Author's Note

This chapter basically just ties up some loose knots and prepares S2. It follows 4 POVs. So yeah, Rimu's fate still unknown. Wonder what happened to him?

You're the fucking author tf u mean 'I wonder what happened to him?'?!

Edit: Im 4000 words in and I want to jump off a comically small bridge.

10 [S1END]

Third's times the charm

[That one Ursa cub]

A bear cub slowly waddled it's way towards it's destination, it's mind filled with curiosity. Curiosity to what you may ask? A giant explosion maybe, just a guess.

After some time, the cub finally exited the dense forest and entered a meadow. Looking around, the cub spotted a figure in the distance. The figure was a pony, specifically a unicorn mare. Her coat was a light purple and her mane was curly with a noticable blue streak running down it.

The cub slowly made it's way towards the mare, making sure to be as silent as the wind. Before the cub could reach the mare, it noticed the mare lay down and started to bash her head on the soft dirt.

'Ponies are weird' The cub probably thought as he finally reached the mare.

[3rd person POV]

Starlight stood there, her face emotionless as the ursa major disintegrated before her eyes.

Normally she would be elated to see a fearsome and dangerous beast being struck down, maybe she could even research more about the creature.

Not this time. This time was different.

In the total of three days, Starlight grew to find friendship in Trixie. Sure, she may be annoying at times...

Scratch that, she was annoying everytime.

But she was fun. Fun to be around. Maybe even a companion.

That thought was crushed and thrown away as Trixie fought the ursa. She didn't see Trixie as a companion anymore, no. She saw Trixie more than a companion, a friend.

Friend is a heavy topic for Starlight, friendship even more so. What even signifies a friend? Their willingness to help you? Maybe.

Trixie was cunning, stupidly so. Her plan was unconventional and unsafe, but it minimized the potential damage to Starlight. A single tear flowed through on Starlight's cheek. Trixie had cared for her. Cared enough at least to not let Starlight to be killed.

Starlight looked towards the crater. Trixie was nowhere in sight.

Starlight saw Trixie's last attack on the ursa, her mind still wrapping itself on the very concept of the attack. On one hoof, the attack contained enough magical energy to completely erase the ursa, on the other hoof, that also applied to Trixie.

She bit her cheek as she stared at the crater once again. Tears now flowing freely and her legs shaking as the reality of the situation slapped her again and again in the face.

Trixie had died, for real.

There was no more "other personalities", no more "revive", and definitely no more funny jokes.

Trixie. Died.

Her mind blocked out reality once more. Maybe it's just another 'gotcha!' moment? Maybe she'll come back! Maybe. Maybe...

She slowly lowered herself towards the ground. Maybe Trixie's gonna jump out and say "I got you good!". She laughed dryly at that thought, only a miracle can do that.

Her eyes was glued towards the crater as she thought of the many ways on how Trixie could revive. She bashed, and bashed her head to maybe think of something. She was so preoccupied on the thought she completely ignored the ursa cub slowly creeping up on her side.

A small yelp escaped Starlight's mouth as the ursa poked it's claw on her stomach. Her eyes full of fear as she saw the ursa cub close to her, fully able to rip her apart in any moment.

"Roar." The ursa cub said towards Starlight.

"W-what?" Starlight stammered out.

"Roar." The cub repeated.

"Oh r-right, you c-cant speak ponish." Starlight deduced with her immaculate intelligence.

"Roar." The ursa replied.

"A-are you gonna eat me?" Starlight asked, fully not expecting an answer.

The ursa threw her a yuck expression and shook it's head, it then pointed at Starlight and did a pretend puke action.

"Are you saying I'm yucky?!" Starlight exclaimed.

"Roar." The ursa deadpanned.

"Am I not good enough for you?" Starlight asked.

The ursa looked towards Starlight's flank, and then back towards her. A ursa brought it's paws together and slowly clapped them.

"Your flank is smaller than me, so yes." Starlight translated from the ursa.

Her face erupted in embarrassment as she deduced the ursa's message, the ursa meanwhile deduced that Starlight did not pair with red.

"Why you-" Starlight started, before she sighed and started to bash her head again on the dirt.

"Roar."

"I'm not even going to bother..." Starlight whispered.

The cub shook his head and slowly climbed Starlight's prone form, perching on top of her head as she finally stopped bashing her skull into the hardest material know to ponies.

"I'm never going to see her again..." Starlight said to herself.

A voice nagged at her at the back of her mind. She dismissed the voice immediately, as she thought it was another one of her "self-esteem issues" or something.

Hey! Stop ignoring me you crook! The voice shouted, which Starlight ignored.

Oh I swear to all that is good! STOP IGNORING ME! The voice shouted louder. Starlight merely blocked the voice out yet again.

I swear, how did I ever find you unintelligible The voice sighed, Ahem.

Starlight N. Glimmer, you have been selected as a new participant in an important survey done by System.inc, please answer truthfully. The voice stated.

A screen popped up infront of Starlight, startling her and the ursa cub, "What the!-"

Are you stupid?

[Yes!] [No!]

The ursa cub, without hesitation, huffed with approval. Starlight meanwhile stared at the screen in utter disbelief. After a few minutes, the ursa ultimately rolled it's eyes and clicked the [Yes!] option for Starlight.

"Wha-bu-HOW?!" Starlight exclaimed. The ursa huffed in annoyance and pointed at Starlight, then pointing at itself.

"You have the same intelligence as me and that's surprisingly not surprising."

"I aced all my tests in CSGU thank you very much!" Starlight countered. The ursa looked at Starlight with a deadpanned expression. The ursa pointed at Starlight and grabbed a stick, it then dropped the stick while maintaining eye contact.

"You didn't even attend CSGU."

"How do you know that?!" Starlight asked, calmly. Calmly.

The ursa points at Starlight's horn and spread it's arms out.

"Anyone could've guessed it! You're horn is probably the biggest thing on and in your head!"

Stop bickering like old people and answer the questions.

The ursa cub huffed in annoyance, as did Starlight.

Do you have conviction?

[Yes!] [No!]

Starlight imitated the cubs actions before. Putting her hoof above the [Yes!] option, she jabbed her hoof softly causing a satisfying ping sound to occur.

Are you determined?

[Yes!] [No!]

"Yes."

Ping!

Do you wish to save someponies life?

"Yes."

ping!

If faced with adversity, will you prevail?

"... Yes."

ping!

Now, for the big question.

Will you fight for the queen?

"... What queen?" Starlight said, confused. The cub growled in confusion also.

You already know who she is. Now, will. You. Fight. For. The. Queen?

[Yes.] [No.]

"I really can't answer that without knowing who it is, you know." Starlight said, with confusion still evident in her voice.

The ursa cub tried to move up Starlight's head to see a clearer view of the question. Instead, he jostled Starlight's head towards the screen, accidentally hitting [Yes.]

ping!

Both of them froze as they heard the unmistakable ping of the screen. An audible creek was heard as they turned towards the glowing screen.

Good to know that! Anyways, thank you for participating and I hope you'll have a great day! Especially tomorrow ish! Don't read too deep into that!

"Wait I didn't mean to-"

Too late now! I'm already disappearing! Woooo! Im already gone! You should've thought better! Woooo! You should really take a break because tomorrow your gonna fight a cha

"I... AUGH! WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME?!" Starlight shouted to the heavens, knocking the poor cub off of her head.

Starlight bashed her head on the soft dirt yet again, yelling profanities into the dirt as she did. Unfortunately, she didn't notice another screen pop up. Said screen displayed a simple message, one that quickly disappeared.

Three way clash:

23 hours and 50 minute's left.

[Agent Sweetie Drops POV]

"Would you like todays newspaper madam?" A pony pointed towards the cart full of Newspapers he was pushing.

"Yes please." Sweetie Drop answered, the stallion hoofing over the newspaper as she did.

'It's something to pass the time I guess...' Thought Sweetie Drops, aka Bon bon.

Opening the newspaper, Bon bon skimmed through the front page. She stared at the paper for a moment, before quickly skimming through it again. Dropping the newspaper, Bon Bon hurriedly rushed over to the trains conductor.

The newspaper drifted for a second before dropping towards the ground. The front page clearly visible.

Equestria Daily!

Breaking news! Massive creature seen in the forrest near Gravel and Lush mane! Said creature was last spotted at 9 am, it then disappeared as a gigantic magical attack was casted near the area of the creature. Some speculate the creature disappeared due to a clash with a powerful unicorn, or even another creature.

Gravel mane's Vice-mayor is currently staying silent in the matter, though some theorize it's due to head security/head guard of Gravel mane disappearing around the same time. The mayor of Gravel mane is also staying silent, but promised to answer any questions at a later date.

More updates is to be released as more info comes to light!

Have you seen this filly? [Picture of a teal coated filly]

If you did, please contact your local authorities. The filly was last seen near the Everfree forest, at exactly 3:14 pm yesterday. The filly is approximately 13 years of age, with no family members known.

[Princess Mi Amore Cadenza(or Cadence) POV]

As I read the newspaper, my confusion grew and grew.

'There wasn't any large creatures mentioned in this time period. Something isn't right.'

I was an avid watcher of MLP:FIM, but unfortunately only got to S5 of the show because of reasons. To say I was confused would be an understatement. I could've been missing crucial info about the past that got revealed in the later episodes, but something tells me that isn't it.

I slowly walked towards the door fo my room, newspaper still in my magical hold. I was going to find out what rely happened, one way or another.

And that way is my Auntie Celestia.

'Still feels weird to call Celestia Auntie, but it sounds correct.'

I opened the door and slowly trotted out while deep in thought. I was pulled out from it however, a familiar voice calling out to me.

"Hey Cadence!" Shining armour said cheerfully, "Nice day today huh?"

The dreaded Shining armour, aka, my to-be-husband. I dreaded that day. Why? Because that day, the day that we get married, will mark the day that I lost all of my masculinity. Well, actually maybe not. Because Flurry heart exists.

I shuddered at the thought of Flurry heart, but quickly composed myself and smile back at Shiny.

"Oh! Hello Shiny," I said, trotting up to him and brushing myself on to him. "Didn't expect you to be here, I thought you had training?"

He quickly turned crimson the moment I brushed up to him, which made me chuckle internally. Look, I'm not gay, but the show must go on.

"I-I-I had to uh," Shiny stuttered as he thought up an excuse. "AskprincessCelestiaaboutthemassivecreature! Yeah... Yeah!"

I chuckled at Shiny as he slowly turned pink in embarrassment.

"Oh, sure you do." I said, while slightly nuzzling him.

'I could feel my last vestiges of humanity shiver as I did that wow.'

Shiny turned crimson yet again, but actually composed himself rather quickly. Surprising.

"What about you? Why are you out here? I thought you were locked in your room for the tenth time trying to find the best match ups for ponies?" Shiny said with a sly smirk, which I countered with a pout.

I hate to admit that, when I found out that I was Cadence I kinda freaked out since I had not even a single clue about love. Thankfully when I got older and I actually got my cutie mark, I finally learned about love and went a little... Over board.

Celestia still doesn't forgive me when I paired her up with ten stallions and one mare. And I don't think she ever will.

"Well, I saw the newspaper's front page and decided to ask Auntie about it. I am being trained as a diplomat for Equestria, so I need to know what happens in it." I answered. Shiny seemed to understand and nodded his head in response.

We arrived at the door to day court after a few more minutes of talking. The two guards brought their spear and smacked them together to signal 'Dont step closer'.

"Halt! State your reason!" One of the guards asked.

"I am here to talk with Princess Celestia, my auntie on something regarding the safety of the nation." I said, while keeping it as polite as I can. Both of them stared at each other, before nodding and placing their spears back to their sides.

"You may enter." Both of them said in unison, before opening the door.

As we entered, we saw my Auntie Celestia. Well, barely. Celestia was sitting on her throne as usual. But she was... Different.

"Auntie? Why do you look so ti-" I stopped as hitched my breath. That's when I smelled it. The undeniable smell of mare liquid. One of the only smells you smell when estrus comes around.

"Auntie, I think you may need a quick bath." I said, while magically plugging my nose.

"Huh? Why does the Princess need a baaaaa- oh. OH!" Shining said, then exclaimed as he smelt the mare liquid just radiating from Celestia.

"I know... It smells... Bad... *Yawn*" A voice said from behind us. We slowly turned our heads towards the voice, only to find Sunset Shimmer drinking hot chocolate while wearing a mask.

"Sunset? What... Happened?" I asked Sunset, her only response was another yawn and a glare towards Auntie.

"Well, somepony smelled a certain liquid from a certain species and went to town for an entire two days by herself. That's what happened." She answered, still glaring at Celestia.

"I already said I was sorry..." Auntie quietly mumbled, which Sunset heard.

"Well, if you really wanted to say sorry, you would've GOTTEN A BATH!" Sunset yelled at Celestia, which caught Shiny off guard.

"Sunset! Don't yell at the Princ-"

"No! You don't understand Shining!" Sunset cut Shiny off and went closer to him. "She did herself, for almost TWO DAYS STRAIGHT! My room, was NEXT TO HERS! I COULD SMELL HER FROM MY ROOM! TARTERUS, YOU CAN PROBABLY SMELL HER FROM THE CAFETERIA!"

"I already took a bath though..." Auntie mumbled quietly again.

"Auntie... How many times did you, uh."

"Not that many-"

"The princess at least did it a hundred times." Sunset answered for Celestia, her hot chocolate flowing towards the ground because of her mask.

I started to question my Auntie's mental state but suddenly remembered why I came originally. I quickly coughed into my hoof to get Auntie's attention, which worked.

"We're getting off topic," I stated. "Auntie, what was the monster near Gravel mane?"

"There was a what in where?" I heard Sunset exclaim quietly.

"There were multiple reports of a monster rampaging near Gravel mane, so me and Shiny decided to ask Auntie about it." I explained.

"Gravel mane, as in the Gravel mane near the Lush forest?" Sunset questioned.

"Not sure if the forest's name is Lush forest but I think so." I answered. Shiny whispered in my ear, saying that the forest is named Lush forest, which made me 'oh'.

"Any possibilities that there were two unicorns in the area?" Sunset questioned.

"No? Other than the new Vice-mayor of Gravel mane there isn't any unicorns reported near the mons-"

"New? What do you mean new?!" Sunset exclaimed, grabbing me on my shoulders and vigorously shaking me. "WHAT DID THE NEW VICE-MAYOR LOOK LIKE? THEY THEY HAVE A PURPLE MANE-"

"SUNSET! Enough!" Shouted Auntie, which made the three of us jump. "Cadence, please answer Sunset's question. And Sunset, please stop shaking my nephew."

Sunset's pupils were pinpricks at this point, which means she's scared. Well, that's what I thought until I saw a nerve bulge out of her head looney toons style.

"Fine." Sunset dryly stated.

Deciding I should try to answer Sunset's questions, (partly because I don't want to fucking die by lesbian bacon) I spoke up rather shakily, still feeling the affects of the washing machine shake.

"I-I don't know what they look like, but yesterday's paper did have an article about them," I answered, slowly composing myself. "The new Vice-mayor had a purple curly mane, with a blue streak running down it. She also has a pinkish purple coat, with two black rectangles as... A... Cutie... Mark..."

As I said out loud the description of the Vice-mayor, realization suddenly dawns on me. I was fucking describing Starlight Glimmer! The show didn't say anything about this! Hell, this was the wrong fucking town! She isn't even supposed to be Vice-mayor in that town! Well, I think so anyways. 'Our Town' doesn't sound like an actual town name.

"Purple coat, Purple mane with blue streak, and two black rectangles for a cutie mark... That's the exact description of subject: Aurora!" Sunset exclaimed excitedly.

"Subject who now?" I heard Shiny question. I forgot he even existed for a second.

"Subject: Aurora! The mare that was reported to be fighting a black coated, blue greenish maned mare in Gravel mane a few days ago!" Sunset said. After she said that, she squealed like a school filly and rolled on the floor for a few seconds.

"Do you know what this means?" Sunset asked us, me and Shiny shaking our heads. "This means subject: Moon is nearby!"

Sunset sat there, with the biggest wide smile you've ever seen. Meanwhile me and Shiny just looked at each other, confused out of our minds. Sunset's smile faltered, before quickly turning into a frown.

"You two don't know what that means, do you?" Sunset sighed. "Subject: Moon was reported to use magic, get this, without using her horn"

... Wait how did Sunset direct this conversation to this? I was just asking what monster appeared near that town! CELESTIA DAMMIT SUNS-

*CRUUUNCH!*

[Chrystal POV]

I slowly trotted across the dark and gloomy swamp of a forest the vermin called, "The Everfree forest".

It was a rather nice trot, in all things considered. Just ignore the manticore corpses behind me, and the few hydra bodies, oh and that one dragon. I was lucky it wasn't a full adult dragon, but mare luck was on both sides as the dragon escaped with a broken bone. Or ten.

I heard a loud crash a few hours back, but I payed it no mind. The queen has tasked me with one objective, and that's the only thing that matters.

If I was the same ling before.

Back then, I was a mindless, no free will warrior of the hive. Only tasked with one thing at a time. As I matured however, a rare gift was bestowed upon me by god, or who's in charged up there.

That gift, was the gift of will.

Most lings had no free will, only high ranked lings had it. Some changeling families do have the ability of will, but it's very limited. Mine however, wasn't.

You see, there are ranks in the changeling order. The lowest of which is called the drones.

They do not have free will, or at the very most have enough free will to not die without the queen's constant orders. Next up are the soldiers.

Soldiers are only a small step up from drones. They have as much free will as a rock that I kicked down the hill when I was a child. They await the queen's orders, standing or sleeping in the dark and cold barracks of the hive. Barely speaking a word. Some do become guards, and gain more free will, though that is rarely come across.

Next up are gatherers. Now these lings have free will. They are the backbone of any changeling hive, as they gather emotions that are needed for it's growth and survival. They have a considerable amount of free will, as they need most of it to go out and see the world.

And lastly, are the elites. Theses lings are the nobles of the hive. They control, manage, and pretty much save the queen from any hassle of royalty. They build houses for the lings, though it is barely used, or so I am told. They get direct orders from the queen, which they repeat to the queens subjects posthaste. The queen can order the hive directly, but it causes too much strain on the queen, so the elites stay.

However, I was vastly different. I used to be a drone, along with a certain ling named "Thorax" or something. At an early age, Thorax and I, along with his brother, gained free will. It alarmed the queen, so she ordered the elites to send the three of us to her chambers.

With testing, the queen found out Thorax and his brother only gained a miniscule amount of free will, atleast compared to me that is. My free will was outstanding, and rather alarming to the queen.

I could challenge the queen's choice without consequences, or even outright disobey orders if I wanted too. Normally, anyling who even thought about doing that would combust right then and there.

That's partly why I soared the ranks, and the main reason I'm feared by the queen. The queen fears me, she fears what I could represent. What can I represent? Well, what the queen fears at that moment. One moment she fears I could start a revolution in her hive, and the next she fears that I'll surpass her and become the the new queen. The last one is basically an irrational fear, noling can become a queen nilly-willy, at least, that's what I think.

The elites however saw me as the perfect warrior. It sounds backwards, but it makes sense. To the elites a perfect warrior was one who can think without struggle, one who trains without being told, one who comes up with plans and predicts the enemies movements with ease. Thankfully for them, I was just that. A perfect warrior.

Leaves crunched beneath my hooves as I walk past a cave. A faint smell wafted through the air, one that I was well accustomed to. The smell of a ling's heat, more specifically, a changeling queen's heat. I was close.

Smelling the air more thoroughly, I noticed it trailing away from the cave, and into the direction of a large river. Following the scent, I came across the remains of a hydra, clearly eaten and discarded away only a few days ago.

I smelled the air again, now detecting a faint odor of magic. Ponies don't know this, but magic actually smells like something. It's a combination of sweet and metallic, an interesting smell, but one you can get used to.

I carefully trotted towards the largest concentration of the magic smell I could find, finding it to be right inside the hydra. One thing to note is that an animal that uses magic doesn't emit it's smell, something I chalked up to evolution.

Keeping a mental note for later, I sniffed the ground to pick up the smell of ling-liquid, now noticing that it strangely stops at the river. I smelled the air again, finding that, for some strange reason, the smell is now coming from the river. She must've jumped in.

Trotting towards where the smell is heading to, I finding a small town in the forest, though ignored it as the smell didn't stop at it. Continuing my trot across the river, the forest slowly ended and I was met with a mini mesa plains.

I explored multiple countries but Equestria still surprises me even now. I mean, where else could you see a mesa combined with a plains just outside a forest brimming with life?

Chuckling to myself, I trotted towards the ever increasing smell of my target. I stopped as I stared at a town, a sign hanging above the entrance to it. I smelled the air again, and concluded that this is where my target is. I steeled myself as I trotted into the town, what's the name again? It was just on the sign a few seconds ago... Oh, right, the town's name was-

Gravel mane

Three way clash:
30 minutes

Season one. Officially over. Finally.