Once per Day

Twilight stood in shock beside her friends and the still-dazed form of Celestia, as she and the entire square of creatures who had just moments prior been at each other's throats all stared skyward.

The distant shape of Honeysuckle seemed to hover among the clouds for a few seconds before plummeting down and vanishing behind Canterlot's skyline. The ponies and changelings all watched the poor doomed unicorn fall before slowly their attention returned to the hulking, smirking, black-haired beast that had launched her.

To their hesitant relief, the monster continued to look skyward at the point where Honeysuckle had vanished with a proud smile instead of turning his attention to any of them.

"Twi? I think we're gonna need the Elements," Applejack suddenly murmured to her shocked friend beside her. Then, the monster's eyes suddenly snapped to her and their friends. Slowly, his head turned to face them directly.

"Elements you say?" He hummed, sweeping one foot before the other and slowly stalking toward them. Twilight swallowed hard and fixed him with a determined glare, something her friends matched. Save for Fluttershy, who cowered behind the other five. "You wouldn't happen to be referring to those delightful little gemstones Their Majesties employed to seal Discord and myself, would you?" He stood just before the mares and leaned over them at the hips with a disturbingly warm smile. Twilight huffed an anxious breath before stomping her hoof.

"That's right! We're the Element Bearers now," she declared, firmly glaring into his eyes. "And we'll use them to stop you again!"

"You tell 'em Twilight!" Rainbow cheered.

"Yeah! We've faced way scarier guys than you!" Pinkie added. The human pursed his lips in a frown and slowly rubbed his chin as his eyes trailed off to the side.

"Ah, I see. Now, that is an issue. For you see, I find myself disinclined to allow those little trinkets to be used upon me again," he screwed up his face and stood up straight, clearly deep in thought, before shaking his head with a hum. "So, I suppose I'll just have to break your necks to stop that from happening." The girls all froze at his words and he waved his hand, shaking his head again and taking another step closer.

"I know! I know! But please believe me, it isn't personal," he offered a quiet chortle before fixing them with a dark smile. "If it was, I assure you, I'd deal something far more gruesome and prolonged upon ye." Before any of them could retort, Rainbow gasped and shot to the side, barreling Twilight over which saved her from the monster's hand that had suddenly snapped down and clamped shut on the air where her head had just been.

"Look out!" Rainbow yelled as the human brought his other hand back in a fist and hurled it forward at Fluttershy who wilted and froze under his gaze. Despite being toppled over, Twilight clenched her teeth and blasted the monster with all her magical might. His fist made contact with her spell, which folded in and bubbled up, sending ripples of magical light through the air and casting the villain's features in an eerie glow that accentuated the manic, evil look in his eyes.

Despite the nightmarish visual, the collision of claw and spell managed to hold back the monster as he and Twilight struggled against each other. The villain ground his backfoot into the paving stones of the street until they cracked while Twilight was forced to hug the ground for leverage as the pair strained.

Seizing the opportunity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack leaped to either side of the human and then hurled into his head and knees respectively. The combined surprise attack knocked him off his feet and allowed Twilight's spell to blast him back. The unicorn gasped as she cut her beam and then rose to her hooves as the girls watched the spell carry the villain away.

Until he pivoted in the air, caught himself on one foot, gripped the spell itself, and wrenched it to the side where it exploded into the street. He stood up straight with a wide, toothy smile and giggled quietly.

Twilight's jaw dropped for a moment before she adopted a steely expression and jabbed a hoof at the guards.
"Get the princess to safety!" She demanded before leading the charge against the villain who stomped forward in response.

"Blueleaf! Don't let her get away!" He roared as he dashed. The pony in question slowly sat up and blinked.

"Whu?" He murmured.

"Traitor!" One of the guards bellowed as she and a few others hauled Celestia away. "You'll get yours, Blueleaf!" The stallion furrowed his brow and slowly looked around while the changelings collected their queen and fled as well.

"Cazzo? What did I do?" He muttered as the Element-bearers and human slammed into each other.

"Sweet mercy," Turnip gasped as the battle exploded with renewed energy.

"Lieutenant!" Snowpea screamed before galloping toward where Honeysuckle had fallen with Violence at her side.

"Hey! Wait!" Turnip called before grunting and turning back to the cultists and his sister. "Well, what-" He paused at the sight of Sugarplum, who was staring straight ahead with wide, terrified eyes. Looking back, Turnip saw her gaze was locked on the other human.

"Sugarplum?" Sash said, reaching forward and gently shaking her. The mare shivered and blinked before turning to look between the sheep and her brother.

"You okay?" Turnip asked. His sister's ears snapped back and her eyes darted, seemingly on instinct, to the crazed human fighting the Elements in the street. Then she blinked and turned her full attention that way before gasping and thrusting her hoof forward.

"Look! The Avatar!" She cried. The whole group turned in the direction she was pointing, and sure enough, the human they were more familiar with was entering the fray. Though, plainly not of his own volition.

"Is that Princess Lu-" Turnip began before wilting. "Whoa."

Nettle had once told me spear good. As I stomped through the halls of this dopey princess castle, I believed him. Despite being a wizard (and God did that feel good to say) some deep part of me was tickled by the feel as I bounded on with my spear pointed forward.

"Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo!" I chanted.

"Victor Fremont?" A familiar voice suddenly interrupted. I stopped and whirled around to see Luna emerging from a passage I'd just passed. She fixed me with a perplexed look as I felt blood rush to my face.

"Hey," I replied, clearing my throat and standing up straight. "What's, uh, what's up?"

"I was awoken from my slumber by the noise of battle, and as I descended from mine chamber, I spied you galloping down the hall," she explained as she approached. I coughed into my fist and she looked me up and down again. "How did you escape?" I froze and my jaw opened and closed as I searched for an excuse. Finally, I snapped my fingers and gave her a smile.

"I pretended to be a bar of soap and gave your guards the slip," I declared and swept my hand out to her. She blinked twice. "Eh? Eh?" She shook her head slowly.

"I am sorry, Victor, but I am in no mood for jest," she declared, spreading her wings and lighting up her horn as I wilted. "Sleep now." Shit.

"Before you do anything drastic!" I yelled, stumbling back and holding up a hand. "I think you should know that Blackbeard's free." She paused and a look of horror washed over her face.

"How do you know that name?" She more gasped than said. Jackpot!

"Cause I met him," I replied with a nod, slowly taking a few steps away as she stood frozen in shock. "He's free and heading outside to decapitate your sister." She tensed up and turned to look out the window, at which point I turned and took off like a bolt of living lightning.

I streaked down the halls and around the corners and then dove through an open window, landing in a convenient bush that cushioned my landing and allowed me to roll to my feet and continue my sprint unhindered.

That would have been cool and I know I could have pulled it all off.

Instead, the second I turned I was frozen and encased in a magical membrane the same color as Luna's horn.

"I hope for your sake you were not simply deceiving me," she declared, dragging me back and tilting me to meet her at eye level. There was a quiet fury in her eyes as she glared. "Otherwise, I will avenge myself upon you before dealing with the enemy outside these walls." I swallowed hard and she turned to face the window.

"So, let us investigate the veracity of your claim. Together," she said before taking a deep breath and throwing the window open with her magic. "HUZZAH!" My eyes widened as suddenly the open sky was visible above me before it spun away and the castle slid into view, followed by an old medieval-looking city. Well, medieval if you don't count the more modern-looking shops. And the crazy bug horses skittering along the building walls and roofs.

And the blue-winged unicorn dragging me through the air in a wide circle. Dragging me very quickly through the air, I should add.

"My. brraains," I strained to say against the g-force. "Are going into my. FEET."

"Your species is strange and fascinating indeed, but come! Point the villain out to me, Victor Fremont!" She demanded. The last thing I heard was her gasp just as my vision started to go hazy from all my blood being pushed into my toes. Then she stopped and I heaved as the world spun and most of my stomach contents bounced up to the roof of my mouth.

"There he is! You spoke the truth!" She cried, wrenching me about and forcing me to look downward.

"HuLAAaaug," I gurgled as all my fluids settled. Even as my vision returned, we were still high above the city so I could only barely make out little dots in the streets below. One little dot seemed to really piss her off, however, as she took over at top speed toward it.

"Have at thee!" She shrieked. We came to a halt much sooner this time, but my vision was still dark. Strangely, as I again recovered from the rattling ride she'd taken me on, I saw the sun high above us, still illuminated, though the sky all around it was dark. I also then realized I'd been dropped onto the ground, allowing me to tilt my head back to see several sights that did nothing for my zonked-out and rattled brain.

First was Blackbeard. He had one foot on Twilight's rainbow-haired friend, his left arm had the orange one in a headlock, his left hand had the white unicorn by the tail, and he had Twilight by the horn in his right hand. The pink one had her teeth clamped on his beard, while the yellow one was cowering.

All of them were looking back at Luna who was slowly drifting back into the air and bathed in a white light, like the moon. In fact, the light coming off her was incredibly hard to look at due to how bright it was, but so long as I focused on just her at its center it seemed strangely tolerable.

"This again, eh?" I heard Blackbeard chortle. Then Luna snapped her horn forward at him and the light sprang forward and shrank to a single point.

Thwink

Blackbeard tensed up and clenched his teeth hard, inhaling with a sharp hiss as he released the ponies and brought his elbows back reflexively where the tiny bead of light had impacted.

"Ooooh, still stings," he groaned as the sun's light filled the sky again. There was a rumbling boom then, as Luna slammed into him sending him rolling down the road. Luna beat her wings and turned to face Twilight.

"Twilight Sparkle! Contain Victor Fremont while I-" She stumbled and moaned aloud, and her hair almost seemed to deflate.

"Princess?" Twilight asked as she and her friends stood up and hurried to her side. Luna held a hoof to her head, and she seemed to shrink before my eyes. Again, none of this helped my still rattled brain.

"I believe," she began, haltingly. "The effects of the Elements are still-"

"Look out!" The rainbow-haired one yelled. They all jumped and looked just in time to see Blackbeard hurl himself in, and slide just passed Luna in a damn pose before hurling himself back elbow-first into her face and driving her to the ground.

"Sick," I mused groggily as the group began fighting again.

"Victor!" Another familiar voice cried as a bunch of figures suddenly surrounded me.

"Huh?" I blinked and looked up to see Sash looking down at me along with a bunch of the cultists. And Turnip, for some reason.

"It's us! We came to rescue you!" Sash declared as they helped me to a sitting position. My stomach lurched and my eyes went blurry. "Are you okay?" I moaned before looking at him.

"Fine. How've you been?" I asked. He paused and his eyes darted about.

"I've.. Been alright, I suppose," he replied.

"Good," I said with a weak nod. The cultists shared a look before Sash jostled me.

"Victor, I'm not sure where everywooly else is, but we have an escape route planned," he said pointing a hoof off to my left. "There's an airship this way!" I slowly looked in that direction but saw only shaky shapes that might've been buildings.

"Well," I huffed before looking at him again. "Let's get over to it, and then take a five-minute break." He blinked and recoiled slightly with his head tilted.

"Uh, alright, Victor."

Her hooves just weren't working.

No matter how hard she galloped, she never got any further. Canterlot was still all around her, the dense, heavy rain clouds were still boiling above her, and the gate was still miles away beyond which she could see the sun.

"Richgirl," one of the shops on her left jeered.

"Moneybags," the lamppost on her right added.

"Richgirl."

"Moneybags."

"Richgirl."

"Moneybags."

"Burden," the storm overhead boomed suddenly, though the jeers and taunts of the city around her continued quietly. "Hindrance."

Honeysuckle stumbled and tripped as the words rained down. Once she hit the uneven paving stones, she hid her eyes under her hooves.

"My little curse from the heavens. Sleeping on the job, are you? Of course you are, you lazy filly. I should never have let you join the guard. You shame this family and that uniform," the storm continued. An icy chill danced across her neck. "What would your mother think?"

"I'm sorry," she sobbed.

"On that at least, we can agree," the storm rumbled. "Very sorry indeed." The sky crackled and rumbled with lightning, and Honeysuckle clenched up tight, bracing to be struck.

But the bolt never came.

Instead, she blinked and sighed hard. Her eyes darted around the room she'd crashed into after her fall. Rolling to a sitting position, she sat and panted, shaking her head to clear it of the dream she'd endured.

"Every time," she croaked and clenched her eyes shut. "Merde."

"Lieutenant!" A call came from outside, causing her to shudder before perking up. Hastily wiping her eyes with her tunic she peeked out the window she'd crashed through. Down below, searching the airship dock was Snowpea and Incredible Violence. The sight of her two subordinates eased the tension in her chest, as it usually did.

But there was still a weight on her shoulders. Something she couldn't ignore. Not anymore.

"If she has me discharged, I'll have to live here again," she quietly mused, scanning the city through the window. "I'll be stuck under his hoof again." She grimaced and sighed hard.

"Not that I was ever very far from that point regardless," she turned as Snowpea called out to her again and began pacing the room. She idly kicked some of the broken boards she'd smashed in and scanned the wardrobe she'd crashed into, pausing at what she saw.

A wedding dress, crumpled on the ground.

Her ear twitched, and the thunderous voice from her dream rumbled in her memory.

"Lieutenant!" Snowpea cried again. Honeysuckle turned and leered over her shoulder at the window. Straight across from where she'd landed, she saw the balloon of an airship. Approaching the window, she looked at the vessel and then the open air beyond. Though the room she was in was dark, the sun's light was visible just through the window and bathed all the land beyond Canterlot in its warm glow. Taking a deep breath and setting her face in a determined frown, she nodded and leaned out the window to call to Snowpea.

Then she froze at the sight of the airship's gangplank and the creatures who were boarding the vessel.

"Fils de pute," she hissed.

I'd never been close to a proper ship before, so stepping up the walkin' plank onto the deck of this blimp was pretty neat. Landlocked Midwest boys represent.

"We've looked all over the dock, but can't find the lieutenant!" Snowpea squealed as she and Violence followed us on deck.

"Oh no, not Honeysuckle," I said evenly as I scanned the ropes holding the balloon down. "Oh no, I'm so. Sad." I turned to Sash with a shrug.

"My life's just," I frowned and shrugged even harder. "Better now. I don't know how I will cope." The sheep blinked and tilted his head at my words but said nothing.

"Goober, please!" Snowpea begged, rearing up and pawing at my shirt. "Help us look for her!"

"No," I said, walking toward the big wheel and letting her flop off. "Anyone know how to make this thing go?"

"Oui," came a voice. I sighed sharply and turned to see all the cultists looking from me to Honeysuckle as she stepped onto the deck of my ship. Least the walkin' plank was already out.

"Lieutenant!" Snowpea cheered as Violence wiped his forehead with a hoof. "You're okay!" Honeysuckle regarded them warmly and nodded at Turnip who seemed taken as taken aback by her presence as the rest of the cult. Then, she looked up a me.

"Okay is relative," she said, slowly approaching me. I folded my arms as she stood before me. A tense silence held the deck as the noise of Blackbeard's scuffle echoed through the city.

"I had a bad dream," she finally said with a slight shrug. "Maybe it's a bit silly, but I choose to take it as a sign of what I need to do." I smiled at her.

"Aw, neat! Was it one of those fun ones where you're like falling from a tree or something?" I asked and pointed toward the sheer drop-off of the dock. "Cause there's a cliff over there you can walk off." She glanced back that way for a moment before fixing me with a subdued sneer.

"Let me come with you," she declared more than asked. My jaw hung slightly with a wide frown.

"No?" I asked more than declared.

"Ple- Yes," she hissed.

"Naah~," I jeered, slowly shaking my head. She bared her teeth with a growl.

"You," she grunted and shook her head before fixing me with an annoyed leer. "Look, isn't it enough that I'm asking? Isn't that humiliating enough?"

"You're implying there's a condition in which I'm willing to let your psycho-ass travel with me," I replied, leaning forward to jab a finger at her. "And so long as I have a choice, that's not happening." She snarled her lip at me and very briefly lit up her horn as if she was reaching for her sword which was missing. When she couldn't find it, her horn dimmed and she glared up at me through her bangs for a moment.

"Choice, huh? Well, consider this; You need somepony who knows how to drive this ship," she declared. I blinked and looked around at the cultists, all of whom recoiled at her declaration.

"Oh! Uh, that's a good point," Sash said after a moment, rubbing his chin and looking over the group as well. "I don't think anywooly here is trained to operate an airship." My stomach lurched for an all-new reason.

"Correct. But I can offer instruction and get us moving." My eyes snapped down to Honeysuckle's smirking face. "Standard officer's training, Goobèr." I held my breath as we stared at each other, but then I exhaled as a sharp chortle and looked passed her.

"Turnip? Snowpea?" I said through a clenched smile. "You guy's're trained too, right?" Snowpea squeaked quietly at my tone, but Turnip cleared his throat.

"Uh, yeah, but not in officer's stuff," he replied with a bashful smile. "Sorry." As my smile wilted, a boom rolled through the air. Turning, we all saw as..

Well, part of a building came sailing down one of the roads before flying off the side of the cliff.

"They're coming this way!" Someone screamed. I frowned harder and glared at Honeysuckle who retorted with a sharp glare of her own. She even took the time to blow her bangs out of the way.

"Sugar? You okay?" Turnip suddenly asked, drawing both of our attentions his way. Sugarplum was just beside him and staring towards the fighting with a haunted look in her eyes.

"He reminds me of-" She paused and shook.

"What?" Turnip pressed, wrapping a leg over her shoulders. She whimpered and hugged up to him.

"Bad Teeth," she whispered. A change overtook the whole deck and everyone, including Honeysuckle darted around to look in Blackbeard's general direction.

"Yeah, uh, now that you mention it," Sash hummed, swallowing hard. "At least, based on rumors." I blinked and looked Blackbeard's way as well before facing Sash.

"Who?" I asked. He shook his head and faced me.

"We'll explain later. Now, what about Ms. Honeysuckle?" He frowned and gestured to the city. "I'm certain we'll meet Pseudo when he is ready to be met, but time is not on our side, Victor. We need to get you out of here." I inhaled through my teeth and glared down at her. My spells raced through my mind, but none of them would help here.

Besides blowing her up, but then we'd still be stuck. It'd be funny as fuck, though.

"You're fucking lucky you're four-legged," I growled with a heavy sigh, and waved my hand at her. "Welcome aboard." She hesitated before smiling.

"Merci," she replied and then spun around to the whole group. "Alright! All of you do exactly as I say!"

"He has Princess Luna!" Rarity screamed as she grabbed another brick to hurl at the human. "Again!"

"Correct! Now, watch this!" The villain cackled as he gripped her by the belly and then hurled her like a javelin at Rarity. The unicorn screamed and dove out of the way as Luna shot by and then stabbed into the ground horn first.

"Ouugh," the alicorn moaned as her body went limp. At the same time, Rainbow slammed into the human with all her might, causing him to stumble forward as she bounced off and tumbled along the road until she came to rest beside Twilight and Pinkie, the former of whom was attempting to pull the latter out of the street after the villain buried her up to the neck. With one push.

"Jeez! It feels like I'm bucking a brick wall behind a mountain of steel! How solid is this guy?" She griped, laying on her back and scowling up at the monster. Twilight huffed and shook her head.

"Extremely. Discord must have given him some degree of invulnerability along with all that strength," she said, fixing the villain with a sharp glare as he spun on his heels, scanning the whole group. "Those burns and what Luna did earlier make me think it's not total, however."

"We're still going to need a whole heck of a lot of magic to bring him down though," Applejack replied as she came up beside the trio with a serious limp and groaning quietly from having half a building slammed into her. "If only we could get to the dang Elements."

"Or if we had something just as strong!" Pinkie replied, springing up out of the ground in a triumphant pose. The other three considered her for a moment before Twilight scowled.

"Like what?" She demanded.

Spike anxiously looked back over his shoulder at the window for a moment before returning his attention to Cadance's hooves. Once Chrysalis and Blackbeard had vanished, he had a chance to use his claws to cut his way free and was now doing the same to Cadance.

"Al. Most," he growled as he chipped and scrapped, until finally- "Got it!" Cadance sprang free and leaped into the air.

"Great work, Spike!" She cheered sweeping the drake up and hugging him tight before turning to her fiance with a concerned look. Setting Spike down she rushed to Shining Armor and grabbed his face with her hooves.

"Shiny, I know you're in there," she begged, touching her horn to his with tears in her eyes. "Please, speak to-" Shining recoiled and shook his head with a snort before smiling at her, the green light completely gone from his eyes.

"Oh, hey, Candy Corn. What's up?" Cadance stared at him in shock for a few seconds.

"Wh-" She began before rolling her eyes with a groan, pulling Shining into a tight hug, and muttering in a begrudging tone. "C'mere."

"Fuck was that?" I squawked, whirling to look back at the city in the distance. The entire thing now had a big, pink, heart-shaped dome over it that seemed to be expanding. Due to its contrast against the sky, I could make out countless little dots being flung in every direction as if launched by the dome itself. All the cultists looked back that way along with Honeysuckle and her two cronies.

"Seems like something akin to the Elements of Harmony," Honeysuckle mused. "They must have secured them and used them against that beast."

"Good for them," I grumbled, leaning on the rear railing and staring at the weird phenomena for a few seconds. Finally, I returned my attention to the ship. Turnip was at the helm, with Sugarplum and Honeysuckle right beside him giving orders to the rest of the crew. A few of the cultists were below deck working the engine, but most were topside for lack of anything better to do. Once we started rolling, Honey'd confirmed that we just needed to stay alert and keep the engine roaring and we'd be fine.

I sighed and turned to Sash, who had stayed at my side the entire time everyone else was getting us airborne. "So, what now?" He looked up at me and then at Turnip.

"Well, the plan was to get you back to the fortress in the Badlands," he explained before casting a nervous look back at the city. Doing likewise, I saw it was still encased in its Valentine's-Day-themed dome. "But we were also hoping to speak with Pseudo for confirmation about what to do."

"Well, we might as well head that way," I replied with a shrug and scratched my head. "He'll probably pop up at some point. And besides, I'm assuming that's where Sneaky and Nettle are waiting, right?"

"Pardon?" Sash huffed. I frowned with a shrug.

"My friends? Pegasus and big Diamond Dog guy?" I gestured with my hands and shrugged again. "I mean, I'm assuming if they were part of the rescue team they'd have stuck with you." He considered me for a moment before wilting with a sad frown.

"Oh," he finally replied and shook his head. "No, Victor, they left." I flinched.

"What?" I gasped. "Why?" Sugarplum looked back at me with an angry frown.

"Nettle said there was nothing to be done and Sneaky said she didn't even like you," she spat. "And since she wasn't cursed anymore she could just leave." I slumped against the railing and stared at the deck while I digested her explanation.

"Oh."

"Victor?" Sash said, nudging my leg slightly.

"Yeah?"

"Are you-" I cut him off and waved my hand.

"Yeah. I'm fine. We-" I hesitated and grimaced. "I mean yeah, I deserve that. Evil wizard, y'know?" I rubbed the back of my neck and raised an eyebrow.

"Win some, lose some," I grumbled.

"Sneaky said that too," Sugarplum added causing me to pause.

"Yeah," I whispered. After a few seconds of silence, I noticed they were all staring and I stood up straight. "Hey, I've been snoozing in a dungeon for the last while. You mind if I see if there's a proper bed somewhere below?" Sash furrowed his brow but nodded and stepped aside. No one else moved to stop me, and so I descended from the helm deck and made my way to the captain's cabin. Inside, I found plenty of bookshelves and a nice desk, as well as a real comfy-looking bed that I immediately took a seat on.

I sat with my mouth open and my brow furrowed. But my mind was drawing a blank. I really wasn't sure how to feel.

They

They left.

Win some, lose some.

I could kind of understand Sneaky since she never hid her feelings and I had enslaved her the second we met. But Nettle?

"We relying on each other, not lying on each other," he had said at one point. I adopted a firm, even look as I processed the past few weeks.

"Guess it was just a necessity thing," I quietly murmured. "Or a me thing." A miserable grunt escaped my chest as I uttered the words and I sank back into my new bed. For a few minutes, I lay and listened to the quiet rumble of the engine before turning my head and spying my books lying beside me. I wasn't sure if I'd misplaced them at some point and they'd appeared there or if I instinctively set them aside. Didn't matter either way.

Pseudo had said there was something in here I missed. Considering he was able to read them at all while even trained unicorns like Twilight had issues, I didn't really doubt he was right, but what could even be inside?

Hopefully, something to keep my mind occupied.

Setting aside the one I'd been drawing all my spells from, I opened one at random and began carefully reading it from the beginning. Three minutes was all it took to find something.

"Holy shit."

Blackbeard grunted and with an effort wrenched himself out of the tree he'd impacted and uprooted upon landing. Rolling to his feet, he swept his feet side to side as he stepped forward through the crowd of other creatures that had landed with him.

"Well, my son," he began as he reached down and patted Blueleaf's belly. "A bit rough, but believe me when I say it beats having the sun dropped on you and then being turned to stone." Blueleaf squeaked in response but remained stock still on his back, staring up at the sky with wide, terrified eyes. Blackbeard chortled quietly and considered Canterlot far, far in the distance. He cupped his hand over his eyes and took in the sheer distance they'd all been thrown.

"I suppose revenge will have to wait," he murmured.

"Revenge?" Blackbeard looked back over his shoulder at the bearded moose who was struggling to his hooves. "I could go for revenge." The other moose beside him attempted to stand as well but collapsed back onto his side.

"Cousin? Did we fail?" Orgnar asked with a wheeze. Yendrek looked Blackbeard up and down before turning to his cousin.

"No, not yet," he replied, scanning the rest of the creatures around them. "I think things went pretty well, actually."

"And you are?" Blackbeard demanded, drawing the moose's attention back.

"Yendrek of the Mountain Saints, ally to Pseudo who I believe you are acquainted with," Yendrek declared, fixing Blackbeard with an inquisitive leer. "It seems plain to me that you are the genuine Avatar he spoke of."

"I believe so," Blackbeard replied with a quiet chuckle. "Which means what to you?"

"It means you are our best bet for toppling the corrupt authorities of Equestria and establishing our own dominion," Yendrek said with a firm nod. Blackbeard beamed and folded his arms at the moose's words.

"Ah, Libertalia, is it?" He said before laughing at Yendrek's perplexed expression. Blackbeard swept his arm across the dazed horde around them. "Fine enough! We'll see what we can accomplish, but first, let's get this rabble in order!" He marched forward, heaved Blueleaf over his shoulder, and gently punched Yendrek on the side as he passed him.

"No proper pirate colony got anywhere sleeping all the time," he added with a wink and a dark chortle before stalking into the host of dazed creatures and violently dragging them to their feet, paws, or hooves one at a time.

Ignoring the cries of her changelings, especially those too injured to hide, Chrysalis blasted one of the boulders that littered the valley she and her horde had been hurled into. With a feral scream, she stomped and fired several beams into the air before whirling about and glaring at the mountain far in the distance.

"So. Close," she hissed. One of the still mobile changelings poked his head out from behind the fallen and rotting tree he'd taken cover behind while the queen seethed. Seeing that she was no longer hurling death with reckless abandon, he dared to spring out of his hiding place and approach her.

"My queen, what are your orders?" The drone asked, failing to draw her attention for even a split second. "Our casualties are numerous, and-" Chrysalis suddenly snapped toward him causing him to hug the ground in fear.

"Wah! Waaah! Ooo hoo hoo!" Chrysalis whined before fixing the drone with a big, dopey, purse-lipped frown and then scoffing with a scowl. "Get over yourselves, there are more important issues at hoof! How am I supposed to conquer the other hives and unite our race without all that extra love energy to feed us and them?" She growled and her wings twitched as she returned her attention to the mountain in the distance.

"So close," she quietly hissed. "You'll pay for this Blackbeard."

"I feel so bad for Princess Luna," Fluttershy mused as Twilight led her and their friends down the cave corridor. While Applejack and Rainbow marched at a slower pace due to the bandages fastened tight around their bodies, Pinkie bounced along, joining Rarity in inspecting the shiny crystals decorating the walls. "I can't believe the Elements left her so weakened."

"It can't be helped. At least Princess Celestia is up and moving again, and can take care of her," Twilight replied with a frown, pausing for a moment when they came to an intersection.

"Perhaps, but she certainly seems to have her hooves full this time," Rarity replied once they got moving again. "Those horrible bipeds, wrecking Canterlot and stealing that aircraft." Twilight offered a solemn nod and looked back at her as they approached the subject of their search.

"Yeah, well, the good news is while she's dealing with the aftermath of all that," she turned forward and fixed the figure before them with a steely glare. "We can take the initiative on dealing with those two."

"Well hello, everypony," Discord purred, rocking his head as best he could. "Nice of you to finally drop in." The rest of the ponies shared an anxious look as Twilight glared at him.

"He's already part of the way free?" Rarity huffed, bringing a hoof to her mouth. "I thought we'd have more time." Discord hummed a laugh as Twilight shook her head.

"No, the princess told me he's been at this stage since she first realized he was getting free," she explained, causing the girls to blink and consider the spirit again.

"And he's been stuck down here all alone like this?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yep. Since Princess Celestia realized what was happening with that Avatar guy," Twilight replied. Fluttershy furrowed her brow and met Discord's smirking face with a look of concern.

"That's," she began, quietly. "That's been a little bit."

"Indeed it has and it's been just dreadful down here all alone," Discord moaned, tilting his head back with a wistful sigh before pursing his lips and then smiling at the ponies. "Well, save for the guards bringing me my meals." Twilight scowled and jabbed him in his petrified leg.

"Discord, you made both of those avatars causing all this trouble, so I want answers," she accused, causing the spirit to raise an eyebrow. "Where would both of them go now that they're free?" Discord squinted one eye in thought.

"Made is a very strong word, Ms. Glint," he nodded. "I prefer enabled." Twilight recoiled with a sour glare.

"What did you call me?" She demanded with a huff. Discord raised both his eyebrows with a gasp.

"Oh dear, you haven't the scarcest idea of your own family history, do you?" He said, his face rapidly shifting to a smug leer. "Has Celestia been keeping that a secret from you, too?" Twilight's friends shared a look as she tilted her head.

"Are you referring to Great-Times-Sixty-Grandma Evening Glint?" She asked.

"Ah-hah, she does pay attention," Discord chortled with a happy nod. "Gold star for you!" Twilight rolled her eyes and jabbed him again, making a hollow 'tink' noise as her hoof struck his stony body.

"Whatever. Just answer my question! Where would either-"

"I'unno. Keeping tabs on constructs and summoned beings is too much work," Discord said with a sage nod. At Twilight's annoyed glare, he paused and pursed his lips. "Though, if you set me free I'd be pleased as pudding to summon something to keep tabs on them for us!" He paused again with a more thoughtful look.

"Of course, then I'd need something to keep tabs on that, and then one to keep tabs on him, and," he narrowed his eyes and grimaced for a few seconds before giving Twilight an inquisitive leer. "Ms. Times-Sixty, you're good at tables and projected numbering nonsense, yes? I'll need your help organizing all the tab-keeping creatures if we're going to make this work." Twilight threw her head back with a groan.

"Unbelievable. We'll figure it out ourselves," she spat, shooting him a final glare before turning to leave. "C'mon, girls."
As they all slipped around the corner, Fluttershy cast a concerned glance back at the spirit. In response, Discord wagged his eyebrows at her for a few seconds until she, with a sad hum, departed as well.

Celestia stood on the balcony just outside the throne room, watching as the moon slowly rolled into place before she cut her spell and let the astral body's natural inclinations take over. With a sigh, she turned her head to look at the tower her sister was fast asleep in. As if it wasn't bad enough that two Avatars were now on the loose, Luna had nearly exhausted her magical core to its breaking point trying to stop one of them.

"Rest well, Lulu," Celestia mentally prayed before returning inside. She slowly stepped to the center of the room where she stood in silent thought with her eyes cast down. "It was supposed to be a happy day for Cadance. For all of us." She was drawn out of her thoughts when the door cracked open.

"Princess, the heads of several families wish to speak with you," a guard declared.

"Oh, wonderful," she groused, taking a deep breath and bristling her wings before nodding. "Let them in." The door shut behind the guard, granting Celestia just a few seconds to compose herself. As a result, she turned and faced the sextet of scowling and visibly annoyed ponies with a smile. Two were mares, both pegasi, one green and the other blue, one was an earth pony with a dusty brown coat, and the other three were all unicorns. Of these, two were identical with yellow coats, while the last was the most severe of the bunch and had a white coat with a black mane.

Each pony was exceptionally well dressed, though the white unicorn stood out due to the row of medals pinned to his red overcoat.

"Good evening, everypony," she chirped. Scanning the group, she masked the immense feeling of relief that washed over her. With one exception, none of them had any family in the guard nor any property within Canterlot itself. And of course, that one could hardly claim to care about his family in the guard. "How are you all doing? I hope today's events didn't cause any of you much alarm."

"Much alarm? The capital was invaded!" The blue mare cried.

"Yes, it was," Celestia replied with a sage nod before offering a smile. "And we repelled the invasion before our foe could properly secure the city." The mare rolled her eyes and scowled.

"The fact that it happened at all is deeply concerning, Your Majesty," the brown stallion grumbled. "And then there's this business about another sealed creature managing to escape."

"And the Elements of Harmony are, as we speak, making preparations to respond to this escape," Celestia retorted. She raised a hoof and adopted a serene, even expression. "I feel I must remind you we live on a very magically rich continent. Mishaps and monsters are as common as the cold." The ponies all shared a look save the white unicorn and Celestia swept her hoof out with a smile.

"But I ask you all to take heart. Despite all that has transpired, Canterlot still stands," she added. "Furthermore-"

"The city stands, but for how long?" The white unicorn suddenly interjected, causing her ear to twitch. "You failed to prevent this attack. You failed to handle Discord's escape before he set the world all topsy-turvy."

"The Long Night of recent memory cost a small fortune to get all the clocks fixed!" One of the twins added.

"And I paid for the airship one of those freaks stole!" The other twin cried, stomping his hoof. "Let's not forget that!" Celestia's smile didn't waver, but before she could reply, the brown stallion shook his head.

"It's obvious you are no longer able to perform the one action for which you and your sister were given your thrones," he spat with a firm nod. "And so, I along with these others now openly declare a vote of no confidence." Celestia's breath hitched, though she didn't let it show. She regarded the group with a cold, even expression.

"Are you certain now is the time for this?" She asked after a few seconds, at which the stallion scoffed. "As you've said, currently there are a few villains who-"

"Regardless of what shape these threats take, it's clear we're in no worse shape with you on the throne or not, Celestia," the blue mare declared. Celestia considered her for a moment before humming and scanning the whole group. Her eyes kept settling on the white unicorn, who was staring right back at her with more steel in his eyes than the others.

"You then? And what are you up to," she asked herself before closing her eyes and attempting to pry at the group with a serene expression.

"I understand your concerns, and while it saddens me, if this is how you wish to proceed, I will make the arrangements with the other families," her eyes slowly opened and locked onto the unicorn. "But have you considered what will happen if the vote passes? Neither my sister nor myself have named or produced an heir."

She smiled and tilted her head. "It would take months, maybe even years to find a replacement." One of the twins nodded in response and raised a hoof.

"According to tradition, in the event of the throne being vacant, the former ruler's nearest blood relation from the three tribes would take the throne," he said before pausing for a moment as if he was finished. A brief, almost unseen glance from the white unicorn caused him to clear his throat with a nod. "And considering Cadenza is an alicorn, and adopted besides, that presents only one option." Celestia's serene mask completely shattered and she recoiled with a hearty scoff.

"Blueblood?" She squawked. "You can't be serious?" The twins both shrugged in tandem.

"Why not? He's your nephew, give or take a few generations, so I'm sure you've raised him well enough," one of them said. Celestia's jaw hung loose in disbelief, at which the green mare stepped forward.

"We've already discussed this at length, and our dear Goldflame has some input to offer," she declared with a smile before nodding at the white unicorn. Goldflame nodded and brought his hoof to his chest.

"As a sign of confidence in the young prince, I offer my daughter's hoof in marriage," he declared. Celestia recoiled again, though she immediately set her face in a critical leer.

"There it is," she thought. "There's what you're playing at." She considered Goldflame for a moment before something clicked and she smiled.

"I see! Well, that is interesting to hear," her smile turned venomous. "And where is Lieutenant Honeysuckle?" Goldflame hesitated, but she was the only pony who would have noticed.

"Considering the events that have transpired today, it should not be too surprising that she is not present. She was apparently assaulted by that demon you allowed to go free," he declared with a scoff and nodded his head back at the door. "No doubt she is among the injured in the infirmary. I will visit her as soon as this meeting is over."

"Apparently assaulted, hm?" Celestia thought, completely failing to mask her feelings and smiling wide at the unicorn. "You don't know where she is at all, do you?" Goldflame met her eyes for a few moments before breaking eye contact. Celestia's smile darkened.

"Well, I'd hate to keep you. I've heard your complaints and your declaration and will have Ms. Inkwell put forth the necessary notices to the other families so we can resolve this quickly," she declared with a nod.

The private garden of Goldflame estate was one of the only properties still illuminated when the clock struck twelve. As the moon sat at its highest point, the five ponies who'd joined Goldflame in confronting the princess basked in its light while enjoying the amenities their host had left them with.

"This wine is divine," Lofty Heights, the green mare, purred as she sipped from her glass, holding it with both hooves before sliding down and curling up on the outdoor sofa she, Jupiter, the other pegasus, and Basket Weaver, the brown stallion, were sat upon.

"According to the label, it's imported from that one country!" Mirror Sheen one of the twins chirped as he inspected the bottle and paced the patio. "The one with the bipedal cats!" His brother, Mirror Shine, sitting in a chair across the table from the sofa, groaned and shook his head.

"Don't mention bipeds around me please," he begged before throwing his head back with a moan. "I can't believe that thing stole my ship!"

"You were donating it to the military anyway!" Juniper said, waving her hoof at him. "Not like you were going to use it." Shine scowled at her.

"That's-" He was cut off when the door swung open and Goldflame came trotting outside. He snatched the bottle from the other twin in his magic and began pouring himself a glass.

"She isn't in the infirmary," he declared. "And a few eyewitnesses hiding near the dock saw her embark with the biped who stole the airship." He threw back his glass as his cohorts cried out in horror before arguing with each other.

"I told you we should have waited!" Sheen managed to yell at Goldflame over the others. "Waited until you had her locked up in her room! WHY did you make us move now?!" Goldflame sighed quietly and glanced back at him.

"This was the first time she's been back in Canterlot in months, and the first time she messed up enough to be discharged," he explained before staring into his empty glass. "Alongside the invasion, the timing was too pristine to pass up." He grimaced as Juniper's reflection appeared in his glass over his shoulder.

"You say that like it excuses you. This entire scheme relies on us having somepony we can control who can corral Blueblood!" She spat, jabbing a hoof at him. "Your girl's the only one old enough who's still single, Goldflame. At least in this circle." The group stopped arguing and turned their aggression on him.

"Yeah! And not only did you let her run off and join the guard, but now you let her escape the city altogether!" Weaver yelled, stomping his hoof on the table. "You said you were going to get her discharged and back in Canterlot! Months ago." The earth pony ground his hoof into the table with a glare. However, once Goldflame turned to face the rest of the group, he wilted and relaxed in his seat.

"I am aware of all of this, and have been working to do just as I said," the unicorn declared, setting his glass down. "And I intend to bring my wayward spawn back to Canterlot one way or another just in time for her and our dear prince to be wed and take the throne." The five shared a look before Mirror Sheen cleared his throat.

"How're you gonna do that?" He asked. Goldflame raised an eyebrow and pulled a note from his coat, presenting it to the twin.

"Whole Grain forwarded a contact to me for just such an occasion in exchange for our good graces once we have things ordered. I'm heading to Dodge City to meet said contact now," he explained as Sheen's eyebrows raised and an eager smile broke across his face. Goldflame considered the rest as they huddled behind Sheen to try and read the note as well. "You are all clever. While I am away, do what you can to keep the pressure on Her Majesty while keeping Blueblood free from the leeches skulking our fair city."

A three-day train ride found Goldflame annoyed and striding with his personal guards along the dusty road of Dodge City. The pair of swords rattling on his sides ensured that, even if he was alone, the riff-raff of the underdeveloped little village would give him a wide berth. As a result, he quickly found the ugly little building where Baron Wheat had promised he'd find who he was looking for.

Stepping up off the dusty road and having one of his guards push the swinging door open, he stepped inside and narrowed his eyes, waiting for them to adjust to the dark room within. Before his sight returned, his senses were assaulted first by the untuned racket that must have passed for music coming from what sounded like a record player, then by the smell.

Goldflame had expected the lower class this far out to have a unique odor about them, but this was something different. Once his vision was clear, he understood why. There was hardly anyone inside, save for the waiting staff, the bartender, a single table with four ponies at one corner, and another table with one patron at the complete opposite corner.

Unique was the kindest word that came to mind, and even then only by necessity of not wanting to offend the creature.

Goldflame wasn't certain the creature was natural, as it looked more like something some mad sorcerer would have conjured up to mock the gods. It was bipedal and furry like an Abyssinian or Diamond Dog, and that was fine. But the issues came from its fur, first off. It was as if there were multiple layers of the stuff all with different thicknesses and rigidity. If that was all, it could be excused, but its claws suffered from something similar. As the creature carefully wiped its mouth with a napkin, its strange claws, which seemed to have a single dog nail in the center of each digit with three cat talons surrounding them, were clearly visible.

The sight of its claws drew Goldflame's eyes up its arms to its body which was hunched in two places and had several scaly, bony plates growing over its vital regions.

Finally, its head and its face. It had a squat skull and overly large cat-like eyes, set under soft, drooping lids, and thick hanging jowls on either side of its squished muzzle which only served to accentuate its teeth. Each tooth was sharp and round like a dog's, but there were splinter-like little fangs that sprang up between each tooth in irregular bunches like porcupine quills.

Taking in the sight of the creature, Goldflame considered the heavy coat, hat, and mask hanging beside the door before approaching the table the beast was sitting at.

The entire corner of the building was vacant save for the creature. Even the waiting staff seemed reluctant to pass too close. When Goldflame approached the creature's table he understood their reluctance and where the smell was coming from.

"Where did you get that?" He asked, gesturing to the steaming lobster the creature was eating. "I do not believe they serve meat or fish here." The creature paused as he prepared to rip one of the crustacean's claws off before regarding Goldflame with a subdued smile.

"Didn't use to," he said in a rough, raspy voice. He set down the claw he had and folded his claws together. "But I started haulin' 'em in myself. Told 'em how to prep it and gave 'em a real shiny tip to make 'em do it. Been a regular thin' ever since." The creature inhaled sharp and then let out a heavy, body-shaking laugh.

"Course, I reckon I was just havin' fun," he cackled quietly, wagging his claw at the bartender. "That there chef bout near had a fit when he realized y'cook 'em alive." The creature smiled wide and Goldflame looked back to see the pony bartender glaring and shaking his head.

"I see," Goldflame hummed before returning his attention to the creature. "You are the one they call Bad Teeth, yes?" A change took place and the creature's smile wavered for a moment, though his eyes now bore a dark, malicious glint.

"Shoot, not to my face," he declared, sucking a shallow breath through his teeth. "And not more than once. Call me Double." Goldflame paused as the creature stared at him.

"I understand you have a talent for tracking individuals," he finally said.

"I understand them words means you got someone in mind," Double retorted, relaxing back in his seat with a close-lipped smile.

"My daughter, Honeysuckle," Goldflame replied, gesturing to one of his guards who approached and set a photo on the table. "She is late for her wedding." Double jabbed the photo with a claw and rotated his paw to look at him.

"Aw, right perty thing there," he hummed and pursed his lips. "Y'got somethin of hers? Somethin personal? Hairband, sock, anything?" Goldflame removed one of his swords and presented it to the creature.

"She wore this sword often," he explained as Double grabbed the sword with both hands. "She believed it belonged to her mother." Double hummed in response and turned it over. Slowly, he brought it to his nose and began inhaling along the length of its scabbard. He paused, furrowed his brow, and sniffed the air at Goldflame. Frowning, he resumed sniffing the sword for a few seconds before humming with a nod.

"Aw right, that's her I think," he sighed and set the sword on the table. "How much?"

"How much do you desire?" Goldflame asked.

"Your whole fortune. Every last coin," Double said plainly. Goldflame squawked and recoiled.

"What! You cannot be serious?" His eye twitched when the creature laughed aloud.

"Reckon nobody told you, you outta have a sum in mind when speakin' with me," he chortled and winked at the pony. "I'll give you a second chance, old top." Goldflame glared at Double for a moment before nodding at the sword.

"This sword will fetch a fair price," he said. Double grimaced and scratched his chest, rocking his head back and forth.

"Sho'nuff, but I'm hafta find someone willin' to pawn it off to," he said with a half yawn. "Let's say I take the sword now and when I get her back to you you pay me five hundred minotaur drachs."

"I only deal in bits and gems," Goldflame retorted with a shake of his head. Double grunted and rolled his eyes.

"Shoot, eight hundred pony bits then," he said, sliding the sword to the side and leaning over his plate. "Square?"

"Bon," Goldflame replied with a nod. He watched as Double nodded back and began cracking the shell of his meal. "When will you be leaving?" Double paused and looked at him wide-eyed, making a display as he violently ripped the shell of his food apart and then scraped its flesh against his bizarre teeth. After a few seconds of open-mouthed chewing, he swallowed hard and licked his teeth.

"Soon as I polish off this here sea roach," he replied, holding eye contact and tearing into his lobster again. Goldflame winced at the noise it made before nodding and turning to leave. Once the ponies were gone, Double relaxed and cleaned his claws with a cloth before resuming his meal in a more reserved fashion. His eyes drifted to the photo he'd been left and a grim smile worked its way to his face.

Discord rocked his head as best he could, humming quietly to himself as he counted the sparkling crystals all around them. Finding himself lost in the rhythm of the song he'd invented he smiled and closed his eyes.
Then his eyes shot open with a gasp.

"A harmonic tune?" He cried and his eyes darted around as realization crept to the forefront of his mind. "With proper timing, rhythm, and measures? By the Outer Gods, I am going crazy down here." He sighed miserably and began attempting to scramble the notes he'd been humming before the sound of hooves clicking against stone met his ears. Looking up, he smirked at what he found.

"Well well well! The littlest Element-bearer," he jeered as Fluttershy approached with a basket in her mouth. She paused and set it down in front of him before looking up to meet his eyes.

"Uhm, actually I'm the second oldest after Rarity," she explained before gasping and waving her hooves. "Oh! Don't tell her I said that, please."

"My lips are sealed, but I warn you I am a phenomenal ventriloquist," Discord replied. He glared down at her impatiently. "What do you want?" She blinked and gently pawed the ground.

"Well, everypony else is busy with a lot of stuff I don't really understand," she smiled up at him and gently nudged her basket. "So, I figured I'd come and keep you company for a little bit." She opened the basket and began removing a pair of wrapped plates with something nice smelling on them, and a deck of cards. Discord furrowed his brow.

"Why?" He demanded as she set everything out and unfurled a plate of warm cookies that caught his eye.

"Well," she began, slowly. "I think you were mostly joking, but it seems pretty lonely and dark down here." She considered the cave for a moment before offering him a frown.

"I wouldn't want to be stuck down here alone," she added before smiling and gesturing to her things with a hoof. "So, yeah! I brought some snacks and some cards we could play with." She recoiled with a quiet gasp.

"Uhm, well, I guess you can't really hold them without your claws," she murmured, tapping her chin. Then she blinked and regarded her hooves. "But I don't have claws either, so it probably balances out!" She looked up at him with a wide smile, presenting her fore hooves as she did so. Discord considered her for a few seconds, before sighing and smiling.

"I see."