Sentinel of the Everfree

Lounging on the top of a remote hilltop along the Equestrian countryside Celestia watched Fenrir closely. Though Fenrir did help to set up her side of the camp she hadn't moved an inch since. Instead she laid with her back to the fire and had her head tucked tightly beneath her wing. Ever since, worry and guilt have fought for control Celestia’s mind. A perpetual storm of ‘what if’ scenarios plaguing her and leaving her to question if she could have done anything better.

The problem however, was that even after hours of replaying conversations and events out in her head Celestia was still unsure. From the joyous start to their journey, the very impromptu game of Truth or Fae, and finally the multiple hours of silence that followed. Every minute detail was criticized and analyzed only to be given varying different outcomes based on the smallest of changes that she would make.

What if I never caved in and vented my frustrations to Fenrir? A fight maybe or possibly a bigger fracture in their relationship.

What if I kept with the plan given by Cadence and Chrysalis? She may not have fought me but I can definitely see her losing any trust in me. I can't just not answer such a question seconds after I promised I would.

Celestia blows a small flame into the campfire in frustration. Sitting here and panicking over such small details isn’t helping, but it's all she can do until the next part of her plan shows up. Normally Celestia isn't one to put faith in such a rushed and messy plan. Then again Celestia isn't usually in charge of keeping another creature's mental health in check. For now though, all that was left to do was wait.

Thankfully if things stayed the same as they have the last few hours that wouldn't be too hard. Just keep Fenrir in her sight and intervene if she starts to do anything bad. Best of all is that she no longer had to worry about the original contingency plans put forth by Cadence and Chrysalis. Sure Fenrir is taking it pretty hard and likely won't be at her best for a little while. But considering the most anticipated response everypony thought Fenrir would have included extreme violence, this is a definite win.

Without warning Fenrir quickly jumps up from the ground and snarls while her scales and spines bristle. Less than a second later Celestia's voice catches in her throat as she is overwhelmed by a massive surge of mana. However as the mana peaked a bright flash lit up the clearing and Celestia let out a heavy sigh of relief.

“Don't worry Princess I gathered everypony and came as quick as -” Twilight's voice is silenced as a silver blur storms past her and knocks her and the rest of the group she brought with to the ground. Cries of surprise quickly filled the air as the group found itself in a tangled pile of limbs.

“Applejack! You're crushing my mane!” Rarity's complaints are cut short as a blue wing smacks her in the face. While grimacing at her mistake Rainbow is just as quick to turn around and send a verbal jab at her Kirin friend.

“That's what you're worried about?” Trying to get herself untangled from the serpentine body of a now draconequus Twilight, Rainbow catches her hindpaw and falls on top of Pinkie.

“Oh my. Pinkie are you alright?” Fluttershy carefully reaches under Rainbow until her cloven hooves make enough room for Pinkie to pop her head out from under the Diregriff.

“Yepperoni!”

“Gah! Rainbow watch your talons!” Twilight twists around and frees herself from the pile quickly. A single talon however followed her flank out and squeezed it.

“Actually those are mine.”

“Oh sorry Discord I - Wait a minute! Discord let go of my flank!” Any sense of relief that Celestia felt died a horrible and violent death as Twilight coiled her body around and lunged at Discord with murderous intent. Though Twilight had done as Celestia asked and brought Spike, she wasn't counting on her bringing the rest of her friends AND discord. Worst of all however was her growing migraine now that the group continued to argue with ever raising voices.

“SILENCE.” Having channeled her mana into her words Celestia cobbled together a very crude and basic silencing spell. Regardless of how it was formed however the spell was still more than able to complete its task. Only seconds after casting the spell the entire campsite falls quiet with only the soft crackling of the fire able to be heard.

“Twilight, while I'm happy you got here as quick as you did with Spike, this is too much. I say this with nothing but respect, and Discord this is actually not directed at you for once, but I can't handle any more chaos right now.” Before Celestia has a chance to cancel her spell Discord drapes himself over her back and caresses her jaw. Her spines stiffen as he does and her tail begins to lash out behind her.

“Aww, Celly, I didn't know you cared.” Baring her teeth and leveling the draconequus with a deadly glare it took all of her remaining willpower to not tear him to shreds.

“You're pushing it Discord. Off. NOW.” Without hesitation Discord snaps his talons again and reappears behind Twilight. The light purple harmony draconequus becoming the impromptu shield for the chaotic chimiran one.

“Noted.”

“But Princess you said that -” Celestia holds up a paw to stop Twilight.

“This isn't up for debate Twilight. I said in the letter to just bring Spike as quickly as you could because of Fenrir. We're all lucky she didn't just jump you the second you appeared. Even I was caught off guard by the amount of mana given off by your teleportation. I wasn't even the first to sense your arrival, Fenrir was.” Twilight gives Discord a dirty look as she shrugs him off of her. Unlike with Celestia however he is not so easily deterred and deftly coils his tail around the base of one of her hindlegs. Twilight just sighs and rather than press the issue ignores it.

“Princess, you said it was an emergency and that I needed to come as quickly as I could. That usually means there is something big going on and that we will need the Elements of Harmony.” Discord nods his head enthusiastically and wraps an arm around Twilight's shoulders. Rather than a soft blush however Twilight again ignores Discords antics.

“To be fair, you do have a knack for springing such things on the poor mare all the time.” Celestia groans and falls roughly to her flanks. Both her forepaws covered her muzzle before slowly dragging them down in exasperation.

“Oh blessed ancestors Discord, I am not going to argue with you about that again. Besides I specifically mentioned that I needed Spike to help with Fenrir. Why would that make you think the Elements of Harmony would be needed?” Twilight snorts and swishes her tail.

“Because Fenrir is a sociopathic monster that is responsible for the biggest catastrophe in both known and unknown history.” Silence falls over the campsite again, though this time it is not due to a spell being cast. After a few moments Celestia sighs and rubs at her temples.

“Spike?” Twilight nods her head.

“Spike.” Having been all but forgotten by everyone else the rest of Twilight's friends slowly untangle themselves and line up to watch the exchange.

“I can guarantee you that Spike did not call her a sociopathic monster Twilight, nor do I appreciate you calling Fenrir such a thing.” Twilight throws up her arms in frustration. Her serpentine body practically vibrates as she does.

“Well no, but you only have to hear some of the things she did for anypony to come to the same conclusion! I mean she killed and ate other sentient creatures Princess Celestia! That is not just something that you can ignore.” Eye’s going wide Discord laughs nervously and tries to tug on Twilight's arm. At this point however Twilight is having none of it and pulls her arm back roughly from him and even growls.

“Um Twilight while I know you don’t usually care to listen to my judgment, I highly advise you stop now.” Flinching in response to his words Twilight is too focused on Discord to see Celestia practicing some all too familiar breathing exercises.

“What? No Discord! First of all you know that is a lie, I do trust your judgment after all you’ve helped me with. Yes your idea of jokes are traumatizing but I can be the bigger pony and see that they meant no harm. That silver scaled harlot on the other hoof -”

“Um Should… Should we do something?” Fluttershy turns to Rainbow Dash after it is clear that Twilight is now having a full meltdown.

“Nah.” Rainbow Dash however is already partaking in a bucket of popcorn provided by Pinkie.

“Are you kidding darling? This is the best tea I’ve gotten to be part of in ages!” Applejack raises a wooden brow and tilts her stetson to better look her kirin friend in the eye.

“We aren’t actually involved, you know, right Rarity?” Rarity just shrugs.

“Semantics darling, semantics.”