Equestria's Doom

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Trouble Begins
Chapter 2: A New Quest
Chapter 3: Blossom Of Hope
Chapter 4: Old Swordsmane's Tale
Chapter 5: The Majesty's Voyage
Chapter 6: Brutal Demonic Warfare
Chapter 7: Two Lovers Reunite
Chapter 8: A Mysterious Ally
Chapter 9: Twilight's Deceitful Peril
Chapter 10: Friends In Need
Chapter 11: Those Left Behind
Chapter 12: Talismans Of Pain
Chapter 13: Healing Hoof's Tale
Chapter 14: Healing Hoof's Quest
Chapter 15: Where Hope Ends

Chapter 1: The Trouble Begins

The imp fled from the fury of the Slayer.

It quickly leapt from a stone wall of the Fortress to the end of a stairwell. With a quick motion of the creature’s wrist it flung a fireball towards the Slayer, but it was easily dodged. The last moment of the demon’s life was a brief glimpse of the fury barely contained behind the glass of his helmet.

Only one, precise motion was required for the Slayer to rip the Imp in half. He held the pieces in his hands for a moment before casting them aside. It took him only a few steps to stride back to the front of the ship that gave him an overview of the world beneath him. He slumped into a nearby chair in the depths of his indecision, resting his head in his hands as he looked out to the wartorn Earth before him.

The Fortress of Doom had drifted to an area just above North America in its orbit. Great runes of demonic magic ripped across the landscape which had once been the home of the Slayer. The evil glow of their energy was only punctuated by an occasional nuclear explosion. As he watched the Earth burn anger filled his veins, the same anger which had earned him his title to both the Night Sentinels and now the people of this other Earth.

Gloved fingers gripped the banister in front of him. His task was obvious; before him was a vast expanse of burning lands, blistered with demonic infestation, and beside him was a portal that offered a direct fix to that issue. It was an immediate solution to his problem, yet hesitation was the emotion that held him back. Simply going to hell or the realm of the Sentinels was one thing; however, another dimension entirely worried him.

For once, he was consumed by indecision as he faced the unknown. There was no question that he wished to annihilate the demons; but if there was no way back from this other land, then all his work would have been for nothing. There was also the matter of his history with the inhabitants of Equestria. Even with all of his enhanced strength, he knew that ever facing them again would be a monumental task.

Samuel Hayden’s voice boomed through the dimly lit corridors of the Fortress of Doom. “The Argent energy foundation of this vessel is becoming unstable, slowly allowing demons to slip through and into this Fortress. The longer you put this off, the more will come through-”

The Slayer slammed his fist on the table, silencing him. He walked over to the forcefield separating the interior of his ship from the vacuum outside, more of an afterthought for any potential guests than something he himself would ever have a need for.

“What is your history with these...equines?” asked Samuel. “Why are you so hesitant to undertake this mission?"

As per usual, the Slayer did not honor Samuel with a vocal response. Instead, he walked before the shimmering portal that had materialized on the bridge and stared into it, the room silent in his contemplation.

“The third priest must fall.” reminded Samuel. “It is unfortunate that the Khan Makyr chose to place him in such a distant location as another dimension, but-”

Samuel was abruptly cut off as the Slayer raised a hand to silence him.

He turned to face Samuel and the doctor continued to speak. “This dimension is well-documented among the archives of the Sentinels. These sapient creatures, known as ponies, formed a temporary alliance with the forces of the Makyrs to fend off a mutual threat. I believe the threat was termed the 'World Nymph' and was apparently a being of immense destruction and power. Anyways, that's old history for another time.”

The Slayer nodded and Samuel continued. “You will be cut off from me and I cannot ensure VEGA’s functionality across the dimensions. You will be isolated from any possible support, with an insurmountably difficult objective, in a hostile land.”

“Given that VEGA will be unable to assist you, allow me to inform you of your objectives.” A data display flickered to life on the bridge. “The Sentinels possess a more recent history of this land. I will communicate some vital information to you for your quest.”

Samuel began to recite the history and lore of Equestria to the Slayer. He was told of the Elements of Harmony and their struggles against forces of deceit and evil. Celestia’s name was made known to him once again and he was imbued with knowledge of the current Mane Six. Their faces were shown to him and he became familiar with their likeness.

“It is imperative that you are able to quickly locate and establish a relationship with these...Elements of Harmony,” informed Samuel. “They will likely be the key to destroying the power of the last Priest within their realm. Additionally, the signature of your inter-dimensional travel will result in demonic pursuers. While the bulk of their forces are still concentrated here on Earth, you must be ready to fight.”

Samuel continued his monologue. “When you cross into their dimension, I will attempt to port you in close to an Element, though I cannot guarantee which one. It is imperative that you ensure her safety and meet up with the others.”

“Any questions, Slayer?” asked Samuel.

When the Slayer failed to look up from his contemplation, Samuel’s electronic laughter boomed across the fortress. “If you are still hesitant, allow me to inform you of some...statistics. While you’ve been waiting here, the last human stronghold in Africa fell to a demonic horde, resulting in 99% casualties.”

“Additionally, many refugees across the Siberian plains have already succumbed to hunger and illness while the forces of Hell stalk them.” continued Samuel. “As you continue to wait, many more will perish-”

Suddenly, the Slayer let out a mighty roar and leapt through the portal head-first.

This realm was different from the others.

The skyscraping domes and towers of the Sentinels were nowhere to be seen and neither were the smouldering ruins of Earth. Instead, he found himself in the midst of a verdant forest. Sunlight sparkled from the waters of a nearby river and the faint sound of birdsong rang in the distance. He breathed in deeply and though his suit filtered most of the scent of the woods, the unmistakable tang of untainted nature was still noticeable.

White, puffy clouds hung in a blue sky overhead and the Slayer wondered if he had been teleported into the future, perhaps into the world he wished to create for humanity. Was this the paradise he had promised for himself? Halfway, he expected to see humans emerge from the bushes of the forest, giving him thanks for his labors.

Yet he knew that such things were not for him to see. His place was to be the tool that forged a new world free of demons, not to bathe in the luxury which he strived to create. Putting his fleeting thoughts of paradise aside, he strode into a clearing and awaited VEGA’s briefing.

It never came and he realized that VEGA was not with him.

Shrugging his shoulders in acceptance, he began to check himself. Every weapon was gone save for his double-barrelled shotgun. A brief test confirmed that his grenades were disabled as well as his ice-bomb, and his chainsaw was nowhere to be found. Still, a mere loss of offensive power was nothing to phase him.

Then he heard the chittering of imps and they were upon him.

The first of their number dived from the branches of a tree to meet him and he crushed its skull in his hands. The juice from its corpse had no time to fall to the ground before he had killed three more with the same hand, sending fragments of bone spurting into the air.

No matter where he went, the signature of his teleportation would attract a small host of demons. It was inevitable and only the strongholds of the Sentinels sheltered him from their predation. He was thankful to have appeared deep within nature away from any civilians who may have suffered at the hands of his pursuers.

Before he could finish that reflection, a rocket exploded next to him.

He leapt to the side as a revenant jetted from behind him and leaned back to avoid a rapid punch.

It quickly punched at him again and he took his chance.

His hands quickly grasped the meaty, exposed bones of the creature and he hoisted himself to its back. Reaching an armored hand down to the creature’s face, he jammed his fingers into its eyes and began to pull.

A meaty snap marked the death of the demon.

The Slayer stood over the ruined corpse of the creature and took a moment to catch his breath. For the moment, his surroundings seemed relatively peaceful and then a scream startled him. He set off in the direction of the panicked yelling, shoving aside the branches of the forest as he ran.

His search took him to the side of a river. An imp was leaned over one of the creatures Samuel had told him of; the element of harmony known as Fluttershy. Terror was clear on her face and her yellow fur was already stained with mud and blood. Even as the Slayer rushed over, the imp plunged its clawed hand deep into the side of the pegasus.

The Slayer threw the demon into a tree and instantly killed it as its body smashed through the trunk. He could tell it was quickly becoming too late for the innocent creature as more blood poured from her body.

Her eyes looked into his with a startlingly human expression. “Help me...please..”

The words of the creature were converted into his tongue by what little functions of VEGA still remained. As he listened, it continued to speak through pained gasps. “I need to...get back to my friends…”

The Slayer gave the pony a tight hug and reassuring pat on the head before he got to work.

The Slayer worked furiously to bandage up the limp, bloodsoaked pony before him. He ripped branches from trees to form tourniquets, furiously wrapping bandages around her wounds. Her eyes were half lidded and already he knew his time was fading. He racked his mind for every ounce of medical knowledge he could summon, doing what he could to treat her shock and mend broken bones.

No matter the speed of his efforts, the injuries to the pony were simply too much for him to repair. Where one wound was bandaged, he would shift a wing or flank to find an even worse one. Quickly taking her up into his arms, he began to run blindly through the woods, crashing through branches and even the trees themselves.

Finally, he came to the path of a winding river. Laying the inert body of Fluttershy in its stream, he began to cleanse her wounds.

Then a thought came to him.

He reached into his pack and withdrew a canister of argent energy; the same liquid which gave him life through so many battles. The lid of the canister was removed swiftly and he dumped it over the pony.

His anticipation builded as the liquid sunk into her fur and he held his breath as the pegasus blinked and let out a shudder. Several more moments passed and she didn’t respond. He realized that since she lacked the blessings of the Slayer as well as the technological advantages of his armor, Fluttershy was unable to receive the benefits of the Argent healing liquid.

The Slayer rose and began to ponder his next couple of steps.

Her breaths were growing quicker and shallower. The Slayer knew her time was being cut in half with each one that passed.

He milled around aimlessly in search of a path of some sort. Finally, Fluttershy gathered the strength to guide him. He leaned in to hear her words spoken through gasps of unimaginable pain. She guided him to a nearby road, then sent him sprinting with all of his speed to the gates of a nearby town. The details of the settlement fell away from him in his desire to save her life.

From her whisperings, he knew this was a place they called Ponyville. The name struck him as almost childish in a way and it served to underscore the innocence of these creatures.

As he sprinted deeper into the town, he acquired a small crowd of the seemingly sapient creatures that trailed close behind him. Words such as monster and freak were directed towards him by the swirling crowds that came to witness him holding the broken body of their comrade. None, however, stepped a hoof forwards so as to help him.

Eventually, he came to a great tree that erupted from the soil of the town. It was more than a tree; far more of a castle, in fact. Strange baubles and decorations hung from its branches and it radiated a homely feel. The Slayer had no time to appreciate the finer details and he came to a rapid halt as he awaited Fluttershy’s instructions.

“Through the door, to Twilight.” rasped the broken Fluttershy and the Slayer followed her voice.

At once, he bursted through the door and was met by a shocked Twilight.

“You can stop right there.” she said hurriedly.

The Slayer fell to his knees, bearing Fluttershy’s body between his hands. By this time she could no longer speak and stared listlessly into the world from half-shuttered eyes. Her brows were deeply furrowed and her lips curled into a tight frown as tears trickled down her cheeks.

“What happened?” she asked the Slayer in a breathless voice. When he failed to respond, she enveloped Fluttershy in a cloud of magic and gently set her on the ground. She went about the process of taking her vitals and grimaced.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” she said with a worried shake of her head. “I don’t think she has long left.”

Then her horn began to gently glow, sending a wave of white light pulsing over the Slayer. Twilight’s eyes opened in surprise.

She then began to pace around aimlessly. “I just need a moment to think.”

Twilight looked at Fluttershy and then to the Slayer a number of times. Her face was twisted up in indecision and confusion. She was silent for a few moments and then finally spoke in a low voice. “You have a powerful enchantment on your soul,” noted the unicorn. “I have an idea for a spell, but I need your consent.”

The Slayer nodded for Twilight to continue and she did so with an unsteady tone. “I’m going to briefly switch your bodies. It’ll only take a second and it should heal her right up. Are you okay with that?”

He gave a curt nod and Twilight’s horn briefly glowed.

“I’m sorry.” she quickly stated before casting the spell.

Before the Slayer could react, a beam of white light shot into his chest and he began to convulse before falling still on the floor.

The Slayer awoke.

Immediately, he could tell that he was smaller. He couldn’t feel his arms or legs and his entire body felt as if it were covered in a fur pelt. Long hair dangled in front of his face and he hesitated to open his eyes. He could also sense that something familiar was absent between his legs, which were also gone from his perception.

He shuddered when he took in his first breath. His nose felt oddly elongated and the breath traveled down his nostrils in an unfamiliar way. When he went to flex his fingers, they too were gone. Finally he opened his eyes and long locks of pink hair obscured his vision. Everything in his sight seemed smaller relative to him; bookshelves that moments ago were his height now towered over him like mountains of knowledge.

Most importantly, Fluttershy’s injuries had completely vanished as the enhanced soul of the Slayer reversed their effects. He felt no trace of wound or puncture across his new form and could feel his muscles growing as he adjusted to his new body. Feeble legs slowly became bound with muscle and he could feel his enhanced soul bond and merge with his new body to uplift it in every way.

Twilight’s head then came into his vision and he could see several of the Elements standing behind her.

The one he recognized as Rainbow Dash stepped forwards. “So, is she, well, herself?”

Twilight shook her head and spoke with a small frown. “The spell I used was highly experimental. There may not be a way to reverse its effects.”

The Slayer paused from his observations and he felt a surge of anger that made his new heart beat furiously.

Had this pony, this Twilight Sparkle, lied to him? He shuddered to think of the consequences if he couldn’t be transferred back into his old form.

As a matter of fact, was he even a he anymore?

The thought briefly distracted him from his anger and he felt it fade away into a different kind of confusion.

“Then what should we call her, er, him?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Well, I think he is now a her, for all intents and purposes,” remarked Twilight, momentarily distracted from her brooding.

“Flutterman? How about Flutterdude?” chimed in Pinkie Pie eagerly.

“I’ve got it, Flutterguy!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.

Twilight and the other elements nodded in approval.

“Flutterguy,” thought the Slayer to himself.

He thought about it for a moment and decided that she was now Flutterguy.

This quest was going to be far stranger than she had originally anticipated, she thought to herself with a sigh.

One of the ponies in the room spoke up. "So where's Fluttershy, guys?"

Chapter 2: A New Quest

The inert human body of Fluttershy lay silent on its cot.

“Is she okay?” asked a nervous Rarity.

Twilight looked at her with wide eyes and began to explain. “The spell I used was highly experimental-”

“We know,” interjected Applejack. “We just want to know if our friend here is doing alright.”

Twilight let out a long exhale and shakily sat on the floor. “The exact type of spell I used was a soul swap. Soul magic is forbidden under several decrees due to the extreme, unpredictable costs of using it. However, I believe Fluttershy is alive for now.”

“So she’s in there?” asked Pinkie Pie as she curiously prodded the still body.

Twilight looked to Flutterguy, who was still lying on the floor with closed eyes. She then turned back to her friend. “She is. However, given the level of damage that happened to her pony body, her soul’s tether to this realm has been weakened.”

“Um, what?” asked Applejack with a cocked eyebrow.

“What magically happened is extremely complex,” explained Twilight. “While her body has been changed, the soul inside is still the same. The souls of all living creatures are bound to this plane by their physical bodies. While you can technically modify the position or status of souls through magical means, it comes with a cost that the original caster of the spell has to make.”

She took a deep breath before speaking. “This strange being happened to have a powerful enchantment placed on its soul that carried over to the body I switched it to. So after the switch, Fluttershy’s pony form was completely healed, though her soul’s tether is still damaged heavily.”

“I still don’t get it.” remarked Pinkie Pie as she did a headstand. “So doesn’t that mean Fluttershy is okay? Actually, why not just switch her back and call it a day?”

“Pinkie Pie, this is no time for childish acrobatics!” retorted Rarity. “This is extremely serious business, my dear. Our friend Fluttershy has, um...been switched into another body, I think? And it seems as if there was a cost to dear old Twilight?”

Twilight groaned. “All you need to know is that the weird monkey thing in the armor is Fluttershy and the yellow pegasus over there is someone else. And I can’t just switch her back.”

“Well, why not? I think the smartie in this group is acting like a big dummy.” said Pinkie Pie as she stuck her tongue out. Rarity chastised her for her rudeness, only to receive a raspberry from Pinkie.

Twilight gathered her thoughts for a moment before speaking. “The issue is with her soul. Soul magic is highly transactional in nature. In order to do something to somepony’s soul, you have to make a bargain of some kind. One of the conditions of my choice was that while the two have indeed switched their bodies, their souls are still in their original forms, meaning that Fluttershy is still technically dying.”

Dash’s ears perked up. “Wait, so she’s dying?”

“Yes,” confirmed Twilight. “Her soul is still losing its connection to this realm and she’s close to passing into the afterlife forever. I essentially bought us a few days, if that, by switching her into a fresh body.”

“Why can’t you switch her on back over, then?” asked Applejack. “At least then she’d still be a pony.”

“The other part of the magical bargain I made is that I can no longer use soul magic,” explained Twilight. “In order to do something of this magnitude with a pony’s soul, the magic user must give up something of great value; in this case, I sacrificed an entire area of my own magical capability, just for this single spell.”

She inhaled before speaking. “We would have to seek out a being powerful enough to both restore Fluttershy’s soul and reverse the body switch. However, it’s doubtful that a mere pony would be capable of doing such a thing and I doubt Celestia or the other alicorns would be willing to risk their magical power on such a large transaction.”

Twilight continued. “However, deep in the Everfree forest, there’s an imprisoned being known as the World Nymph, from another realm of existence. While not evil in intent or nature, the sheer power of the creature was causing devastating magical aftereffects across Equestria from the time it manifested and the threat it posed was too great to be ignored. A great hero known only as the slayer sealed it within the bottom of a lake a long time ago and it owes a great debt to ponykind for the damages it caused. If we offer to free it, there’s a chance it may help us by healing Fluttershy and reverse the swap, in return for freedom.”

“However,” said Twilight with a gleam in her eye. “The creature will still pose an enormous threat. So after freeing it, we have to banish it with the elements of harmony.”

Twilight finally exhaled. “Any questions, guys?”

“Okay, so we free this World Nymph and it might help to heal Fluttershy?” asked Rainbow Dash. “If it’s that simple, then I’m in.”

“Wait,” retorted Applejack. “I jus’ don’t like the idea of tricking this poor thing, even if our friend’s life is-”

“But it’s our friend’s life,” snapped Dash. “I think Twilight is-”

“”Wait, you two.” interjected Twilight.

The two paused their argument to listen to their friend. “With the elements of harmony, we can return it to where it came from, fixing both of our problems. Sounds like a deal?”

Applejack shrugged. “I trust ya, Twi.”

“So we go to the lake, free the Nymph, get Fluttershy back, then just banish it with the elements.” said Dash. “Sounds easy to me!’

“But this won’t be easy,” warned Twilight. “While doing the swap was one thing, both restoring Fluttershy’s soul and reversing the swap will require an enormous sacrifice. One of you may or may not have to bear it. While I doubt any of you will have to necessarily give up your lives, the World Nymph may permanently change one of you forever.”

“Twilight, no honest cost is too great to get our friend back.” gently spoke Applejack. The other ponies nodded in agreement.

“Just be prepared.” cautioned Twilight. “Any more questions, girls?”

Everypony shook their heads

“Okay, good. As for him,” said Twilight with a gesture towards Flutterguy. “We don’t know who he is or where he came from. He brought in Fluttershy covered in blood and that’s all I know.”

“I suppose I do have a question, actually. What in the world is that animal, darling?” asked Rarity as she walked over to the armored giant.

Everypony in the room took a second to observe the peculiar beast. It was quite unlike anything they had seen before. While it wasn’t a monkey or an ape, it was similar in appearance to both. Thick, bulging cords of muscle wrapped over the few spots of its body that were visible through its armor. Everything about it seemed to radiate masculinity and aggression, though it was Fluttershy’s soul within.

Still, it was clearly sickly and weakened. Its cheeks were sunken in and with each moment that passed, its breaths seemed to become more and more labored. The flesh of the creature was disturbingly pale and its fingers trembled with every breath it took. The effects of Fluttershy’s broken soul on the creature’s physical form couldn’t be more obvious to the gathered onlookers.

“Is Fluttershy okay in there?” asked a worried Pinkie Pie.

“It’ll be okay, Fluttershy.” said Rainbow Dash as she hugged the side of the armored human.

As she hugged Fluttershy’s new body, Pinkie Pie joined her. She reassuringly grabbed the hand of the creature with her hooves. “Yeah, Fluttershy. We’ll do a super duper job of getting you out of there.”

Rarity trotted over to the two, Applejack close behind. They looked at one another and nodded before turning to Fluttershy.

“It’ll be okay, sugercube.” reassured Applejack.

“No matter what, we’ll save you, darling.” promised Rarity with a trembling lip.

“You guys,” said Twilight.

A tear rolled down her cheek and her friends all turned to look her way.

Twilight sniffled. “You guys are amazing. I know we can get through this together, girls.”

Applejack chuckled. “Yeah, it ain’t such a big deal.”

As the other ponies indulged in their excitement, Twilight noticed Dash whispering something in Fluttershy’s ear, too quiet for her to hear.

“Oh, Flutterguy is waking up!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.

Flutterguy groaned and struggled to her hooves, drawing the attention of the rest of the room. The ponies waited silently to see if the pony would speak. Her eyes shot open and immediately the ponies present could tell that something was far different about the body of their former friend.

A steely look shot from her eyes to the rest of the room. Muscles that hadn’t been there before now embraced her form and she was a bit bigger than before, her chest and legs noticeably bulkier. She also stood a little bit taller than the other ponies in the room. Her stature and presence made the other ponies instinctively cower, as if this being possessed some inherent authority over them.

Twilight turned to her friends as her horn glowed. “I know how worried you are about Fluttershy, but you need to go for now. I don’t know how safe this situation is.”

The other ponies nodded and quickly hurried out of the library.

Flutterguy’s mane hung in a tangled mess around her face to give her a wild and unkempt appearance. Her mouth was drawn into a small frown and her face was blank with no expression. She took a couple of shaky steps and fell to the ground before clambering up once more.

Twilight quickly cast a spell to bind Flutterguy’s limbs. “I’m sorry to have to bind you, but until I can figure out who you are and where you came from-”

Flutterguy flexed her muscles briefly and snapped the magical enchantments.

Twilight’s jaw dropped. “How powerful are you, exactly? Those were level 4 manacles of-”

Flutterguy arrogantly strode past her, sending Twilight reeling to avoid her.

She tried another spell of bonding, stronger this time. Again, the stranger shattered the chains almost dismissively. She sighed and gave up on that line of action as she sat on her flanks.

“Well, if you won’t let me restrain you, can you at least tell me a little bit about yourself?” asked Twilight.

Flutterguy once again ignored her and she proceeded to fiddle with her old suit.

Twilight groaned. “Fine, be as rude as you want, at least you don’t want to hurt me. I think?”

Flutterguy extracted a small, black chip from the armor. Twilight regarded it curiously. It definitely wasn’t pony technology, but something about it was oddly familiar. She thought back to the books she had read on the technologies of distant lands. Though she couldn’t quite pinpoint what she was remembering, she also couldn’t shake her feeling of recognition.

Still, there was no doubt to her that this stranger had to be restrained. With an element of harmony down, she simply had no room to allow any further risk to be unleashed upon Equestria.

Twilight closed her eyes in focus as she readied another spell.

A small aura of purple magic began to envelop her that quickly began to expand and pulsate as she gathered a fog of swirling energies about her. At once, she released a steady stream of magical energies forwards.

They surged towards Flutterguy and he leapt to the side as they impacted a wall.

Twilight manipulated the tentacle of magic at her again.

Books began to fall off of their shelves and windows cracked from the shockwaves of energy flowing from Twilight’s form. Beads of sweat worked their way down her face and a low groan came from between her lips. Increasingly large coronas of energy flickered from the fogs of magic swirling about her horn as she poured everything she had into the spell.

Flutterguy dodged it again.

Twilight split the stream of magic into two parts and nearly went unconscious from the effort. One surged forwards to pin Flutterguy from the front and she dodged backwards with a speed that made Twilight shudder.

“Just how strong is this creature?” she thought to herself in frustration.

Flutterguy’s leap backwards took her into a waiting stream of magic. A vice grip locked her limbs into place.

Flutterguy’s teeth gnashed underneath flaring nostrils and she bucked furiously against the onslaught of magic pouring across her body.

Tears trickled down Twilight’s cheek from the discomfort of maintaining the spell. Sweat matted her mane to her forehead as veins began to bulge out along her chest and legs.

No matter the strength of the spell, Twilight could tell it was barely containing Flutterguy.

Flutterguy began to seriously push against the restraining power of the spell. Sweat poured from her body and with a final roar she was free of Twilight’s magic.

Twilight lay panting on the floor as she struggled to catch her breath.

“That was my most powerful restraining spell.” she confessed through gasps of air. “If you could escape that, even Celestia would break a sweat keeping you still.”

Flutterguy rolled her eyes and climbed off of the floor.

“Okay, let’s work something out.” said Twilight. “If you help me out, I’ll put you back into that body.”

Flutterguy looked at Twilight and then at her old body and gave a single nod. She then began to look closer at the chip she had pulled from the suit.

“What is that?” asked Twilight.

Then a roar came from outside and she heard the sound of screaming ponies.

Flutterguy tossed the chip on a nearby table and was out the door before Twilight could even process what was happening.

“Where are you-”

Twilight was cut off as Flutterguy kicked the door open, shattering it into splinters.

“Wait, I still need to explain-”

Twilight stopped talking all of a sudden.

“That look!” she thought to herself with a shudder.

Though it was only a mere glimpse of Flutterguy’s left eye that she had caught, what she saw sent chills down her spine and goosebumps along her skin.The expression she had just witnessed was one of those things that she had never before seen, but instantly recognized, as if by some genetic instinct from the primal days of ponykind.

It was the desire to murder.

The demon held half of a dead pony in one hand.

Afternoon sunlight lazily streamed over the streets of Ponyville in a way that seemed to mock the chaos of the scene. Though the wind blew softly and birds chirped overhead, the hulking monster in the street defied all notions of peacefulness. It looked like a creature from another world among the cottages and wooden fence-posts of the town’s idyllic street.

A trail of smoke climbed into the sky from somewhere in the distance. Blood was splattered across the ground and a large smear of it trailed down the street and around the corner. Houses had chunks missing and ponies fled from the scene in every direction, while others foolishly gathered to observe the chaos. Arrows stuck from the flesh of the creature as a testimony to the efforts of those who had failed to stop its rampage so far.

Flutterguy recognized the creature as a hell knight; its human stature and bulging muscles were more than enough for her to categorize the creature on sight.

It slammed the pony’s corpse to the ground, sending entrails and gore squirting along the soil of Ponyville. Several onlookers ran off, while several others yelled in fright when the creature let out a ghastly, ear-piercing shriek of white-hot rage.

It turned to the crowd and extended a gnarled finger forwards.

“SLAYER!” roared the beast with terrific fury. “SLAYER, COME FORTH. DIE, SLAYER!”

Flutterguy walked into the middle of the gravel street and stood before the beast. She snorted and stamped a hoof on the ground.

The hell knight turned its green eyes towards her. She leapt to the side as it swiped at her.

Her hoof shot outwards and impacted the side of the creature. She felt flesh tear and bones buckle beneath her strike, but it wasn’t enough.

The hell knight let out a scream of pain as it once again tried to punch Flutterguy. She rolled away from the monster and kicked at its leg.

A kneecap snapped beneath her hoof.

The hell knight’s screams were coming even faster now. It began to throw things at Flutterguy and she manipulated her new body in various contortions to avoid the projectiles.

A trash can flew at Flutterguy and in a single moment, she leapt on top of it. She shot from the top of the projectile towards her foe.

It caught her in midair with one hand on either side of her and began to squeeze. For a moment, she struggled under its grip, before bucking forwards with both of her legs.

The skull of the demon cracked and the rotten jelly of its brain spilled forth.

Flutterguy freed herself from its grip.

Now that the demon was writhing senselessly on the ground, she was able to pummel it with no restraint. Some onlookers drunkenly cheered while others silently watched the mauling.

Flutterguy took a moment to breathe as she stood triumphantly over the demon.

A shaken Twilight approached her from behind.

“I get it now,” said Twilight. “You don’t talk because this is what you do. You don’t want to make friends with us or hurt us. You just want to fight these monsters and maybe you see us as a means to an end.”

She turned towards Twilight and for the first time, Twilight felt truly acknowledged by the stranger.

Flutterguy locked eyes with Twilight and began to chuckle in a low, gravely tone.

Chapter 3: Blossom Of Hope

Rarity made her paces around the interior of Celestia’s castle.

A candle held in a small, golden cup was levitated to her side. The flickering light from the candle cast a faint and shaky illumination across the stained glass windows and golden doors of the hallway she trotted through. Her night-robe was a welcome presence against her side in the cold night. She wrapped herself in thoughts as she strode along in her midnight wanderings.

She remembered how quickly Twilight had gathered the Elements within Celestia’s castle once demons began to emerge from the Everfree forest. There was nothing lacking in that part of her response; she trusted Twilight to always look out for her friends. Something about her studious friend’s answer to the sudden threat was unusually panicked though, which was somewhat unlike her.

She took in a small breath as her candle-light shone upon a stained glass mural of her and her friends. Each pony was laid into the window in pieces of glass that matched their respective colors. The six ponies flanked Celestia on either side and a yellow sun shone over them. Each pony had its own small smile and Celestia’s head was bowed in contemplation, her wings spread out wide, as if to shelter the elements. The shapes of the ponies seemed to shift about slightly in the low light of her flickering candle, seemingly taking on lives of their own.

An inscription was scrawled below the painting on a plaque carved from brass:

The light of our world
The elements of harmony
Saviors of Equestria
Hope of our children

Rarity remembered the way the Elements had chuckled when the inscription had been shown to them on the day it was laid into the castle. She herself thought it was a tad bit dramatic; the over-exaggerated ramblings of some random poet who had been conscripted for the task of honoring the sacrifices and journeys of the Elements.

Fluttershy’s figure was on the bottom right. Rarity surveyed the smile on her face and the gentleness in her closed eyes. She put her hoof on the mural and closed her eyes in silent contemplation.

Rarity began to wonder if all of this was enough. The plan with the World Nymph seemed haphazard to her at best and she found herself questioning if risking the lives of the other elements was truly the best way to go about things. She dismissed those thoughts as she thought about the capabilities and integrity of her friends. After all, it wasn’t anypony’s fault that Fluttershy had ended up like this, but it was in the hooves of her friends to undo what had been done.

“Fluttershy,” she said under her breath. Despite the softness of her words, they cast a ghostly echo throughout her surroundings. “I won’t let you go. We’ll save you, darling.”

She stood with her head bowed before the mural. A cloud shifted and moonlight began to shine upon her. Rarity looked up and blinked a few times in the sudden light, before turning to continue walking down the hallway.

She came to Twilight's room first.

As was expected, she was hunched over a book, transcribing its contents onto a piece of paper.

Rarity took note that Fluttershy's human body lay in a bed that had been pushed to one side of the room. Various papers containing arcane imagery and furiously scribbled notes were hung on the walls above and stacks of ancient books surrounded the bed.

Twilight stopped her studies to acknowledge her friend.

“Can’t sleep, huh?” she asked with a yawn, looking up from her studies.

Rarity shook her head. “I’m just checking on everypony. These are troubling times, you know.”

Twilight nodded. “Well, I gathered everypony here for a reason.”

“Right,” replied Rarity. “It was a bit of a shock to come here so suddenly, but I trust that you have a good plan.”

Twilight smiled. “Me and Celestia immediately started working on a plan, once she was informed of what had happened. We’re going to announce it to everypony in the morning. It was just most convenient to gather everypony here in the castle for what’s coming.”

“We’re not the only ones affected by this you know.” retorted Rarity.

Twilight sighed. “It’s sad that even more ponies have had to die in the last couple of days, but Ponyville has been evacuated, you know. The only ponies there now are soldiers. This kingdom is doing the best it can.”

“Oh, I wasn’t questioning anything. You and Celestia have done a marvelous job of keeping everypony safe in the middle of this whole thing.” replied Rarity.

“We’ve certainly tried our best and of course, there’s our new friend to look out for.” replied Twilight.

“Speaking of which, what’s the matter with him, er, her?” inquired Rarity.

“I conducted an extensive investigation into the marks on his armor and I believe he may be an Argenta.” replied Twilight.

“A what now?” asked Rarity.

“The Argenta people were a powerful warrior race that once joined forces with ponies to contain the World Nymph,” explained Twilight. “Most mighty of them all was the Slayer, but I’m sure you know the fairy tale.”

“Oh yes, of course, now that you mention the Slayer.” remarked Rarity. “At the height of the final battle, as the world itself was being torn into ruins, the Slayer emerged from the ranks of the Argentan army alongside a most powerful alicorn. He rode with her into battle with the World Nymph and she gallantly gave her life to protect him in her final moments. It’s the kind of thing I like to tell Sweetie Bell on nights when she can’t quite get to sleep.” said Rarity with a chuckle.

Rarity briefly conversed furthermore with Twilight before making her exit.

She came to Pinkie Pie’s room next, to find her already sleeping. Rarity reached into her saddlebags and left a stack of cookies on the table for the mare before leaving.

She came to Applejack’s room next, to find the mare doing pushups.

“Four thousand four...four thousand five…” grunted Applejack as sweat swam down her face.

Rarity gasped as the mare switched to handstand pushups. Applejack saw her and toppled over on her flanks.

“Are you-” started Rarity.

“Doin’ fine.” grunted Applejack as she climbed off the ground. “Just gotta get back to it.”

Applejack restarted her pushups as Rarity stood in the doorway.

“Well, I’m just making my rounds to make sure everypony is doing okay toni-” she started.

“Doin’ fine. Just have to make sure I’m strong enough for this one.” said Applejack. Then she stopped her pushups and sat on her bed. “Rarity, what if I’m not strong enough? I mean, what if it all comes down to me and I can’t do it?” said Applejack in a defeated tone.

“Dear, I wouldn’t worry about that.” said Rarity.

“Well, what makes you say that?” replied Applejack, looking up to her friend for guidance.

Rarity gave a smile before continuing. “This isn’t just about your strength, you know. It’s all of us, as ponies who care about one another an awful lot.”

“Yeah, I bet telling yourself that makes you feel a whole lot better.” retorted Applejack.

Rarity stopped and stared at the floor. Something had come over the room and she suddenly felt a tad bit smaller.

She sighed and squeezed her eyes shut. “What if we aren’t good enough? I mean, what if we can’t-”

“C’mon, don’t get all like that.” said Applejack, trying to put on a smile. “I’m sure Twilight’s plan will be good enough, whatever it is. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to hit ten thousand before midnight.”

Rarity let out a sigh of relief as she felt the feeling of tension vanish. “Don’t let me keep you, darling.”

“Whatever you say, sugarcube.” replied Applejack as she resumed the handstand position.

Next, Rarity came to Rainbow Dash’s room.

Her bed was empty and unmade. Various personal items were scattered around the room and her packed suitcase still sat in the corner. The window had been cracked open and a chill wind crept into the room. A few empty wine glasses were left on top of her dresser and night table. There was no sound save for a slight rattle as the draft upset the glasses.

“Dash?” nervously asked Rarity.

Nopony replied to her.

“Dash, I’m worried, where are you?” asked Rarity again with a trembling voice.

She noticed the door to the balcony open and quickly trotted up to it. Before going through, she looked through the glass pane of the door.

A silhouetted figure sat on a chair facing out away from Canterlot’s city lights. It overlooked a forest faintly illuminated by moonlight. The branches of the trees let out a gentle whooshing sound as the midnight breeze blew over them. The pure scent of the night’s air was tainted by wine. Rarity noticed a few more empty glasses on the edge of the balcony and one had fallen to leave shards of glass on the floor.

The figure hiccuped while Rarity remained silent.

Finally, she could no longer contain her curiosity. “Dash?”

“Yup,” replied the slouched pony. “That’s me. The great Rainbow Dash, the screw-up.”

She could see her face now and it was completely expressionless. Her eyes were half-lidded and her mouth hung slightly open as she breathed slowly.

Rarity almost offered words of condolence but chose not to speak. She watched silently as Dash raised a picture of Fluttershy to the front of her face. Dash silently stared into the picture and grasped it with her other hoof, leaning over to look into the picture. As she gazed into its depths, she reached to a chanticle that still contained a few drops, taking another sip.

“Um, well, I didn’t know you drank.” said Rarity in a soft voice.

“Oh, it’s my sad little girl coping mechanism. Haven’t done it in a decade.” muttered Dash so quietly Rarity could barely hear it. “So I’m not surprised that you don’t know. I mean, about the drinking. That you don’t know about.” said Dash, slurring every other word.

Rarity gulped. “I think I’ll-”

Dash nodded drunkenly. “The glasses. I mean, the wine glasses. I’ll clear them up. Don’t tell the others. Don’t want them worried.”

Rarity gave a curt nod and quickly trotted out.

She began to trot down the hallway to the room of the creature they only knew as Flutterguy.

She stopped walking and suddenly noticed something strange.

There was music not just coming, but pouring from the room in a cacophony of sound.

It sounded as if somepony was playing a guitar, but at many times the speed Rarity was used to. The sound was heavy and landed on her ears with a metal impact. She heard a faint voice shrieking lyrics in a language she couldn’t understand. The door to the room was open and she could see the silhouette of a pony contorting back and forth as it hunched over a guitar, its mouth occasionally opening to let out a roar.

Alternatively, it may have simply been wordless screams that matched up perfectly with the tempo of the loud and furious music being played. Her untrained ear had no way to discern. Either way, she chose to turn back and head back to her room for the night, leaving Flutterguy to her heavy, strange and metal music for the night.

“So what’s your plan, Twilight?” asked Applejack.

Sunlight shone through stained glass windows to put a spotlight on the first four elements as they trotted down one of the many hallways of Celestia’s castle. Their hooves stepped on the thick fibers of a red carpet as they passed murals of themselves and busts of Equestria’s other great heroes. The ceiling of the hallway lay far above them and was dotted with skylights and ornate chandeliers.

“You’ll see!” said Twilight, barely containing her glee in her excitement.

“Maybe we’ll ride in a giant balloon straight to the World Nymph!” exclaimed an excited Pinkie Pie. “Or maybe we’ll be on a hu-u-u-gge elephant!”

“Perhaps we’ll be on a gilded war-carriage.” elaborated Rarity with a sharp inhale. “Think about it and picture this: the elements of harmony, Equestria’s heroes, gallantly riding off to war, flanked by Celestia’s finest soldiers in golden armor inlaid with precious jewels-”

“Well heck, maybe it’s a new spell or something.” said Applejack curtly. “Like a big one that can fix this whole dang mess in a minute flat.”

“Girls, just one more moment!” retorted Twilight with a flick of her mane.

Rainbow Dash’s snores almost overpowered the sound of their conversation. She slouched over as she rode on Flutterguy’s back, who’s eyes were also baggy from tiredness.

“Hmph, you two.” snided Rarity. “Perhaps if you had rested properly, maybe you’d-”

“Maybe if you didn’t spend a half hour powdering your gosh-darn butt cheeks or somethin’, we’d already have it figured out!” snapped Applejack.

Twilight giggled. “We did have to wait for a while on you, Rarity.”

She grouched as the rest of the group jeered at her for a few moments.

Her suffering ended as the group of ponies approached a large, wooden door that stood at the hall’s end.

Twilight’s voice lowered from a combination of tension and excitement. “It’s right behind here!”

She giddily swung her flanks from side to side like a little girl and then parted the doors for all to see.

“It’s...a ship?” asked Rarity with a note of confusion in her voice.

“Looks more like a castle to me.” said Applejack in an awed voice.

The galleon was as beautiful as it was confusing to the ponies. Its hull was carved from timber, inlaid with looping decorations that worked their way up to the bow, where they gave way to a figurehead in the likeness of a mare. Portholes which held windows reinforced by iron bars. They dotted the midsection of the ship every dozen feet or so. While the wood wasn’t painted any particular color, it had been expertly stained and the smell of its artisan treatment was still clear to the ponies present.

A long bow extended from the front of the ship that nearly impacted large, wooden doors guarding the entrance of the chamber it was being held within. Along the edges of the deck, several enormous machine guns with many barrels were placed evenly, three on each side. A pair of canons were perched on the front of the ship, flanking the bow. There was no sail that the ponies could see and it felt strangely naked without one. There was also an elevated platform clearly meant for a captain to direct the ship from.

“Wo-o-o-ow!” squealed Pinkie Pie as her eyes sparkled.

“Twilight this is just, I can’t believe it!” exclaimed Rarity. She stumbled over her next few words and they came out as an insensible squeal of delight.

“Well, don’t start wetting your knickers yet Rarity. How are we gonna sail the darn thing and why in tarnation do we need it?” asked Applejack.

“That would be where we come in.” boomed an imperial voice from behind the ponies.

A group of sailors in uniform poured into the room. Their shirts were red with golden buttons and they wore white pants with black and pointy hats, rifles slung across their sides and swords tucked by their hips. Fine leather boots were on their hooves, each pair tied into the same precise knot. They held their heads haughtily and refused to even look at the mane six gathered in the ship’s chamber.

“We are Celestia’s very own flying galleon brigade, with over twenty years of loyal and productive service between us.” haughtily announced one of their numbers.

He had a captain’s hat on his head and an even bigger mustache. His eyes were pretentiously shut and his nose was stuck upwards in the air. Medals of various sizes hung from his chest and his uniform was impeccable down to the elaborate knots on his boots. A wood-handled revolver was slung along his chest instead of the rifles his men carried. His cutie mark was a blue champion’s ribbon.

“And I am Captain Seaworthy.” he proudly boasted.

Applejack stepped forwards and extended a hoof. “Hi there stranger, I’m-”

“The element of harmony known as Pinkie Sparkle, I have already been informed.” said Seaworthy in a tone of voice far louder than what was needed.

“Applejack.” snarled Applejack. “Never heard of ‘Pinkie Sparkle’.”

Seaworthy failed to acknowledge her comment. “And this fine vessel is known as the-”

“Celestia’s Majesty!” exclaimed Twilight. “I’ve heard a lot about its service from Celestia herself.”

“Oh, you report directly to the Princesses?” inquired Seaworthy. “May I ask your rank, seeing as how you are starkly naked, without your uniform?”

“I’m not in the military,” said Twilight sheepishly. “None of us are, actually.”

“Oh, trust me, I know.” said Seaworthy.

Something seemed to come over the stallion’s face and his facade of professionalism flickered for a brief moment.

“Anyways, me and my crew will be conducting preliminary inspections. Celestia will be in soon and any further questions are to be directed to her.” abruptly stated the stallion.

Him and his crew slinked off to perform their duties.

“Good riddance.” said Applejack in a nasty tone of voice.

Twilight was trying to smile. “Well girls, that didn’t go quite as expected. I didn’t think the great Captain Seaworthy would be, well-”

“A big ol’ butthole?” snided Applejack.

“Language!” asserted Rarity. “He was a stuck-up meaniepants, but we must put crassness aside.”

“Anyways, I’ll explain, since he neglected to do that.” said Twilight with a note of disappointment in her voice.

“Celestia’s Majesty is a floating galleon, meaning it’s a flying ship. It’s magically powered by a specially trained unicorn; one of Seaworthy’s crew has trained from a young age specifically for the job. Vessels of its nature are rarely used due to the number of specialized crew required to operate them, but for this specific mission, we’re going to be flown out to the lake containing the World Nymph.” explained Twilight.

She took note that Flutterguy was staring at her with rapt attention and continued. “Me and Celestia chose to use this ship because it’s the quickest way to get us to the lake, at the least possible risk to any of us. Given that the demons seem to be spawning from somewhere in the Everfree, I specifically requested that we receive a compliment of trained soldiers to help us out if we get into a fight.”

A twinkle came into Twilight’s eye. “Once we board the ship, there’s yet another surprise for all you ponies, but that’ll have to wait.”

Flutterguy chuckled and the rest of the group turned to look at her.

“Um, how much of this do you understand, anyways?” asked Rainbow Dash curiously. “Do you even speak Equestrian?”

Flutterguy nodded.

“I think she does that at everything.” commented Pinkie Pie. “I’ve got an idea!”

Pinkie Pie bounced to Flutterguy’s front. “If you understand me, shake your head three times and stamp your left hoof.”

Flutterguy proceeded to do so.

“Huh, well, that answers that.” idly commented Dash.

The group was silent for a moment as Seaworthy’s crew continued their inspection behind them.

“You can talk to us, sugarcube.” said Applejack gently.

Dash nodded. “Yeah, we’re all in this together. Just open up some, we won’t hurt you.”

For a second, Twilight thought Flutterguy smiled, but it might have been her imagination.

“My little ponies!” exclaimed Celestia as she entered the room. “I assume Seaworthy has filled you in on-”

“Men, REPORT!” boomed Seaworthy as he rounded a corner.

His stallions lined themselves up and raised their noses in the air with shut eyes. Each one stood at rapt attention with perfect posture and their medals gleamed in the sunlight. Seaworthy himself gave a crisp salute to Celestia.

“My most excellent majesty, our initial inspection is complete and-” began Seaworthy.

“I’m so happy to see you, girls!” said Celestia with a smile as she approached the elements.

“And this is our new friend?” she asked with a smile as she turned towards Flutterguy.

Something had come over Flutterguy’s face. For the first time, the ponies present noticed a wave of emotion sweeping over her face. Her mouth opened as if to speak and then shut. Her eyes had grown suddenly wide and the stranger seemed genuinely shocked, as if a sudden surprise of some sort had just occurred.

“First time seeing an alicorn? The mane always gets people.” said Celestia with a mature grin. “Well, no worries. Let me just give you a quick scan-over to see if Twilight missed anything important.”

Celestia’s horn glowed and reached out to Flutterguy. For a moment, her face was still, then her eyes shot open and her mouth dropped.

“My majesty, is everything-” began Seaworthy.

“There’s no way. There’s just no way.” said Celestia with a choked sob.

She strode forwards and took Flutterguy in her legs while weeping. Flutterguy returned the gesture and tears of her own began to pour forth.

“Um, do you know one another?” said Twilight with clear confusion. She was ignored as the two reunited.

“I never thought I’d-I mean, I thought you’d be dead after all this time-” said Celestia through her happy sobs.

Flutterguy gave her a pat on the back and shut her eyes. Celestia returned the gesture by nustling her muzzle in the mane of the mare and squeezing her eyes shut.

Celestia let go of Flutterguy and took a step back. Her tears had dried and once again, she had assumed her regal posture.

“I trust that you shall serve my friends here with due respect and loyalty, as you once did for me.” she said in a gravely serious tone.

Flutterguy kneeled and her face twisted up with incredible emotion.

“I will not fail you a second time, Princess Celestia.” spoke Flutterguy in a low tone of voice.

Celestia bowed her head in respect, letting her horn touch the top of Flutterguy’s head. “In my eyes, you have failed in nothing. Mistakes happen in the heat of battle and you can be held to no fault.”

“Now rise from the ground, mighty Slayer.” she continued with thunder in her voice.

“Wait, she’s the Slayer?” gasped Twilight.

The other ponies in the room all burst out into excited chatter.

As they talked, Flutterguy stared into the shimmering rainbows of Celestia's mane and began to remember...

Chapter 4: Old Swordsmane's Tale

The Slayer retreated into the depths of his memories and the chamber fell away from him. His memory went back hundreds of years, to a time that was nearly forgotten to him. He struggled to remember and then the sights and sensations of a bygone era once again came to him...

The alicorn raised her sword to meet his blade.

A loud clang rang out in the chamber as Sentinel metal met Equestrian blacksmithing. The magical energies infused into the alicorn’s blade began to furiously shudder and expand as the Slayer rained strike after strike upon her defense. Sweat poured down the brow of the dark red alicorn and her horn lit up to bolster the strength of her defense.

He brought down the side of his sword onto her sword's back. She pushed the blade upwards and the two blades ground against one another for a moment. In a rapid motion, she withdrew her blade from underneath his and levitated it to her side.

He mistakenly thought he was being given an entrance and thrust his sword forwards in a jab.

As he brought his sword to her skull, he felt sharpened steel press up against the seam where his helmet met his neck.

“Checkmate!” said Swordsmane with glee.

The Slayer’s eyes glared out from his helmet as he held his blade over her head. A sudden blush ignited the face of the alicorn.

“And that goes for both of us, again.” she said with an exhausted sigh.

The Slayer took a moment to relax as Swordsmane panted in her corner.

The ceiling of his dueling room stretched for many feet above him and a circular lamp was inlaid far above. It cast a bright light on the center section of the arena, where stone steps led into a metal floored arena. Great columns bearing crystals which occasionally flickered with blue sparks stood on the four corners of the arena. A combination of stone and marble facades lined the walls and there was a mural of the Slayer himself fighting against demons etched into the stonework.

He became suddenly thankful that he had chosen to place a dueling room within the Fortress of Doom. It was quickly proving to be an excellent method of testing the strength of both allies and enemy forces. A holographic projector installed into one of the columns would allow him to simulate any foe that he so chose. For this day though, there was only one opponent that he wished to test the mettle of and she was before him.

With every blow he had laid against the alicorn so far, she had raised her sword to meet him with perfect form, speed and accuracy. He had never before faced an ally or foe possessed with such adequate martial prowess; even his fellow Night Sentinels faltered when he became serious with his attacks. However, there was something different about her.

Celestia had clearly named her as head commander of the Equestrian forces for a reason. She was a creature of perfect balance; as analytical as she was quick to act, as loyal as she was ruthless and as intelligent as she was vicious. He remembered the lore of Swordsmane and the legendary status she had to ponykind as a fierce leader of the Equestrian forces across countless battlefields over decades. In his heart, he was thankful that the legends about her prowess were true and that she was not the false idol of a weak race.

He could feel a seed of respect beginning to blossom within his heart for the first time in centuries.

Swordsmane smiled as she removed her sparring helmet. “When Celestia assigned me to you as your mission partner, I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to keep up.”

The Slayer gave a dismissive shrug and twirled his sword about the hilt until the blade spun so fast it was invisible to the naked eye. He then rapidly sheathed it in a single motion.

Swordsmane sighed and respectfully bowed her head. “I am dedicated to my kingdom, but only Celestia is truly able to match my pace. It’s a bit refreshing to have a partner who’s my equal in the ring.”

The two walked out of the dueling arena and proceeded down one of the hallways of the ship. It stretched before them like the throat of a great, stone beast. Blue torches dimly flickered and the ceiling itself seemed to disappear in a murky haze far above. Statues of both the Slayer himself and Sentinels lined the halls and a great tapestry bearing his mark hung from the ceiling. As they walked, the fury of their duel fell away from him and he began to reflect on his martial strengths and weaknesses.

A wide opening in the wall provided a view of the planet which contained Equestria.

Swordsmane stopped in the middle of the hallway and whistled. “Equis is beautiful from all the way up here.”

The Slayer turned and began to survey the planet with her.

She stuck out her hoof. “Over there are the Plains of Embron, a vast desert in which many magical things reside.”

The Slayer squinted. He could see a vast patch of wasteland on the surface of the planet that gave way to blankets of verdant forest.

“And that’s the land of Nud, where it’s said that many-legged beasts work tirelessly to produce alchemical products for their trading partners.” she continued to explain. “Then, of course, you have Equestria itself.”

The alicorn pointed out several more locations on the surface of Equis and the Slayer listened with rapt attention. When it came to things like this, he would rarely acknowledge the other person. Most people simply weren’t worthy of his attention or time. This particular alicorn was different in that she had earned the right to be acknowledged by him. He had much to learn from one who could not just meet his blade, but subordinate him in a fair fight.

She turned towards him and continued speaking. He watched her as she talked and for a moment, he saw something more than an ally. He saw a friend; someone who he could look upon as a true equal and give his respect to, with no fear of letting that person down or being let down by them. It was something he badly needed after centuries of being the sole dominant force upon countless battlefields.

“Anyways, you won’t be here for that long, so I just wanted to show you some of the sights of our realm before we go to war once more.” finished the alicorn.

The Slayer nodded in respect of her lecture and the alicorn continued to walk. He followed her down the corridor to a small door of iron. She pushed her way through and he followed behind. The door gave way to a massive room that stretched off to both sides of the pair like a massive metal field. Great white lights crept up the sides periodically, mounted beside sloping arches that seemed to form a technological ribcage of sorts. It was the hangar bay of the Fortress of Doom and it was ready for action.

A gigantic mouth, buzzing with the same energy that served to retain the atmosphere in the rest of the vessel, opened to the inky blackness of space. Sentinel craft were mounted on racks along the ceiling and several were on the floor of the hangar bay, undergoing fuel and maintenance procedures. Sentinels scurried to and fro about the immaculate, glossy floor of the hangar bay. Some were in their Teutonic suits of technological armor, while others wore drab mechanic’s uniforms.

As Swordsmane and the Slayer walked through the hangar, every Sentinel they passed stopped to give a salute, to be dismissed with a wave of the Slayer’s hand.

One of the Sentinels rushed up to the Slayer. “My liege, your craft is ready for atmospheric operations-”

The Slayer raised his hand to silence the Sentinel.

He locked eyes with Swordsmane and she gave a soft, knowing smile.

“We’ve already rehearsed this a few times, I believe.” she said in a fast, excited tone.

The Slayer nodded. He removed his helmet and put a hand on her head. His hand moved back and forth as he gave her a rough pat on the head, stirring her mane. She giggled under his touch and blushed.

As quickly as the gesture had begun, the two stopped and resumed their typical grave seriousness. The pair strode up to the edge of the bay and a number of Sentinels were watching in a small crowd from a distance.

An audible gasp came from the crowd of Sentinels when the Slayer climbed on the back of Swordsmane.

“Sir, surely you don’t intend-” started a Sentinel.

“My King, that is an alicorn, not an orbital landing craft!” spluttered another one of the crew.

The Slayer snorted and put his helmet back on.

“Hope you’re ready for this one, badass.” she remarked sarcastically.

He gave her a hearty slap on the flank in turn.

“Okay, time to stop messing around.” she said with a sudden flare of determination in her voice.

Her wings expanded to either side of her. A brief pulse of magic squirted from her horn and her nostrils and mouth both began to glow as she casted a spell that would allow her to breathe within the void. With a final breath of trepidation, she galloped furiously towards the hangar entrance. She took flight briefly before crossing through the barrier.

Before she crossed through, a sonic boom rang out across the hangar.

Then she shot out at once in a blur of incomprehensible speed.

“You rode here on her back.” said Celestia in a flat tone of voice.

The Slayer and Swordsmane looked out to the gathered Sentinel and Equestrian armies. The Teutonic armor of the Sentinels contrasted with the gilded decorations of the Equestrian army. A crop of buzzing spears rose from the Sentinel ranks, many of their soldiers bearing ballistas and other Argent weapons on their backs as secondary weapons.

In the ranks of the ponies, it was a slightly different sight. Many of their numbers bore swords and greatswords that flickered with magical enchantments. The pegasi members of the infantry floated in the skies above alongside the hovercraft of the Sentinel air force. They bore magically enchanted crossbows and pikes that would allow them to skewer the ranks of the Demonic armies they were soon to face.

Great battle-dragons stood on the Equestrian side of the gathered armies and they were joined by the hulking figures of Sentinel titans. The gigantic soldiers of both armies seemed to almost be in a competition for who could give off a greater aura of destructive potential. While the Sentinel titans were menacing with their great blades and war-cannons, the dragons were frightening in their own way with claws that stretched out many times the length of a mere man.

A vast bubble of magical energy shielded the armies on the plain they resided upon. Far above both of the armies, Sentinel aircraft waged war against demons within the upper atmosphere. An explosion from their distant battle would occasionally cast an eerie light across the assembled forces. The castle of Celestia herself hung off a mountainside in the far distance and a protective bubble of its own shimmered around it.

“How else would we do it?” remarked Swordsmane casually.

Celestia sighed. “I have many duties, on top of being the sole bearer of the elements of harmony. One of those is protecting the most important of my subjects.”

Celestia herself was dressed in a gilded suit of armor. A sword crackling with magical flame was sheathed at her side and her hooves were covered by golden shoes with small spikes on the bottom. The magical energies of her mane flared up through her armor and her eyes seemed to be glowing with arcane powers of some sort.

Swordsmane chuckled and threw back her mane. She looked down at Celestia from the bridge of her nose. “You think I would need protection? Or him?”

“It was a risky maneuver and a pointless one, given that you had a far safer option in the form of a Sentinel landing craft.” said Celestia pointedly.

Swordsmane and the Slayer both shrugged.

“Anyways,” continued Celestia. “Reprimands will come later. Now is the time for war.” She gestured out towards the gathered army in the field. “This army has been assembled as a delaying force. While you two assault the World Nymph, they will keep the demonic hordes at bay.” She levitated a Crucible blade to her side and its red energy illuminated her fur as if it were soaked in neon blood. “This weapon must be plunged into the World Nymph. I trust that you are quite familiar with these, Slayer.”

The Slayer nodded.

“Anyways, the exact location of the World Nymph will appear on your heads-up display. This is due to an enchantment that interfaces with your armor,” she continued as she strode down the front ranks of the assembled armies. “You will likely only have a limited window in which to strike. Swordsmane will cast a spell that will restrain the energies of the Nymph while you thrust the blade through to permanently bind it, Slayer.”

Swordsmane turned towards the Slayer. “Do you understand what she says?”

The Slayer nodded.

Celestia continued speaking. “If you delay too much in pushing the blade through, then Swordsmane will become fully crystalized from the-”

“Wait,” said Swordsmane. “Let me explain some. When a unicorn or alicorn becomes ‘crystalized’ from magical exertion, it means that the magical residue from a spell that has been cast for too long will entrap the caster. Just imagine having concrete cast over your body, but with a magical material instead.” She inhaled before speaking again. “It puts the caster into the depths of a coma from which they can never recover.”

The Slayer nodded.

“I trust that you shall complete this task with great speed and accuracy.” said Celestia. “Remember what is at stake, for both Sentinels and ponies.”

The Slayer gave a crisp salute to Celestia.

“Now,” she said as she turned towards her army. Her horn glowed and magical energy swirled around her mouth. Her voice came as an ear-shattering boom as she spoke her next words. “Does my army know its role?”

“YES, OUR PRINCESS!” boomed the ranks of the ponies. The Sentinels slammed the butts of their spears on the ground and knelt in respect and honor of their allies.

“You shall show them no mercy, for none shall be shown to you,” she concluded in a voice that sounded more like a peal of thunder than the words of a living creature.

“FOR EQUESTRIA AND FOR THE SENTINELS!” roared her loyal ranks.

“FOR THE KING AND FOR SENTINEL PRIME!” boomed the Sentinel ranks as they once again butted their spears against the ground.

A great cacophony swept throughout the shielded plains as both armies began to chant and roar in their respective tongues.

The Slayer removed his helmet and Celestia augmented his voice with a tendril of magic.

The gathered ponies and Sentinels grew quiet as the Slayer prepared to speak.

“Rip and tear, until it is done.” he said in a quiet voice that nonetheless furiously swept through the gathered ranks.

Great gusts of air whipped and whistled past the Slayer as he rode on Swordsmane’s back through the skies of the battle.

The allied armies raged against a massive demonic horde far beneath. When he dared to peak below, he could faintly see the Sentinel ranks glistening like silver coins on the scorched plains far beneath. The pony army itself swirled with magical energies as its warrior-mages cast forth great spells of destruction into the demon ranks. Large explosions from dragon's breath and the cannons of mighty Sentinel titans blew mountains far below into pieces. Great chunks of molten rock were cast into the air from the fight and Swordsmane struggled to fly in-between the sudden projectiles, the Slayer holding on for his life.

A blinking icon on his HUD notified him of the location of the World Nymph in the distant lands far below.

He leaned in to yell instructions into her ear. “Ten-o-clock, right below, World Nymph!”

The Slayer looked down at the plains below as Swordsmane took him into a sharp descent. The wind from earlier was now a mighty hand that threatened to blow him off of the alicorn’s back and he shuddered in the force of the turbulence.

She let out a cry of exhilaration and he himself whooped in excitement as she broke the sound barrier multiple times. His fingers dug into the neck of the alicorn and he felt himself lift off of her back, only secured by the iron strength of his grip as she descended.

Swordsmane quickly reached the ground and the Slayer leapt from her back. He drew the Crucible blade Celestia had gifted him.

He took a moment to look at his surroundings. Swordsmane had touched down within the depths of a great forest. He could see a mountain rising in the background, smoke streaming from its peak, as fighting raged at every level of the mountain. Titanic trees loomed in every direction and he could see little of his surroundings through the thickness of the foliage. The only thing visible in the natural expanse was a clearing where the trees gave way to the shimmering waters of a lake.

The World Nymph itself was floating above the lake.

It appeared as a tiny, velvet humanoid. Two pairs of transparent wings with a faint pinkish hue extended from its side. A golden mask inlaid with intricate carvings covered its face. Limp and skinny arms hung from its side. In spite of the destruction it had caused in the worlds of both Sentinels and ponykind, it seemed to be an almost childlike figure of innocence to the Slayer, compared to the demons he was used to facing.

He could hear a faint sound working its way from the World Nymph to him. The Slayer realized that the World Nymph was singing to itself and was entranced for a moment by the beauty in its tone. The entity seemed to be smiling to itself and its eyes were gently closed as it slowly fluttered over the lake.

“We only have a small window in which to strike. There is a high risk of it teleporting away.” noted Swordsmane.

The Slayer gestured for her to continue.

She shut her eyes and became unconscious as she entered an intense meditative state. The earth itself began to shake around the Slayer and trees toppled in the forest they were in. Branches were ripped from trees and huge gusts of wind surrounded the alicorn as she used every ounce of magical potential in her form. Great cracks opened in the ground and the sound of a dull roar swept throughout the woods. Clouds of birds and massive herds of animals streamed away from the two as they fled the sudden disturbance.

A massive tentacle of magic shot outwards and the World Nymph let out a horrific howl as it was engulfed.

The Slayer turned to Swordsmane, to find that she was already halfway frozen in crystal, only her torso and head still remaining. The spiky crystal skin rapidly crept over her body and she cried out in pain as her prison began to form.

His window to act was now limited to mere seconds, he realized.

He knew he had exactly one shot.

The Slayer raised the Crucible blade to his side and winded up for a toss.

Every last throw he had made in his life began to flow back into his mind. There was a faint memory of a little league baseball team from another time and then he remembered his infantry training back in his lost home dimension. His memories crept up to the present; every grenade he had tossed, every sword thrown, every spear released from his hand came to him.

He then tossed the Crucible with the greatest effort he had ever put into a throw.

It soared through the air towards the World Nymph with a sharp whistle as it flew beyond any human notion of speed.

In retrospect, he had only missed by perhaps a few centimeters.

Chapter 5: The Majesty's Voyage

“You’re so pathetic.” hissed Swordsmane.

The Slayer held the broken body of Fluttershy in his hands once more. There was something different about her weight now. It was a certain lightness that he had failed to notice before, back in the Everfree forest, when he had first met her. Her body had become worse than it was even back then. The form of the pegasus became more and more transparent as he watched and it threatened to flicker into nothingness.

“You can’t save her.” said a voice to his left.

He looked over to see Princess Celestia herself. Her eyes were bloodshot and fangs hung in her mouth. A pallid complexion had come over her fur and her limbs stuck out at odd, unnatural angles. Her brow was furrowed and her nostrils flared as she approached him.

“You can’t do anything.” stated Swordsmane plainly. “You were never enough, for me or for her. Everything, all of it, has been for nothing.”

The Slayer looked up to face her, holding Fluttershy to his side. He opened his mouth to speak when the pony held to his side began to struggle and buck furiously in his grip. She fell out of his hands and hit the ground with a dull thud.

“Failure.” whispered a voice from below him.

He looked down to see Fluttershy glaring at him with narrowed eyes. She opened her mouth and inky, black blood poured forth onto the soil of the earth. The liquid flowed around his feet and he found it more difficult to lift them. As he looked, he noticed there were faces within the blackness; howling and shrieking visages of people unknown to him.

“You were never good enough.” snarled Swordsmane. He looked into her face and began to apologize. His desire to speak was cut short as blood began to stream from her eyes and poured down her face. Maggots began to burrow out of her skin and her flesh itself fell off in chunks to reveal an expanse of rotten bone underneath.

“I’m sorry.” whispered the Slayer.

He could suddenly find no strength to speak or move and collapsed to the ground. His armor had become a trap and he struggled to remove it. Once his gloves were off, he raised his hand to his face. They had become shriveled like an old man’s and his arms had no more muscles. They too had been reduced to thin and sickly appendages that hung uselessly from his side.

“Do you think sorry is good enough?” roared a voice to his side.

He raised his ancient, aching eyes to see the element he knew as Rainbow Dash approaching him. Her face was red with fury and she ground her teeth together in rage. The rainbow colors of her mane swirled about her in a tidal wave of furious magical energy and flames flickered in her eyes as she approached.

“Useless.” she howled, slurring her words as if drunken.

“I’ll-I’ll save her-” whimpered the Slayer in a low voice.

He felt a hoof stamp into his back. “But you couldn’t save me.”

“Swordsmane-” rasped the Slayer. He felt something wet fall on his flesh and let out a cry of pain as he felt bites sprout along his side. His feeble hand swept away a lump of maggots and they began to eat his hand as well.

“No.” he said softly. Then he said it again in a tremendous roar.

He rolled out from underneath Swordsmane in a single motion. Some strength had returned to his form and he began to run.

“Slayer.” boomed a robotic voice.

As he watched, a great mountain sprouted from the grey, featureless plain he found himself in. A golden light shown at the top and even looking at it filled him with peace and determination. He began to approach it and became aware of a presence behind him. When he turned his head around, he saw them.

They had come in their multitude; not just demons, but ponies too. The ones he was never good enough for. The ones left behind by him on his crusades, because he couldn’t be enough to save them when they needed him. He balked as he saw not just men and women, but children in the swarming crowds too, their faces nearly rotten to pieces.

Their mouths opened at the same time in a bleak and dismal howl. Their arms extended out in front as they marched towards him and Swordsmane was their leader. Her blade was not the pure Equestrian steel he had remembered, but a terrible implement of bone and flesh that seemed to writhe as she levitated it to her side.

He turned from them and ran towards the mountain. His armor lay behind him in the dust and began to overflow with the black liquid. He stumbled in his sprint, only to gather himself up again and continue with more determination than before. Nimble fingers grasped the edges of stone crags and wrinkled feet pushed him over the sides of great cliffs.

Still, no matter how hard he climbed, the top of his mountain was all too distant.

The elements of harmony and Flutterguy stood gathered on the deck of Celestia’s Majesty. The doors of the chamber had been cranked open and sunlight streamed over the ship. Seaworthy and his crew were still engaging in pre-flight preparations and scampered about the ship as they loaded munitions and other supplies aboard.

“Well girls, are you ready for the surprise?” said Twilight with a tinge of glee in her voice.

The elements and Flutterguy nodded eagerly.

Two of Seaworthy’s sailors dragged a large, wooden box aboard. It was bound in chains that glowed with purple magic and sat on a wheeled platform hewn from metal. Twilight commanded them to set the box down upon the deck with a gesture. They stood aside as Twilight broke the chains with a pulse from her horn. They landed on the deck of the ship with a loud crash and the box stood unlocked.

Twilight’s horn glowed and the box was levitated off of the platform and set aside. Six sets of armor were revealed underneath it, mounted upon stands. They were translucent and their surfaces had a crystalline texture. Gemstones were mounted in their center and they buzzed with a soft, pink energy.

“It took hours of searching for Celestia and I to find these within the archives of Canterlot’s castle.” she admitted. “But here they are.”

“Wow, that’s kinda cool. Guessing it’s for us?” inquired Dash.

Twilight nodded. “These sets of armor will allow each of you to fight the demons as equals. Don’t think they’ll make you invincible, however. They’ll merely augment your existing strength and allow you to match the speed and strength of the demons, should we have to fight any.”

“That’s awesome!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie as she bounced with glee. “I can’t wait to beat up some demons!” She then comically boxed the air.

“Each set of armor contains an enchantment that has the potential to save your life, if you find yourself in extreme danger.” explained Twilight further. “However, the burden of using it will shatter the armor. It will automatically activate if you’re about to be killed.”

“Okay, understood. What will this enchantment of yours do?” asked Applejack.

“It attunes itself to the personality of its users. These sets of armor are enchanted with a special soul magic that bonds the suit to its wearer. So the enchantment you receive will be specialized to your personality.” said Twilight.

“I don’t quite follow, dear.” said Rarity with worry in her voice.

“Look at it this way. Dash is hot-headed and a little on the aggressive side, so her suit might increase her agility and strength. I’m more analytical and heavily rely on magic, so my magical abilities might be increased.” said Twilight.

“Gotcha. So who’s getting Fluttershy’s suit?” asked Dash

Twilight chuckled. “Flutterguy, of course. Not that I think he needs one.”

“Perhaps she would prefer to be called the Slayer.” conjectured Rarity. “Do you have a preference, dear?”

Flutterguy sat on her flanks with an incredibly disinterested expression on her face.

“Any questions, girls?” inquired Twilight.

“Actually, yes. If soul magic requires a transaction to be made and you can’t use soul magic anymore, then who made these suits?” asked Rarity.

“Good question. These suits are centuries old and were created by a forgotten warrior back in the era of Swordsmane, an Equestrian legend. But that’s for the history books.” answered Twilight. “Come to think of it, Swordsmane and the Slayer were said to be active in roughly the same eras. I’m curious, did you know of her?” asked Twilight to Flutterguy.

“I did.” remarked Flutterguy.

“Wait, WHAT? You can TALK?” exclaimed Dash excitedly.

The other ponies were worked up into a frenzy. Pinkie Pie herself was bouncing up and down excitedly. “She talks, she talks, she TALKS! And to us!” she giggled.

Twilight ignored the excitement of her friends and put her attention on Flutterguy alone. “What was she to you? Did you two ever fight together?”

Flutterguy looked off to the side. She then walked over to the edge of the ship and put her forehooves on the railing, looking off into the chamber with a vacant expression. “I loved her, as a friend. But I don’t want to talk about it”

“Is there anything you do want to talk about? Like, ever?” snided Dash.

Flutterguy responded with her typical silence.

“Yeesh, sorry.” retorted Dash with a shrug.

The other ponies branched off into a group and began to talk excitedly with one another.

Twilight walked past them and joined Flutterguy on the railing, putting her hooves up as well. She turned and looked at Flutterguy for what felt like the first time. While it was the face of her friend Fluttershy that stared back at her, she could see something different in it. There was a stoicism and air of maturity that Fluttershy, in her characteristic introversion, had never really shown.

“I don’t want you to feel like you have to come with us, you know.” remarked Twilight.

Flutterguy continued to stare outwards with a blank face.

“But I can tell you know what it’s like to have friends.” Twilight put her hoof on her shoulder. “Thank you for doing this for us. You’ve risked a lot to even be here right now.”

Flutterguy turned towards Twilight. Her face was still blank, but something had come into her eyes that Twilight couldn’t quite discern.

She continued. “I don’t know why you decided to come back to Equestria after all these centuries. But thanks for-”

Flutterguy quickly turned around and trotted away hurriedly. Twilight stood on the deck in confusion as she watched the pony hurry away from her.

“Wait!” called Twilight as Flutterguy opened a door that led further into the ship. “I just want to-”

Flutterguy slammed the door in her face. Twilight opened it with a groan and followed her into the bowels of the ship.

She descended into a maze of clockwork gears. Cogs of brass and iron ground against one another to form the mechanical underbelly of the vessel and occasional spurts of steam burst out as the ship began to warm up before take-off. Portholes let a dim and murky light into the room. The floor itself was hewn from mahogany and Twilight’s hooves gave off a loud sound as they impacted the surface. Everything in the room seemed to give off a sound of its own and it was difficult for her to tell where anything was.

It only took her a moment to realize she had become lost in the patchwork frenzy of bizarre machines. Large pipes and small webs of tubing threatened to entangle her mane and she ducked down to dodge their metal grasp as she looked through every nook and cranny. She picked her way through enormous pipes and steamwork machines in her search for Flutterguy. Her search led her to behind a massive boiler that let out loud hisses and squeals periodically.

Flutterguy sat on her flanks with a blank expression. Her wide eyes carefully regarded Twilight as she approached.

“I can tell there’s something bothering you. Ever since I met you, you’ve been silent and on-edge.” said Twilight. “But we’re all alone down here. If there’s anything you want to get off your chest, this would be a good time.”

A pipe above loudly hissed and released a cloud of hot steam over the two. Flutterguy shook her head and rose from her flanks to walk out.

Twilight sighed. “If you don’t want to open up, that’s okay, too. Just don’t say I didn’t try to talk to you.”

Flutterguy turned around and Twilight felt an icy feeling in her chest all of a sudden. The mere idea of angering such a colossal being of might and rage made her legs quake. She knew that if Flutterguy wanted to harm her, she would barely have time to wet herself before she would tear her head clean off.

She froze up as Flutterguy silently approached her. Twilight finally gathered the courage to address the stranger. “Is this about Swordsmane? Is that what this weird little tantrum is about?” Flutterguy nodded with a frown and Twilight let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “I’m just a little scared and frustrated, is all. The lives of my friends could very well be in your hooves and you won’t even talk to us as an equal for whatever reason-”

Flutterguy suddenly took Twilight in a hug. She exhaled in surprise before returning the gesture and wrapping her legs around the back of the muscular mare.

“I’m not well and I know you can pick up on that.” said Flutterguy in a voice barely above a whisper. “Just know that I love you and won’t ever let anything happen to you or your friends.”

“I, um, well, I don’t really feel the-” started a blushing Twilight.

“Friendship love.” explained Flutterguy quickly.

“Oh, yeah. Well, I love you too, Flutterguy. As a friend.” she said with a pat on the back.

The pair embraced for a moment longer and then came apart. “Let’s head back up. They’re about to lift us off.” said Twilight.

Flutterguy nodded and followed her out of the machine room.

“Let the grand voyage of the Celestia’s Majesty begin!” boomed Seaworthy’s voice over the ship’s speaker system.

The elements and Flutterguy were once again gathered on the ship’s deck. Celestia’s honor guard had gathered in the chamber and they appeared as a vast, golden audience to the ponies who watched them from the ship’s deck. Banners and streamers bearing various regal and military symbols and iconography streamed from their ranks and they gave a solemn salute to the ship.

The ponies on the deck gasped as a great wave of energy emerged from the center of the ship. As they watched, it began to condense into a rectangular sheet. That sheet then began to separate itself into smaller geometric shapes until it had formed a series of triangular sheets streaming from a thick mast of condensed magical energy. The energy gave off a vibrant green color that cast shadows across the deck of the ship and throughout the chamber itself.

“So there’s the sails.” smoothly remarked Applejack.

“Hey, Applejack! Down here!” yelled the shrill voice of a child.

Applejack galloped over to the ship’s edge and the other elements followed close behind.

Scootaloo, Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom had all gathered along with the soldiers to see their friends off.

“Oh, Sweetie Bell!” called out Rarity. She began to sob. “Don’t you worry about me! I’ll be just fine!”

“I’m not worried. You’re too pretty for those demons to hurt you.” said Sweetie Bell with a flutter of her eyes.

‘Yeah, with Rainbow Dash to protect your sorry flanks, nothing bad can happen!” yelled Scootaloo with a comical pump of her hoof in the air.

“That’s right, Scoot!” yelled out Dash as she soared over the edge of the ship with a flap of her wings.

The fillies began to giggle as they climbed on her back and began to play with her. She jokingly bucked off Scootaloo, only for her to climb back on and grip her mane between her teeth. Their laughter contrasted with the solemn posture of the gathered soldiers who watched with blank expressions.

Twilight found herself giggling and the other elements still on the ship joined her. Looking to the side, she found Flutterguy watching the scene with a smile on her face for once.

“All aboard, final call!” boomed Seaworthy’s voice once more through the speakers.

Dash took up Scootaloo in a hug. Twilight watched as she whispered something to the filly and they both started crying all of a sudden.

“I’ll come back for you, kid. Don’t worry. It wouldn’t be cool if I just disappeared, after all.” she said with a sniffle.

Scootaloo looked at her with tears in her young eyes. Her lip quivered, but she held back her sobs and gave a sloppy salute to Dash. Dash saluted back and soared back onto the deck of the ship as it began to slowly lift upwards.

As the other ponies watched, the gathered crowd became a bit more distant as the ship began to shudder. Finally, it had lifted off and had started to move out of the chamber. Music suddenly echoed out in the chamber as an assembled band began to play a song for the departing vessel. The soldiers burst out into a chorus of cheers and loudly boasted wishes of good fortune for the departing ship and its crew.

Finally, the ship had cleared the chamber. The castle of Canterlot itself became more and more distant to the watching ponies as the ship soared outwards with a surprising speed. Its bow tilted upwards and there was a great hiss of steam to accompany its new pattern of movement. The land far below seemed to tilt at an angle as the vessel reoriented its path of flight.

It began to climb into the sky and forage ahead into an unknown fate.

Chapter 6: Brutal Demonic Warfare

“Pinkie!” roared Dash.

Machine guns screamed around her as the sound of cannon fire deafened her ears. Pieces of debris impacted against her fur and the smell of smoke was her only companion as Celestia’s Majesty rocked under the sudden assault. She became suddenly thankful for her magical armor as embers from burning wood sizzled out against its magically enhanced surface.

Her eyes quickly darted to her left to see a scene of destruction and chaos raging on the deck. Clouds of bat-like demons poured forth from grey cloudbanks to assault a core of soldiers who discharged their rifles furiously into the coming hordes. There were two figures who stood out most clearly amongst the fighting. The first was Applejack, who darted about the deck in a scramble to save lives and kill demons.

The second figure who stood out was Flutterguy and Dash realized with a start why the mysterious stranger had refused to address her. As the pony whipped around with the speed and fury of a thunderbolt to rip off a demon’s head, all while protecting a small crowd of soldiers hiding behind her, Dash realized that even a lifetime of training would never put her or any other pony at the same level.

Her attention turned from the furious fight at her side and to her friend below her. A long, knotted rope dangled from the side of the Majesty and hung out in the thunderstorm. Dash could barely discern Pinkie Pie hanging with all her strength from the rope as the storm raged. Her face opened in a scream that Dash couldn’t hear amidst the gunshots and general chaos of the deckside fighting.

She gripped the rope with her teeth and began to pull with all her might. The thick fibers of the rope tugged at her teeth and threatened to break them loose from her jaw, but she nonetheless strained every muscle in her neck to hold the rope tight. Pinkie, to her relief, began to climb the rope slowly. Fingers of pain streamed from Dash’s neck down to her back and she would have sobbed from the strain of the exertion, had she any energy to spare.

At once, the rope slipped from between her teeth and Pinkie tumbled into the abyss.

Dash stood in shock on the deck for a moment before leaping over the bannister and into the whirlwinds of the storm below.

As she began to dive down, hail and rain bit at her face and forced her eyes shut. She trusted nothing but her own instincts to tell her that she was, in fact, heading downwards and not skywards. No matter how hard she flapped her wings, there was considerable resistance from gusts of air and currents of wind that seemed to be forcing her further into the sky, rather than towards her falling friend.

She pinned her wings to her side and let herself free-fall into the thunderstorm.

The wind continued its assault against her, yet she forced her eyes to open, in spite of the pressure. She could barely see a pinkish splotch tumbling through a nearby cloudbank. She vanished even as Dash watched and she adjusted her trajectory to be closer to her. Now confident that she was at least falling directly onto her friend, she grunted as she spread her wings again and forced herself downwards.

She finally felt herself moving with great speed and the resistance from earlier was gone. The air itself sheared and twisted around her to make room for Dash’s furious ambition. She felt a sudden lack of pressure and dared to open her eyes. She discerned that she had finally cleared the clouds of the storm, from what she could discern.

A landscape blanketed by fog and forests lay far below. Dash furiously scanned the skies in search of her friend and finally saw her. Pinkie appeared as a ball of pink light shooting towards the ground. From how low she was relative to Dash, she knew there was only one thing that had the potential to save her.

Dash pushed herself downwards and spread her wings. She struggled to recall the proper technique and then it came to her. Her lips began to blow about senselessly and the sudden coldness of the air assaulted her teeth and tongue. The sound of rushing air fell away from her as she approached a critical amount of speed.

Then she broke through. Though she couldn’t hear it, the sound of a sonic rainboom exploded into the air.

Dash shot forwards faster than sound towards Pinkie and let out a roar as she transversed the sky. As she flew, the strain of the fight and her flight took her toll on her body and she felt herself tiring.

“Not now. Please, Celestia, not now.” she thought to herself with sorrow building in her heart.

Her breaths came quicker and shallower as she approached exhaustion. There was no more energy left and she was running on reserves that were quickly burning out. Still, she had failed to get close to Pinkie Pie, and her friend had become invisible to her.

Dash felt herself begin to slow.

“No.” she thought in a desperate, senseless defiance.

Energy suddenly surged into her form as if some god had given her a blessing.

She opened her eyes in surprise as her armor began to glow pink. It was becoming hot against her skin and singed her fur to scald the flesh beneath.

“Is this the enchantment?” she questioned.

The armor burst into splinters and fell away from her. She now flew naked, but with a renewed strength that spread from her chest to the rest of her body. Her heavy, aching wings then felt as if they had been replaced with a beautiful design of the gods themselves. Once again, she took deep and steady breaths as her speed increased.

Another sonic rainboom exploded throughout the skies and clouds parted in her wake. The ground itself rocketed towards her, but the pony had eyes only for her friend far below her, visible as a beacon of light that emerged from the dullness of the landscape.

The tops of trees shot past her and she could briefly smell the scent of a forest. Rain whipped against her face and soaked every inch of her body as she twirled and twisted amongst branches and the tops of mountains in her chase. Pinkie Pie was no longer a mere pony, noted Dash, but had become a ball of energy that was almost about to hit the ground.

Dash gasped.

In spite of her speed, her friend had hit the ground, but it wasn’t what she had expected.

“Whoopee!” cheered Pinkie Pie in shock and glee.

She bounced off the ground once, twice, then three times before coming to a still.

Her armor had expanded around her to create a glowing sphere of energy. Her legs comically jutted out from the side of the ball in full extension. Each time Pinkie Pie impacted the ground, she would bounce off of it again, the impact of the fall doing nothing to harm it.

Dash facehoofed.

“Is something wrong, Dashie?” asked an exhilarated Pinkie Pie.

“Well, I guess not. I’m just mad that I wasted my armor just for you to do that.” retorted Dash.

Pinkie Pie giggled and continued to roll about. Suddenly, her armor shattered into pieces and she was naked. Her outline returned to normal and the magical ball disappeared as quickly as it had come. Some of the happiness from the moment before left her eyes and a more neutral look came over her as the rain fell around the two.

Dash scooped up her soaking friend and soared back to the ship.

Applejack bucked a demon’s head and sent its gore spewing across the deck.

She turned around to face another one, an orange beast with horribly long fangs, only for its head to disappear in a mist. Her attention was turned to a soldier. His smoking rifle hung from his side and he gave a curt nod to Applejack before turning his attention elsewhere.

An eerie, flickering light from the ship’s energetic mast cast a greenish glow over the deck. The faces of soldiers battling with demons were illuminated in its glow. Debris and pieces of packed luggage streamed over the deck as the ship rocked back and forth in the storm. It served as a light for Applejack as she picked her way through the fighting, occasionally having to dispatch a demon.

No matter how hard she tried, she could find no sign of Twilight Sparkle.

She became aware of a sound of flapping wings from behind her. Her attention was turned upwards and she saw a pair of bat-like demons carrying something monstrous in their claws. It was a demon more terrifying than any she had seen so far. Its skin was blood-red and its muscles were seemingly swollen from their vast and frightening size. Green eyes burned in their sockets. A pair of titanic, gnarled horns jutted out from its skull and sharpened teeth gnashed together in anger as it struggled against its carriers.

It finally wrangled itself free and fell to the deck of the ship.

Applejack gritted her teeth and stood before the demon. It roared at her and charged.

The mare nimbly rolled to the side as it impacted a wall, only for it to rapidly climb back to its feet. It turned its attention to her and gnashed its teeth in fury. The monster took a swipe at her and she yelled as it smacked into her armor. Her entire body felt sore from the impact and she realized she would have died, if not for the protection of Twilight’s armor.

Applejack snorted and began to furiously gallop away from the beast. Rifles cracked as shots impacted its flesh, but the beast totally ignored the gunshots in its rampage. She tumbled off of the deck onto a lower section, clumsily smashing into several barrels. Her nostrils flared as she detected the scent of oil.

She screamed as the oil ignited to give her a second skin of fire. Her eyes squeezed shut and she awaited a pain that never came. She slowly opened her eyes to realize that a layer of magical energy now protected her. The sudden cloud of magic twisted over her body and enhanced the flames that roared about her. They surged and her form became consumed by fire.

Her eyes opened with a furious intensity to behold the baron of hell approaching her. Its walk was slow and measured as it approached the flaming Applejack.

She galloped towards it and it made the mistake of picking her up. The baron dropped the flaming pony and roared in pain as its flesh was burnt. Applejack kicked the demon and it stumbled back with a panicked snarl, to swing its fist at her again. She allowed it to hit and felt no pain from the impact as the beast landed a solid hit on her.

Fire consumed the beast and it stumbled to the edge of the ship in a blind panic. Applejack chuckled and bucked it over the side. The light of the burning demon quickly vanished as it fell into a storm bank and vanished forever. Applejack turned back from the dead demon and began to trot back into the depths of the fighting.

She suddenly shuddered as her flaming armor burst into pieces and vanished, taking the flames it bore along with it. A sudden chill came over and she was naked in the swirling rains.

Before she could feel any sense of victory, she heard a titanic cacophony emerge from behind her.

An icy feeling crept into her chest and she turned around slowly. What faced her was not just one baron, but six of their number, imps and cacodemons accompanying their host. Each one of the demons stood triumphantly as if they were a monument to her own defeat. They beat their hooves on the deck and began to charge at her with the speed and fury of hurricanes brought to life and given form.

Fear shot into Applejack’s mind and her thoughts became senseless and empty.

Her fear vanished as quickly as it had come. She grit her teeth together to steady herself and furrowed her brow as her tail swung back and forth in fury. She stamped a single hoof down on the deck and lowered her head to meet her attackers.

A mighty hoof swept her backwards and sent her tumbling muzzle over hoof. She looked up from the deck where she lay and gasped.

Flutterguy stood defiantly before the demons, her armor completely gone. A purple buzz of magic enshrouded her skin and her face was bent into a hellish grin. Her eyes looked out with a burning desire in them that sickened Applejack in its clearly homicidal nature.

“Quad.” muttered Flutterguy in a low voice.

She leapt forwards and met the first baron head-on. Its body vanished into strips of flesh and piles of clumped up gore that rocketed across the surface of the deck. Applejack gasped and then began to scoot backwards as bones and pieces of intestines exploded outwards in every direction. Not a single baron stood before the hooves of Flutterguy; every last one that the pony struck died in but a single blow.

Applejack shuddered as she heard a dull laughter ring out amongst the intensity of the carnage. Then she felt a warmth come from between her flanks and realized she was wetting herself. Something about Flutterguy’s rampage was unnerving on the level of triggering some childlike instinct from deep within her past. The feeling of ice from earlier had crept over her entire body and she found it suddenly difficult to move from fear.

“Applejack, dear, are you alright?” called a distant voice to her side.

Applejack shakily arose to see Rarity running towards her. She took note that her armor was still intact. She gave a nod in response.

“I was-” Rarity stopped and gasped. “Who-what-did that?”

Applejack and Rarity turned towards the carnage. Flutterguy was nowhere to be seen and the deck was stained with piles of gore. Blood drenched the mahogany and pieces of skulls and intestines dotted the railings and archways of the deck. Horns and teeth lay scattered about as if a pinata of body parts had exploded over the deck as a part of some perverse, warlike celebration.

“She did.” muttered Applejack slowly, slurring her words. “Flutterguy. Never seen a living creature fight that hard, or that brutal. Saved my ass, I’ll admit, but it was scarier being next to that than a tornado.”

“Dear, let’s get below deck with Twilight, at once!” cried Rarity. She led her shocked friend by the hoof to a door that led into the cabin.

Applejack shakily sat down in the room. Several injured soldiers had been put up on cots, while Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash sat in a corner. Dash had trained a rifle on the doorway and lowered the gun as her friends stumbled through while Pinkie Pie slept in her lap. Applejack noted that Seaworthy was in a cot on the corner with a bandage over his eyes and streaks of blood visible down his side. One of his soldiers worked to fix him up and he groaned periodically.

She suddenly became aware of an incredible pain in her side.

“As I asked, dear, who did this?” asked a crying Rarity.

Applejack tenderly touched her side to feel something wet and slimy. She looked down to realize her belly had been torn open. The flesh around the opening was blistered and scorched from the heat of the flames. As she touched it, her vision became shakier and more blurry. Her breaths felt strained and her lungs felt like tiny sacks trying to contain the force of a hurricane.

Rarity shut her eyes and began to concentrate. “I only know a light mending spell, but you need treatment.”

Rarity shut her eyes and magic gathered around her horn. The surface of her armor began to glow before erupting into an explosion of writhing magics that enshrouded the unicorn.

“It’s not worth-” Applejack started to speak and then began to cough. She looked at her hoof to see it flecked with blood.

A powerful pulse shot out from Rarity’s horn and stuck to Applejack’s side. The magic seeped into the core of the mare and she let out a gasp of pleasure as the wound healed entirely. She gingerly touched the spot where the injury had been only moments before. The nasty wound was entirely healed and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Rarity touched her chest with surprise as she realized her armor had vanished.

“Now where’s Twilight?” asked Applejack. “We need to keep track of everypony.”

“I believe she’s up to something very important below deck.” responded Rarity.

Chapter 7: Two Lovers Reunite

The pony that sat in front of Rainbow Dash was oddly familiar, yet miles off from how she remembered her.

Rain fell around the two as they sat upon the deck of the ship. Green coils of energy and light from the magical mast snaked around them in the darkness of the storm and dark streaks of gore colored the deck. Several soldiers lay dead and were covered in their uniforms, their eyelids closed shut by the hooves of those who laid them out. Their rifles were tucked by their sides and their comrades solemnly sat beside them with bowed heads and manes matted by rain and wind.

The fight had been long and gruesome, but finally it had come to an end. Several soldiers had given their lives to protect the Elements and Dash was thankful that none of her friends had been hurt further. Still, there was a twinge of regret in her heart that more ponies had to give up their lives for the sake of the Elements. The regret felt like a cast-iron chain bounding her heart and she wanted to faint at the pressure she felt to enact Twilight's plan, if only so that the dead soldiers hadn't been taken from their own friends and family for nothing.

Through all of her adventures across Equestria, Dash struggled to remember when somepony had died for her. There was the changeling invasion, but even then most of the guards had survived, even with a few casualties. Though there were doubtless other times as well, the feeling of discomfort and a sense that the stakes were far higher than they had ever been before failed to go away from her. Dash felt vaguely nauseous and deeply unsettled at the scope of the violence that had been undertaken so far and hoped in her heart that there would be no more.

A whistle rang out over the deck of the Majesty and it began to descend through the banks of clouds as it made its landing.

Dash took a moment to turn to the pony by her side and contemplate what she saw. A small frown crept over her face as Dash analyzed Flutterguy’s angles and contours. The silky, pink mane was unmistakably Fluttershy’s, thought Dash to herself. There was no change in the yellowness of her fur, or the butterflies that sat upon her hip. It was her friend in everything except for the minor differences and because of those, the bonfire of her passion was dulled.

Still, her eyes burned with a fire and passion that Fluttershy herself had never shown through the shyness that her name embodied and that is how Dash knew the difference between this stranger and her friend.

Flutterguy stared back at Dash through a mask of stone-faced contemplation. Dash braced for the beast to talk, but the same as ever, she remained quiet and still.

“Thanks for helping us out,” spoke Dash sheepishly.

Flutterguy didn’t respond, but turned and walked away from Dash across the deck. She stopped by the railing and stared into the icy depths of the raging storm.

Dash trotted up quickly to her side. She thought of about a thousand things to say, only for those fantasies to fall still on her tongue. In silence, she joined Flutterguy’s contemplation and stared into the abyss of greyness as well.

Flutterguy turned towards Dash with a note of concern on her face. She opened her mouth as if to speak and Dash eagerly braced for her words.

“Are you two doing okay?”

Dash and Flutterguy turned around to see Twilight striding across the deck towards them. Her armor still adorned her body and sparkled under the rain upon the deck.

Dash nodded. “Yeah, we’re doing good. Are we almost there?”

“We’re about to touch down.” said Twilight.

Dash paused for a moment. Something about her voice was flat and unusually resigned for Twilight’s personality.

“Hard fight, huh?” she mentioned to Twilight.

Twilight shook her head. “Not as bad as I was expecting. I’m surprised they didn’t send more demons.”

Dash paused. She felt a bizarre vibe from Flutterguy and turned towards the beast in her friend’s body.

Twilight and Dash both took a step back. Flutterguy was glaring at the two with a small frown etched on her face. Her eyes were lowered and her head was tilted down, the focus of her gaze overtly directed towards Twilight.

“What’s wrong, buddy?” asked Dash.

Flutterguy snorted and turned away from the two to stride across the deck and behind a wall.

Dash turned towards Twilight to see she had a frown of her own on her face.

“What was that all about?” she asked with a chuckle.

Twilight suddenly turned from Dash. “We’re about to land. Get ready to head to the lake where the World Nymph resides. We’ll need you to pull it out, since I’ll need to focus on keeping demons off of us at the landing site.”

“Okay sounds good, just let me know what to do when we get there.” said Dash flatly.

Twilight looked at Dash with a vacant expression.

There was a moment of silence between the two and then a brief buzz of energy as they locked eyes.

“Twi, what’s going on?” said Dash softly.

“I’ll explain later.” said Twilight gruffly.

“I don’t like later,” said Dash. “Just open up to me. You’re not Flutterguy, right?”

Light suddenly blinded her and she blinked furiously.

She looked around in confusion, only to gasp as a landscape of forests and mountains greeted her from over the ship’s railing. Mists twirled over the treetops and a strong wind rustled her mane as the Majesty rapidly descended through the clouds. The soldiers on deck began to gather their dead and injured, transporting them below deck during the descension. Dash finally noticed that Flutterguy was sitting down on the deck in silence with her head bowed low.

The ship shook and shuddered as it rocketed towards its destination. The landscape below began to grow larger as the ship lowered further and further, until the mast of the ship itself was tearing apart branches and scraping the tops of trees. The furious wind from the initial descent had calmed into a gentle lull and Rainbow Dash stood confidently on the deck as it came to rest.

Dash took a moment to observe the landing site. They had touched down on the banks of a large lake, its waters sparkling in the light of the setting sun. The sky itself was touched with the fiery crimson of the sunset and distant clouds hung as pink puffs stretching into the horizon. There were no pegasi or signs of other ponies, but only an expanse of nature that started from the treelines circling the beach and extended to the peaks of distant mountains shrouded in mist.

“Where are we?” said Dash with baited breath to nopony in particular.

“This is the domain of the World Nymph,” explained Twilight. “Hundreds of years ago, the hero known as the Slayer helped the Equestrian legend Swordsmane to bind it at the bottom of this lake by sticking a legendary blade through its chest.”

“Okay, cool story.” remarked Dash.

Dash turned towards Twilight. “Twi, where is everypony?”

“They’re below deck,” responded Twilight. “Many of them had a hard fight in getting here and-”

“Twi, be honest with me.” said Dash flatly.

“Don’t you trust me?” responded Twilight.

Dash thought for a moment and nodded. “Of course I do, Twi. But this is just a little-”

Flutterguy shot past the two like a bolt of lightning with the sound of a crack of thunder.

“Where are you-” sputtered Twilight.

She paused for a moment and then words tumbled out of her mouth in a panic. “Dash, you have to get the Nymph before she does.”

“Flutterguy, wait-” yelled Dash, but she vanished beneath the waters of the lake before Dash could speak.

“Dash, GO!” roared Twilight.

With no further words, Dash crouched low and then shot herself into the lake with a burst of speed.

Her hooves rapidly shoved aside vast oceans of water, but there was always more before her. The only light that guided her way came in the form of what little rays of sunlight penetrated through the distant surface to the depths which she had swam to. Her only guide through the deep depths of the lake was the distant bob of Flutterguy’s pink mane that moved to and fro in the distance.

She struggled to hold her breath and fantasized about returning to the surface as her lungs burned. Right before she gave into the physical needs of her body, her eyes widened and she almost gasped. A vast column of swirling water that formed a cyclone within the depths of the lake became visible before her.

Flutterguy shot into it and disappeared behind the walls of the cyclone.

A twinge of terror shot through Dash’s heart. The choices in front of her were both grim and dark in their own right. To return to the surface of the water would be to abandon the mission as well as her friends, but to proceed could mean her death, or a fate even worse.

She hung still under the water for a moment and her eyes shut.

Lips touched against lips and a gasp rang out. She squinted in the sunlight and smiled from ear to ear as she held her between her hooves, their legs tangled together.

“I never knew you-” started Dash.

She went in for another kiss and Dash could taste the apple pie on her lips and smell it on her breath.

“Of course I do,” she said to Dash. “I’ve always felt this way, but I was always too-”

Dash silenced her words with another kiss as the sun shone on them to warm the entangled lovers.

Dash shook her head and shot into the depths of the cyclone, chasing after Flutterguy.

The waters of the cyclone rushed around her and Dash shrieked as water filled her mouth. Her nostrils burned with a flare of pain and she screamed as the cyclone battered her body. Powerful currents of water twisted her legs to and fro, forced her wings into painful positions and water invaded every inch of her body. Fingers of pain gripped her nerves with an iron grip and her vision began to fade into blackness.

“But are we just friends?” asked Dash.

She paused and locked eyes with Dash. Some of the warmth gave way to a sudden, icy confusion.

“Well, it’s a little complicated.” she sheepishly said with a shrug.

“What do you mean? I’m sure the others wouldn’t-” started Dash.

“Well, I don’t know how I feel.” said the pony across from Dash.

A great sensation of force overcame Dash and she felt the barrage of water cease to pound her form with a sudden start. She gasped and then vomited as she realized she was on dry land at last. Tears fell from her eyes and she briefly sobbed from the pain with her eyes squeezed shut.

“Ouch,” she muttered under her breath. She kept her eyes shut for a few more moments and then opened them to see Flutterguy looming over her.

“What-” began Dash, but she stopped talking as her words fell away from her.

She had come to rest on the floor of a dry lakebed. Great sheets of water formed the walls of the strange room she found herself in, the outside world vanishing into an inky, black mirage beyond their borders. The room was illuminated by magical energies coming from a strange figure within its center. Dash recognized it with a start and her mouth hung open.

The World Nymph was different from what she had expected. Rather than some draconic monster or mysterious beast, it almost looked like a moth. Its body was angular and had a remarkably silken appearance about it. A red blade hummed within its chest that glowed with arcane energies.

Before Dash could react, Flutterguy strided up to the beast and whispered to it.

The Nymph began to rise upwards over the dry lakebed. A burst of pink energy shot out from its body and surrounded it.

Words spoken in a voice that seemed to come from nowhere rang in Dash’s ears.

“A soul restored and two bodies reunited.

The vessels of two lover’s souls, each destined for the other, will be entwined forevermore.

Her pain will become her pain and her hardship will be that of the other.

Then, one who cannot see nor feel shall be freed from deepest slumber.

But then I will be free and shall do as I please.

Is this acceptable?”

Flutterguy turned towards Dash and for the first time that Dash remembered, spoke directly to her. “It’s your choice. Do you accept?”

“I do not know what any of that means.” said Dash in a state of confusion.

Flutterguy frowned before speaking. “You’ll get what you want, in a way. And so will I. But he won’t.”

Dash groaned and clutched her side, which still ached from the force of the cyclone. “More weird crap from you, man. And yeah, sure, I guess I accept. What’s the worst that could ha-”

“Then it is done.” cooed the World Nymph.

“What’s done-” sputtered Dash.

Before she could speak, a pulse of energy shot out and blinded her for a moment. She squeezed her eyes shut and let out a scream. Pain gripped her body and then melted away like ice under the heat of a summer’s sun. Whirlwinds coming from nowhere enshrouded her body and her vision gave way to a series of lights, each one brighter than the last.

Finally, the onslaught of sensation stopped.

When it was over, Flutterguy’s body lay slumped motionless in front of Dash and the World Nymph was nowhere to be seen.

Dash cautiously approached the still body.

She let herself smile as she noticed that its muscles had gone away, leaving the body as slim and slender as Dash had remembered it. Much of the hardness had left her face as well and a glowing tenderness was what remained. Her mane seemed to lay more peacefully upon her head and her chest moved up and down slowly with gentle breaths.

“Fluttershy.” said Dash with a note of caution.

Her eyes slowly opened. “Rainbow Dash?”

Dash noted that the voice in which she spoke was as soft and tender as Fluttershy’s had been.

“Are you back?” said Dash with an awkward speed.

“Yes.” said Fluttershy. “It was so dark I couldn’t-”

Before she finished speaking, Dash took her in a hug and nestled her face in her mane.

“Where’s everypony else?” asked Fluttershy.

“Um well, I don’t know actually.” said Dash timidly. “Twilight said they were tired, I think.”

“Dash, I know you’re excited to see me, but you shouldn’t have just left everypony.” said Fluttershy plainly.

Her eyes opened and her jaw dropped. “Dash, where are we?”

“Underwater.” said Dash as if it was a suitable explanation in the slightest. “I had to come here to heal you basically, so yeah. Also your body had been occupied for the last few weeks by an ancient hero from hundreds of years ago who, like, killed a bunch of demons and stuff. But you’re back now.”

“Huh.” said Fluttershy plainly.

The two silently held one another as the waters of the cyclone raged around them. They still remained alone in the sediment of the lakebed, afraid to let the other go from their hooves.

“I remember, I went into the woods to pick you flowers. And then…” explained Fluttershy.

“That’s when you got hurt.” said Dash in a moment of realization.

“Yes,” said Fluttershy.

“But why pick me flowers? It’s not my birthday or anything.” said Dash in an excited, quiet tone of voice.

“Ever since our picnic, on that day beneath the trees in the Everfree, when we did those things we promised to never tell anypony else about…” explained Fluttershy with her eyes half shut.

“Yes?” replied Dash as a blush crept into her cheeks.

“I had been trying to find, well, the courage to tell you…” explained Fluttershy further.

“Go on.” said Dash as she grinned from ear to ear. “You can say it.”

“That I love you.” said Fluttershy in an avalanche of words.

She leapt from the ground and knocked Dash on her back, planting a sloppy kiss on her lips. Dash’s eyes widened and then shut as she accepted her embrace, her hooves caressing her back as Fluttershy pressed her into the silt.

“Ow!” exclaimed Fluttershy sharply.

“What’s wrong?” said Dash with closed eyes.

“It feels like something cut my back.” said Fluttershy in confusion.

Dash groaned. “Well turn around and let me see.”

Fluttershy presented her back to Dash and she took a moment to scan every other inch of her body. Then Dash ran her hoof along Fluttershy’s back, to find a small cut.

“Yeah you do have a cut there, maybe something fell out of the cyclone.” said Dash perplexedly.

Dash looked down to see a sharp rock jutting from the sands.

Out of curiosity, she kicked the stone and Fluttershy yelped.

“Wait, Fluttershy, kick this rock really quick.” said Dash with a note of triumph as she put the pieces together.

Fluttershy kicked the rock and a twinge of pain ran across Dash’s hoof.

“We feel one another’s pain?” said Dash slowly. “Well, that’s a garbage superpower-”

Dash yelped as she felt a slap sting her cheek.

Fluttershy looked at Dash with wide eyes and an innocent smile. She slapped her own face again and Dash felt the same stinging sensation.

“Oh yeah? Two can play at that game.” said Dash mischievously.

She drew her hoof back and comically wound it up several times, causing Fluttershy to step back in caution.

With a sudden motion, Dash leapt backwards and slapped her own ass halfway through a backflip.

Fluttershy yelped and fell to the ground, clutching her flank.

She giggled and clambered to her hooves while Dash tried her best to not wet herself laughing.

“Okay, that’s enough playing around, we need to get back to the others.” stated Dash.

Fluttershy nodded.

“It’s going to be a straight shot out of here through that cyclone.” explained Dash. You’re gonna grab my back and I’m gonna shoot straight up and do a sonic rainboom right to the surface, got it?”

Fluttershy smiled and nodded in understanding. She eagerly clambered on Dash’s back and wrapped her hooves around her torso.

Dash shot from the depths of the cyclone back to the surface where Twilight awaited them.

Chapter 8: A Mysterious Ally

“There’s just something suspicious about what’s going on.” expressed Rainbow Dash to Fluttershy.

There was a light ache across Rainbow Dash's body from the strain of pulling Fluttershy from the depths of the lake and onto its shore. On the opposite shore, several hundred meters away, the wooden mass of the Majesty’s hull was still visible. Dash noted that there was no sign of the Slayer, Twilight or any other pony besides her and Fluttershy on the lake's shore. There was only an eerie silence that threatened to give way to cacophony and violence at any moment, the moment’s tension looming over the two like a butcher’s knife over fresh meat.

Both of their bodies dripped with water from the lake that fell to wet the sand around them. Great trees casting long shadows in the light of the setting sun enshrouded the pair in darkness. The sky overhead was a dark shade of crimson painted with streaks of pink clouds. A half-moon was already visible in the sky above, soon to overtake the sun’s dying light. Pieces of driftwood lay scattered upon the beach and a long trough in the sand marked where the two had exited the water.

Fluttershy snuggled against Dash and shut her eyes. “What do you mean, Dash? I’m happy to spend this time with you, but I’m sure the others are worried about us.”

“Well, to begin with, Twilight specifically said that ALL the elements would be present when we took care of this thing.” explained Dash. “Also, the fact that the Slayer just ran in and did it ahead of us seems a little bit weird.”

“Well, no matter what, I trust Twilight and the rest to take care of things.” said Fluttershy in a small voice.

Fluttershy reassuringly ran her hoof along Dash’s neck and Dash looked into her eyes which sparkled in the evening’s light. She realized there was something especially beautiful about the shape of her face in the gentle shadows of the evening.

Dash held back from kissing her and took a moment to let out a long sigh. “I guess what we have to be worried about at this point is what we don’t know. Is Twilight a changeling or some evil monster in disguise?”

Fluttershy nodded. “We should definitely tell the rest of our friends about this.”

Dash paused for a moment.

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. “Dash, you do know what-”

“The ship.” said Dash with a start.

“Yes, I remember you telling me all about what happened on the way here.” responded Fluttershy.

“No, they’re still on the ship. Well, according to Twilight, but who even knows if we can trust her.” said Dash in an avalanche of panicked words.

Fluttershy turned her head towards the Majesty, who’s colors were beginning to fade as the sky grew darker. “Should we?...”

Dash put her head in her hooves and took a long moment to think.

She sat up with a start and turned towards Fluttershy. “Okay, I get what we need to do now.”

“Well, I’ve got an idea.” said Fluttershy with a tiny frown playing across her face.

“Let me hear yours first.” sputtered Dash.

“We sneak onto the ship, being careful not to make too much noise. Then if we find the others, we just explain to them about Twilight and see what everypony wants to do about it.” explained Fluttershy.

“I was thinking that I should fly towards Twilight with a sonic rainboom, tackle her on the ground and-” said Dash, waving her hooves in the air to demonstrate her plan.

She stopped once she realized that Fluttershy was glaring at her with a look of contempt.

“What’s the matter?” said Dash.

“Even if she’s possessed, we can’t just attack her. She’s still our friend, you know.” stated Fluttershy plainly.

“Yeah yeah, you’re the element of kindness, I get it-” retorted Dash.

Her retort was cut in half by a sudden kiss from Fluttershy, causing her eyes to shoot open and then slink shut.

Fluttershy was the first to break off the kiss. “We should start before it gets too dark.”

“Let’s go, then.” said Dash in a quiet voice.

The trees erupted from the ground like skeletal fingers that seemed to grasp at Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash as they scampered along the treeline to the Majesty’s husk. Every shadow, every hoot of an owl, or flap of a bat’s wings was cause for the two of them to stop in their tracks. The icy sensation of fear seemed to follow them no matter how low they lay, no matter how quickly they proceeded along their path.

Yet they each had a light in the darkness in the form of one another.

When a branch would snap in the woods and they feared their deaths, one would turn towards the other. The argument from earlier had already melted into the inky substrate of their past and a different form of love arose between the two in the darkness of the early evening. It was a love forged from mutual fear, an affection derived from shared anxieties. Dash took pride in how Fluttershy’s fear would melt when she threw a glance backwards to Dash and she let herself smile when she saw how diligently Fluttershy forged ahead along the lake’s shore.

The moonlight was no guide for the two and its light barely reached them. They were forced to squint their eyes and hide among the trunks of trees that straddled the shoreline, fearing the eyes of their former friend and now possible traitor. It felt as if it took many nights instead of a mere hour for them to finally arrive at the silent hulk of the once glorious and inspiring Majesty, but finally they were before it.

Dash looked towards Fluttershy and spoke in a low voice. “Okay, so there’s no lights on the inside from what I’m seeing, meaning they might be unconscious.”

Fluttershy’s lip trembled. “Or worse.”

Dash shook her head. “Don’t even let yourself think that.”

Fluttershy nodded her head. “How are we going to get on board?”

Dash shrugged. “Well, we can’t risk walking around like idiots looking for an entrance, so I’m thinking we fly on the deck.”

They quietly murmured among themselves and forged a plan. After their brief conversation, Fluttershy spread her wings and ascended to the deck, Dash following closely right behind her.

The first thing Dash noticed was that a foreboding silence had enshrouded the deck of the ship. There was no sign of the soldiers from before, or any lights shining from below the deck. Instead, there was only wood stained with the blood of earlier fights and machine guns that hung from the sides of the ship like dead gargoyles on a castle’s ramparts. Shell casings and other debris from the battle still lay scattered across the deck and a foul smell of rotting meat permeated the ship.

Dash and Fluttershy both held their curiosity inside of them and remained silent. Fluttershy fell behind Dash as she explored the deck, trying her best to keep low and not make noise. After a few moments of searching, Dash saw that a door to the interior of the ship was ajar. She motioned to Fluttershy with a hoof and the mare positioned herself behind Dash. With a few cautious steps, they both proceeded into the bowels of the Majesty.

“Hello?” called out Dash.

The room they found themselves in was pitch-black. Fluttershy kept herself close to Dash and she could feel the trembling mare hugging her side like a scared filly.

Dash called out once more, only for her voice to bounce off the walls in an eerie, ignored echo.

She sighed. There was still no sign of the soldiers or of the Elements, meaning that she and Fluttershy were very likely wasting their time on a dead-end. She took note that the smell from above the deck was far worse below and seemed to be almost suffocating in its strength and repulsiveness. Besides that, something wet crunched beneath her hooves as she walked further into the room.

Fluttershy began to loudly cough and Dash tensed up.

“Try not to make too much noise.” she hissed through clenched teeth.

“Sorry.” muttered Fluttershy. “I just can’t help it. It smells horrible in here, love.”

“Rarity? Applejack? Anypony?” called out Dash in a voice loud enough to ring through the room.

With a start, the lights flickered on with a dull hum of magic.

Fluttershy let out a small scream and ran for the door while Dash tried to suppress her gag reflex at the sight that greeted the two.

It was the scene of a massacre.

Dead soldiers lay in heaps across the room and a mixture of blood and bones ripped from bodies caked the floor. Rifles lay torn into pieces and the walls were missing large chunks, as if something was thrown through them with great strength. Their jaws had been torn from their skulls and their intestines hung out of their bellies, the bones of their limbs shattered into pieces by some great, evil force.

Still, despite the horrors of their injuries, the soldiers still showed signs of life.

The soldiers began to clamber from the floor and let out pained moans and shrieks as purple light filled up the room.

Fluttershy turned away from the door and scampered ahead of Dash to the nearest soldier.

“Are you okay? What in the world happened here-” started Fluttershy.

“Fluttershy, get BACK!” screamed Dash.

Dash felt a terrifying pain rip through her shoulder and fell to the ground.

One of the soldiers had pushed Fluttershy into the wall and was battering her with its hooves. She tried to push him off of her, but her strength wasn’t enough to counter the soldier’s aggression.

Dash looked up from her haze of pain and fruitlessly shrieked. “What the hell is wrong with you, let her go!”

Dash tried to clamber to her hooves, only to be knocked back down on her flanks. She gasped in pain and then summoned the strength for more words. “Fluttershy, remember I feel your-”

Fluttershy was shoved against the wall with her eyes shut as more decaying soldiers shuffled towards her. She let out a scream and began to shove them off of her. Three of them fell on their backs and tripped up the approaching soldiers, giving her time to rush over to Dash.

“They’re zombies.” she said breathlessly.

“Yeah, I figured that much.” sputtered Dash. “We just need to get the hell off this ship-”

“Oh no.” whispered Fluttershy.

Dash looked cautiously to the door, which served as their only means of escape from the hellish chamber. More zombies drawn from other areas of the ship had filled the doorway and advanced towards the pair.

Dash clambered on her hooves with Fluttershy’s help.

She turned towards her. “No matter what happens from here, we’re in this together.”

Fluttershy nodded and sucked in a quick breath of air. “I love you.”

Dash took a moment to kiss her lover and then rocketed towards the first zombie. Her hooves smashed through rotten flesh and cracked the bone beneath, but it failed to stop the advance of the undead soldier. She finally bucked its head with all of her strength and it ceased to move in an instant. Her breaths came quicker as she tried to fight the mass of zombies pouring into the room, but she quickly realized the vanity of her efforts.

She felt occasional flares of pain through various parts of her body and heard Fluttershy’s shrieks and sobs as the zombies battered Dash.

After what felt like an eternity of fighting against a tornado, both of the ponies were on the floor. The zombies swarmed over them and began to batter them with their hooves. Both of the ponies writhed in pain, yet still tried to resist their attackers with what little strength they still had left.

Dash felt her vision fading into blackness and then the pain stopped.

The room briefly filled with undead roars of rage and then all was quiet.

She opened her eyes to face a ceiling spattered with blood.

“Fluttershy, are you okay?” said Dash, addressing her most immediate concern.

“Yes.” said a breathless, terrified Fluttershy in response.

Dash let herself observe the room after checking herself for any life-threatening injuries.

The zombies had been shredded into pieces. Their bodies had been cut in half by some mysterious force and most of them were headless. The few zombies that still kept their heads writhed uselessly with no limbs on the floor of the room. Dash noted with a note of relief that the doorway was clear, except for a figure that stood shrouded in the shadows of the night outside.

“Who are you? Another zombie?” called out Dash.

The figure advanced closer and Dash could see the faint outline of a horn and a pair of extended wings.

“The alicorn who saved your useless ass. And don’t you forget it.” called out the figure.

“Hey, we’re not useless! We totally had that!” retorted a pissed-off Dash.

“Yeah, whatever, miss element-of-harmony. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go to war like a real goddamn soldier, you fairy-princess little shit.” snided the alicorn, who had stepped back into the darkness.

Despite her anger, Dash took a genuine second of contemplation to consider the figure speaking to her. It was far too gruff to be one of the Princesses, for sure. However, the tone of the voice had an undeniably feminine element, ruling out the possibility it was a male alicorn. Dash concluded that this was a pony she had never met before and her curiosity was piqued.

Still, her honor had been insulted and she responded as she felt fit.

“I’m gonna kick your ass!” roared a now-furious Dash.

“Oh no, I think I just pissed myself.” retorted the mysterious pony.

Then, before Dash could make good on her promise, the mysterious alicorn shot into the sky.

Chapter 9: Twilight's Deceitful Peril

“So what now?” exclaimed a breathless Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash stood in the doorway in confusion. After she had galloped to the entryway to try to greet their mysterious savior, she was instead met with a depressing solitude that failed to alleviate her confusion in the slightest. The deck of the ship was as empty as it ever was, except now it was studded with the corpses of zombies.

Dash took a moment to observe the precision with which their bodies had been cut apart. She concluded in a moment that it was no act of brute strength, or act of powerful magic that had destroyed the zombies, but the work of an expert swordsmare of some sort. Their bodies lay in symmetrical segments across the deck of the ship and the wood beneath bore deep gashes, as if accidentally penetrated by a swinging blade.

“I think I’m more confused than when we got here.” said Dash in a frustrated tone. “Either way, we’re both soaked in gore, so I think a bath may be in order.”

“Down by the lake?” asked Fluttershy.

Dash responded with a nod of her head.

Fluttershy paused for a moment, causing Dash to turn towards her out of curiosity. “What’s the matter?”

“Even if we are...gross, it feels wrong to just leave without finding out what happened to Twilight.” asserted Fluttershy.

“Sorry to be stubborn, but we’re both kinda dripping with blood. This is probably like, really unhygienic.” responded Dash.

Fluttershy shrugged and wordlessly bounded off the deck of the ship, touching down on the shore with a gentle flap of her wings. Dash followed her in turn and they began to bathe themselves in the waters of the lake. It was a ceremony entirely devoid of affection as they both reeled from the shock of the previous battle. They shared a kiss once, but besides that, they focused on the task at hand with an emotionless, robotic execution.

When they were both done and had cleansed themselves of blood, they turned towards one another. Fluttershy held her words, as did Dash.

“Got a plan?” asked Dash to Fluttershy, only for her to shake her head.

Dash sighed. “Well, I guess we could-”

“Dash, LOOK!” exclaimed Fluttershy suddenly.

Her hoof pointed to the deck of the ship above them and Dash followed her gesture.

She gasped at what she saw.

A unicorn that was unmistakably Twilight stood on the edge of the ship and stared at them with wide, empty eyes.

Fluttershy and Dash both stood still, awaiting an attack or an explanation. Neither came and Twilight retreated further onto the ship’s deck and vanished from the pair’s sight from below the ship. They looked at one another and locked eyes without speaking, then both spread their wings and quickly ascended onto the deck of the ship.

Twilight’s chest was covered in vomit and her fur was matted with sweat. There was no sign of her magical armor. Tufts of her mane were missing and she panted as she listlessly wandered the deck. Her eyes focused on Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Both of them could sense a vague emotion of distress radiating from them, though Twilight’s facial expression was unfocused and aimless.

She tried to speak, but her voice was too low for either of them to discern the meaning of her words.

“Fluttershy, I don’t know what the hell this is, stay behind me.” growled Dash. She took a deep breath. “Twilight, I’m giving you ONE chance to explain.”

Twilight looked up to Dash with an open mouth and wide eyes.

Then she spoke once more in a voice so quiet Dash barely heard it, despite the silence of their surroundings. “Dash, break my horn.”

‘W-what? Break your horn?” sputtered Dash.

“I was...I was wrong about the armor. It served as an anchor for him to-” started Twilight.

She collapsed into a ball on the deck and began to writhe in pain. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both gasped in fright to see a black swarm of energy tainted with red streaks materialize over her body.

“It has to be broken while I’m in control. If you break it when he gets through, then-” said Twilight in a brief moment of panic.

Twilight’s body grew limp and she flopped on the deck like a gutted fish.

Dash and Fluttershy both took a step back to the edge of the ship.

Fluttershy was the first to speak to Twilight. “Twilight, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” growled Twilight’s body.

Her eyes were shut, but Dash and Fluttershy could see a smile playing across her face.

“I don’t like this.” said Dash with a frown, protectively stepping in front of Fluttershy again. “Fluttershy, go to the treeline and wait for me, I’ll-”

“We’re in this together.” said Fluttershy. “I’m not leaving you.”

“I’m just tired from how long I’ve been waiting for you, Rainbow Dash.” muttered Twilight’s body. “Now, I need you to tell me where the elements of harmony are on this ship, since I’ve forgotten.”

“Um, actually, I don’t know. Twilight never mentioned it to us-” started Dash.

“You mean I never mentioned it?” spat Twilight’s body. “I’m Twilight. Nothing suspicious is going on. Now tell me where the elements are.”

“Oh, fuck this.” shouted Dash.

Dash pinned her wings to her side and launched herself into the air with her hindleg. She felt the wind whistle through her mane before she collided with Twilight’s body. There was a loud cracking of wood and then Dash was alone on the deck, a hole in the side of the ship marking where she had shoved Twilight’s body through a wall and into the depths of the ship.

She sat up in a daze and reeled briefly from the impact. Fluttershy rushed over to her and wiped the blood off of her nose.

Dash felt her heart pounding as if it was trying to part the walls of her chest and burst out in an explosion of blood. “Fluttershy, get out of here, now. I can handle this-”

As she spoke, an eerie glow emanated from inside of the ship. The light possessed the unmistakable glow of Twilight’s magic, but its light lacked the brightness and purity of her magic. Something about it was far dimmer, as if she had forgotten how to use it properly.

“Rainbow Dash.” snarled a deep, booming voice from beyond the shattered exterior of the ship.

The sound pounded through the floorboards of the ship and felt as if it was echoing in Rainbow Dash’s skull itself. It was all-encompassing, hypnotizing Dash and slowing her reflexes. Fluttershy reeled from the terrifying intonation of the speech as well and swayed on her hooves.

“You’re going to bleed. Then you’ll be my dumb little fucking slave.” said the voice once again in a snarl that barely rose above a whisper.

Fluttershy turned to run, only to bounce off of a magical barrier that had arisen over the walls of the ship. Dash rushed to her side and began to pound on the barrier, only to get violently repulsed onto the deck of the ship. Fluttershy yelped in pain as Dash clambered to her hooves.

“We’re trapped.” breathlessly exclaimed Dash.

Fluttershy began to sob, though Dash had no time to comfort her.

Dash watched the hole she had made where Twilight’s body resided and was greeted with a bizarre period of total silence.

The silence was molested by a series of loud pops and cracks as the floorboards of the ship were sheared into pieces.

Twilight’s body arose from the wreckage. Its eyes glowed a deep, crimson red as if a fire had been ignited inside her irises. A wicked grin was stretched across her face and her teeth were so tightly clenched that they seemed ready to shatter inside her jaw itself.

Dash prepared for another assault, but before she could act, Fluttershy flew past her and was brought up into the air with the creature.

Dash fell to the ground and screamed as she felt the muscles in her face stretching and twisting. The pain was nearly unbearable and she felt bile rise in her throat from the alien sensation of the magical onslaught.

“Hmm? You bear her pain?” hissed Twilight’s body in its bestial pitch. “Then this shall be more fun than I imagined.”

“I’m sorry, love.” said Fluttershy through choked sobs.

Dash tried to stand, only for her legs to twist out from underneath her. She looked upwards to see Fluttershy writhing in the magical grip of the creature. Dash used the last of her strength to stand, only for blood to pour from her nose as something deep inside her nose popped. She fell to the ground and shrieked in pain.

“HELP US!” roared Dash with the last of her strength. “COME BACK!”

No matter how loud she cried, or how much pain rocked through her body, there was no sign of the alicorn who had saved them before.

Fluttershy fell onto the deck with a loud thud and Twilight’s body collapsed on the deck. The red light vanished from her eyes and she began to cough.

“Are you back?” asked Fluttershy, hurrying over to Twilight.

Dash clambered onto her hooves and shook her head. She realized with gratitude that the injuries inflicted on her were only superficial and then joined Fluttershy in front of Twilight’s crumpled body.

“Yes...” uttered Twilight in a pathetic, weak voice. “Break it. I can’t keep him out again.”

Fluttershy grabbed a brick from nearby and sniffled before raising it over Twilight’s head. She brought it down with a sudden motion, only to graze the side of Twilight’s head. The unicorn yelped and then sobbed in pain as blood streamed down her forehead and Fluttershy dropped the brick with an exclamation of panic.

“Dash, I can’t- I can’t do it-” she said through panicked sobs.

Dash pushed her over with a hoof. She grabbed the brick and took in a deep breath.

“Love you as a friend, Twi.” she said under her breath.

She slammed the brick down over Twilight’s horn, only for the brick itself to shatter. Twilight writhed and moaned in pain beneath her blow with what little consciousness she had left. Dash scrambled to find another implement and found a bayonet from a nearby rifle stuck into the ship’s floorboards. She drew it out and began to saw furiously at the base of the horn.

No matter how fast she whittled at the protrusion, the knife failed to penetrate, though it sent plumes of horn-dust into the air.

“Oh no, this isn’t good.” said Dash with a sharp inhale.

Fluttershy let out a roar and began to pound the horn with her hooves. Dash dropped the bayonet and joined her.

Their hooves struck the horn over and over again as Twilight writhed under their hooves. Their strikes did nothing and Twilight’s eyes rolled into her head.

“He’s...he’s…” stuttered the mare. Her mouth filled with drool and the black energy from before began to materialize again in a crackling hum of malice.

“NO!” shrieked Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash again in unison.

“I’m still in control...you can still…” whimpered Twilight.

The energy threatened to surge into Twilight once more and Dash let out a scream from frustration.

Then a force coming from nowhere swept her aside.

She saw enough to perceive that Fluttershy was sent tumbling across the deck as well, then her gaze was met with the darkness of the night sky above.

Dash heard a loud crunch ring out and finally managed to turn her gaze back to Twilight.

A massive pair of studded brown boots met her gaze, but as soon as she began to focus on them, they were gone.

Fluttershy lay still on the deck and sobbed gently, tucking her head into her legs. Dash rushed over to check on Twilight and let out a sigh of relief to see that her horn had been crushed into powder. The unicorn let out gentle breaths as she fell into a deep slumber from exhaustion.

“She’s okay, it’s all good.” exclaimed Dash loudly as she scampered over to Fluttershy.

The mare nodded and continued to sob. Dash spat out some blood on the deck beside her and then turned to Twilight.

“Twilight, can you hear me?” said Dash in a gentle tone to Twilight’s still body.

Twilight sat still with her eyes closed on the deck. Fluttershy strode past Dash and began to inspect the sleeping pony.

After a moment, she came to her conclusion. “She’s in a coma.”

Dash nodded. “How can we fix her?”

Fluttershy shrugged. “It’ll just take a little bit of time.”

Dash sighed and then squinted as a bright light came over her vision. Fluttershy gasped and turned her head to focus on something behind Rainbow Dash. She whirled around and her eyes widened at the sight that she beheld.

The World Nymph hovered over the lake and Dash could see Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie floating at its side. Their eyes were shut and their bodies hung horizontally in the air with their hindlegs hanging down. Each pony had its head bowed, though their mouths were shut. Streams of energy seemed to flow from them to the World Nymph and a soft hum rang over the waters of the lake.

Rainbow Dash roared and shot out with a furious speed. She quickly broke through the sound barrier and howled during her charge at the World Nymph.

Her attack led her into empty air as the World Nymph vanished in a bright poof of light, taking the three captive Elements with it.

Rainbow Dash hung in the air defeated and turned back towards the Majesty. Before she flew back, something on a far shore of the lake away from the Majesty caught her eyes.

It was the alicorn from before and she twirled a sword about her that sparkled in the light of the moon. A hulking beast covered in swathes of green and brown armor bore a glowing, red blade of its own and countered each of her sword’s blows with expert precision.

As Rainbow Dash watched the strange display, she realized that there was no true malice in the fight. Each fighter took a brief moment after exchanging swings of their weapons, as if to contemplate their next move before once again committing to the duel.

Though they fought like enemies, thought Rainbow Dash to herself, their spar also had the appearance of two friendly warriors meeting once again after a long time apart.

Chapter 10: Friends In Need

“So, let me get this straight. Twilight is in a coma, the World Nymph kidnapped our friends and we have a mysterious alicorn on the loose who kinda sorta seems like a friend.” said Dash in a single, breathless expression to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy nodded without a word.

Dash paused her panic attack for a moment to take in her surroundings. The sky was beginning to turn pink with the rise of the sun and the waters of the lake before her reflected the coming light. The deck of the Majesty lay in ruins from Rainbow Dash’s struggle against the entity possessing Twilight and was there was simply no way she was going to be able to fly the damn thing now, even if she had the slightest clue as to how you were supposed to do that anyways.

Twilight lay comatose on the ground before Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Thankfully to them both, her bleeding had stopped after some mild treatment from Fluttershy and now the mare lay in a deep, dreamless slumber on the deck of the ruined Majesty. The stump of her horn occasionally flickered with purple embers of residual magic, as if the energies inside the unicorn were fading away like the ashes of a dying fire.

Dash noted that nopony had come to rescue them yet. There was no sign of Celestia’s guards, let alone the alicorn herself and nopony besides them had thought to check up on the scene at the lake.

“And nopony is coming to help.” said Fluttershy with a worried frown.

“Right, of course not.” sighed Rainbow Dash. “Why would anypony ever think to help us, the heroes of Equestria, right?”

“Well, maybe Canterlot is under attack from the demons and Celestia is too busy to help.” retorted Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I doubt that’s the case. If we were important enough to get this entire ship to ourselves, we’re important enough for a rescue mission. Either Celestia herself is dead or something so dramatic is happening back at the castle that they’ve forgotten we exist.”

Fluttershy opened her mouth as if to speak, but instead silently pawed the ground with an expression of anxiety etched on her face.

Rainbow Dash groaned to herself and turned away from Fluttershy.

After thinking for a moment, she turned back to face her friend. “Well, the most important thing we could take care of right now is to get Twilight some serious medical attention.”

Fluttershy nodded to agree. “And look into getting her horn regrown, too.”

Dash paused. “Can you, like, even do that?”

“I would assume you can. A very helpful pony brought an injured narwhal to me just last month and Zecora was able to whip up a potion to restore its horn, so I don’t see why you couldn’t do that to a unicorn.” explained Fluttershy with a helpful smile.

Dash aimlessly bucked at a loose board and sent it soaring off the deck. “So, I guess we need to track down Zecora.”

“Or we could stay put until somepony comes to help us.” asserted Fluttershy.

A lightbulb went off in Dash’s head and her eyes lit up. “What about the elements?”

“What about them, Dash?” responded Fluttershy with a quizzical expression.

“Well, if Twilight had the whole plan of us using them to contain the Nymph, then they’re probably on this ship somewhere.” said Dash.

Fluttershy extended her wings and then put them back down as she let out a yawn. “Okay, so we get the elements and then wait for Celestia to send help?”

“I don’t think we can wait around for Celestia to do something. This whole situation is seriously screwed up. Not to mention that demons should be attacking us any second now.” said Dash hurriedly.

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash both looked around nervously and each let out a breath of relief that the skies and forests surrounding them were devoid of demonic attackers.

Fluttershy put a hoof on Dash’s shoulder. “You’re right, with our friends in danger, it’s too dangerous to wait around and wait for anypony else.”

Twilight moaned, causing Dash and Fluttershy to look down with wide eyes.

To their shared disappointment, she simply rolled over and remained comatose.

“Her condition could worsen at any moment. We should really search the ship.” said Fluttershy.

Dash kicked around some broken glass and regretted it when Fluttershy hissed through her teeth. “Okay, so let’s start with searching the cabins. We need to find the elements and then a map to help us get out of this forest and preferably all the way to Zecora’s hut.”

Rainbow Dash paused for a moment. “Assuming Zecora is still alive, that is.”

“Of course she’s still alive!” said Fluttershy with a sudden energy buzzing in her eyes. “Do you think everypony is going to fall over and die because of a simple little demon invasion? This is Equestria, after all.” she finished with a defiant stamp of her hoof on the ground.

Dash leaned over and pecked her cheek. “And that’s why I love you. It’s the outbursts that keep me around, you know.”

Fluttershy gave a kiss of her own back. “I’ll search the upper cabins if you want to take lower?”

Dash nodded. “Remember, at the first sign of zombies, scream my name and I’ll come beat them up for you.”

“What if I passed out and let myself get eaten instead?” retorted Fluttershy.

“Then I’d have to be in love with a zombie.” said Dash with a sly half-grin.

“Would you really? I mean, to a zombie-” started Fluttershy with a blush.

Dash dramatically widened her mouth into an evil grin. “Only if it looked like you. I’ve got a little bit of serial killer in me.”

Fluttershy shook her head and let out a nervous giggle. “Let’s meet back at this spot and share what we’ve found.”

The ponies shared a few more words and then parted ways.

A door left open led them both into the interior of the ship. Besides a few bloodstained rooms, neither of them encountered more zombies. A thread of sorrow enshrouded the experience and both ponies had to hold back tears as they encountered the corpses of soldiers they recognized. Some of them had been slaughtered on cots where they awaited medical treatment, while others had clearly died while putting up some kind of a fight, from the sight of bullet-holes in the walls and spent shell casings on the ground.

Though the nature of the attacker was unknown to either of the two ponies, they both thought of Twilight’s cruelty while possessed and came to the same conclusion regarding the murderer of the soldiers. Both agreed not to blame the possessed pony for what she couldn’t help and both of them adopted a newfound respect for how hard their friend had struggled to resist the possession, despite her shortcomings in the end.

Dash finally came to Seaworthy’s corpse as she wandered the ship in search of either the elements or a map. He was deep within a lower-level cabin, behind a door that had been bashed in by some great force. His medals had been torn from his uniform and he lay on the ground as naked as Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy. A revolver depleted of its ammo lay on the ground beside him and his eyes lay shut. Blood flecked his face and his fur was drenched in fluids from various sources.

Rainbow Dash spoke to the corpse in a gentle voice. “Even if you were kinda an asshole man, I still feel sorry for you.”

“Holy shit, is she gone?” suddenly exclaimed Seaworthy.

Rainbow Dash screamed and reeled back against the wall. “W-wha-I thought-”

“Yes, I’m very good at playing dead.” said Seaworthy with a dry cough. “I took an entire course in it during infantry training.”

“Wha-” sputtered Dash again. She prepared herself for a fight, then thought things out for a second and lowered her hooves.

“Are all of my men dead?” said Seaworthy in a low voice.

“Um, I don’t know how else to put it, but yeah. Pretty sure you’re the only survivor left from your whole squad or whatever you call it.” answered a dismal Rainbow Dash.

Seaworthy sighed. “I will mourn when I have the time. Meanwhile, can you be so helpful as to provide a status report?”

Rainbow Dash took several minutes to explain to him about the World Nymph, as well as Twilight. Seaworthy was informed of the events that took place at the bottom of the lake in the cyclone, as well as Twilight’s status within her coma. He listened with rapt attention. Rainbow Dash noticed that throughout her whole speech, a suspicious frown never quite left his face.

“I hear your report, but I know what I saw.” said Seaworthy.

“And what was that?” responded Dash.

His lip quivered and tears formed in his eyes. “She...ripped through my men. She laughed while she did it, too.” He furiously stamped a hoof on the floor of the ship. “They called my name, Rainbow Dash. And do you know where I was during all of this?”

Rainbow Dash took a step back. “Woah, calm down, we both want the same-”

“Lying on the ground, pretending to be dead. Whether she is a traitor, or possessed as you said, no crime should go unpunished in a just kingdom such as Equestria.” he muttered in a low voice.

Rainbow Dash’s brow furrowed and she stepped towards Seaworthy. “Now, what do you mean by that?”

Seaworthy turned away from Rainbow Dash. “I mean, when I am once again before my sovereign, I will report to her exactly what I saw and nothing less.”

“And you think that Celestia is going to believe that Twilight just went crazy and started killing soldiers?” retorted Rainbow Dash.

“I will speak no more of it, now go away from me.” answered Seaworthy.

Rainbow Dash noticed tears on his face as he turned away.

“It’s okay, you can tell Celestia whatever you want. Just, you know, don’t lie or anything.” answered Rainbow Dash.

“You would never understand a soldier’s burden.” hissed Seaworthy. “Struggling your entire career, just to shine brightly for your Princess, only to be overshadowed by...by...civilians.”

“Is this what this is about? So you don’t feel that bad about your men after all, you’re just insecure because we look better than you or something?” argued a now frustrated Rainbow Dash.

His nostrils flared. “What must I do to make you go away?”

“Look, I really don’t want whatever stupid little argument you’re starting, dude. But I swear, I’ll never talk to you again in my life if you show me where some maps are so we can get Twilight medical attention.” explained Rainbow Dash with flared nostrils through gritted teeth.

Seaworthy nodded and led Rainbow Dash across the bowels of the Majesty into a grand central cabin. Rays of light streamed through portholes to illuminate a green carpet and wooden walls. Rainbow Dash took a moment to let out a whistle of appreciation. In golden letters, over an oak desk that sat against a back wall, the name of the ship was spelled out. Several of the letters had fallen away and lay on the ground in pieces.

Seaworthy confronted the sight with an angry glare. “My legacy, the very name of my ship, destroyed by this fruitless quest.”

“Okay, I get it, now gimme the maps.” said Dash.

Seaworthy grimaced at the sound of her voice and rummaged around in the desk, retrieving several bound scrolls of parchment. Dash unfurled them and chuckled at the pleasant surprise that greeted her. A full map of Equestria, complete with her current location marked with a magical symbol, greeted her. She greedily surveyed the map and took careful note of her current location relative to a small line of text that denoted Zecora’s hut.

She bounded across the room and noticed the symbol on the map marking her location shift slightly. With a smile on her face, she looked up to greet Seaworthy, only to notice that the pegasus had left the chamber. The joy left her face and she retreated back to the deck of the ship where she found Fluttershy waiting for her with a small, locked box.

“So those are the elements?” asked Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy nodded. “I had to tear Twilight’s room into pieces I’m afraid, but I found it nonetheless.”

Dash nodded. “Okay, great. Any sign of Seaworthy?”

Fluttershy’s face twisted in confusion and then her eyes illuminated with understanding. “I saw a pegasus run past me and take flight just a second ago. But I assumed it was one of the surviving soldiers.”

Yeah,” answered Dash. “Kind of. I don’t know what he’s up to, though. Kinda seems pissed off at Twilight.”

“Well, that doesn’t make sense, it’s not like she could help it.” said Fluttershy.

Dash groaned and paced around in a nervous circle. “I know, I know. But if you saw a unicorn rip your best friends into pieces, even if it wasn’t technically her doing it, wouldn’t you hold a little bit of a grudge?”

Fluttershy grimaced at the rawness of Rainbow Dash’s words and looked down at Twilight. “Well, if it truly wasn’t her, then no. You did make sure to explain to him, right Rainbow Dash?”

Dash nodded.

“Then I’m sure he’ll do the right thing.” said Fluttershy in a gentle, hopeful voice.

“He said he’s going to Celestia, but he took off without these maps.” said Rainbow Dash. “So he’ll have a hell of a time getting back, I’m sure.”

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy concluded their conversation and then turned their attention towards the maps. Zecora’s hut was about a day’s journey away and the two had a brief dispute amongst themselves before concluding that it was best for Twilight to be carried without flight. Fluttershy noted that Twilight’s head injuries could get more serious if subjected to the strain of rapid flight and Rainbow Dash begrudgingly agreed.

Rainbow Dash tore planks from the deck and rope from the riggings to fasten a crude sort of stretcher for Twilight. She made sure to secure her head with tightly bound lengths of coiled rope and jostled the amateur contraption several times to ensure its integrity. After gaining confidence in the sturdiness of her creation, she fastened it to her back with Fluttershy’s help.

With her comatose friend on her back and her lover at her side, Rainbow Dash proceeded through the deep depths of the forest to Zecora’s hut.

Chapter 11: Those Left Behind

Twilight’s weight bore heavily on Rainbow Dash’s back and she almost let herself feel tired, if only for a brief moment.

The light of the afternoon sun streamed through the autumn leaves of the forest. The forest’s floor was filled with leaves and brambles which grabbed at Dash’s hooves as she trotted alongside Fluttershy. Every so often, the silence of nature would be punctuated by a moan from Twilight or a groan from Fluttershy. Only a gentle breeze that trailed through the branches from some heaven on high was enough to soothe Dash and Fluttershy on their travels through the woods.

Their journey to Zecora’s hut through the woods hadn’t been an easy one so far. Neither Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy spoke to the other as they tried to make progress as quickly as possible. The only break which either of them let themselves take was a brief moment of rest beneath a willow tree. Dash had slept on her stomach to avoid untying Twilight from her back and Fluttershy had tended to Twilight’s needs and cleansed her of the various things she couldn’t help in her unconscious state.

Nonetheless, they had made steady progress through the woods and both ponies wondered if they were yet upon Zecora’s hut.

Dash paused for a moment to analyze the map after a brief moment of fiddling with the saddlebags she had looted from the Majesty before leaving that wreck behind forever. She managed to withdraw them without sending Twilight tumbling off her back, to her relief. Then she surveyed the map and after a brief period of analysis turned to Fluttershy.

“We should be about a half hour out. There’s a main road we can take to get there quicker that’s close to here, but there might be a little demon risk.” explained Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy brushed some leaves from her mane before speaking. “I don’t know how safe it is to keep transporting her like this. We need to take any path we can to speed things up.”

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both proceeded to trudge through the woods and get closer to the path.

Fluttershy gasped loudly and tapped Dash’s shoulder. “Dash, look!”

Rainbow Dash followed her gesture and her eyes widened.

Several other ponies were visible through the foliage, though they were too distant for Dash to make out any distinguishing features.

“Hello!” called Fluttershy loudly. “Our friend needs help!”

The ponies failed to respond and Dash frowned in confusion. She then consulted the map again and noticed that the ponies were heading to the location marked as Zecora’s hut.

Dash pushed aside a branch with her hoof to speak to Fluttershy. “We need to see what this is.”

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, Twilight in tow, pushed through the remaining bushes and were in full view of the main road they had sought to reach earlier. They could see both the ponies from before and a far larger crowd.

After a brief moment, it struck them why nopony had responded to their cries.

Dozens of ponies stuck out as they trodded along the wide breadth of the road, nearly each one with some form of bandage or wrapping around a limb. Sleds and wagons filled with the wounded and dead were pulled behind stallions weeping from exhaustion. Parents carried foals and fillies missing limbs and eyes, some of whom sobbed from the extent of their injuries, while others turned their gaze towards the skies with drooling mouths.

Rainbow Dash felt a sudden twinge of nausea ripple through her stomach when she noticed that some of the sleds and wagons were so full that the ponies inside were literally stacked on top of one another in writhing, sobbing tangles of limbs and manes. One of the wagons was close enough for her to smell a ghastly scent of blood, urine and worse things than she cared to name from within the compressed mass of bodies.

Despite herself, she felt a sense of relief that she couldn’t recognize any of the wounded or dead ponies.

A cry came from her left and she turned to observe the scene.

“We-we’ve been walking for hours!” sobbed a red unicorn pulling a wagon behind her.

Dash took a moment to observe the unicorn and let out a small scream when she realized that the unicorn’s original color wasn’t red, but in fact white. Small patches of her original white fur showed through the streaks of gore and blood that coated most of her body. Her left eye had been scratched out and the filthy wound writhed with maggots.

The unicorn collapsed in her reigns and began to loudly shriek with her hooves on her head.

A pony that Dash guessed was her husband sat up from the bed of the wagon that she was pulling. “We’re close, dear. Just...just keep going, we’ll get there soon.”

“Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!” screamed the mare. “My eye hurts, my legs are…”

As her tirade continued, Dash felt a sudden pulse of anger and stepped forwards to confront the stallion.

She grimaced and her words came out as an angry snarl. “Hey buddy, why don’t you take a turn? She’s injured and tired-”

Dash stopped in her tracks when she realized the stallion had no legs.

They had been reduced to bloody stumps that were crudely clotted with wads of newspaper and toilet tissue. The stallion looked at her with an open mouth for a brief moment and then shut his jaw.

Dash began to cry tears of her own as the wails of the mare grew louder. “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t realize-”

“It’s okay.” said the stallion. “I know what it looked like from where you couldn’t see this. My name is Arrow Head, by the way.”

Rainbow Dash nodded and her tears stopped. Her lip trembled before she started talking. “What’s going on? Why is all of this happening?”

“We all missed the last refugee caravans to Canterlot.” said the stallion in a defeated tone. “Word got around that Zecora and a few other ponies were treating folks down at her hut, so we all started making our way down there.”

“What do you mean the last caravans?” spat Rainbow Dash. She felt her heart pound in fury at the idea of all of these ponies, all of these children, wives and husbands, being abandoned in a time of war.

“They had to stop sending them down to get us because it got too dangerous. The last soldiers out just told us all good luck and flew off with the last couple carts full of children.” explained Arrow Head in a voice that grew softer and softer as he spoke.

Rainbow Dash noticed that the mare beside her had stopped sobbing. She took a moment to reassuringly stroke her mane and then withdrew her hoof to find it slick with blood.

Fluttershy trotted past her and briefly checked the mare’s vitals.

“She’s gone.” she said in a quiet, defeated tone.

Rainbow Dash turned back towards the legless stallion in the wagon’s bed and said the first, the only words that came to her mind. “I’m sorry.”

Arrow Head shook his head. “None of the children made it. I saw them swarm the carts and rip them into pieces in mid-air. First time I wet myself since I was a little kid.”

Fluttershy gasped. “Carts full of children-”

“They burned them, threw them out while laughing, did everything you can think of to them. Half this shit soaking my fur probably isn’t even mine.” muttered Arrow Head in a voice now so low that Rainbow Dash struggled to even hear it.

“How many more-” she started.

Arrow Head’s eyes had grown blank and his head fell back to hit the wagon’s bed.

“Fluttershy!” squealed Dash.

Fluttershy trotted up slowly and checked his vitals with a frown. “He’s gone, too.”

“What. Is. THIS!” howled Rainbow Dash as she squeezed her eyes shut.

In the darkness, Dash could feel something pulsing. Something she had never felt before. It felt like a helix of raw energies surging through her heart, a wildfire that threatened to consume her very soul, a primal sensation that ignited her nerve endings and sent her brain into a frenzy of emotion.

The images continued to molest her mind as she opened her eyes and shut them over and over again.

A dead filly missing its eyes fell from the back of an overflowing wagon and was trodden underfoot by the flowing stream of blank-eyed refugees.

Two lovers shared sex in a pool of blood beside a pile of bodies abandoned at the side of the trail.

A mother with a bandage wrapped around her head was being led by her sweating, panting filly with a single hoof.

More and more wagons of bodies, some of them sobbing in pain and others already dead, stretched off into the distance in a seemingly endless parade of horror.

Spots began to form in front of Dash’s vision and she felt her breathing grow faster and faster. A sensation that she was lifting out of her body, that she was no longer Rainbow Dash, overtook her and she embraced the temporary numbness. Her limbs felt like blocks of ice and she found it hard to move her legs. The sound of her heartbeat pounded in her ears and drowned out the cries of wounded children meandering down the trail.

Fluttershy whispered in her ear. “We have to keep going, Rainbow Dash. We can’t give up.”

Rainbow Dash took a slow, steady breath and everything snapped back to normal. She turned her mind from the horrors of the trail of refugees and focused her attention solely on Twilight.

“They’re coming!” shrieked a mare from behind her.

Everypony on the trail stopped moving as if some remote was coordinating their actions.

They all turned to face the skies and a chorus of screams broke out. Rainbow Dash followed their gaze and let out a cry of her own.

A batlike swarm of demons was pushing down from a cloudbank towards the refugees at breakneck speed. Dash could see the glimmer of their claws in the afternoon sun and the sharp, triangular profiles of their fangs shining in their mouths. Green fire burned in their eyes and they howled as they shot down towards the refugees.

The refugees on the trail began to scatter. Parents scooped up sobbing children, while some entirely abandoned their offspring to writhe in terror on the trail. Dash noticed a mare simply stare at the oncoming swarm with empty eyes and void herself like a young child in mindless fright.

Rifles from the soldiers in the crowd cracked and several of their number dropped, but it still wasn’t enough to keep the swarm at bay.

“Dash, RUN!” yelped Fluttershy.

Dash barreled forwards as quickly as she could. She stepped over crying, abandoned children curled into terrified balls. Wagons of ponies had been left behind by the ones pulling them and the ponies inside began to plead for help.

Rainbow Dash made the mistake of looking at one of the wagons for longer than a brief moment. She counted at least eight heavily wounded ponies inside.

One of them pointed a hoof at her. “You can’t leave us,” whimpered one of the mares.

“Do something, anything, please just hurry!” pleaded a stallion with a bleeding stump for a left hind-leg.

Fluttershy ran up to the cart when Dash put a hoof on her shoulder. “Don’t even bother. Just look.”

Fluttershy’s chest began to heave with sobs as she saw three more carts loaded with wounded sitting abandoned on the trail.

A brief amount of hope was restored when Dash noticed the amount of carts that hadn’t been abandoned. Even where many had been simply left, other ponies had stepped up and pulled them as hard as they could, veins bulging along their foreheads and oceans of sweat dampening their fur.

Rainbow Dash joined the drunken stampede of the other refugees as the swarm grew closer and closer. Cries of help and shrieks of terror sweeped the crowd as fireballs began to rain down. They exploded in plumes of green magic that stuck to the ground like tar and some unlucky ponies were caught in their fire, letting out wails of suffering impossible to conceive of as they died.

“No, no, NO! I’m not gonna die! Not like this!” yelled Rainbow Dash.

Her teeth mashed together in exertion. She could feel beads of sweat flying off of her mane and her nostrils flared furiously as she sucked in air to maintain her furious pace. Her heart once again pounded as if it was going to tear apart the walls of her chest itself. Twilight’s riggings on her back threatened to break under the sudden strain she put on it, but it still held sturdy through her charge. Even Fluttershy was forgotten in her single-minded sprint towards a finish line that was simply too far off for her to make in time.

Then she stopped moving entirely and her jaw fell open.

It was suddenly there, in the middle of the trail.

Ponies streamed around its massive boots while others yelled in fright and others still uselessly battered its legs, mistaking it for a demonic aggressor.

The sun reflected off of his visor as it tilted its head skywards. Green armor glinted in the sunlight and titanic brown boots supported the gigantic, trunk-like legs of the bipedal creature. Rainbow Dash paused while she remembered where she had previously seen this mass of green armor and white skin brimming with impossibly thick layers of tightly bound muscles and bulging veins.

At once, all of the demons in the swarm turned their attention from the crowd and towards the mysterious beast.

“The Slayer,” breathed Rainbow Dash in relief. “We’re saved.”

The Slayer launched himself into the air by swinging on a tree branch and flinging himself skywards. He soared through the air like a green missile and seized one of the demons, ripping its wings off and sending it to the ground in a pile of its gore. His fist swung out and smashed the skulls of three more demons into a briney paste that rained from the sky along with the deceased demonic corpses.

The other demons in the swarm flocked to the now-falling Slayer. He simply grabbed another demon and crushed its head, using its body as a platform to reach the next demon.

A red blade flickered out from his hand suddenly and a dozen of the demons fell from the sky dead.

Only ten more remained and he swung from demon to demon like some great, heroic ape, crushing their skulls as he went. Each one fell to the ground and died from the speed and intensity of the fall.

He slammed back down on the ground with a titanic, metallic thud and a loud squish as he grounded the demons underneath his boots.

Various ponies in the refugee crowd began to cheer with an insane intensity. Several mares ran up and began to hug and kiss his gigantic legs. Many began to walk up to him with praises and offers of thanks.

But as soon as the Slayer had appeared, he was gone, leaving a confused but nonetheless grateful swarm of refugees in his wake.

Rainbow Dash reeled from the sudden barrage of action and took a moment to catch her breath. She turned around to see that Fluttershy was okay as she emerged from cowering under a nearby bush.

She took a shaky breath in an attempt to calm herself. “Only a few more minutes and we’ll be at the hut, Fluttershy.”

The pair joined the steady trickle of refugees on the path to Zecora’s hut.

Chapter 12: Talismans Of Pain

The world had gone away from her and Celestia curled into a ball within her prison.

Anguish streamed over her mind as a barrage of sensory information psychically assaulted her from the world outside. Her body was in another place, though she could walk around and move inside the chamber she found herself in. From her magical experience, she recognized it for the mental prison that it was, a form of hallucination brought on by demonic possession.

When a pony was possessed by an evil force, their consciousness and sense of autonomy would be compressed into a tiny region of their mind that resembled a prison that they could experience a false sensation of bodily movement within. She found herself, much to her terror and disappointment, within such a vile and terrifying prison.

Words coming from her mouth that she would never say herself flowed over her lips and her face twisted into an evil smile. Her body contorted into a stream of condescending gestures that she knew she would never make before her subjects, if only she was in control. Her heart revolted at the evils that poured from a mouth she had no authority over.

“Deag Grav…” Celestia thought to herself. “I thought I could trust you.”

The sights at Zecora’s hut were no better than those from the journey there.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both felt their heart sink to see a writhing ball of dark energy consuming the hut itself. Several ponies banged on the magical walls, but it was impossible to see within to determine the response from those inside the magical contraption, if they had any to begin with. Every now and then, ponies in white gowns would dash in and out of the magical walls surrounding the hut.

Besides that, rows and rows of wounded ponies and other creatures stretched around the hut like the moons of some colossal planet. Many of them looked as if they had been tended to and some even seemed to be recovering from their wounds. Rainbow Dash watched as a pony ran from the walls around the hut with a potion in her saddlebags. The pony then looked around before running to a filly nearby and fed her the potion after a moment of brief conversation. The filly gasped and smiled, thanking her caretaker.

The smell was overwhelming even if Dash was beginning to become used to it. Blood and a thousand other things invaded her nostrils and she felt dizzy from the sensual onslaught of the makeshift hospital she found herself in. Despite the seeming chaos of the scene, many of the ponies did look as if they had received some kind of treatment. Many of them rested with small smiles on their faces and others were peacefully sleeping underneath the shade of what trees hadn’t yet been cut down for the firewood of the encampment.

“I need...I need to do something.” said Fluttershy with a start.

Rainbow Dash wordlessly turned to Fluttershy. “What’s wrong?”

“Some of these bandages haven’t been tended to and need to be changed or rewrapped.” explained Fluttershy quickly.

She moved away from Dash and began to step her way through the rows of injured and disabled, occasionally making adjustments to bandages and wrappings as she went. Dash asked if she could help, only for Fluttershy to explain that she would be useless without medical experience.

“What about Twilight on my back?” called out Dash.

Fluttershy’s eyes widened and she scampered back to Rainbow Dash. She helped her lower herself and untied the riggings holding the comatose unicorn to her back. The unicorn was lowered onto the ground and the drool wiped from her face. They found an empty spot between two more injured for the unicorn to lay in and set her there gently. Fluttershy began to tend to her as Dash stretched in her relaxation from being free of that heavy burden.

Then Rainbow Dash turned her attention towards the swirling walls of energy enshrouding the hut with a quizzical expression. She looked to her lover, only to find her busy helping both Twilight and a family that had just trotted up to her, mistaking her for a nurse. She helped lay their filly beside Twilight and began to take its vitals. Then she compressed a wound and started calling for a bandage, for one of the white-gowned ponies to trot over.

“Are you one of the nurses Zecora assigned?” asked the pony in white.

Fluttershy shook her head. “Me, my purple friend on the ground and my marefriend just got here.”

“Well, you should be. And that’s your marefriend?” asked the pony in white.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Yeah, we’re together.”

“Okay, my name is Healing Hoof. I was an army medic before I defected.” explained Healing Hoof.

Dash’s eyes flickered to her side and saw that her cutie mark was a young filly’s leg halfway wrapped in a bandage.

“That’s neat. What made you defect?” asked Dash.

An incredibly dark expression came over Healing Hoof’s face and Dash stepped back. Tears formed in her eyes and streamed down her face and her lip began to tremble.

“They wanted to...they wanted to pull us out. Said we needed to recall all forces to Canterlot for a final stand.” said Healing Hoof with incredible pain in her voice.

“What about all these ponies?” asked Fluttershy in a low voice.

Healing Hoof’s lips had been pulled into a tight frown and her eyes had narrowed to a squint.

“Exactly.” Healing Hoof took in a deep breath and turned away from Rainbow Dash. “I! HATE! CELESTIA!” she screamed in a booming yell so loud it seemed to bounce off of the sky itself.

Whoops and hollers erupted from the injured on the ground as well as those beside them who were lucky enough to escape injuries.

“Yeah, I’m gonna cut her head off and…” started one stallion, the rest of his statement so perverse that Rainbow Dash just chose not to hear it.

“She left us all to die! All these families!” yelled another mare with a cast on her leg as her bandages were rewrapped.

Various other ponies joined their cries and their roars and cheers sweeped over the refugee camp.

“Um…” said Dash as she nervously pawed the ground. “Well, I don’t know enough about what’s going on to say anything either way.”

“All you need to know is that we need to kill that useless goddamn alicorn.” hissed Healing Hoof with a look of pure rage pouring from her eyes that flowed down to the rest of her face.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and turned away from the radicalized nurse. She gestured to the dome surrounding Zecora's hut. “So what’s going on with that?”

The anger left Healing Hoof’s face as the topic shifted away from Celestia’s apparent shortcomings. “Zecora had to erect a magical barrier around her hut to prevent her supplies from being ransacked by the desperate.”

Dash nodded. “I need to speak with Zecora. How do I get through?”

“She monitors all ponies moving in and out of the portal, you can’t get through without her consent.” explained Healing Hoof.

“Oh, okay.” said Rainbow Dash as she trotted up to the barrier. She heard a few words of protest from Healing Hoof but ignored them as she stepped through the portal, Healing Hoof trotting up behind her to follow her through.

The scene inside was as chaotic as she had ever seen Zecora’s hut. Rows of potions lined the walls and some had fallen to shatter on the floor in neon colors. A few cauldrons attended to by sweating, tired ponies and other creatures bubbled on the floors. Other ponies stood by them, drawing out their essence to capture them within glass flasks. Once the potions had been harvested, the ponies rushed outwards to deliver them to waiting refugees.

Dash looked around in search of Zecora, only to notice that Healing Hoof was standing by her side. “Um, do you need something? Where’s Zecora?”

“I’m just…” said Healing Hoof after briefly locking eyes with Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow but was interrupted before she could continue.

“Throughout the day and throughout the night
I slave away to make this disaster right
And even the sight of friends I thought long gone
Cannot change the balance of right and wrong.”

Rainbow Dash and Healing Hoof both turned around to see a baggy eyed, panting Zecora in front of them.

“Oh, hey Zecora, I was just looking for you.” said Rainbow Dash.

She explained the nature of their current situation while Zecora and Healing Hoof listened with rapt attention. She told of how Twilight had been possessed and her horn destroyed, to elicit shocked gasps from both of her listeners. Her words felt as if they were a waterfall devoid of sense and she spoke without taking any breaths. Then she told of the punishment the World Nymph had inflicted on both Fluttershy and herself.

Zecora shut her eyes and her face wrinkled in contemplation.

While Zecora engaged in her thoughts. Rainbow Dash turned to Healing Hoof, who was still beside her. The unicorn had a light green fur matted with sweat from exhaustion. Her face was sharp and angular and her body was lean, but still quite muscular beneath her feminine complexion. Rainbow Dash noticed she was a unicorn and that her mane was a light, dirty blue that could easily be mistaken for a soft grey. Saddlebags hung from her sides that brimmed with medical equipment and dirty bandages.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “Wanna be friends?”

Healing Hoof nodded and a small smile wormed its way across her face. A strand of blue hair fell from her mane across her forehead and dangled over her eyes, which were also a gentle, soft blue.

Dash paused as she felt herself blush.

Even if she was taken, Healing Hoof was...cute.

“I just want to help.” said Healing Hoof.

“Well, if you’re good at healing, um, yeah we could use that.” said Rainbow Dash.

“I can fight, too, believe it or not.” said Healing Hoof.

“Can you fight good enough to, you know, kill a demon?” retorted Rainbow Dash.

Healing Hoof thought for a moment and shook her head. Dash let out a chuckle. “Yeah, me neither. But I’ve gotta be honest about you with something.”

“What’s that?” asked Healing Hoof.

“We’ve got a really, really hard fight ahead of us. I mean, me and Fluttershy. Who’s my marefriend that I love very much, by the way.” explained Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash couldn’t quite gauge how Healing Hoof reacted when she emphasized her love for Fluttershy, though she did notice a small change in her face that she couldn’t tell the meaning of.

“Are two mares, who do not know a stallion’s touch
Ready to hear my words, though they may be a bit much?”

“Um...yeah.” said Rainbow Dash with a raised eyebrow. “‘Do not know a stallion’s touch?’ What-”

Zecora smiled and then her grin fell into a serious glare.

“I now find that the time has come to explain
About the magical artifacts known as the Talismans of Pain.

Your two souls have been intertwined in a dire way by a dark spell,
Though temporarily they can be protected from this hell.

The potion of sacrifice will bind your pain to three artifacts,
That will only shatter by the worst of harmful acts.”

When Zecora finished speaking, both Healing Hoof and Rainbow Dash sat on the ground in confusion.

Before Rainbow Dash could ask another question, Fluttershy bumbled into the hut. She wordlessly strode past the trio and began to rummage about. After securing some bandages, she began to make her exit.

“Flutter-” sputtered Dash. She was ignored and Fluttershy rushed out without speaking further.

Rainbow Dash sighed and Healing Hoof reassuringly put a hoof on her shoulder.

She turned her focus to Zecora. “So, I need to drink this potion of sacrifice, and then something will happen with these Talismans of Pain?”

Zecora nodded and moved away from the two. She began to drag a large, empty cauldron to the side to reveal a wooden trapdoor. The zebra vanished beneath, leaving Dash and Healing Hoof alone beside one another.

“Look, I’ll be honest, you really need to think about what you’re getting yourself into.” said Dash to Healing Hoof.

“I know.” said Healing Hoof abruptly. “I’m ready to die, or be raped, or embrace whatever happens next.”

“Well, okay.” said Dash. “Just as long as you know this is going to be crazy. I really don’t expect to live that much longer, you know.”

Healing Hoof nodded and then suddenly took Dash in a hug. “It’s gonna be okay, no matter what happens.” she said into her ear in a low, gentle breath.

Dash’s eyes widened and then shut as she leaned into the embrace. “Yep, totally. I get that.”

Healing Hoof broke off the hug before it got awkward.

Then Zecora appeared before them bearing three talismans.

Rainbow Dash looked at them quizzically. They were fairly small and circular. Each one had a length of thin, black rope that seemed as if it had been cut from some mysterious plant threaded through a small loop above a piece of circular, engraved metal. Each talisman also bore an empty, clear crystal within its center that seemed as if it was waiting to be filled with something.

Zecora then withdrew a tiny, triangular potion bottle from her bag and set it on the ground beside the potions.

“So, let me get this straight. I drink this potion and it protects Fluttershy when I feel pain?” asked Rainbow Dash curiously.

“This potion will inflict suffering enough to drive most ponies insane,
Though if you survive it then into these talismans your suffering will be drained.

After these events take place, every battle will be a race
To defeat the enemy, before you and your lover are erased.

No longer will Fluttershy feel your pain from fighting,
Though if these amulets break then it will come to her like lightning.”

Rainbow Dash bathed in Zecora’s words and waited for a moment while she mulled things over. “Okay, so let me see if I understand what’s going on here. I drink this potion and it hurts me a lot, but then it puts my suffering into these amulets.”

Zecora nodded.

Rainbow Dash continued. “Then, Fluttershy doesn’t feel my pain anymore and I also don’t feel any pain during battle I’m guessing?”

Once again, Zecora smiled and nodded.

“But if I take enough damage from a fight, then the talismans will break and all the suffering that the potion puts into them will come out and hurt or kill me AND Fluttershy.” said Dash slowly, making sure to emphasize each word for Zecora’s understanding.

“As the sky is blue when the time of the afternoon draws near,
Your perception of my explanation is quite clear.”

Zecora gestured to Rainbow Dash and she followed her into the area below the hut that her trapdoor led into. It was a barren room carved out of dirt and stone adorned with no decorations to speak of. Dash noticed that it was mostly empty save for several barrels in the corner. There was nowhere for light to enter the chamber and it was a bit chilly within the chamber.

“Once the potion passes your lips and you sink into your nightmare dreams,
No pony, no zebra and no gods will be able to help you, no matter how loud your screams.

The terror that will enshroud your mind may break you
Though if your will holds strong, you will gain great strength, too.

Either way, the choice is yours to make
And neither drinking it nor abstaining will be a mistake.”

Dash looked at the suspicious black bottle. The liquids inside seemed to swirl with a life of their own and she frowned for a moment at the thought of drinking it.

“You don’t have to do this.” said Fluttershy.

Dash whirled around to see that the pegasus had joined them in the chamber. Healing Hoof turned around in surprise and opened her mouth as if to speak, but then shut it. She turned away from the pair and retreated to a corner of the room with a blank expression.

“Who is she, by the way?” asked Fluttershy.

Dash looked to Healing Hoof in the corner and then turned to Fluttershy. “A friend, I think.”

Fluttershy took Dash in a hug and Dash returned the passion and strength of her embrace.

“It’s gonna be so scary.” said Fluttershy quietly.

Rainbow Dash paused for a moment. “I’m ready for it.”

She turned to the bottle and popped the top off. Making eye contact with Fluttershy the whole time, she raised the bottle to her lips. The potion was surprisingly tasteless and she rapidly swallowed the entire thing in a few gulps.

Then she fell to her hooves and began to shriek.

Chapter 13: Healing Hoof's Tale

Healing Hoof watched her new friend writhe on the ground after drinking Zecora’s potion of sacrifice.

Her convulsions continued for a few trepid moments and then came to a standstill.

Zecora’s basement was eerily quiet without the sound of Rainbow Dash’s convulsions to fill the chamber. The stairs to the exit of the basement were empty save for a few bugs and the door remained shut, Zecora herself nowhere to be seen. It was only Fluttershy, Healing Hoof and then the now-comatose Rainbow Dash on the floor before their hooves. Healing Hoof allowed herself to release a breath she didn’t know she was holding from the tension of wondering if Dash was simply going to die on the floor.

Rainbow Dash’s marefriend, Fluttershy, looked at her lover on the ground with an expression that struck a perfect balance between pain and her own fear.

Healing Hoof watched her reaction with a sense of jealousy.

Observing Fluttershy’s love for her partner drew her back into her own memories of trying to find love and acceptance…

“Fucking faggot.” said the team captain dryly as she kicked Healing Hoof again.

Healing Hoof coughed from where she lay on the floor of the locker-room. Her legs covered her head and she lay in a ball on the ground as she wept softly. Thin beams of the cloudy afternoon’s light trickled through the window to illuminate the locker-room. The floor smelled like a mixture of sweat and dried shampoo from her low position to it. Dust swirled about from the unswept tiles and there was a faint sensation of moisture from the morning’s showers.

“I...never wanted you to find it…” muttered Healing Hoof to Soaring Javelin.

Soaring Javelin raised a note to her side with a poof of blue magic. Healing Hoof let herself look through pained eyes at the unicorn that she had a crush on only moments prior to this beating. Her fur was a gentle pink and her mane was finely combed and as straight as her sexuality, to Healing Hoof’s dismay and now torment. A javelin flying through the air sat on her flank as her cutie mark, which was quite appropriate seeing as how she was the captain of the mare’s javelin team at their school.

A banner fluttered on the wall with a small rip through its left corner. It bore the coat of arms for the high school; a queen’s crown on the top right, a book on the top left and a shield at the bottom to complete the trio.

‘For Celestia’s Glory, For Our Education’ read a banner underneath the trio of symbols.

Healing Hoof remembered how the team captain had stormed into the locker-room right after her following their after-school practice. Healing Hoof’s heart had started to beat furiously when her crush followed her in, but she had never imagined that things would turn out like this. Her side ached from where she had been shoved to the ground and her ears echoed with the hate that still flowed from Javelin’s mouth.

“Yeah? Well I did find it. And now I’m gonna…” started Javelin.

Healing Hoof noticed that the edge had come off of her words and something in her eyes had softened. Nonetheless, the unicorn had just attacked her for her sexuality, so Healing remained on edge.

“Look, I know it’s shocking. I just wrote it for myself. I never meant…” said Healing.

“Ugh, just LISTEN to what you wrote.” said Javelin with a sneer. “‘Every night I think of her and wonder if she returns my love, if she’s like me too. Every time I see her score a point or just smile in happiness, I want to confess everything to her, even if she rejects me. I just can’t handle these feelings and don’t know what to do.’”

The note was shredded into pieces by Javelin’s magic, causing more tears to drop from Healing’s eyes.

“Do you know what my father would do if he knew little faggot fillies were pining over me?” she muttered with a flip of her mane. “You’re lucky I don’t just kill you where you lay.”

Healing Hoof shuddered as Javelin spat on the mare.

The doors to the locker-room opened and the team coach stood in the doorway with a blank expression on her face.

She gulped out of nervousness before speaking. “Girls, what’s going on here?”

Javelin tried to storm out the door, but the coach stood in her way. The coach narrowed her eyes and stared down Javelin.

“I-it’s not what it looks like, Buttermare-” sputtered Javelin.

“You know that fighting between team members is expressly forbidden under school rules.” said Buttermare.

Javelin kicked a locker so hard it flew open out of frustration. “What? So does that mean we’re both off over this-this-”

Buttermare shook her head. “There is one way for you both to stay on.”

Healing Hoof coughed and wiped spittle from her mouth. “What?”

“A water balloon fight, in front of the whole school.” said Buttermare with a reserved frown on her face.

Javelin groaned and dramatically put a hoof to her head. “Once again, you humiliate me.”

Healing Hoof climbed from the ground and her face twisted up in anger. “What? She jumps me because of something I can’t help and the only punishment she gets is-”

“Yep, that’s right. A water balloon fight, in front of everypony. To be held at 6 in the afternoon sharp tomorrow.” explained Buttermare further.

Javelin gritted her teeth together and her eyes narrowed. “If you think you’re gonna get off that easy for embarrassing me in front of the coach, you’re dead wrong. I’m gonna pound you during that water balloon fight tomorrow.”

Healing Hoof climbed off the ground. “I don’t want to talk to you. Just go.”

Javelin snorted and stormed out, leaving Buttermare and Healing alone in the locker room together.

Buttermare took a pitiful look at Healing Hoof where she lay curled on the floor. “Best of luck tomorrow, champ.”

Healing Hoof clambered to her hooves and nodded her thanks. They both exited the locker room.

The afternoon clouds were puffy and white. Several birds flew below them and long shadows stretched out over the Equestrian landscape. Butterflies and other creatures of the springtime swirled over the grasses in front of the Royal Equestrian Academy. A small crowd had gathered on the quad, along with the entire Javelin Team. They whispered among themselves in quiet voices and Healing Hoof looked to them nervously.

Though she wasn’t sure, she could have sworn a brown stallion with an orange mane was staring at her with something resembling pity.

She turned from the gazes of the crowd back towards her opponent. A stack of purple and pink water balloons had been stacked beside Javelin as well as Healing Hoof herself.

“I will once again recite the rules, just to make sure everypony knows the rules.” said Buttermare, who stood beside the pair with a black and white jersey over her chest. A gleaming chrome whistle hung from her neck and she wore a sun visor that shadowed her face.

She took in a deep breath before speaking. “The pony who gets the most hits on the other wins. The punishment session starts on a blow of my whistle. The pony who loses has to sit out the rest of the season and a member of the junior varsity team will take their place until next season.”

“This isn’t right!” sputtered Healing Hoof. “I’m just a point guard and she’s the principal thrower-”

Javelin laughed. “What, are you gonna start crying again?”

At her mocking words, a few members of the crowd laughed, while others sat still with worried looks on their faces.

“Girls, focus on one another, okay?” said Buttermare as she chastised the pair.

They both nodded and locked eyes with one another. Healing Hoof felt rage surge through her heart as Javelin mouthed the word faggot. A couple of ponies in the audience laughed as they noticed what she was doing.

“Three, two one!” counted down Buttermare.

Then her whistle blew and the battle was on.

Healing Hoof levitated three balloons to her side and they fell to the ground as a water balloon splatted against her face.

“1-0!” announced Buttermare.

She spat out pieces of plastic and unleashed a furious barrage of her own.

Two balloons smacked against Javelin’s flank and she let out a frustrated yell.

“1-2!” announced Buttermare.

Healing Hoof dashed to the side as she noticed a balloon heading her way. It missed her entirely and slammed into the crowd.

“One-point penalty!” cried Buttermare. “1-1!”

Healing Hoof and Buttermare were down to three balloons each.

Healing Hoof trembled to see the look of rage in Javelin’s eyes.

She levitated a balloon to her side and began to swing it in circles as she grinned from ear to ear.

After what felt like an eternity of tension as the balloon twirled, it was slung rapidly through the air by Javelin’s magic and Healing Hoof tried to dodge.

She clumsily fell into her own stack of balloons, popping them and soaking her fur in water. She let out a defeated sigh on the ground as she felt the force of Javelin’s balloon against her ass.

“Healing Hoof is out of balloons! Javelin wins! Healing Hoof is out for the rest of the season!” decreed Buttermare.

A crowd of ponies surged forwards and carried away Javelin on their hooves, while the other ponies dispersed.

Healing Hoof clambered up from the ground and spat some water out before trotting away in defeat. She walked for a while with her head low to the ground and her chest heaved with sobs, though her face was dry. Each step felt heavy and she felt a sense of emptiness radiate through her body. Suddenly, she wished that she would stop breathing and just fall to the ground in a heap of fur and bones.

“You know, that was really messed up.” said a voice from behind her.

Healing Hoof whirled around, sending beads of water flying into the air from the moisture in her mane.

The brown pony from the crowd and several of his friends stood before her.

“Yeah, especially when she mouthed faggot, what was that all about?” said a furious pegasus with blue fur.

“We’re all sick of being bullied by her too, you know.” said the brown pony.

Healing Hoof let herself smile. “It’s okay guys, really. I’m...used to it.”

‘Well, my name is Sparkling Soda, Healing Hoof.” said the brown pony.

He extended his hoof forwards and Healing shook it nervously.

“Thanks guys, it means a lot to have some support.” she said as she allowed a hopeful grin to creep over her lips.

“Now, wanna help us beat the shit out of her?” exclaimed Sparkling.

The other ponies behind him began to whoop and holler. Healing Hoof felt her heart sink as she looked at how happy they were at the prospect of violence.

“You know, I kind of understand why she’s the way that she is.” said Healing Hoof.

The other ponies stopped. Sparkling’s mouth opened in shock. “You mean, you don’t wanna beat her until she starts crying?”

“Well, she’s the richest pony in school and the team captain, as well as the principal thrower. I’m sure she’s under a lot of pressure from her parents, not to mention Buttermare, to keep performing well in games so the Academy keeps its funding.” explained Healing. “That probably explains why she’s such a bully. Plus I’m not on the team anymore, so I don’t have to see her around.” she continued.

“Gotcha. Any classes with her?” asked Sparkling.

Healing shook her head. “We walk home the same way, but she never talks to me anyways.”

The ponies behind Sparkling Soda groaned before walking off. Only he stood in front of Healing Hoof as the sun shone on them both. A yellow monarch butterfly flew between the two and Healing smiled gently at the scent of freshly cut grass wafting between the two. A cicada began to chirp in the gentle heat of the spring and Sparkling sighed.

“Yeah, violence isn’t always the answer to violence.” he muttered with his eyes low to the ground.

“Wanna hang out?” asked Healing Hoof.

“Sure thing.” said Sparkling Soda. “Popsicle houses at your place?”

Healing Hoof nodded.

Various items for arts and crafts were spread over the table. Popsicle sticks with dots of glue on the ends lay scattered and already Healing had built half of a log cabin from popsicle sticks. Sparkling had made one of his own that dwarfed hers in size and had already decorated the beams forming the roof with sparkles and glitter. He had given it a foundation of green construction paper to stand on and a few dolls formed the inhabitants of the house.

Healing Hoof’s own popsicle castle was nothing to sneer at, either. She had already built a sturdy foundation from layers of sticks glued together and was beginning to construct a bedrock for the ramparts she would eventually build. One of them had already been finished and stood aside from the rest of the construct, waiting to be glued on. Paper flags had been cut from green construction paper and lay on the table beside the castle.

“Isn’t this better than hurting somepony?” asked Healing with a smile on her face.

Sparkling stopped gluing a stick to a piece of paper to think. “Well, when you put it like that, yeah.”

Their conversation was interrupted by Healing’s mom coming over to serve them a pile of steaming chocolate chip cookies on a porcelain plate.

Sparkling put his hoof on the plate and then his jaw dropped as he looked out the window.

“Healing, look!” he said as his brow furrowed.

Healing followed his gaze. Javelin was wandering down the sidewalk with her head held low. Her mane covered her face and she walked slowly along the path outside that led past Sparkling’s house.

“Is she going to-” wondered Healing aloud.

Before she could finish her question, Javelin sharply turned and began to head for Healing’s front door. Both of the ponies sat at the table nervously and tensed up when she began to knock at the door.

“Um, are you going to answer that?” asked a nervous Sparkling.

“Only if you come with me?” said a confused Healing.

They both trotted up to the door and Healing opened it.

Healing began to speak, but stopped when she noticed a long, deep gash trailing up Javelin’s leg. Her blood had stained the sidewalk in large pools leading up to the house and tears were visible on her face now that Healing could see it past her mane.

“I...was going to...but I wanted to apologize to…” muttered Javelin in a low, pained voice. Her eyes sat in her skull and were so dead and lifeless that they terrified Healing Hoof where she stood.

“We’ve got to get her to the hospital!” screamed Sparkling.

Healing Hoof sat beside Javelin in the hospital. Several tubes hooked up to her assisted with various tasks and she breathed gently, staring at the ceiling from where she lay on the hospital bed. They were both alone in the room they sat in and Healing held her hoof in her hands with a frown on her face. Already, a half hour of silence had passed and Healing was thinking about going back home.

Finally, Javelin spoke. “I just can’t take it.”

“Take what?” asked Healing curiously.

“My dad beats the shit out of me every single time I mess up in a game.” said Javelin in a slow, monotone voice. “I know he was going to...if I got a point guard kicked off the team...he would have…”

“I had no idea.” said Healing in a concerned tone.

“When I read your note, that was the only time in my life anypony had shown genuine love towards me. Everypony likes me because I’m the one who wins the fucking games, I’m the one who always…” she paused and began to cough furiously.

“It’s okay.” stated Healing.

“And I just didn’t know how to handle it. I mean, something in me snapped and I just…” continued Javelin.

Healing felt a tear leave her eye. “I understand.”

The two both sat in silence as rain battered the window outside.

Suddenly, Sparkling came into the room. “Just checking on you guys. It’s getting dark, so I gotta head home soon.”

He paused before speaking further. “I heard everything by the way.”

Healing and Javelin both nodded.

“Hey,” said Javelin. Healing and Sparkling both turned their attention towards her. “Wanna be friends? I mean, I’m off the team for sure now with this wound, so I’ve got some free time. And none of my old friends would understand about this anyways.”

“Sure, I’d be happy to give you a chance.” said Sparkling.

Healing agreed and they both sat beside her as the rain fell outside.

Healing Hoof, Sparkling Soda and Javelin both sat on the edge of a cliff. Smoke from the campfire drifted into the air behind them and three tents encircled it. Bats flew overhead in the light of the setting sun and the sound of crickets had already set in from the woods behind the trio seated on the ledge.

Healing looked to her left and she could see the side profiles of her new friends. She recalled the months she had spent carefully constructing and nurturing a friendship between herself, Sparkling and Javelin. Even if other ponies didn’t quite understand what they were going through, she thought to herself, at least they had one another.

The camping trip had been her idea and the gang had set out for it after planning the excursion for about a week or so. Javelin had bought the supplies and Sparkling had chosen the trail they were to hike to get to the campsite. All of them deeply appreciated his familiarity with nature as they observed the beauty of the scenic vista before them.

Things hadn’t been easy for her, realized Healing as she observed Javelin with a neutral expression.

Healing felt a familiar twinge in her heart when Javelin leaned back and let the evening’s wind rustle her mane into a beautiful plume that streamed behind her head. She breathed in deeply and then exhaled slowly in the twinkling light of the coming evening. Despite her beauty, Healing realized Javelin had problems of her own.

Javenlin’s old friends had been quick to leave her as the pony had predicted herself. What had once been a friend group that would have died for their Team Captain had transformed into a scheming clique in the span of just a few weeks. Healing recalled how Javelin had to endure a beating of her own, without even a water balloon fight to make things right.

Their friendship had grown even stronger through their shared experience with bullies and they sat on the edge of the cliff overlooking the lake as a united group of not just friends, but allies who supported one another through thick and thin.

Healing smiled as she wondered if it would last forever.

Nothing lasts forever, realized Healing as she sat on the same cliff, this time by herself.

This time, the sun was rising instead of setting. She had hiked out to the scenic overlook herself and now contemplated life and its many changes on its edge, entirely alone.

A year had passed since their graduation. Healing Hoof had continued on to a prestigious medical academy while Sparkling and Javelin had simply…

Healing struggled to find the right word.

“Abandoned.” thought a dark, paranoid part of herself.

She shook her head. “They just went different ways.”

Deep in her heart, she knew her friends had forsaken her for no apparent reason.

After graduation, she hadn’t heard a word from Sparkling or Javelin. The festivities and trips they had planned together after they were to graduate simply didn’t happen and each one of the ponies went their own way in life, despite the strength of the friendship they had shared before. They were the only group of friends she had ever had in her life, realized Healing with a painful twinge of emotion in her chest.

They were the closest thing to love she had ever experienced. She had yet to kiss another mare on the lips and wondered as she looked over the lake if her love was out there in the world for her or if this loneliness was to be her doom.

She asked herself if she would ever again have friends as a lone tear made its way down her cheek.

Dash had grown silent on the floor of Zecora’s basement and Fluttershy had covered her with a small blanket.

Healing took in how nervously Fluttershy was fidgeting while she sat by Rainbow Dash’s side. She felt claws of anxiety gnaw at her own heart as she contemplated the unconscious pony on the ground. Despite the unrelenting sensation of nervousness, she felt a small ember of something else blossoming in her chest.

“Do you think she’s gonna wake up?” she asked Fluttershy.

Fluttershy nodded without looking at Healing. “She just needs a few more days rest.”

“When she wakes up, I’ll do everything I can to support you guys.” said Healing in a stern tone.

Fluttershy smiled. “We appreciate the help, Healing. Feel free to come with us once we set out again.”

A seed of hope finally blossomed in Healing’s chest at her words.

Once again, she had found friends to work hard for and build a genuine relationship with, just as she once did with Sparkling and Javelin.

Chapter 14: Healing Hoof's Quest

“A solo mission? Now?” said Fluttershy with a frown.

They both stood outside of Zecora’s hut and in front of Twilight. The darkness of the evening was already beginning to set in and the sky was filled with the colors of the sunset. A multitude of sounds, from crickets to the sound of foals playing amongst themselves, rang out over the clearing. More and more refugees continued to stream into the encampment and Healing Hoof could already tell that the size of the camp had doubled or even tripled since she had arrived.

“Yeah.” said Healing Hoof. “You said you needed some ingredients from your house to make a potion that'll help out Twilight, so I can get that for you guys.”

She smiled after she spoke, eager to show Fluttershy how much she wanted to help. After all, Healing Hoof thought to herself, there was no better way to show friendship than through one's actions.

“But why?” asked Fluttershy in a tone of genuine curiosity. “You don’t even know us. Nopony would be able to help you if you got surrounded by demons. You really need to think this one through.”

Healing Hoof recoiled at her words, but gave a nod in response. “Fluttershy, I’ve thought this through. I know what I want.”

They both paused as Rainbow Dash began to murmur.

They looked to where the unconscious pegasus lay on the ground beside Twilight. Her talismans of pain had already begun to fill and the clear crystals within their center had filled with a shiny, red energy that seemed to move and twist like some sort of arcane gas. The pony herself had sunk into a dreamless slumber that gave neither of them any hints as to her inner experiences.

“Healing Hoof, we accept you as a friend without you having to do any of this.” explained Fluttershy with a hopeful smile on her face.

Healing Hoof’s lips twisted into a tight frown at her attempt at reassurance. “I have to prove myself, so you know I’m enough.”

Healing Hoof regarded Fluttershy as she sat before her. She became a bit jealous of Rainbow Dash, that she had managed to find such a sweet and truly kind lover. Fluttershy’s eyes regarded her with a tangible sense of worry, despite the fact that she had just met Healing Hoof. Healing Hoof almost wanted to listen to her and wait for other ponies to join her quest.

Yet at the same time, a worm of sorrow in Healing Hoof’s heart prevented her from being able to accept her words. Try as she might, what she truly wanted was to show Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash that she was worthy of being their friend. Though she wasn’t well-versed in mythical lore, she knew of the triumphs of the Elements of Harmony and knew that the three ponies who sat before her were far greater than she was.

“Everypony is better than me. It’s not hard to do.” she thought to herself with bitterness and regret as she turned her eyes to the ground.

Fluttershy’s eyes became softer than before and she suddenly took Healing Hoof in a tight hug.

“Please don’t do this.” she whispered in her ear.

Fluttershy pulled her head back and gazed at Healing Hoof with eyes that took her aback. “Are you okay?” asked Healing Hoof as concern for Fluttershy suddenly filled her heart.

“All my friends…” muttered Fluttershy as tears started to swim in her eyes. “First it was Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie. Now Rainbow Dash and Twilight are hurt.”

Healing Hoof took a step back and her lips curled into a deep frown as Fluttershy hung her head down. Her mane nearly touched the ground and covered the entirety of her head. The mare’s chest heaved with tearless sobs.

“It’ll be okay.” said Healing Hoof with a touch on her shoulder.

“I...I don’t have anypony left.” said Fluttershy in a voice so low that Healing Hoof struggled to hear it.

“I know how you feel.” responded Healing Hoof as she regarded the pegasus.

Healing Hoof began to think of the times in her life that she had felt the same way as the suffering pegasus in front of her. She remembered how humiliating it was to break down and show her weakness in front of other ponies. Healing Hoof recalled the inky, dark feeling of uselessness and how badly it made you want to destroy the world.

“None of them were...strong enough. Now I have to be the strong one. For everypony left behind, kidnapped or unconscious.” said Fluttershy.

Healing Hoof gasped when she saw Fluttershy’s face. Her eyes had turned into narrow slits and her face was wrinkled with a senseless rage. Her nostrils flared and her teeth were grinding together so hard Healing Hoof thought they would turn into bloody stumps of bone in her mouth.

“It’ll be okay. I’ll be careful.” answered Healing Hoof.

“Whatever happens, don’t you dare hurt me again. I can’t take it.” replied Fluttershy in a monotone voice.

The anger and grief of the previous moment had given itself over to numbness, observed Healing Hoof. Fluttershy’s face was now stoic as she found a way to compartmentalize the range of emotions sweeping her body. Healing Hoof felt a tear come to her eye as she found a deep relationship with how she felt.

“Nothing will happen to me and I’ll be right back here with the ingredients you need.” said Healing Hoof.

“If you’re going to ignore me, I might as well try to help you.” replied Fluttershy with a reserved sigh of defeat. “The potion is in a bright, neon-orange flask in my bedroom, which is on the top floor. It’s the only room in my house with a bed, you can’t miss it.”

Healing Hoof nodded. “Gotcha, I’ll be back with it before the sun rises tomorrow morning.”

“Just go away.” said Fluttershy with a sniffle. “I don’t want to think about you getting hurt out there. Or dying.”

“What does it help out with again?” inquired Healing Hoof in an attempt to change the topic.

Fluttershy sighed. “It’ll help us to prevent her from being repossessed once her horn regrows.”

Healing Hoof smiled and put her hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “I’ll be careful.”

“Go.” uttered Fluttershy.

Healing Hoof wordlessly began her departure from the camp.

Her saddlebags were loaded with enough supplies to sustain her for a day, as well as one of the maps Rainbow Dash had in her possession. Fluttershy’s house, on the outskirts of Ponyville, was marked on her map with a bright red X. Healing Hoof had also brought a sword that had been given to her as a gift from a solider who's wounds she had changed.

She took a deep breath of the night’s air from the edges of the refugee camp. In front of her were the woods, as lovely, dark and deep as they were tonight.

Despite herself, Healing Hoof felt a lightning bolt of nervous energy stream over her body.

Healing Hoof’s legs began to tremble and sweat formed on her brow at the sight that greeted her where the X lay on the map.

There was no house, but only an expanse of forest that gave way to a small field. At first, Healing Hoof thought she was alone, but a familiar pegasus sat in the middle of the tiny field with her back turned.

“Fluttershy, what are you doing here?” called out Healing Hoof.

“I can’t handle anypony else getting hurt.” said Fluttershy as she sat facing away from Healing Hoof.

Healing Hoof’s brows narrowed and a frown overcame her face. She said nothing as the pegasus wordlessly sat in the field with her head hung low.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of waiting, the pegasus continued. “I’ll give you one chance to turn around and walk back to the camp.”

“Or what? You can’t control me!” called out Healing Hoof.

“That’s where you’re wrong. If ponies won’t listen to me, if ponies won’t do what they need to do to stay safe…” said Fluttershy as her lip trembled. “Then I’ll make them stay safe.”

“You know, this really isn’t okay. Just because you’re traumatized doesn’t mean you have the ability to do whatever this is.” retorted Healing Hoof.

“Turn back. Now.” muttered Fluttershy.

She turned around and Healing Hoof gasped.

Her mouth was drawn into an evil, wide-lipped frown that showed the whiteness of her teeth. Her eyes had narrowed to crevices that shone with an energy resembling the lava flows from an active volcano. As she stood up, her hooves dug themselves into the ground. Every inch of her body trembled with an emotion so intense Healing Hoof realized she had no capacity to imagine what Fluttershy was feeling.

“No.” said Healing Hoof, standing her ground. “I’m...gonna…”

Healing Hoof stopped mid-sentence as Fluttershy lunged at her with a furious roar.

Healing Hoof squealed and rolled to the side, sending various items tumbling from her bag.

With zero intent to actually hurt Fluttershy, she pulled her sword from her bag and held it in front of her with trembling hooves.

“You don’t know how to use that FUCKING thing.” spat Fluttershy.

She swatted the sword out of Healing Hoof’s hooves and the mare covered her face with her legs.

Confusion wracked her mind while Healing Hoof wracked her mind, trying to determine where Fluttershy’s sudden rage had come from. Was her entire personality of peace simply a lie? Or was this some kind of mental breakdown she had never experienced before? Healing felt a deep sorrow in her heart when she realized that Fluttershy likely wouldn’t be her friend after this, after all.

She would have cried from disappointment, were it not for the furious pegasus before her.

Healing Hoof let out a yelp as she felt Fluttershy’s teeth tug on her mane. “W-what are you gonna do to-”

“We’re going back. NOW.” yelled the pegasus as she dragged Healing Hoof through the clearing.

“O-okay, I’ll go back with-” stammered Healing Hoof in a trembling voice.

“You’re not. Gonna go off on some stupid adventure. And get hurt. Like the rest of my friends.” explained Fluttershy.

“Yep, sure thing, pleasecelestiadonthurtme-” pleaded Healing Hoof, her words blending together in panic.

“Oh, I’m not gonna be the one who hurts you. It’s going to be some STUPID monster, or some STUPID demon that possesses you and forces ME to be the strong one, forces ME to be the one who has to take care of you.” spat Fluttershy.

Healing Hoof got the impression that Fluttershy wasn’t speaking to her in particular, but just expressing something very deep from within her heart. She respectfully allowed Fluttershy to continue her rant.

Tears began to pour down Fluttershy’s face as her chest bounced up and down from the rapid breaths she was taking in. “And then, when all my friends are bleeding and dead and wrapped up in bandages, do you know what my last friend says? My friend who isn’t in a coma and isn’t bleeding from every hole in her body with her horn ripped off? She says, ‘Oh Fluttershy, I’m just gonna go on a little ADVENTURE.”

“Tell me how you really feel.” whispered Healing Hoof to herself.

Fluttershy clenched her jaw so hard that Healing Hoof was amazed it didn’t simply pop out of her skull. She began to smash her forehooves over and over again into the trunk of a tree. Bits of bark and wood flew off as Fluttershy let out a horrific scream that made Healing Hoof cover her ears from its pitch and intensity.

Blood began to pour down her hooves as they cracked from the furious onslaught Fluttershy unleashed against the tree.

Finally, Fluttershy stopped and curled into a ball on the ground. She covered her head with her hooves.

Healing Hoof nervously got back on her hooves. “Are you doing okay?”

Fluttershy looked up at her with blood streaking her face from her shattered hooves. “I’m breaking, Healing.”

“You’re what now?” asked Healing as she took a trepid step back.

“I’ve lost too many...too many friends. I can’t stand the thought of losing you, too.” muttered Fluttershy as her face changed into a deep shade of red.

“You know, it’s okay to feel the way you do.” explained Healing Hoof.

“Really?” asked Fluttershy, looking up to Healing Hoof.

“Yeah!” said Healing Hoof with a smile on her face. “You’re just traumatized. You aren’t a crazy pony, or a broken pony. Anypony would feel this way if they went through what you went through. There’s nothing wrong with you.”

Fluttershy clambered to her hooves. The two ponies wordlessly embraced and kept the hug for a moment that seemed to stretch on for the whole night. Fluttershy’s body heaved with sobs as she pushed her face into Healing’s chest. Healing Hoof felt the fur on her chest grow damp, though she refrained from commenting on it.

Finally, Fluttershy pulled her head back from the embrace. “Ready to head down?”

“Head down where?” asked a confused Healing.

“Let’s go to my house, together.” said Fluttershy with a soft smile. She put her hoof on Healing’s shoulder and her face flushed a deep shade of crimson.

“Don’t you, you know, have a marefriend already?” asked Healing Hoof.

“As friends. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.” said Fluttershy with a renewed determination in her voice.

Healing raised an eyebrow. “I’d be happy to, but what changed?”

“Sometimes you just need a good cry session to work things out.” said Fluttershy with a small smile daring to tiptoe across her lips.

“A clear head is always the best way to make decisions. Being violent and controlling other ponies is never the best way forwards.” said a now confident, smiling Healing Hoof.

Fluttershy’s face had filled with another variety of intense emotion as it twisted up with regret. “I’m sorry for what I did, Healing.”

Healing paused for a moment and gently kissed her cheek. “You’re stronger than you think. And I should apologize too.”

Fluttershy looked to the side. “What do you have to be sorry for?”

“Even if I want to be your friend, it was reckless of me to head off on my own.” explained Healing.

“Well, you just want your new friends to respect you. And there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as you don’t put yourself in danger.” responded Fluttershy.

Healing Hoof smiled. What had only moments before seemed like a frayed rope was beginning to strengthen and tighten back into the bond which she originally hoped it would become.

She recalled sitting on the cliff overlooking the lake, with Javelin and Sparkling by her side, back all of those years ago in a distant time. A faint sensation of hope bloomed in her heart once she realized that the path to a friendship like that had once again been opened to her.

“All I’ve wanted, my whole life, is to just have friends that I can count on. I’m...sick of being lonely.” confessed Healing.

Fluttershy gave a reassuring smile. “We can talk more later, but we should really be getting on our way, if we’re going to my house together.”

The two proceeded through the dark woods under the cover of moonlight and the twinkling of distant stars.

What neither of the two ponies noticed was a pair of red eyes stalking them through the darkness.

Chapter 15: Where Hope Ends

Healing Hoof and Fluttershy were approaching Fluttershy’s house at a rapid pace.

The only light that guided them was the small, shaky radius of Healing Hoof’s lantern as she levitated it to her side while the pair walked through the woods. Its light cast eerie shadows around the two that seemed to take a life of their own in the depths of the night. There was no sound in the forest and the two walked in an inky, black silence that seemed to enshroud them.

Healing took a small breath. The silence around the two was nearly deafening. She thought of the times she had been alone by herself in nature before this and then shook her head. There was something different about this silence, something vaguely threatening about the way it stifled all sound around her. She thought at first that some evil spell had been cast, but dismissed the thought.

She turned to Fluttershy in an attempt to make some conversation to distract the two of them from the foreboding quietness. “So, any thoughts about earlier?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “I’m just glad I was able to open up to you, Healing. And since I’ve told you so much already, there’s something else I want to bring up.”

Healing nodded. “Don’t let me stop you. I’m a friend.”

Fluttershy took in a deep breath before talking. “I hate this. All of this.”

“What do you mean?” asked a confused Healing Hoof.

“The adventures, the constant fighting and violence. I just want everything to...go back to normal.” confessed Fluttershy. “Ever since this started, ever since Dash brought me back from wherever I was, I just…”

Her lip began to tremble and Healing took her in a hug. “It’s okay, you can say anything you want.”

“Except I can’t.” said Fluttershy as she sucked in air through her teeth. “I have to be strong for them. I have to be strong for her.”

“You mean Rainbow Dash?” asked Healing Hoof as she looked at Fluttershy with eyes that swam with a genuine sense of worry.

Fluttershy nodded. “I know this isn’t easy for her, either. And with Twilight down and the rest of my friends missing…”

The mare went quiet and Healing waited for her response. Fluttershy’s lip began to tremble and her eyes grew narrow. Healing took a step back when she saw her eyes fill with a familiar rage.

“Are you alright?” asked a nervous Healing Hoof.

“I have to be somepony I’m not.” said Fluttershy in a voice that wasn’t hers.

“No, you don’t-” started Healing Hoof.

“Do you know what I want to do?” asked Fluttershy.

Healing Hoof felt a sinking feeling in her stomach at the expression in Fluttershy’s face. It was a mask of pure, barely suppressed rage. Her eyes had narrowed into slits and shot a look that would have made a grown stallion shake in his boots. Healing could see the sides of her face bulge as Fluttershy clenched her jaw together.

As soon as the wave of anger came, it fell away from Fluttershy. Her face fell and her jaw opened. All of the light and fire vanished from her eyes and they filled with tears. The mare fell to the ground and curled into a ball, her body heaving with sobs.

Healing took a moment to contemplate as Fluttershy cried beneath her hooves.

There was no question that she was intensely emotionally unstable.

Healing took a moment to think about things from her perspective, about how difficult it must have been to see her friends get hurt and sacrifice for her over and over again.

Then Healing searched her own heart and found only numbness and emptiness, the darkness only illuminated by a faint ember of hope that the sobbing pony in front of her was going to be her friend. Healing felt as if her entire self was retreating into an abyss of grayness and darkness.

She shut her eyes and felt as if she was lifting out of her body. Healing saw Fluttershy and herself in the forest, but felt no connection to her body, as if she had already died.

Healing Hoof’s trance of disassociation ended in a split second and she was back to the relative normal she had managed to achieve.

Fluttershy wordlessly clambered to her hooves. “Ready to keep going?”

Healing gave a silent nod and the two proceeded to Fluttershy’s house.

Healing took a moment to observe the cottage in front of her. It was a multi-story house, albeit covered in moss. The glass on the windows was intact to her relief. There was no sign of life anywhere surrounding the cottage, though the ground had long, dark streaks running over it. Empty cages lay scattered around the property. Healing wondered how many animals had once been captive within them and then looked at Fluttershy.

Once again, she had retreated into herself and gave no response to the scene.

“So you had a lot of pets?” asked Healing.

Fluttershy failed to answer her and walked up to the door of her house. Healing shrugged and followed the mare inside through a carved oak door.

The inside of the house was as curious and as empty as the outside. More overturned cages were inside of the cottage and the walls were filled with scratch marks. The furniture itself had been shredded by some mysterious force and books lay scattered all over the floor. Healing noticed how Fluttershy forced herself to remain stoic.

She trotted upstairs and Healing followed her.

Fluttershy lay down on a large bed that sat at the peak of a stairwell leading to the second story of the sizable cottage. A vase filled with flowers sat on a nightstand and Healing noticed Rainbow Dash’s picture in an ornate frame, a faded lipstick kiss pressed over the glass. Fluttershy let out a gentle sigh and Healing stood in the bedroom silently.

“So are we going to search for the potion ingredients?” asked Healing.

Fluttershy wordlessly stared at the ceiling for a few more moments. “I guess.”

Healing began to flip open cabinets and cupboards as Fluttershy lay on the bed. Finally, she clambered off and began to help Healing in her search. They overturned pantries full of rotten food and searched every drawer in the cottage.

Fluttershy let out a loud sigh and Healing looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Something else you need to open up about?”

“No, I found it.” said Fluttershy. She raised an orange bottle filled with crushed plants and Healing Hoof smiled.

“What is it?” asked Healing curiously.

Fluttershy began to explain. “Compressed dragon-claw. Its magical properties help to protect against possession-”

The entire cottage shook from the force of a great impact and both of the ponies let out a startled yelp. Fluttershy quickly stowed the potion bottle in Healing’s bags.

“What was-” started Healing Hoof.

She gasped as she saw a pair of red eyes in the woods through the window.

Fluttershy followed her look and let out a terrified squeal. “Healing, what is-”

“Oh no.” whispered Healing.

The red eyes walked closer to the pair and were on Fluttershy’s lawn, close enough for both of the ponies to see the outline of the beast through the moonlight.

It stood as tall as a bear on its hindlegs and its body was covered in a crude, green armor. Two massive horns stretched from its skull and curled upwards over its head. Its legs were covered in hulking armor that gave way to rippling abdominals and arms swollen with muscles and bulging with purple veins. A double-barrelled shotgun sat on its hip and the crude weapon swung as it walked.

"COME OUT.”roared the creature, sending icicles of terror through the chests of both ponies.

Healing noticed that the voice had a strange, almost radio-like quality to it. Every syllable the beast uttered popped and crackled like it had been spoken through the speakers of some olden-times radio machine.

“RUN!” screamed Fluttershy.

Healing and Fluttershy both scrambled out of a side-door and were out behind Fluttershy’s house. Healing took in her surroundings in a whirl of sights and colors that blended together in her panic.

She began to gallop for the woods, Fluttershy behind her. Both of the ponies were sprinting in a blind, thoughtless panic that gave them no room for actually planning their escape.

“Just fly away!” screamed Healing.

“I can’t-I’m not going to leave you-” sputtered Fluttershy.

"SERVANTS OF CELESTIA. I HAVE A QUESTION.” uttered the beast.

Healing and Fluttershy whirled around in terror to see that the beast had effortlessly matched their pace.

It had drawn an axe buzzing with red energy from its back. The two blades were each as wide and as long as a pony if not an alicorn and the air around the arcane weapon seemed to writhe and buzz.

“WHAT IS THE SLAYER’S LOCATION?” asked the monster. The crackle from the axe was deafening and they could barely hear the words of the beast over them, as loud as the creature was.

“We-we don’t know-” stuttered Healing Hoof.

The beast lifted Healing Hoof in the air.

Its grip was like a pair of twin mountains pressing against Healing Hoof’s side.

Her heart beat so hard she was amazed it didn’t explode inside her chest. First, her mind was blank from terror and then she locked eyes with Fluttershy.

“FLUTTERSHY!” screamed Healing. “FLUTTERSHY HELP ME PLEASE-”

The beast let out a terrifying roar.

It raised up Healing by her neck as she sobbed from terror.

With one stroke of its axe, it sliced the pony in half.

Her intestines and guts fell out of her corpse and a tidal wave of blood washed over the ground. The smell of the pony’s insides filled the clearing and Fluttershy vomited where she stood.

The beast crushed Healing Hoof’s skull in its hand and the gore of the pony streamed from between its fingers, as well as the jellies of her brain. A single, bloodshot eyeball fell to the ground and seemed to stare at Fluttershy.

“PERHAPS YOUR DEATHS WILL SUMMON HIM TO ME.”wondered the beast.

It swept up Fluttershy in the same grip it had taken Healing Hoof in. The monster pressed the axe to Fluttershy’s forehead and her fur began to smoulder from the heat of the axe.

Fluttershy locked eyes with the monster and narrowed her gaze.

All of her fear fell away from her and her chest filled with a steely confidence. Her lips raised into a smile.

She raised her hoof and slapped the beast as hard as she could. It gave no reaction to her attack and raised her higher in the air.

Fluttershy felt her fur grow wet on her side and realized that Healing Hoof’s blood and gore was soaking into her body. Some of her confidence fell away and she felt a sense of nausea arise in her stomach.

The beast began to squeeze. Fluttershy wheezed as the air left her body and she felt her ribs pressing together, nearly cracking under the beast’s grip. Pain flooded her sides and her eyes felt as if they were bulging out of her head.

At once, the beast released her and she stumbled onto her hooves.

Fluttershy’s jaw opened as she saw a pony in black armor standing before her.

She realized it was Rainbow Dash from the colors of her mane and the blueness of her fur. Rainbow Dash turned towards her and Fluttershy noticed that her eyes shined with a supernatural, glowing redness. Dash’s face was fixed in a scowling expression of rage and anger that shocked Fluttershy to her core.

The beast let out a horrific scream and drew the shotgun from its side.

Fluttershy felt her hooves come out from under her as Rainbow Dash bucked her into some bushes.

The beast fired its gun with an ear-piercing crack and Rainbow Dash nimbly dodged the shots.

It swung its axe again and again, but each time, Rainbow Dash would dodge it with a nimble roll or leap.

“Twilight!” called out Rainbow Dash.

Twilight emerged from the bushes and looked at Fluttershy. She smiled as if to offer a greeting, but then saw the ruins of Healing Hoof’s corpse. The unicorn’s eyes went blank and she vomited on the ground.

The beast’s body was overtaken with purple magic as Twilight raised it in the air.

Her teeth ground together so hard that blood swam from over the edges of her lips and dripped down her chin, giving her a feral and terrifying look.

As the beast hung in the air, Dash rocketed towards it and a meaty crack rang out.

“Another one of those and it’ll-” started Rainbow Dash.

She paused as the beast began to howl in pain.

Rainbow Dash turned towards Twilight and wordlessly observed her actions with nervousness building in her chest.

Purple energy bulged and streamed from Twilight’s horn with a horrifying intensity. Sweat dripped from the unicorn’s body, mixing with the blood from her mouth and nostrils. Her tail swayed back and forth furiously and a loud cracking sound rang over the clearing.

At once, the beast exploded in a bloody cloud of guts, intestines and green armor.

The pieces of the beast’s remains drenched the clearing in a grim rain of blood and gore.

Rainbow Dash’s jaw hung agape and she was amazed she had managed not to release her bladder at what she had just witnessed.

“All this time, Twilight was holding back...this!” she grimly thought to herself.

Rainbow Dash realized a piece of intestine was stuck in her mane and brushed it off with a disgusted groan. Her armor was soaked in blood and she sighed at the thought of the hours she would spend later cleaning it.

Twilight wordlessly turned to Rainbow Dash and Dash in turn looked around for Fluttershy. The mare had climbed out of the bushes she was pushed into and trotted up to the pair without a word.

“So Healing Hoof is dead.” said Rainbow Dash in a steady tone.

Neither of the other ponies responded.

Rainbow Dash took a moment to observe.

Fluttershy’s entire face was blank and she eerily seemed to almost be at peace. Rainbow Dash thought of a stone statue and realized that would be a good comparison to make to Fluttershy’s current appearance. She thought of hugging the mare to give her some comfort, but realized it would come off the wrong way, soaked in gore as she was.

Twilight wasn’t much better off. She was soaked in blood from head to hoof and her eyes were wide and expressionless. Her mouth was slightly open and slow, steady breaths came from deep within her body.

“I’m gonna learn how to fight.” stated Rainbow Dash abruptly. “Now that I’ve got the talismans of pain, I don’t have to watch out for Fluttershy as much anymore and-”

“I don’t think she’s doing okay, Dash.” said Twilight in a low voice. “And neither am I.”

Twilight and Fluttershy both wordlessly turned around and walked away from Rainbow Dash.

“Guys, where are you going?” called out Dash.

“Dash, now that you’ve got the talismans, I think it’s best for you to go by yourself from here.” said Twilight in a low voice.

“What?” said Dash in shock.

“I think I speak for both of us when I say that we’re done with adventures.” stated Twilight calmly. “If you want to keep fighting, go ahead.”

Dash felt a sinking feeling in her chest. “Where are you guys going?”

“Back to the-” started Twilight.

A loud sound came from the forest and Twilight’s horn defensively lit up with a spell. Dash whirled around and crouched low to the ground, preparing to soar forwards.

The Slayer walked out from the woods.

All three ponies in the clearing fixated their gaze on him.

Rainbow Dash stepped back in surprise when a furious Fluttershy shot from behind them. She wordlessly screamed and began to smash her hooves into his armor.

“WHERE. WERE. YOU.” she screamed, each one of her words punctuated with a punch.

The Slayer ignored her and walked up to Healing Hoof’s corpse without saying a word. His gloved hand reached into the gaping cavity that her chest had become and withdrew Healing’s heart. He looked at it in the palm of his hand for a moment and stowed it in a pouch on his side. He also picked up the Marauder’s shotgun and fixed it to his waist, also taking the beast’s ammunition.

Fluttershy continued to pound his armor and both Rainbow Dash and Twilight gasped when he removed his helmet.

Tears stained the face of the Slayer and his lips were drawn into a narrow frown. His massive hand reached out to Fluttershy and he gently stroked her mane. She began to sob into his chest and he drew her closer with his wide reach. He gently shut his eyes and pressed his face into her mane.

“Wait!” said Rainbow Dash, eagerly trotting up to the Slayer. “That alicorn I saw you with on the beach, that must have been Swordsmane from the legend, right?”

The Slayer wordlessly nodded.

“Well I wanna track her down because I need to learn how to fight!” exclaimed an excited Rainbow Dash.

The Slayer stood up and thought for a moment before speaking. “She’s probably in Ponyville right now. I was just at the library there, actually. Neat place.”

He withdrew a book and dropped it on the ground in front of Dash.

Rainbow Dash nodded and turned to Twilight. “Did you hear that? We need to go there right now and-”

She stopped once she saw Twilight throwing her a furious glare.

“What?” asked Rainbow Dash.

She took a look back to the Slayer, only to see that he was already gone. Rainbow Dash trotted up and looked at the book. It was titled ‘The Flight of the Songbird’. She flipped through the pages and came to a dog-eared page containing a poem. Her eyes scanned it quickly.

‘When last hope dies and the fires of grief extinguish
When suffering is at its apex and happiness has gone away for good
From the ashes of future’s hope will a phoenix arise from a true friend’s heart
And all the land will ring with joy when the Songbird takes flight.’

Rainbow Dash frowned as she struggled to comprehend the meaning of the poem. Giving up on understanding it, she turned back to her friends.

Fluttershy had stopped crying and returned to her blank-faced state. Twilight sighed and stepped in front of the listless pony to confront Rainbow Dash.

“I’ll do what you won’t and try to help her get better. But it’s okay, you can go on your adventure.” said Twilight in a bitter voice.

“I-Twilight-it’s not that I wanna just go on an adventure, but-” sputtered Rainbow Dash.

“Just go have fun, Dash.” said Twilight as she turned her back to Rainbow Dash. “Me and Fluttershy will be praying to Celestia, if she’s even alive, that you don’t get hurt.”

“Of course I’ll be careful! Wait-” exclaimed Dash.

Her words fell on deaf ears as Twilight and Fluttershy trotted away from her and into the dark woods.

Rainbow Dash stood still as a hurricane of emotions overtook her body.

On one hand, she thought to herself, it would be more responsible to follow her friends back to the camp. With all of her friends injured in some way at this point, it was simply irresponsible to go adventuring. Twilight was making a good point, thought Dash to herself and it was also true that Fluttershy needed her lover for comfort.

Going off on another quest would essentially be an act of betrayal against her friends in the eyes of Twilight and Fluttershy, she realized with a start.

She looked down at her own face in a puddle of blood. The moonlight above illuminated the scene just enough for her to see the redness of her eyes in the reflection. The talismans of pain had changed her in a lot of ways, realized Rainbow Dash. She had noticed that her strength was many times what it had once been and her instincts were much quicker than before. Additionally, the armor she had borrowed from a soldier back at the camp provided her with ample protection from threats.

She made up her mind in an instant.

Learning how to fight and how to protect her friends was the best way to keep them safe in the long run, even if she had to leave them alone in the short-term. She knew they would thank her later down the road, even if there was a conflict with them at the moment. Regardless, she thought to herself, she knew that Twilight would be enough to protect Fluttershy for the time being and she had no concerns there.

But she couldn’t let anypony else get hurt. Healing Hoof had already died because she couldn’t be there for her and Fluttershy had been seconds away from her own demise.

Keeping in mind the Slayer’s words that Swordsmane was likely in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash flew off by herself into the darkness of the night.