"Hmm." Floral sat with a focused expression.

"Well, shit." Moon was shocked.

"So, are you a prince or something now?" Gilda asked and read the scroll once again.

"More like a king, no?" Moon rebuked and looked over the scroll again. "By technicality, Floral owns the biggest country in Equus now."

"Who knew building a treehouse could bring a result like this." Gilda commented.

"Land size is immeasurable. Population is four residents and one pet. Also tax free because, well, Floral fully owns the land." Luna explained with a dazed expression. "Because the Everfree hasn't been occupied for more than the required two hundred years, it's basically up for grabs. And whoever manages to make, well, anything, instantly gets recognized as the owner. It was abandoned land and because Floral is currently the highest ruling power here, he gets recognized as sole ruler. So, congrats, King Floral Green." She said with a playful bow before laying down next to the roaring fire.

"Is it possible for my folks to immigrate here? Will they find a better life and live without fear?" Zecora suddenly asked after staying quite through the exchange.

"Eh, as long as you prove you exist, you can go through the border." Luna lazily replied and gave a big stretch.

"Interesting, quite intriguing." Zecora said as she brought a hoof to her chin.

"Z, I'm not gonna live with a whole village crammed into the camp." Moon denied it immediately.

"I'm pretty sure a whole town here would turn into a disaster very quickly." Gilda added on.

"Alas, it was a vain hope. A fleeting dream on which we’d cope." Zecora said with mock sadness.

"It's not like we can do shit anyway. Too busy with monster attacks and making sure the treehouse doesn't collapse." Moon said while rubbing her neck.

"Are you planning to announce this?" Floral finally asked.

"News are probably spreading through Equestria like a plague by now." Luna replied. "It was inevitable, some reporters got a hold of the news." She explained before dozing off.

"Wait, what?" Floral became slightly nervous.

Then he instantly put his guard up after hearing a sound.

Moon and Gilda followed suit as they raised their weapons and prepared to fight. Zecora took a moment before bringing out a potion, almost dropping it in the process.

"Where?" Moon asked, her tone completely serious.

"Up front." Floral gave a short reply.

Seconds slowly passed as they became increasingly nervous. Their expressions intense as they waited for something to come out.

*Bam*

"WHA-!"

"FUCK!"

"WOAH!"

"WHAT THE?!"

"Shit." Floral gave a cuss as he was launched into the air.

Frantically looking around, he took a head count. Luna was surprised, but was descending down. Moon shot tentacles towards the ground to lower herself. Zecora seemed to throw something towards the ground. Gilda spread her wings and looked around.

"Just me left." He muttered and looked downwards. "No choice." With that thought, he looked at his left hoof before coming to a decision. "Leg for a life." He said and waited patiently.

Right as he touched the treetops, he swung his left hoof to grab something, anything.

*Crack*

He frowned and kept his mouth shut. He brazed himself as he broke through multiple layers of branches before finally coming to a stop on the ground. Slightly wobbling, he glanced at his left hoof.

"Hmm." He was dissatisfied and sat down.

Giving it a few nudges, he confirmed it with a sigh. "Broken." He stated and looked around carefully.

Weaponless and one leg less, he wasn't entirely sure if he could survive. Well, he would, but. "This is gonna be so ass if I don't use magic." He mumbled and looked around. "Not too far." With that, he started to walk.

Only to be stopped in his tracks. He gave an annoyed glance at an axe that implanted itself into the ground right in front of him.

"Really?" He asked and grabbed the axe in his one good hoof.

In response, an arrow was thrown at him. Deflecting it easily, he rushed forward.

A wooden pony jumped towards him from the air. Rotating, it swung downwards at Floral with a dagger in its hooves.

Floral swerved to the side and countered with a down swing. It blocked it as they stood in power struggle.

"It didn't break." He mumbled and leaped backwards as an arrow whistled by.

Glancing between where the arrow came from and the one with the dagger, Floral stood back on three legs and held the axe in his mouth. With that stance, he prepared to rush in.

A few seconds passed in silence, at a standstill as they waited for something to happen.

Floral was on full alert as he focused on the area. Even the tiniest of sounds became possible to hear as he took a deep breath.

A breeze blew by as leaves fell from the tree. Seemingly immobile, nothing happened for a few more seconds. Until, Floral's eyes got covered by a leaf for a single moment.

Right in that instant, the puppet rushed in at full speed. Although late, Floral responded in kind.

*Thwack*

"!" Right as that sound appeared, Floral immediately changed directions and started sprinting to where the arrow came from.

Dodging it with a simple duck, he dodged a dagger throw from behind him as he slammed into the bushed and found another puppet holding a bow.

It instantly grew wooden claws and swung at Floral. He jumped up and grabbed his axe. With that, he swung downwards as it blocked below the axe head with its bow.

Slowly making it go lower, Floral glanced behind him to see the other puppet coming.

Intuition suddenly kicking in, Floral turned to the bow wielding one before rolling away. A dozen wooden spikes shot out from its mouth, grazing Floral's cheek.

Rolling on the ground, he pushed with his hind legs and leaped back up. With his momentum, he continued to push off of trees and disappeared amidst the leaves. Still, even that was countered as he was forced to land back on the ground.

Rolling once again to lower the damage build up, he leaned backwards as a stone sword brushed past him. He somehow leaned even lower, almost lying down as another swing went over. Then he rolled out of the way as the sword slammed into the ground.

Without a chance to rest, he slammed his legs into the ground and jumped away as another arrow missed him by a breath's distance.

Bumping into a tree, he swung his axe sideways and parried a dagger strike. Kicking it to make distance, he leaned to the side and dodged another slam from the sword. He counterattacked by swinging wide, but the axe stopped in its path as it created a small scratch on the one wielding a sword.

"Tch." He clicked his tongue and leaped up slightly, a large vine swiping right under him.

He kicked the one with the sword with both of his hind legs as he was launched backwards and landed with a flip.

Standing his ground, he took a few heavy breaths as he glanced backwards. Another puppet, but with vines dancing around it.

"Never that easy." Floral mumbled and tried to channel magic. "Damn it." He cussed as he felt the shadow magic forcing itself to be used.

With that, he called it back in, a green glow that surrounded his broken leg disappearing with it. "Hope Zecora can do something." He muttered and prepared himself as another arrow whistled through the air.

"Fuck you." Moon cussed as two tentacles pulled a puppet apart. "Shit, I gotta get to either Z or Gilda. And Floral, well, he'll be fine, somehow." She calmed herself down and glared at her back.

A spear was caught in a tentacle in front of her face. She broke it in half before sending out more spikes made of shadows. Without waiting to see results, she raised herself, dozens upon dozens of tentacles under her, acting as both a defense system and a pillar.

"I don't have time to deal with you." She said angrily before being carried away by the tentacles.

With a swing of her hoof, her shadows followed her rule and swiped away an elephant.

"Oh for fuck's sake." She said as a shadow was cast over her.

Gritting her teeth, she brought her dagger out as her shadow extended it. With the single edged blade, she glared at the four heads that appeared before her. "Guess you didn't learn your lesson eh?"

A wall of shadow came behind her, blocking a volley of arrows before she launched herself to the air.

With her body darkening, she drew in a sharp breath before releasing it. A wave of fire washed over her. Yet she disappeared as a circle made of shadow extended in the air. From it, several dozens of spikes shot out towards the hydra.

Some missed, while most hit the target.

Still, the hydra didn't seem to give up so easily as all four heads aimed at the circle. And a giant wall of fire burst out.

The circle was swallowed, but the spikes turned to hooks. Being pulled, Moon formed herself back as she shielded herself from the fire.

Being catapulted, she drew her sword as the blade turned thicker. Tensing her body, Moon drew a big slash. As an arc of shadow made itself through the fire, it easily passed by the fire. Without a chance, all four heads had either their throats or mouths cut open.

Moon was merciless as she slammed into the chest. Pulling her sword back, she pushed out more magic before stabbing it back in. Her magic traveled through the hydra's body, revealing every secret before bursting out. Blood rained down as a tower of spikes planted itself in the hydra's body.

With that, Moon took a deep breath before sprinting towards the camp.

"Ugh." Zecora was dizzy as she found herself on the ground.

The dirt was still a bit bouncy, courtesy of one of her emergency spells.

"Hmm." She was anxious. "To think I'd use these, it does not bring much ease." She muttered and started to fiddle with one of her earrings.

Now in her hooves, three small vials. One red, one brown and one white.

Tasking a calming breath, she made a dash towards the camp. Her path seemed to be undeterred, alas, she was eventually forced to stop as something came in sight. Instantly hiding, she killed the sound of her breathing as she crawled on the ground. Slowly, but surely making progress, she held the three potions in her mouth, prepared to use if anything happens.

*BOOM*

She flinched and glanced at her opponent. Now that she observed closely, it was made out of leaves. She was slightly confused, but she kept moving, keeping an idea in her mind for later.

*Crash*

Zecora let out a small shriek as a red smoke suddenly filled her surroundings. Immediately noticing what it was, she ran away as her eyes started to sting. Wiping away the tears that was forming, she threw all three vials behind her.

*Bam*

A small explosion was formed as the three liquids came in contact with each other.

Zecora gasped a bit of air as she continued to run. Constantly wiping her stinging eyes, she gave a huff. "My potions were meant for good, not for actions so crude." She muttered angrily as she continued to run. "Bringing such a knockoff to me, thinking it would be a breeze. I will show you true potionry, not your own mockery." She muttered and bit into the ring on her right hoof.

The puppet was chasing right after her, vines constantly launching it as it almost caught up.

Without hesitation, Zecora immediately jumped and turned around. Time seemed to slow down as she used her rotating force to throw the ring. The ring fell apart as a deep green colored liquid sprayed itself onto the puppet.

It was immediately stopped in its tracks as the leaves started to melt away, yet it couldn't move. Its wooden body was revealed, but the body was stuck to the ground. Zecora didn't waste the chance as she took off her other ring and lightly tossed it at the puppet.

This time, a yellow substance doused the puppet. Right as it came in contact with the green stuff, fire instantly burst out. With the flames reaching for the sky, several vines climbed out of the puppet to grab Zecora.

But she was one step ahead as she slammed the end of a staff into the puppet. The vines shook and fell down as Zecora took a few seconds to calm down.

With her chance to rest, she rubbed her now naked neck. Then, she pulled the staff apart and bent it back into shape as she wore her golden rings on her neck again.

She glanced at her empty front legs.

"Such a pity, alas, it was an emergency." She muttered before stepping closer to the burning puppet. "These will have to do, for I do not have time to brew." She spoke while collecting a few vials that weren't entirely consumed by the fire. "At a level worse than an apprentice, I can not believe it thought to mock these." She was a bit spiteful as she inspected the vials.

With that, she started to sprint towards the camp once more.

"Fuck! ANYPONY HERE?!" Moon shouted as she arrived at the camp first.

*Bam*

A rather big mole covered in burn marks flew by.

"Rah!" Luna gave a battle cry before splitting the big mole in half with an ethereal sword. "Moon? Where's the others?" Luna turned to Moon, smoke still rising from her horn.

"I don't fucking know! I just got here!" She replied aggressively. "By the way, have you been using big explosions?"

"No. I've tried to my best to reserve my magic." Luna replied. "Too many of those beasts and wooden ponies."

"Agh, fuck!" Moon was annoyed. "We gotta find Gilda and Z! They're fucking done for if the bastard upstairs is bringing in monsters in this!" She informed.

"Yes, I'll head east." Luna agreed with a nod.

"Ah! You two are here! It is a relief that you are safe and near!" Zecora announced herself happily as she came running over.

"Z! You're alive!" Moon was shocked.

"Then it's just Floral and Gilda." Luna spoke up.

"One has been found, Floral, but he does not seem to be normal." Zecora suddenly spoke up with a somber tone.

"The fuck are you-oh. Shit." Moon braced herself.

"Is that, what I think it is?" Luna asked and readied a spell.

"Hasn't he explained it to you?" Moon asked and watched carefully.

"No, and I haven't dared to ask." Luna gave a reply and readied a sword.

"Don't let your guard down. I think we all know how much of an asshole he is." Moon said as her shadows rose up.

Floral appeared, and he was walking towards the camp. Though, he was entirely coated by shadows. His eyes were no longer visible, yet they could feel him glaring at them.

Then he suddenly rushed forward. Madly dashing in, he jumped high in the air.

"Guess he really lost himself." Moon muttered. "Scatter!" She commanded.

Luna grabbed Zecora before teleporting away.

*Bam*

Floral slammed into Moon, creating a small crater. Yet, Moon didn't receive any damage as she started to melt.

"Idiot." Moon said as she suddenly appeared behind Floral.

She swung her hoof, punching straight forward. Yet, her hoof just went through him. With it, Floral slammed Moon.

Yet she was scattered into twenty. Some in the air, others on the ground, they all sent out their own tentacles.

Floral calmly stepped forward, leaning slightly to dodge the attacks. As the last one finally landed, Floral dragged his hoof forward through the ground, before swiping up. A wave of dark spikes shot through the ground.

Every Moon was impaled through, seeming to be in favor of Floral.

"Gotcha." Moon spoke up as she suddenly wrapped her hooves around Floral's neck. "Come on." She said through gritted teeth.

The shadows coating over Floral started to turn thicker. Almost liquifying as it almost reached its limit.

"Is it finished?!" Luna asked from afar, a corpse of a boar laying behind her.

"Nope!" Moon yelled back.

*BAM*

A large burst of shadow, exploded out of Floral. Dying the world black for a moment, he was knocked out as small whisps floated out of his body.

Moon had been pushed back, but held herself to the ground as she groaned. "Fucking hell." She muttered and a dark liquid spilled out of her mouth. "That's too damn dense, you fucking asshole." She said with a bit of difficulty.

Still, the liquid dried up as Moon took deep breaths. She had gotten a big boost.

"Moon! Are you alright?" Luna teleported over as she held Moon up.

"I'm fine, you dingus. I just suddenly absorb a large amount of magic is all." She said with a small tone of sarcasm. "Check on Floral."

"Right." Luna said and turned to Floral.

But, Floral was already standing. With a shaky breath and wide eyes, he examined his surroundings with caution. He drew in a deep breath, and let it out slowly as his mind seemed to clear up.

"Moon!" He shouted and turned to the mentioned mare.

"I'm here you prick." Moon answered with an annoyed face.

"You alrig-" He was interrupted as Moon suddenly punched him in the face.

"YOU FUCKING MORON! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOUR NOCTURNAL MAGIC WAS BUILDING UP! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO RELEASE THAT SHIT EVERY NOW AND THEN SO THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN!!" She said with a pissed off face.

Floral rubbed his snot for a moment before sighing. "Fine, yes, that was my fault. I should've told you." He admitted. "Wait, where's Gilda?"

*CAW*

A distant cry was heard.

"Oh shit." Moon cussed.

Fire had spread. The ground was torn up and the blood of dozens upon dozens of different animals painted the area.

And upon a mountain of corpses, one single being was refusing to die so easily.

She was also laughing like a crazed lunatic.

"Yes! Who wants some more?!" She yelled to the sky as she held the head of a poor tiger. She was entirely covered in blood. Fresher blood was seemingly pouring from the top of her head. Several different kinds of injuries visible on her body. She was also holding a turtle as a shield.

"What are the chances that she hit her head?" Luna asked with a very concerned expression.

"I'd say about, ninety nine percent?" Moon said back, equally concerned.

"So, I'd say we definitely affected her to some point." Floral commented and threw away a dismembered claw.

"I don't believe she has gone loonies, but may I suggest zoomies?" Zecora suggested with a nervous smile.

"Zoomies!?" Moon incredulously asked. "That is fucking zoomies?!"

"Is, is that really zoomies?!" Luna asked with an equally shocked face. "Is that really what this is?!"

"Gilda!" Floral gave a shout.

She didn't respond and continued to laugh maniacally.

"Gilda!?" He called louder.

She still didn't do anything.

Floral gave a small shrug before stepping forward.

"Nah, wait." Moon stopped him. "Hey! Birdbrain!"

"Ah! What the fuck did you just call me!?" Gilda suddenly awoke from her dream.

"Get your ass down here! You're crazy!" Moon shouted back.

"Fuck you!" Gilda yelled back, but still flew down. "So what is it? What do you want? Is there more targets to kill?" She rapid fired them as she seemingly got more excited.

The four were staring concerningly at her newborn thirst for blood.

"Let's get lunch?" Moon asked softly.

"Uhhh." Gilda froze for a second. "Yeah, sure!" She replied and took the lead.

"Is there like, something I missed? Did something happen for her to get that way?" Luna whispered the question to Floral.

"Not that I know of." He whispered back. "Ugh, this dizziness is killing me." He gave a small complaint.

"Yeah yeah, you're fucking lucky I figured out a correct way to dispel the build up." Moon admonished him with a frown. "Now come on, you owe me a fucking steak for this shit." She dismissed it all with a wave of her hoof as they started to walk back.

With the party back at the camp, things resumed as normal. Luna was talking to Floral about dreams whilst Moon was recounting the day to Celestia. Harkon was back, with a freshly dead pair of pigs whilst being consoled by Zecora for not being there while a fight was happening.

"Wait, so you are stronger than Floral?" Celestia asked as she sipped on tea.

"Fucking hell, you miss everything and that's the first thing you ask?" Moon asked back whilst taking a bite from a whole steak.

"Well, I'm sorry. I was signing documents to make sure you guys weren't in quite literally, an infinite amount of debt." Celestia replied.

"Ugh, whatever." Moon gave up. "Also, yes. I've been stronger than Floral for a while now."

"That, seems unlikely." She couldn't quite believe it.

"Khagk! Food!" Gilda awoke from her slumber after coughing on her own saliva, basically a mummy from the amount of bandages covering her. "Where!?"

"Here." Floral held up a plate with a seared stake on it.

"Thanks!" She said whilst she flew past him with incredible speed.

"Well, anyways." Moon continued her conversation after turning back to Celestia. "Have you seen the way this fucking anomaly fights? Virtually impossible to make him feel physical pain. Enough flexibility to make contortionists jealous. He puts a minotaur's strength to shame and then there's the whole fucking weapon mastery bullshit along with magic, even though he can't use it for now. Any more and you'd think he was made to fight by some higher being." She explained it all with an annoyed face. "Well, there's still a limit to how much skill can go against power." She muttered the last part.

"Hmm. I suppose that's true." Celestia thought back on Floral's file.

"His greatest strength, I truly find, is the power that lives within his mind." Zecora cut into the conversation. "Could you find me rare materials, dear? The kind that few can source or steer?" She asked Celestia.

"Well, I haven't been called a dear in about fifteen hundred years." Celestia was slightly taken aback. "Though, I'll have to check in with a few others before sending out a search. I can't really get you anything from the Everfree, or anything that's outside of Equestria." She accepted with a few limitations.

"Those materials are more westward bound, still within the borders they should be found." Zecora informed her with a smile before attending to Gilda. "You shouldn’t move, just rest and feel. Those wounds aren’t something quick to heal."

"Agh, whatever. I don't mind a few scars." She dismissed it and continued to wolf down on her food. "More!"

Floral gave a chuckle and gave her a grilled fish on a stick he had prepared beforehoof.

"Well, if there's one thing I've learned today. I can always just come here if I'm craving for a fight. Since, that always seems to happen whenever I visit." Luna commented with a bright smile.

Celestia sighed at her attitude. "Well, you do that while I go to sleep." She said and suppressed a yawn.

"Why don't you sleep at your own place?" Moon asked.

"It just feels calmer here." She replied.

"We're planning to drink after this. Sure you wanna miss out?" Floral asked with a small shrug as he finally sat down with his plate of fried vegetables.

Celestia was about to reply, then she stopped as se thought about it. "Okay, maybe I'll go for a shot or two."

Floral chuckled at the response whilst Moon gave a cheer. Zecora just sighed with a small grin.

"I can make some ice if we need it." Luna added her two bits with a laugh.

"Alright!" Moon exclaimed and shot out a tentacle to the treehouse. "I still have a score to settle with you, Celestia!" She stated as a few barrels were brought down. "I asked Fleur to bring a few more barrels just for this occasion!"

"Yes, yes, your desire for alcohol still manages to surprise me." Celestia replied and received a mug.

"Huzzah! For another successful victory!" Luna celebrated as she raised her mug up high.

"You really didn't learn anything huh?" Floral commented. "Hey! Who are you!" He suddenly shouted towards the woods.

*Click*

The single sound of a camera shutter rang out.

Staying frozen in their positions, everypony instantly figured out the aftereffects of what would happen.

"GET EM!" Moon shouted the command.

Several different magics shot out, all capture types. Then a wall of tentacles blocked the shots. Harkon was stopped in his tracks as he stood in front of the wall. Floral quickly assisting him.

"GET BACK HERE!" Celestia shouted and got up to run after them.

*Thud*

Then she instantly face planted into the ground after slipping on loose dirt before even fully standing up.

Taking the wall down with a burst of flames from Harkon, they were ready to capture.

"Ah." Sounds of shock filled the area as they could no longer see the pony.

"Seriously? With this fucking lineup we couldn't capture one pony?" Gilda asked exasperated.

Celestia was groaning as she refused to show her face. Luna was also groaning as she stared at the sky, hoping for a change. "Just why~."

"So, what are you gonna do now?" Floral asked.

"Screw this! I was gonna retire anyway!" Celestia suddenly shouted. "Moon! Let's do this!"

"Fuck yeah!"

Author's Note

Alright! Next arc, thing, I think? Anyways, as I promised, the story will now move on from the fully emotional side of the characters backstories.

So, see you next time!