Gynophobia

Derpy Hooves was not a panicky mare.

Now, this didn't mean she couldn't have her moments; far from it, as many in the town could testify. In defiance of her wishes, packages were sometimes delivered late, her husband got into all sorts of trouble building his machines, and Dinky was always looking for the next most dangerous adventure. Derpy Hooves had every right to be anxious about these things and more and, really, it was a testament to her steadiness of mind that she was as moderate as she was in her responses.

Now, Derpy Hooves hadn't always been this way. It had taken many years of effort and habit-building to make this steady of an emotional state. Relapses were very rare, but they did happen, especially if she was forced to dwell on her eyes for too long. Too long, and she'd remember why they were that way. Too long, and the steadiness she'd worked so hard to obtain would become forfeit. Derpy Hooves had a wonderful herd to help her through things, but Derpy Hooves sometimes couldn't stop herself from wondering. From remembering. From fearing...

None of that mattered now.

Twilight Sparkle was dead. Derpy Hooves had only met the mare briefly, when she'd been grouching through town earlier, but that didn't mean she was okay with watching her get incinerated. It hadn't even been a moment, she was just gone.

No, no, she must've teleported. That's why there was a flash. Right? Surely, no protégé of Princess Luna could just be extinguished like that.

Daybreaker, that horrible caricature of an alicorn, was maniacally laughing for only a few moments before the horrified screaming broke out. It was mainly stallions and colts causing the din as their herds rushed to vacate them from the building. Heath wasn't among their number, but he was clearly just as scared, staring at the flaming pony with his mouth agape and amber eyes wide. Heath continued to clutch onto Redheart from his place upon her back, so Derpy Hooves didn't worry too much about him.

Derpy Hooves was much more concerned with her husband, Time Turner. He was less scared, but also couldn't simply hitch a ride on Redheart's back. Redheart could definitely carry the two of them, but that would take more time to figure out than they had. Instead, Minuette affixed herself to Time Turner's right shoulder while Amethyst Star took his left. Dinky tightened her hold around Derpy Hooves' neck, gasping softly. With everypony accounted for, Derpy Hooves spun in the air and angled herself towards the doors.

All together, the herd rushed outside Town Hall. They'd stayed near the back, so their frantic exit didn't take very long. Daybreaker continued to cackle behind them and Derpy Hooves' ears reflexively flattened. Once out on the street, Redheart was quick to spin in place, scanning the outside of the building. Heath clutched her neck tightly, pressing his face against her withers as he stared blankly into her fur.

Time Turner was ushered beside and behind the Alpha. His eyes were wide open and he seemed short of breath as he leaned into Minuette's side. The herd edged backwards, quickly at first, but gradually slowing down as ponies continued to pour out of Town Hall. Heath was muttering something Derpy Hooves couldn't hear and, for a while, nopony else said anything. The world seemed to hold still as she processed the shock of what had just happened.

Princess Luna: missing, with no hint of where she could be or why she hadn't been there. Twilight Sparkle: AWOL, presumably a fair distance away or wherever she'd instinctively teleport.

Daybreaker: A massive threat that was currently swooping through the air, cackling after bursting through Town Hall's wall. The alicorn's focus was elsewhere, not on Derpy Hooves' herd at the moment, but that was liable to change. Redheart clearly thought the same thing; she broke into a gallop in the opposite direction and everypony else was quick to follow.

Derpy Hooves' prerogative was to get her family to safety. Once Time Turner, Dinky, and Amethyst were holed up in their basement or somewhere similar, she could work on helping others. Ponyville didn't have many stallions, but it didn't have much of a militia, either. She'd likely be one of the only lines of defense, which would be crucial if Daybreaker decided to be destructive.

The grey pegasus glanced back as she flapped through the air, following her grounded family. Dinky, on her back, had her eyes shut tight and was clutching her neck quite hard, but Derpy Hooves looked past that. She could still see the fallen alicorn behind them, but to her relief, the thing seemed mostly occupied in cackling and watching all the panicking ponies. No destruction yet, aside from the massive hole in Town Hall. Luna willing, everypony could get out of this without any serious injuries.

Redheart led the retreat back to their home, weaving through the streets and keeping a steady pace. Amy ran alongside her father, while Minuette brought up the rear. Nopony had said anything yet, but there was still a mutual agreement to get back to their home as soon as possible.

Between her measured wingbeats, Dinky whimpering, and the rush of wind in her ears, Derpy Hooves didn't hear much of anything. Her herd was all accounted for, her duties as a mare were being fulfilled, there was little to worry about. Perhaps, with these factors, there was good reason for her not to notice until it was too late.

Derpy Hooves' wandering eyes locked onto Heath, a warning making its way up her throat far too late to matter. She could only watch in slow motion as the colt, with Luna only knew what idiotic instinct taking hold of his logical thinking, turned, stood, and leapt off Redheart's back in one burst of frenzied movement.

The Alpha immediately skidded to a halt, whipping around with reaction time that matched a Wonderbolt's. Derpy Hooves dove, trusting Dinky to grip tight, wide yellow eyes never leaving their target. The rest of the herd slowed to a halt, watching with horrified expressions.

Heath eventually came to a stop after tumbling across the ground. Derpy Hooves was first to reach him, landing heavily and rushing to staunch the blood. Minuette conjured up a cloth and she grabbed that, pressing it firmly into the colt's shoulder.

Redheart arrived soon after, cursing loudly. She stomped her forehooves into the ground a few times, then pressed them together and rubbed until they began to softly glow. Wreathed in pink light, they wrapped around the foal's much smaller legs and gently held on.

Heath stared blankly ahead through all of it, practically catatonic. He'd had the presence of mind to cover his head as he tumbled, thank the stars, but the damage was still significant; leg bones badly fractured and puncture wounds from the cobblestone road all over. Heavy bruising seemed to be the least of it, but no head injuries and both mares counted their blessings.

Redheart worked fast. Derpy helped lift and adjust the colt's body at different times as the doctor ran her healing hooves along it. The effect was instantaneous, truly incredible to watch. Bones knit themselves back together, bruises faded to nothing, open wounds healed as though zipped closed like a jacket. It happened quickly, but not as fast as they'd prefer.

"Is he... gonna be okay...?" Amethyst's hesitant voice was first to break the silence.

The others had drawn nearer, but thankfully stayed out of the way. Redheart made no reaction and kept working, but Derpy Hooves glanced back at her and gave a reassuring smile.

"Yes. Alpha has it handled."

Abruptly, Heath shuddered and blinked, jolted out of his daze. The colt's face immediately morphed into a pained grimace, but he didn't scream like Derpy Hooves expected and only groaned. The pegasus locked eyes with him, keeping that reassuring smile as Redheart continued to work her literal magic. "It's okay, Heath. You're gonna be fine." The colt didn't even acknowledge her. He stared straight up, unblinking, with shrunken pupils that betrayed his shock.

"She killed her."

Derpy Hooves blinked, her brows creasing as she felt Dinky get levitated off her back. She gave Minuette a thankful nod, now able to take a deep breath without the filly squeezing her neck.

"Who, Daybreaker? Twilight?" At his nod, she shook her head. "No, no no, Twilight's fine. Don't worry, she teleported." This caused him to finally glance her way and the haunted look in his amber eyes gave Derpy Hooves chills.

"Are you certain?"

She wasn't, but she nodded anyway.

Just then, Redheart took a step back and puffed a breath out. She reached up and wiped some sweat from her brow with a still-glowing hoof, searching Heath's body for any remaining injuries.

"Does it hurt anywhere else?" Came her gruff inquiry as she panted softly. The colt finally blinked, his grimace gone as he laid there, facing the sky. He seemed vaguely surprised, and eventually shook his head in the negative. Everypony let out relieved breaths as Derpy Hooves helped him stand and Redheart leaned against her shoulder. Heath shook out his healed legs and edged away from her touch, shooting Derpy Hooves a scathing glare as Time Turner stomped up from behind.

"And just what were you thinking, young stallion!?" Heath jolted at the stern voice, whipping around to look up at his enraged foster father. "Leaping off a running mare's back like that!?" The colt shuffled his hooves, suddenly lacking in anything resembling confidence.

"Uh, I--um..." He stuttered before being swept up in a tight hug. Tears streamed down Whoovsie's face as he nuzzled with ferocity.

"You could've died!"

The heartbreaking scene lasted a good while. Everypony not involved shuffled somewhat awkwardly, except for Redheart, who rested heavily against Derpy Hooves for balance as she regained spent energy. Amy actively looked away, while Minuette situated Dinky on her back and cooed at the two. Derpy Hooves stood supporting her Alpha, at once watching both her other herd members in turn and back the way they'd come for any followers.

Heath didn't seem very enthused through all of it on the outside, but Derpy Hooves could read enough to know just how deeply he appreciated the affection. This was par for the course with her stallion: a bleeding heart if she ever knew one, and they loved him for it.

"While sweet, cuddles and explanations can wait until later." Redheart strode over to Turner who, with some reluctance and coaxing, returned Heath to his spot on her back. "Let's get home, preferably before the fiery sun demon catches up." Nodding and general agreeance followed this statement and the Alpha turned to lead the way again.

Derpy Hooves spread her wings and prepared to fall in line, but stopped in her tracks when Redheart turned back to look at her. "Derpy, you should go help the other townsponies. They need you more than we do."

Immediately, every fiber of the pegasus' being wanted to protest. She belonged here, with her family, protecting them from danger! How could she possibly leave without knowing they were safe? Her muzzle opened, an objection ready, only for Time Turner to place his hoof on her withers and his chin on her neck.

"We'll be okay," he mumbled, pecking her muzzle with a soft smile. "You should go."

Derpy Hooves looked around one final time and only saw affirming nods, which made her heave a reluctant sigh.

But, she spread her wings and went.

"Princess Luna!"

An elegant dark blue figure stood poised in a small crater. The word 'regal' came to mind when gazing upon Her Majesty, then quickly became inadequate. A tall, spiraled horn that reached up from her skull to pierce the heavens, graceful, groomed wings that like an owl's made no noise, even her heavy Darksteel plating bore an astonishing degree of splendor, if only because it was her that wore it.

There was no question: Princess Luna was a sight to behold. Just not one Derpy Hooves had expected after Daybreaker's surprise entrance.

The gray pegasus landed heavily in front of her ruler, utter confusion written plainly across her face.

"What... are you doing here? Why weren't you in Town Hall?" But the princess merely waved a hoof, brushing past her as she scanned the skies.

"There's no time to discuss my agenda. Daybreaker is free, yes?" Derpy Hooves recognized the urgency in Luna's voice and snapped to attention, nodding in affirmation. Luna sighed, spreading her wings and giving them a few test flaps. "Then we must be swift. Have you already gathered the militia?" Derpy Hooves nodded again, but opted to elaborate.

"Yes. We've been helping evacuate the civilians and mitigate damages. We haven't been able to engage Daybreaker directly, though."

Luna gave one firm nod, then shot up into the sky. Derpy Hooves was quick to follow and they both located a hovering Daybreaker relatively quickly. Scattered members of Ponyville's militia--every last one exclusively a pegasus--spotted their princess in the air and abandoned what they were doing to immediately follow.

By the time Princess Luna confronted Daybreaker some fifty feet above the ground, a veritable swarm of militia members--Derpy Hooves included--had surrounded them both.

Daybreaker smiled as everypony approached, some even drawing weapons. She glanced down at the street for a few moments, almost as though searching for something. Then, a quick, almost-imperceptible bright flash emitted from her horn and she raised a foreleg, pointing it at Luna.

"Ap-up-up! You're going to hear me out and not come any closer."

Princess Luna glared, lowered her head as her elegant wings beat against the sky, and replied with gritted teeth:

"And why is that?"

Daybreaker smiled and her horn blazed to life. Derpy Hooves' heart dropped straight into her barrel. Gasps rang out from both her and the other militia members, all while Luna's eyes widened and she dropped a few inches.

"Because," said the fiery creature, levitating a squirming chartreuse colt whom Derpy Hooves recognized all too well, "I have a hostage!" Daybreaker giggled a bit, magically waving Heath around in the air to reinforce her point. "You wouldn't want anything terrible to happen to him, now would you?"

Princess Luna made a calming gesture, though whether it was directed at the fallen alicorn or the members of Ponyville's militia, Derpy Hooves couldn't say. She couldn't do much of anything at this point, really. Derpy Hooves was able to restrain herself, but only just.

"Very well, Daybreaker," called the princess in a voice far too tranquil for the situation. "What are your demands?" The beast in question scoffed, throwing her forelegs open as she hovered in the air.

"Demands? I simply wish to talk! Or has the Great Dreamgiver Luna fallen so far that civil discussion is beneath her?"

Derpy Hooves struggled to pay attention to anything else. She found her eyes, both of them, had locked onto the flailing foal she was responsible for. Heath was held in Daybreaker's dark orange aura, levitating far above the ground. If he fell, chances weren't great she'd be able to catch him in time. With the way he was writhing and the alicorn's focus largely elsewhere, this was too great a possibility.

She tried to get his attention, to motion him to stop struggling so much, but to no avail. Heath, evidently, was out of it. The longer this went on, the more dangerous it'd get. Derpy Hooves needed to do something, but what?

"You've become far too soft, dear Luna. This nation has suffered for it, and I can no longer stand to watch." Daybreaker flapped ever closer to the princess, who hovered a short distance away and just below eye level. "All I ask is that you give the throne back. Sounds reasonable, no? Allow me to rule, or I'll burn everything in this wretched country to the ground." The creature grinned, toothily and with malice. "You know you couldn't stop me."

Princess Luna was silent for several moments. For a time, nothing much further occurred. With anxiety, Derpy Hooves kept watching Heath as he tumbled around in the air, kicking wildly off to Daybreaker's side. It seemed, in those moments, that the world only held the four of them.

"You wouldn't hurt anypony. Not again." Princess Luna's regal, soft voice broke the silence and the moment. It was slight, but Daybreaker's eyes widened and she reeled back a little. Derpy Hooves did similarly, having not expected this reply. "I know that even more, dear sister."

Stunned by this revelation, Derpy Hooves blinked rapidly at the same time that Daybreaker's expression soured. She pulled Heath in a little closer, gesturing to his tumbling form. Everypony tensed in the air.

"You sound so sure of that, 'sister', yet you still respect my hostage situation. Why bother to listen if I wouldn't hurt this foal anyway?" She stretched a foreleg out while her magic tightened, locking Heath in an upright position. With the ripples in the air above Daybreaker's body, Derpy Hooves could only imagine how much heat radiated from the 'alicorn'. She could only watch that blazing hoof grow ever nearer to Heath's contorted face. Could only wish for something to do.

Daybreaker's sneer intensified. "What if I'm different, now? What if I've changed, sister? Perhaps I've simply stopped caring as much." The 'alicorn' locked eyes with Luna, glaring mightily for the world to see. "Can you really take that chance?" Princess Luna remained stoic, as she always had. Then, Derpy Hooves felt her stomach drop as Daybreaker glanced over at her. "Can your subjects?"

Derpy Hooves had had chills down her spine before. This wasn't that. Nothing about Daybreaker could give a pony chills.

She felt her mouth dry up. She felt the sun beat down upon her. Felt vulnerable, like there was nowhere to hide. Derpy Hooves was scared--terrified, really. It felt like all hope was lost. It felt like there was nothing she could do to help, either herself or her country or her herd or anypony. For the first time in a long time, Derpy Hooves was panicking and it felt like her downward spiral had no end in sight.

Then, she remembered.

Her muzzle opened, unleashing a savage war cry. Wings that once flapped helplessly now shot out and beat upon the air. She returned Daybreaker's stare, glaring back with the vitriol of a warrior scorned. She was snarling, all but frothing at the mouth as she lunged through the sky. Luna had to hold her back as Daybreaker reeled away, shocked. The 'alicorn' eyed her up and down, surprise turning to satisfaction.

"Oooh, I like this one," the fiery figure said, grinning and turning to Luna. "I had no idea you were making soldiers this... ferocious." Ditzy's yellow eyes burned with hate. "Maybe I was wrong about you going soft!" Restrained by a regal blue glow, Ditzy could do little but hang there. Luna's stoic mask finally cracked, but the only emotion that shone through it was lethargy.

"Daybreaker, please," Ditzy had never heard her princess sound so tired, "release the colt. I shall continue to hear you out, on my word. Nopony need be gravely injured this day." The leg that had been outstretched now tapped at its owner's chin. Daybreaker considered this while Heath continued to dangle and Ditzy stayed locked in place. The other militia members watched from afar, nothing but blurry shapes to her laser-focused eyes.

"Very well, then. I guess I'll have to let him go."

And suddenly Heath was dropping like a stone back to the earth.

Ditzy lunged against her restraints, gasping and reaching uselessly. Other pegasi dove, but they were too far away to possibly reach him in time. The colt's wings flapped as he fell through the air, practically decorations for all the good they did. He screamed, was wreathed in a familiar blue glow, then teleported with a pop safely in Luna's forelegs.

Princess Luna worked with brisk efficiency. She pulled one of the other pegasi aside--Blossomforth, that was her name--and gave some hushed instructions. Ditzy could scarcely think through the red in her vision, but she listened to her princess when she yanked her around and spoke harsh commands to the grey mare's snarling face.

"Disengage and lead this mare to your herd," Luna ordered, placing a shivering Heath in Blossomforth's forelegs. "The colt is hers, correct?" This she asked the other pegasus, seeing as Ditzy was unable to answer. Blossomforth blinked, cradled the foal gently, and nodded. A quick spell stilled him, then Luna released her hold on Ditzy. "Go home. I shall handle things here."

Ditzy wanted to protest. Ditzy wanted to tear the threat limb from limb. Ditzy wanted to bring honor to her name through glorious, bloody victory.

What Ditzy wanted wasn't important. She had her orders, and no amount of blind rage would stop her from following them.

"And, Ditzy," Luna added as the two began to flap away, "do try to calm down."

Daybreaker watched all of this with a lazy interest. She watched the pegasi retreat back to the ground. She continued to watch as they headed down the emptied street. Ditzy watched her right back, tracking the 'alicorn' with one eye until she faded from view.

Rage, uncontrollable fury still burned inside Ditzy. There would be no outlet, no exit for it except the slow simmer back down to room temperature. She wasn't safe to be around at the moment. She wasn't able to hold her own foster child, lest an accident happen. She hadn't been this way in a long time. She'd thought this behavior was behind her. She'd been doing so well recently.

Ditzy stewed in anger at both her enemy and herself as she led Blossomforth back to her home. Blossomforth probably knew where she lived already, so there wasn't much point to it. Orders were orders, though.

"For what it's forth, Ditzy," Blossomforth's tenuous voice snapped the grey mare from her musing, "I'm sorry."

Ditzy glanced back at her fellow Ponyville militia member. Blossomforth's expression was wry, regretful, understanding. She understood. Empathized, even. Ditzy landed heavily on the ground and she was quick to follow, smoothly transferring Heath to balance on her back instead.

Ditzy was still angry, but suddenly so very tired, too. Her only response was a weak nod, to which her partner nodded right back.

For the second time that hour, Ditzy Doo traveled home. The weight of her memories rested heavily upon her withers, pressing the pegasus down into the street. Her wings drooped, as did her ears and tail, all faltering like flags at half-staff. Still the rage remained, evident in her raised hackles and bristling fur. Blossomforth trotted along at her side, supportive, though distant.

One of Ditzy's eyes locked onto Heath, balanced securely between the other mare's wings. Her other eye remained pointed ahead, guiding her plodding, heavy steps. The colt was soundly asleep, at least for the moment; Princess Luna had no equals when it came to dream magic. Still, this experience would doubtless be remembered, and not with fondness. Yet another mark on the foal's psyche, as well as her own. Failure made Ditzy's muzzle crinkle in a snarl. She grimaced an ugly grimace and turned away, marching onward.

Movement from ahead drew Ditzy's attention next. Peering up, she made out the familiar form of her Alpha Herdsister frantically barreling down the street like a loose freight train. Ditzy raised a wing high, drawing Redheart's attention and causing her to immediately change course for the two of them.

Ditzy came to a stop and watched her close the distance. Blossomforth halted also, positioned a little behind her, but not such that she couldn't see the other pegasus' sizable unease. Granted, that reaction was hardly inexcusable, especially given the manic mare charging their way and the precious cargo Blossomforth carried on her back.

"Derpy!" Redheart all but screamed, "Have you seen Heath?! He disappeared out from under me, I swear I had no--"

Ditzy turned her head and looked meaningfully at Blossomforth, who waved her hoof with the awkwardness of a schoolfilly giving her first class presentation. Redheart locked onto her, then the snoozing colt on her back, all while her mouth formed an acute 'O'.

Without further comment Ditzy's Alpha strode forward, holding a hoof out. Blossomforth understood the message completely and it took a mere few seconds for the 'goods' to be exchanged. Ditzy watched everything through the red in her vision, still periodically clenching her teeth and blowing steam through her nostrils.

"Derpy, you--oh," Redheart cut herself off again, but still subconsciously slung her new passenger across her withers like some tacky fur scarf. Her pink mane, thoroughly disheveled and in need of a good brushing, had broken free of its usual neat bun and now tangled itself expertly around each of sleeping Heath's six limbs. "Oh, that's not good. We need to get you home."

Ditzy Doo nodded, her nose still wrinkled in a sneer and grey wings still out and twitching. Crackling with unspent charge. She dared not speak, lest enraged screaming wake or scare the colt.

Ditzy wished she could calm down. That was really all she wanted, in that moment. Still, her eyes continued to swivel and her blood continued to burn. Her brain, that useless lump of meat, kept remembering what had happened in the past whenever she let her guard down. So, she kept raging. Kept hating.

It felt wrong, but good, too.

The three of them continued home in abject silence. Blossomforth didn't really have a good reason to follow, but she'd muttered something about "making sure the three of you get home safe" and nopony had deemed it worth arguing.

With their destination in sight and approaching fast, Heath finally saw fit to shake off his magically-compelled slumber. Ditzy tracked him, all but glaring, with one eye while the other focused on navigating the cobbled path. Practically restrained in Redheart's mane, there was little the colt could do aside from opening his eyes and staring back.

Ditzy expected fear. What she hadn't prepared for was awe.

"You... use anger."

Redheart's ears swiveled back while Ditzy's perked upright. Heath smiled, his amber eyes practically shining in worship. "Rage. Hate. Fury. They're strong." Reaching up, he brushed a tangled lock of Redheart's mane out of his face. He never broke the stare, nor shifted away from that haunting smile. "You must feel so... strong."

Ditzy blinked, shocked at first. Then her scowl intensified. The rage boiled over and she all but hissed her words out:

"You think I feel strong!?" Ditzy charged closer, glaring deeply into those idiotic amber eyes. "You think I like this!?" Heath didn't recoil, only staring back in silent challenge. Something about that rebellious expression felt like a sharp slap to the face. Ditzy snorted steam, feeling bloodlust take over, feeling her wings rise and crackle with electric power, feeling absolutely miserable.

Redheart was quick to interfere, turning and lashing out with a buck before anything could happen. Ditzy saw it coming and let it connect, knowing she deserved it. While she reeled away from the blow, Blossomforth approached from the side, tackling Ditzy to the ground and pinning her there.

Ditzy didn't try to struggle out of the headlock. She merely laid there in self-loathing, still glaring daggers at Heath as blood spurted from her nose. What he'd said was sick. She felt sick and to some degree disbelieved that she'd even heard it. What kind of idiot would say something like that?

Wordlessly, Redheart turned back around, somewhat hiding her rider from view. Ditzy's Alpha stared into her forward-facing, acid-yellow eyes and frowned. Deeply, commandingly, powerfully. Ditzy felt herself recoil, even in her anger, and she lowered her head as much as she could in submission, feeling the headlock loosen.

"Let's get you home, Ditzy. You need to cool off." Redheart reached down and pressed a glowing forehoof against Ditzy's bleeding muzzle, then craned her neck to look back at her tangled passenger with an expression of chastisement. "And don't go antagonizing ponies like that, Heath. She's been through enough crap as it is."

The colt mumbled something Ditzy couldn't hear through the pounding in her ears. Thankfully, the throbbing pain in her nostrils was quick to leave while the trail of red cleared up in no time. Blossomforth, apparently satisfied that Ditzy wasn't going to be taking any heads, released her and offered a hoof to help her stand. "Now c'mon," Redheart beckoned, starting away from them, "we're almost there."

Ditzy had just reached her home's front door when a sudden whoosh from behind bade her turn and look back. There, in the distance--right about the area she'd helped confront Daybreaker--a massive, rainbow-colored beam of magic swung high into the air before crashing down. The resulting surge of raw magic visibly swept through all of town, like a tidal wave of pure power. Everypony's manes and tails were blown back as they struggled against the pressure, trying to avoid being pushed over.

This wave of magic carried with it a sort of positive energy. Ditzy felt it wash over her and suddenly she wasn't as miserable anymore. The anger and self-loathing were still there, but greatly reduced. Like faint aches that remained after taking painkillers, or maybe the thrill of battle that stuck around long after victory.

"... Anypony have any idea what that was?" Blossomforth's hesitant voice tore Derpy Hooves from her thoughts and back to the present. There she was, paused on the front porch of her home as the last of the magical surge faded away. Derpy Hooves shook her head in response, then opted to simply turn back and open the door.

"Whatever it was," Redheart replied, shrugging as she followed Derpy Hooves in, "it was definitely none of our business. You could go check it out, though."

Blossomforth nodded, waving goodbye as she flared her wings.

"I think I will. Best of luck to you!" Then she was gone, and the front door swung closed behind her.

Derpy Hooves stood for a moment, finally back inside, and sighed. The simmering rage was finally fading away, and for that she was grateful. Whatever that rainbow beam had been, it certainly wasn't anything evil; no wicked force could have so calming an effect.

Derpy Hooves headed straight for the living room, then the nearest couch. Redheart followed, still carrying a drowsy Heath slung across her withers. The grey pegasus sat, closing her wonky eyes and adorning what she hoped was a serene expression, while her Alpha stood a few feet before her.

"You doing alright? This hasn't happened in a while." Redheart's voice carried a hint of worry, which didn't help matters. Derpy Hooves quelled the urge to sigh again, merely lowering her head until her chin rested on the seat cushion.

"I'll be okay," she said, her voice small. "You should check on the others. Whoovsie must be worried." Redheart nodded--which Derpy Hooves couldn't see, per se, but still knew happened--and started towards the basement door. At the last moment, however, she hesitated and looked back, for once letting the confidant, self-assured Alpha façade fade away and reveal the insecurities beneath.

"Are you... sure?"

Derpy Hooves' eyes snapped open and she offered a lopsided smile.

"Yes." She lied.

Redheart nodded again and shortly descended out of sight.

Minutes later, Derpy Hooves finally settled into troubled slumber.