Most of the bearers were too, though Applejack was hiding in a intact room with Fluttershy watching the door as the burst of magic from the size change had turned her into Witch-Jack. After the third servant had freaked out in seeing her and at least one Guard had attacked her she thought it better to sit by and wait until the change faded.

“Where is the damn mirror?!” Cadence roared into the night.

“Hey. Pinks. It's over there!”a voice called.

Cadence looked over, spotting a light purple furred earth pony mare her dark purple and teal mane done up into long twin ponytails. The purple eyed mare was wearing some sort of black spiked collar and bracelets and Cadence assumed she was one of the 'companions' of one of the gods for the night given her get up.

Not that Cadence spared more than a glance at her as soon as she saw where the mare was pointing her hoof.

Sitting on the statue of the Empire's heroes, propped up against the back of the bowing Rahs, was the mirror. Cadence was over to it in an instant, yanking it away from the statue to look it over for damage.

It was lightly scuffed along the frame, but the mirror portal itself was undamaged and still active.

“Thank the stars, it's alright.” Cadence let out a sigh of relief turning to thank the mare who pointed it out only to find out she was gone.

Cadence blinked looking around in confusion, though she turned back to the mirror as Chrysalis and the Bearers ran up, forgetting about the odd mare.

“Shitshitshitshitshitshit!” Sunset shimmer cursed, dodging through the crowd of the school. She needed a moment to breath and to study this stupid crown. She could feel the magic in it. Unlike Twilight, Sunset had been here for three years and she had had a bit of time to practice with her magic before it vanished completely as she spent it. It seemed unlike Equestria, nothing here produced any magic to be used, so once what little she brought with her was gone, it was gone.

At least until the portal opened again for three days, and more magic flooded in. Even then she had little access to it and what magic she could do was limited by her lack of a horn. That harry potter bullshit with a wand might have been something, but she didn't find the time to yank out one of her own tail hairs when she was back in Equss, and even if she had she wouldn't have had time to craft a wand with it.

Still she could do a few things, particularly with something that was producing magic for her to use right in her hand.

Like yank a row of lockers over to trap the pursuing mare.

That little trick had NOT gone as planned.

Sure the mare had been caught under the falling lockers, but the purple haired girl had been trapped all of five seconds before she screamed out some curse or another in what Sunset was certain was Elk and Stood up holding a locker over her head to fling at Sunset.

It took Sunset a moment to recall that this one was a goddess of something and had parts of all three tribes. Thankfully her aim was shit and she didn't seem to want to risk hitting any of the others in the hall with the cheap metal boxes. And Sunset was hauling ass again before she got fully clear of the collapsed lockers.

Sunset was pushing through a crowd of students now, hoping to lose her in the rush to class. She stole a hoody from someone, darted around the group she was moving through and pulled the hoody on over her head to disguise herself before nonchalantly walking the other way staring at her phone like she was a normal student.

It worked, Twilight barreled past her and down the hall leaving Sunset to smirk and slip away.

This should give her time to unlock the power of the crown. Then god or no she couldn't be stopped.

“There ya are.” Sunset twitched, turning around to spot five girls walking down the hall towards her. Fluttershy , Applejack, Rainbow Dash , Pinkie Pie, and Rarity.

Sunset let out a sigh of relief, this was probably just some student bull shit she could blow off.

“We got words tah have with you Sunset.” Applejack stated.

“I don't have time for this or anything you idiots have to say.” Sunset snapped not caring about this lot.” Go whine some where else.”

“Oh I'm sure you'll make time, thief.” stated a male voice.

Sunset blinked looking back at them only to notice the purple and green dog running along side of Fluttershy this time.

“What?”

“Give us the crown, thief.” Spike growled.

“How bout no?” Sunset snapped. Where the heck had a talking... oh crap it was the one biting at her ankles that came with the god who was chasing her.

“I was hoping you'd say that!” Rainbow Dash grinned and started running towards her with the others hot on her heels. Pinkie Pie for some reason busted out a boom box and started blaring a song.

Sunset was not about to tangle with a farmer and the athlete, and she was well aware of the martial arts awards that both Rainbow and Rarity had, and the less said about Pinkie the better.

“Shitshishitshitshitshit!!” Sunset cursed, throwing the hoody in Rainbow Dash's face, slowing the quicker girl and hauling ass the other way as the six started chasing her down.

[Earlier]

“What the shit!?!” Both Shining Armors cursed as a veritable ton of masonry burst out of the back of the statue flying at them. Thankfully Dragon Rahs was quick enough to drop a claw between the humans and the mirror stopping the rocks from hitting anyone.

Unfortunately the dust cloud and a third new spot of shattered sidewalk distracted everyone else from noticing something else had slipped into the portal. A trio that had been waiting for a distraction before doing so in fact.

“What the fuck is going on over there?” Detective Armor cursed.

“You blew it up! Ah,damn you! God damn you to hell!” Raven Rahs cawed.

“Fascinating the readings have spiked again!” Twilight stated completely ignoring the fact she had just been in any danger.

“Dammit where the buck is Twilight this is taking to long and somethings going on with this portal.” Emperor Shining cursed.

“I'm right here.” Twilight offered.

“Not you.” the Shinings sighed.

“Where the buck am I?” Twilight fumed looking around the semi crowded hall. She had lost Sunset Shimmer some where and was not happy about that.

“Not to far from the computer lab. East hall and class rooms e-3 through e-12.” A voice pointed out.

Looking to the speaker, Twilight was greeted with the sight of a peach colored male of the species, with swept back spiky blue hair and a fairly tone build. At least she figured it was a toned build, she had no real frame of reference.

“Err thanks, but that doesn't tell me anything Mister...?” Twilight questioned.

“Oh sorry, my name is Flash...”

“AHHHHH AHHHHHHHH!!!”

The sudden cry from a number of other students in the hall made Twilight jump and the male simply slap his forehead with his hand... wait... PALM, that's why the minotaurs called it a face palm, this made a lot more sense now.

“Sorry that happens some times, anyway I'm Flash...”

“AHHHH AHHHHHHHH!!” a new group of students bellowed.

“STOP THAT!” Flash yelled back.

“Oh right okay so I suppose it's nice to meet you Flash...”

“AHHHH AHHHHHH!” A new crowd shouted.

Twilight stopped considered, decided she'd dealt with weirder and continued. “My names Twilight, I'm looking for Sunset Shimmer.”

“Oh, I haven't seen her around today, but how bout I ..” Flash began only to be violently flung to the ground as a certain red haired mare, turned girl, turned mare, turned girl, slammed into him.

“MOVE IT FLASH!!!”Sunset bellowed tearing down the hall.

“AHHHH AHHHHH!” Pinkie Pie shouted as she ran past with the others trampling the poor colt, not girl, male.

“Never mind , found her, thanks Flash...” Twilight stated, as she took off after Sunset again.

“AHHH AHHH!” another group called as Flash twitched on the floor.

“He's a miracle!” a single female voice added in.

“ Stop already you psycho!!!” Twilight shouted as Sunset Shimmer burst out of the building hauling ass across the lawn. They had nearly lost her at least three times, once due to her leaping down a flight of stairs faster than they could, Once due to her hiding behind a poster, and a third time because the ran into the boys locker room to run out a fire exit.

Neither Spike nor Twilight were worried about running through either, though the other girls had to go around.

Sunset cursed, if she could get off the campus she could ditch these girls and finally have a chance to study the crown. There was no way any of them knew the back alleys and side streets like she did, she had been stuck living on the damn things that first year after all.

“Freeze, police!” Detective Armor shouted rushing towards the fleeing girl.

“Shit!” Sunset cursed. She turned to rush away from the cop back towards the building. This was the wrong side of the school the dragon was over here.

“No you don't!” Emperor Armor made a lunge at the girl who just managed to slip by him.

“RUN FOREST RUN!” Raven Rahs shouted as Sunset tore back towards the school the two Armors after her as well now.

She had to change direction a third time as the other girls rushed out of the front door forcing her to head towards the soccer field.

“Huh? What's with these readings?” Twilight asked sitting up with her laptop as she pointed a small metal tube at the portal, then at the dragon, before back towards the crowd running by. She blinked as the meter spiked when pointed at the red haired girl everyone was chasing.

Twilight stood up and started running after the crowd, chasing the red head with Raven Rahs and Spike the dog following along after her, leaving the massive dragon alone by the portal.

Dragon Rahs let out a sigh and sat back up towering in the air to watch what was going on with his tail curled around the portal to keep anything else from bursting out of it.

Despite over half the group chasing her not having the stamina nor the speed to catch up with her, the other half was far more fit than she expected, including the two horses turned people.

As such Sunset Shimmer was eventually cornered and surrounded by two dogs, a cop, two ponies turned humans, six regular humans, and a raven singing the English opening for Knights of the Zodiac.

This was bad, this whole situation had gone from bad to worse since it started. She was starting to regret stealing this damn crown, for the power it had. She should have just found a way to forge the documents for native citizenship and run for some sort of public office, though that would have taken time, and Sunset was not known to be the patient type.

“Give up the crown Sunset.” Princess Twilight demanded.” It's over!”

The cop was unexpected. She had no idea where the clone of the god she had robbed had come from. The Guard was something she had expected, the goddess coming after her personally was not. The dragon thankfully was staying back to guard the portal. The raven was just odd. And to top it off, the talking dog had some how gotten the group of popular girls she had broken apart back together. It was easy to do what she wanted and take what she wanted when the students were fighting each other and the teachers were set on edge or cowed into submission as well. Sunset had avoided dealing with the Principals as much as she could however, but Luna knew something was off and that Sunset was at the heart of it. Celestia didn't know Sunset as anything other than a honor student who had a chip on her shoulder about her specifically, but wouldn't explain why.

She really needed to get over the Celestia fixation she had.

Sunset was out numbered and out of options.

Well almost.

She had found something out when running with the crown.

It was a fount of magic power, it had been filling up her reserves since she first touched it and was still doing so now.. One last trick to try.

The group advanced when Sunset didn't respond, though they quickly back peddled as the red haired mare flung out her arm and gestured, an explosion of fire slamming into the ground between her and them flinging dirt into the air.

The grass crackled and burnt merrily around the small smoking crater left by the fireball.

“Well now.... this changes things a bit.” Sunset smiled realizing she had far more magic than she had planned and it was far easier to use than it should be.

“The readings are climbing?” Sci Twi stated looking at the device she held, the other end pointing at Sunset as the red haired girl put on the crown.

An explosion of green light engulfed the thief, blasting upward in a pillar into the sky lifting the girl into the air as storm clouds started to gather, lightning crackling in the air.

The energy flowed and swirled, blowing out a number of transformers on nearby poles in showers of sparks.

“THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!” Raven Rahs screamed at the light show.

The pillar of light seemed to consume the red haired girl before it finally vanished in a brilliant flare of light, revealing a fire haired, red skinned, monstrous winged form.

“A demon?”Applejack gasped.

“Well it's either that or Guy Fieri with all those flames on her clothing, and I don't think she's here to take us to flavor town.” Pinkie Pie chimed up.

“This much power in such a little thing...” Demon Sunset muttered, her leathery wings flapping once as she glared down at the ones gathered around her.

“Vegita what's the scouter say about her power level!?” raven Rahs demanded.

“This makes no logical sense. Even if there was a source of power in the Element of Magic it shouldn't turn her into anything. It's not even dark magic.” Princess Twilight complained.

“Magic? I refuse to believe something like this is simply magic, the readings are too consistent for some hocus pocus, mumbo jumbo.” Sci Twi frowned.

“There's a perfectly logical science to magic. “ Princess Twilight protested.

“Really, so you expect me to believe that curses and fairies and unicorns are real?” Sci Twilight scoffed.

“Of course not. There are no such thing as curses. Pixies are what old pony tales called Breezies, and of course unicorns are real, last census had them make up 26% of the pony population, not counting the Nox- Cal or Crystal Ponies. With the Crystal Ponies it's a mess, but there's only earth pony types left save for two unicorn foals that were recently born as half breeds of sorts, and the Nox-cal Thestrils are the most numerous of their side of things, but the point still stands there are a lot of unicorns.”

“What?” Sci Twi gasped.

“Umm guys not to interrupt girls, but there's still a demon over there.” Fluttershy offered pointing at Sunset.

“Right, her. “Princess Twilight sighed. “HEY SUNSET, YOUR TRANSFORMATION MAKES NO LOGICAL SENSE!”

“It looks bad ass and it's scary.”Sunset stated flatly growling at them.

“Okay, your transformation makes, 'some' logical sense.” Princess Twilight admitted with a grumble.

“What ever, you never should have come here Princess.” Sunset snarled. The demonic girl raised her hands over her head wings flared as she readied a spell to blast them all, once they were all out cold she could head back through the portal and use her new form to take over, once she took out Celestia it shouldn't be to hard to cow the other gods into submission if she had control of the sun.

The normal humans were panicking and starting to back away or try protect one another. The cop was urging them to run.

The raven and the dog were flapping and running around in circles making noise, the raven was also singing The Doom song.

The talking dog, the knight, and the goddess of whatever however were simply standing there, looking up at her annoyed, without a trace of fear, even though she clearly had the upper hand.

Why was...was that a shadow?

Oh...

CHOMP!

The massive blue scaled dragon's maw closed tight around the flying demoness as Dragon Rahs snapped her out of the air.

There was muffled screaming and cursing as Rahs' cheeks puffed up a little and he made the action of chewing as more curses in several languages, including what sounded like Elvish and Klingon could be heard, if a bit muffled.

After a few moments the massive head came down towards the ground again closer to the portal.

HOOOCKKK PUTUI!!

A drool soaked, mussed up, and human Sunset Shimmer was unceremoniously spat out onto the ground landing with a wet squelch in a puddle of dragon drool.

A moment later another patooie had the crown landing at Princess Twilight's feet.

“I have no idea how the fuck that can be some ones fetish...” muttered Sunset from the ground.

“Well that dragon's got ah surprisingly talented tongue.” Applejack chuckled with a whistle as the group started heading back towards the portal.

“Seriously?” Rainbow Dash sighed. “That's my line....”

“Honestly I'm not the slightest bit surprised that Rahs solved this by biting it” Spike sighed.

“Right, whatever, somethings happened in the Empire, a whole bunch of rocks fell through the portal and they looked like stone work from a building, we need to go back now” Emperor Armor stated.” The sooner the better.”

“But there's so much to study, it's a whole new world.” Twilight sighed clutching the crown. With the emergency over she was finally hit with all the things she had been ignoring up until this point.

“Okay if you want to come back in thirty years, be my guest, but we are getting out of here now if I have to have Rahs throw you through the portal.” Spike snapped.

The two Armors stopped over the drool soaked Sunset looking down at her.

“So are you going to come quietly or do I have Rahs eat you again?” Emperor Armor demanded.

“Please don't.” Detective Armor sighed. “We need to figure out what to do with her.”

“Simple she's coming back with us.” Emperor Shining stated.

“I can't just let you drag an American citizen off to who knows where to do who knows what.” Detective Armor protested.

“Okay look, I get where you are coming from, I really do, and had we the time I'd happily fill out the needed paper work to expedite her properly. But we have less than three days before we're stuck here for thirty years. Just in case you didn't notice the massive dragon and wonder 'what does he eat' when you first saw him, sticking around thirty years would not be good.” Emperor Shining offered. ”And two other things you should keep in mind, first she was a citizen of Equestria first, and second, going back to the dragon, who the buck is going to stop us from leaving?”

“Not to complain about your explanation, but you had me at 'feeding the dragon for thirty years'. “ Detective Armor added.

“See I told Cady I'm smart.” Emperor Armor smirked.

“Cady? Cadence?” Detective Armor blinked.

“Yeah, you know her over here? She's my wife in my world.” Emperor Armor offered picking up Sunset who was still in a rather limp state of shock from the magic flood and being eaten by a dragon.

“Huh interesting.” Detective Armor considered as he followed his counter part to the statue's base ignoring the fact the red haired woman was simply flung in like an old suitcase.

The others had quickly caught up.

“Alright girls, thanks for the help.” Spike smirked. ”Thankfully it didn't devolve into the chaotic series of explosions I expected, but I'm sure everything would have been cool if it did. And remember, you're supposed to be friends.”

Spike smirked and hopped through the portal.

“Argggh so much potential research.” Princess Twilight grumbled stomping through the portal.

“No kidding.” Sci Twi lamented.

“Woof” Rahs stated.

"Ogata, it worked! Both of you, be happy. Goodbye... farewell." raven Rahs cawed as the portal widened massively as dragon Rahs pushed into it.

“Oh hey, if Cadence brings up some one named Chrysalis, let me warn you she'll be all sorts of problems, but all sorts of fun too.” Emperor Shining smirked and offered a wave before stepping through the portal.

“Yeah, sure, okay.... that little tidbit better be worth all this paper work.” Detective Armor sighed.

The stone statue flickered and hummed before fading to simple stone work as if nothing had ever been there before.

“Wait, it can't be thirty years. I've been getting a odd reading from this thing every year for at least the last five.” Twilight exclaimed holding the non dragon Spike clutched to her chest.

“Really?” Rarity asked curiously.

“Hello, not Princess Twilight. Cup Cake?” Pinkie Pie smirked offering one.

“Seriously what was up with all that?” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Beats me, always something weird on this day of tha week though.” Applejack shrugged.

“For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday. “ raven Rahs cawed as he landed on Twilight.

“Oh my goodness, he's adorable.” Fluttershy squeed, looking at the bird sitting on Twilight's shoulder.

Author's Note

For those of you wondering about any plot issues or other things i skipped in EQG... Let me just say that i tried to watch it, and i couldn't manage to get much past where sunset threatened fluttershy because it was so dumb and cringy. Thus all my info for past that point came from THIS.

Endor Girls, Epilogue

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Endor Girls,
Epilogue

[Crystal Empire]

“FUUUUUUU...OOOOFF!” Sunset tried to curse as she fell back through the portal crashing down onto the crystal road with a wince.

“Sunset Shimmer.”

Sunset winced at the voice and pushed herself back up onto her hooves. This wasn't how she wanted to come back to Equestria. She wasn't at the head of some great army or wielding any sort of immense power.

Still she could at least have some sort of dignity in her defeat like this....

“HOLY SHIT, WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!!!??” Sunset shrieked, back peddling away from the pink alicorn and the black bug looking pony standing next to her. Her escape was quickly cut off as a purple winged form was launched out of the mirror and high speed and impacted her bodily sending them both crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

“I'm okay.” Twilight offered.

“Fuck dignity, I'm just gonna lie here and try to bleed out.” Sunset muttered.

“You're not bleeding.” Cadence sighed.

“That's why I said TRY Cadence, damn it, listen once in a while.”Sunset muttered from the ground. “ Also what the fuck is that thing?”

“I feel I should be insulted.” Chrysalis huffed.

“Don't be she's always been like this.” Cadence sighed. ”This is Queen Chrysalis.”

“That explains nothing.” Sunset grumped.

“What the buck happened to the palace?” Twilight demanded looking up at the ruined mess of a building.

“A god Starswirl threw in the mirror came through and started trying to wreck the place, it's under control.” Cadence explained as Spike tumbled through the portal landing on top of Sunset as well.

“Woah, what happened?” Spike asked looking up at the wreckage.

“A god escaped the portal and wrecked the place.” Chrysalis offered.

“Was any one hurt?” Twilight flinched.

“No, thankfully not.” Cadence stated.

“I am very glad you shrunk back down before you landed on me dragon.” Sunset muttered.

“The names Spike, and I wasn't the dragon over there.” Spike grumbled.

The portal flared and a large blue canine like creature fell through the portal crashing down on top of all three of them with a thud.

“GAAAH!!” Sunset yelped.

“Rahs, GET OFF ME!” Twilight gasped.

“Woof?” Rahs stated looking up at the wreckage.

“Portal Dragon attack, blame Starswirl, no pony hurt.” Chrysalis stated knowing what he just asked.

“Says you.” Sunset whimpered.

The portal mirror flared again and Shining Armor calmly stepped through, stumbling a step as he got used to four legs again.

“Hey hun. I'm home.... redecorating? Can't say I like what you did with the place.” Shining smirked.

He might have commented further, though he was hit from both sides by a pink alicorn and changeling queen with enough force to dent his armor.

“Gak” Shining gasped from between the mares glomping him.

“So any way. It's been a long time Sunset.” Cadence offered crushing Shining into her chest.

“I'm surprised you noticed. Nice to see you're finally off the farm.” Sunset muttered. ”I'm sure Celestia is thrilled about that.”

“She was, though I've been away from there for quite a while now.” Cadence blinked as the Sparkles stood up off of Sunset, Rahs grumbling something as he brushed off his bare chest and arms.

“Seriously? I never understood how you gods kept track of time I guess you're still new at it, so who's this one any way, guess alicorn gods are popping up like a bumper crop this decade? And what the fuck is all this!?”

“Umm. Well this is the Crystal Empire it came back earlier this year, Twilight only ascended about a week ago and exactly how long do you think it's been?” Cadence frowned.

“Oh shit, it's been a lot longer than three years hasn't it? Any time a question like that comes up, the time spent was a lot longer than you think.” Sunset sighed before deadpanning her question.”Alright lay it on me how long have I been gone?”

“Ninety years give or take.” Cadence offered.

Sunset stared a moment and sighed.” Not as bad as I thought, but fuck.”

“Woof.” Rahs stated pulling a small book out of his coat and offered it to the orange unicorn.

“So you've been displaced from time? By Twilight Sparkle?” Sunset frowned reading the cover.

Twilight and Spike stared at their brother, when did he get another coat?

“You wrote a book just for this sort of thing?”Sunset glared at Twilight.

“Trust me it's been very helpful. The Crystal Empire, Discord, Sombra, Luna, it beats having to explain all the history missed, plus each chapter covers a hundred years so all you need to do is read the last one.” Twilight offered.” Though I've yet to do an update past the return of the Crystal Empire.”

“So what are we going to do with her any way?” Shining Armor asked as he pushed his head out from between the two mares sandwiching him.

“Wait for Celestia and Luna....” Cadence stated.

“It was my crown that was stolen, honestly it should be my verdict.” Twilight humphed.

“I TOLD HER NIGHTMARE MOON WASN'T AN OLD PONY TALE!!” Sunset shouted pointing a hoof in the book.

“Ahh we see some one else was taught by our sister.” Luna sighed gliding down to the portal. “Is everyone alright?”

Sunset looked up at the dark alicorn then read further in the book.

“Oh good you're back!” Pinkie Pie cheered pronking up with Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash behind her.

“Seems you recovered your crown and caught the thief, good job Twilight.” Rarity applauded.

Sunset blinked starring at the four. “They're here too?”

“Oop hot hoof!!! Hot hoof!” Pinkie Pie gasped.

“Woof?” Rahs asked wondering what that Pinkie sense meant.

WHAM!!

A large orange missile slammed into Rahs sending him tumbling across the street. When he finally came to a stop Witch-Jack was standing on him.

“Yer alright!” Witch- Jack chimed up excitedly her tail wagging before she noticed everyone staring at her. She quickly hopped off Rahs and helped him up. “Ah mean... welcome back.... yeah”

“Cadence.” Twilight stated. “Put me down for it.”

“Twilight you can't be in that pool.....” Cadence began, cutting herself off as Twilight spread her wings and stared at the pink alicorn.

“Right, I'll mark down your bid.” Cadence sighed.

“Discord was the statue in the garden?” Sunset frowned. “Celestia always let me paint that thing as a filly.”

“Yes, you did wind up with some delightful coloration.” Discord stated popping into being above the orange unicorn.

“GAH!” Sunset yelped.

“Oh calm down, you didn't know any better and I'm in a good mood.” Discord stated waving a slip of paper around in a clawed hand. “Though I really do need to ask, what exactly was your plan for defeating Celestia?”

Sunset blinked and flattened her ears. “I was going to figure that out when I got to that part.”

“You didn't have a plan?”Spike frowned.

“Of course not. A chess master can't counter a plan if there is no plan to counter. I made an outline and I planned to fill in the rest as I went!” Sunset stated.

The Sparkles stared at her a moment.

“You were Celestia's student weren't you?”Spike asked.

“For sixteen years” Sunset muttered.

“Ahhhhhhh” the three Sparkles stated simply.

“ I feel I should be insulted” Celestia pouted as she flew in for a landing next to her sister.

“Not at all, I mean you did finally fix the issues with your school after giving me and all your other students mental issues.” Twilight offered. “Then there was the manipulation and chess master nonsense that you did so often it's like you needed to do it to live..... I take it back, please feel insulted.”

“I apologized for that repeatedly Twilight..” Celestia sighed.

“Right sure, HER you apologize to because she became a freaking alicorn, but the moment I got my cutie mark you decided I wasn't worth your time as much any more and you focused on Cadence while pushing me to what ever idiotic tutor you could, hell there were months were I never even saw you.” Sunset snapped.

“Sunset I went over that before, I was the only ruler of the nation I couldn't spend every moment with you....” Celestia sighed as if this was a very old argument she didn't want to start up.

“Bull shit! You were all I fucking had and you literally started avoiding me. I did everything I could to make you proud of me to have some sort of attention and you barely gave me a smile. “Sunset raged. “I got my damn cutie mark, you showed up for two minutes looked at it said, 'That's nice' and vanished for two weeks!”

“Sunset!” Celestia winced. “I did not vanish I had to deal with a political crisis....”

“Don't you Sunset me, you started railroading me at that point, pulling away my free reign of the library and herding my studies away from the fire and combat spells I was good at, and pushed me towards healing. I suck at healing spells, then when I found a work around for it using blood magic you acted like I broke into your damn cake vault and peed on everything! But at least that got me noticed!” Sunset ranted glaring at Celestia her eyes watering. “You were the only damn thing I had and the only way I could even get to to notice me was to fuck something up so royally that you didn't have any choice but to talk to me.”

“Only thing she had?” Twilight blinked. A quick look around saw a number of other gods sitting on couches surrounding the area eating popcorn including Shining and her friends. Discord was grinning like a fool and Rahs was taking notes on all the drama, the orbs at the tip of his ears glowing far brighter than she had seen them before.

“Sunset. Did... you think you were an orphan?” Cadence spoke up rising off the couch away from shining and Chrysalis.

“Yes..” Sunset sniffled.

“Who told you that?” Cadence moved forward, the glare she was shooting the stunned Celestia would have been enough to melt any one not connected to a glowing ball of fire in the sky.

“No one did, I figured that out on my own. No family, no known relatives, not even any records of my birth until I came to the palace at age two.” Sunset snapped.

There was a few collective awws from the gathered gods and Cadence snorted in anger.

“Sunset you are not an orphan. You're Celestia's daughter.” Cadence stated.

“Yeah I know I saw the adoption papers... why do you think I'm so fucked up over this?” Sunset grumbled.

“No, I mean you're her biological daughter, you're a demigod.” Cadence clarified.

“WHAT!?!” the gathered gods and others around shouted as Celestia winced.

“Whelp. I'm not mad at her any more. Sunset you have my sympathy.”Spike sagely nodded. Rahs and Twilight looked at each other and nodded as well.

“What is this insult Celestia day?”Celestia frowned looking at the Sparkles.

“I'm marking it on my calendar!” Discord cackled.

“Wait. So you're my mother, You're my real mother!?!?” Sunset snapped one eye twitching.

“Alright, now I super forgive her.” Spike added.

“No, she's not.” Cadence singsonged before Celestia could comment.

“Cadence... don't you dare. We promised not to bring that up.” Celestia snarled.

“You promised, I did no such thing, much like a certain farm picture that resurfaced at my wedding. “Cadence grinned. “Celestia is not your mother Sunset, she's your father”.

“WHAT!?!? the crowd shouted again.

Sunset blinked her twitch growing worse. “Then who the fuck is my mother?”

“Don't you dare..” Celestia growled as Cadence grinned wider, stepping to the side as a wrinkled green earth pony mare tottered up.

“What tha heck is with all this yelling?” Granny Smith grumbled as Cadence rose onto her back legs and gestured with her fore hooves in a 'tada' motion.

“GRANNY SMITH!?!?” they all screamed out, and Applejack fainted.

“Of course it's not Granny Smith, she's too young to be Sunset's mother.” Cadence smiled.

“Ah'm not sure where yer going with this or if that was a compliment or not but ah got mai eye on you.” Granny glared at Cadence.

“Granny, this is Sunset Shimmer.” Cadence pushed the two closer.

Granny frowned pulling out her glasses to look over the younger mare before her. “ Well ah'll be. Yer tha spitting image of her....but how..”

“Demi gods don't age the same way normal ponies do. This is the Sunset Shimmer you knew ninety years ago.” Twilight offered. “So who is she?”

“Mai sister.” Granny offered.

“WHAT!??!” the crowd went nuts.

“Well half sister. Back when tha Apples was first given tha land tah settle around Ponyville lil over a hundred years ago we had a rough couple of years at first and we had tah spend a lot of time going back and forth to Canterlot for supplies. Maw wasn't too thrilled with Paw kissing that hooves of tha Princess, so when we had tah get something, she went. From what her old diary said one time she was gonna tah give tha Princess a bit of her mind about vamping on Paw. Well turns out Celestia here's a right smooth talker and managed tah get her way intah Maw's pants. Long story short, Maw spent a lot of time 'reporting' our progress to tha princess after that. By tha time Paw found out, we was busy with Zap Apples and she was heavy with a foal. Making tha story even shorter, Celestia agreed tah look after mai half sister cause we was still struggling tah feed everyone, and ah ain't really seen her since she was a filly. Saw her a couple of times with Celestia, but she didn't come back tah tha farm, seems Paw and Maw didn't really want any leaking of tha infidelities, always sent her a invite tah tha reunions, never got any responses back though. ”

All eyes turned to Celestia.

“By the point they started having reunions Sunset had already left.” Celestia frowned.
I simply thought she ran away.”

“ Really bet you didn't look for me long.” Sunset snorted.

“At least thirty years I had ponies looking for you, I finally stopped when you responded to one of my messages in the journal with the words,and I quote, ' Fuck off and die already', end quote.”

“Excellent.” Luna bellowed, shoving her sister out of the way and zipping up to grab Sunset and crush her in a hug. “We get to be the fun uncle!”

“But you're a mare!” Sunset gasped.

“So is thine father, so we are thine uncle, it only makes sense.” Luna nodded sagely. “ So let us go to place of doughnuts and talk!”

“I don't... “Sunset protested.

“Unless Twilight has any objections, it was she whom thee stole from after all.” Luna glanced to Twilight.

“Nope. I'm good. Having had some bad family experiences and being a student of Celestia in the past I totally get why you would have tried for world domination and revenge. I wrote up a few plans myself once.”Twilight nodded.

“Why do you think I'm such a good DM and Rahs is such a good villain actor?”Spike offered.

“Ummm.” most of the group offered.

“SUPERB, come Sunset let us hear the tales of this other world thee were in.”Luna laughed dragging off the confused and upset looking Sunset with Granny Smith toddering along after.

“Mare were you not married I would propose right now, that was a masterful work of chaos right there bravo.” Discord cheered clapping as he strode up to Cadence. “The tension building, the fake out, the SECOND fake out, and all while screwing with Sun butt. Bravo, just bravo.”

“Why thank you, and it is a pity I'm married, though the relationship is some what open and I've not actually had a chance with anything like you before.....” Cadence nearly purred leaning closer to Discord.

“NOPE!”

Discord gulped leaning back, only for Shining Armor and Chrysalis to each grab a foreleg of the pink princess and frog march her away from Discord and back towards the castle as she blew him a kiss, the bug queen carrying the mirror along with her in her magic.

“Girls please tell me there is a room still intact in the palace.” Twilight sighed.

“I'm afraid all of them are taken Twilight.” Fluttershy offered.

“There's the hotel by the ski resort, I noticed that it had some rooms left when I went to visit their spa yesterday morning, shall we head over there and see for sure?” Rarity pointed out.

“Please, I am a hundred and ten percent done with this day.” Twilight sighed as she, her friends and her brothers head off.

The rest of the gods started heading back to their rooms or what was left of them, seeing that the show is over. This left Discord and the still stunned Celestia standing there.

“Well seems like you really screwed up on this one Sun butt.” Discord chuckled.

“I didn't tell her she was mine because I didn't want Nightmare Moon to try and use her against me, it was only a hundred years until she was coming back.” Celestia blurted out.

“Don't tell me sun butt, tell your daughter. I'd offer to torment you further, but...” Discord grinned looking down at the paper he held, his smirk getting even wider as he looked back to Celestia. “ I've got some shopping to do.”

Discord vanished with a snap of his fingers, the paper drifting down to the ground to land at Celestia's hooves.

Curious, Celestia picked up the paper and looked it over, there was only one sentence on it, written in near illegible scrawl.

'You owe us like … nine thousand birthday presents!'

Celestia looked at it curiously and shrugged, she wasn't even going to try to understand Discord. Besides she had to have a talk with her daughter.

Celestia let out a sigh, this was something she never thought she would be able to do again once Sunset vanished. Embarrassment and shame aside she would accept Sunsets anger, so long as she knew she was alive.

That's no Moon Dog. Season 3 Epilogue One

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

That's no Moon Dog.
Season 3 Epilogue One

[ Two weeks after the God's council, Canterlot Mid summer, one week after the Sparkle's three years in Ponyville party. ]

Twilight Sparkle sat at the table taking notes as Princess Luna and Princess Celestia explained everything they knew about being a god. Cadence sat across from the pair, closer to Twilight, adding her own input on certain things. Some of it Twilight already knew though from older lessons with Celestia.

She was immortal now, and nothing short of the destruction of all of her portfolios would kill her. Twilight was fine with this because she wouldn't want to live in a world without books anyway.

She could still be injured or contained, but the former wouldn't last and the latter was difficult.

Most of the discussion was about the council, which was little more than a regulatory group for the collected gods in case of disagreements. The heads of the council were usually the oldest gods, though they could pass on the position if they wanted like Discord and Celestia and Luna's mother had. Iinii, the Fates, and Aqua had been the heads of the council almost as long as Celestia had been a god. The group also kept track of territory disputes, portfolio issues, and any violations of terms agreed upon.

Twilight segued that into bringing up the buffalo's claim to the land around Appleoosa and started up an argument between Luna and Celestia about who had the rights to the land. Twilight was rather glad she hadn't involved them in the issue when it was relevant.

Cadence thankfully got them moving along track again.

There talked about making Twilight a proper Princess with a coronation and such, Twilight flat out refused that, going so far as to cover her ears and scream 'La la la la' until the trio got the hint she wasn't interested.

They finally gave up fully when Twilight refused the offer of a increased stipend she could use to buy books with.

They had just finished a lovely lunch that the kitchen staff had brought up for them and Luna was feeding grapes to her pet opossum Tiberius, when Celestia broached another subject.

“Twilight. Might I suggest something to you, on a more personal note.” Celestia stated.

“Oh good, I was wondering if we were going to have this argument today.” Cadence added in chipperly.

“Can I at least say it before you bite my head off Cadence?” Celestia rolled her eyes.

“What are you talking about?” Twilight asked and even Luna looked a little confused.

“Well there is no delicate way to really put this, but I would suggest to you that you cease your relationship with Big Mac of the Apples.” Celestia explained. “Especially if you are serious about your relationship with him.

“What?” Twilight blinked her ears flattening to her head.

“And there it is.” Cadence offered snidely.

“Twilight. You are effectively immortal now. And Big Mac is not. You will remain young and he will wither and die before you.”Celestia stated sadly.”I would like to spare you that so soon in your new life....”

“By telling her to give up all her wonderful todays just because tomorrow might suck.” Cadence snapped.

“There are others out there, Gods and Demi gods whom you could find a happiness with.” Celestia offered.

“Like you and Discord? Or Sunsets mother, a married mare you had an affair with?” Cadence narrowed her eyes. “You're the last pony any one needs to go to for relationship advice.”

Luna's ears remained flattened to her head as she stroked Tiberius' back. “We have to agree with our sister on this. Red Mesa was a wonderful stallion.... but it barely seemed an eye blink before he was gone.”

Cadence didn't respond to that, for a moment silence settled over the table, save for the sound of Tiberius slurping up all the leftovers.

“And would you have given up that bit of time if you had the chance?” Cadence finally asked.

“Yes.... but at the same time.... no.” Luna sighed.

“So gods are just destined to be alone unless they sleep around a lot or only date other gods?” Twilight frowned.

“Well... you could always take a familiar... Philomena helped me get through the last thousand years...”Celestia sighed.

“We were replaced by a bird... lovely.”Luna sighed.

“You could always make Owlowiscious your familier if he is willing.” Celestia offered. “Or any other animal of your choosing, like Tiberius here.”

“Tibbers thanks you for getting his name right for once instead of just screaming and fleeing.”Luna nodded sagely as Tiberius squeaked.

“So I can have a exotic bird or Equestria's only marsupial?”Twilight asked. “Much as I like Owlowiscious, that's rather limited.”

“Tibbers is a marsupial? But he does not have a pouch!?”Luna questioned picking up the chubby little opposum.

“That's because he's a male.” Twilight sighed.

“Wonderus. We asked him to be our familiar because he was adorable and Tia couldn't stand him. We thought him a large rat.” Luna smiled holding Tiberius closer to Celestia who leaned away from him in her chair.

“I really wish you had gone with those two Corgi puppies like you first thought.” Celestia muttered.

“Wait you can have two familiars?” Twilight blinked.

“We are not quite sure there is a limit. Iinii had a pack of winter wolves as his familiars at one time in the past, though eventually they all grew tired and wished to move on so he released them from their bond to live out their lives as mortals again.” Luna stated. “We know another god who had numerous cats.”

“Great she can be a crazy cat mare.” Cadence frowned.

“I don't like cats.” Twilight muttered. “Seeing animal versions of something like my brother is a little disturbing.”

“Just because you two are dateless on Saturday nights doesn't mean we have to be.” Cadence snapped ignoring Twilight.

“We have discovered the club scene my pinkest niece, we are hardly alone on Saturday nights.” Luna chuckled.

“Really? You'll have to invite me out with you one of these days.” Celestia stated.

“We would prefer not to. We are building our reputation back up as the fun one at the various club scenes in my night. Bringing in the motherly sun goddess whose ideas of fun are a calming tea and the crossword puzzle does not strike me as something the club goers would be alright with.”

Twilight seemed lost in thought as the two started bickering again. ”Alright so any animal can become a familiar? A magical beast, a regular mammal, a marsupial, and I'm pretty sure Discord has a pet butterfly named Lorenz.”

“Of course he does.” Celestia sighed.” Also yes.”

“So does making them a familiar actually make them immortal as well or am I just training to get used to things dying around me”Twilight demanded. “ Because I learned that lesson when I learned how to feed Rahs and in my study of Parasprite biology.”

“No of course not, Phillomenia might be an odd example as Phoenix's in the wild tend to be immortal unless killed by one of their natural predators, recall your studies on summoners when you were trying to understand the link between yourself and your brothers. The spell used to make a familiar for a god is based on that, although the bond between the caster and the target is much more open. Your familiar will gain immortality, a more robust body, increased intelligence, and it will often develop powers based on your portfolio.” Celestia explained.

“Tibbers can dream walk and manipulate darkness. He was already such a clever little thing to begin with, managing to sneak into the cake vault and eat twice his weight in cake.”Luna smiled, nuzzling against the opposum who hissed a little, patting the alicorn on the nose with a paw.

“Yes.... clever.... and lucky some pony else found him first.” Celestia grumbled glaring at Tiberius who stuck his tongue out at her in return..

Twilight considered. “Do you have a copy of the spell?”

“Of course.” Celestia offered, her horn flaring and a scroll popped into being before Twilight. “ It requires a little bit of prep time and some fairly exotic components, but nothing outlandish.

Twilight opened the scroll reading it over curiously.

“So just to be clear, any sort of mammal is on the table for a familiar?” Twilight asked again.

“Yes.” Celestia agreed with a nod. “Aqua had a whale for a time.”

“So if I wanted to have a pig or a Sika, I could?” Twilight asked.

“I believe so yes.” Celestia frowned wondering about this line of questioning.”I don't know any gods who have had pigs, but the Elk god Dogwood had a Sika. Of course he was using it to lord over the other elk at the time that he was using one of their lesser cousins as a pet. That lasted a few hundred years before the Elk had enough of his bullshit and nailed him to a tree. He eventually gave up his powers just so he could die and be done with the pain, though by that point there was a whole culture of guardians watching the tree to make sure he stayed put. The tradition continues and the current Elk god just stays out of their business and lets them come to her if there's an issue....”

“So what's to stop me from making another pony my familiar? Twilight offered finally.

“ What?” Luna demanded as Celestia twitched mid explanation.

“Honestly a pony is just a highly evolved mammal, not unlike a pig or a Sika deer. While neither of those two are what anyone would consider sapient they are intelligent and some have been known to mimic speech like a parrot. A pony is just one step up from that and unlike an animal who might freak out when first bonded with, a pony would be awake and aware enough to tell you yes or no, thus taking care of any sort of trauma that the spell might caused by uplifting something without a higher thought process or even a concept of mortality.” Twilight considered.

“But the spell can't do that...” Celestia protested.

“Have you tried?” Twilight asked looking to the three of them.”Judging by your fish impersonations I would say no.”

Twilight's horn glowed as she picked up Tiberius. The opossum hissing in annoyance as Twilight's spell pulled him away from his meal while she scanned him over.

“This spell is rather complex... traces of ritual magic, blood magic, and necromancy?”Twilight focused with a small frown.

“The blood magic is the bonding agent while the necromancy is there to ensure cell death is staved off.” Celestia explained.”Most summon spells involve one or the other which is why summoners are rare and necromancers non existent.”

“Interesting.” Twilight hummed to herself a she set Tiberius back down.

“So can you do it?” Cadence asked leaning a little closer.

“I'll need to research this further, as while I looked into necromancy, I've not studied blood magic, but I don't see why not. It's not too different from the link between myself and my brothers. There's a constant feeding line of energy connecting Tiberius to Luna like a standard summoners bond. It's slight but noticeable. That would probably get bigger depending on the size and draw of the creature in question. Still I could probably make a score of ponies my familiars before I'd have issues with normal spells and that's just with the spell as it is.” Twilight considered.”There's plenty of room for refinement.”

“I wouldn't worry about Shining then if you can get this to work. I rather want to see what happens if he has something out of my portfolio.” Cadence nearly purred “How long do you think it would take to be sure.”

“I'd have to run some tests, but maybe a few months for preliminaries and proper testing on volunteers.” Twilight considered as Cadence helped her up off her chair and guided her towards the doors.

“Well lets get started right away, I am very interested in getting a copy of all your notes on this as well.” Cadence grinned practically hopping.

Luna and Celestia watched them leave simply starring.

“The goddess of magic every pony.” Celestia muttered. “Why did we never consider this Lulu?”

“Our mother told us it only worked on animals when she taught it to us.” Luna frowned.

“Our mother.....”

“Yes.”

“The mare who never stayed with one lover longer than twenty years before she got bored with them?” Celestia asked.

“Yes.” Luna agreed.

“Told us it only worked on animals, and not other ponies.”

“Yes.”

“I want a copy of her notes too.” Celestia stated looking to the door the pair had exited..

“Verily.”

Blue Moon.Season 3, Epilogue Two

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Blue Moon.
Season 3 Epilogue Two

[Two weeks after the return of Sunset Shimmer]

Celestia let out a small sigh.

“So. Do you still hate me?”

The long dining table had three occupants at the moment. Celestia herself at the head of the table, the other end of the table was set for Luna when she woke up and raised the moon. On Celestia's right sitting closer to her than to Luna's place, was Sombra. It had taken some time, but the former king was at least was willing to be in the same room as his mother, even if it was only for meals. He and his cousin had a few therapy sessions, though Sunset's few thus far tended to be more ranting than discussion. The doctor said Sombra was showing improvement with his anger issues. At the very least the pair of them seemed to be friendly with each other.

On Celestia's left and seated closer to Luna's chair was Sunset. There was also another chair set up on the other side of Luna between her and Sombra, but Luna's new apprentice Trixie was just as bad a morning pony as Luna.

Sunset quirked an ear, biting into a piece of bacon. Celestia had been appalled at her daughters change in diet to include more meat, but her the chef specializing in griffon cuisine was thrilled to be getting the work.

“Depends on what I'm thinking about.” Sunset added cryptically.” But in general no. Despite my aggravation at it, I can see some of what you did as making sense.”

“To be fair.” Sombra stated. “My mother probably 'would' have tried to kill you or at least made you suffer to get at Celestia.”

“Which is why I said I understand. Your mother's rather intense as it is, not sure I want to picture her as evil 'and' intense.” Sunset responded.

“I agree, you probably don't.” Sombra nodded. ”On that note, has my parole been finalized?”

“It has. Ponyville will gain a higher guard count and we are looking to pair you with one of the Element Bearers as a parole officer. Likely Fluttershy due to her work with keeping Discord in check. Since Sunset will be staying with the Apples during her time there I don't want to double up as it were with them. Twilight will handle the accommodation in the end if there's an issue.” Celestia added.” But it means you will be allowed out of the castle at least and into society as a whole as long as you continue to behave.”

“What, don't want the pair of us in the same place? Afraid we'll team up and try to take over?” Sunset snorted.

“Sunset if I thought you two were ready to run Canterlot and not set fire to or enslave half the noble caste I'd throw my crown at you and head off to a beach some where. “Celestia sighed. “In truth in a few hundred years or so that might still happen. You're both still years out of date and the last time I had you help with a trade negotiation to the griffons, Sunset, you slept with the ambassador's son.”

“What?”Sunset protested. ”I was of age, he was of age, and he was cute.”

“It nearly started a whole fiasco with the purists. Not to mention the nobles who were trying to set you up with one of their sons.”

“Hey what can I say, I like what I like.”

“Do I need to worry about something coming of your time in that other world?” Celestia frowned.

“Of course not.” Sunset snorted.

“Oh, that's good.”

“They have so many contraceptives and the like over there that there's entire sections of stores dedicated to it, not to mention it's important enough to sell in the public bathrooms.” Sunset explained. “But baring all that they weren't even attractive, no fur, hooves, claws, tails,anything, granted they did have canines, but still the average penis size for the whole species is about five inches, not to say they didn't find ways to get creative to compensate for that, Cadence would love it.”

“This is not a conversation I wanted to hear at dinner.” Sombra grumbled smacking his head onto the table.

“Sorry, I didn't expect it to go that way.” Celestia sighed. Her ears perked up as she felt a power pushing the moon up over the horizon.

“Oh, Luna's awake.” Celestia stated then frowned as the moon dipped back down.” Or not.”

Celestia blinked as the moon rose and fell a few dozen more times in rapid succession before finally rising to where it was supposed to be.

“What is she doing?” Celestia blinked.

An answer was not forth coming as Princess Luna strolled into the room with a yawn, seemingly lost in thought, she offered a nodded greeting to the three at the table before sitting down and letting her head fall to table with a thud.

No one took much note of that, as it was the princess of the night's usual routine until she got some coffee.

Most of the kitchen staff and many guards of her decaff brigade were wondering how she managed at all before coffee was invented.

Celestia knew it was mostly a show so she could get coffee, but the show had quickly turned into reality with how often Luna was awake during the day lately.

“Luna what was going on with your raising of the moon?” Celestia asked finally.

“Moon's haunted.” Luna muttered.

“What?” Celestia asked as Sunset snorted in amusement.

“Something is making it a bit heavier for us to lift our moon, hence it is likely haunted as it is requiring more power to lift lately. We thought it was exhaustion or added weight of using it on Forgescale, but nay it is still taking more energy to lift. Not a terrible amount, but we can tell.” Luna muttered from where her head was still pressed to the table.

“Did you consider looking in your portfolio to see if something happened. Forthe is still out there and he might have managed to convince another god to try and weasel into one your portfolios...” Celestia sighed sipping her tea. “Again...”

“How can some one enter into your portfolio?” Sombra asked curiously.

“They can't, in a major portfolio anyway, unless they take it over completely as Velkorn did when I lost the Zebra portfolio. She became a whole new god of just that race. Lesser portfolios can be picked up by others rather easily, though sharing them tends not to diminish the power we draw from them too much, it's still noticeable. The powers that give out the portfolios generally don't seem to care if they double up on lesser portfolios. All it takes is some one trying for it and accomplishing some possibly great or arbitrary thing to gain a lesser portfolio.” Celestia explained. “ It's rather random, unfortunately.”

“Hence why she's been trying and failing to gain the portfolio of cake for centuries.” Sunset added.

“I will have that one day.” Celestia frowned.

Luna had, by that point, managed to string enough coherent thoughts together to open her portfolio.

“Lessee, moon, check, night, check, Nox-cal, check, lesser, dreams, stars, all check......” Luna muttered looking up as a servant brought her coffee. She quickly took the mug and downed it setting it down to be refilled with a expectant sigh.” Still no coffee though...”

Celestia smiled not feeling quite as bad at her attempt at a cake portfolio when Luna couldn't manage a coffee one.

“Wait a moment.” Luna blinked as a few more brain cells fired up. She reopened her portfolio looking it over and frowned. “ Something is missing.”

“Missing?” Celestia's ears perked. “What is it?”

Luna studied her portfolio again sipping her refilled coffee, before her eyes shot wide open and she dropped the mug.

Before it even fell past the table's edge, the princess of the night was gone in a flash of teleportation.

Celestia sighed as the mug was caught by the servant who brought Luna's coffee before it hit the floor and broke. “It's going to be one of those nights isn't it?”

[ Ponyville, Golden Oaks library.]

It wasn't Tuesday and by that note, everything was calm as the night fell outside. Twilight was sitting back in a chair jotting down notes as she worked on revising the familiar spell. There were a few things of note she couldn't quite understand, but that was only due to her not studying blood magic. Getting the documents she needed would take a long time normally so she was simply waiting until Sunset Shimmer came down here to stay with the apples, she'd ask her about some of this, hopefully her comments about learning blood magic were not just something to annoy Celestia.

Twilight never understood the need for blood magic herself. It was often used as a short cut to power. Twilight of course preferred studying for her power rather than using a short cut, particularly one that either involved the casters blood or the blood of some one nearby to speed up the process. She could see how it would be useful in the medical field however, and that was likely why the practice was not banned outright like necromancy. And even that had at least one licensed practitioner in the service of the crown just in case.

Then there was dark magic, which made little sense as there was no such thing as light magic. Dark magic wasn't even it's own school. It was just a way of casting normal spells that corrupted them in some way or another either for greater effect, or to bypass some limit the spell might have.

The eyes of the demon spell she had used in the Crystal Empire was based off a 'reveal hidden' spell to show the writing a corrupted 'scribe' spell made. The spell she cast on the moving door was just a 'hold portal' spell that had been corrupted. Of course she didn't have time to study the effects on the door before blowing a hole in the wall, but she figured they were corrupted spells too.

Spike was kicked back in one of the bean bag chairs in the small kids corner of the library reading a comic. The Crusaders were some what on break during this part of summer. Applebloom was busy on the farm, Sweetiebelle's parents were home for once, and Scootaloo was with her parents on a short tour of airshows in more ground bound locations for a couple weeks.

Rahs was in the kitchen fixing something to eat.

Neither of them seemed to care she had wings. It was rather refreshing given the rest of the town was freaking out over it still.

A small chime sounded as the libraries wards detected a incoming teleport and delayed it a second so Twilight would be warned. She looked up just as a flash of light appeared in the marked off square.

Princess Luna shook out her mane, looking around the room quickly before focusing on Twilight.

“Where is Rahs?” Luna demanded.

“Does this have anything to do with what the moon was doing a few minutes ago. Because I'm pretty sure half the town is running around screaming still.” Twilight dead panned.

“You'd think they wouldn't freak out so much when they know the sun and moon are controlled by living creatures, but no, sun rises two minutes too late, panic, moon wobbles a bit, panic.” Spike grumbled.

“Yes, it does have to do with that.” Luna snapped. ”Where is he?”

“Woof?” Rahs asked walking out of the kitchen with a bowl of some sort of meat stew.

Luna rushed over getting into his face fast enough the bowl of food went flying as he jerked back. Twilight expected as much and caught it without spilling a drop before setting it on a table away from the pair of them.

Luna formed her portfolio pushing it into Rahs' face and pointing a hoof at something.

“What is the meaning of this?” Luna demanded

“A pronoun used to identify a specific pony or thing close at hoof or being indicated or experienced.”

Twilight snorted in amusement as Spike rolled his eyes.

Luna was not quite as amused.

“Rahs....” Luna growled.

Rahs sighed and flattened his ears.

“Woof.”

“She's ruining it? Ruining what?” Twilight demanded.

“Wuff...”

“The dramatic reveal? What are you talking about?” Spike questioned. “What's going on?”

“Something we may have neglected to mention. If something in your portfolio becomes shared or taken over by someone else, their name is indicated, much as Rahs' is right now in my portfolio.” Luna narrowed her eyes.

Rahs sighed with a roll of his eyes and held out his left paw to his side. With a snap of his fingers a glowing folder appeared in his paw.

“WHAT!?!” Twilight shouted

“When did this happen?” Luna demanded.

“Is that one of those gods portfolio things?” Spike asked. “When did you become a god?”

[ Several weeks ago on the night Twilight exploded, twice. ]

Rahs had been hunting in the fire swamp. He had caught a number of ROUS already and was planning to head back when he felt a surge of magic from some where. It felt like it was coming along the link, though before he could consider that for more than a second, he exploded.

When the light faded from his eyes he was floating in some sort of starry void. He flailed about a bit with no way to get any purchase. Oddly the atmosphere felt perfect and the scent of warm root beer filled the air.

“What the shit is this!?” Twilight Sparkle swore.

Rahs perked his ears, looking around to try and find his sister to start yelling at her for what ever happened this time, though he only spotted what he assumed was her in the distance. A dark shape against the floating stars.

He was about to yell at her when he noticed the forming of odd squares that started to show him things.

A picture of him as a puppy with two adult moon dogs, Rahs stared at that one for a while. There was a scene of when Twilight had first pulled him out of the Oneiroi, the first play he had been part of, the time he and his siblings had unmasked a fake Nightmare Moon. The time he was spying on Twilight's first date, his first stage show with Trixie and Shirley. His mauling of Discord. When he bit the animal control officer at Twilight's tenth birthday, when he mauled the thieves, countless encounters with bullies, the whole event of the Crystal Empire.

Talking finally drew his attention away from the images and he noticed that three other figures were up by where Twilight was. He could just make out who he assumed were Celestia, Luna, and Cadence.

He particularly noticed Celestia singing. Her voice carried rather clearly, though it was also clear she hadn't had much practice, the song was still catchy before the others interrupted it.

More of the screens came up hiding them from view for a moment. He took note that some of the images were from things Twilight had been witness to and some of it was what he had seen that she couldn't have.

By the time the screens floated past and he could see the alicorns again, both he and his sister exploded again.

Rahs crashed back down near his basket in the swamp and quickly rushed off back to town. He made it back and saw the crowd though he couldn't see Twilight any where, after the quick explanations he was given he simply went to put his kills away. He had heard what was explained by the Princesses in where ever that was, so he saw no reason to fuss over it.

When Twilight appeared it still wasn't much of a surprise, though Witch-Jack saying something was.

And well everyone knew the rest.

“How come you didn't get wings?” Spike asked.

“Woof.” Rahs shrugged, curling his tail around to show the crescent moon floating over it rather than the full moons that remained over his ears.

“Huh... I think I'd have preferred the wings.” Spike nodded.

“So why didn't you tell any one!?” Twilight demanded.

“Bork!” Rahs flung his arms in the air .

“The drama and suspense?”Luna blinked.” Never mind, what are thou the god of?”

Rahs sighed opening the folder and flipping it around for the trio now clustered close to him to see.

“Majors are Moon Dogs and Theater. “ Twilight began. “Hardly a surprise.”

“Minors are Dreams and Fridays?” Spike frowned.

“Fridays?” Twilight blinked.

“Rahs spends more time in Canterlot than thou do.”Luna sighed.” And we just went through the nonsense of a Council meeting. Now we have to do it again to announce thee.”

Rahs grinned.

“We are not letting thou make a production out of it.” Luna frowned.

Rahs stuck his tongue out at her.

“So this is why you've been asking me what Celestia and Luna were teaching me about being a god? Did you ascend because I ascended?” Twilight blinked pondering.

“Wuff.” Rahs pointed out gesturing to Spike.

Spike considered and snapped his fingers with no glowing folder appearing. “Nope, can't do it.”

“And I took Shining's readings last week. He's gotten a major power boost and he's on par with where I was before I became the Bearer of the Element of Magic. But he's not a god.”Twilight muttered.” You know what this calls for?”

Spike and Rahs both stiffened as a lab coat appeared in a flash draped over their sisters back, with slits cut out for her wings.

“We need to science the buck out of this!!” Twilight cheered grabbing Rahs by his tail as the moon dog tried to run.

Rahs whined as he was drug across the floor to the basement lab, leaving claw marks in the newly repaired wood floor.

“I'm not fixing that!” Spike snapped pointing at the new damage.

Luna blinked lightly wondering if she wanted more answers or should flee herself.

[Off the east coast of Equestria along the border of the frozen north and Equestria proper.]

The water sprayed in the air catching the last rays of sunlight in a wide arc as the equine like head was flung back, her dark purple mane streaked with teal fanned out in the air sending a cascading spray behind her, the flung water glittering like jewels in the fading light.

While the head of the female resembled an equine it was a bit more elongated than a typical pony, her fore hooves were also the only other bits that resembled a pony. Her ears were longer than a ponies and rather than fur, the females face was covered with lavender scales that ran down her neck and torso gradually darkening until it became a long almost serpent like fish tail. Her forelegs were webbed like a hippocampus and a long spiny ridged fin ran down from the back of her neck to just over where her scales started to darken. On her chest appeared to be a red gem of some kind set into her scaled flesh.

The seapony hybrid cried out with glee as she fell back into the water resurfacing again with a loud sigh.

“HOLY FUCK, did I miss this.” Aria groaned as she stretched out giving one of her rare smiles showing a maw full of shark like teeth.

Not far away another creature just like her, if a bit smaller, blue, and less muscular, was flipping around , surfacing and diving as she tore through the water at a maddening pace with giggles and shouts of glee.

Off to the other side however was a golden scaled and maned version of the two, who was half floating in the water her red eyes half closed as she seemed lost in thought.

“Hey, hey, hey, hey, listen Adagio, hey, hey, listen, Adagio.....” the blue one started to chime, swimming in circles around the other two.

The purple one raised an eyebrow, but ignored the blue one, though the gold Adagio was starting to twitch under the constant assault and barrage of chipper noises and words coming from the blue creature.

“FOR FUCKS SAKE SONATA WHAT!?” Adagio exploded whirling to glare at the blue creature.

“We're home!” Sonata cheered clearly not intimidated by the others rage.

“No shit, this is the millionth time you've said that!!” Adagio growled.

“Oh lighten up, do you know how long it's been since we've been able to just swim like this without the stress and worry of having to avoid all the cameras and sensors and beach goers and fucking drones that the humans have?” Aria offered.” Any ponies here will just think we're sea ponies and leave it at that. We don't have to deal with that stupid mermaid shit or deal with any other sirens.”

“Yeah, but Freddy was nice.” Sonata chimed in” I mean he wrote that song for Adagio....”

“HE DID NOT WRITE THAT SONG ABOUT ME!!”

“Oh chill, you're just mad he was more into his cats than you.” Aria chuckled.

“I mean come on how stupid were the humans? He wrote a six minute song, with incomprehensible lyrics that seem to have something to do with murder and demons with five stylistically different sections with no chorus. It was number one on the song charts twice, fifteen years apart, it's considered one of if not the most popular single of all time and sooo many people know the song and sing along with it despite there being no way many of them could have even heard the song before.” Sonata chimed in.” How could they not know it's a kinda magic?”

Adagio snarled and sank into the water grumbling.

“I know that look.” Aria frowned. “You're plotting.”

“We've been gone easily a hundred years.” Adagio explained.

“Probably longer, we showed up in the human world just before the 1920's”Aria shrugged. “ It has been a hundred years there, I heard the ones by the mirror talking about time displacement.”

“In either case it means that damn unicorn who tricked us before has got to be dead. He was a wizened old fart then, he's got to be dust now. Which means that no one will be able to stop us this time.” Adagio grinned.

“Adagio, it's been a long time we don't know what might have happened in a hundred years. We don't know what sort of nations exist any more, I mean sure the Crystal Empire's still there, but I don't recall there being any trains, and I have no idea who the pink alicorn is or the purple one.” Aria grumbled.

“So we start small a couple of coastal villages, build up a power base. If we gain enough power even the gods can fall under our sway, we did it before with a few of them, we just have to start over from square one.” Adagio smirked.

“Or we could go home.” Sonata frowned.

“No. I am not going back to that harpy until I prove to her I'm better than she is.” Adagio snapped.

“You're still on about that?” Aria grumbled. “We stole the gems for power and she banished us for it, it's not like we didn't expect that, but after all this time...”

“Which is why we prove she's wrong and build our power again. We're back on Equss now, the magic they have here is actually filling and we won't have so many other sirens and other creatures to fight over food.” Adagio grinned. “No ones going to mind if we feed off a bit of their strife here.”

“I still want a taco.” Sonata offered.

“Great idea Adagio, but for the mastermind of the group you seem to be forgetting that we have no idea what the layout of the world is, no money, no clue what side of the world we are even on, hell we don't even have a place to use as a base of operations this time around. You saw how fast music changed in the human world, it's probably the same here, what might be popular could be yodeling camels.” Aria snapped.

“Yes we do.” Sonata chimed up.

“Right I'm the planner, so let me plan.” Adagio growled.“ Go play with some gears or something!”

“Guys we have a place to stay...” Sonata splashed around the two waving her hooves.

“Yeah play with gears, I've got degrees in engineering bitch. Not all of us were content to lay around and fuck anything that caught their eye for a hundred years.” Aria snapped back.

“Hey listen!” Sonata chimed up.

“Yeah and we survived that long because of the money those things I fucked paid me to be their arm candy for a few years. It's not like we were allowed to break into human music because of the others.” Adagio snapped back.

Sonata grabbed both of their ears drawing in a big breath and screaming.” GUYS!!!!!”

The echo of the shout startled shore birds miles away.

The other two sirens were both screaming and cursing flailing around in the water while clutching their ears, though both of them had their full attention on their blue sister now.

“I'm going to murder you.” Aria growled.

“Not if I get to her first.” Adagio snarled.

“Look.” Sonata pointed behind the two.

Turning around the pair of them finally noticed a large boat. The vessel looked brand new and even had a great big purple ribbon wrapped around it as it bobbed in the water. The design of it was surprisingly modern looking, much like something they saw in the human world. While the vessel was large it wasn't big enough that it needed a crew bigger than two or three to run.

The thing that drew their attention quickest however was the vessels name.

Song Fishies.

“Seriously?” Aria muttered.

“This screams trap.” Adagio grumbled. “There's only one being who called us that.”

Sonata however had already swum over to it and slid up onto the wide diving deck before shifting back into what looked like a light slate blue pegasus pony with her darker slate blue and navy blue striped mane done up in single a long ponytail. Pink gossamer wings fanned out from her back giving her more lift to allow her to hop the railing and land on the deck.

“Damn it Sonata.” Aria grumbled rushing after her sister, Adagio soon followed.

Once they found the ship was empty the three of them started looking over the craft with more interest.

Aria took note it was a mostly electric ship, well electric by the standards ponies used, meaning it was a magic crystal core that turned it into a expensive powered boat. A surprising upgrade in technology after a hundred years, no where near human levels of tech, but given ponies had magic, they didn't need to develop things at the same rate as the humans had.

Adagio took note of three separate quarters on the ship each color coded for the trio and grew even more worried, particularly when she spotted a book bound in gold ribbon.

The faded yellow unicorn pushed some of the mass of her orange and blonde mane out of her face as she stared at the book. She moved forward finally, her massive mane and tail falling over her like a cloak as she picked up the book.

“So you've been displaced from time, by Twilight Sparkle?” Adagio blinked pulling off the ribbon to look into the book curiously.

Sonata found the kitchen. And found out it not only had tacos in stock, but on a large tray, still steaming, and wrapped in a blue ribbon, was something she hadn't seen in a hundred years.

“A... Abyss shrimp poffins?” Sonata gasped ignoring the tacos and practically tackling the plate.

“HE'S BEEN MISSING THREE THOUSAND YEARS??!!!”Adagio screamed as she got to the point in the book about Starswirl the Bearded.

“Three down, two thousand nine hundred and ninety seven to go.” Sonata chimed through a mouthful of food.

[ In the darkest depths of Mordor Tartarus]

Forgescale jerked in his chains, the cage he was imprisoned in made out of some sort of metal he couldn't bite through and that wouldn't melt. For all the god of strengths strength he was trapped.

This wasn't over. He would get out of here and without the element of surprise on their side, he would destroy them all, bit by bit, piece by piece. He would turn the world to ash to destroy those who stood against him like this, none would be spared including his own kind if they dared oppose him, perhaps he'd fling them through that damned mirror and let them live life as a stray dog. Bleu truly was a bitch any way.

“Well now. I so rarely get guests and now they have seen fit to give me a neighbor. How quaint.” A raspy voice muttered.

“Ehh? Who's there? Show your self or I will...” Forgescale growled.

“You will do nothing, not because you do not wish it, but because they don't allow it.” the voice scoffed.

Turning his head Forgescale took note of another cage near his with a wizend creature standing in it watching him with interest. It took Forgescale a moment to recognize the species of creature, it was one from far outside his territory, though he had heard of a time when the lesser races had troubles with one like this.

“And who are you?”

“My name is Tirek. A prisoner here the same as you. Denied my rightful rule as a god.” The centaur smiled. “Though perhaps we can help one another....”

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3

~Fin~

Author's Note

Puppyverse season 4 will be up first of the year.

Knowing me, LITERALLY the first day of the year.. probably just after midnight or something. I'm weird.

The Crescent Empire, Prologue

[ Frozen north, Mid summer, deep under the ice]

“Am starting to believe, we are being lied to.” A white furred Diamond Dog wearing lopsided glasses and a red vest grumbled. The canine was rather burly with a sharp wolf like muzzle, though his ears were rounded and drooped along the sides of his head. He rolled a rock past him to let it travel down the slope behind him to be picked up by the cart loaders to be dumped outside.

The cold ground and rocky terrain did not help the small packs digging ability at all. With the ten of them this had been very slow going and he missed the warmth of his den back in the Everfree Forest.

“Why god lie, alpha?” a gray furred dog in front of him questioned. “Him say treasure here, why not be treasure?”

“Peabody! We find something!” another dog screamed from further up the tunnel.

The white diamond dog shoved the other one aside rushing towards the end of the tunnel pushing past the rest of the pack.

Reaching the tunnels end, he looked down to the lead digger, a smaller miscolored hound by the name of Tunnel Rat. The tiny dog was clearing off a stone slab that was nearly as large as Peabody was and a good four or five heads taller than Tunnel Rat.

Ponies would have said it was about ten feet, but Peabody had never understood why ponies used feet as a measurement, they all had hooves.

Looking over the stone wall he took note of a number of symbols etched into the stone before him.

“Dig it out.” Peabody ordered and the other dogs scrambled to clear the stone free of dirt.

Peabody frowned pulling out a small bit of paper from the dirty red vet he wore and looked it over. The markings drawn on the paper matched those on this odd box. A smile crept into the fanged maw of the Diamond Dog. This was what the god had sent him to find, with the treasure in here, he would surely impress the Alpha bitch Jynx and have a proper pack rather than the castoffs he could gather.

The pack cleared a large space around the stone showing it to be a large stone box covered in the odd markings like on the paper.

This was it.

“Break it open.” Peabody ordered.

[On the surface]

Forthe frowned, wisps of snow blew through his form as he surveyed the barren snow fields around him while floating high in the air.

The pack he convinced to help him should have found the source of the power he felt by now.

This had not been an easy year. The summer sun celebration had come and gone in Equestria which meant that Luna had been free for two years now and he had not managed to so much as inconvenience her save once. And then he had failed to kill the Witch Wolf.

Still sending a message that Canterlot was going to be attacked would keep them all hunkered down and in one spot long enough for him to do what was needed.

Who knew, maybe he would luck out and the bugs would be found out. Then the two races could go back to trying to kill each other again.

He hadn't expected Luna to run off to Tartarus to check on the prisoners there. That cess pit of a prison was home to a number of gods and monsters that either couldn't be destroyed, or no one was willing to commit genocide to be rid of. The prison was run by the gods of Life and Death respectively, Grace and Troph. The one was a skeleton of some sort of pony, and the other great mutated draconic creature.

Some how the pair were also lovers and Forth did not want to think about how that worked. particularly given the size differences and that the mare had no flesh.

Still as far as he knew the pair were rarely in Tartarus, preferring to leave various guardians to watch it in their stead.

Perhaps he should swing by later if this plan failed and see what other trouble he could cause.

The return of the darkest chapter in Luna's life would draw the attention of the other gods and remind them of what they had lost to her last time. She had few supporters among those that paid attention to the world beyond their borders, If the other gods decided she was a threat, at the very least she would be locked in Tartarus. Then she couldn't get in his way when he made to kill the witch wolf.

Given her mentality, he expected Luna would try to fight, which would make it even more fun when she was torn apart and tossed in a cell in Tartarus. She would reform of course, but by then she would be trapped in a cell forever. Perhaps Celestia would fight as well and receive the same fate. Then he could wipe out the whole pony race, or make them all subservient to the diamond dogs, who were far stronger and deserved to rule once that foul taint of the witch wolves was removed.

His musings were cut short as he bore witness to a host of diamond dogs scrambling out of the mines they had dug,and tearing across the tundra at top speed. Peabody barely made it out of the tunnel before it erupted behind him. A black shard of crystal broke up through the ice like a dagger piercing flesh it shot into the sky growing out of the ice as a piercing scream rent the air around it as if the towering shard of black crystal was tearing reality itself apart.

The massive monolith stopped jutting up like a dagger. The scream started again making even the ghost god clap his paws over his ears.

The black crystal suddenly exploded in a flash of magic spreading shards across the landscape along with a blast of arcane brilliance. Briefly Forthe thought he saw an annoyed white rabbit with a pocket watch in the light.

Forthe winced turning his head as the light grew brighter, feeling like it was blinding him, far below several of the diamond dogs screamed out in pain from the noise and the light as well.

Forthe shook his head with a snarl, blinking away spots as the screaming stopped. When his gaze cleared enough, he beheld a massive city before him made completely out of crystal.

Forthe smiled darkly for a moment, before howling his success to the heavens.

A moment later a blast of black energy caught him in the chest, ripping apart his partially corporal form.

The ghost cursed, wincing in spite of himself at that attack. Something was watching him, something that had woken with the city. And it didn't want him here.

It mattered little, what he set out to do was done. It was time to spread word to the other gods of this, and what they should do to stop Luna from reclaiming her dark throne.

Forthe took to the winds letting it carry his spectral form to where he wanted.

Around the city a black miasma swirled, glowing eyes green trailing purple motes opened in the midst of it.

“Crrrrrrryyyyyyyyysssstttttaaaaaaaalllllllls....”

Far away in Canterlot, Princess Luna woke with a scream.

TDR Presents

Season three of Twilight Gets a Puppy

The Crescent Empire,
Prologue

Author's Note

And here we go. Season three...... Moon Puns.

The Crescent Empire. Episode 2, Part 1

Twilight gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

The Crescent Empire.
Episode 2, Part 1

[Crystal Empire, Public Library]

“Wow Shining wasn't kidding, this place is a mess.” Spike muttered wiping a claw along a shelf and looking at the near inch layer of dust on his claw.

The library itself was massive, three stories, plus a double basement taking up a full city block. It easily dwarfed the Canterlot royal library in size as well as volumes, given how nearly every available wall for the full three stories was covered with shelves of books. Ornate crystal walk ways ran along the walls at every story circling the open air main area allowing those on the upper tiers to look down on the lower. Curving stairs ran up to the next floor in every corner of the building, and various wider balconies gave a place for patrons to read on the upper tiers.

The open floor space on the ground floor was wrapped around a long stone wall that ran along the middle of the structure. Various works of art or items of interest were placed atop of the stone. A few old weapons, some faded paintings, and at the very front, on a metal pedestal was a massive buffalo statue that looked as if it was carved out of black crystal. Who ever the artist was they were very detailed as each strand of fur seemed to be separate from the others.

Moon Dancer stared in awe until Sunburst came over and pushed her jaw closed, offering her a rag.” You're drooling dear.” he smirked.

“Right.. okay .. Focus... Sunburst pass out the glasses. Every one focus on finding anything we can about the empire, any sort of spell books as well. No matter how interesting something is we need to work fast, skim the books look for the info we need and move on if it's not there. If you find something, put it on that table there and Spike and I will check to see if it's relevant.”

Six ponies took glasses from Sunburst and he gave a pair to Spike. “Sorry I didn't have time to make more, these are translation lenses. We've condensed the spells needed to make anything you view through these translate to modern equestrian. It's not perfect by a long shot, and we only managed to get ten languages in them, but ancient Equestrian is one of them, or at least the best translations we could get.” Sunburst offered. “I didn't expect we would have any one other than our little team, so those of you without glasses help out those who have them in finding books.”

“Brahe, Gauss, you take the top floor. You three go with them.” Moon Dancer pointed to a pair of pegasi and a couple of earth ponies.

“Herschel, Hoyle, you two take the next tier and you four go with them.” Moon Dancer pointed at a Unicorn and earth pony mare who nodded taking along the four extra workers that had come along with them. Each group was also followed by double their number in guards.”If the Guards can help that will make things go faster.”

“I don't think the guards should help... they need to focus on their jobs.” Spike stated as he looked around the library.

“We could use the help.” Sunburst stated.

“Yeah, but somethings wrong here.” Spike frowned.

“You noticed to? Good eye drake.” Lodestone smirked.

“Noticed what?” Moon Dancer asked.

“There are no rabbits in here.” Spike stated gesturing to the silent dust covered, empty, library.

[Crystal Palace]

“What is with all these rabbits!!” Rainbow Dash cursed as she glared at one of the white bunnies that was hopping through the air in front of her, nibbling on something unseen.

“Well, they are a lot braver than the ones outside.” Rarity commented.

Twilight grumbled as one of the rabbits sat on her head. The rabbits still avoided Rahs and kept a large circle of space empty around him, but none of the others had that granted personal space and were swarmed by them. There were more rabbits in the palace than out of it. For some reason though, no pony could touch them, as they either faded out or simply were not physically there if any one tried.

Fluttershy kept trying though.

The Heart guard had taken the group to the library where they were pouring over any book they could find. Twilight was rather annoyed at how many of them seemed to be works of fiction, and Rahs was annoyed he couldn't read any of them.

The others just looked through the books to see if there were any pictures, as Twilight was the only one who could translate the ancient equestrian. It was a small library, but it was slow going.

Pinkie Pie however had a different mission. She was currently in the throne room with Cadence and Shining Armor. She had set up a coffee stand and was currently mixing something that caused steam and other strange colors of smoke to spiral into the air.

“Umm, just normal coffee is fine Pinkie it works.” Cadence stated worriedly.

“Diminishing returns.” Pinkie Pie stated matter of factly “ Also normal coffee makes you poop too much. I get you're on a throne, but I bet it's not that sort of throne.” Pinkie Pie rambled as she kept mixing.

“What exactly are you making?” Shining Armor frowned.

“It's a Pie family secret recipe for coffee. Rock farming is super dull work and we needed something to keep us awake during the tedium of pushing rocks around all the time. So my great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great,... and a few more, Granny Pie, invented a drink that would help keep the farmers awake. Usually we prepare it the previous night cause it takes it a good while to percolate, but I didn't have time to make it yesterday. I was on the train to long and it doesn't do well being jostled.”

“Ummm.” Cadence blinked not being with it very well at the moment and Pinkie wasn't helping her confusion.

“You're an alicorn, you can handle it.” Pinkie smiled. “Besides if you fall asleep and vanish that's gonna make a lot of ponies sad, so don't worry your pretty fake pink head about it. Auntie Pinkie Pie will make this all better..... or at least give more time before you poof.”

“Well that ….” Shining muttered.

“Alicorns can't die right ? I mean not unless their whole reason for being poofs right? I mean, I still love cupcakes so you're safe there I think.” Pinkie Pie hummed to herself as she tapped her chin with a hoof. “Yeah, you should be fine.”

“Ahh, yeah, what is this drink called any way Pinkie?” Shining asked watching the table with worry as something started to spark on it.

“Oh, Granny called it Shoggoth's milk.”

[ Crystal Library, a little under an hour later]

“I found something” Gauss called out, the pegasus hopping over the railing and drifting down carrying a large book.

“That was fast.” Moon Dancer smiled.

“I looked for the largest books, standard fiction tends to be smaller, with the larger tomes needing the size for maps or illustrations.” Gauss smirked.

“History of the Crystal Empire....” Spike nodded as he looked at the cover through the glasses. “ Hope this has something.”

[ The Palace, a bit later still]

“A faire?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“I'm up fer some fun as much as tha next pony, but how is a faire gonna help anything?” Applejack muttered.

“Moon Dancer thinks it's a ritual spell. Ritual magic was widely practiced in olden pony times.” Twilight muttered. “Spike sent a note out to Princess Luna and she mentioned that while she didn't recall it exactly, Solomon did have a festival of some sort every year. It could be the source of why the empire vanished if Sombra didn't do the ritual. Moon Dancer sent over a list of things we need to know to get the faire going. She warned me that there's a page missing however so there might be something we're not seeing with this. Her teams checking on it now.”

“Well, it's a start, we ken set this shindig up while you keep looking. Beats standing around watching yah read this gobldy gook.” Applejack commented.

“Maybe it might help some of the ponies here remember too. Familiar settings and surroundings can trigger memories for those who lost them.” Fluttershy added having looked into a few things after her failure to cure Twilight from Discord.

“Alright, Rahs and I will stay here and keep looking everything over, you girls be careful out there, this was an enemy city and so far we haven't seen anything but a smoke monster that's trapped outside.“ Twilight frowned giving the instructions to the others. “There's got to be more than that here.

“ We'll keep an eye out ma'am.” One of the Guards nodded as a troop followed the Bearers out of the small library leaving Comet Trail, and four other guards with the Sparkles.

Rahs wasn't looking at the books but he was watching the rabbits rather carefully.

“Woof.”

“What?”

“Woof.” Rahs stated again pointing at the rabbits.

“The rabbits don't have any smell?” Twilight considered. “Curiouser and curiouser.”

The unicorn mare quickly went back to her book though the pegasus guard patrolling the room stopped in front of a book case and stared at it a moment before he motioned to Comet Trail to come over. The rest of the ponies in the room tensed at the change of pattern and major Comet Trail moved over to where the Pegasus had spread his wings, his feathers brushing along the book case. Rahs watched with some interest as Comet Trail spread his dragon like wing as well , his tufted ears perking up curiously.

“Miss Sparkle, I think we found something.” Comet Trail stated.

“What?” Twilight asked as she looked back. The Major had the earth pony team member come over to give the shelf a quick shove to see if it opened like a secret door.

It didn't.

The the wall and the shelf both groaned in protest as a loud crack echoed in the library and the whole section crumbled to dust as the wall gave way and took the shelf with it.

“Ooops.” The earth pony guard muttered.

“A hidden room?” Comet Trail frowned looking inside the hole, one wing spread out to keep Twilight back.

Twilight pushed the draconic wing out of her face and looked into the chamber herself. There were a few rabbits inside and a small door at the far end that likely led to the store room next door to the library. On the other side of the room was a crystal pedestal that the rabbits were avoiding, with a black book resting on top of it

“Well that screams trap.” the pegasi who found the room muttered.

“It's covered with almost as many wards and spells as golden oak library.” Twilight frowned as she cast a scanning spell. She looked back at the table behind her.”This is going to take me some time to break through. That is a lot of spells. I need parchment and a....”

FOOOOM!!!

Twilight whirled back around to see Rahs standing next to the pedestal holding the book and chewing on something, the air around him was filled with flickering and broken spell work that her scanning spell picked up. There was a bit of magical smoke in the air as well, and the light of some kind of fire flickered between her brothers jaws as he chewed up the spell like it was taffy.

Another chomp in the air from the moon dog and the residual spell work collapsed in on it self with a faint pop, the trap destroyed. Rahs calmly walked back out of the hole in the wall and dropped the book on the table with a small burp.

“......Or I can just let my idiot brother deal with it.” Twilight sighed.

Author's Note

And now we are at 11 days in a row, and onto part two

Apple Family Rheita, Epilogue

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Apple Family Rheita, Epilogue

[Crystal Empire]

Rahs stared at the statue of himself with a smile.

Damn he looked good.

This was the first chance he had to wander around and see the place. Despite the issue with the taste of her magic, he had stuck around to make sure Chrysalis stayed under control.

However now that the negotiations had gone in THAT direction he was done being a guard dog.

He actually planned to head back to Ponyville tomorrow, this had been a enjoyable trip, but he was greatly disappointed that the Empire didn't have any sort of theater left standing.

Of course he made the mistake of mentioning it and the crystal pony who over heard his brothers translation had run off with a gasp.

Next time he came back there was probably going to be a Theater with his name on it.

He rather liked that idea more than the statue to be honest.

Still he should mention that they needed to change his title. Not that he wanted a title any way.

Rahs sighed looking down at the plaque under his statue.

Trixie was going to kill the 'Great and Powerful' Rahs.

[ Crystal Empire]

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. It was one of the few that was salvaged. A number of these were used by the freedom fighters to increase their power, though after the unicorns were all...' put down' , there wasn't any more use for them.” the shop keep explained.” This one came into my possession not that long ago from some Crystal ponies looking to clean out the reminders of their former lives that remained in their homes.

“And you are certain it works?”

“Yep” The shop keep nodded. “Money back if it doesn't”

The hooded figure nodded, setting a bag of bits on the counter and grabbing the object in question as the shop keeper started counting the bits.

The necklace was a gray triangle with a red gem set in the center and a red eyed unicorn head emerging from the top. A pair of red gem encrusted wings spread out from the top as if the unicorn was winged as well.

The alicorn amulet.

Rumors of the necklaces power were everywhere, evidently some of the freedom fighters had found them to fight back against Solomon and Nightmare Moon before the crystal unicorns had gone extinct.
It seems the raid directly resulted in Solomon having all the unicorns killed off. With the power of the amulets they did a great deal of damage in their attempt , only the Witch Wolves proved to be beyond their ability to deal with.

Trixie Lulumoon smiled. With this power she would be stronger than Twilight and be able to pull Rahs away from her. The Diamond Dog and the god's child would hardly be able to compete with her when she had this.

Fuzzy would be hers.

[Everfree Forest.]

This would not do.

The place was far too protected.

Far to many of the pack had been destroyed becoming that much weaker as they sought to find new hosts.

It didn't let them. It devoured them drawing their power into itself and growing stronger and bigger.

The tower was there before him, close enough he could smell the power still lingering on it.

It would claim it.

And destroy everything in it's way.

[Crystal Empire]

“I HAVE A WHAT!?!?” Cadence screamed staring at Chrysalis.

The bug queen grinned and drew out a bit wallet, letting it unfold, showing a pink maned changeling as a little grub foal dressed up in a bunch of cute outfits.

“Isn't she adorable?” Chrysalis cooed.

“HOW!?” Cadence demanded.

“And this is why I refused to let you do anything with that spell when I was a mare.” Shining nodded sagely.

“You can be a mare?” Chrysalis gasped.” I wanna see!”

“No” Shining Armor stated flatly.

Surveyor 1 at Your Service, part 2

Twilight Gets a Puppy.
Season 3
By TDR

Surveyor 1 at Your Service,
part 2

[Ponyville hospital, two days later, early evening.]

“So how bad is it?” Princess Cadence asked with a frown. Her eyes looking over those in the small waiting room with her.

Big Mac, Twilight, Granny Smith, and Rainbow Dash were all in the room with her. Granny was out cold on a bed that had been wheeled in for her, Big Mac was passed out on a large couch with Twilight sitting beside him letting his head rest against her barrel as she stroked his mane idly with her hoof.

Rainbow Dash was sitting on one of the chairs having tried not to fall asleep before she was sure her best friend was alright, only to fail.

“To be honest it could have been a lot worse. Most of the bite was tissue damage. She had her small intestine punctured as well as one of her lungs. We got her here near instantly and those major wounds were treated quickly. She lost a lot of blood, but Big Mac has the same blood type as her and had donated plenty. She's going to take a while to recover, but with her being the tough farm pony she is, she'll be ready to start work again next season.” Twilight explained and paused her head drooping a little as she thought.. “Some of that might be from the Element of Honesty, but I can't be sure, I brought it with me just in case, the Elements do..... a lot of things, and I'm hoping helping their bearers recover faster is one of those.”

Twilight yawned.

“They checked her out to make sure there were no poisons, diseases, or any sort of plant based spores or infection. Stars, one of them even did a check for any sort of hex or curse thinking she might turn into a … I dunno a timber-jack or something. It was stupid, but they were very thorough. All came up negative.”

“I sense a 'but ' there.” Cadence frowned.

“There's a lot of 'buts' in this.” Twilight yawned. “This years crops are ruined, we nearly had all of the trees harvested and between burning timber wolves, the fact some of them incorporated the apples and carts into themselves when they reformed,and the general rampaging.... I'm not sure how much of this years harvest is salvageable. A good portion of this years was going to help the Empire as well. A lot of ponies might starve because of this.”

“We'll make do.” Cadence smiled.” We came to a bit of an agreement with Chrysalis, don't worry about the harvest. Do you have any idea why they even attacked like that?”

“No and that's one of the other 'buts'. Luna and Rahs, as well as the entire six sixty sixth are scouring the area hunting down any stragglers and trying to see if there was anything directing them. I was questioned by a few of them and I suggested a group of battle mages go over the spire to see if we might have missed anything in there, they checked, but no, it's all just crystal.”Twilight yawned again. “Spike and Applebloom are staying with Sweetiebelle and Rarity. Applebloom caused a great deal of disruption when she was here earlier. Spike managed to get her calmed down before they kicked her out, but the less she's here the better. I can send Spike a message when Applejack wakes up and they can all show up then. Dunno where any one else is though.”

“Aunt Tia is back in Canterlot, she's putting together a group to investigate fully. She's also sent word to Zecora about finding out what she uses to keep the beasts away from her home in the Everfree....”

“That won't help. Applebloom already found that out and set up their own wards on the edges of the farm. The timber wolves went right past them. That big one bothers me, it seemed to be driving the others. I've never heard of anything like this happening before.” Twilight sighed.

“That's not all that's bothering you. When was the last time you slept?”

“Two days ago. We've had a lot of close calls, but this..... As if freeing the Empire wasn't bad enough for us, now Applejack's hurt from something stupid that I can't even explain. There's something there , there's some reason for this, there has to be. I feel I should know what it is, but I can't think of it.”

“Calm down Twilight. You know you don't do well when you're stressed. You need to sleep.” Cadence placated.

“I don't need sleep, I need to figure this out. I need to find out why so I can fix it and stop this from every happening again. I need to find out who or what did this and show them exactly how bad they screwed up messing with my friends and family...”

“I wasn't suggesting sleep Twilight. I was telling you to sleep.” Cadence stated flatly, her horn glowing.

Twilight's eyes widened, then grew heavier as she tried to fight it. Had she not been awake for nearly three days straight already she probably could have shrugged the spell off with no issue. Now her head lowered as she tried to fight laying over Big Mac's fore legs as she was put to sleep.

Cadence finished the spell rising slowly to her hooves. She adjusted the chairs so Rainbow Dash was more comfortable and let the spell linger on the four of them as she stepped out of the room tying the spell to the door.

A Night Guard and a Heart Guard stiffened as she stepped out, one on either side of the door, a third glancing towards her from his position down the hall.

“No pony is to enter this room until tomorrow morning unless it's an emergency, or Applejack wakes up. They need to catch up on their sleep.” Cadence sighed.

“Yes princess.” The guards stated quietly.

Cadence moved quickly to the front door of the hospital, noting two other Heart Guards moving to flank her. She frowned at the stallion who simply returned her expression as the three of them stepped out of the front doors of the hospital and took to the air, heading for Sweet apple Acres to find Princess Luna.

[Edge of the Everfree Forest]

The timber wolf howled as claws dug into it and yanked. The sticks and logs holding the creature together tore apart in a shower of wood and leaves. The energy that allowed the creature to animate was quickly snapped up by a pair of sharp fangs.

Pine Sap.

The moon dog stood in the rubble of the corpse for a moment, sniffing the air for any further sign of it in case that mote of magic had escaped him even slightly. Finding no other scent of it's magic in the area, Rahs nodded to himself and skulked off into the trees following the older scent.

Princess Luna glided through the night above him, her horn glowing lightly as she followed Rahs through the Everfree, Occasionally a blast of moon light brightened the night a bit and something would cry out in panic and run or it would be deathly silent after the impact.

They had found quite a few timber wolves still roaming around in the forest and had set upon them rather quickly. Every one he took down however only made Rahs madder.

He had been training to protect everyone and then this happened. His siblings got hurt in the Crystal Empire and he could do nothing about that. Then they were attacked again here at home where they should have been safe and he couldn't do anything but wait for some one else to save him. If he had done better Applejack might not have been hurt.

A light thud next to him announced Princess Luna landing.

“Have you found any other scents?”

“Wuff.” Rahs grumbled.

“Just the one old one humm? Truly. Thine nose is quite good if you can track them this well. We figured they would simply smell like plants.”

“Ruff.” Rahs corrected.

“The magic animating them has different flavors? That reduces the likely hood that it is one thing controlling them then. We don't doubt thine nose in this sort of thing, nor thine taste, but it is annoying we do not have a reason yet.” Luna nodded. “We doubt weather would make that trail of magic fade as quickly either.”

“ Grrrrrr.” Rahs grumbled.

“Thee are too hard on thee self Rahs. This was hardly a failure. Had thee not been there the situation may have been that much worse. If thee had not been there at all the first to be attacked may have been Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy, or any of the others. They would not have fared as well and thou did.” Luna stated walking along beside the moon dog as he sulked.

“Bark.” Rahs sighed.

“We are not simply trying to cheer thee up. We speak the truth. Thee might think thee were no help in this odd situation, but thee have been far more help then thou seems to realize.”Luna smiles. “ One cannot be every where and do everything Rahs. We must simply do what we can.”

Rahs sighed and moved on a bit further with a few more sniffs to the air before he rushed forward, Luna hot on his heels, ending the conversation.

The area ahead of them looked like a tornado had blown through. Trees were destroyed the ground ripped up and roots exposed and shredded. Claw and bite marks were covering everything and most of the wood and branches had been stripped away from the trees leaving stumps and fallen logs but little else remained intact in the clearing.

“Wuff.” Rahs pointed out.

“So this is where the timber wolves came from?” Luna offered looking around her horn lighting up with magic as she scanned the area. “This place feels familiar.”

Rahs didn't move any further into the area. He simply stopped suddenly, got an odd look on his face like he swallowed a bug, made a questioning noise about 'chocolate', and then promptly passed out with a crash into the dirt.

“RAHS!” Luna shouted rushing over to where he fell, the area scan forgotten as the moon dog fell. Her horn lit up forming a shield around them as she scanned over him, her ears flattening to her head as she looked around curiously, wondering where the sleep spell had come from.

Luna frowned, her horn glowing brightly as she scanned the area standing over the snoring Rahs. She could sense unknown magic through the flow of the link. It was a complex spell, a perpetual sleep spell that kept the target in slumber. It was oft used as a way to knock a patient out and keep them under. Given it was coming through the link, Luna assumed a doctor had finally had enough of Twilight staying awake and managed to distract her long enough to make her finally get some sleep.

The thought of that amused her a little.

Lifting her grand pup onto her back she was about to return him home when another presence made her stop and look up to the moon lit sky as a pink alicorn flanked by two guards drifted over. Spotting the Lunar princess Cadence glided down with the two guards, landing lightly among the carnage of trees.

“Was there a fight we missed?” Cadence demanded taking note of Rahs.

“Nay. Twilight was evidently finally weak enough to be put to bed. The link carried it to him.” Luna shook her head.

“Crud.. I forgot about that when I cast it on Twilight. I had to talk to her for hours to get her distracted enough for it to work.” Cadence sighed

“Thou cast the spell?”Luna asked raising an eyebrow.

“It's not that hard of a spell Luna. Celestia taught me......” Cadence began before a flare of magic from Luna cut her off.

“Whom art thou and what have thee done with our niece?” Luna demanded her horn glowing brighter as her large ax appeared before her, wrapped in her glowing aura.

“ What?” Cadence questioned.

“Thou art not mine niece. That was not her magic along the link and though never calls our sister Celestia.” Luna growled.

“Well shit.” Cadence sighed, before a flare of green flame enveloped her, leaving Chrysalis standing there. Luna took note that neither of the Heart Guard seemed surprised. “Second time in my life I've been given permission to take some ponies form and I'm found out in six hours. Add that to the fact Rahs is gonna be super pissed at me and this hasn't been a good day all around.”

“That does not answer our question.” Luna snapped.

“Cady is fine. “ Chrysalis quickly placated. “She and Shining couldn't make it out here due to the crap with the empire and I had some business in Ponyville so I offered to come in her stead. I'll be sending a message back later to let them know what happened.”

“We find we are having a hard time believing thee.” Luna menaced.

“Sweet Tail.... now might be a good time....” Chrysalis took a step back behind the two guards.

“It's Sword Tail.” the pegasus stallion sighed. He was a silvery gray coated stallion with hints of orange fur around his back legs. Hi cutie mark was of some sort of fish and his black mane and tail were short cropped.

“Not from where I'm standing .”Chrysalis whistled and the stallion sighed once again.”

“Seriously, you manage to get the Emperor and Empress and you're still letting your eyes wander?”

“It doesn't matter where I work up an appetite so long as I go home to eat.” Chrysalis grinned.

Luna blinked as the guard sighed again, the other pegasus with them giggling.

“Coffee me.” Sword Tail offered, looking at Luna.

“Order when ready.” Luna frowned responding to the key words.

“Double black mocha with three sugar cubes and a drop of honey, stirred twice to the left.” Sword Tail listed.

Luna raised an eyebrow at the identification. The order itself changed every so often among the guards, but the order was hardly the identifier. The inflection and tone he used were what were the real identification code was. While most guards would know the phrase, only a select few would know the proper words to add more inflection to. This one checked out.

“Explain.”

“She is telling the truth Princess Luna. An agreement was made between Chrysalis and the Emperor and Empress. While I won't go into the details, as they will haunt my dreams for years, you can check them for yourself if you're feeling particularly self loathing, suffice to say it's fairly official.”

“Celestia and I can't be in the same area without wanting and trying to kill one another. I would rather avoid having another hated rival, thank you very much, so I am trying to be peaceable here.” Chrysalis offered.

“ The current theory is that they should just fuck and get it over with.” Sword Tail offered.

Chrysalis winced. “Your tail is suddenly a lot less sweet.... shouldn't you be bowing and scraping to me like you do Cady?”

“The Empress would prefer if we didn't do all the bowing and scraping with her. Neither she nor her husband are that fond of it. Besides both of them told me to keep you on a short leash.” Sword Tail smirked.

Chrysalis rolled her eyes though she paused and tapped her hoof thoughtfully to her chin. “ June Bug remind me to stop by the pet store before we leave.”

“Of course my queen.” The nondescript green pegasus mare smirked as Sword Tail cursed under his breath.

“Now then would you mind not threatening me with the ax any more?” Chrysalis grinned trying to look friendly, but baring her fangs instead.

“We still do not trust you.”

“I don't expect you to trust me. Well not yet any way, I did show up to try and make a deal with you, though if everything works out in the Empire I won't need to, still better to be on at least amiable terms with one Princess.”

“This is hardly the time to discuss this sort of thing.” Luna frowned, though she did lower Dr Choppy.

“I know. Which is why I planned to stay as Cadence and help you out with what ever attacked the Sparkles.” Chrysalis sighed looking around.

“Thou does not think it was after the Apples?” Luna questioned.

“The Sparkles are a bit more of a threat to any thing looking to cause problems. If this was something after one of the Elements of Harmony it could have gone for much easier targets. Rarity would let any one into her house, shop, thing if she thought they wanted a dress. Pinkie Pie greets every one who even remotely comes near the town, usually by herself. Rainbow Dash is doing plenty of extreme sports with her colt friend and one slight error and she wouldn't be a problem.”

“Seems thou has thought of this.” Luna growled.” And thou hast not mentioned Fluttershy.”

“Okay first off I am all for there being six super powered artifact wielders between me and what ever else your sister locked away and forgot about. Second, no one sane would go after Fluttershy. From what I heard even Discord didn't say anything bad about her.”

“Point.”

“Any way, Nightmare Moon, Discord, me, the Crystal Empire, and from what I hear dozens of other little problems, have met and been crushed by the Sparkles both with, and without, help. My goal was to keep them away from my plans, and that nearly worked. So clearly something else must have decided to simply try and get rid of them. Besides, Twilight said the big one was going for Rahs mostly and Applejack got in the way.”

“Indeed.”

“So, was there a fight here?” Chrysalis asked.

“Nay, not that we are aware of, but we have not seen the like of this effect before. Rahs tracked a scent of magic out to here.” Luna continued to watch the three, though she was more relaxed.

The two guards started moving around looking over the area as Chrysalis did the same, trying not to turn her back to Luna, though making a bit of a show that she was putting herself at a disadvantage in position.

“Twilight said it was a massive pack of timber wolves that attacked. I've heard of them attacking smaller settlements and lone travelers, but as busy as a farm is, as well as Rahs' predator scent, I don't think they would have attacked normally.” Chrysalis sighed.

“We confess our knowledge of timber wolves is limited. No such creature existed back before we fell and we do not recall Solomon making any.”Luna explained.

“Really? Hmm I don't recall them either before my unlawful imprisonment, but they were every where after I got out. I figured it was a rogue druid or something.”

“They were explained to me as being a gathering of wild dark magics and chaos magics that build a body out of what ever is around, usually sticks and wood, sometimes stone or other materials.”

“Yeah something like that I guess. But they aren't just magic. Changelings can feel them. They are almost always full of hate and spite. They're more like angry spirits than shapeless balls of magic wrapped in debris.” Chrysalis frowned kicking at a fallen chunk of tree with a hoof.

“Thou art rather helpful with this.”

“Like I said before, I am looking to try and get on your good side. Besides I have a vested interest in making sure nothing happens to that grand pup of yours.” Chrysalis smirked.

“And why is that?” Luna demanded.

“Because my daughters got a crush on him and I wanna see how that goes.” Chrysalis grinned wider.

Luna blinked. “We did not expect that.”

“No one expects the Changeling infatuation. It's chiefly a surprise. And fanatical devotion. Why the heck do you think I'm so insistent about Cady?”

“Because she is the goddess of food for thine kind?” Luna snarked.

Chrysalis snorted in amusement.” Okay I'm going to have to remember that one.”

“Princess. Chrysalis. We found something.” Sword Tail called out prompting the two gods to approach where June Bug stood. The pair trotted over looking down at a broken stone monument in the rubble of the trees.

“ A stone column?” Chrysalis questioned.

“Ah, this is where we are.” Luna frowned looking down at the monolith.

“Hmm?” Chrysalis glanced to the alicorn.

“The theory of the timber wolves being malevolent spirits has gotten a bit more likely. “Luna explained pointing a hoof at the obelisk. “ This is where we ended a warren full of Diamond Dogs that had foal napped Rahs.”

The pair of changelings froze and took a small step away from the dark alicorn. Sword Tail glanced at the others not quite understanding.

Saturnia and the scout's terror of what Luna had done here had spread through the Changelings well before the invasion of Canterlot, with many refusing to do anything in the city until Luna was some where else. To hear her simple say what she did without the two lings feeling any sort of remorse or any other feeling but a mild anger come from the mare worried them both.

“Well... that would explain their issue with Rahs.” Chrysalis spoke finally. ”Upsetting to think they are little more than ghosts, but at least there is no sole villain responsible for the attack. Of course how do you put down malevolent spirits?”

“Magic primarily. We have faced a number of haunts in our time and have considered ways to deal with one particularly annoying one, though we refrain from doing anything about him. Granted it seems Rahs can feed on the energy as well.” Luna frowned. “Pity it is something like this. We were looking forward to finding some thing's skull to invert.”

“Just to reiterate, I come in peace.” Chrysalis added.

“We know.” Luna smiled “At any rate, we need to return Rahs home to sleep this off as I fear waking him would also wake Twilight as well as any natural slumber his brothers are having. It is not as if he has not been awake as long as his sister.”

“Some insane stamina the Sparkles have there.” June Bug commented.

“Oh you have no idea...” Chrysalis purred.

“The whole damn empire has a pretty good idea. None of you are quiet!” Sword Tail cursed.

“Questions about my niece and her husbands skills aside. We are curious as to why your daughter is suddenly interested in Rahs.” Luna asked walking away from the marker with Rahs rather than flying.

“Oh it's not sudden. She's been after him for a little over a year now.” Chrysalis cackles. “She's a shy sort, takes after me a little bit in wanting things to go perfect. But she's not that good on planning on the fly if something goes wrong.”

“We see. And whom is the father?” Luna asked.

“Cady.” Chrysalis says flatly, grinning wide as Luna stumbled and had to catch Rahs in her magic before he hit the ground.

“What? Thee jests. How is that even possible?” Luna protests.

Author's Note

Okay , managed to post it before the Hurricane hit me. Fun Fun.

Gibbous ponies play, Prologue

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Gibbous ponies play,
Prologue

[Ponyville, Early Winter, one month after Lyra won the Trixie pool. And no she still hasn't shut up about it.]

Twilight leaned back in her chair looking down over the check lists she had made for the next few days. Spike was behind her standing on a step ladder, doing his best to make a cake, though he kept eating the gems.

Not that his 'helpers' were doing any better. Owlowiscious might simply be watching, but Blakeney kept stealing the eggs and Pewee kept stealing the fruit he was trying to add.

Twilight was still on the fence about Rahs' pet raccoon, but according to Fluttershy Blakeney liked Rahs fairly well. Rahs was also the only one other than Fluttershy he would listen to.

Pewee on the other hoof had been gone for a good while up in Canterlot where Philomena had been teaching him how to be a phoenix. Unfortunately this meant he had picked up a number of Philomena's bad habits, including her love of pranking. Luckily he tended only to use his evil powers on the other pets, Rahs, and occasionally the crusaders.

Getting locked in the freezer by Twilight once was clearly enough of a warning for him.

Mr. Whipple mkII sat in his cage drooling, and trying to eat through the bars to get to the cake. Spike was feeding him the scraps, but the voracious little monster clearly didn't think it was enough. Given it hadn't reproduced yet it likely wasn't.

“Alright Spike I've got your itinerary for the weekend.” Twilight smiled holding up a long checklist.

“I'll be sure to feed it to Mr' Whipple the moment your back is turned.” Spike offered, biting down on his own tongue as he dumped gems into the mix to prevent himself from eating any more.

“Seriously it's not that bad. This is one of your first times being left home alone.” Twilight frowned.

“Twilight. I've been left home alone more often than you or Rahs have. ”

“Not for this long.”

“Okay fine what ever, it's two days. That is hardly an extended vacation and it's not like I can't contact every princesses and three other gods if something happens here. Not that I'm that sure what Iinii or Chrysalis could do but still.”Spike rolled his eyes swatting Blakeney's paw with his spoon as the trash panda went for another egg.”Plus we don't even know if Rahs is going to go with you yet.”

“That is a good point. Where is he? He's been rather... subdued for the last month.” Twilight frowned.

“Well if he's not hiding and moping in the 'Rahs cave' or out in the library studying every single romance novel he can get his paws on he's likely still asleep.” Spike offered swatting Pewee's beak as he tried to steal a cherry.

“Seriously he finally has some one interested in him and his response is to freak out and mope?” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“I think it's more that he has three interested in him and he's over whelmed. He's been friends with Trixie for years and Jynx has been his trainer for a good while as well. He also bonded with Saturnia over the books he likes and he doesn't want to hurt any of them by picking one over another.” Spike offered getting his claw hit by two spoons wielded by Blakeney and Pewee when he went to grab a gem.

“So basically he's taking the most dramatic route he possibly can with this.” Twilight sighed.

“Of course.” Spike grinned.

“Ugh, alright fine. Not my business unless one swears revenge against the family. I still need to talk to him before I go, do you know where he is?” Twilight asked.”The girls will be here before too long and I need to pack myself. We need to help Cadence and Shiny get everything ready for this games inspector.”

“Nope, but I can find him pretty quick.” Spike offered, hopping off his step ladder and trundled out into the main area of the library before clearing his throat.

“THE BARD WAS A HACK! WHAT KIND OF IDIOT WRITES SONNETS IN IAMBIC PENTAMETER?” Spike bellowed.

A low growling from above him announced the other Sparkle siblings presence.

“Found him.” Spike offered as he sailed over Twilight's head, crashing into the sink.

“Spike!” Twilight sighed. “While you're over there take care of the dishes, Rahs stop throwing your brother and get in here.”

“WOOF!” Rahs snapped at Spike who rolled his eyes as he shook the water from his head.

“Yes, yes, we are all aware The Bard wrote some sonnets in iambic tetrameter, that's not the point.” Twilight placated. ”Did you want to come with the girls and I to the Crystal Empire?”

“Bark?” Rahs questioned.

“No it's only going to be for the weekend. We need to meet the Friendship Games inspector and I want to have a look over the libraries a bit. Spike's staying here due to that crusader sleep over thing he agreed to, but what about you?”

Rahs sighed sitting down at the table as Blakeney crawled into his lap to be petted. He considered before shaking his head. “Woof.”

“Alright I suppose that is a good point. Saturnia's up there with Cadence and Chrysalis still and you're trying to figure this out. It also doesn't help half the empire has the hots for you as well.”

Rahs rolled his eyes, though he frowned a moment later. “ Wuff.”

“I plan to. I might be able to find some validity to that journal we found in Solomon's stuff. “ Twilight sighed.”I'm going to let Moondancer and Sunburst look it over as well, they've been there long enough they might have seen something like it. Keep not doing that thing and we'll see what we can find. I don't want to bring this up to Princess Celestia or Princess Luna just yet. I don't know what sort of reaction we might get from either of them and I really don't want to set those two fighting again.”

“Yeah last time they had a big fight we got Nightmare Moon.” Spike muttered.

“Woof.” Rahs shrugged.

“True it might not amount to anything, but I'd rather be careful and I don't want Celestia to think you might be able to do that.” Twilight sighed.

“Woof.”

“Yes, I know evidence points that you can't, other wise there'd have been more issue with the PETA and Bone Hounds than there was. Not to mention the thieves guild.. but... well you read it and we know what happened to the changelings. I'll see if I can have schedule a talk with Sombra when I get back. I don't think this has any real relevance unless there's another one hiding away lost in time somewhere.” Twilight sighed. “Anyway, every pony but Applejack is going, she's been feeling nauseous the last few days, that new prescription she was given clearly isn't agreeing with her. The crusaders are going to be over at the farm for most of the weekend. I'd like you to keep an eye on them and her. I don't want something else to show up and cause issues.”

Rahs nodded scritching under Blakeney's chin.

“Don't worry we got this.” Spike added.

“Alright that takes care of item twenty three on my list, now to see if I can get Big Mac to go.” Twilight smirked.

“I thought you had to pack?” Spike questioned.

“What I pack depends entirely on if he is going or not.” Twilight explained.

"Bleah. Too much information."

Author's Note

And thus we start an arc that brings a bunch of things together and spans a couple episodes.

It's one i've been waiting to write as well.

Waters Academy, part 2

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Waters Academy,
part 2

[Ponyville]

“Come on come on Twilight were gonna be late!” Pinkie Pie grumbled hopping around the balloon at a frantic pace.

“Wow... just wow.” Scootaloo offered watching the pink pony bound around the balloon. The pink earth pony was getting better hang time in her hops that Scootaloo could with her wings.

“She gets like this.” Fluttershy sighed, Fireball was letting her take Scootaloo with them to see Dash as well as her mom and dad. “It's okay though, I want to see how Rainbow Dash is doing too.”

“Yeah!”Scootaloo agreed a little to fast turning her gaze away from Pinkie Pie.

“I am rather surprised she is late, we let Spikey know to tell her.” Rarity sighed.

“You don't think she got hung up saying goodbye to Big Mac do you?”Sweetiebelle asked.

“Perhaps but I saw him setting up his market stall on my way here. She would have had to go a bit out of her way to meet up with him.”Rarity considered.

“Excuse me ladies?” A tall well dressed unicorn stallion questioned as he strode up to the waiting balloon. The stallion was perfectly groomed with a fairly expensive looking suit that Rarity eyed and rung up in her mind as he approached as being nearly as much as her entire shop.

Fluttershy slunk down in the balloon out of sight of him. Pinkie Pie felt a small part of her mane go flat and a bit of her tail stand up on end. As such she stopped hopping and stared at the stallion like an owl looks at a mouse.

The cream furred and black maned stallion nodded lightly to them.” I have a message from a Miss Sparkle to deliver. It seems something has come up and she needs to be in Canterlot, she asks that you go along with out her.”

“Oh?” Pinkie Pie raised an eyebrow.

“Oh well, that's too bad.” Sweetiebelle offered as Rarity tapped her lightly in the nose with her tail. Sweetiebelle's eyes widened and she closed her mouth quickly stepping back.

“Seriously this sounds like a crock of...mmmmphhmpph.” Scootaloo started before Sweetiebelle put her hoof over her friends mouth.

“Language.” Fluttershy scolded softly from the basket.

“I see, such a pity.” Rarity sighed. “Well I suppose with our good friend not going to cast the cloud walking spells on those of us who need it perhaps we should go and see if she needs assistance with what she is doing, the sooner it is done the sooner we can go...” Rarity stated her tail swishing a little as she regarded the stallion. Her expression seemed to have been unchanged, but Sweetiebelle recognized the subtle changes on her sisters face. She was measuring the stallion without any tape. Sweetiebelle also recognized the tone in her sisters voice that hinted she wasn't sizing him up for a suit , but more for a box.

“Oh umm well she did present me a bag of bits to pay for such a thing if needed....” The stallion stammered.” Cloud walking spells are about thirty bits for a unicorn to cast at the welcome center...”

“Oh no, I'm sure Twilight recalls last time we went and how badly they were price gouging for a hundred bits... a hoof. She nearly flipped out I would have to say.” Rarity continued.

“Oh yeah, it was nuts.” Pinkie Pie offered. Her expression looking less like an owl looking at a mouse and more like a rabid badger just waiting for an excuse.

“Yes well twelve hundred bits....” The stallion stammered.

“Twenty, neither Scootaloo nor Fluttershy fly that well....” Rarity added.

“Yes well... I'm sure there's more than enough here for all that.” the stallion muttered drawing out a bag of bits checking it over a bit before throwing more in there from another pouch he had.” I'm afraid I'm needed else where, please enjoy your trip.”

They watched the unicorn stallion scurry off as Rarity hefted the bag of bits with a nod before putting it away in her saddlebags.

“What are you guys doing that was clearly sketchy at best.” Scootaloo fussed.” That guy had to have done something to Twilight!”

“Oh we know.” Fluttershy stated helping Scootaloo into the balloon.”He even thought we were going to Cloudsdale for some reason.”

“Yeah Rarity poked my nose, that's usually a signal to shush a moment when she's talking with some one who's trouble.” Sweetiebelle added.

“Judging by his bearing and the suit he is decidedly a Canterlot noble. Lord Money Bags if I am not mistaken. “ Rarity smiled.” He and a number of others have been on the Guard's watch list for a while given some questionable things they tried to pass in the day court.”

“You still have tea with Nightingale?” Fluttershy asked.

“Of course dear, just because Applejack, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash told their Guards to 'bugger off or else' doesn't mean I did.” Rarity offered.

“I'm on my fourth one this month.” Pinkie Pie grinned.

“Yes, well, Nightingale did say being your guard is the best way to get early retirement.” Rarity scoffed. As she stepped into the balloon with her sister. “The way I see it Twilight was likely foal napped to either try and force something politically past the Princess, or even to try to force her hoof in marriage to one of their little group.”

“Then we need to do something, or go rescue her!” Scootaloo fussed.

“We are doing something silly.” Pinkie Pie smiled tossing the landing ropes into the basket. “ We're going to the Wonderbolt's Academy to see Dashie. That should be well out of the line of fire.”

“What?” Scootaloo blinked.

“The noble likely would take her to Canterlot dear. Currently Rahs, Spike, Applebloom and Applejack are also going to Canterlot.” Rarity offered as the balloon lifted off. “It was quite nice of him to pay us off to stay out of the way, particularly since I am able to cast the cloud walking spell myself now. Granted it isn't as if we need to be paid to stay out of Twilight's way when she's in a mood.”

“Drooping mane, rising tail. Sparkle shenanigans.”Pinkie Pie nodded sagely.

“Ahh I see.”Rarity nodded.” Perhaps they will have a sale of what is left of his properties that I might be able to turn into a shop after all this is done.”

“Okay, but if they caught Twilight then ...”Scootaloo protested.

“Scootaloo what day is it?” Fluttershy asked.

“What? It's Friday, why?” Scootaloo blinked.

“Friday is Tuesday in Canterlot.” Sweetiebelle explained. “Remember what big sis Luna said?”

“Oh? Oh! OOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooh.” Scootaloo realized. She pondered a moment more before speaking again. “Can I use my share of the bits to get ice cream?”

“Provided we find a vendor. Now then, Pinkie Pie can this balloon go any faster?” Rarity asked.

[Later, Canterlot]

Rahs wasn't exactly sure what he was doing in truth. He had agreed to accompany Applejack to her meeting with Ascepius and her assistants. The Goddess of medicine was super excited as this was something she had never seen before in the medical field.

Applejack was of course, less than thrilled to have a new medical condition named after her.

After that they were probably going to poke around a few shops here and there before heading to the castle for lunch. It had been a while since he had seen Emareial and so long as they didn't interrupt a castle rush for food they should be fine for getting something to eat. Including something proper for Applejack.

Rahs had noticed that Witch-jack went straight for any sources of meat, including a couple of Fluttershy's little friends on more than one occasion. It was a safe bet the witch wolf wanted meat as well as magic, but Applejack was set on her herbivore diet. Hopefully Emareial could help ease her into the fact she couldn't just eat plants.

Or she could just be tempted with bacon. Even Twilight couldn't resist bacon.

Applejack was already pissed off about the chocolate thing after getting sick on some Hearth's Warming candy.

Rahs was also keeping an eye out for any one who might cause issue with the four of them, and they had already had the guard called on them a few times. Nothing came of it of course save there were a few pegasi guards watching from the roof tops ready to come down in case something happened that Rahs couldn't deal with.

The Sparkles were rather infamous among the Royal Guard after all, and two of them were here along with a cutie mark crusader on a Friday. Applejack and her curse were considered the least problematic of the four.

Rahs didn't have the heart to tell them his sister was likely in the city as well. The noble he had seen snag Twilight and then Big Mac in a teleport trap had rode the same train they did to Canterlot.

Clearly they wanted both of them alive and while Rahs rather wanted to protect his sister like always, after the PETA thing , he figured Twilight needed to blow off a little steam.

Besides he recognized the noble.

If what he thought was going on was going on this was far too stupid for his pay grade.

They should probably hurry to lunch. It was going to be safer inside the castle, though he'd rather have caught the train to Appleoosa.

[?]

Twilight Sparkle was not a happy mare. She didn't feel stupid for falling for the teleport trap. She had actually stopped to study it to try and figure out who would cast that on her door mat and set it to her.

She did feel stupid for falling for the illsionary snake trick. That the snake was also a quesadilla just made her feel dumber for thinking , even in her panicked state, that such a cheesy evil reptile could even exist. What would it be called. A snakadilla? Quesaerpant?

Okay she needed to stop thinking about that.

She was less than thrilled that she was currently in a large golden birdcage. The cage itself wasn't so bad, but she was rather insulted some one had put down newspaper along the bottom.

The crosswords were already done.

She was also slightly insulted that some one had put three suppressor rings on her horn. At last check she had been able to burn through five without hurting herself, and that was back when she had first become the Bearer of the Element of Magic.

She could rule out a Discord prank, this was too orderly.

She was angry, but had not yet hit the 'scorched earth' level of angry as Spike liked to call it. She was clearly going to miss the balloon with the girls. She would have to pop by and see Rainbow Dash another time.

The room she was in was some sort of fancy ball room. Unused clearly given the fact that she was hanging from a large cage in the corner... this had better not be a don club dancer cage. Those places were odd any way mares putting on more clothes to the excitement of the stallions.

Most of the room had been cleared out though the windows were all covered. The lack of dust told her it wasn't abandoned, and was probably some nobles home.

What was in the center of the room pushed her much closer to the scorched earth level of angry however.

A large dome shield filled the middle of the room and underneath it was a large red stallion who was only now stirring from the knock out spell coupled with the teleport trap.

Big Mac sat up looking around before reaching out a hoof to prod the shield lightly. His eyes were drawn up to the cage Twilight was in. He suppressed a 'pretty bird ' joke and nodded to her instead before looking around the room curiously.

At that point the door to the room opened.

“You!” Twilight snapped.

Endor Girls, Part four

Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR

Endor Girls,
Part four

[Elsewhere in town.]

“What even are these readings?”

“Bark!”

“No they're not false, something is weird going on here, look at this graph every year about this time something goes haywire and the bandwidth on this one particular signal shoots up over seventy three percent. This year it shot up one hundred and twenty percent and now it's at a stead six hundred percent above normal.”

“Woof.”

“I double checked all the instruments Rahs, and there's nothing on any of the other wave lengths. A few of the sensors I've placed outside of town don't show half of this, so the energy has to be coming from the city.”

“Bork.”

“Language.”

A knock on the door interrupted any further conversation. The door swung open and a little purple and green dog ran in barking and yipping.

“Crap did I forget to feed Spike again?”

“Bork!” Rahs stated.

“Language.” The figure at the door chuckled looking around the mad scientists lab and to the purple haired girl in the lab coat mulling over several computers and notebooks full of readings. The little dog bounced around her feet, while perched on top of a hat rack was a large dark blue raven with amber eyes.

“No respect, nyaaah.” Rahs mimicked from Jabber Jaw.

“BARK” offered Spike loudly.

“Bark” Rahs offered back.

“Oh great they started again.”Twilight sighed as the pair started barking at each other the raven going so far as to add fancy sounding barks and throwing out a meow every so often. ”Did you need something Shiny, I'm kind of busy. That signal I've been tracking is back and stronger than ever.”

“Yeah... I think you should go outside for a moment.” Shining Armor stated rather flatly.

“I can't now my research...”

“Trust me Twili... go outside.” Shining practically ordered.

“Run, get to dah choppah!!” Rahs sang hopping off the coat rack and flying out the door past Shining with Spike running after him barking.

“Fiiiiiiine, but this better be important.” Twilight frowned.

[Back at the portal]

“Well so much for being subtle” Shining Armor sighed gesturing up to the massive dragon. “This may be more of a problem than we wanted. There's no way the thief doesn't see this.”

“To be fair she was tackled into the portal, so she knew we were after her any way.” Spike stated.

“RAHS GET DOWN HERE I AM NOT GOING TO YELL EVERY TIME I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!” Twilight screamed out at the towering dragon.

“Well that wasn't very subtle either.” Spike offered as Shining slapped his forehead with his hand marveling how much less it hurt than a face hoof.

The massive blue dragon lowered it's head to ground level, Rahs' skull still like a building towering over them, his amber eye easily bigger than odd new forms they had.

“Awoo?” Rahs asked curiously.

“Yeah it's Shining and Twilight and no I don't know what they're called.” Spike growled. “ And I'm a dog again.”

“Bork?”

“Shining already did that joke and no I am still a guy!” Spike growled.

“This makes no sense why is he an adult dragon of this size, the only dragons I've heard of being this big are Bleu and her sons.” Twilight frowned.

“Wait, I'm gonna get that big?” Spike asked looking up in more awe.

“After a few thousand years sure.” Twilight shrugged.

“It's been a few minutes... where are the guard?” Shining frowned.” The response can't be this slow here.”

Copper and Flatfoot stared out the window of their police cruiser, parked on the corner of Derby road and Nokota drive watching the goings on in the city.

Flatfoot was three days from retirement and Copper's wife just had a baby, so neither were feeling particularly heroic at the moment as neither wanted to become a trope.

“That's a dragon.” Copper stated taking a sip of his coffee.

“ Yup.” Flatfoot agreed taking another bite of his doughnut, plain cake with a hazelnut spread, Doughnut Joe is a genius.

“Should we call it in?” Copper asked.

“Probably. Everyone's panicking in the streets.” Flatfoot responded pointing to the crowd outside running away from the towering dragon screaming about Godzilla or something.

“I can see that. Looks like a football riot around here.” Copper offered.

“Yep. I see that rich guy Jet Set down there smashing the windows on his own shop.” Flatfoot pointed out.

“Huh, yeah he is. I wonder why.” Copper responded.

“Probably insurance fraud, he did that last riot too. Any way call it in, let the national guard deal with it.” Flatfoot offered gruffly. “This is above my pay grade and every year almost something weird happens over there.”

“Yeah I remember the elephant stampede last year.”Copper added. “Really weird how they all were running around stealing cheese and trying to burrow into buildings. It got really weird when they all took off like a shot from that house cat.”

“Pfft that's nothing, couple years before that we had about four grizzly bears who thought they were squirrels.” Flatfoot snorted.

“Huh missed that one. Any way calling it in.” Copper stated picking up the radio.

“Well I do have some good news. I've got some magic” Twilight offered.” Rahs must be acting like a battery, though that's going to cause so many problems when we go back.”

“Yeah I can feel it to now that I'm thinking about it , but how do you cast without a horn?” Shining Armor considered.

“ WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE?!” shouted a voice.

The group looked over to see a tall woman in a yellow jacket with purple pants storming up to them out of the building they were in front of, her hair flowed out behind her in blues greens and pinks, her white skin seeming some how purer white than Shining's.

She also looked pissed.

“Celestia?” Twilight blinked as the woman came to a stop before them glaring at all four in turn. Despite there being a dragon and a well armored knight all of them tried to avoid their gaze. She waved a small white rectangle at them that had a familiar sun emblem on the back, though they could hear some one elses voice coming from it.

“Principal Celestia I told you not to go out side and investigate yourself, the department just wants you to look out the window... and you're outside already... great...” the rectangle muttered.

“What is this!?” Principal Celestia demanded again waving her free hand to gesture at everything.” It's bad enough I've got a near riot in my school, now this!?”

“ Ummm” Shining Armor offered, not having expected another Celestia.

“Errrr” Twilight offered in the same boat as her brother.

“Woof.” Rahs added drawing Celestia's attention to him.

“Yes, right a play.... this is a theater production.” Shining nodded simply going along with the suggestion as he had no other ideas.

“Errr yeah, it is, we're just actors....” Twilight added.

“This is never gonna work.” Spike muttered drawing Celestia's gaze to the talking dog.

“You expect me to believe that the giant dragon taking up the front lawn of my school is an actor?” Celestia glared. “How!?”

“An actor?” the rectangle questioned.

“Ummm, magic?” Twilight offered.

Celestia glared. “Then why is he barking like a dog?”

“Sound system error?” Shining offered.

“Yeah, that's pretty weird.” The rectangle added.

“You expect me to believe, that the two of you plus a talking dog and a giant dragon, that is casting a shadow over most of the school mind you, are actors with special effects and stage hands?” Celestia demanded. ”I want the truth!”

“Well okay. “ Twilight muttered. “ We're actually from another dimension accessed through a magic mirror connected to the back of this statue. We came through chasing a thief that stole my crown, which is really a super powerful artifact of harmony. The thief came from this world . My brothers chased her through and nearly caught her, but she got over here and escaped with the crown. I think she might have been from our world originally due to how she used magic and had no issues running around on her hooves, because the primary race on my side of the portal are ponies. Granted only Shining Armor here and I are ponies, my brother Spike there is a dog here but a dragon on the other side of the portal and the large dragon is Rahs who's a dog cat hybrid called a moon dog who's race was created by the goddess of the moon to patrol dreams and eat the chaos infecting the nightmares ponies have. Some how I pulled him into my world when I was little and now we're here.”

The tall woman stared at the four of them.

The Sparkle siblings stared back.

“So … Actors...” The rectangle stated.

“Right. A theater event. I'm going to cut the funding from the arts department to pay for the side walk and you can explain that to your teacher. “ Celestia shuddered before putting the phone back up to her ear and turning on her heel marching right back towards the building. “Did you get that officer?”

“Yes, much less paperwork this way. Special effects.” the rectangle stated agreeing far too quickly.

“Good now if you'll excuse me I need to see if Apple Annie's is open and clear out their ice cream cakes.” Celestia stated as she reentered the building.

“We should have asked her if she knew who the thief was.” Spike added.

“Damn it.” Shining and Twilight cursed.

“Wuff.” Rahs grinned as he called them out on their swearing.