Make myself a winner

Chapters

1. Spilt Milk
2. School time
3. Metamorphosis
4. Just as sweet as arsenic
5. Ending with a kiss
6. And a new dawn
7. I love the shitty things we do together
8. Lost in cheap delirium
9. Mother dearest
10. Meanwhile...
11. Manebourne
12. Using pleasure, using pain
13. The Fire Flower test
14. A pretty soul
16. How you will heal and rise above Part 1
17. How you will heal and rise above Part 2
18. Please don't kill me
19. There is a hole
20. Dreaming of a matchstick
21. Red is such a lovely color on you!
15. You're beautiful and evil too

1. Spilt Milk

Author's Note

I redid the first three chapters and fixed any continuity errors.

That's why they are earlier dates compared to chapter four.

1. Spilt Milk

The first and third floorboards always creaked. Misty Flare walked around the first one, almost touching it but not quite.

She hopped over the third floorboard and teetered and tottered.

She swung her hooves in the air and fell forward, landing on her face.

"Ow," she moaned, rubbing at her nose and got to her hooves.

She pushed the door open slowly so it didn't creak and went out into the hallway, smiling.

Her smile fell.

Her parents were fighting again. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could tell by their raised voices.

They had had the same arguments for as long as Misty had been alive.

She stopped at the top of the stairs, catching the tail end of their conversation:

"You always do this," Mom was saying, her tone biting. "We can't afford it."

"But maybe we can." Dad's voice.

"What about Misty Flare?"

"Honey, think about how much money I'll make."

Mom clucked her tongue. "Don't you dare honey me. Maybe I should leave."

"Leave?" repeated Dad, his word cracking. "What about Misty?"

"What about her?"

Misty sat down at the top of the stairs, her eyes watering. But more than that, she was angry. It was her first day of school; they couldn't leave.

She was a nirik in a puff of fire, roasting the carpet before she calmed down.

Mom had been teaching her mediation.

The front door slammed, and Dad let out a long sigh.

Misty swallowed and slowly walked down the steps. "Dad..."

Dad smiled weakly where he was sitting at the kitchen table and was cradling a cup of coffee.

Her Dad's name was Oak Flare. He had brown fur. Misty had gotten her red eyes and red mane from him and her blue fur from her Mom.

He was also wearing a very crumpled bow tie.

For as long as Misty could remember, he hadn't had a job. He was always planning out business ventures, but none of them had panned out.

Now that Misty was going to school again, he had started to have a new plan, a plan for a brewery right here in Ponyville.

The best beer ever, he would tell Misty, smiling before tousling her mane.

"Are you excited for school?" he asked.

"I want some hot milk," Misty said, sitting down at the table.

Dad got up and grabbed the pot from the drying rack. He got some milk and poured it into the pot, setting it on the stove. There was a click as he turned the gas on, and he stood over it watching bubbles form in the milk with a glazed expression on his face.

"Dad," said Misty.

"What is it, kiddo?"

"Where's Mom? Is she going to leave?"

"You heard that, huh?" Dad turned off the stove, pouring the milk into a mug. He set the mug in front of Misty. "Don't burn your tongue. Blow on it. How about I get you a new dress to make up for you hearing that?"

Misty blew on her milk, nodding eagerly.

Mom never offered to buy her dresses.

"How's your magic going?" he asked, sitting next to her. He sipped on his coffee, blowing on it when Misty did on her drink.

"I created new life."

"What do you mean?"

Misty squealed and ran upstairs. She grabbed the tiny plant in its little pot from her windowsill and came running down. She set the plant in front of him and held her mug with her hooves.

"I'm still working on moving things with magic,' she said. 'But I made a plant. I call him Leafy. I'm also reading spellbooks, but I can't get them to work."

Dad poked at one of the leaves with his hooves.

It was a plain, little green plant, more of a sprout.

Misty concentrated her blue magic on the plant, and it turned a lurid green. "See? I want to go to the School for Gifted Unicorns like Princess Twilight."

Dad tousled her mane. "Finish your milk."

Misty stuck out her tongue and drank the rest of her milk. It left a film around her mouth, and she licked her teeth.

"Time to go to bed," he said, gathering up his empty coffee mug and her cup in his brown magic. He dumped them in the sink. "Do you want a story?"

"I'm seven, not two."

Dad smiled sadly. "That's a no, then. Don't forget Leafy."

Misty nodded. She tried to grab Leafy in her telekinesis, but the pot wobbled, so she carried Leafy to her room in her hooves.

She whispered under her breath to it, hopeful words, angry words, before setting it on the windowsill. She turned it so it would catch the light coming over the roofs outside.

Ponyville was coming alive outside.

Misty yawned and fell asleep.

2. School time

Author's Note

Rewritten chapter.

2. School time

Mom wasn't around in the morning either.

However, Misty made herself not worry. She was too nervous for school to be nervous about other things.

Dad had made her favourite for breakfast; blueberry pancakes and freshly squeezed orange juice. He had even cleaned up the burnt mark at the top of the stairs.

She walked through Ponyville and onto the Ponyville Schoolhouse.

It was a bright red, and an older mare named Cheerilee was waving foals and other creatures inside.

Misty trembled with excitement. She was wearing her best dress, a lush green and black.

She had gotten it for her Birthday.

Sure, some of the fillies twittered at her -no one else was wearing one- but when she sat down, the green unicorn next to her said: "Where did you get your dress? I'm Nettle, by the way."

"I'm Misty Flare. My Dad got it for me. Do you like it? I bet you do."

Cheerilee started talking loudly, and Misty fell silent and started to pay attention to the lesson.

She made everycreature go around the room and introduce themselves and one cool fact about themselves.

Misty said she liked dresses.

Nettle said she liked plants.

The others didn't matter so much.

Cheerilee talked about Ponyville and its history of the different races, Princess Twilight, and cutie marks.

Before Misty knew it, it was recess, and she headed outside with Nettle to play.

Griffons swung on the swings, fillies and colts ran around with skipping ropes, and Misty Flare and Nettle sat in the grass to pretend to have a tea party.

How dignified!

Nettle ended up being very rich. Her parents ran a flower shop in Ponyville and at various other places over Equestria.

"You're so grown up." Misty sipped her pretend-tea. "I like your cutie mark."

Nettle's cutie mark was a nettle plant, of course.

"I'm good at gardening. That's how I got my cutie mark," Nettle said, glancing at her flank. "I want to go to the School for Gifted Unicorns. I bet I'll get in."

Misty frowned. "I want to go to the School for Gifted Unicorns too. I hope we both get in."

"Same. One of our other classmates wants to get into the school. I'm glad you're not lame like her." Nettle pointed her hoof to the corner of the schoolyard, where a unicorn was sitting in the grass, reading a book.

Misty recognized the book. It was on her bookshelf at home.

The unicorn was a light brown with a white mane tipped with red.

"She's Savarin," explained Nettle, wrinkling her nose. "I live next to her. Her family runs a bakery. Ugh. She's also a blank flank. She's super weird. She wanted to be my friend, and I kept telling her, no, but she kept following me around. Also, her parents are, like, divorced."

Misty nodded along, not saying that technically she was a blank flank too and that she kinda hoped her parents would get divorced so they'd stop arguing.

There were some things you couldn't ever tell your friends, she figured.

"Hey Savarin," shouted Nettle, making Misty wince before joining in. "Blank flank, blank flank, blank flank."

Savarin buried her nose deeper into her book.

Dad picked her up at the end of school.

Misty didn't need to ask to know that Mom hadn't returned.

She hid behind Dad, not wanting to let Nettle see her. Then, if Nettle came home for a playdate, she'd know Mom wasn't around.

That wouldn't do.

Misty was slightly glum as they walked home.

Dad didn't ask her what was wrong. He probably figured she was glum about Mom.

Let him think that.

Their house was in the middle of a street. It was the same as all the other Ponyville houses surrounding it, but it was home.

"Is there anything you want?" Dad asked as they stepped inside.

"Books."

Mom would've said she had too many books and to use the library. Dad never said that; he only nodded and told her to write down the titles of the books he had to buy.

Perhaps it was better Mom was gone.

Dad was so easy to manipulate. He would do whatever she wanted.
It was Mom who was a stickler for rules.

Misty went to her room, took off her dress, and did some reading. She was just getting to the end of a spellbook, and sure she couldn't do any of the spells -yet, it wasn't for lack of trying- when Dad called up the stairs for her to come down.

Misty trotted down and found Dad with menus spread open on the table and a piece of paper dotted with highly complex math.

The math must've been his financial plans for his business.

"I'm getting takeout for dinner," Dad explained. "Do you want a burger?"

"Yes. And fries." Misty turned to go back upstairs, but Dad coughed. She turned around again with a sigh. "What?"

"I was thinking..." Dad adjusted his tie, setting down the menu he was pouring over. He moved the chair until he was directly facing Misty. "How would you feel about moving?"

"Moving?" repeated Misty. "But I have to be close to Canterlot so that I can get into the magic school-"

"I can get you in any way. I have the money to do that. We'd be moving to Kirin Grove in a few months. My brewery would do a lot better in Kirin Grove. There'll be no competition with the Apple family."

"No, you can't."

Dad tousled her mane with a grin. "It's still just a plan. Think on it."

"Never, never, never!" shouted Misty. She ran up the stairs to her room and flopped onto her bed. Tears stained her cheeks.

"Leafy," she said. "Leafy." More anger leeched into her voice. "I don't want to move!"

She flopped back onto the bed.

Leafy said nothing.

Misty must've fallen asleep because she was aware suddenly of delicious smells coming from downstairs.

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and went downstairs.

Dad had set the table and on her plate was a wrapped up hamburger.

Misty sat down, avoiding staring at him, and unwrapped her burger.

It was delicious.

Dad made small talk, but she communicated with grunts until he gave up.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Misty went to school, not as happy as she was yesterday.

Nettle had met two other unicorns who had recently moved from Canterlot: Sunbeam and Aurora.

They twittered with Nettle.

Misty hoped they weren't talking about her.

This days lesson was reading and magic. Cheerilee talked about how everycreature in Equestria had some form of magic, even earth ponies.
At lunchtime, she realized as her classmates were streaming outside, but she had forgotten her lunch.

"I'll talk to Cheerilee," said Misty, waving at her friends. They twittered and ran outside.

Misty watched them leave mournfully.

Cheerilee was talking to Savarin, passing her a book.

"Are you alright, Misty Flare?" asked Cheerilee, walking toward Misty.

Savarin was flipping through her book, hovering it in the air with white magic.

"I forgot my lunch," Misty said.

"You can have some of my sandwich," Cheerilee said brightly. "Or, we can contact your parents."

Savarin hovered her lunch over to Misty and took out one sandwich, passing it to Misty.

Misty mouthed blank flank to Savarin when Cheerilee wasn't watching.

"Be nice, Misty," Cheerilee said. "Say thank you."

"Sorry," Misty grumbled. "Thank you. I'll eat it."

Savarin nodded. She stepped outside with Savarin, and Savarin went right to sit by herself.

Misty searched the yard, locating her friends underneath a tree.

They were talking and laughing.

She ate the sandwich as she walked, dropping crumbs on the grass. The closer she came, she heard them talking.

"I bet Misty can't even do magic," Nettle said.

"Totally," chorused Sunbeam and Aurora.

Misty moved closer, breathing in and out. She didn't want to burn the sandwich she was holding.

"She'll never get into the Unicorn school like Twilight wouldn't let her in. She's a kirin, not a unicorn, and kirins have, like, weak magic," Nettle said.

"She can't even make things hover," Sunbeam added. She stopped to make an imitation of Misty, trying to use her magic.

"Like, Savarin has more chance of her passing."

Aurora turned pale when she spotted Misty. "Uh, Nettle..."

"I'm talking-" began Nettle.

Misty dumped her lunch over Nettle's mane. Mayo and greens landed in Nettle's eyes, dripping down into her fur.

Everycreature around went quiet.

Misty pushed Nettle to the ground and socked her square in the jaw.

3. Metamorphosis

Author's Note

Rewritten chapter.

3. Metamorphosis

Dad set a plate of fruit on the table and gave her a poke. "Hey, kiddo. Don't worry. You're only suspended for a week." He pecked a kiss on her cheek. "I contacted Mom, and she should come back soon."

Misty let out a noncommittal grunt as Dad went upstairs. Once he was gone, she poked at the fruit with a hoof.

"Misty," said a voice.

"Who's there? Dad?"

The voice sounded amused. "I'm not your Daddy."

"I don't like being teased," Misty said sharply.

"I'm sorry, Misty. Come to your room, and I'll show you what I am."

Misty crammed her mouth full of fruit before heading up the dingy staircase.

Leafy was on her bedside table, in its tiny white pot, but he was different.
He had a straightforward face: two eyes and a mouth on a new white flower head.

The voice came from Leafy itself. "I want to make a deal."

Misty crept toward Leafy and stopped a metre away. "What are you?"

"I heard your anger, Misty. I want to be more than a plant, and the only way you can do this is to get the Fire Flower. It will give me form, and we can share its' magic, so you become powerful beyond your understanding. What do you say?"

"Really?" Misty jumped around in her room. "Yes, yes, yes. Where is this Fire Flower?"

"It's on an asteroid, a chunk of rock that comes near your planet. Every trillion years, this asteroid comes close. In ten years-"

"Ten years!" Misty stopped leaping around, squinting at Leafy. "Isn't there another way I can become super powerful? My Dad told me hard work would get you everywhere. Is Dad lying?"

A strange wheezing sound came from Leafy. It was laughing, his stalk bending over, his eyes closing.

Misty growled deep in her throat, pressing her hoof against Leafy.

"Answer me!"

"Careful, child. Your Dad might hear you."

"I can stop watering you!"

Leafy stopped laughing, wiping tears from his eyes using his leaves.

"Sorry, Misty. Kirin magic is nature-based, growing plants-"

Misty blew her bangs out from her face. "Tell me something I don't know."

"...And you don't have that innate power."

"What power does this Fire Flower even have?"

"It can give you everything."

Misty pursed her lips. "Fine, it better be worth it, or else."

Leafy crossed its leaves and rolled his eyes.

Misty spent quite a while talking to him, asking him everything she could about the flower.

Unfortunately, he didn't know much.

She left the conversation feeling frustrated.

"Misty," Dad called from downstairs. "Someone's here to see you."

Misty ran downstairs, her eyes widening. She didn't know who she had been expecting, but it wasn't her Mom: Bluebell Flare.

Mom was the colour of bluebells, from her mane to her fur coat, to her eyes.

"You hurt one of your classmates," she said.

Misty groaned. "She deserved it."

Dad stepped back, fading into the background. "I'll start on dinner."

"You do that," Mom said, her eyes not straying from Misty. "I'm very disappointed in you, Misty Flare." She had used Misty's full name.

Misty didn't waver, staring back. She couldn't show any weakness. "I'm already suspended."

"Well, you're grounded now too."

"Daaad," whined Misty.

"Dear," said Dad, as he flitted around the stove. "Do you really have to ground her?"

"Yes, I do," Mom replied.

Misty sagged with every word. "Noooo."

"I want you to apologize to the filly you hurt. Your Dad and I are also going to have a long talk." She paused, the pots and pans clanging around as Dad cooked. "Oak, did you tell her we might move?"

"I thought you were against it," Dad said.

Mom shrugged. "It might be a good idea. I'll come with you."

"Really, honey?"

"No pet names."

The next day, Misty sat in the schoolhouse with her parents.

On the other side were Nettle and her two parents, and Cheerilee sat behind her desk.

"I want her punished," Nettle's Mom was saying snootily. "She hurt my daughter. Just look at her nose."

Nettle sniffed pitifully. She was definitely playing it up.

"I understand that," Cheerilee said.

"We're moving away later this year," Mom said.

Mom had made him agree on moving. So they were starting the brewery.

Misty looked over at Nettle, and Nettle smirked.

"But Nettle was mean," Misty said. She told Cheerilee about making fun of Savarin and how Nettle had been talking about her.

Nettle hung her head.

"This is unacceptable," Cheerilee said. "I want you to apologize to each other and also to Savarin."

"I'm sorry for punching you," Misty said. She didn't mean a word of it.

"I'm sorry for being mean," was Nettle's apology. She also didn't mean it.

The packing started in earnest. Unfortunately, their house was in disarray for most of it, forcing Misty to head outside for her fun.

She still went to school and was forced to also apologize to Savarin for being mean to her, which wasn't fair in her opinion.

Nettle had been meaner to Savarin for longer.

On the playground, Misty brought out a book and sat on the grass. She was like Savarin.

Nettle and her friends stayed in the same spot, laughing while looking in her direction.

Misty couldn't do anything about it.

Slowly, ever so slowly, she sat nearer and nearer to Savarin.

They sat in silence, but there was a sort of tentative camaraderie between them.

A few months later, it was Misty's last day of school.

She said goodbye to her classmates and, after school, she got her things from inside her desk. She had dozens of brightly coloured pens and markers, which she put into her bag.

She looked up when Savarin walked by.

"I'm leaving," Misty said. "You better be happy. And, I'm not going to the Unicorn School. My Mom won't let me."

There was a giggle.

When she looked at Savarin again, her face was severe as it always was, but with a very, very small smile. "I'm not happy you're leaving, but I'm happy you punched Nettle." Savarin giggled again.

Misty's jaw dropped, and she could feel her face heating up. She'd never heard such a nice laugh, and it was like wind chimes or something princessy. She reached into her bag and tore off a piece of paper.

Quickly, she wrote down her new address at Kirin Grove.

She passed it over. "If you want, we can write letters to each other. Or don't."

Savarin hovered the piece of paper to her face, sliding it into her book. "I'd like that."

Misty smiled. At least one good thing had come out of all this. "Bye."

"Bye," came the tiny reply.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

The following week, they went to Kirin Grove. In the years since Applejack and Fluttershy had visited, the train station near Kirin Grove had been spruced up, and the track even went further into the jungle itself.

There were even benches for creatures to sit and wait.

There was a festival going on when they arrived. Their new house was a mansion, set away from Kirin Grove.

Most of the trees were still saplings, but Dad told her where everything would go for his new brewery.

She made herself smile.

4. Just as sweet as arsenic

Author's Note

The chapter title comes from in the song "Can you keep up" by Blue Kid.

All of Savarin's family (and her) are named after French pastries.

Or Prance pastries, in this case.

4. Just as sweet as arsenic

Four years later

Eleven-year-old Misty walked through the fields, plucking a tiny red fruit from one of the branches.

Behind her, Dad shifted from hoof to hoof. He was incredibly nervous for her opinion.

Seriously.

Misty couldn't help but chuckle. Dad thought she was taking over the family business, and she let him believe that.

It was easier than telling him in six years, or so she'd have all the power she could ask for, and she wouldn't want to run a brewery. She had bigger things to do. What she wanted to do with her newfound power she couldn't decide yet, but it would be great.

Dad would be so proud.

"It's wonderful, Dad," she said.

Misty walked through the pinkish trees, breathing in the scent.

Beyond the field of cherries, was a rippling field of golden wheat, and beyond that were the wild trees of Kirin Grove.
Several kirin workers were among the trees, bucking the cherries into baskets or harvesting the grain.

"They have a pit inside," Dad added.

"You could breed them without the pit," Misty pointed out. She arched an eyebrow. "Why aren't you writing this down? My words are gold."

She scanned the workers again. One of them was glaring in her direction, saying something to the kirin next to him: spoiled daughter. Misty hissed. She could read lips. She was about to march on over when Dad rested a hoof on her shoulder.

"I think Mom's calling you," he said. "She's visiting today."

In the years since moving to Kirin Grove, her parents had finally divorced. Mom lived in a small flat near the centre of town.

Misty gave Dad a quick hug before galloping towards the mansion. She charged inside. Voices reached her ears. Mom was in her room. She charged upstairs, bursting inside in time to see Mom and Leafy talking to one another.

"Mom!" Misty exclaimed.

"Oh, hello Misty," Mom said. "What an interesting plant you have here."

"His name is Leafy." Misty walked around, facing them all the while until she reached her bed. She took a seat. "Was he talking to you?"

"Yes, he was."

Misty twisted her mouth to the side before letting out a huff. "I'm happy he's making more friends, though I thought you liked that willow tree-"

"They were so mean," Leafy interrupted.

"Has Leafy told you anything interesting?" Misty asked.

She didn't have much faith in Leafy's intelligence- he had told the oak tree down the street about the Fire Flower. It had been a problem that was solved with arson.

"Just that you hardly take him out," Mom said.

Misty frowned. "I don't know where to take him."

"Well, it's Mother-daughter day today. We could take him with us."

Misty's eyes bugged out. "Take him to the spa?!"

"My leaves do need moisturizing," Leafy added.

Mom burst out laughing. "Dear, you shouldn't be so concerned with what people think."

Misty couldn't help but gasp. Don't tell her Mom actually liked Leafy?

"I need to talk to Leafy. Alone," Misty said.

Mom left the room, her hoofsteps fading downstairs, along with two voices as she talked to Dad. Misty sagged for a minute, knowing Leafy was watching her before she perked right up.

"Okay, ground rules," she said. "First, talk only to Mom and me."

"Do I have to?" whined Leafy.

"Do you want to drink only water for a month?"

Leafy bowed his flower and Misty scooped him up in her magic.

By the time she, Leafy and Mom were walking through Kirin Grove, it was bustling. Today was a festival of some kind, and three kirins were dancing on a stage and performing tricks with fire.

They stopped to watch for a few minutes before moving on to the spa.

The spa had newly opened, just last year. Two pale blue unicorns ran it. Eyebrows raised when they saw Leafy, but they didn't say a word.

Misty sat down on a chair, holding out her hooves so they could be shined and polished. She couldn't sit still, twisting her head to check Leafy wasn't talking to anycreature else but her and Mom.

Mom asked: "how did the two of you meet?"

The two unicorns helped some kirins with a hooficure and fur grooming and weren't paying attention to them.

Misty let out a sigh. "He started talking one day. I was seven."

"I think I must've overheard you two talking a few times," Mom said.

"You did," Leafy replied.

Misty twitched. The unicorns hadn't noticed, talking to the kirins excitedly about the new Kirin Grove museum.
What would be in that museum Misty didn't know; hardly anything interesting ever happened here.

"I'm glad you had a friend, Misty. He's like a sibling," Mom replied. She shifted on the chaise, blue mane spilling down her shoulders. "I wish I could've been there for you more, Misty. I know the divorce wasn't easy..."

Misty rested a hoof on Mom's shoulder. "We can make up for lost time."

"I'm here too," Leafy added.

Misty smiled. She was getting good at faking smiles. "After the spa, lets' go out to eat. You can come with us, Leafy."

"I can have tea?"

Misty tossed her mane. "Duh." She got the full spa treatment, heading into the sauna alone. Steam billowed around her, and she relaxed. One geyser of flame shot from her hoof into the bucket, heating the water back to boiling.

Laughter. Misty crept to the main door, peeking out into the main spa room. Leafy and Mom were laughing together. It was the hardest Mom had laughed in years.

Of course, Mom liked him more than her daughter. She let a slow smile inch across her face. Don't enjoy it forever, don't enjoy it forever, Leafy.

Things change.

The sky was purpling by the time they got back to the mansion.
Misty put Leafy on her bedside table. He was asleep already.

The kirin that had called her spoiled with slinging several baskets of cherries onto the back of a cart. Misty's lips twisted bitterly.

He had called her a spoiled daughter. If that was what he thought, she'd play the part. It was time to find her Dad.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Four years later

Every Summer, Savarin returned from the Unicorn Magic school and stayed with her parents, and every Summer, Misty had a chance to visit.

But, this year was different. She was fifteen now, and Mom and Leafy weren't coming with her.

Savarin was helping her with the asteroid plan, and they needed to talk it over. She had spent years cultivating a civil relationship with Mom, leading up to Mom letting her go to Ponyville by herself.

Mom was even looking after Leafy.

Trotting through Ponyville's centre, she heard some singing. Ponyville had almost as much singing as Kirin Grove.

Savarin's family bakery was brightly coloured, sticking out like a sore thumb. It was shaped like two macarons on top of one another, one pink and the other red, topped with a swirl of cream that was the roof. A tilted door stuck out the front.

When she had lived in Ponyville, she had been there once. She could barely remember the place. Now, whenever she was in Ponyville, she was able to have a room upstairs.

Misty trotted in, easily finagling her suitcases around her head as she stepped inside.

A bright yellow earth pony sat behind the counter, beaming when she spotted Misty. "Misty. Heavens to Betsy, I could've met you at the station. Savarin must've fallen asleep again."

"Hello Ms Madeleine," Misty said.

"Oh, you can drop the miss." Madeleine (or Maddy for short) laughed. "I can help you with your luggage."

"There's no one else operating the shop. Where's Tatin?"

"Tatin!" shouted Maddy. "Where is that boy?"

Tarte Tatin, or Tatin for short, was Savarin's brother. He had the same yellow coat as their mother, Maddy, but his mane was spiky.

Tatin walked out of the backroom, complaining loudly. Misty lunged at him and gave him a noogie. He gave her a noogie in return before continuing to complain.

"Take care of the customers," said Maddy. "I'm helping out Misty."

Misty watched the proceedings with a distant smile, using her magic and a hoof to adjust her mane. Once Tatin was operating the counters -two griffon customers entered right that second,- Misty gave Maddy the lightest suitcase and they ascended the stairs to the living quarters.

The living quarters were in the topmost 'macaron' part of the building. The hallways were brightly coloured and dotted with family memorabilia. Misty carefully scanned them, asking about Maddy's cousins and things until they reached Savarin's door.

Maddy set down the suitcase from her mouth, licking her lips. "Savarin, your friend is here."

"Okay," came Savarin's quiet voice from inside the room.

"Well, let me know if you need anything."

"Of course," Misty said. "Dinner at the usual time?" She winked, and Maddy laughed. Maddy and Savarin had the same tinkling laugh.

Misty waited until Maddy had descended the stairs, the sounds of her talking to Tatin rising in a whine before she rapped a hoof against the door. "I'm coming in."

No answer, which was an answer with Savarin. Misty walked in.

Savarin was lying sprawled out on her bed, horn glowing, as she carefully arranged layers of cake filling into a cake. It gleamed and sparkled, before she set it on a tray and moved onto the next one.

Her room floor was littered with cakes. The lighting was dim.

"You're experimenting again?" Misty asked.

Savarin smiled, not looking away from her work. "I had a nap and got good ideas in my dreams. There are ground up gems in the icing. I am also using a spell for cooking the ingredients in seconds." She set another gleaming cake on a tray. "I'll be done soon."

Misty inched around the cakes, carful not to step on a single one until she reached the bed and took a seat. "Take your time. I love seeing you work."

Savarin smiled even wider, looping icing around a cake, making strawberries appear out of thin air like they were fireworks. Savarin's eyes gleamed and sparkled.

Misty hadn't been there when Savarin had gotten her Cutie Mark. She wished she had been there to see it happen.

Savarin's speciality was baking mixed with magic.

Her cutie mark was a savarin pastry, a circular thing shaped like a cake-sized doughnut filled with cream and fruit in the centre. But, more than that, it had several white sparkles running through the cream.
Magic.

"Savarin, are you sure you're okay not eating the Fire Flower with me?" Misty asked. "You could make even better pastries. You'd be losing out."

"I'm fine the way I am." Savarin twisted her head to face Misty. "I can't wait to see you with power." She paused, brown eyes deep as whirlpools before she shook her head and came back to Equestria.

Misty flopped next to her friend.

Another cake formed above and Savarin set on the floor. "What will you do?"

"With power? What can't I do? The sky is the limit, Savarin. The sky is the limit."

"Let's focus on right now."

Misty poked Savarin with her hoof, causing her friend to twitch and laugh. For a few minutes, the two sat on the bed, dozing in and out until Maddy yelled up the stairs for them to come down for dinner.

5. Ending with a kiss

"So, what's his name?" Misty asked casually.

Rain streamed down the windows. Savarin and her would usually be walking around, exploring Ponyville. Not today.

"His name is Hamburger," Savarin said. "They run a fast food place. He said he wanted to come over, so I said yes."

"Fast food? Is it a Neigh York thing? I don't know what it is, but I don't like it."

Savarin's tone was light and teasing. "Of course, you don't."

A pony was walking up to the bakery. Misty gave him a cursory glance. He had a hamburger for a cutie mark. She didn't know what she had expected.

He danced around in a circle a little, then turned to face a griffon behind him.

"Was he inviting others?" Misty asked.

"Hm. I guess he did," Savarin noted.

"Are you okay with that?"

"Yes. The more, the merrier."

Hamburger twirled around, and the griffon started to laugh at him.

He turned all the way around, balancing on his hoofs, and it was at that point, he spotted Misty staring at him.
She waved with a smile, and his cheeks turned a bright red.

The griffon laughed even harder and rolled around on the ground with mirth. Hamburger walked up the pink stairs and knocked on the door with a hoof.

Savarin opened the door and bowed. "I'm Savarin. This is my friend Misty Flare."

"Hello," Misty said, waving eagerly. "Did you invite anycreature else?"

Hamburger walked in, Savarin flashing him with a drying spell right away. He said a quick thanks and stepped out of the way to let the griffon in.

"I did invite a few more creatures," he said. "I hope that's okay."

"I love parties," Savarin answered flatly.

Sharp talons suddenly started shaking Misty's hoof. It was the griffon, dark black fur, with light blue wings. She had a maroon scarf around her neck. "It's a pleasure to meetcha. I'm Gina."

"I'm Misty Flare," Misty said as peppily as she could. 'How many creatures did Hamburger invite? Do you know?"

"He told me, then I asked my friends, and some of my friends asked my other friends." Gina shook her hoof even harder until Misty was almost vibrating with the movement.

Misty wrapped Gina up in a hug, squeezing her hard and resting her head on Gina's. "I'm so happy to meet you! So, how many creatures is that?"

"Dunno!"

Misty released her, and Gina stepped as far away from her as she could so she didn't get another surprise hug. Misty smirked in satisfaction.

"Will Madeleine be alright with this, Savarin?" Misty asked.

"I'll ask." Savarin trotted off, leaving Misty with them in the main room of the bakery. Misty looked at Gina and Hamburger, and Hamburger looked at her.

"How did you meet Savarin?" Misty asked suddenly.

"Who's Savarin?" Gina said.

Misty resisted the urge to face hoof. "Okay, I'm going to go see what's taking Savarin so long. We need to get this party started, or not."

Some hubbub started outside, several creatures making their way up to the bakery. "Keep the... riffraff entertained," she said, waving a hoof in their general direction.

"Can do!" Hamburger said brightly.

Misty walked in the direction Savarin had gone, pricking her ears when she heard Hamburger letting in the other guests.

Down the hallway, she walked, through some double doors that led into the bakery's kitchens. The kitchens were a maze of brightly coloured stoves and counters, and brightly coloured pots swinging from hooks on the ceiling.

Maddy was mixing some dry ingredients in a metal bowl. Savarin was next to her, whisking away some eggs.

Maddy set down the whisk, measuring out some sugar. She looked up when she spotted Misty. "Hello, dear."

"Hi, Madeleine. The guests have arrived," Misty said. "Did Savarin tell you about it?"

"She did."

Savarin kept mixing the eggs, pouring some milk into them.

"I'm okay with it," Maddy replied. "Oh, I'm so happy. You can use the living room upstairs, Savarin."

Savarin nodded, sticking her tongue out as she mixed the eggs and milk into a froth.

"Could I talk with Savarin for a second?" Misty asked.

"Go ahead," Maddy answered.

"Do you have anywhere private?"

"Ah, I'll be at the other end of the kitchens. I won't hear whatever you two say," Maddy replied. She took the bowl from Savarin, balanced it on her hoof, and grabbed the dry ingredients bowl. She went to the far side of the kitchens.

"So, Savarin," Misty drawled. "Are you okay with this whole party? While Hamburger is a drag, he is alright in my book. Gina is too much and doesn't know your name, or she didn't care to learn it, the nerve." She sniffed sharply.

"I don't know," Savarin answered. "I've never had a party before. I wanted to see if I'd like it."

Misty pressed her eyes shut and breathed out slowly. "Okay. If you're okay with it. Okay."

Savarin shifted around. "I am. Er Misty- what were you planning on doing to kick them out if I said no?"

"That's a surprise for some other time." Misty smirked and winked at her while they walked out of the kitchens to the main room.

"Misty," Savarin giggled.

They walked to the main room of the bakery. The guests stood everywhere. There was one pony she had never expected to see ever again: Nettle.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

There were eleven guests, two pegasi, Gina, Hamburger, Nettle, a yak, three changeling brothers, and a dragon.

She shared a look with Savarin. Savarin bit her lip.

Buck, Misty thought. Nettle had to go.

Savarin led all the guests upstairs, including Nettle, and into the upstairs living room.

Pictures of family members rested on mini-tables, and there were cushions and couches.

Like every room in the house, things were brightly coloured. The frames of the pictures were decorated with mini- plastic pieces of tart or sprinkles.

The guests talked amongst one another.

Savarin ran off to grab some hay chips and other treats. She returned with bowls. The yak turned on the music, Misty watching closely to make sure she didn't start stomping or anything.

Nettle was sitting next to one of the changelings, eyes narrowing in Misty's direction while Misty stat next to Gina, gulping down hay chips. She pretended not to notice Nettle's stare, but she could still feel it. She shot Nettle a smile.

Savarin shifted nervously next to her, giving Hamburger one-word answers to whatever he said. Nettle had to go.

Misty hovered a bottle of lemon-aid over to her, chugging it down and holding up the empty bottle. "Who is up for spin the bottle?"

Heads turned towards her, and there was a bunch of yeses and noes, and everycreature was suddenly sitting on pillows and were arranged in a circle.

Misty frowned, setting the green bottle in the centre of their circle.

"Spin the bottle?" Nettle asked. "Are we really playing this, Misty? It's so immature."

"Do you not want to play?" Misty shot back. "You can sit out if you want."

The guests murmured amongst themselves. Gina ate a clawful of popcorn loudly.

"No, I want to play," Nettle said.

"Good. Now, this is how it works for those who don't know." Misty's eyebrows went up and down at Nettle.

"I said, I know how to play!" Nettle said.

"As I was saying..." The guests chuckled. "Whoever the bottle lands on, you get seven minutes in heaven. You can do whatever you want in the closet over there." She pointed with her hoof. "Who wants to go first?"

"Me! Me! Me!" said Gina.

"Easy, Gina," Hamburger said.

Gina stuck out her tongue. "I hope I get you."

He sputtered, his face turning red.

Gina rested her claws around the bottle, and around the bottle went. Around and around.
Misty held her breath. The bottle slowed to a halt, resting on... Savarin.

Dread pooled in Misty's stomach. "You don't have to if you don't want to."

"It's the rules," Nettle said sharply.

"Come on, Savvy," said Gina, and she and Savarin headed to the closet. The door clicked shut behind them.

Misty's eyes blurred as she stared at the bottle. She grabbed another lemon-aid to sip and talked to the yak about her very interesting nose ring.

Time dragged until out popped Savarin and Gina.

One of the changelings shape-shifted into a wolf and wolf-whistled.

"We just talked," Gina chirped. "New bestie."

Misty eyed Savarin, and Savarin gave her a reassuring smile. Gina was telling the truth.

"Who's next?" Savarin asked.

A few others went first until it was Misty's turn. She pressed a glob of popcorn onto the bottle and gave it a casual spin. Just right.

A nudge of magic while she reached for some popcorn over the bottle so no one could see, and it landed on Nettle.

Nettle huffed.

Misty wiped off the bottle, smiling at Savarin before she walked with Nettle to the closet.

It had coats hanging up on the right, but two stools were set up inside. Misty closed the door, and they sat on the stools opposite one another.

Nettle crossed her forearms. "You did that on purpose."

"How?" Misty asked.

"You totally did," Nettle said. "It's not my fault I knew you'd never get into the Unicorn School. It's for unicorns, not kirins."

"I know." Misty leaned closer. "I know."

"What are you doing?!"

Misty channelled her fire into her hoof and hovered it near Nettle's throat. "Don't do any magic, or else. Don't scream." She could feel Nettle swallow hard.

"I've changed," Nettle said.

Misty laughed, causing Nettle's cheeks to burn red.

"I have! We were seven."

"It doesn't matter."

Nettle went a very pale green. "A-Are you going to-"

"No, that would be pointless. I want you to remember this."

"S-Stop."

"No." Misty pressed her hoof over Nettle's mouth. She could feel her nirik fangs growing, pressing against her gums. She dug her fangs into Nettle's neck.

Her fire hoof went out; it wasn't needed to press Nettle against the floor, to trail bites with her sharp fangs up and down Nettle's neck. She went lower and lower, trailing across Nettle's stomach until she met Nettle's clit.

She gave it a bite, pressing her hoof against Nettle's mouth to stop her screaming. Blood filled Misty's mouth, staining her fangs.

Misty swallowed and sat up. Her face was slick, and she wiped herself off with a hoof.

Nettle was shaking, her eyes wide. Misty stroked her face with a hoof and pressed her mouth to Nettle's. She wanted Nettle to taste the blood. She wanted Nettle to know who was in control.

"When this closet door opens, I want you to leave," Misty said at a whisper.

Nettle nodded shakily, and when the time was up and the closet door did open, she did what she was told. It was perfection.

Misty ended up enjoying the rest of the party without Nettle around.

When the last guest left, she and Savarin took out a puzzle, and Misty told Savarin everything.

"That is evil," Savarin said with a smile. "I had lots of fun too."

Misty laughed. She considered the night a success.

6. And a new dawn

Madeleine made apple pancakes with fresh blueberries, whipped cream, and maple syrup for breakfast. It was more dessert than a meal, but Misty wolfed it down amid telling tales of Kirin Grove.

Only Savarin had visited Kirin Grove, and she stayed quiet while Misty spoke.

"It sounds marvellous," said Madeleine.

"I want to visit someday," Tatin said around his fork. He sawed at his pancakes and took a huge mouthful before setting down his fork so he could speak properly. "There's this Kirin I know who can do fire tricks. Could you do that, Misty?"

Misty smiled and didn't say a word. Her control over her nirik form wasn't the best, and she couldn't do any magic tricks. "More syrup, Tatin?"

Tatin grabbed the syrup jug from Misty and poured some more over his pancakes.

"What are you planning on doing today?" Madeleine asked.

"I can help out if you need any-" began Misty.

"You're on vacation, dear."

"I insist," Misty said. "If there's anything..."

"We do need more syrup," Madeleine said, eyeing Tatin who had just set down the syrup jug.

He blinked when he noticed Madeleine, Misty and Savarin were all eyeing him. "What?"

Misty let herself laugh, and soon Madeleine and Tatin joined in while Savarin's eyes twinkled with quiet laughter.

Misty hovered a scrap of paper from the table and a pencil and wrote down syrup. "Do we need anything else?"

Madeleine hummed, and Tatin scrunched up his brow in thought.

"Apples, sugar, and eggs," Savarin said right away.

Misty wrote them down. After some more thinking, Misty added vegetables to the list.

Tatin insisted on coming along, and the three of them set off.

The sun was bright, and the sky was a bright, shining blue. The weather was so warm, and almost everyone was out and about.

"I love Summer," said Tatin. He breathed in and then breathed out. "We have to sightsee."

"I've seen most of the places," Misty said. "I used to live here."

Tatin tutted. "But there are places only the locals know." He tapped his nose and winked.

"It's true," Savarin said simply, with an expression saying to humour him.

They went and did their shopping, and returned to the Bakery to put the food away before Tatin set off to show Misty the best places in Ponyville.

The places Tatin took her and Savarin to she had seen before. Still, she didn't want to ruin his fun, so she kept her lips sealed.

By the time the tour was done, it was noon, and the three stopped at a sandwich shop to eat.

Misty was daintily eating her sandwich when she heard some whispering, the source being two ponies a table over.

"Excuse me," Misty said, setting down her sandwich. "What are you two whispering about?"

The ponies looked over. One propped up a menu on the table, blocking his face and Misty from view and he whispered: "Twilight's student is here. Luster Dawn."

"Hey, doesn't she go to your school, Savarin?" asked Tatin.

The two ponies gasped, fixing Savarin with a wide-eyed look.

"She is. She's three years older," Savarin replied.

"She doesn't go there anymore," said the pony. "She lives in Ponyville now."

Savarin squeaked. "She's here."

"We know that!" snapped the pony.

Misty was about to tell him off, but Savarin pointed a quivering hoof.

Walking down the street was Luster Dawn walking with four other creatures, two of which Misty recognized as Gina and Hamburger. The other two were a yak and a kirin.

Misty couldn't taste the rest of her sandwich. Each bite was a gluey mess weighing down her tongue.

Once they had finished eating, Savarin paid for their sandwiches, and they set off home.

"It's pretty cool. Twilight's student is living here," said Tatin. "I'm so jealous of Winter."

"Who's Winter?" asked Misty.

"The kirin Luster's friends with."

Misty shared a look with Savarin. He knows them.

Savarin shook her head; she didn't know Winter. It must be because Winter -the kirin- was Tatin's age.

"Winter Gale. We were in school together," continued Tatin. "The yak I don't know well, but her name is Yafa. She moved from Yakyakistan a year ago. Winter's friends with her. Then there's Hamburger and Gina..."

Misty smiled and nodded along until they reached the Bakery.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

"Delicious dinner," said Misty.

Madeleine twittered, and Misty trotted upstairs, carefully closing Savarin's bedroom door behind her.

She sat down on the floor next to Savarin, leaning her back against Savarin's bed. "I'm here for one more week. It will give us time to change our asteroid plan."

"They will try to stop us, now that they are here."

Like with everything, Ponyville was the centre. The asteroid would fly by Ponyville and be in range for them to use their magic rope to lasso it.

"We will figure it out," Savarin said. "We always do."

Misty breathed in, trying to get some of Savarin's confidence. Her legs shook. "Are you still friends with Gina?"

"We haven't talked since the party a week ago." Savarin's shadow shifted next to Misty. "We need a back-up plan. Tatin."

"Are you okay with your brother being a mole?"

"Moles are cute."

Misty cracked a smile. An image came into her head of Tatin as a mole and a tiny top hat for some reason. "I'm in Kirin Grove, and you're at school in Canterlot. He sends you letters, and we can keep track of Luster and her new friends. We'll be one step ahead."

"It is perfect. Tatin will have some new friends. Ever since he graduated, he's drifted away from his old friends..."

"Everyone wins."

7. I love the shitty things we do together

Author's Note

Chapter title is from a lyric in the song: Hell and You by Amigo the Devil.

7. I love the shitty things we do together

Time passed in the slow and careful way summer holidays had. A day felt like a millennium.

Misty bought some new dresses from Carousel Boutique, which Sandbar and Yona ran.

Tatin came along. He spent a while talking to Sandbar, even delivering an order of macarons, which Yona wolfed down by herself.

When Misty returned home, she was furious.

Savarin had gone from a stroll and had returned teary-eyed. She smiled, said nothing was wrong and fell asleep on her bed in a matter of seconds.

Misty paced back and forth until she went into the kitchen.

Tatin sat at the table, staring out of the window, stirring a cup of cocoa. He smiled when he spotted Misty, but his smile fell. "Is she still crying? She won't talk to me."

Misty took a seat next to him. It wasn't a good sign. Savarin loved her brother, and she told him almost everything- not about the asteroid, but other stuff.

"I make the best cocoa," she said.

"Is it special kirin cocoa?"

Misty lied with a nod, and quickly whipped some up, pouring the scalding liquid into two mugs.

They sat in silence, Tatin sipping on his cocoa while Misty did the same.

"She'll tell us when she's ready," Misty replied, hoping she was right. She smiled at Tatin and patted him.

The next day was more of the same. Around the table during dinner, Savarin didn't listen quietly to the conversation like she usually did. She kept her head bowed over her food.

After Maddy went downstairs to clean up the bakery, Tatin and Misty sat with Savarin.

Savarin hadn't touched her bacon and eggs.

"Savarin, you can talk to us about anything," Misty asked.

"What she said. But hey, if you aren't going to finish your bacon and eggs-" began Tatin.

Savarin cracked a smile at Tatin's joke and pushed the plate toward him. "Am I boring?"

"What?" Misty whispered. "No, of course you're not. Who said that to you?"

Savarin poked her hoof against an egg, twirling her fork around with her magic. "Last night, I went to find Gina to talk to her. She said she didn't want to hang out with me because I was boring."

Misty bit her lip. "WHAT."

Tatin coughed, and Misty looked at him. "I believe it." He frowned at his plate, poking at his eggs until the yolk burst. "I used to hang out with Gina, but she was mean. I couldn't talk to her at your party, but I thought maybe she had changed. I didn't want to mention anything to you..."

"I see," Misty said slowly. "Where does Gina live?"

Savarin's eyes widened slightly.

"I won't beat her up or anything, as much as I want to," Misty replied. "I want to talk to her."

Savarin shrugged, looking down at her lap.

Tatin puffed out his chest. "You'll need me to show you the directions."

Misty didn't mention she probably knew the way. She also didn't look at Savarin, not wanting to put her on the spot, but Savarin said something without her prompting: "I'm going to have a nap."

The streets outside were quiet with creatures heading home from work, and stars were appearing. Shadows stretched and writhed purple.

Even Tatin spoke at a whisper: "Yafa -friend of Luster Dawn- lives there." He pointed to a tiny house, almost cramped between the houses on either side.

The next time he spoke was further on, past the fountain and the town square, and down another street. They stopped near a brightly coloured building; the roof was thatched straw and dyed a garish red, while the front was painted yellow and red. Tables were set out front.

"This is Hamburgers' families fast food place," Tatin explained. "We really should go some time."

"Perhaps," was Misty's answer. She'd had a hamburger years before, but if it meant talking to Hamburger again, she'd rather not if she could help it. But talking to him could be helpful. "Where's Gina's house?"

"Here. She lives next door." Tatin pointed a hoof at the house next to Hamburgers'. Gina's house was ordinary if slanting more than the others. "Do you need me to be here?"

Misty arched an eyebrow at Tatin. "Do you need to be somewhere?" She had hoped to smooth the situation over, and -since Savarin wasn't going to be friends with Gina- perhaps their backup plan could be set into motion.

"Just curious," he gulped. "Gina and I didn't exactly end on good terms. You know."

"You can leave."

"Thanks." He beamed, then frowned. "I'm sorry."

Misty waved him off. Once Tatin had galloped off, she went to the door and gave it a sharp knock with her hoof.

"Dang nabbit, who the heck is that?" muttered a voice from inside. "We don't want any more junk mail!"

The door swung open, and Misty was face to face with a glowering griffon. He was the same grey that Gina was.

Hamburger had mentioned Gina lived with her father -the griffon, Misty assumed- and his second wife. His first wife -Gina's biological mother- had died in childbirth.

"We don't want any more junk mail, especially so late at night," he said to her.

Misty bent back her head and laughed. She stopped at his glaring expression. "I'm sorry sir, I'm here for Gina."

"Who is it?" asked a feminine voice from behind him.

"Somekirin here for Gina," the griffon said, turning his head to yell. "Ain't ever seen her before. Not one of Gina's fancy-schmancy new friends. None of them would come by at 9 p.m., I'm telling you."

"I'm Misty," Misty said helpfully. "Gina was rude to a friend of mine."

The griffon harrumphed. "Was she, you reckon?"

"I'm not leaving until I can talk to her."

"Oh, let her in, Ronald," said the feminine voice and the owner of the voice appeared.

The owner was a pegasus, a bright orange with a blue mane -Ronald's second wife. Her cutie mark was a feather, which told Misty nothing except to appeal to her instead of the griffon.

"She called my friend boring," Misty said, directing her woes to the pegasus.

The pegasus opened her mouth, but the griffon interrupted: "my Gina is honest. She tells it like it is. If she says your friend is boring, then your friend is boring. Simple as that. Now get lost."

The griffon started to close the door, and Misty looked plaintively at the pegasus. The pegasus smiled sadly, and the door clicked shut in Misty's face.

Now, the thing Misty had realized about Ponyville was nobody locked their doors. There wasn't a need. It was the same in Kirin Grove.

So, Misty took it as an invitation to find another way in. She went down between the houses and turned into Gina's house's backyard.

Jackpot. There were a back door and a window.

She pressed her ear against the backdoor, and she could dimly hear the griffon and the pegasus having a conversation.

"Gina," she said. She stopped and said the name louder.

Still nothing.

She levitated a pebble and flung it at the window on the top floor. The window cracked open, and Gina's head popped out.

A second later, the rest of her body followed, and she flew down to meet Misty. She wasn't wearing her scarf, and her neck was very bare without it.

"Do I know you?" Gina asked.

"I was at the party you went to."

Gina scrunched up her face and beamed. "Right, you're that creepy kirin."

Misty's eyelid twitched. "What makes me creepy? Do you know Nettle?"

Gina grinned. "Who's Nettle? I'm just saying- you're here below my window throwing pebbles at my window. That's pretty creepy. What do ya want?"

Misty breathed out. "You called Savarin boring. Her feelings are hurt. I want you to apologize tomorrow."

"But she is boring." Gina tilted her head at Misty. "I didn't want to lie. She can take it as words of improvement. Creatures do that, right?"

"Gina," said Misty, crooning out each word, "you can see how your words could be taken badly? Can't you?"

"I was being honest."

Misty opened her mouth and closed it. It was like talking in circles. "Okay. Have a good night."

Gina beamed at her and flew back up to her window. The window closed behind her with a thunk.

Misty waited for a few more minutes until there was utter silence.

Quietly, she crept to the corner of the house and hovered her hoof an inch away from the building. Her hoof burned bright, red with a centre of blue fire.

She had the power to burn their house down. She held their lives in her hooves.

There would be a reckoning in two years, and Gina would be at the top of her list.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

The next creature Misty decided to talk to was Hamburger. Early in the morning, while Savarin was still asleep, she walked to the fast food place as it was opening.

Hamburger was opening it up to the public, and he smiled and waved when he saw Misty.

Tatin had told her everything he knew about Hamburger: eight siblings and two very overworked parents. Hamburger hadn't been able to move out because he needed to stay behind to work.

"Hi, Misty," said Hamburger. "Do you want a hamburger special? It comes with fries."

Misty hovered some bits towards him. "Yes, please." She then explained about Gina as he led her inside and to a bright red booth.

He shouted her order to the kitchens and stopped next to Misty. "I'll talk to her. Hey, this sounds like a classic friendship problem."

"Perhaps you should bring in Luster Dawn as well? We could solve it together."

"Sure, come by around five-thirty. That's when I'm off."

Misty ate her order when it arrived and even ordered some hay fries to go. For the rest of her day, she helped Maddy, Tatin and Savarin in the bakery.

Before she knew it, she and Savarin were walking to the fast-food place.

Savarin sighed.

Misty stopped walking suddenly, and Savarin did the same. "Do you not want to do this? You can say right now, and we can use a spell instead."

"I don't want to. You can kill them later."

Misty nibbled on her lip. "Fine, but we have to tell Hamburger. Not the killing part, but the other stuff. I don't want him showing up at the bakery to ask where we were."

They arrived as Hamburger was turning the door sign around to 'closed.' He noticed them and beamed. "Hiya guys."

"Hamburger, we're going to leave it be," Misty said.

Hamburger's expression wavered. "Oh. Okay."

Misty and Savarin turned to leave and faced the rest of the friend group: Gina, Luster Dawn, Yafa and Winter Gale.

"We were just leaving," Savarin said, holding her head high. Her white and red tipped mane shifted in a slight breeze and the air crackled with magic.

"Hamburger," Luster Dawn said. "Are these two going to beat you up?"

"Savarin said we were leaving. How does that translate to us beating Hamburger up?" Misty asked.

Luster looked between them and Hamburger, covering her mouth with a hoof. "I thought..."

"Don't assume."

Misty waved her hoof and walked down the street with Savarin, while behind them the new friends started to talk amongst over one another.

Misty and Savarin didn't look back.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Two days later, Misty and Savarin sat in her room.

A pink bubble surrounded Savarin's entire room while her horn glowed white. It was a sound blocking spell.
Even if somecreature stood outside Savarin's bedroom door, no one would be able to hear them speak.

The air crackled with power. Savarin closed her eyes, her horn glowing brighter and brighter, first a star then a supernova of light.

A blob of light shifted from her horn and coalesced in the air into a portal.

Through it, she could see Luster and her new friends.

It showed them in a field somewhere. Yafa and Gina were tossing around a frisbee.

The others were having a picnic. Hamburger had even prepared mini-hamburgers, and Winter Gale was eating most of them.

Misty yanked her gaze away from the portal. Jealousy kept flaring, and she didn't like it one bit.

Savarin scootched closer to Misty and rested her head on Misty's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I should've let Gina apologize."

"You don't have too. This is way more fun."

Savarin sighed, snuggling closer. Her smile was soft but sad. Her glowing horn made Misty blink stars from her eyes.

"Are you still depressed?" Misty asked. "If I have the Fire Flower, I can take it away."

Savarin hummed, then twitched, knocking against Misty's snout.

Misty rubbed at her nose, feeling a bruise forming. "What happened?"

"Gina."

Misty looked at the portal, at the group of friends. Gina wasn't there, and Yafa was now sitting on the picnic blanket with the others.

Savarin shuffled closer to the portal, swiping through it with a hoof. It rippled and churned, swirling like milk in coffee, before dissipating. Her horn stopped glowing, and the spell surrounding the room also popped.

A moment later, Maddy yelled up the stairs: "there's a friend here for you."

"Friend," snorted Misty. "Is she your friend?"

Savarin's lips curled slightly.

The two of them walked into the main living room. Gina was waiting for them, wringing her claws.

Maddy smiled once she saw Misty and Savarin. "There they are. I'll leave you two to it. I'm downstairs in the bakery if you two need anything." She waved and trotted back downstairs.

Gina kept on wringing her claws, gulping a few times. Her eyes shimmered with tears.

Misty nudged Savarin, and Savarin nodded, giving Misty permission to speak to Gina.

"Well?" Misty asked.

Out of the corner of her eye, the pink silencing spell started surrounding the room, Savarin scrunching her brow as she cast it. Once Savarin had cast it, her face relaxed.

"Are you here to apologize?" Misty asked. "Have you learned a friendship lesson? That's what you do, isn't it?"

Gina burst into tears. "Yes, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Do you want to be friends, Savarin? I'm sorry."

"Hmmm," Savarin replied. "No. I don't accept your apology."

Gina blinked, stunned. "But, I apologized."

"She doesn't have to accept your apology," Misty added.

"But I... I'm sorry!" Gina wailed, falling to her knees. She spread her wings and bowed even further. "I want creatures to like me. I want-"

Misty hushed Gina, walking towards her. She reached out a hoof, touching it under the griffon's chin. She tilted her head up. "It's all about you, isn't it? But, there is one thing that would make Savarin forgive you. Your scarf. Give it to us, and it's all forgiven."

Savarin shivered. Misty could read Savarin; she was trying not to laugh.

"But this is my Dad's-" began Gina.

"Shhh. Shhh." Misty brushed her hoof along Gina's beak. "No scarf, no forgiving. That's how it works."

"That's how it works," echoed Savarin.

Gina backed away from Misty and looked between them. She had stopped crying. However, her eyes were still puffy. "You're mean."

Misty sighed. She had gone too far. "Forget."

"Forget," echoed Savarin. She cast a spell on Gina, and when the light cleared, Gina was frozen where she was standing.

Misty grabbed the scarf from around Gina's neck and passed it to Savarin, and in turn, Savarin wrapped it around her neck.

With one flick of Savarin's horn, Gina started to speak: "I want creatures to like me. I want-"

"We want you to leave," Misty said.

Gina swayed and walked as if she were drunk all the way out of the room.

Once she was gone, Savarin explained: "I wiped her memory of her having gotten the scarf and of us threatening her."

"That's evil."

8. Lost in cheap delirium

Author's Note

Chapter title is from the first line in the song Home by Zero 7.

8. Lost in cheap delirium

The summer holidays ended.

Misty had her suitcases packed for when she headed back to Kirin Grove, and Savarin had hers packed for when she went back to school in Canterlot.

Misty did spot Nettle once, but Nettle quickly disappeared back into her house. She heard from Tatin Nettle had even mysteriously dropped out of the School for Gifted Unicorns.

Before Misty knew it, she was on the train ride home.

Dad was waiting for her when the train pulled up, and a newspaper was spread open on his lap. He folded it up when she stepped off the train with her suitcases. "Kiddo! How was your trip? You're just in time for the festival."

He was talking about the end of summer festival.

Misty usually ended up helping out, handing out samples of beer to festival-goers, or operating their stall.

Kirin Grove was adorned with ribbons and streamers. Stalls were peppered everywhere, selling all manner of things from clothes to food.
On a stage further on, a play was happening. It was Taming of the shrew by William Shakespony.

Misty managed to get some bits from Dad to go around the various stalls. She bought a hoof-stitched dress from one of the clothing stalls, pulling it on. The dress was green and patterned with flowers.

While munching on some popcorn, she saw her school "friends": Pearl Love (unicorn), Icicle Wind (Kirin) and Anise Swirl (Kirin).

"Misty, you're back," exclaimed Pearl, gathering Misty up in her perfumy grip.

"Like, I had so much fun. I do need a drink. Should I get some, like, from my Dad?" Misty said.

Pearl let Misty go. "Anise got some. Her boyfriend gave it to us. He's so hot, and you need to meet him."

Anise tossed her straightened mane. The curls were already reforming.
It was nearly impossible to keep kirin hair straight.

The group moved through the crowd, away from the stalls to the very fringes of the festival.

Here, the music barely reached, instead turning into a dull thumping. Many teenage creatures were also making out in the bushes.

Misty found some overturned logs, and they sat down on them. Icicle lit a cigarette while Anise poured each of them a cup of beer.

"We missed you so much," said Pearl.

"I did too," lied Misty. "Ponyville is soooo boring without you guys. I can't believe Daddy forced me to go. Tear." She ran her hoof down her face and puckered her lips. She gulped beer before gulping down the rest. She held her cup out for some more, and Anise topped her up.

"Life was so boring without you," Anise said.

"Seconded," said Pearl.

"Thirded," added Icicle.

Pearl told her all the gossip she had lost out on; Anise's boyfriend. He was a cute dragon that worked at the library.

"He's so, like, nerdy," said Pearl.

"Glasses?" Misty asked.

Pearl nodded. "He's, like, thirty."

Misty wrinkled her nose. "But he's old."

"He's cute. You have to meet him."

Misty stuck out her tongue and wrinkled her nose. "Anise, let me guess, he says you're mature for your age?"

Anise looked put out, tapping her hooves together. "He got us alcohol."

"Honey, my Dad works at a brewery, and I have him wrapped around my hoof," Misty drawled. "Break up with him, or else you're out of our group."

"Fine," said Anise, hanging her head.

Icicle's cigarette glowed in the dark.

Misty started a fire with her hoof, shadows making monsters squirm around the trees, scaring away any forest critter stupid enough to come close.

Underneath a full moon, Misty and her "friends" danced.

Icicle's hoof-held radio belted out tinny tunes into the night.

Anise had brought marshmallows for them to roast, and Misty ate so many she felt like she'd throw up.

She had to sit down, leaving the others to dance. Anise stopped dancing to sag next to her, beer sloshing down her front and staining her fur.

Misty stroked her hoof down Anise's thigh, along her tail. Anise gurgled, her fourth cup dropping from her magic.

Misty pressed her mouth to Anise's. Anise tasted of beer and marshmallows, her mouth opening and closing. Her gorge rose, and she threw up into Anise's mouth.

Anise staggered back while spitting vomit out of her mouth. She groaned and slumped on the log.

Misty wiped at her mouth, spitting until she couldn't taste vomit. Her throat burned. "I'm going home."

"See you in school," Pearl slurred, swaying from side to side. She popped another marshmallow in her mouth.

Misty staggered home, bumping into trees.

The festival was finished. Almost everyone was back in the houses. A few stragglers sat in a circle, strumming a guitar and singing in low voices.
They paid her no mind.

She stopped to throw up once more in the bushes, before staggering the long route up to the mansion.

The lights were still on, and Misty walked inside.
Sitting at the table were Mom and Dad.

"I'm going to bed," Misty said, moving toward the stairs.

"Hold it. What time do you think it is?" Mom asked. "Are you drunk?"

Misty stopped at the foot of the stairs, looking between her parents. "Why are you here, Mom? He's a better daughter than I'd ever be. That's why we stopped having mother-daughter days, isn't it?"

Mom opened and closed her mouth. "It's two in the morning! No warning, nothing."

"Daddy, you're not going to ground me, right?"

Dad tugged at his bow tie. This one was decorated with mini-beers. Mom's attention turned to him.

"Kiddo," he said. "I understand how hard it is, being a teen. You can stay out as late as you want, but no more drinking."

"Oak-" began Mom.

"You're the best daddy." Misty's tone chilled when she said to Mom: "goodnight, Mother."

Mom's eyes narrowed at Misty, but Misty stared right back. Mom looked away first.

Misty walked up the stairs and went into her room.

Dad had put away all her dresses, and her suitcases were sitting near her door.

"I thought that was you," Leafy said from his bedside table spot. "Man, your Mom really doesn't like you."

Misty flopped into her bed, wriggling out of her dress. She tossed it into the hamper and rolled onto her back.

Mom and Dad had started arguing downstairs.

She crept out of her room and sat at the top of the stairs, just out of sight.

"Can I go to bed now? She's home, isn't she?" Dad was saying.

"You're the one who called me in a panic when she wasn't home tonight." Mom paused. "Oak, she questions my authority all the time, especially when she stays the weekend at my place. She needs rules, guidelines."

"But it's so hard."

"Try harder," Mom said. A chair was pushed back, screeching across the floor. Mom's shadow moved. "She's almost an adult, and she-she scares me. I'm scared of what she'll do when she's independent."

Misty stole back into her room and turned out the light, and she dreamed of her city of pure gold where her subjects would worship the ground she walked on.

She'd be a goddess and Savarin would be her prophet.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

To Misty's dismay, Dad did try to ground her for staying out too late.

She laughed in his face until Mom came by and enforced it.

It meant Misty spent more time in her room, with Leafy, who was way more annoying than she remembered so she put him in her closet and closed the door.

9. Mother dearest

Dear Misty Flare,

I have three details to tell you.

Luster Dawn and her friends are okay. According to Tatin, Gina and Yafa are moving into a house by themselves. They haven't noticed Gina is not wearing her usual scarf, or they are afraid to ask. Tatin is an excellent source of info, but he doesn't know everything.
We are learning about different villains in school. I have enclosed a book about villains. If you are to eat the Fire Flower and make your own city, you should read the section on Our Town. (I have also enclosed ten madeleines, a scroll on something that could be the Fire Flower. I used a spell to keep the madeleines fresh. I hope you enjoy them).
As per your last letter about Leafy, I have a few suggestions: give him to your Mom, kill him, or leave him behind. He's a plant, and he doesn't have a body capable of locomotion, making it easier to kill him. Splitting the Fire Flower's power with him will only dilute it.

I hope with the Fire Flower's power, you can help me. Unicorn magic can only go so far.
It works for a time, and then I am empty. My life is perfect, I am even perfecting my magic and working on my Prance desserts, but I still feel nothing.

Perhaps with your town in the future, I will feel whole. To be able to break creatures pleases me, especially if I'm breaking them with you.

Sincerely,

Savarin

Misty cracked a shell-shaped madeleine in half, popping a corner in her mouth.
It was sweet, with a hint of lime.

It was the weekend after the first week of school.

She was still grounded, and now she was grounded in her room in Mom's flat.

Crumbs dusted Savarin's letter, and she flicked them away with her hoof.

Savarin's hoofwriting was tidy, printed as if it were typed with a typewriter. She truly was a genius, and she truly did belong at the School for Gifted Unicorns, unlike Misty.

Misty sniffed, hugging the letter to her chest. She set it down when she heard Leafy say: "are you done?" His voice came from the closet in the corner of the room.

Misty opened the closet and set him on her table with her telekinesis while she casually popped a madeleine in her mouth.

"I can't believe you're grounded," he said, tilting his flower head. Very recently, he had flowered, and his head was a white bloom.

It was shaped similar to a rose.

"Do you want to go back in the closet?" Misty asked.

Leafy's flower shook back and forth, his line of a mouth twisting. "No. Ooh, what are those?"

"They are a kind of cake from Prance." She smiled and wrapped them up. "Don't try to change the subject."

She hovered the book, scroll and several potions Savarin had given her to the empty bookshelf. All of her favourite books were at home.

The shelves were empty, and the Savarin's book looked lonely without company.
Misty carefully penned a letter, frowning when she dripped ink on the parchment. She told her friend how she was grounded and how she was still thinking about what to do with Leafy.

She didn't know why she kept him around. It reminded her she was fallible, that she cared for her Mom... Her Mom was the only reason Leafy was still alive.

Misty's letter was nowhere near as tidy as Savarin's.

Still, she sealed it in an envelope and dripped hot wax on the seal and pressed it down with the mark of the family crest.

"Can I talk now?" Leafy asked.

"No."

"But... you're grounded. How are you going to go out?"

Misty tapped one of Leafy's leaves with her hoof. His cartoony eyes met hers. "So many questions. If you're good, I'll get you some of your favourite tea, or I'll bring you with me."

Leafy twisted his lips, scrunching his eyes closed. He sagged and nodded, looking up to face the sun.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Mom's flat was filled with things, decades worth of life stuffed into a few rooms.
The only room that wasn't full of things was Misty's.

The living room consisted of a sofa and a coffee table. There were also paintings lining the wall, depicting castles and the sea.

There were other things too; old masks shaped like scary birds, Mom's old guitar decorated with stickers and paint hung on the wall, a dragon statue on a pedestal in the corner, several model ships on top of the bookshelf, and a large vase decorated with old carvings of niriks breathing fire with a red hibiscus plant in it.

The coffee table was the only thing clear.

Mom was sitting on the couch, reading over a letter she had written.

Misty sat on the couch, waiting for Mom to notice her. It didn't take long. Mom finished rereading her letter and looked up at Misty.

"Who's your letter to?" Misty asked.

"Your cousin Basil." Mom pointed at a new painting on the wall. It depicted ships on the sea, a glorious sunset turning the water orange. "I'm thanking him for his new painting."

"It's a nice painting." Misty smiled. "Mom, I was drunk when I said those things about how Leafy would be a better daughter than me."

"It was Leafy you were talking about?"

"Yes." She shifted on the couch, inching closer to Mom, averting her eyes to show she was sorry. "I want to deliver a letter to Savarin, and I can deliver your letter too."

"Misty-" Mom's face was contorting, curling into something ugly. "You'll just meet up with your friends."

"Mom, no. I want to regain your trust. Think of this as a test. Is there anything else you need? Shopping? Dinner? If I fail, you can ground me for the rest of the month. I could even bring somecreature with me- like Leafy."

For a moment, Misty thought Mom wouldn't go for it, but Mom sagged against the couch, gathering her letter up in a cloud of magic to pass it to Misty.

Misty hugged Mom and ran into her room.

She packed her red saddlebags, put on the clean dress she got from Ponyville (it was a Rarity original, patterned like the starry sky), and hovered Leafy onto her back.

It would be an acceptable way to get him to forget the hours she'd locked him in the closet and make it up to him because as much as she hated him, Mom liked Leafy.

She needed Mom on her side.

Misty stepped out of the small tree Mom's flat was inside, walking down the slight hill incline to the main path.

The weather was residually warm from the summer, with the slight tinge of rain in the sky.

Mom's flat was in the centre of town, unlike the mansion, so she could see how busy it was.

Misty waved at everycreature she saw with a smile. She needed this to feel the sun on her face. She passed by stalls and huts. The post office was a two-minute walk from Mom's flat.

In that time, she pointed out anything of note to Leafy.

"There's my school," she said. The school was in several different huts, set back from the main path because of a large schoolyard. Some of the higher up buildings were connected with rope bridges, slung from one tree to another. "I have Mr Bee for homeroom this year. He's a dragon."

"I thought he was a bee," Leafy said.

Misty's lips quirked before she burst out laughing.

"You're in a good mood."

"I am... There's the library."

Legs wrapped around Misty, and just in time, she managed to grab Leafy before he fell off her back.

"Misty," drawled Pearl, dabbing at her eyes with a hoofkerchief. It disappeared in a poof, and she grabbed Misty around the neck. "I'm so sorry you got grounded!"

Misty hugged her back, giving her a few pats. "Where are the others?"

"Also grounded. My Mom doesn't care, so like, I'm fine, I guess."

"If you ever need to talk about that, I'm here," Misty lied.

Pearl's parents were neglectful. They let Pearl do her own thing. She had basically raised herself. However, Pearl never did want to talk about it, besides a few select off-hoof comments, so Misty was off the hook.

"Hi," said Leafy. "We need to get moving, Misty."

Misy set Leafy on the ground, her eyes narrowing at him.

"Is that a talking plant?" Pearl asked. "He has a face."

"He does," Misty said. "He's a magic plant. I need to do some errands. You can walk with me if you like."

"I'd, like, love to!" Pearl exclaimed.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

"This is so good, Ms Flare," Pearl said, twirling her spaghetti up with a fork. "Like, I didn't know spaghetti could taste this good. Next time, Icicle and Anise should come!"

"Hmmm," was the only sound that came from Mom. "Don't mention it."

Misty smiled into her spaghetti. She was smiling a lot lately. For some reason, despite being grounded, she was in such a good mood. Plus, with Pearl here, Mom couldn't get mad at her.

"I didn't know you had a magical plant," Pearl continued.

"Now you know."

Pearl blinked a few times before giggling. "Where did you get one? I totally want one."

"Do you want some more tomato sauce? Or cheese?"

"What kind of cheese is this? It's so good. As I was saying, you didn't get to tell me about your trip. How's Savarin?"

Misty went into a few fake stories before she finished her meal.

Pearl nodded along. "You need to date her. Like, get on that already."

Misty made a show of looking outside at the darkening sky. "Should I walk you home?"

"No, I can totally find it."

Misty saw Pearl out into the night. The lanterns were being lit so that she could see her way home.

Misty closed the door quite firmly, moving pots and pans to the sink using her telekinesis. She took a seat while she did the dishes. "Am I in trouble, Mom? I just came across Pearl, and you know how her family is."

"Don't call me that," Mom said.

"What's going on?" Leafy said, while simultaneously, Misty said: "are you going to tell us?"

Mom moved, setting the letter from Savarin on the table.

Misty opened her mouth, but Mom shook her head. "Don't you dare lie to me, Misty Flare. You're a monster, and you're not getting away with whatever the hell this is."

Misty's stomach dropped down into her hind hooves. She dropped a pot in the sink with a clatter. She burned with flames, her dress whispering away into ashes. "You read Savarin's letter. How dare you?! And you made me ruin my dress!"

Mom burst out laughing, wiping tears from her eyes. "No, it's over, Misty. It's over."

Misty's fire crackled and burned, her pure white eyes narrowing. She held onto the anger, cradling it within her chest.
Beneath her, wood started to burn.

Mom filled a bucket of water with her telekinesis and dumped it over Misty in a split second, leaving Misty spluttering. She was a kirin again, yet soaking wet.

"Mom!" she cried.

"You're going to be in a dungeon, in Tartarus, or whatever they do with kirins like you."

"Guys, guys," Leafy babbled. "We can talk about this."

"Leafy, you're not part of this, and you never were," Misty snarled.

"Don't talk to Leafy that way," retorted Mom.

Leafy looked between the two of them, his mouth dropping.

Misty lunged at Mom, trying to wrench the letter from her with magic and hooves, but Mom was stronger, kicking her with one hoof.
She skidded across the room, hitting the coffee table with her back.

Mom was reaching the front door, the doorknob glowing blue- Misty lunged, pinning Mom to the ground.

Something shoved into her stomach, and Misty staggered back, unable to breathe.

Mom had bucked her.

Misty let out a cry, running at Mom, using telekinesis to grab a butcher knife from the kitchen.

Mom dodged, and the knife twanged, sticking straight into the door, and there it stayed.

Mom giggled, which made her roar, Misty's fire sputtering out because of her wet fur.

"Such simple magic," Mom said.

"Kirin magic is weak," Misty replied.

"Not so. It's all in how you use it, daughter."

The entire flat shifted and moved under Misty's feet, the table, chairs, everything jumping into the air. The knife fell out of the door with a clatter.

Something wriggled along the floor, stretching out giant petals. It was the hibiscus, except growing rapidly, its flower head the size of her head. It was coated in Mom's blue magic.

The hibiscus wriggled toward her, wrapping green leaves and its stalk around her body.

"Go Mom," said Leafy, pumping his leaves in the air.

Misty squirmed, trying to find anything in the thick stalk to give. Nothing. Her fire kept sparking and sputtering.

Mom crept toward her and stopped a metre away. "Stay here. I'm going to go get the authorities."

"M-Mom," whispered Misty. Tears filled her eyes. "Don't do this. Talk to Dad first."

Mom stroked Misty's cheek, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "It took me ages for me to get your Dad even to ground you. You know that, right? He wouldn't let me."

Misty sniffled again, her tears miraculously drying up, and she smirked while her horn started to glow.

There was a whoosh sound, and Mom gasped, almost falling on her but swaying on her four hooves.

Her magic gave, and the hibiscus plant around Misty slumped to the ground, skittering back while Mom fell onto her face.

A knife stuck out of Mom's back.

"Nooo," wailed Leafy. "Misty!"

"Do you want me to kill you too?" Misty asked.

That shut him up.

Misty crept closer, moving around Mom to peer at the knife. Blood was welling up around the blade, gushing along the floor. It was so red, Misty marvelled.

"M-Misty," Mom said raspily.

Misty grabbed a few other knives from the kitchen. "Mom, since you're dying- I want to say I wasn't going to kill Leafy. I was going to go and change the world and leave him with you. And then you had to ruin that. You just had to be nosy."

Misty twirled the knives, stepping until she was above Mom. "Don't scream, or else I'll make this worse than it already is." She wrenched Mom's face up to the ceiling and stabbed one of the knives right down Mom's throat.

Mom gurgled, blood washing over the floor, over Misty's hooves and her blue, blue fur.

"I love you, Mom," Misty whispered into Mom's ear.

Mom's eyes widened, and she tried to shape words around the knife jutting down her throat. "You're a liar," was all that Misty managed to decipher.

"I do, I love you as I hate you, but I won't miss you."

Mom's body dropped to the floorboards, life fluttering at her throat until she stopped breathing and her eyes stared gormlessly up at the ceiling.

The sound of Leafy crying filled the room.

And that was when the front door opened to show Rain Shine, the kirin leader.

Misty moved, knives zipping toward Rain Shine. She didn't wait to see if they hit her- Misty knew they wouldn't.

She ran into her room, closed the door, and wedged a chair underneath the doorknob.

Misty shoved her suitcase out the window, waiting until it hit the bushes down below before she flicked water from her hoof. A spark formed at the tip of her hoof, and she held it against the wooden bookshelf.

It went up in flames.

Misty squeezed out of the window, grabbed her suitcase, and galloped for her life.

10. Meanwhile...

Meanwhile, Luster Dawn and her friends stood in front of a house with peeling paint and a broken window.

"This our new house," Yafa the yak said proudly. "Gina hates her Dad, so she moved in."

"Yep, I hate him so much. Isn't it great?" Gina asked.

The curtains next door twitched, a green unicorn face peeking out at them before it disappeared.

Luster shivered but told herself off. Who knew? The neighbour could be nice!

They walked inside the house. Inside was even worse. It was sort of grubby, peeling newspaper included. There were rough spots where old furniture used to be.

"It could use some work, but we can help you out. Right, girls?" said Luster.

Hamburger raised his hoof good-naturedly.

"And Hamburger," added Luster.

"It's no problem, Luster," Hamburger replied. "Can we get this party started? I even made mini-quiches for our break. My younger siblings love them. Gina loves them too."

"Darn right, I do!" exclaimed Gina. "They're the best, Dawnie. You haven't lived until you had those quiches."

"Can we get started?" Winter Gale asked. "The faster we start, the sooner we can eat."

"Best friend kirin right," Yafa said.

With that, the group of friends started lugging furniture into the house. Gina and Yafa directed them where to put the couches, chairs, and paintings.

It was a lot of stuff, and they had to take a break to eat the mini-quiches. They ate in the living room.

Luster asked Gina about her friendship mission, where she had to apologize to Savarin and what happened to her scarf.

"What scarf?" Gina asked, cramming a few quiches into her mouth.

"Never mind," Luster said quickly, thinking that Gina didn't want to talk about whatever had happened to it.

"That unicorn didn't take my apology," Gina said a bit sadly.

Yafa patted Gina's shoulder. "You did your best."

Gina nodded eagerly and made a face. Hamburger burst out laughing, and the usual conversation resumed.

Until there was a streak of smoke twirling with green. A letter appeared in mid-air, and Luster Dawn grabbed it with her telekinesis.

"Why is she sending you a letter now?" Winter asked. "There's nothing serious going on."

"Maybe she needs our help," said Luster.

"Don't get into a tizzy," said Hamburger. "You should read it first."

Gina giggled, whispering tizzy under her breath until Hamburger nudged her.

Luster opened the letter and read it out loud:

"dear Luster Dawn,

Come to Canterlot castle straight away. It is urgent."

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

A train ride later, Luster and her friends were standing in front of Twilight Sparkle on her throne. A mysterious potted plant rested on the throne on her left.

Leafy had just spent half-an-hour explaining what had happened to Kirin Grove and everything about the Fire Flower, which made him cry.

Luster had never seen a plant cry before.

"Is anycreature hurt?" Luster asked.

"No, I sent somecreatures to help," Twilight said. "I'm more worried about the kirin that caused this. We need to find her and her friend soon before they hurt anycreature."

The throne room door opened and in stepped Gallus. "Your Majesty, she's arrived."

"Send her in, please," Twilight replied. "There's somepony I want you to meet. She heard what happened to Kirin Grove, and she wants to help."

Luster blinked at her friends, confused.

Nettle stepped into the throne room, grinning around at the group. "Is everypony ready to kill a villain or two?"

11. Manebourne

Plains spread to the horizon. The land was a dirty brownish-green. Squat trees and shrubs dotted the landscape.

Up above, vultures circled in the air, ready for her to drop dead.

Misty licked her dry lips, hefting her leaf water bottle to her lips. Before she had left the forest, she had made two saddlebags out of leaves.

And now she was walking under a blistering sun.

She'd do anything to be back in the forest.

There should've been a train track somewhere, a station, but the train to Kirin Grove only came once a week. And she had no bits to pay for a ride and no idea where it was.

Never mind the fact she was probably WANTED now, dead or alive.

A somehow humid wind blew through the trees, cooling the sweat dripping down her fur.
Something cawed.

She looked up. It wasn't a vulture; it was a seagull with a red beak and feet. It's back was silver, wings tipped with black, and the rest of its feathers were white.

Misty gathered her things, trotting after the seagull.

She stopped once or twice to eat some fruit she had picked while she had been near Kirin Grove, but still, she kept on walking until she saw the shining buildings of a city on the horizon.

Manebourne.

The seagull flew and dipped over the buildings, disappearing in the direction of the beaches.

Misty slumped on the ground, sipping some water out of her bottle until there was nothing.
Her throat still ached and burned, rubbed raw with sand.

In a city, she could disappear.

She galloped toward the city.

Manebourne was loud but differently from Kirin Grove or Ponyville.

She walked down hidden alleyways patterned with graffiti and up and down strange streets packed with cafes.
One shop she passed had a HELP WANTED sign in the window. She walked inside, sitting down at a table.

There was a menu already on the table, but she didn't pick it up.

A red dragon came over to her table. He held his pen in one claw, tapping it against his notepad. "What do ya want?" he asked in a strong Horsetralian accent.

"I want to apply for a job here."

"You look too young. How old are you?"

Misty smiled at him. "I look young for my age." She peered around the restaurant, licking her dry lips again.

The restaurant was very simply laid out, with tables and chairs. It was sort of grubby looking, but there were customers around, which was a good sign.

A red curtain marked off the kitchens. There was also a counter, where a pony sat, filing his hooves.

"Do you have a resume?" the dragon said.

"Not yet, but I can whip one up. Do you have any paper or pencils I can borrow? I'm strapped for bits, and I don't have any for a resume."

"I'll see what I can do." The dragon walked away from the table, leaving Misty alone.

Misty smiled at the customers around her, finally starting to read the menu. They served burgers.

Reading the menu was a mistake. It only made her stomach growl even louder.

She rooted around in her bag. She had one apple left, so she would have to save it.

The dragon returned with a scroll and a quill and gave to them to her. Misty carefully wrote down her resume.
She passed it over to the dragon with a smile when she had finished.

The dragon read it over, looking over the paper at her. "Can you come tomorrow for a job interview at around one?"

"Yes."

The dragon smiled. "It's wonderful to meet you, Misty. I hope it works out. I think we'll have fun working together."

"I do too."

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Misty couldn't fall asleep. Music two restaurants down thumped and pounded from a bar.

Creatures laughed, two griffons staggering out drunk and swayed down the street.

Ting.

Misty jumped.

A passing pony had dropped some bits in front of her, thinking she was homeless.

"Thanks," Misty said.

She couldn't be choosy. Once she had more bits from a job, she'd rent a flat. Like her Mom.

The pony kept on smiling and trotted down the street.

Misty lit a small flame, holding it close to the bit. She bit down on the coin, checking that it was genuine.

You could never tell...

It was real, however.

Misty snuffed out the fire and nestled deeper into the boxes until she had a nice little cave to keep herself warm.

A bright blob blinked, hovering in the darkness, and in the centre of it was Savarin. "Found you." The background was a motel room, not Savarin's usual bedroom.

"Savarin, I'm so happy to see you. Did you run away?"

Savarin shrugged. "I missed the exams."

"Sorry. Mom found your letters and I had to leave. I'll make it up to you."

"I want a kiss when we reunite."

Misty could feel her face warming. She knew Savarin was attractive. Savarin was the only creature she could be herself around.

She'd planned on waiting until she was a Goddess, and they could be together not only on the holidays before having sex with Savarin. But now, Savarin was practically throwing herself at her.

"Of course, anything," Misty said at last. Her voice was sweet as syrup, alluring. "I would do anything for you. I'd kill for you. I even killed my Mom."

Savarin blinked at her, almost dreamily. "Took you long enough. I thought you'd have killed her years ago."

Misty stifled a yawn, hiding her mouth with a hoof.

"Good night," Savarin said. "May your dreams be filled with the blood of your enemies. Talk soon."

But Misty had already fallen asleep.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Misty had never had a job; she didn't have to with how rich her Dad was, but he had taught her some things about business.

She wasn't nervous. Misty didn't get nervous.

The manager was a unicorn.

Misty resisted the urge to wrinkle her nose. The only unicorn she liked was Savarin and perhaps Savarin's family.

Still, she got the job and started the next day. Three weeks on, she had enough money to stay in a small hotel and not sleep on the streets.

Once a week, she managed to even talk to Savarin.

One day, while Misty was mopping the floors with her telekinesis - a customer had spilt their soda-, her coworker, the red dragon who ended up being named Gurgle, talked at her.

"I dropped out of college. I wanted to do construction, but I failed," he said. "Before that, I went to that Friendship School."

"Cool," Misty said.

"I'm having a party tomorrow; you should come. My friends will love you."

"I'll be there."

"Excuuuse me," said a customer.

Gurgle went to deal with the customer at the cash register.

"My take out order is wrong," said the customer, a scowling earth pony with a hard hat. "Do it again."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Don't ma'am me! Where is your manager?!"

Do you need help? Misty mouthed, but Gurgle shook his head, so Misty went back to mopping the floor.

12. Using pleasure, using pain

Author's Note

Chapter title is from "Control" by Broken Bells.

12. Using pleasure, using pain

"Isn't this great?" Gurgle asked.

Misty could hardly even see his apartment walls; it was so full of creatures, dancing in time to the music.

It brought her back to the wild parties Pearl would throw sometimes and how creatures would show up, getting drunker and drunker as they danced the night away.

Bottles smashed somewhere, and some of the partiers were starting to cheer.

"You know a lot of people," Misty shouted over the music.

"Do you want another beer? Come on, don't be a party pooper."

The warm bodies brought a sheen of sweat prickling through her fur, clinging underneath her mane where it rested on her neck.

She knew what Gurgle was trying to do. She had pretended to drink each beer before dumping it into a plant- Mom had told her never to trust some creature, giving her a drink unless she had watched it being made.

"Come on," he said. "One more."

Misty nodded, and Gurgle was lost in the crowd.

Misty shivered, crumpling up her cup and tossing it into the trash. She stepped outside.

The chilling air was refreshing, and around Manebourne shimmered and glittered like a star.

Elsewhere, she could hear other parties and things happening, combined with deafening music.

Something tacked to a nearby lampost caught her eye. She walked toward it.

A wanted poster was tacked to the lamp post, portraying her likeness.

WANTED ALIVE, MISTY FLARE.

Posters were tacked to each lamppost down the street.

Blue magic flowed down the lampposts, grabbing each Wanted poster and crumpling it into a ball. She tossed the crumpled lump into a garbage can.

Easy.

"What are you doing?"

Misty turned around, facing Gurgle. "Getting some fresh air. Where's my beer?"

Gurgle wrapped her in a hug, stroking a claw down her back and along her tail to the fluffy part.

Misty tried to pull away, but Gurgle's arms were wrapping closer around her, and he was too strong. This wasn't part of the plan. She turned into a nirik, fire burning, pressing her fangs against Gurgle's neck.

Her fangs tinged off scales, and she turned back into a kirin.

"I'm a dragon. That won't work on me," Gurgle said.

He wrapped his paw around her arm, dragging her haphazardly toward the house, up the stairs through the crowds of people and into a bedroom.

He closed the door, flinging her onto the bed.

"You look so young." Gurgle licked his lips. "How old did you say you were?"

"I'm eighteen," Misty lied. She had a feeling if she said her actual age -fifteen- he still wouldn't stop.

He crept to the bottom of the bed, inching across the comforter, his tail swiping back and forth. "There's no way you're eighteen."

Misty smiled, leaning back on the pillow, spreading her limbs to show her privates.

Gurgle drooled and inserted his dick into her vagina forcefully, pounding into her until the bedsprings squeaked.

Even Misty's tail wriggling with the waves of pleasure and the feeling of the fullness spreading through her.

It was bitter.

"I love you, I love you," he chanted.

She grappled for anything with her telekinesis until he stopped to wrap his claws around her horn.

"No," he said firmly. "Or else."

Misty looked up at the ceiling and waited until her vagina stopped burning.

She quit her job the next day.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Another week passed, with a new restaurant job. In a month, Misty had enough bits to take a train trip.

She had to be careful about booking a ticket. She talked to Savarin extensively until it was the day, and she arrived at Manebourne train station.

Her ticket was scanned no problem, and she sat in her seat, looking out at the enormous train station itself.

The station was quieter than she thought it would be, but no less glorious, with a high ceiling and huge windows.

Somecreature entered, closing the door and taking a seat opposite her. It was Nettle.

"Hello, Misty Flare," Nettle said. "Surprised I'm here?"

"Hello," Misty replied slowly. "How are you? You're looking well."

There was a blur, and a stake in a crossbow was jammed into the seat between Misty's legs. "I heard Luster and her friends talking about what you did to Kirin Grove, and I wanted to help. I'm friends with them now."

"Good for you."

The crossbow weaved up, along Misty's belly and up into Misty's face. "The others believe you can be redeemed, but they aren't here right now. They're off still looking for you. I lied to them that I didn't see you, and now I'm here. Ha." She grinned. "You're going to pay for what you did to your Mom and to me."

"And what did I do?"

Silence.

Nettle snorted and huffed, leaning back in her seat. She still had the crossbow aimed at Misty.

"You know what you did!" she said. "You bucking dyke rapist."

Misty leaned closer, the stake pressing into her chest. Her ears twitched slightly at the pain, but she pressed closer and closer, leaning over to peer at Nettle.

"You liked it," she whispered. "Don't tell me you didn't. I bet you'll fall in love with me and ask for more and more." She imitated Nettle's voice: "buck me, Misty, buck me good."

Nettle pressed down on the trigger, but Misty had already moved, the stake landing in the wall with a twang.

Nettle scuttled back from Misty. "I have sp-spells."

Misty smiled. Nettle she could deal with. Gurgle was too strong, but Nettle... She pressed her hoof against her wound and pressed her hoof into Nettle's face, smearing blood into her fur.

Nettle's horn glowed, and a beam of light shooting out.

It hit Misty square in the chest, and she flew through the door and landed in the aisle of the train.

Shit.

She had pushed Nettle too far.

Nettle stalked across the broken glass, bits crunching under her hooves.

Misty galloped down the train toward the front, running faster and faster, with her blood dripping down onto the carpet.

She stepped to the right, missing a green geyser of magic shooting past her. Nettle shot magic again but misaimed.

But, the next one Nettle misaimed, and the right side of the train's windows shattered.

Creatures screamed.

"I went to the Magic school, and you didn't!" shouted Nettle. "I'm better than you; I'm better-"

"Nettle, stop!"

Misty galloped through dining areas and couches.

She reached the front of the train, only to see a shivering pony conductor and a ruined control board. It fizzled and spat where Nettle's magic had hit it.

Nettle stepped into the room with a crunch as she walked across broken glass.

The conductor let out a squeak.

Nettle's horn had started to glow a bright green again, the point touching Misty's throat.

Misty swallowed and said: "now you're the one being a baddie right now! Look at how you're scaring the conductor!"

Nettle let out a shuddering sigh, her eyes going between Misty and the conductor before her horn stopped glowing. She sagged against Misty.

"That's my mare," Misty said, brushing her lips by Nettle's ear. "My Nettle."

Nettle shivered, her big green eyes boring into Misty's.

Something green hit Misty like a truck. She sailed, nose over tail, tail over nose, out of the window and rolled along the train track.

She groaned and limped to her hooves. Her ribs ached.

"Whoa," said a familiar voice. Something hulking and green walked along the train track toward Misty. "I wasn't expecting this to be strong! Isn't this cool, Misty? Isn't it?"

"Leafy..."

He was enormous and shaped vaguely like an ape. His body layers upon layers of leaves, but he had the same cartoony face and white petals framing it.

"I'm so mad at you, Misty," said Leafy. "You killed Mom. How could you?" He didn't leave her a chance to answer. "But, I found a better way than using the Fire Flower to get a new body. Isn't it great? Princess Twilight gave it to me using a spell."

"What are you going to do to me, Leafy?" Misty asked, taking a step backwards.

"I'm sorry about Nettle attacking you, but you hurt her something bad, Misty." He kept walking toward her, cracking his knuckles. The leaves in his body kept on shifting and writhing as he walked. His steps were heavy. "You can come with us, and-and we'll figure something out."

"Yes, Leafy. I can do that."

Leafy frowned. "You're lying. You always lie."

Nettle hopped out of the window of the train, landing on the train tracks. She looked at Leafy, and Leafy looked at her, a moment of understanding running between them.

Misty reached out with her telekinesis. She didn't have long.

There had to be something.

Anything.

Her magic wrapped around the wheels of a train next to the one she had sailed out of.

"You're going to kill me," she said. "I thought you were the good guys."

Nettle sniffled. "I- Leafy..."

"I'll take care of her," Leafy said happily. "Just call for backup. Maybe the others are already coming."

There was no warning, and he ran at Misty.

She ducked, but he kicked her in the chest, and she couldn't breathe for all the pain.

Some creature was laughing; Nettle.

Another punch and another, and Misty tried to dodge them, but punches cracked over her face more often than not.

She pushed at the train wheel, and Leafy's attention turned away from her when the train screeched. It toppled into the next train and the next, and they went down like dominos.

Fire exploded outward from the trains with a loud BANG!

Misty sailed through the air as if she were a rag doll. She hit the ground hard and rolled a few metres.

Fire and rubble rained down. She got up. She was outside the train station, and it was burning.

She ran.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

The lights blurred from the restaurants. Misty kept on staggering along the streets as if everycreature was after her.

She ducked down one alleyway, passing a hidden restaurant, and then down another street and another and another until she couldn't gallop anymore.

She sagged against the wall of an alleyway, coughing. Coughing made everything hurt.

She checked herself over. She had a few other scrapes and scratches, one big scrape on her chest, but otherwise- only her ribs were broken.

She hissed through her teeth, banging her right hoof on the wall.

It made her feel slightly better.

A voice whispered in Misty's ear: "Misty."

Misty jumped, hitting her head against the wall. "Savarin? I missed the damn train. I almost died."

"If you die, I'll be disappointed I didn't get my kiss."

"You'll get it."

"I have to kill a rat for dinner. I'm in Neigh York," Savarin said. "Did you know you can make pancakes out of blood? I love the city life."

Misty laughed but stopped when her ribs hurt even more.

Savarin let out a sigh. "It's time for us to disappear."

Misty looked up at the sliver of sky. She could hear voices far off. If she couldn't take a train out of Manebourne, she'd have to walk.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Misty travelled from city to city, backtracking and heading across forests and marshes, deserts and through old castles, always running and messaging Savarin when she could.

In this way, Misty turned seventeen, and she made her way to Ponyville to wait for the asteroid.

13. The Fire Flower test

If you had looked across Ponyville, there would be three things you'd have noticed on that day in mid-July.
First, there was the nice weather.

The pegasi had pushed every single cloud of the sky, leaving it such a bright, wonderful blue.

Secondly was the fact there were guards around the entirety of Ponyville. Their golden armour shone in the light.

Thirdly was the fact everycreature had been evacuated.

Only a small group of creatures were out and about: Luster Dawn and her friends, Leafy and Nettle included.

Luster popped open her telescope, aiming it at the sky. An asteroid was hurtling toward them.

It wasn't close enough yet for her to see its pockmarked face.

The stage was set.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Savarin leaned back against the trunk, almost nodding off. She had been asleep for an hour until she had woken up to blink blearily at Misty and to tighten the vines tying her to the tree.

"I figured you'd be more bothered about waiting for a kiss," Misty said. "From me. There is a lot more we can do with those vines."

Savarin's smile was slow until she held up the telescope and looked through it once again.

Misty rolled her eyes, but there was warmth behind it.

Savarin swallowed. "The asteroid is close. This is your game, Misty."

"We move the pawn first."

Savarin set down her telescope and flipped open a book, reading over the spell. Her mane was longer, reaching her shoulders, and the red tips brushed the corners of the book.

Her horn started to glow, magic wrapping over Misty. For this particular spell to work, she needed to borrow some of Misty's magic.

Misty didn't mind. Savarin's magic was warm as freshly baked madeleines.

Misty's horn glowed as well, and the white and blue streaked up into the sky and spread across the forest and toward Ponyville.

Misty sagged against the tree, stifling a yawn.

Savarin gave her a shuddering nod. "It should've worked."

Misty used the vines to climb to the top of the tree. It was like a horror movie tree, and the landscape around them was also a horror movie: shadowy trees with spikes, long vines, and monsters.

Ponyville was a fairytale compared to the Everfree Forest.

The guards slumped over their weapons and were fast asleep. The sleeping spell had worked.

Misty had hoped to find a spell to kill everycreature, but this would have to do.

Misty climbed down the tree, sighing with relief when her hooves touched the ground.

Savarin came down a minute later, and they grabbed the enchanted rope where they had tied it around the tree trunk.

They walked down the path toward Ponyville, stopping near the outskirts. Guards dotted the ground, their shining armour glittering gold.

Hanging in the air, more prominent than the moon, was the asteroid.

Misty would've mistaken it for the moon if she hadn't known what it was. It had a silvery tail streaking off from it.

As if she were going out for a morning stroll, Savarin tied one end of the rope to a tree.

She tied the other end into a lasso and threw it. It flashed up and up into the air, far higher than it should've gone considering the force with which Savarin threw it.

The rope went taut, and the asteroid hung far above them like a second moon.

It was as they planned: Misty and Savarin pulled the asteroid with magic and their hooves to a closer distance, tying the rope again to keep it there, so the asteroid bobbed in the air like a balloon.

It was bigger than Misty had thought, dotted with craters and shaped sort of long oblong.

Savarin turned suddenly, casting a magic shield. A streak of pinkish magic hit the magic shield hard, pushing Savarin back despite her digging in her hooves.

Luster Dawn stood in line with her friends, including Nettle and the powered up Leafy.

Misty shared a look with Savarin. Savarin nodded and bent down.

A magic shield shot toward the group, gouging up dirt and grass, but Misty was already running toward the asteroid.

She jumped, feeling the gravity playing on her body. She was half turned around, catching a glimpse of Savarin fighting with Luster and the others, before something hit her hard.

She landed on the asteroid.

Cries and shouts came from the other side of the asteroid, along with bright flashes of magic.

Misty turned, walking along the asteroid at a faster pace.

"YAAAAH," shouted a voice behind her.

Yafa hit her and pinned her to the ground.

Misty tried to move, but she couldn't budge so much as a centimetre.

"Why you do this?" Yafa asked, looking down at Misty. "Bad kirin is bad. Why?"

Misty looked away, her eyes filling with fake tears. "I... I..."

"Careful, Yafa," Nettle's voice hissed. She landed on the asteroid with a thump, walking toward them with her horn glowing. "She lies all the time."

"Like you're lying to yourself," Misty said casually.

Nettle sniffed, tossing her mane. "It's time for a rematch."

Savarin blurred through the air, hitting Nettle in the back with a streak of magic, leaving her staggering.

Savarin shot another bolt of magic at Yafa, and suddenly Misty could breathe again.

A bubble of white wrapped around the entire asteroid, throwing Yafa and Nettle into the air.
They both disappeared.

"The Fire Flower should be in this direction," Savarin said coolly, her horn glowing white. "We need to be fast. Nettle may destroy the barrier at any minute."

Misty and Savarin walked down the asteroid across the pockmarked stone.

Something underneath Misty's hooves crunched. Bones, so many bones. There were skulls, femurs, rib cages, wing bones, dragon bones. Each one was a polished, gleaming white.

Savarin picked up a femur with her telekinesis, rolling it around in the air. She gathered up a few more, stuffing them into her saddlebags for safekeeping.

They kept walking down the bone path, and in the centre of it all was a flower made of fire.
It had petals made of fire, and its stalk was fire, and its roots stretched burning fingers into the asteroid rock.

"Bon appetit," Savarin said.

"You're enjoying this," Misty replied.

"It is historically fascinating." Savarin and her walked toward the flower, feeling the heat it gave off even several metres away.

The magic barrier around the asteroid had a crack running through it, and Luster Dawn and her friends kept working.

Misty didn't hesitate, and she crept closer and closer to the Fire Flower. The air visibly crackled with its heat.

She knelt over the flower, her saliva starting to boil in her mouth. She had to eat it all, or else she'd end up like all the bones around her.

She moved her mouth down and over the flower. She didn't have to chew. Despite her flesh curling from her bones, her entrails cooking in her body, her eyeballs bubbling, and her hooves cracking, she kept eating.

Misty slurped up the last root and fell backwards. She was only blackened bones, barely a kirin anymore. But, her centre, her soul still burned.

Her mouth stretched wider and wider, unhinging like a snakes' mouth.

Through the pain, she glimpsed Luster and her friends galloping, flying, running toward her.

That was when Misty's world turned white as she exploded into light.

14. A pretty soul

Misty's eyes cracked open a sliver.

Luster Dawn had wrapped her friends and herself in a magic bubble -Savarin had made her own- but the area surrounding them was charred rubble. Their magic bubbles slowly landed on the ground, and Misty managed to do a messy glide down with her new wings.

Only a few Ponyville buildings were sizzling, and the asteroid itself was smashed in pieces.

All but Savarin's jaw had dropped when they saw Misty.

Misty had become one with the Fire Flower. She was as tall as Princess Twilight but still shaped very generally like a kirin, besides her two charred wings.

Most of her fur was a dark purple but glowed deep beneath with flower petals and leaves' patterns. Her curly mane was no longer curly. Both her mane and tail were made of fire.

Winding up her jagged horn was a carved flower, a burning bloom sticking out her horn point. Besides her teeth -which were now nirik fangs-, everything in her body had a strange ethereal glow.

Misty didn't have to act, didn't have to hide behind pretty, pretty words as she had done for most of her life.

She could say clearly: "I want to be worshipped before I kill you, Luster Dawn."

"No, we will beat you," Luster said. "We have the power of friendship."

"I do too. I have my Savarin."

"That isn't friendship!" spat Nettle.

Misty walked closer, relishing the way Nettle shook. "Who are you to say what friendship is and isn't? Savarin and I have been friends longer than you've been friends with Luster Dawn."

"And now you're going to kill us. What part of that is friendship?"

Misty licked her lips. "Worship me."

Nettle's lips curled, but she carefully bowed to the ground.

Misty could feel her power in her body. It was more power than she had ever had in her life.

It was the power of the Fire Flower, yet she couldn't cast a thing.

She kept her face smoothed over, kept herself from panicking.

How could this happened?

Her horn glowed with black fire, but despite all this, nothing happened.

No Nettle squirming in pain.

Nothing.

She had zero practical practice with magic. She knew the words, but it was the difference between reading how to play the piano and actually playing Beethoven on the first try.

"Savarin," Misty said, voice cracking.

Savarin's white magic surrounded them, and they teleported with a pop. Misty blinked and staggered.

They were a distance away from the asteroid, standing on blackened ground.

"This is only a roadblock," Savarin said, resting a hoof on Misty's shoulder.

They did Misty's least favourite thing in the entire world: they ran.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Rolling hills dotted with trees went on and on to the horizon as far as Misty could see.
They galloped as fast as they could until Savarin had to stop because she had a stitch in her side.

"They'll come after us," Savarin said.

"Thank you, Ms Obvious."

Savarin gave her a look.

"Sorry," Misty said.

They started to gallop again until they felt they were far enough away not to be followed.

They stopped for the night, underneath a tree.

Up above, the stars glimmered, and Misty rolled onto her back, her wings spreading out around her.

Savarin curled up next to her.

"This isn't what I imagined," Misty said.
Savarin hummed. "Patience. We have moved but one chess piece."

Misty turned her head, and they pressed their lips together.

Savarin's lips were cold and sweet as sugar.

Beneath the stars, they had sex.

The following day dawned bright and early.

Savarin had caught a rabbit and made some rabbit stew, flavoured with bone marrow.

Misty wasn't hungry, so she didn't have any.

While they walked, Savarin taught Misty magic. Each spell she tried fizzled into sparks that scared any passing critter.

The more Misty learned, the more she cursed Leafy. The only possibility in her mind was Leafy had lied about the power the Fire Flower had.

And now, she was a firey beacon for anycreature hoping to catch her.

They kept walking.

Misty tried her wings, but they were still weak and not enough to fly them to where she wanted them to go. It did help flying them across a river, and still, they walked and talked.

Two days later, Savarin said: "a farm."

Through the thick oak trees, there was a farmstead. A simple fence surrounded it, and there was a plain little house, a plain little barn, and an old well.

Misty and Savarin walked closer and stopped near its sign. The sign was a swinging acorn.

"Sweet Acorn Orchard," Savarin read.

Misty gave the sign a flick with her hoof, and it swung at her touch. "Do you know this place?"

Savarin shrugged with a smirk. "I look at maps."

"Oh you."

"Oh yes. Should we rob and/or kill them?" Savarin whispered, just in case anycreature was listening to what they were saying.

"Not yet. Let's see how she reacts to me first."

They walked up to the door, and Misty knocked.

The door opened slightly, and an earth pony head poked out. "Who is it?"

"I'm Misty Flare, and this is Savarin," Misty said. "We're two weary travellers and were wondering if we could stay for a night. If we can't, we understand."

The pony looked Misty up and down, her jaw-dropping. "What are you?"

"I'm an alicorn."

The pony opened the door wider and let them into a very homey room.

"I'm Hazelnut. You can call me Hazel," the earth pony said. "Take a seat, take a seat. I'll get some tea going."

Misty and Savarin sat at the table.

"Do you live by yourself up here?" Misty asked.

Hazel busied herself near the stove, returning with acorn cookies and acorn tea on a tray. She set it on the rickety table with a smile and sat down herself.

"I sure do," she replied. "Pistachio, my cousin, moved to Canterlot after his parents died and left the farm to me."

"You're related to Pistachio, the designer?" Misty leaned closer. "It must get lonely up here."

Hazel let out a laugh, but she stopped to sip her tea. "I suppose it is a little lonely."

Misty smiled. "We can keep you company while we're here."

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Hazel made acorn soup for dinner, even though Misty said she didn't have to, and Misty helped while Savarin dozed.

(Misty didn't eat a thing.)

After cleaning up, Hazel set them up with a mattress in the loft. There Misty and Savarin lay on a lumpy mattress.

The blanket was scratchy, and the mattress was too small, but Misty bore with it as she had to be a perfect guest.

She rolled over, but she could feel Savarin staring at her back, so she didn't roll over again.
The loft was also very cosy, laid out with photos of young Pistachio, his parents, and the Acorn family. A small mirror sat on top of a bedside table.

Misty got up, careful to not disturb Savarin. Savarin was fast asleep already.

Misty crept toward the mirror, marvelling at her face and her glowing eyes. She touched her face with a hoof, running it along her snout.

She could feel the heat of the flowers and leaves deep below her skin.

Except...

She frowned.

Her fiery mane was no longer as bright. The flower that had grown up her horn had withered away. Her hoof even trembled with weakness.

"Is everything alright up there?" Hazel called up.

Misty didn't dare fly -she didn't trust her wings yet-, so she climbed down the ladder.

Hazel was sitting near the bare fireplace, reading a book. She had golden spectacles resting on her nose, and she took them off when she saw Misty.

Misty took a seat next to Hazel.

"I noticed you didn't eat anything," Hazel said.

Misty looked over.

Hazel's cheeks turned red. "It's none of my business. Forget I said anything."

"No, thank you for being concerned. I'm sure your food is delicious." Misty inched her chair closer to Hazel's, smiling at her gently. "I'm just not very hungry these days."

"Alicorns don't eat much?"

"That must be it." Misty paused. "I am hungry for something else."

"Oh, what is that? I can make you anything you-"

Misty got up and sat on the same chair as Hazel. She towered over Hazel, her wings creating a purply alcove around them.

"I have a husband! He works in Appleloosa," Hazel squeaked.

"But he left you alone up here. What kind of husband is that?"

"What about Savarin? I thought you two were-"

"She doesn't mind." The leaf and flower patterns glowed brighter beneath Misty's fur before they dimmed. "But, I understand. Cheating is wrong. Savarin and I should be leaving."

She got up achingly slow until Hazel's hoof rested on hers.

Hazel didn't look her in the eye as she said: "My husband doesn't have to know."

Bullseye.

"Have you ever been with a female creature, Ms Hazelnut?" Misty asked.

"When I was in school, I did fool around a little."

Misty grinned. "Naughty little mare." She leaned over the mare and pressed her mouth against Hazel's trembling ear to whisper: "I could just eat you up."

Hazel's eyes bugged out, and she turned red from her nose to her tail.

Misty leaned closer to Hazel, enclosing her in her wings. She needed the touch.

She thirsted for it.

"M-Misty," gasped Hazel, as she wriggled and trying to get away.

Misty's jaw unhinged, and she swept over Hazel as if Hazel wasn't tangible. She swallowed again and again, drinking in Hazel until there was nothing left.

Misty let the dried out husk that used to be Hazel drop to the chair. It was barely a pony anymore, only a skeletal, dried-out thing.

Misty got up, spreading her wings. Her entire body glowed from within, and the flower grew up her horn once again and spread its petals.

This was what had been missing.

She needed souls.

16. How you will heal and rise above Part 1

Author's Note

Chapter title comes from the song "Achilles, Come Down" by Gang Of Youths.
This is a two parter, so I'm uploading them on the same day. That way, no cliffhangers.

Also, one character says words wrong, so if you see that know it's the character and not the story with spelling errors.

16. How you will heal and rise above Part 1

Nettle had a routine.

Every day, she would choke down oatmeal.

A few years ago, when she had dropped out of school, her parents had kicked her out.

She ate oatmeal every day when she had lived at her parents' house, and so she ate oatmeal every day in her house too.

Nettle had a job at Hamburger's fast food restaurant. She wasn't friends per se with Hamburger, but she did try.

Several times a week, Nettle went to see her therapist, and she would supposedly update her on her life. Supposedly.

She never told her therapist everything. Not how Nettle was losing herself, not how she had so many knives in her room, each one with Misty's name on them, especially not how she dreamed of slitting Misty's throat or her own.

Her therapist was a kirin, and that was what mattered. But, it was so stupid to be so afraid of a kirin.

"I can feel an improvement," the therapist said. "Same time next week?"

Nettle nodded.

On her way home, everything reminded her of Misty Flare: the guards swarming around Ponyville's streets, the magic barrier tinging the sky pink and the construction that was still going on because of the asteroid.

But, Nettle had a routine, and that was good.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Gina tried to love her life.

She had lots of friends.

She was so...

She lived with Yafa.

They had fun.

Sure, Savarin had cast a spell on her brain, and sure, it had ruined her relationship with her Dad. When Savarin had run away from the School for Gifted Unicorns, she left Gina's scarf behind, but it grew mouldy in the dark and damp.

But now, Gina had a new scarf -just the same as her old one-, and that was all that mattered.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Leafy had moved to Ponyville. He made time for lots and lots of walks. Even as a walking plant, he still needed sunlight and water.

He knew all his neighbours, and he would wave at them in the morning.

It made him feel good to see his neighbours smiling.

But, there was one thing weighing on his heart. (Did plants have hearts?)

He had booked the train ticket before the whole fight with Misty had happened, and right then, he sat in the park, staring at it.

He knew he shouldn't go; the risk was too great.

Misty could attack the train.

Savarin could attack the train.

But, he so wanted to go.

"Ooh, a train ticket," said a familiar voice. "Where you off to?"

Leafy lifted his hand in a wave. Gina flew over, landing next to him on the bench and peered closely at the ticket.

"I'm going to Kirin Grove," he answered.

"Can I come?"

"There's only one ticket."

"I've been saving my bits."

Leafy shrugged. "Why not? Let's go. It'll be so much funner with another creature."

Gina cheered and danced around, and Leafy couldn't help but join in.

He needed this.

"What are you doing?" somecreature asked. "You look like idiots."

"So? We're having fun," Leafy said, boogying around. He gasped when he saw Nettle.

She was still dressed in her fast-food uniform, and her hat was hovering in mid-air near her.

Both Leafy and Gina glomped onto Nettle to give her a big, big hug.

"It's going be so much fun, and-and-and stuff," Leafy babbled.

"Yes, yes, yes," added Gina helpfully.

Nettle squirmed out from their grip. She patted off her hat and set it on her head. It sloped to the side because of her horn. "What are you two idiots going on about?"

"These two idiots are going to Kirin Grove," said Leafy, pointing at himself proudly.

Gina kept saying yes over and over.

"Isn't travelling dangerous?" Nettle asked. "Misty's still..." She paused, shaking her head.

"We need to live our lives," Leafy said. "We can't let one little villain stop us."

Gina said yes even louder, causing a passing earth pony to frown at them.

Nettle made a face. "I'll be going home now. Have fun dying."

"Hey, hey, I have an awesome idea," Leafy said. "It's the awesomest idea ever."

"What?!" asked Gina.

Leafy spread his arms. "Nettle, you should come with us-"

"I'm... honoured," Nettle said, as she turned around to go, "but I need to get home."

Leafy ticked every item off with his fingers, "-and I'll pay for your ticket, food, room and board. You really, really need a holiday, right?"

Nettle stopped. "I'm in. When are we leaving?"

"TOOOODAY," sang Gina, spreading her claws and wings as she rose in the air.

"My ticket's leaving day is for tomorrow," Leafy said.

"TOOMMOOORROW," Gina sang instead.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

"Kirin Grove is great," said Leafy, leaning back on his train seat. "There's lots of wildlife and-and tasty fruit to eat. The trees are so nice too, which is always tricky. Some of the trees in Ponyville can be mean. Like, we all need sunlight; you're not the only one, Jerry. So much stuff to do in Kirin Grove. The tourists all love it. I was there last year."

"Please stop talking."

"Aw, I'm not bothering you, am I Nettle?"

The world passed them by, and the train went along towards Kirin Grove. Houses, forests, and other landmarks flashed by.

"I wonder if we're there yet," Leafy said, scratching at his flower petals.

Nettle crossed her arms and adjusted her skirts. She was wearing her best but rattiest, wine red dress. "No, we're not there."

Leafy peered out the window. "Hm, doesn't look like it."

"That's what I- Oh, never mind."

"I've never been," Gina said suddenly. She sat opposite them, preening her feathers. "Tell me more about it. Please?"

Nettle groaned and slumped against the window.

Leafy was talking animatedly, moving his hands around as he spoke: "I grew up in Kirin Grove. I didn't really grow up, but I appeared because of Misty's magic. Just one day, pop! There's this huge farm Oak Flare ran and stuff. It was awesomely epic! I never saw a lot of it because pots have no legs, but Misty would sometimes carry me around-"

"Misty," interrupted Nettle. She sat up straighter, her fur tinging a darker green.

Was the train going too fast?

Or not fast enough?

"Yeah, I grew up with Misty Flare. I told the gang about it a few years ago and how Misty killed her mom and all that jazz. It was really traum-traum- bad for me."

Nettle swallowed. In the last few years, she had stopped hanging out with Luster and her friends, including Leafy. So, she knew the bare minimum details about Misty's life from Leafy, but not that he had lived in Kirin Grove.

Not just kirins lived in Kirin Grove. It was a simple mistake.

"We're going to where Misty Flare grew up?" she asked.

"And where I grew up." Nettle glared at him. "Okay, yeah, where Misty grew up."

"Why didn't you say anything earlier?"

Leafy's hand reached over as if to touch her, but Nettle leapt out of her seat and into the aisle, knocking over somecreature in the aisle. It was a surprised zebra, who quickly scuttled towards his seat.

Nettle couldn't breathe. She couldn't breathe, her throat was closing up, and her heart was pounding its way out of her chest, but more importantly, she couldn't breathe, and no one was bucking helping her.

"S-stop the train," she begged.

Passengers whispered among themselves.

"Nettle," said Leafy in a calming voice. "I think you're having a panic attack."

Nettle spun around to face him. He stood with a placating gesture, nibbling at his lip.

"Don't you dare tell me what I need," she said, and the rest of the words were coming out whether she wanted them to or not. "I don't need your pity. I'm better than both of you, you bucking Pinkie Pie rip off and you sentient compost heap. I'll never be your friends, so go back to Luster Dawn."

Leafy didn't look surprised, but Gina had the most hurt expression on her face, a tear starting to roll down her beak.

Nettle's windpipe was still closing, and she grabbed her luggage from the rack and tripped down the aisle toward the front of the train.

She needed to turn the train around, and she needed to get off the train. She couldn't be going to Kirin Grove.

She would get a ticket back to Ponyville and forget any of this ever happened.

She'd sharpen her knives, and all would hunky-dory.

Nettle didn't know her trains. She knew there was a front end, where the engine was, and a back end. So, she kept trotting toward the front, hefting her skirts, with her luggage hovering just behind her.

She stepped and hopped through the various cars and finally reached a very official-looking door that led to the front car.

She pushed open the bejewelled door very slightly to peek in.

There was the room, the yellow conductor with his cap on his head, and two other creatures: a changeling and a unicorn, who were in the middle of threatening the conductor.

The changeling was holding a gun against the conductor's throat.

Nettle knew about guns. They were a recent invention, appearing in the Old West.

On the floor was a dead pony, who she assumed was the driver of the train.

Nettle carefully closed the door, sighing when it had closed fully, and neither of them had noticed. She pressed her ear against the door to listen.

"Nice an' easy, you're going to stop the train," drawled one of the train robbers. "Any funny business, and we'll kill more creatures, along with the passengers."

"Please don't kill the-" said the conductor.

"Shh," continued the same robber. "It's all part of the fun."

And both train robbers burst into delighted giggles.

17. How you will heal and rise above Part 2

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

18. Please don't kill me

Author's Note

If you don't know, I rewrote the first three chapters since I wasn't happy with them.

That's it really.

I hope you enjoy the chapter.

18. Please don't kill me

Two weeks later, they were, at last, going to get to Kirin Grove.

Leafy was jumping around in his seat, eager to get to Kirin Grove, eager to see Oak Flare again finally. He didn't know Oak Flare very well, yet they had started talking ever since Misty had left.

Despite Oak having divorced Bluebell Flare, he still went to her grave, and he still laid a collection of flowers on top of it.

"Where is her grave?" asked Nettle. She was still rattled but had changed into her washed wine red dress.

"It's in the forest," Leafy said. "It's in a really, really nice area. She used to love going there with Misty when she was young."

Nettle narrowed her eyes at the mention of Misty, and Leafy made a mental note not to talk about her again.

"We're here," sang Gina, hopping and flying around the train car.

Kirin Grove station was unusually quiet; the only sounds were the rush of wind through the branches of the forest trees and the sound of birds.

Maybe, a festival was going on. Leafy couldn't wait to see it.

Every year, when he visited, there was some festival or other, and he always took part, whether it was dancing, singing or eating.

He had never had the chance to when he had lived there.

The train station was a short distance away from Kirin Grove itself, and they walked through the brush.

No sounds reached their ears except the sounds of the forest around them.

But when they reached Kirin Grove, the streets had no creatures around.

Festival streamers hung from the trees, and stalls were left empty, with food in the middle of being made and left to the flies.

A popcorn machine made lone noises in the stillness.

"Is this part of the festival?" asked Nettle, walking into the centre of the town square.

An empty chip bag flew past, and she caught it with her magic.

"Ooh, a mega surprise!" squealed Gina, flying up to the trees. "Hello, hello, hello."

"Don't peek into the windows, Gina," said Nettle.

Gina came down to land, making a face. "There's nocreature inside, though."

Leafy walked to each stall, peeking around. He picked up a partly wrapped burrito. The sauces had congealed, and the potatoes were dry as if they had been left for days.

"So weird," he said. "Kirin Grove is never ever like this. There's always somecreature around. Are they- don't say dead. They're not dead. They can't be."

"We need to contact Princess Twilight," Nettle said, folding up the chip bag. "Something has happened to the citizens of Kirin Grove."

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Four days earlier

Her flower twining up her horn was withering. Each big spell caused the petals to wilt from her horn and turn into ash that whispered away on an invisible breeze.

They had been at the farm for scarcely more than a week.

One day, when Savarin was making crêpes again for her breakfast, and Misty was reading over some notes her marefriend had made on spells, there was a knock on the door.

"Should I hide?" Misty asked, flipping to the next page.

The following page was on pain magic. And the next one was a teleporting spell.

Savarin hummed, walking to the door to peek out before opening the door.

An earth pony walked in as if he owned the place.

He was a dark red with a brown mane and a hat on his head. His cutie mark were three round, green berries. Misty didn't recognize them.

The earth pony turned to stare at her, and his entire body sagged.

Misty rolled her shoulders, spreading her wings, causing her body to glow a deathly brightness.

"Where's Hazelnut?" he asked. "I'm her husband."

Misty smiled at him heartily. "Hazel told us a bit about you. You live in Appleloosa, right?"

"I work there, but I live here."

Savarin flipped one more crêpe onto a plate, setting some sliced tangerines on the side and dusting it with icing sugar before sitting at the table.

She was no help, so Misty talked instead: "she's dead. I killed her."

He gaped, not speaking, and let out a strangled sound.

Savarin hovered over a plate, putting two more crêpes on it, and a few raspberries Misty had materialized with her spells. She patted the chair next to her with a hoof until the husband stood up and slumped next to her.

"What do you say?" Misty asked, closing her book and sitting opposite the two of them.

"Thanks." He took a bite, tears curling down his cheeks. "It's delicious. Reminds me of the crêpes you get at Maddy's bakery."

"You've been to Ponyville?" Misty asked.

The husband brightened. "I sometimes deliver produce from Appleloosa to Ponyville."

"Your father is Black Currant, and you're Gooseberry," Savarin said suddenly, making him jump. It was the first time she'd spoken in his presence.

Misty didn't move, not willing to let him see her surprised.

"How are they?" Savarin asked. "Maddy and her family?"

"The last time I saw Maddy, she didn't talk much, but she seemed sad. I tried to cheer her up, but it didn't work. As for her son, he worked the front desk sometimes. He also didn't talk much." Gooseberry paused, looking between them before his eyes widened. "You're Maddy's daughter, aren't you? Uuuuh..."

He scrunched up his brow, thinking hard, trying to find her name. He must've seen Savarin's cutie mark earlier on her brown flank, but not everycreature knew what a savarin dessert was, nor what one looked like.

"Savarin," Savarin supplied.

Gooseberry nodded, a broad smile spreading across his face. It flickered as he remembered where he was.

Tears started to curl down Gooseberry's cheeks once again, and he choked down every last bite, taking longer than he should to eat. Once he was done, he wiped at his face until it was sticky with icing sugar and tears.

Savarin used her magic to gather up the dishes and cutlery and to dump them in the sink. She headed outside, the door closing behind her.

"Please don't kill me," Gooseberry said.

Misty stood up, dragging Gooseberry off his chair with her magic.

Only with thought could she make her mane and tail fire hurt, and she stroked the tip of her tail along his throat. Sparks singed his fur.

He whimpered. It was an excellent sound.

Gooseberry wriggled away from her touch, crouching on the floor, looking up at her through bleary eyes. "All the cities have magical barriers around them because of you. I know cities where there are no barriers, and I can help. I can be your guide. Please?"

"You're lucky I don't like colts. But, let's hear what my Savarin has to say." Misty looked around, peeking outside to see Savarin still dealing with the well. "Let's wait."

Gooseberry licked his lips.

The fur along his throat was still sizzling, and his eyes darted around frantically before resting on Misty. He never looked her in the eye, which was as it should be.

"I'm not keeping Savarin prisoner," Misty said.

Gooseberry jumped. "What?"

"I can see it in your face. She wants to be here."

"I'm not-" he began, but the door opened and interrupted him.

In walked Savarin with a bucket full of water. She set it in the sink and started on the dishes, using the acorn dish soap.

"He says he'll be our guide," Misty said. "Do you want to keep him?"

Savarin scrubbed a plate and shrugged.

Gooseberry looked at Misty, then at Savarin, panic growing on his face. "Is that a yes or a no?" he asked.

"It's a yes. You'll live," Misty said.

"It's your lucky day," Savarin added. "You're our slave now."

19. There is a hole

Author's Note

I changed the cover to my story. I hope you like it and you enjoy this chapter.

19. There is a hole

Misty stretched out in the warm sun, rolling her shoulder blades and stretching her wings.

The trees surrounding the farmstead were still charred a dark black and had no leaves.

How on Equestria Gooseberry didn't notice Gooseberry boggled the mind. She just knew he was an idiot, and idiots could be controlled.

Misty lowered her body, and Savarin climbed onto her back.

Gooseberry climbed up as well.

Misty flapped her wings, once, twice, flying up into the air, and the farm spiralled out far below them.

She was unsteady as she flew higher and higher, the land a mosaic of green colour spreading out around them. First, there was green and then the green of forests, and lines of blue that were rivers, and the white snow on the mountains.

"Servant," Misty said, and Gooseberry pointed her in the direction to go.

They flew across forests and mountains, over cities cloaked in differently coloured magic of the unicorns.

As she was now, she couldn't stand against the force fields. She needed souls, and who better than the diamond dogs to serve that purpose?

According to Gooseberry, there were two kingdoms of diamond dogs. The first was in their original territory, where the sun beat down and cracked the earth. They lived in the tunnels below.

The second kingdom was a few years old. Misty didn't know about it since she was out of the loop. It was a new kingdom in a forest adjacent to their desert territory and would probably have no magical force fields.

"Here," Gooseberry said, and Misty came down for a landing, almost dumping her passengers on the ground.

They rested on soft grass and moss, but beyond them was the forest.

It was dappled and green, and trees were thrusting themselves up and up to the sun. Birds twittered, and squirrels ran up and down tree trunks.

A rabbit poked his head out of his burrow and quickly ducked out of sight.

"If you're leading us into a trap or you're lying, I'll make you wish you were dead," Misty said.

Gooseberry gulped and nodded. Trickles of sweat ran down his face, and he turned to move through the bush.

Misty and Savarin followed him.

Curls of white mist twisted around giant mushrooms growing out from tree trunks, and there was the odd sensation of being watched by the wildlife.

They knew they didn't belong.

"We're here," said Gooseberry, leaning against an oak tree.

Below the oak tree was a vast, yawning tunnel. It was slightly bigger than Misty, stopping just above her head.

"What are you waiting for?" Misty asked, and she smiled.

If anycreature had seen it who didn't know her, it would've seemed like a friendly, tender smile -despite the fangs-, but Gooseberry knew better.

He shivered, and crept closer to the tunnel and called out: "hallo."

The hellos echoed, growing smaller and smaller until it faded away.

Something bobbed in the tunnel, a light. It bobbed closer and closer until it coalesced into a lantern being carried by a diamond dog in grey amour.

She also had a spear and fiddled around as she set the lantern down at the mouth of the tunnel. She only had eyes for Gooseberry.

"Hi Gooseberry," she said cheerfully enough. "What are we doing here? We don't have any deliveries needing to be delivered, or do we?"

"It's-" began Gooseberry.

"Hi, I'm Misty Flare," Misty interrupted. "And this is Savarin."

Unfortunately, the dog had caught on and pointed her spear right at Misty's chest.

Savarin sighed and stepped in front of Misty, so the point of the spear was pressing onto her chest.

Gooseberry was a blur of dark red, stepping right in front of Savarin, so the spear was aimed at his hindquarters. He said to Misty and Savarin: "please don't kill her. Please."

"Would you rather we kill you or her?" Misty asked. "I want you to choose."

Gooseberry scuffed his front hoof on the ground, opening his mouth and closing it.

Sweat dribbled down his nose, dripping off and onto the ground. It wasn't from the heat, and the dog's paws were shaking.

"Me?" he said at last.

"Was that so hard?" Savarin drawled. She grabbed the spear in her magic, turning it around and stabbing the guard dog through her chest.

The guard dog sagged to the ground, and her pretty blood soaked into the dirt.

Before her soul left her completely, Misty touched her with the tip of her wing and stretched her jaw wider and wider, and she ate the whispering soul.

When she was finished, a grey husk trembled in a slight wind on the ground before blowing away into ash.

Gooseberry let out a choked sound and fell into the dirt. Misty tutted, tilting his head up, so he looked into her eyes.

"Will you be okay to keep walking with us?" she asked him.

"I'm going to keep going," he whispered.

"Good for you. Go on ahead."

He sniffled, picking up the lantern and started down the tunnel.

Misty and Savarin followed him at a distance.

"Next time, I choose the slave," Savarin said. "This one needs too much work for my liking."

"I can't argue with that."

"Because you know I am always correct."

They walked and walked and walked until the tunnel opened up into a huge, lit up cavern.

The cavern sides were peppered with carved houses, where diamond dogs lived, ate, partied and died, whereas the main floor was carved with paths.

Diamond dogs were everywhere, going about their business, but as soon as they saw her, they disappeared down hidden tunnels or into their houses.

The busy market square was empty in a matter of seconds.

"Well," said Savarin and that about summed it up.

A bell rang from somewhere, everywhere, echoing in Misty's head, and the steady stomp-stomp-stomp of many paws filled the air.

A small wave of diamond dogs marched toward them, dressed in the same garb the guard dog had on, with spears and swords galore.

Misty grinned and flew right at them.

Savarin could take care of herself and indeed had already leapt into the fray, shooting down dogs left and right.

Somehow, the dogs left Goosberry alone, and he went to stand near the cavern's walls.

Misty swooped, touching their heads and gulping up the souls of passing dogs. A spear clipped her wing, and she almost tumbled, so she flew up and up toward the ceiling of the cavern.

She turned onto her back and closed her wings, and started to fall.

Wind blurred her eyes as the ground came up fast, and she pulled up a metre from the ground, grabbing souls as she went with only a touch.

"FIRE!"

She pressed herself to the ground just in time, cannonballs whizzing over her head.

Who on Equestria gave the dogs cannons? She could hear imaginary Savarin say in her head.

Still, the dogs kept coming.

"Get out of the way," Misty shouted to Savarin, and Savarin cantered from view.

She ground her teeth and formed the spell in her mind, and she shot it directly into the knot of dogs.

A pure black ooze spread across the ground, sticking every single dog. They screamed and wailed as they started to sink.

Afterwards, it was only a matter of picking off the remaining dogs, but more kept coming, and these were dressed in thicker armour.
At the front was a grey dog in royal finery.

He wore a red robe lined with white fur and golden jewels, a collar studded with blue diamonds and jade, and silken slippers. He had rings glittering on his claws. Clasped in his right paw was a sword.

Misty landed a few metres away from him, and the dog raised his paw, so his army stopped where they were.

"Who are you?" Misty asked.

The royal dog smiled at her, and his teeth tipped with jewels. "I'm His Royal Highness Fergus Francois Bernby IV Lewis Gallan Webb Carol von Liechtenstein, son of Fergus the III of Kingdom of Sand and Carol the III Kingdom of Forest. And you are Misty Flare."

"I'm a goddess, so I don't need titles, mutt."

The first wave of soldiers ran at Misty, trying to get her with their spears, and she flew up, brushing over their heads with a wing.

She swallowed souls with a touch.

"Don't let her touch you!" shouted King Fergus.

Misty laughed as she fought off the guards, swallowing more and more souls.
She shot beams of light, knocking dogs off their feet and into the air, where she caught them in her grip to eat.

Fergus lunged at her, and she flew at him, fast as anything, but she stopped short.

She tried to move and couldn't.

His sword was sticking through her stomach and out the other side.

Impossible. How could he have moved that fast?

"This doesn't hurt, this doesn't-"

Everything went black.

20. Dreaming of a matchstick

Her mouth was gritty, and no matter how much she spat, it never tasted clean.

Houses passed her by: red, green, and brown.

They were coming out of their houses to watch her march, wearing their fine, fine hats.

Everycreature worth a damn wore a hat in Appleloosa. Even the young fillies and colts dashing around wore hats.

She was the only one who wasn't.

"Keep walking," said the pony sheriff, tugging on her rope.

The noose was tight around Misty's neck. Her wings were bound with wire, so tight it was cutting off blood flow.

No matter how much Misty complained, nopony dared loosen them.

Misty forced herself to walk, blinking in the haze. Her mouth was desert dry, but no water would quench her thirst or the hunger.

She hadn't eaten a soul in forever. The last time she was so close to losing herself, to losing who she was, she had almost eaten Savarin's soul.

Where was Savarin?

She searched the faces as she walked, but none of the slowly shaking heads were Savarin.

They walked, and as they walked, more and more ponies fell in step behind her.

The red clock tower was the last building in Appleloosa, before the craggy rocks and the expansive desert.

Out in the desert, something blocked out the light.

It was the gallows. It was a poorly built structure, nails sticking out this way and that.

"It looks rather unstable," Misty said.

"Shut up." The Sherriff got onto the gallows and dragged her up. He slung her rope over the crossbeam and tied it quickly.

Misty scrambled on her hooves, trying to reach out and grab him, but he walked down the steps just out of reach.

Only a whisper of soul would be enough for her to free her wings and fly.

His hooves were trembling when he picked up a heavy school bell off the ground. It was to the side of the gallows, and he rang it furiously.

"Hear ye, hear ye," he said as it rang.

Ponies wandered toward the gallows, organizing themselves in rows.

Still, more creatures were streaming out of the houses, peeking out their heads to see the sight.

Others were still hidden in their houses, hating the violence of it all.

Nocreature had been hanged in thousands of years, so this was a momentous occasion.

"Does Princess Twilight approve of a public hanging?" Misty asked. "I have rights."

The sheriff walked up the side of the stairs, holding up his hoof as if to slap her. He stopped, lowering it, as he remembered.

Never touch the goddess.

"Does anypony want to call up the princess?" asked the sheriff with a sneer.

Ponies laughed and thumped their hooves on the ground.

Misty's throat was thick with sand, bleary eyes searching the crowds.

Somecreature was pushing their way through the crowd to the front row, despite ponies exclaiming and complaining.

It was Dad, with a brown hat on his head, as was the tradition. It canted off to the side because of his horn. His bowtie was black this time and dusty with grit.

He sat in the front row, shaking hooves picking up his pipe. He lit it with the tip of his hoof, blowing smoke rings into the air.

Misty had never seen him smoke before.

"Are you hanging me or not, sheriff?" asked Misty.

The sheriff stopped sneering. "Somecreature came to hang you personally. He insisted. Of course, he's late."

Misty shook her head.

Everything wasn't right. It was the strongest sense of deja vu, except not quite that. It was like a snaggle tooth that she worried around in her mouth, but she still couldn't place it.

Mutters went through the crowd, somepony's starting to surge forward as if they wanted to hang her themselves. But, fortunately for her, the ponies in front stopped them short.

Misty ignored them because there was something near the red clock tower.

It was long and thin like a match, head burning bright as the sun.

She couldn't quite see it clearly...

She both knew and didn't know it, as if she were two kirins, both past and future.

Heavy footsteps took her out of her staring and brought her back to the gallows.

The crowd fell silent.

A dragon with a black robe on walked toward the gallows. The mask did nothing to hide his identity: it was Gurgle, the dragon.

He had a scroll in one of his paws, and he walked onto the gallows, unscrolling it. It uncoiled, jumping down to the ground and stopped near her Dad's hooves.

"The list of your crimes is long," Gurgle said.

The crowd booed and thumped their hooves.

Misty swallowed. "Fine, before you start, could you tighten my noose?"

"I can't do that," Gurgle said. "I didn't expect it to happen this way, Misty Flare."

"The future is unpredictable." Savarin had told her that. "Give the creatures what they want. Read out my crimes, and hang me."

Gurgle coughed and started to read down the list of her crimes. "For the genocide of the diamond dog people, killing different species in your so-called Utopia, and for killing former princesses Luna and Celestia, you are sentenced to hang from the noose until you're dead."

"There's something wrong," she said. The snaggletooth feeling wasn't going away.

Gurgle's voice trembled. "There's nothing wrong."

"I was... in a cave."

"You're not supposed to say that."

"What am I supposed to say?"

The something near the red clock tower grinned. Its teeth were white against its fire head.

She struggled against the rope.

It didn't belong here, and she didn't either.

21. Red is such a lovely color on you!

Misty was awake, alive, and getting to her hooves. No more than a few seconds had passed since she had been stabbed.

The sword was still through her middle.

"You should be dead," Fergus said. He reached out, pulling out the sword. It dragged against her ribcage, resulting in burning pain.

When the sword was free, black blood spouted from her wound and stained the dirt.

"I'm a Goddess." Sweat stood out on her brow. "Of course, I'm still alive. What did I see?"

Fergus stared at her, confused. "What?"

Okay, the vision was a near-death experience. Or something else. Something magical.

A few yards away, Savarin was still fighting off some dog soldiers with a burst of magic, but there were so many, like ants.

Misty was by herself.

Fergus picked up the sword, the edges of his cloak dipping into her blood.

"Any last words?" Fergus asked, pointing the sword at her.

Misty grinned, licking her blood from her fangs. "Savarin!"

Savarin looked over, killing one last dog. She bounded over, but she was too slow as other dogs ran into her path to fight her. She swept them away with powerful bursts of her magic, but it wasn't fast enough.

Fergus raised his sword- and promptly keeled over.

Behind him stood Gooseberry, holding a spear in his mouth. He had whacked Fergus over the head with it. He dropped the weapon, blinking at Misty in disbelief.

Savarin arrived a minute later, pressing her hooves against Misty's wound to hold the blood in.

"There's my Savarin," Misty said.

"No flirting yet," Savarin said. "You will leave this mortal coil unless we heal you."

"I... don't want to leave this mortal coil."

"I thought you might not." Savarin touched their horns together. "I will guide you with a simple healing spell. It should speed up the healing process."

Gooseberry stood nearby, wringing his hooves and waiting.

Misty could feel Savarin inside of her, her warm, tempting soul guiding her magic.

The flesh in her middle tingled and wrapped over the wound in a matter of seconds.

Soon, the only sign she had a wound at all was a slight soreness and a raised scar.

"Simply incredible," Savarin said, poking her belly. "The souls you consumed must have given the spell more power." Her lips twitched. "I am not complaining. What do you wish to do with Fergus? I want him to suffer."

"You're so talkative today, Savarin."

Savarin flicked her nose, and Misty frowned.

"First, we have to search the other tunnels and the houses," Misty said.

Savarin let out an amused sound, her eyes flicking to Gooseberry.

"Hi," he said nervously.

Savarin grabbed Fergus, carrying him in her magic while they went house to house.

She had Gooseberry and Savarin gather up any pups, and she went in alone to eat the parents' souls.

After that, they went to explore the tunnel. Gooseberry stopped in an empty bedroom to tell the crying pups a story while Savarin went to get Fergus.

Misty flew onward, picking off any servant she saw.

There were so many rooms, many unused, but all fancier than the last.

One room was even a library, which surprised her. She always thought diamond dogs were dumb.

When she flew back down the tunnels, Gooseberry was still telling the pups a story, and in another room, Savarin was tying Fergus spread-eagled to the bed.

His head kept lolling this way, and that as Savarin tightened the ropes.

Fergus woke up, groaning. "My head..."

Savarin backed away, a sly smile on her face.

He licked his lips, tugging at the ropes binding his paws. He searched the room, groaning once in a while.

"Fergus," Misty said.

His eyes snapped to her, but they were bleary and unfocused. He was definitely concussed from being knocked out by Gooseberry. "What?"

"You're going to die. Either by fire, torn apart and slowly-"

"Dissected," corrected Savarin.

"-Or both," finished Misty.

Fergus blinked slowly. His limbs twitched. "I don't want to die."

Savarin snorted.

"What my marefriend means to say is," Misty continued, "is everycreature dies. So you are just dying sooner."

Fergus blinked again.

"Do you want us to choose for you?" Misty asked.

He licked his lips and didn't say another word.

"I'm choosing dissection," she said.

"Good choice," Savarin replied. She cast a spell around the room so nocreature would hear them next door before she wandered around to stand near his side.

"Go on, Savarin," Misty said.

Savarin's horn glowed, and she ran it down his belly, from the base of his neck to his groin.

It acted like a scalpel, peeling back the flesh to show his organs inside. She kept peeling, pulling with her magic until she had his hide in her hooves.

Without his skin, Fergus was raw and bloody. His muscles oozed blood. His eyes were wide and blinking wetly in his face. His teeth were bared in a horrible grin.

Savarin pulled out of each of his organs, setting them on the floor.

It didn't take long for his heart to slow, and Misty ate his soul.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

She hadn't slept since she had swallowed the Fire Flower.

It definitely didn't help that her near-death vision was flashing through her head.

Misty rolled around on the bed. It had way too many pillows and luxurious sheets she got twisted up in. It wasn't made for a creature of her stature.

One good thing was Savarin was sleeping next to her.

Misty reached out, brushing strands of white mane from her face. The red was still bright as ever on the tips of her mane.

Savarin said something in her sleep, so quiet Misty could barely hear it. She caught it just when Savarin repeated: "m-mom."

Misty's stomach went cold. She swallowed and got off the bed, carefully covering Savarin over. She needed to go somewhere else. Anywhere else.

She walked toward the door. On the right was the walk-in closet. She yanked it open and stepped inside.

Dozens of silky clothes were hung up on her hangers near the walls.

Misty pulled off the nearest cloak, wrapping it around her shoulders. It didn't fit.

In her time on the run, she hadn't been able to indulge in clothes.

Misty twirled around, and again that snaggle tooth feeling rose. She had done something before, in this exact room. But that was impossible.

She hung up the cloak again, considering burning it, but decided against it.

Savarin was still asleep, so Misty went out into the hallway.

She peeked into the room opposite theirs where Fergus was -he was a mess of blood and flesh. Misty closed the door tight.

The room further up was where the pups slept. They were bundled up onto the beds, snoring and sniffling in their sleep.

But, where was Gooseberry?

He should be there.

She walked down the tunnel, peeking into each room, her anger slowly rising.

Had he run away?

She would kill him.

The last room she checked was the library.

Gooseberry was resting on his stomach, reading a book. A lantern rested next to him.
Misty spread her wings and flew toward him.

She was so bright with fire he turned his head before she even landed next to him.

Gooseberry looked up from his book. "Hi."

"I wanted to thank you for rescuing me, by the way."

"Oh..." Gooseberry closed the book, his eyes flitting away from hers. "You're welcome."

"What are you reading?"

Gooseberry passed the book to her, and she grabbed it in her magic. She pressed her book to the pages. It smelled syrupy and like home.

She cracked it open to the first page.

It was a book of Willaim Shakespony's sonnets. She had read some of them in school and some in her own time, but she had no idea he had written so many.

She flipped to a random page and read:

"Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed,

When not to be receives reproach of being,

And the just pleasure lost which is so deemed

Not by our feeling but by others' seeing.

For why should others false adulterate eyes

Give salutation to my sportive blood?

Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,

Which in their wills count bad what I think good?

No, I am that I am, and they that level

At my abuses reckon up their own;

I may be straight, though they themselves be bevel.

By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown,

Unless this general evil they maintain:

All ponies are bad, and in their badness reign."

Misty closed the book with a thump, setting it back on its spot on the shelf.

"Do you read a lot of Shakespony?" she asked.

"Not really."

Misty smiled at him, eyeing his shifting body. "Did Hazelnut like his plays?"

His shuddery sigh was answer enough.

"Savarin likes them too. She says you really need to see his plays performed.

"Hazel used to say that too," Gooseberry said.

Misty laughed. She crept closer to the shelf.

As tall as she was, she could see the books at the top. None of them seemed too interesting, so she crouched down to look at more of Shakespony's work.

"We could read one together," Misty said. "It might be fun. Romeo and Juliet are a good one."

"I don't know." Gooseberry let out a choked sob. "It makes me remember Hazel, and I don't want to remember her right now. We were going to have kids, you know?"

"I get it. I don't know what I would do if Savarin died."

Gooseberry stared at her with an odd look on his face. "Yeah... I just miss my family. Like Savarin misses her own family."

"She does, doesn't she?" Misty picked up the lantern in her magic and walked toward the library's exit. Gooseberry hurried after her.

They walked into the main cavern and then through the tunnel that led outside.

The sun was rising when they came out, touching the leaves and making the droplets of dew glitter like diamonds.

It was still cool from the nighttime, not yet having turned hot from the summer heat.

Gooseberry sighed, tilting his head back to catch the rays of the sun.

Misty did the same, squinting at the brightness.

Author's Note

Chapter title is from The Dismemberment Song by Blue Kid.

The Shakespeare sonnet used in this chapter is number 121. I changed the last line from "All men are bad and in their badness reign" to "All ponies are bad and in their badness reign." This is an MLP fanfic, and the word men doesn't really fit.

I was going to use the word stallions because at Shakespeare's time, it was very sexist and focused on men only, but the society in MLP seems very woman focused. So, I left it as is.

As another note, Gooseberry is not going to get together with Misty Flare or any of the female leads. Just in case you're worried about any of that.
I have plans for his character arc, but it doesn't involve romance.

Further on, I'm also going to be looking at Misty and Savarin's romance, which has kind of been glossed over. You'll have to wait and see for that!

15. You're beautiful and evil too

Author's Note

Chapter title is from "From the Gallows," by I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME.
I feel like the song really encapsulates Savarin's feelings for Misty Flare.

15. You're beautiful and evil too

It was another day, and she wanted to disappear.

Savarin rolled over to stare up at the ceiling. Her mouth tasted of death, and her drool had stained her fur.

Perhaps she could make crêpes for breakfast, but she could go for whatever.

It had been such a long time since she had the chance to make something without being in a shitty kitchen in Neigh York.

Those were dark years.

Which was why she was slightly disappointed to roll over and see Hazel's corpse propped up on the couch.

Huh.

Savarin rolled over and went back to sleep. She dreamed about her Mom before she left. It was too depressing, so she changed the dream, so she was having sex with Past-Kirin-Misty and Present day-Super hot-eviler-Misty.

When she awoke, she went down, past dead Hazel, and rooted through her kitchen for crêpes and chocolate sauce ingredients.

She was just heating milk, butter and vanilla extract in a pot, stirring it carefully with her telekinesis, while she whisked together the eggs, water, milk, and oil in one bowl when Misty stepped in from outside.

Savarin looked up for a few seconds, taking in Misty's appearance -she was still getting used to it- before returning to her cooking.

"What are you making?" Misty asked, taking a seat at the table.

"Crêpes." Savarin whisked in the dry ingredient mixture, and without looking, she whisked in flour, sugar, and a pinch of salt into the designated crêpes bowl. "You killed Hazelnut. Without me. Do you like fruit with your crêpes?"

"I like strawberries." Misty frowned. "Doubt Hazel's got them, though."

"She'd be evil not to have them." Savarin gave an aside glance to Misty. "More evil than you."

Misty smiled at the joke, but her face soon fell. "But, I won't be able to eat your wonderful crêpes. I'm not very hungry."

Huh.

"More for me then," Savarin replied. "It's a shame you killed Hazel. I was hoping to have a threesome with her. We still could, but it wouldn't be the same. I'd have to reanimate her somehow-"

"I'll do it. For you, anything."

Savarin's eyebrows went up, then down. She set down the whisk, creeping toward Misty.

Misty flashed her a grin.

It was odd. Usually, Misty had magic surrounding her -all creatures did- but now Misty had enough magic as she did.

It was...

"Ah, my chocolate sauce will burn," Savarin said, turning back to her chocolate sauce.

Misty bowed her head. "I'm sorry for killing Hazel without you."

"You're not sorry. Don't lie to me."

Misty jumped out of her chair, twirling around the kitchen. "You're right. I figured it out, Savarin. Leafy wasn't lying. I just need something to power my magic, and that's souls. I took Hazel's soul, and now the spells you taught me are working."

"I'm happy for you."

Misty stopped dancing, creeping toward Savarin. Savarin almost dropped the whisk.

Misty was so tall, with her burning, burning eyes.

Savarin was both hungry, turned on, and slightly annoyed.

"I won't kill anycreature without you ever again," Misty said in a whisper. "I love you."

Savarin swallowed thickly. "Rather sudden, isn't it? We've only been dating for a few days."

"We've known each other since we were seven. It's... only natural. It's as if somecreature took you out of my wildest nightmares, darling, and gave you just to me."

Savarin burned the chocolate sauce.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

After brunch, they went outside.

Savarin blinked stars from her eyes.

Some of the surrounding trees were charred from Misty's spells, and some were still smoking.

"It's a work in progress," Misty said. "I want to be ready for when I face them."

Savarin hummed, facing the mountains. They were purple in the noon sun.

Misty continued: "I can feel my magic waning, Savarin. Imagine what I can do with more than one measly soul. It'll be beautiful."

"Yes, it will."