The Trinity of Moons: Ancillary Mirrors

Three mares and a filly hesitated at the beginning of the overgrown path, exchanging awkward glances. They were reluctant to step under the nearest fir tree's branches. Princess Luna observed them from a few yards away.

This marked the border of the Everfree Forest, where Fluttershy's domain ended. Despite her house standing at the edge, the Everfree didn't yield an inch, tolerating her presence only because she didn't try to challenge it.

Every forest is a living, whole entity. Each one cares for itself and protects its creatures, for they too are part of the forest. Each can defend itself against unwelcome guests.

It's very difficult to harm a forest, and even harder to kill it. As a result, many believe its dense tranquility is unbreakable, or simply fail to see the sleeping giant for whom ponies are less than specks on its green hide.

Somepony will get lost. Somepony won't find what they're looking for. Somepony will end up at the forest's edge, despite intending to spend the night in its depths and return with a basket of mushrooms as proof of their bravery. And all of this isn't even the forest's will — merely a subconscious defense against those deemed unwelcomed.

The forest has hundreds of ways to kill you and not a single reason to do so. Most likely, should you meet your end in the thickets of the forest, your corpse lying at the roots of a towering tree as ants taste your clotted blood, the forest's slow mind won't even notice you were there.

The Everfree Forest was also a forest, and everything said applied to it as well. With one caveat: it understood a creature’s capacity for cruelty. The Everfree Forest was also a forest, and everything said applied to it as well. With one caveat: it understood a creature’s capacity for cruelty. During Discord's tyranny, the Everfree Forest came to understand true pain and fear. It forever remembered the feeling of facing an invading stranger — a being against whom you are small, powerless, and defenseless. It was then that chaos became part of its being.

Over time, some of the wounds healed: a thousand years is a considerable period even for a forest. Discord's apologies weren't in vain either. But apologies, even if sincere and profound — and with the Spirit of Chaos, the Everfree had every right to be skeptical in both regards — can only help so much.

Researchers and knowledgeable ponies long ago concluded that the Everfree could destroy and obliterate both the Castle of the Two Sisters and the Tree of Harmony. They received unreliable assurances from it that it wouldn't do so... if left at peace.

Everything else followed from gradual clarifications of what “peace” exactly meant. Zecora's arrival was one of the successful experiments, the tentative alliance with Fluttershy — a promising breakthrough. Dozens of unsuccessful attempts before and after became food for mycelium and larvae, but helped update the records on relations with the Everfree. Naturally, each of these ponies entered the forest voluntarily, understanding the risk.

About as voluntarily and understanding the risk as these five ponies were.

“Well, are we fixin' to just stand here til the morn'?” The bravado in Applebloom's voice did little to mask her apprehension. As Zecora's apprentice, she had more experience with the Everfree than her companions and knew its dangers better.

"We've decided to be glorious heroes tonight," declared the unicorn, Sweetie Belle, with forced determination, tossing her mane dramatically. “So let’s claim our victory!” Her heart pounded in her chest.

Of course, it was a line from a popular adventure novel.

Scootaloo and not-Scootaloo exchanged glances. Apparently, the voice of reason was left to be picked by them. One voice for them two.

On the way, there were a few minutes when none of them could say with certainty whether three or four ponies were actually in the squad, not counting Luna. It was for that very reason they hadn't waited until morning.

"We've been here dozens of times," Scootaloo asserted. "Hundreds, if you count Applebloom's trips. We'll stick to the path marked by the Princesses, and keep our own trail marked too, with firefly silk ribbons. Bloom, you have them? Good. Note their glow. Remember, we look for singular lights only, bright yellow. If you see blue-green, that’s not our mark. You see a pair or an eight of yellows, that’s not our mark either. We keep together. No rushing, but no stopping either. If we lose the trail, we form a cross and search. As a cross, we turn together."

"My search magic can help!" Sweetie Belle chirped.

"Only if the squad leader permits it," Scootaloo stated firmly.

“Yup, our fearless leader,” Applebloom smirked.

Scootaloo flashed a smile back at her for that minor jab, then fixed her gaze on Bittercup. For a moment, she saw herself through Bittercup’s eyes: a tall, stern, lean mare with underdeveloped wings. That shift in perspective startled her for a few seconds but she recovered. "And absolutely no chasing stray chickens or pretty blue flowers. Those are Poison Jokes. One touch could be the end of us. No collecting flowers at all, and especially no photographs of the Poison Jokes!" She emphasized the last part to Belle, who reluctantly returned her camera to her bag.

Luna, who had been silent until now, addressed them. "Fear not, little ones, for we shall withdraw for a time, lest our own presence disquiet the untamed heart of this wood. Yet though we may be unseen, know that our eye doth follow your every step, and should peril find you, our aid shall be swift and sure. Three amongst you have learned at our side, and in that bond, we place our trust. Let the strength of your friendship and the light of Equestria be your guides, for they are ever with you, even unto the deepest shadows."

With that, she dissipated into a wisp of blue mist that rose and vanished among the treetops. Scootaloo suppressed a sigh. If the Everfree refused the Princess entry, there was little hope for the Crusaders. There was a certain wisdom in it.

With no unicorn magic or powerful hooves to fight, nor reliable wings to fly, only courage remained for Scootaloo. With that courage and a deep breath, Scootaloo led them into the shadowy depths.

Bittercup inhaled deeply thought to herself, Friendship is power, as they say. This should be enough.

One of those lessons was“Are you really sure you have to go this way?” She wasn’t sure at all.

The stone path, long untended, was barely visible beneath the moss. A hundred yards in, and they were surrounded, the forest stretching in every direction as far as the eye could see.

"May I?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Scootaloo nodded curtly. "At the slightest sign of trouble, you halt it right then. Before I even have to tell you!"

A soft glow emanated from Sweetie Belle's horn as she cast the motion scanning spell, a gentle chime resonating through the air.

“What are these Elements of Harmony?” Bittercup asked in a whisper-like tone.

Scootaloo began to explain, with her companions chiming in sometimes, voicing their older sisters and rehearsing Pinkie’s songs.

***

"There are six, right?" Bittercup clarified.

"Yes," Scootaloo confirmed. "And there are four of us, not counting the Princess."

"So we'll meet somepony...?" It wasn't phrased as a question.

Before Applebloom could scold Bittercup for tempting fate by speaking of such things within the Everfree Forest, a soft, feline shadow landed silently on the path ahead in the earliest morning light. Everfree had heard her. Their adventure had begun.

Scootaloo didn't like adventures, and adventures didn't like her. As if watching from outside herself, Scootaloo observed mighty lion paws, a fanged muzzle, dragon wings, and finally a huge scorpion tail emerging from the darkness.

This is too much, Scootaloo thought. The paws alone would be enough to tear her apart.

A manticore couldn't, shouldn't be so close to the city.

Bittercup closed her eyes. Behind her eyelids, she watched as a twenty-sided die fell onto a polished wooden table. Fourteen, a clean roll for a hoof attack. Bittercup opened her eyes, and reality pushed the imaginary table aside, but it didn't disappear, just went deeper and slightly to the side. A strong double-hoofed spinning kick, capable of knocking apples from a century-old tree, made the predator stagger — eight damage on two four-sided dice, plus three, plus another three for strength, minus two for damage resistance, equals a total of twelve!

The manticore’s counter-attack came as a glancing blow, having rolled a mediocre damage score upon the die. Though it still managed to rake a long, shallow cut across Applebloom’s side. Her yellow coat soon became matted and red, soaking in blood.

A thunderous roar tore the leaves from the trees. A green beam shot towards the beast's head, but it swatted the beam away with its tail. The tail fell limp, numbed by the glancing blow. The spell cut a couple of branches as it flew off into the sky.

Bittercup's imagination conjured the sound of dice clattering and a damage calculation for a touch attack. She shook her head, trying to focus on the reality of the Everfree Forest surrounding them, rather than the imagined room with black candles and a heavy table.

The green, lantern-like eyes settled on Scootaloo. She wasn't attacking, and the beast didn't like that. It was suspicious. The beast unhurriedly threaded towards her.

"Friendship..." Bittercup thought, pushing away the vision. It kept returning. Luna's words couldn't be empty. But what could be a greater manifestation of friendship than protecting a friend in battle?

Now a battle board floated before her: how could she move her piece on the table? Here she takes off, and tries to attack the monster from above, it grabs her with its paws, and... a bloody veil, behind which there is nothing more.

She turned to the large, scaled figure at the head of the imaginary table. It resembled Spike, but far larger, more imposing. "If I fly for help, do they stand a chance?" she pleaded silently.

The dragon shook their head. No. Not really.

"But you can't kill us in the first combat, can you?"

The dragon remained silent.

"What was the Princess talking about?"

It didn't matter.

On the board in her mind, the winged figurine representing herself moved two hexagons forward, one to the side: it merged with another one which, too, was herself.

In a swift, smooth move, the pegasus shifted closer to the beast and looked directly into the burning green eyes. The blue flower on her flank shone brightly in the twilight. Being Scootaloo added experience tenfold, plus truly adult confidence. By calling upon Scootaloo’s memories, her memories, this was no longer the first monster she had encountered in her life.

"Look at me and don't move! I'm bigger than you and scarier!" She spread her wings and fluffed up her fur, but it still didn't come out very convincingly. She didn't take off because she wasn't sure her wings would hold her, “and you won't eat me! And you won't eat them either!”

She didn't notice how Princess Luna's blue mist descended to her through the treetops, wrapped around her body, and entered her nostrils in a thin haze. She didn't remember how a night and a whole world ago another alicorn — or was she the same Luna after all? — had credited a glimpse of her power in advance, even before the Moonrise, under a promise that wasn't made.

She could hear the manticore's thoughts.

A friend. A friend left, a friend abandoned me. They attacked, like everyone. She looks similar, she's like a friend.

The pegasus knew the pain of being left behind, on the ground, while others flew away.

She saw a die slowly falling from a giant clawed paw. She could count black paw pads in the fluffy orange fur. She imagined she could touch them.

Eleven on the die: it was enough for the save, even with the pegasus’s external bonuses, but it was just enough; and the dragon and the manticore both agreed the latter wanted to fail.

The manticore made a strange, rumbling sound, almost a purr.

"Yes, Strong-White-Claws," the pegasus said gently. "I'm your friend."

She turned to her companions. The golden light had faded from her eyes. Beside her, another pegasus stood protectively once again — was she younger or older? — half-covering her with her wing, glaring fiercely at the manticore.

"Come on," Bittercup said. "The manticore won't hurt us."

They had seen Fluttershy's Stare in action, but it was still unnerving to witness its effects. Even more so to accept that somepony else possessed a similar ability.

***

"It’s... following us," Scootaloo said, glancing back at the manticore.

Bittercup stumbled, trying to quickly explain: it wasn’t safe to talk about.. "We're friends now. It’s my cutie mark.” She glanced at Scootaloo to see if she listens. “Aconite. It’s poisonous in the real world. For a cutiemark it is a sign of warning, of danger. It makes enchants last longer, grip stronger in alchemy and magic. I had to save you. I promised her friendship. And because I was sincere, because I believed it, it came true. If this cutie mark were any stronger... or if it were easier for me to use... " She shuddered. "I'd be too dangerous to live."

"Is that right? Apple trees growin' golden apples ‘cause a pony told it to?" Applebloom asked, bewildered.

"No... my cutie mark works on dreams, instincts, and emotions. If there was no other way, I... I could make you love me. But it's forbidden." She glanced back at the manticore. "Like what I did with her."

"Forbidden, but it happens?" Sweetie Belle pressed. "So your implication is you could be... murdered? For your cutie mark? Your world is terrifying!"

Bittercup lowered her head, nodding silently.

Sweetie Belle turned to her friends, flashing a wide grin. "Well, girls," she announced, her voice bright and cheerful in the slowly coming dawn. "I don't know about you, but I think we absolutely must look deeper into this cutie mark! Later, of course, but as soon as we have some time to do the right thing!"

Behind them, observed from above by a faint blue mist, the loyal manticore followed silently.